SB Nation - Adam Carr

Washington Nationals: Minor League Minute...Sunday Wrap-Up.

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:00:12 -0000

8 months ago: The Washington Nationals stand for a moment of silence for legendary Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas who passed away before their baseball game on Monday, April 13, 2009 in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

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Washington Nationals: Minor League Minute...Sunday In The System...

The Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) dropped a 5-3 decision to the Louisville Bats Sunday afternoon. Elijah Dukes stole his 4th base with the Chiefs and hit his 6th double, but going into Sunday's game, Dukes had been 0 for his last 11. Mike Morse, acquired from Seattle in exchange for Ryan Langerhans, was 1 for 4 with an RBI Sunday, and he's now hitting .353 in 23 games with Syracuse...The Harrisburg Senators (AA) beat the Trenton Thunder Sunday, and Jeff Mandel, whose name you might remember from his time with the P-Nats, made his Double-A debut with the Sens and earned the (W, 1-0) for 7.0 innings of work on the mound over which he allowed 6 hits and 2 ER in a 5-2 Senators' win. Mandel was (8-4) with a 3.61 ERA in 17 GS with Potomac...The Potomac Nationals (Class-A) beat the Salem Red Sox by a score of 6-4, and the P-Nats' right-hander Adam Carr completed 4.0 innings pitched in which he didn't allow a hit, but managed to walk 7. P-Nats' LF Dan Nelson was 3 for 5 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI's, and he's now hitting .283 with 21 doubles, 5 HR's and 34 RBI's in 74 games in which he's posted a .393 OBP, .442 SLG and .835 OPS...The Harrisburg Senators (Class A) lost to the Lexington Legends by a 6-3 score Sunday when the Legends scored 6 runs in the bottom of the ninth for an epic comeback win. Suns' reliever Chris Rivera gave up 5 hits and 5 ER in the ninth to blow a save and take the loss...and up in Vermont, the Lowell Spinners put a 16-6 beating on the Vermont Lake Monsters. RHP Matt Swynenberg, the Nationals' 28th Round pick, 832nd overall in 2009, gave up 7 H, 6 ER and 5 walks in just 1.2 IP in the loss...

This Has Been Your Minor League Minute...

Washington Nationals and Houston Astros Suspended...DC In LA Tonight!! And Manny Acta Answers My Questions!

Ed Chigliak — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:47:51 -0000

More photos » by Seth Wenig - AP

7 months ago: Washington Nationals' Jesus Flores hits a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Sunday, April 26, 2009, at Citi Field in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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A Virtual Conversation With DC Manager Manny Acta...

In a December 7, 2006 article by Baseball Prospectus' writer Kevin Goldstein entitled, "Future Shock: Rule 5 Draft", Mr. Goldstein remarked that the 6th overall pick of the draft, Jesus Flores, (who was selected by the Washington Nationals from the New York Mets' system), "...has some decent catch-and-throw skills. He was one of the best overall prospects available, but the Mets were convinced that no one would think he was ready." The Washington Nationals did.

Mr. Goldstein also made note of the fact that the Nationals', "new Manager Manny Acta has familiarity" with Jesus Flores, from Acta's time with the Mets as a third base coach during the Willie Randolph era. In an article by MLB.com's Bill Ladson after the '06 Rule 5 Draft entitled, "Nats tab three in Rule 5 Draft", Jesus Flores was singled out as a player who was taken in the draft:

"...under the recommendation of manager Manny Acta, Minor League manager John Stearns and Davey Johnson, who scouted for the Nationals before the trade deadline."

Flores was described by Mr. Acta in Mr. Ladson's article as a catcher with, "tremendous tools", and Mr. Ladson quoted the Former DC GM proclaiming that all three of the men who recommended selecting the catcher, "...think of Flores as an everyday catcher in the big leagues someday."

Jesus Flores was one of three players the Washington Nationals selected in the '06 Rule 5 Draft, along with pitchers Justin Jones (currently in AA Harrisburg) and Levale Speigner (w/ FLA's Triple-A affiliate), but it was Flores, with such high praise heaped upon him, who immediately caught my attention, and as I've watched him grow into an everyday catcher with Washington just as the Nationals' officials had predicted, I'd always wondered whether or not it was in fact Manny Acta who had been most directly responsible for Flores' selection, so when I read on Mr. Acta's MASN blog that he was willing to entertain questions from his readers, I figured I would post a question or two and see if Mr. Acta might actually reply...and he did.

In a post today, which must have been written, or at least posted, while the Nationals waited to see if they could finish their fun/hit/rain/error/walk-filled affair with the Houston Astros, which is entitled, "Because you asked..." DC Manager Manny Acta, on his MASN blog, kindly took a moment to answer my question(s), and confirm Mr. Ladson's original account of the '06 Rule 5 selection:

Q: Are you the one who was behind swiping Jesus Flores from the Mets? If so, thank you, thank you. If not, and if you can say, who in the Nationals' organization had him scouted? Let's Go Nats!! (ed. note - "I had an extra 'Go'!!")

Manny Acta: The Flores deal was a total team effort; I knew Flores well from my years with the NY Mets (both years he was in big league camp as an invitee). John Stearns, our double A manager, used to be with the Mets, so he was also familiar with Flo. Davey Johnson was doing some scouting for Bowden that year and recommended Flores to Jim... So when we went to the meetings, Jim asked me about Flores and I fully supported Davey and Stearns' evaluation of Flo... Jim made the decision and I'm glad he trusted the three guys working for him. Flo has a chance to be a good one.

I'd also read recently that the DC Manager Manny Acta was nostalgic for the days of the Flat-Brimmed Closer Chad Cordero and the Tallest Pitcher in MLB History, Jon Rauch, as MLB.com's Bill Ladson had written in a post on his blog entitled, "Acta: Nats miss Cordero, Rauch", where Mr. Acta was quoted as stating, "I'm finding out right now how tough life is without them," so I figured I'd ask if Mr. Acta saw any ninth-inning options in the DC system:

Q: Keeping Mr. Virdon's advice that you quote in your post in mind,** is there anyone in the system that you see developing into the kind of closer you're both referring to?

(ed. note - " ** = Manny Acta had written in a previous post entitled, "May, May come our way", that:

"Bill Virdon, a former major league manager doing some spring training consulting for the Houston Astros, told us that wherever you are going this season, from rookie ball to Triple-A, make sure you bring a closer with you.")

Manny Acta: The closer situation is not as simple; we don't have that many options in our system. And we've been waiting for the development of Adam Carr and Zinicola. Usually at least two closers are developed as starters in the minors and then converted to the role. As a minor league manager in the Houston Astros system, I had Billy Wagner and Brad Lidge both pitch for me as a starters, then they were converted to closers at the MLB level.

Adam Carr, a 2006 18th round pick, is currently 25-years-old and pitching for Double-A Harrisburg, where Carr's (0-1) with an 8.71 ERA in 10.1 IP in which he's allowed 16 hits, 10 ER, 2 HR's and 9 walks with 7 K's and a 2.42 WHIP...Zechry Zinicola, an '06 6th Round pick, was ranked as high as 6th in the Nationals' organization in 2007, when Baseball America.com writer Aaron Fitt published the '07 edition of the, "Top 10 Prospects: Washington Nationals", where Zinicola was also recognized for having the Best Slider in the DC system. In 2008, Zinicola had dropped off Mr. Fitt's list, though he was still recognized for his slider, following an '07 season which saw the then 22-year-old right-hander go (0-4) with a 5.46 ERA in 42 appearances and 52.1 IP. Now 24, Zechry Zinicola's in Double-A Harrisburg along with Carr, and currently sporting a 1.08 ERA in 8 G and 8.1 IP, over which he's given up 7 hits, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 HR and 4 walks with 7 K's, 2 saves and a 1.32 WHIP.

? For The DC Faithful...

Mr. Acta mentions Billy Wagner and Brad Lidge as examples of pitchers who began as starters and became relievers...In DC, Mike Hinckley's an admittedly less successful example of a pitcher who made the transition Mr. Acta described...MLB.com's Bill Ladson wrote recently, in an article entitled, "Clippard adjusting well to bullpen move", about another starter-turned-reliever who has caught the attention of the Natosphere, Tyler Clippard, who's, "...given up just two runs in 13 1/3 innings," since he was moved to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs' bullpen. (Rizzo points to head again.)...Is there anyone in the DC system or on the Nationals' roster who you think would be better suited to a relief role? I know some people think, Daniel Cabrera could close...I tend to disagree, but there's no baseball until 10:10 pm EST since the Nationals are out in La-La Land...So I'm willing to listen to arguments...Who's the next big thing in closing games? Mock? CHAT? If you have nothing to do, I'll log on around noon today (Tuesday 5/5) and discuss in the Comments...

• (ed. note - "Speaking of being in La-La Land, I wonder if we'll hear from you-know-who again? He's living here, right?")

• (ed. note - "I told someone the other day (in a GameThread comment I can't find) that this was my favorite of the MASN ads and as I was reading Mr. Acta's reponses to my questions, I found the embed code and such...

Miss Chatter:

Find more videos like this on myMASN

• (ed. note - "Taunting Smoltz = Always Funny. Especially Now That He's Out Of The NL East.")

Check Out Yesterday's Nationals/Astros GameThread To See What Was Happening When It Was Suspended...(We'll discuss Tuesday's game with the Astros later tonight in the Nationals/Dodgers GameThread, which I'll put up early in the evening...

Check Out The SBN's Los Angeles Dodgers blog:

True Blue LA.

Tonight's Starting Pitchers Are Going To Stare At You Now...

Daniel Cabrera

#45 / Pitcher / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-9

Weight: 270

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: May 28, 1981

Clayton Kershaw

#22 / Pitcher / Los Angeles Dodgers

Height: 6-3

Weight: 220

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Mar 19, 1988

(ed. note - "Tonight's Game Starts After LOST at 10:10 pm EST LIVE FROM LA...Dodger Stadium, and if you're lucky, MLB.tv will have the LA feed and we'll all get to listen to Vin Scully all night...Well, at least that's what I'm looking forward to...that, and #24!!!")

Let's Go Nats Go!!

A Tale Of Two Prospects, A Year In the Lives Of Washington Nationals' Prospects Chris Marrero And Ross Detwiler.

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 05:47:23 -0000

On November 7, 2007, Baseball America writer Aaron Fitt's report entitled, "Top Ten Prospects: Washington Nationals", had Chris Marrero, an 18-year IN/OF who'd just completed his second season in the DC system, and 21-year old left-hander Ross Detwiler, Washington's 1st pick, 6th overall in the '07 Draft, listed as the first and second highest-ranked prospects, respectively, in the Nationals' organization, and MLB.com had the two listed (in the same order) as the top prospects from Washington, 31st and 37th overall in baseball, in their league-wide rankings before the 2008 MLB season entitled Top 50 Prospects in Baseball, which was subtitled, "New faces welcomed into elite group".

Marrero had been selected with the Nationals' second 1st Round pick in 2006, behind only pitcher Colton Willems, as part of an '06 Draft Class that also featured hurlers Cory VanAllen, Zechry Zinicola and Adam Carr, but it was the '07 Draft Class, which included not only Detwiler, but pitchers Josh Smoker, Jordan Zimmermann and Jack McGeary, as well as fielders Michael Burgess and the recently-dealt Jake Smolinski, that truly impressed, earning Baseball America's distinction as the, "'Best Draft in the Industry' as part of Baseball America's annual Draft Report Cards," according to an Official Washington Nationals' Press Release from 10/26/07.

Chris Marrero played just 70 games for the Potomac Nationals in 2008 before a collision during a play at the plate resulted in a broken right fibula and ligament damage to his ankle, requiring surgery and costing the 19-year-old P-Nats' first baseman the remainder of his third professional season. Marrero posted a .250 AVG in the short season, to go along with 15 doubles, 2 triples, 11 HR's and 38 RBI's in 256 AB's. Washington Times' writer Mark Zuckerman's article about Marrero's season ending entitled, "Top prospect out for season after leg injury", quoted DC GM Jim Bowden's assessment of the injury's impact on Marrero's development:

"When you have a setback like this, it obviously affects your timetable to the big leagues,' Bowden said. 'But long run, he'll be fine. We'll get him healthy. And luckily, if you're going to have a broken leg somewhere, first base is probably the best place for it to happen.'"

The reports on Ross Detwiler's 2008 campaign varied throughout the season as he struggled early but ended up participating in the P-Nats Class-A Carolina League Championship run. Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling summed up the tone of most of what's been written about Detwiler's '08 development, in a 10/1/08 article entitled, "Player Development Coming Slowly, Surely", where Mr. Goessling wrote that:

"...left-hander Ross Detwiler stagnated at Potomac, his mechanics going through an overhaul that robbed the 2007 first-rounder of consistency much of the year."

Detwiler spoke to MLB.com's Bill Ladson in an article entitled, "Detwiler learning lots in the desert", where he explained what he thought were the reasons for his somewhat dissapointing (8-8) 2008 record, and the 4.68 ERA he put up in the 26 starts and 124.0 innings pitched:

"'I got away from throwing strikes,' he said. 'The hitters were getting fastballs on fastball counts. If they know that a fastball is coming they can sit on it and hit it hard somewhere. Later in the season, I started to get ahead of people a little more and make more quality pitches.'"

Detwiler recovered down the stretch and pitched well in the Postseason with Potomac, and this fall the 22-year old worked out of the bullpen for the Peoria Saguaros in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 4.63 ERA with no decisions in 9 appearances and 11.2 IP in which he allowed 16 hits, 6 ER's, 2 HR's and 4 walks with 7 K's. Nationals' Pitching Coach Randy St. Claire visited the Saguaros and reported back to MLB.com's Bill Ladson for an article entitled, "St. Claire visits AFL prospects", where he provided the following assessment of Detwiler's game:

"'He has been working very hard on keeping his lines to where he can [throw the ball on] both sides of the plate,' said St. Claire. 'Ross commanded the ball pretty decently. It was really nice to see him make that adjustment. I know he is working hard at it. That is something it takes a little while to correct. He was a little inconsistent with the curveball. He did throw some good ones, however."

We won't know how the successes and struggles of the 2008 season affected the status within the Nationals' system of the two prospects in Baseball America's eyes until their rankings of the Top 10 Prospects in the DC Organization for 2009 drop on January 7th of the new year, (according to Baseball America's own posted calendar), but a glimpse of the attitude towards Washington's prospects amongst the baseball cognoscenti was provided recently by John Sickels of Minor League Ball.com, who presented his list of the, "Washington Nationals Top 20 Prospects for 2009", which found Marrero and Detwiler, (who Mr. Sickels had ranked first and second, respectively, in his 2008 Prospect list), now ranked as the third and fourth best prospects, (again, respectively), in the organization behind two members of Detwiler's '07 Draft Class, pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, (1), and outfielder Michael Burgess, (2).

The Story of How Washington Nationals' Pitching Coach Randy St. Claire Became Known As...

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:31:31 -0000

...Washington Nationals' Pitching Coach Randy St. Claire's connection to the DC organization stretches back some 30 years(with a few breaks) to 1978, when the then-18-year old, 6'2'', 190 lb, right-handed amateur free agent pitcher from Glen Falls, New York signed with the Montreal Expos and joined the Rookie level Pioneer League's Calgary Expos, who, that season, (for a bit of perspective), featured an 18-year old Andres Galarraga at first and third base...

...St. Claire pitched six seasons in the Expos' system before he made his MLB debut with Montreal on September 11, 1984, and after nine seasons at all levels of baseball with Montreal, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Atlanta and Toronto, St. Claire made the first professional assessment of talent in what would become his second career as a coach, as Mr. St. Claire himself explained to Washington Post writer Barry Svrluga in a 2/26/07 article entitled, "Nats' St. Claire Knows the Task at Hand", in deciding to bring his own career as a pitcher to an end:

"'I had to be a self-evaluator,' St. Claire said last week. 'I had to know: "You know what? You can't do this anymore. Your skills are deteriorating. What do you do now?""

St. Claire's decision eventually led to his being hired by the Expos again, this time as a coach for one of their old Class-A affiliates, and within nine years of his last game on May 31, 1994, St. Claire had worked his way up to the Major League level again, joining the Expos as a coach in 2003 and remaining with the club as they made the move to Washington two years later, staying on as Frank Robinson's pitching coach until Mr. Robinson was relieved of his duties after the 2006 season. At that point, nearly all of Frank Robinson's staff was either reassigned or released so that the incoming Manager would be able to select their own staff...but Randy St. Claire? He wasn't done in DC yet...

...As DC GM Jim Bowden was quoted explaining to Washington Post writer Barry Svrluga in a 10/17/06 article entitled, "Girardi at Top of Short List, St. Claire Will Stay", the decision to retain St. Claire was fairly simple:

"'Randy St. Claire has done a fantastic job with our pitching staff,' General Manager Jim Bowden said in a statement released through a club spokesman. 'His work ethic, tireless attention to detail and ability to communicate have allowed him to build positive relationships with our young pitchers. I am very pleased that Randy will be with us in 2007.'"

Later in Mr. Svrluga's article, Randy St. Claire, who was, at the time, unaware that the Nationals would eventually hire Manny Acta as their new Manager, provided an overview of his approach to working with whatever pitchers were put before him, stressing, "The fundamentals...":

"...first-pitch strikes, getting ahead of hitters, not walking people, fielding your position, all that stuff -- if you prepare them to do that, I think they're going to be successful over the long haul, and I think the manager will be happy."

Two seasons later, and after the Nationals' trying 59-102 '08 campaign, the staff that Manny Acta had selected upon being hired was almost completely disbanded, with the new staff to be chosen by Acta, along with DC GM Jim Bowden, Asst. GM Mike Rizzo and the rest of the Nationals' Brass. So old Acta allies like Pat Corrales, Rick Aponte, Tim Tolman, Jerry Manuel and Lenny Harris were all to be replaced, but Pitching Coach Randy St. Claire? He wasn't going anywhere...

In Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's Nationals Journal post entitled, "More On The Coaching Changes", Mr. Harlan asked DC GM Jim Bowden directly, "The decision to have Randy St. Claire remain on staff -- what did you see from him that makes you feel like he's the right guy?", and Mr. Bowden's response:

"We thought he did a very good job with our young pitchers. They continue to improve and get better."

MLB.com writer Bill Ladson mentioned pitchers John Lannan and Collin Balester in an article entitled, "Nats dismiss most of coaching staff", as particular examples of young pitchers who were successful under St. Claire's tutelage in 2008, and this fall, Mr. Ladson wrote about Mr. St. Claire's visit with some of the youngest Nationals' pitchers competing in the Arizona Fall League in another article at the Nationals' official site entitled, "St. Claire visits AFL prospects", where Mr. St. Claire predicted, after spending a few days with pitchers Adam Carr, Ross Detwiler, Cory VanAllen and Zechry Zinicola, that all of them, "...will be in the big leagues some day," and no doubt, "Teflon" Randy St. Claire, who survived the Montreal years, the move to DC, the end of the Frank Robinson Era and the purge of the first Manny Acta Regime, will still be there when the next generation of DC arms emerges.

Final Arizona Fall League #'s For Washington Nationals' Prospects. PLUS...More Teixeira Talk.

Ed Chigliak — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:14:19 -0000

(MEANDERING) FINAL AFL UPDATE...

The Peoria Saguaros, and the Washington Nationals' prospects on their roster, completed the Arizona Fall League season today with a 4-3 win over the Surprise Rafters to tie the Mesa Solar Sox, (who lost their last game), atop the AFL's American Division with identical 26-12 records, though the tiebreaker and the chance to play for the Fall League's title goes to the Solar Sox, who claimed the season series between the teams four games to three with their win over Peoria this past Wednesday night breaking a tie...

In the final game of the Fall for the Saguaros, DC infielder Ian Desmond did the most damage, going 2 for 4 with a double, a HR and an RBI to end his AFL campaign with a .267 AVG, 6 doubles, 4 HR's and 17 RBI's. Leonard Davis, (one of a couple players drafted as a third baseman and forced to find other positions in the DC organization after the Nationals' '05 Draft), was fit into the Saguaros' lineup at third, and went 0 for 3 with a run scored a walk, a K and a .325 AVG to show for his Fall, along with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 4 HR's and 15 RBI's in 22 games and 80 at bats. (Zechry Zinicola also earned his second save with 1.0 scoreless frame in which he allowed a hit and struck out two batters to close out the win and lower his fall ERA to 6.89)

Both Desmond and Davis were drafted in the last Montreal Expos' Class, in 2004, with Desmond taken in the 3rd Round, 84th overall, a round before Collin Balester, and four rounds before Leonard Davis, who was selected with the 234th pick in the 8th Round.

The Nationals added the two, Desmond and Davis, to the 40-Man roster back on 11/10/08, (along with former Atlanta Braves' 1st Round pick pitcher Luis Atilano, who was acquired by DC in exchange for Daryle "D." Ward in post-deadline deal in August of '06), though Washington Post writer Chico Harlan noted at the time, in a Nationals Journal post entitled simply, "Three Added To Roster", that, "...all three of these players would have been eligible for the Rule 5 Draft had they not been added to the 40-man roster."

-- Desmond, who's been around so long it's hard to believe he's only 22, hit .251 with 14 doubles, 12 HR's, 44 RBI's and 12 steals in 93 games in 2008 with the Nationals' affiliate in Double-A Harrisburg. Before the season, Desmond was listed as the "Best Defensive Infielder" and was said to have the "Best Infield Arm" according to Baseball America's Aaron Fitt's "Top 10 Prospects: Washington Nationals" report, in spite of having committed 32 errors in 127 games at short for the Class-A Potomac Nationals in the 2007 season.

-- Leonard Davis was nowhere to be found in Mr. Fitt's report after the 2007 season, in which the then-23-year-old outfielder hit a combined .285 with 33 doubles, 4 triples, 20 HR's and 66 RBI's at three levels of the Nationals' system, but after his 2008 campaign, Davis' name appeared in the Washington organizational report by MiLB.com writer Kevin T. Czerwinski entitled, "Nationals' farm hurt by injury bug", in which Mr. Czerwinski wrote:

"Davis was a largely nondescript player through four Minor League seasons before bursting onto the scene this year. He hit .332 in 217 at-bats with Potomac and then hit .488 in 41 at-bats at Harrisburg. He tailed off a bit at Columbus (.239 in 180 at-bats), but still had a marvelous season."

In an official Washington Nationals' Press Release on September 23rd of '08, Leonard Davis was named the Nationals' Minor League Player of the Year.

FINAL AFL STATS...

Peoria Saguaros' Fielders...

Ian Desmond - SS - 28 G, 27 for 101, .267 AVG, 6 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR's, 17 RBI's, 4 SB, .364 OBP, .525 SLG, .888 OPS.

Bill Rhinehart - 1B - 23 G, 30 for 92, .326 AVG, 11 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR's, 28 RBI's, 1 CS, .392 OBP, .598 SLG, .990 OPS.

Leonard Davis - OF - 22 G, 26 for 80, .325 AVG, 6 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR's, 15 RBI's, 2 SB, .415 OBP, .600 SLG, 1.015 OPS.

Peoria Saguaros' Pitchers...

Adam Carr - RP - (0-1), 3.65 ERA, 2 SV, 12 G, 12.1 IP, 11 H, 5 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 8 K's.

Ross Detwiler - RP - (0-0), 4.63 ERA, 9 G, 11.2 IP, 16 H, 6 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 7 K's.

Cory VanAllen - SP/RP - (2-1), 5.84 ERA, 8 G, 7 GS, 24.2 IP, 34 H, 16 ER, 3 HR, 6 BB, 30 K's.

Zechry Zinicola - RP - (2-0), 6.89 ERA, 14 G, 2 SV, 15.2 IP, 21 H, 12 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 11 SO.

TEIXEIRA TALK...

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson and an anonymous "person familiar with (Mark) Teixeira" who is quoted in Mr. Ladson's article entitled, "Teixeira interested in playing for Nats", free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira is, "...from Maryland and is thinking about the possibility of playing in Washington." Mr. Ladson was unable to speak to Teixeira's agent Scott "Maximum" Boras, and the DC Brass no-commented, but Washington Post writer Chico Harlan was able to track down Mr. Boras, who is quoted in Mr. Harlan's Nationals Journal post entitled, "The Suitors Line Up", stating the obvious fact, "...that the interest in Mark Teixeira is widespread, and it's something we'll have to narrow here as we work through the process." (ed. note - "Oh this Boras guy is good...") FoxSports' writer Ken Rosenthal's article entitled, "Where will Teixeira mark his turf?", recognizes the Nationals as, "a major player" in the pursuit of Teixeira, but Mr. Rosenthal insults as he provides hope, writing, "It still appears doubtful that Teixeira will choose the Nationals...(but)...another Boras client, Alex Rodriguez, stunned the baseball world by joining the then-lowly Rangers."...and finally, e. chigliak at federalbaseball.com reports that he still has his doubts about all this...

Poll

Which DC Prospect's Arizona Fall League Performance Was The Most Impressive?

Ian Desmond - SS

2 votes

Bill Rhinehart - 1B

11 votes

Leonard Davis - OF

8 votes

Adam Carr - RP

1 votes

Ross Detwiler - RP

4 votes

Cory VanAllen - SP

1 votes

Zechry Zinicola - RP

1 votes

28 votes | Poll has closed