SB Nation - Chad Durbin

Does Anyone Like the Phillies' Lee Trade?

David S. Cohen — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:24:34 -0000

This is an honest question. Outside Phillies reporters (or ex-reporters) who rely on access to the team in order to put food on their table each day, are there any analysts who like what the Phillies did with Cliff Lee?

Obviously I can only read a small portion of what's out there, but what I've read isn't pretty. (And I agree with it.) Below is my sampling. In the comments, please post links to what you've seen from other analysts about the Lee trade. And if you find someone saying the Phillies did the right thing here, I'd in particular like to see that.

Matt Swartz, Baseball Prospectus: "The only team that does not necessarily come out ahead in this is the Phillies. The team really made two separate trades—three prospects for Roy Halladay conditional on an awesome extension, and Cliff Lee for three inferior prospects. The former will turn out to be a success and the latter will not. . . . The issue I take is that they could have non-tendered Joe Blanton (or, better yet, traded him for some inferior prospects) and Chad Durbin and won two or three more games in 2010 at the same $9 million salary. I say that even as someone who believes Blanton is vastly underrated, but they could have gotten better value by doing that. If Blanton was worth nothing on the trade market (which I am skeptical about), then the Phillies were foolish to offer him arbitration—clearly no one else would have even offered him his arbitration estimate on the free-agent market, so why pay him that much? Figure out what other teams would pay him and offer him that and a cookie."

Joe Sheehan, Baseball Prospectus: "This, in fact, gets to my biggest problem with the sequence: Roy Halladay just left $60 million on the table to come to Philadelphia. The Phillies couldn’t leave $9 million on it in pursuit of putting him on the best team in baseball? . . . The Phillies play in a taxpayer-funded ballpark, have been to back-to-back World Series—with all the direct revenue that generates—and will no doubt pack Citizens Bank Ballpark again in 2010 with another three million people paying even higher ticket, parking, concession, and souvenir prices. To trade away Cliff Lee in a blatant money move is utterly ridiculous under those circumstances, and worse still, turns the Roy Halladay trade into little more than a minor upgrade."

Christina Kahrl, Baseball Prospectus: "Less certain is the necessity of coupling this trade with the deal that put Lee in Seattle. Even if you accept for the sake of argument the suggestion that Amaro had to work within a budget, and that he had to have one or the other, this seems to suggest that the Phillies just blew it by being active early and, true to form, acted fast. If payroll's a problem, then the money spent on Placido Polanco or Ross Gload or Juan Castro or Brian Schneider—in short, the entire pack of elective add-ons, these veteran talents barely above the free-talent alternatives or players making close to the minimum—deserves to be seen collectively as needlessly spent money on players who don't significantly alter the Phillies' chances at a third pennant, not nearly so much as having a rotation with Doc and Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels gives you a rotation that might have been able to handily beat the best the AL might throw at you, and start a case for elevating the Phillies to dynastydom."

Dave Cameron, FanGraphs: "The Cliff Lee to Seattle portion of this trade just seems very light in return for the Phillies. They’re getting two power arms with a lot of questions marks and a speedy center fielder without a lot of power. None of these guys are top tier prospects. This is the best Philadelphia could have gotten for Lee? Really? A pu-pu platter of interesting, high-risk guys not really close to the majors for a Cy Young-quality pitcher who is already well on his way to Type A free agency? And, even if that’s true, why clear $8 million from the books by trading Lee? Surely, you could have moved Joe Blanton without eating any of his salary, even if you didn’t love the deals being offered. Or, how about this – don’t sign J.C. Romero, Brian Schneider, and Ross Gload, whose 2010 salaries are about equal to Lee’s. Replace those three reserves with league minimum guys and you’ve saved enough money to keep Lee around."

Evan Burnell, Hardball Times: "The Phillies overextended themselves financially last year and are trying to keep payroll steady (the $6 million they're receiving in the deal helps tremendously). In addition, the prospects back to Philadelphia help to replenish a farm system gutted by the Lee and Halladay trades. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, I don't think they're receiving anything more than midlevel prospects who are a long shot to have long-term value in town. They all look like eventual major leaguers, but are they anything more than replacement level? We can't answer that definitively. I do credit GM Ruben Amaro, however, for recognizing the need to replenish the farm system. [On the other hand,] the Seattle Mariners made a tremendous move acquiring Cliff Lee for three prospects that don't rank as even guaranteed future major leaguers."

2009 World Series Game Three Recap -- Yankees 8, Phillies 5

WholeCamels — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:47:11 -0000

The Phils lose their first post-season game to a lefty over the past two years and go down 2-1 to the Yankees. Three story lines to tonight:

1) Tonight was Cole Hamels' season in a nutshell. He pitched great for three innings yet couldn't get out of the fifth thanks to a combination of bad luck and not being able to put hitters away on two strike counts. Alex Rodriguez's home run, which followed a Mark Texeira walk in which he came back from a 1-2 count (with help from the home plate ump), was the shortest a home run could be at CBP (and needed the aid of instant replay). Nick Swisher's double was just fair. Andy Pettitte's RBI single was a true bloop. Derek Jeter's single could have been caught by Shane Victorino. Only Johnny Damon's double was hit hard. Yet Cole gives up 5 earned in 4.3 innings.

2) The Phillies' offensive lefties were no-shows tonight. On the other hand (literally), the righties were dominant. If the lefties could have put anything on the board tonight, the game would have been much closer.

3) Charlie Manuel's managing when the game was still tight was awful. Pinch-hitting Eric Bruntlett in the sixth with a man on first, down by only 2, and Pettitte over 100 pitches was inexcusable. Ben Francisco was the obvious choice. If not him, any right-handed hitter in the stands would be better than Bruntlett. Then, in the top of the seventh, with Chad Durbin struggling, Manuel had no one warming in the bullpen and was forced to let Durbin close out the inning. Of course, Durbin gave up a run putting the game that much further out of reach. The Bruntlett pinch hit appearance and Durbin full inning were turning points.

Yet, as bad as tonight felt, we're only down 1 game. Joe Blanton faces CC Sabathia Sunday night to even the series. Let's go Phils!

Ethier Wins "Clutch Performer Of The Year" Award

Eric Stephen — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:51:33 -0000

More photos » by Gus Ruelas - AP

Congratulations, Andre, for a great and "clutch" season

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The Dodgers announced yesterday that Andre Ethier won the "2009 MLB Clutch Performer of the Year Award Presented by Pepsi," an honor voted on by fans. From the Dodger press release:

Ethier led the Majors with six walk-off hits, including a Major League record four walk-off home runs (tied with Jimmie Foxx in 1940 and Roy Sievers in 1957): June 6th against the Phillies in the 12th inning; June 29th against Colorado in the 13th inning; August 6th vs. Atlanta in the 9th; and September 15th against the Pirates in the 13th. Ethier has a Major League-leading nine walk-off hits since the beginning of the 2008 season, and his six in 2009 are the most in a single-season by any player since at least 1974.

The left-handed slugger collected six multi-home run games on the year, tied for second with Philadelphia ’s Ryan Howard behind Albert Pujols (10) of the Cardinals. The Arizona State product became just the fourth Dodger in franchise history to amass at least 40 doubles and 30 home runs in the same season, joining Babe Herman (1930), Raul Mondesi (1997) and Eric Karros (1999). On June 26th against Seattle , Andre drove in a career-high six runs and compiled his first career three-homer game, becoming the ninth Dodger in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

Here is a recap of Ethier's six walk-off hits in 2009:

May 2: On Dodger Thoughts night at the ballpark, not only did I get a copy of Jon Weisman's book, but also got treated to a walk-off win. Tied at one in the 10th inning, the Dodgers loaded the bases with nobody out, when Ethier launched a single off the wall to bring home the 2-1 win over the Padres. This was the ninth straight home win to open the season, a streak that would extend to a record 13 straight before the Manny Ramirez suspension ended the fun four days later.
Ethier Walk-Off: "Single," one RBI
June 5: Down 3-2 to the Phillies, closer Brad Lidge got the first two outs easily, but then ran into some trouble. He got two strikes on each of Casey Blake and James Loney, but they managed to reach base via hit and walk, respectively. Russell Martin then grounded to Pedro Feliz, but the third baseman gave the Dodgers new life by booting the ball. Ethier came up and doubled into the corner, giving the Dodgers a thrilling 4-3 win.
Ethier Walk-Off: Double, two RBI.
June 6: The very next day, Brad Lidge blew another save, but this time to Rafael Furcal, who hit a game-tying pinch hit home run in the ninth inning. The game remained tied at two until the 12th inning, when Ethier slammed a two-out rocket to dead center off Chad Durbin for his second straight walk-off.
Ethier Walk-Off: Home Run, one RBI.
June 29: After a typically solid Randy Wolf start (two runs in six innings), the Dodgers threw a picket fence of relievers at the Rockies. Seven different relievers each pitched one inning, allowing just three baserunners while striking out 13, to keep the game tied into the bottom of the 13th. Blake led off the inning with a single, and Ethier ended it with a shot into the all-you-can-eat pavilion in right field, for a 4-2 Dodger victory, one of 14 against the Rockies in 2009.
Ethier Walk-Off: Home Run, two RBI.
August 6: Down 4-2 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Dodgers had to face Braves closer Rafael Soriano, who came into the game with a 1.80 ERA, and opposing batters were hitting just .157/.234/.221 against him. A pair of singles by Juan Pierre and Furcal gave Ethier yet another opportunity to come through. After taking two balls, Ethier hit a drive to right field that just cleared the wall, sneding Dodger fans into a frenzy yet again. As I wrote in the game recap: "After Ethier hit the home run, Vin Scully didn't speak for 45 seconds, letting the game speak for itself. Sometimes, less is more."
Ethier Walk-Off: Home Run, three RBI.
September 15: Matt Kemp's game-tying RBI single allowed the Dodgers to send the game with the Pirates into extra innings. After three scoreless innings of extra-inning relief by James McDonald (you know, the guy whose 2.72 ERA and 3.41 FIP as a reliever are woefully underappreciated), Ronald Belisario gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the 13th inning, only his second run given up in 18 appearances since returning from the disabled list. Never fear, "Endre" is here. With one out and Furcal on first base, lefty Phil Dumatrait was summoned from the bullpen to face Ethier, who struggled against lefties all season. However, Ethier at Dodger Stadium was a different story, hitting .305/.376/.610 against southpaws wearing the home whites. He came through yet again, launching a towering fly ball that reached the seats in right, his fourth walk-off dinger of the season.
Ethier Walk-Off: Home Run, two RBI.

There were six "MLB Pepsi Clutch Performer of the Month" awards given out this season, but Ethier did not win any of them. He was a candidate in June, but lost the fan vote to Tim Lincecum of the Giants.

It was an amazing season for the 27-year old Ethier. He came to the plate in the ninth inning or later representing either the tying or go-ahead run 42 times this season. All he did was slam five doubles and four home runs, and hit a whopping .448/.619/1.034 in those situations. Congratulations, Endre. This was a well-deserved award.

Player Origins of the 2009 Philadelphia Phillies

John Sickels — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 19:03:13 -0000

More photos » by Tom Mihalek - AP

Philadelphia Phillies infielder Jimmy Rollins, drafted in the second round in 1996.(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

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Philadelphia Phillies: Player Origins

Here are the player development origins of the 2009 National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies.

PITCHERS:

Antonio Bastardo, LHP: Signed by the Phillies as a free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2005.

Joe Blanton, RHP: Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round in 2002, from the University of Kentucky. Acquired by the Phillies in a trade with Oakland in July 2008.

Chad Durbin, RHP: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the third round in 1996, from high school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Phillies signed him as a free agent in December 2007.

Scott Eyre, RHP: Drafted by the Texas Rangers in the ninth round in 1991, from the Junior College of Southern Idaho. The Phillies acquired him in a trade with the Cubs in August 2008.

Cole Hamels, LHP: Drafted by the Phillies in the first round in 2002, out of high school in San Diego, California.

J.A. Happ, LHP: Drafted by the Phillies in the third round in 2004, from Northwestern University.

Cliff Lee, LHP: Drafted by the Montreal Expos in the fourth round in 2000, from the University of Arkansas. Acquired in a trade with the Indians this summer.

Brad Lidge, RHP: Drafted by the Houston Astros in the first round in 1998, from the University of Notre Dame. Acquired in a trade with the Astros in November 2007.

Ryan Madson, RHP: Drafted by the Phillies in the ninth round in 1998, out of high school in Moreno Valley, California.

Pedro Martinez, RHP: Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent from the Dominican Republic in 1988. The Phillies signed him as a free agent this year.

Chan Ho Park, RHP: Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent from South Korea in 1994. The Phillies signed him as a free agent.

POSITION PLAYERS

Paul Bako, C: Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth round in 1993, out of the University of Southwestern Louisiana. The Phillies signed him as a free agent this year.

Eric Bruntlett, INF: Drafted by the Houston Astros in the ninth round in 2000, out of Stanford University. The Phillies got him in a trade with Houston in 2007.

Miguel Cairo, INF: Signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a free agent out of Venezuela in 1990. Signed by the Phillies as a free agent in 2009.

Greg Dobbs, INF: Signed by the Seattle Mariners as an undrafted free agent from the University of Oklahoma in 2001. The Phillies claimed him on waivers in 2007.

Pedro Feliz, 3B: Signed by the San Francisco Giants as a free agent from the Dominican Republic in 1994. The Phillies signed him as a free agent in 2008.

Ben Francisco, OF: Drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the fifth round in 2002 from UCLA. The Phillies acquired him in a trade this summer with the Indians.

Ryan Howard, 1B: Drafted by the Phillies in the fifth round in 2001, from Southwest Missouri State University (now known as Missouri State University).

Raul Ibanez, OF: Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 36^th round in 1992, from Miami-Dade Community College-South. The Phillies signed him as a free agent last winter.

Jimmy Rollins, SS: Drafted by the Phillies in the second round in 1996, out of high school in Alameda, California.

Carlos Ruiz, C: Signed by the Phillies as a free agent in 1998, out of Panama.

Matt Stairs, OF: Signed by the Montreal Expos as an undrafted free agent in 1989, out of high school in Canada. The Phillies acquired him in a trade with the Blue Jays in 2008.

Chase Utley, 2B: Drafted by the Phillies in the first round in 2000, out of UCLA.

Shane Victorino, OF: Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round in 1999, out of high school in Wailuku, Hawaii.. Selected in the 2005 Rule 5 draft.

Jayson Werth, OF: Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the first round in 1997, out of high school in Chatham, Illinois. Signed as a free agent by the Phillies in 2006.

ACQUISTIONS:

Via Trades/Waivers: Blanton, Eyre, Lee, Lidge, Bruntlett,. Dobbs, Francisco, Stairs.

Phillies Farm System Products: Bastardo, Hamels, Happ, Madson, Howard, Rollins, Ruiz, Utley.

Free Agents: Durbin, Martinez, Park, Bako, Cairo, Feliz, Ibanez, Werth.

Rule 5: Victorino.

ORIGINS

Drafted from North American high schools: Durbin (3^rd), Hamels (1^st), Madson (9^th), Rollins (2^nd), Victorino (9^th), Werth (1^st).

Drafted from junior colleges: Eyre (9^th), Ibanez (36^th)

Drafted from four-year colleges: Blanton (1^st); Happ (3^rd), Lee (4^th), Lidge (1^st), Bako (5^th), Bruntlett (9^th), Francisco (5^th), Howard (5^th), Utley (1^st)

Undrafted free agents from North America: Dobbs, Stairs

Latin Free Agents: Bastardo, Martinez, Cairo, Feliz, Ruiz

Asian Free Agents: Park

As you can see, the Phillies built their team through a variety of sources. Once the American League winner is determined, we'll analyze their roster and compare the two.

Saying Goodbye to the Metrodome: Top 5 Memories

Jesse — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:00:23 -0000

What are yours?

Barring a minor miracle, tomorrow night the Minnesota Twins will open their final series in the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. 28 baseball seasons ago, on April 6 1982, the first baseball game was held as the Twins played host to the Seattle Mariners. In just a few hours the Kansas City Royals will be baseball's last visitors under teflon skies.

There are a lot of easy memories when you think back. Of course there's the unbelieveable run by the 1987 Twins, when they returned to Minneapolis down three games to two but still took down the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games; Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Gary Gaetti, Tom Brunansky and Frank Viola became household names over night while a 36-year old Bert Blyleven threw a now unthinkable 267 innings. Even more of you might choose the 1991 incarnation of the Twins, starring some of the same characters while also including franchise names like Rick Aguilera, Chili Davis, Brian Harper, Kevin Tapani, Shane Mack, Scott Erickson and Jack Morris; Puckett's homer in game six and ten innings of shutout baseball by Morris in game seven. Or maybe you were there for the alpha, for a 102-loss team with 22-year olds Herbie and Viola? How about the completion of one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the organization, when the team won the AL Central title after the final out of their season was recorded in 2006?

I'm too young for some of these, at least to remember them properly. My top five metrodome memories will all be from games where I was actually there; when I was actually sitting in those horribly placed seats, under a dirty yellow sky. Check out my top five after the jump, and then feel free to share your own.

Five

This one isn't even baseball. In high school I was lucky enough to be part of a team that made the state playoffs for football. Two consecutive seasons I got to play at least one game on the turf of the Dome, the same turf as Puck and Hrbek and Radke, the same turf as Anthony Carter and John Randle and Randall McDaniel, as a member of the Breckenridge Cowboys in November of '95 and '96.

Four

On June 22, 1992, my family made a trip to the Cities for a vacation away from Greater Minnesota, and I saw my first Twins game. The Angels were in town. We arrived early enough to watch the guys warm up in the outfield, and I can still remember how in awe of them I was. They were just a few feet from me, in the flesh--real, live people, not on television. Kent Hrbek wasn't in the lineup that day, but I still got to see Knobby and Kirby. Knoblauch singled in the first, stole second base and eventually would score on a Chili Davis single. In the seventh Brian Harper walked, Pedro Munoz doubled moving him to third, and two batters later Harper scored on a Greg Gagne sac fly to make it 2-0. That was the final score, the Twins winning my first ever game on the back of those two runs and 8.1 innings of scoreless ball thrown by John Smiley. Aggy got the save, of course.

Three

I went to a Twins - Blue Jays tilt with my friend Mike on June 22, 2007. There were four drunk Jays fans in front of us, and honestly I don't even remember what the score was, although I do know the Twins won. Why? Because all I can remember is this:

Why did I take this picture, you ask? Why wouldn't I take this picture. Nasty.

Two

I got goosebumps when I saw Johan Santana pick up his 1000th strikeout on June 13, 2006, as I went to a game to see myself in Dugout Splinters for the very first time and to catch a game with some friends a couple days before my birthday. But while Johan more than did his job, striking out 13 over eight innings while allowing just five hits, he couldn't hold the Boston Red Sox scoreless. Jason Varitek's line drive home run to center field put Boston up 1-0, and the Twins would only manage to tie the game on a Michael Cuddyer homer in the bottom half of the inning. Santana left the game tied, and it wasn't solved until Jason Kubel decided to make Julian Tavarez pay for intentionally walking Torii Hunter to get to him. With the bases loaded and the count full, Kubel took Tavarez deep for a walk-off grand slam home run. It. Was. Amazing.

One

On April 5, 2004, Opening Day, I watched as the Twins slowly sunk to a four-run deficit through six innings at the hands of the Cleveland Indians. Brad Radke struggled early, giving up a second inning homer to Travis Hafner and a third inning homer to Jody Gerut, before settling down for the next couple innings. He gave up another solo shot to Hafner in the top of the sixth, and there wasn't any life in the Twins' offense, which had managed just one hit (a single by Shannon Stewart to lead off the bottom of the first) off CC Sabathia over seven innings. But then came the bottom of the eighth.

Joe Mauer walked to lead things off, and Christian Guzman followed that up with a single before the top of the order cylced around and Stewart moved both runners up on a ground out. Cuddyer followed with a hard liner to center, scoring both runs, and was moved to third base on a Doug Mientkiewicz single. Corey Koskie was sitting dead red on a 2-2 pitch and drove it into the left-center gap for a ground-rule double, scoring Cuddyer to maker it 4-3, before Hunter singled to tie the game and finish the scoring for the inning. Jacque Jones and Matt LeCroy struck out to end the rally.

Then all went silent once more.

via www.minorleagueballparks.com

J.C. Romero, Joe Nathan and Juan Rincon combined for three scoreless innings. Aaron Fultz and Joe Roa had already combined for two of their own, but those three bridge us to the bottom of the 11th. Jones struck out again, for the fourth time in four at-bats. LeCroy managed to squeeze out a walk, and was replaced on the bases by Nick Punto. Mauer pulled a hard shot into right field, allowing Punto to take third on the one out single. Guzman struck out for the second out of the inning. Alertly, Mauer took second base on defensive indifference with Stewart now at the dish, giving the Indians the option of intentionally walking Stewart to face Cuddyer. Chad Durbin and the Indians decided to go after him, and Shannon repaid them by smashing a line drive home run into the left field seats, about four rows in front of where I was sitting. The crowd went absolutely berserk, and I'm pretty sure Mike and I were already nomiating Stewart for MVP on the back of his strong showing with the Twins in 2003.

This, of course, was also Joe Mauer's very first game with the Minnesota Twins. I studied him closely before the game started, warming up with Brad Radke in the bullpen. There appeared nothing unusual, he wasn't wearing bling and he wasn't acting up and he didn't strut. He just squatted down, held out his glove and let Brad warm up. From moment one Joe was all business, even when his name was announced (hitting eighth, by the way) and the crowd rained down applause like they already knew he was Baby Joe Jesus. That in itself almost qualifies as another memory, seperate from the game, that I will always remember.

What about you?

Expos' Pick Ian Desmond Debuts In DC!! Washington Nationals 8-7 Over Philadelphia Phillies.

Ed Chigliak — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:16:03 -0000

More photos » by Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

3 months ago: Washington Nationals' Ian Desmond flies out to deep left, while Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz, left, looks on during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, in Washington. Desmond homered and drove in four runs in his major league debut and the Nationals won 8-7. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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Ian Desmond is a product of the last Expos' Draft class, selected by Montreal with the 84th pick in the 3rd Round of the 2004 Draft. (ed .note- "Two spots before teammate Garrett Mock went to the current-DC GM Mike Rizzo and the D-Backs in The RZO's old gig as Arizona's Scouting Director..."). Desmond played 639 games over six seasons in the Nationals' system before DC Skipper Jim Riggleman penciled the 23-year-old in at short tonight for his MLB debut against the defending World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, and Desmond did not disappoint...Batting seventh behind Elijah Dukes, Desmond was 2 for 4 with 4 RBI's, his first MLB double and his first Major League HR, a three-run blast off Philly righty Joe Blanton, that ends up being the game-winner when the Phillies rally for 5 runs in the ninth but fall short in the 8-7 loss to DC. Did I mention that Desmond almost cleared the center field stands with the HR? The kid hit Blanton's hanging curve so far it almost hit the Red Porch Restaurant!! Nationals win, Livan Hernandez gets the W!!! What more could you ask for out of Desmond's debut? Who said something about his error? Huh? Who was it?

Nationals win, 8-7 final.

Miss The GAME? The DC Faithful Were Watching.

Check Out The SB Nation's Philadelphia Phillies Blog: The Good Phight!

• "Game 140: Interesting In The Corderoan Sense" by Doghouse.

BACKPAGE:

• Spotlight On Ian Desmond!

• E: 121.

• #36: Ask And You Shall Receive.

For The Completists, Full Game Report After The JUMP!!!!

Nationals now 48-92.

BACKPAGE:

• Spotlight On Ian Desmond. DOES HE LOOK NERVOUS AT ALL???

Ian Desmond

#6 / Short Stop / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-2

Weight: 210

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Sep 20, 1985

'09 Stats:

• Double-AA Harrisburg - 42 G, 170 AB's, 52 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 6 HR's, 18 RBI's, 13 SB, .372 OBP, .494 SLG, .866 OPS.

• Triple-AAA Syracuse - 55 G, 178 AB's, 63 H, 12 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 14 RBI's, 8 SB, .428 OBP, .461 SLG, .889 OPS.

Origin Story - Montreal Expos' 3rd Round pick 84th overall in 2004.

• MLB Debut - 9/10/09: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI's!!!

• Ian Desmond's first MLB AB came in the Nationals' second. The 23-year-old, right-handed hitting shortstop fouled off a first-pitch slider from Joe Blanton and then connected with a 90 mph fastball, sending it soaring out to center where Shane Victorino made the grab. Desmond's second AB comes in the fourth, and his first MLB hit is an RBI double off the out-of-town scoreboard in right center to score Elijah Dukes from first after Dukes had singled in front of the rookie. Desmond's on second when Wil Nieves walks and starter Livan Hernandez steps up. Livan tries to bunt, and the catcher and pitcher both go for it, so Desmond tries for home, sprinting around third as Chase Utley throws back to the pitcher from first, Desmond slides in headfirst as the pitcher applies the tag, "You'rrre OUT!" yells the Ump. The next time Desmond and Blanton meet in the fifth, there are two men on when Josh Willingham and Dukes take back-to-back walks, and Desmond gets hold of a first-pitch curve that ends up twenty rows back in center field and almost into the Red Porch Restaurant. 3-run HR for Desmond. In the fourth and final AB of Desmond's debut, the Nationals...next...shortstop?...flies out on a 1-1 fastball from Chad Durbin. How was Desmond in the field...

• E: 121.

So what if Ian Desmond's 1st MLB Error came after his first double and his first home run, and so what if it came with Washington up 8-2 in the ninth, and sorta started a chain of events that eventually led to the Philadelphia Philllies having runners on 1st and 3rd with one out in a one-run game...So what if it's the 121st error of the League-Leading-Nationals' '09 season...E: 121 - Ian Desmond fields a grounder from Jayson Werth to short and sails the throw over first...OUTCOME: After Werth reaches on the E, Pedro Feliz singles, Carlos Ruiz walks and pinch hitter extraordinaire Matt Stairs hits a GRAND SLAM that makes an 8-2 game 8-6. DC right-hander Zack Segovia, who should've had two outs, ends up getting pulled, and his replacement Mike MacDougal gives up another run, forcing DC Skipper Jim Riggleman to bring in Ron Villone, who gives up a single to Chase Utley but gets a DP from Ryan Howard to finally end it at 8-7.

• #36: Ask And You Shall Receive.

From today's GameThread "?'s For The DC Faithful...", written two hours before the game started:

• #36 Donkey? No Rush, Whenever You're Ready....

Yes, I asked for it, and yes, I got it!! Adam Dunn, The Big Opposite Field!! Dunn Did It Again! For the 36th time this season, Adam Du--SHAKE N BAKE!! SHAKE N BAKE!! Adam Dunn left the yard, taking Joe Blanton and his weak 3-1 change deep to left and into the visitor's bullpen to put Washington up 5-2 two batters before Desmond's 3-run HR gave DC 8...

GAME REPORT:

Philadelphia Phillies At Washington Nationals. Game 140 Of 162.

Nationals’ right-hander Livan Hernandez, aka Mr. National Himself, gets a fly ball to center from Jimmy Rollins that Willie Harris gets under and grabs. Shane Victorino lines right by Pete Orr and into right for a single. Chase Utley lines an RBI triple off the out-of-town scoreboard to score Victorino for a 1-0 lead. Ryan Howard flies out to left center to score Utley. 2-0 Philly. Raul Ibanez grounds weakly to second to end the top of the first...Willie Harris’ groundout starts the Nationals’ half. Pete Orr K’s swinging over a bender in the dirt. Philly righty Joe Blanton gets Ryan Zimmerman, who misses a two-strike curve and K’s.

Jayson Werth drops a leadoff single into short left. Pedro Feliz flies out to left. Philly catcher Carlos Ruiz walks with one down. Joe Blanton bunts both runners over. Jimmy Rollins flies out to center to end the top of the second...Adam Dunn flies out to right. Josh Willingham’s safe on a weak grounder to short when Jimmy Rollins rushes and pulls Howard off the bag with his throw. Josh Willingham’s running when Dukes K’s looking and the Hammer slides in safe at second. Ian Desmond lines one to center in his first MLB AB, but not far enough, 2-0 Phillies after two.

Shane Victorino sends a one-hopper to Adam Dunn at first. Chase Utley slices a fly ball out to left. Ryan Howard battles Livan but grounds out on a full-count curve to end the Phils’ third...Wil Nieves makes Blanton dance with a grounder back over the mound in front of Livan Hernandez. Livan’s sac bunt advances Nieves. Willie Harris works the count full and walks. Pete Orr lines a fastball from Blanton to right and into the gap, Nieves and Harris score, 2-2 ballgame. Ryan Zimmerman gets jammed and flies out to center, but Orr stays put at third. Adam Dunn grounds into the shift to end the third.

Ian Desmond fields and throws to first in time to get Raul Ibanez. Livan Hernandez throws a fastball by Jayson Werth. Ryan Zimmerman cuts in front of Desmond to throw out Pedro Feliz...Josh Willingham grounds out to third to start DC’s fourth. Elijah Dukes surprises everyone with a bunt toward third that’s good for a single. Ian Desmond steps in and lines a double to the right center gap, Dukes scores from first just ahead of the throw home, 3-2 DC on Desmond’s first MLB hit!!!! Wil Nieves takes a one-out walk. Livan Hernandez drops a bunt toward third, and is thrown out at first, Desmond tries to score, and gets tagged out by the pitcher. Double play.

Ian Desmond backs up into short center to catch a pop-up off Carlos Ruiz’s bat. Joe Blanton singles to center on a weak liner. Elijah Dukes charges in and ducks down to catch a line drive from Jimmy Rollins. Shane Victorino rolls one to Zimmerman who takes the force at second...Willie Harris flies to right, Jayson Werth gets there but misses it, Harris safe at second. Pete Orr K’s swinging through a change. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to center. Adam Dunn goes the other way annnnnd GONE!! SHAKE N BAKE!! SHAKE N BAKE!! Adam Dunn’s 36th HR is a two-run blast to the left field bullpen for a 5-2 DC lead. Josh Willingham walks with two down. Elijah Dukes uses his Discerning Eye to draw a two-out walk out of Blanton. Ian Desmond goes DEEEEP TO CENTER FIELD AND GONE!! 3-run blast, 8-2 Nationals. Tyler Walker takes over for Philly. Wil Nieves grounds to short, Jimmy Rollins backhands and throws it away. Nieves safe. Livan Hernandez pops out to the infield to end the fifth. 8-2 DC.

Livan gets a weak grounder to second from Chase Utley. Ryan Howard K’s looking, though he disagrees. Hernandez gets a line drive to second from Raul Ibanez to end Philly’s sixth...Willie Harris flies out to Ibanez. Pete Orr K’s swinging through a 2-2 fastball from Tyler Walker. Ryan Zimmerman pops out to end the sixth.

Wil Nieves catches a pop fly off Jayson Werth’s bat. Ian Desmond fields and fires to get Pedro Feliz at first. Carlos Ruiz waits on a curve and singles to right. Elijah Dukes goes back to the track to catch a fly ball off Andy Tracy’s bat for out number three...Chad Durbin vs Dunn in DC’s seventh. Dunn K’s looking at a fastball outside. Josh Willingham lifts a line drive to center and over Shane Victorino’s head. Elijah Dukes up, Justin Maxwell on to run for the Hammer. Elijah Dukes uses his Discerning Eye to draw a one-out walk. Ian Desmond flies out to the warning track in left. Wil Nieves grounds to second to end the seventh.

Jimmy Rollins starts the eighth with a single. Shane Victorino pops out harmlessly to right. Livan Hernandez is done. Sean Burnett gets a weak grounder to third from Utley, Zimmerman charges, barehands and throws to first. Burnett vs Ryan Howard. Ryan Howard grounds back to the mound, Burnett throws him out...Brad "Shaky" Lidge vs Jesus Flores. Flores pops out to the infield. Willie Harris triples to right and off the out-of-town!!! Pete Orr K’s on a ball in the dirt and has to run it out. Ryan Zimmerman’s making Brad Lidge work for the final out. Zimmerman K’s to end the eighth.

Zack Segovia’s making his DC debut. Raul Ibanez pops out to Desmond behind short. Ian Desmond fields a grounder from Jayson Werth and throws it over first for his first MLB E. Pedro Feliz grounds back to the mound and off Segovia for an infield single. Carlos Ruiz walks to load the bases. Segovia vs Matt Stairs. OH NOES!! HR to right and over the out-of-town for a Grand Slam HR! 8-6 Nationals. Mike MacDougal has to come out for some work. Jimmy Rollins singles to center. Shane Victorino rips a grounder by Zimmerman at third, Rollins scores, 8-7. Riggleman yanks MacDougal for Ron Villone against Utley. Utley sends a dribbler up the middle and Zimmerman gets to it but pockets it. Victorino to third with one down. Ryan Howard grounds weakly to second, Alberto Gonzalez tosses to Desmond at second to Morse at first, double play!!! Double Play!! DOUBLE PLAY! Nationals win.

Nationals now 48-92.

Friday's Frosty Mug

KLSnow — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:40:30 -0000

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

Is Todd Coffey pitching too much?

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Some things to read while braving the wilderness.

The Brewers open a key three game series tonight with the Atlanta Braves, and I answered some questions about it over at Talking Chop. I also asked Martin Gondy some questions, and I'll have his answers here around 1 pm today.

Beyond that, it's a pretty slow news day. There are some minor tidbits on the Roy Halladay front: He's reportedly given the Blue Jays a list of teams to which he'll approve a trade. View From Bernie's Chalet is also hoping the Brewers won't mortgage the future to acquire him.

The Brewers made a trade on this day in 1998, acquiring Eric Plunk from the Indians for Doug Jones. Plunk pitched in 94 games as a Brewer, posting a 4.63 ERA.

This year's bullpen is in slightly better shape than 1998's. Brewer Paradise Lost looks at bullpen usage this season, worries about the usage of Todd Coffey and ponders the strange case of Carlos Villanueva.

Yesterday I mentioned Tim Dillard as a potential candidate to make the start on Tuesday, the next time the Brewers will need a #5 starter. A few hours later, Tom H. mentioned it too. Dillard leads the PCL with 10 wins and has posted a 3.66 ERA in 118 innings for Nashville.

While it's a slow news day on the major league level, I do have several minor league notes to pass along:

Miles Prentice III, the owner of the Huntsville Stars, had a 45 minute meeting yesterday with Huntsville mayor Tommy Battle to discuss a potential new stadium. Prentice downplayed the possibility of moving the team if a new stadium is not built, but stressed the fact that the Brewers aren't happy with the current facilities.
If we re-did the Community Prospect Rankings today, Evan Anundsen would almost certainly climb into the top ten, and might actually be the Brewers' top pitching prospect. FanGraphs notes that Anundsen leads the Florida State League in both strikeouts per nine innings pitched and FIP.
Erik Komatsu played in just one game in April for Wisconsin before going down with an injury, but returned to the lineup this week as a DH. Hopefully he can make something out of the six weeks or so left in the minor league season.
The Helena Brewers are making the most of their opportunities in the Pioneer League. Cash Kruth of the Official Site has a look at several Brewers putting up impressive numbers in their first pro season, including SS Josh Prince, who is hitting .336/.455/.383 and has already stolen 23 bases in 107 ABs.
Could the Brewers leave Arizona for spring training and rookie ball? The Orioles are leaving their spring training facility in Ft. Myers for a new one in Sarasota, and the Brewers have been mentioned as a possibility to take their place. The Brewers' current deal in Maryvale runs through 2012.

Prince Fielder's power numbers this season have been impressive, but it's also been a banner year for first basemen across baseball: Baseball Analysts notes that eight of the top thirteen home run hitters in baseball this season are first basemen, with three outfielders, a third baseman and a second baseman filling out the other five spots.

The Brewers dropped from 10th to 18th in Yahoo's Power Rankings.

Sometimes I think we forget how far the Brewers have come in a short period of time. On this day in 2001, the Brewers lost their eleventh straight game, and this list at The Hardball Times shows they lost ten straight games as recently as 2006. The most amazing stat, though, is at the bottom of the list: The Yankees haven't lost ten straight games since June 3, 1913.

Around baseball:

Astros: Placed Lance Berkman on the DL with a calf strain.
Blue Jays: Designated David Delucci for assignment.
Nationals: Placed Jordan Zimmermann on the DL with elbow discomfort.
Phillies: Placed J.C. Romero (forearm strain) and Chad Durbin (latissimus strain) on the DL.
Rays: Placed Chad Bradford on the DL with back stiffness.
Rockies: Acquired Rafael Betancourt from the Indians for a low-level minor league pitcher.

Happy birthday today to Jerry Augustine, who was born in Wisconsin, went to school at UW La Crosse and spent his entire major league career as a Brewer. He turns 56 today. Joe Oliver, who caught 97 games for the '95 Brewers, also turns 44.

Thankfully, both guys are easier to shop for than a woodpecker.

Drink up.

Doubled, Over: Cubs 10, Phillies 5

dajafi — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:05:14 -0000

More photos » by H. RUMPH JR - AP

Carlos Zambrano didn't do much at the plate against the Phillies Wednesday, but his 6 2/3 innings on the mound earned him the win in Chicago's 10-5 victory. (AP Photo/H. Rumph, Jr.)

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After ten straight wins in every flavor from easy blowout to stunning comeback to extra-inning thriller, the Phillies' streak came to an end Wednesday afternoon with a 10-5 loss to the Cubs. Jamie Moyer took the loss, struggling through five innings in which he allowed eight hits and five runs, but the Phils' bullpen--untouchable in six innings the night before--kept short-circuiting potential comebacks. After the Phils had pulled to within 5-3, Chad Durbin came in for the seventh inning and allowed three runs, on two hits and three walks, without recording an out. Brad Lidge came in for the ninth inning with the team down 8-5, and surrendered two more runs on two hits and two walks. Ryan Theriot had three hits and three stolen bases for the Cubs, and Aramis Ramirez and Jeff Baker each had two-run doubles.

The Phils' offense did a respectable job against Cubs starter Carlos Zambrano, who allowed five runs (four earned) on ten hits and three walks in his 6 2/3 innings of work. But all ten hits were singles, and the team left 11 men on base for the day. The Phils' last best chance came in the eighth, when a Ramirez error and two walks loaded the bases for Ryan Howard. Facing Chicago closer Kevin Gregg, off whom he's never had a hit, Howard grounded out softly to first, ending the threat.

The Phils' homestand resumes Thursday night when Cole Hamels pitches in a makeup game against his hometown San Diego Padres. Given the ten innings of bullpen work in a stretch of about eighteen hours, here's hoping he can go deep into the evening.

Cubs "Celebrate" Moon Landing Anniversary By Letting Phillies Blast Them Into Orbit 10-1

Al — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 11:16:42 -0000

More photos » by H. Rumph Jr. - AP

Hey, Jack. You're in Philadelphia. Maybe a Yankees cap isn't the best idea?

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PHILADELPHIA -- Between innings of last night's ugly 10-1 Cubs loss to the Phillies, the strange-looking green Philadelphia mascot the Phillie Phanatic came racing out on his small motorized vehicle wearing a Batman cape and mask. At first, this didn't seem to make any sense -- until the scoreboard in left field showed actor Jack Nicholson sitting in the front row behind the plate. Nicholson, who played the Joker in the 1989 movie "Batman", is in Philadelphia to film what is currently known as "Untitled James L. Brooks Project" with, among others, Reese Witherspoon and Owen Wilson. He sat there with a Joker-like grin on his face as the Phanatic tried to hex him.

That, my friends, was the only amusement Cubs fans had in this loss, which broke a four-game winning streak and was the Phillies' ninth win in a row. We knew it wouldn't be easy here in Philadelphia and, to be sure, the Phillies aren't the Nationals... but this was one of the worst, if not the worst, losses of the year.

Ted Lilly didn't have it last night -- but everything might have changed everything had plate umpire Larry Vanover had given him a third-strike call on a 1-2 pitch to Raul Ibanez. Ted thought he had Ibanez and gotten out of the inning unscathed, but Vanover called the pitch "ball two" and Ibanez sent the next Lilly offering into the shrubbery in center field for a three-run homer, just out of reach of Kosuke Fukudome.

As it turned out, any Cubs fans in Citizens Bank Park -- and there weren't many last night, perhaps the fewest Cubs fans I've seen at any road game in the last couple of years -- could have left right then, because those three runs were enough to win the game. The Cubs managed only a consolation run off ~~Greg Maddux~~ Rodrigo Lopez on an Andres Blanco double and a RBI single from Ryan Theriot.

Oh, and Lou? Take careful note of what Charlie Manuel did with his pitchers last night. That's how you manage a bullpen in a blowout! Instead of playing it like a spring training game, pitching a bunch of relievers for an inning or maybe two at a time, Manuel put Chad Durbin in the game in the seventh inning and let him finish; that resulted in Durbin's third major league save, since the save rule allows you to post a save if you throw three innings with any lead. (The most extreme example of this occurred on August 22, 2007, when Texas' Wes Littleton threw the final three innings of their 30-3 blowout of the Orioles, getting a save in a game his team won by 27 runs, although his team led by "only" 11 runs when he entered the game.)

Lou could have had Jeff Stevens throw two innings and Aaron Heilman, who needs the work to get straightened out (since they seem to be immune to suggestions to get rid of him), the other two. There was absolutely no reason to put Angel Guzman, who might be needed in more important play the next two days, in a 9-1 game in the 8th inning. Guzman threw 20 pitches and allowed Ryan Howard's 24th homer of the season. I'd rather have seen him kept fresh for tonight.

Meanwhile, the Phillies fans were giving it to Alfonso Soriano in LF for dropping one fly ball that led to a pair of unearned Phillies runs, and for letting another ball drop between him and Kosuke Fukudome. I can't say I blame them -- Soriano had a bad game in the field last night, although his three singles boosted his BA to .244, the highest it's been since June 2. Late in the game, Soriano chased after a foul ball down the line and the fans in LF were yelling for him to throw it up to them. I'm thinking, "You've been heckling him all game and you think he's going to throw you a ball?" He tossed it to the ball girl.

I'll have more to say about Citizens Bank Park tomorrow, as I didn't get a chance to walk around the entire stadium last night. I will say that although it feels more intimate than Nationals Park and the sightlines, even from seats low in the LF corner right next to the foul pole, are good, there were some problems that struck me right away. The lines in the food court like area in the outfield were extremely long even more than an hour before game time. I wound up in "Bull's BBQ" in dead center field -- the BBQ chicken is quite good and that was about the only place there wasn't a line. After eating, trying to get to my seat in the LF corner was an adventure -- the concourse was extremely crowded and you have to walk around the back of some sort of sports bar in LF just to get from section 145 to section 141 from the CF food area. Jessica tried to come by and visit during the game, but instead I just got a text message saying "the ushers were mean" and wouldn't allow it. Security took a couple of innings to get around to ejecting a woman who was spraying beer around the end of her aisle, apparently trying to get Soriano's attention (she failed). Finally, traffic getting out of the place was miserable.

I hope to have more positive things to say about the ballpark and the Cubs in tomorrow's recap. In the meantime, remember that this only counts as one loss and with the Cardinals and Brewers both losing last night, the Cubs remain in second place by themselves, still only two games out of first. (And, for what it's worth, three games off the wild-card lead, now held by the Rockies.)

Number Nine: Phillies 10, Cubs 1

dajafi — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:05:04 -0000

More photos » by H. Rumph Jr. - AP

A three-run Raul Ibanez homer in the first inning Monday night gave the Phillies all the support they would need in a blowout win over the Cubs. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr.)

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It looked like a possible mismatch: Cubs power lefty Ted Lilly against Phillies fill-in Rodrigo Lopez. But the Phillies' lefty-heavy lineup got to Lilly early and often, jumping ahead 5-0 on a three-run Raul Ibanez home run in the first and a two-run blast by Carlos Ruiz in the second. Lopez, meanwhile, ducked out of trouble in the third and fourth innings, leaving two Chicago runners on in each frame. The Phils delivered a knockout blow to Lilly in the fourth, scoring four more runs, and the competitive portion of the game was over.

Lopez worked through six innings, allowing a run on five hits and three walks, to improve to 2-0 and perhaps plant another seed of doubt in the minds of team decision-makers looking a few weeks ahead to who will have to go to make room for Pedro Martinez. Chad Durbin worked the final three innings to pick up a save, and Ryan Howard slugged his 24th home run of the year in the eighth inning, one shy of Ibanez for the team lead. The win was the Phillies' ninth straight, the first time they've hit that number since April 30-May 9, 2006, and evened the team's home record at 23-23--lifting them to the .500 mark at Citizens Bank Park for the first time in 2009.

Joe Blanton faces Cubs righty Rich Harden as the series continues Tuesday evening.