SB Nation - Scott Olsen

Santana In Venezuela Applesauce - Chapman To Throw, Non-Tender-Palooza and Kendall Tweets

James Kannengieser — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:02:40 -0000

A slow weekend means abbreviated Applesauce.

Meet the Mets

Johan Santana made a trip home to Venezuela to hold his annual Cy Youngazo ("Great Cy Young") event, where he hands out Christmas presents and organizes baseball and soccer tournaments. A nice read on this Monday.

Aroldis Chapman will throw a side session for teams on Tuesday.

Jason Bay's agent says his client has moved on from the Red Sox and at least one team has offered more than four years to the slugging left fielder.

Metsmerized interviews Brian McRae, a good guy whose greatest contribution to the Mets was being traded for surprisingly productive Darryl Hamilton.

Around the NL East

Braves blogs Talking Chop and Capitol Avenue Club provide input on the Kelly Johnson non-tendering.

The Nationals brought back Scott Olsen after non-tendering him.

The Good Phight looks at some low-risk, high-reward free agent targets.

Around MLB

Brew Crew Ball links to some of the funnier Tweets about the Jason Kendall signing.

Garrett Atkins celebrated his 30th birthday on Saturday by being non-tendered. No word if the Rockies will offer him a membership to the Jelly-Of-The-Month Club as a parting gift.

McCovey Chronicles is incredulous about the possibility of the Giants signing Scott Podsednik. The first two paragraphs are gold.

Washington Nationals Re-Sign Lefty Scott Olsen.

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 04:36:09 -0000

More photos » by Luis Alvarez - AP

If Washington Nationals' starting pitcher Scott Olsen is healthy, he'll be one of two left-handers in the twenty-ten rotation, as he signed a 1-year incentive-base deal to return to DC Sunday. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

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• Scott Olsen was on the free agent market for less than twenty-four hours following the Nationals' decision to non-tender the 25-year-old left-hander last night, but they quickly decided to re-sign Olsen at a discounted rate, giving the 5th-year pro a $1 million dollar incentive-laded deal which, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick's "baseball source", could earn Olsen as much as $4 million next year should he make as many as 33 starts. Acquired in a November '08 deal with the Marlins, Olsen started just 11 games for Washington before a torn left labrum abruptly ended his first season in DC. Told of his non-tendering, Olsen was quoted in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article last night entitled, "Nats cut ties with hurlers MacDougal, Olsen", stating that he didn't, "...have any plans to go anywhere else since I got traded over there. I think Washington is a great place to play. I would love to go back there."

• Last season, in 11 starts and 62.2 IP, Olsen, a Kalamazoo, Michigan native, was (2-4) with a 6.03 ERA, 42 K's, (6.0 K/9), 25 walks, (3.6 BB/9) and a 1.72 WHIP, following four seasons with the Marlins, over which he posted a (31-37) combined record with a 4.63 ERA combined ERA and an average of 9.4 H/9 and 3.6 BB/9 allowed and 6.7 K/9 inning recorded...

• After non-tendering Olsen and '09 closer Mike MacDougal Saturday, DC GM Mike Rizzo told Washington Post writer Chico Harlan, in an article entitled, "Nats non-tender Olsen, MacDougal", that he'd, "...be very comfortable if they're (both) wearing the Washington Nationals uniform next season," so there's still a possibility that MacDougal, if he wasn't as insulted as he seemed in some articles, could return to DC, where the 32-year-old right-hander last season recorded his first major league save since July 16th 2006, and converted 20 of 21 save opportunities, all after June 17th.

Washington Nationals: Tenders/Non-Tenders...Targets?

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 07:54:03 -0000

More photos » by Al Behrman - AP

The Nationals tendered contracts to five players, but not Mike MacDougal, who was non-tendered Saturday night and might not return. (AP Photo/Al Behrman, File)

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• Scott Olsen and Mike MacDougal...non-tendered. Jason Bergmann, Wil Nieves, Jesus Flores, Sean Burnett, Brian Bruney and Josh Willingham...tendered. The Washington Nationals decided to let Olsen and MacDougal test free agency, but already Olsen tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson in an article entitled, "Nats cut ties with MacDougal, Olsen", "I don't have any plans to go anywhere else," though MacDougal says he's disappointed, and (not to read anything into it....but)...he's already talking about Washington in the past tense when he tells Mr. Ladson, "I enjoyed playing there. I thought I did a good job, so yeah, it's a little disappointing. What can you do? I'm a free agent and go from there."

• Bill Shanks at The Braves Show.com mentioned that the Atlanta Braves' non-tendered infielder Kelly Johnson might be a target for the Nationals, so I guess I wasn't the only one who had the thought cross their mind, (though mine was more in a "no thanks" sort of way)...Does the Nationals' newly-hired vice president of player personnel Roy Clark, who served as Atlanta's scouting director for 20-odd years, still like Johnson...who followed up on a .287 AVG, .349 OBP, 39 doubles, 12 HR's and 69 RBI's in 2008 by hitting .229 in 2009 with a .303 OBP, 20 doubles, 8 HR's and 29 RBI's, and saw his WAR value drop from (+2.1) to (+0.7) while his UZR/150 actually improved from (-10.6) to (-0.2), though he played less games (106) than he had in the two previous seasons, (147 in '07, 150 in 108)...on the plus side, Johnson's the youngest free agent infielder out there...

• Just because Chien-Ming Wang is a sinker-baller doesn't mean he's a good fit for the Nationals, and stop trying to impress Mike Rizzo by finding him fast/sinkerballers, he's got a new front office for that...Wang was non-tendered by the Yankees today, after he had surgery on his shoulder last season, (acc. to New York Daily News' writer Mark Feinsand's article entitled, "Yankees pitcher Chien-Ming Wang set for surgery...", it was, "...arthroscopic surgery to repair the capsule (the fibrous membrane that surrounds the joint) in his right shoulder."), though the Yankees say they're interested in bringing the soon-to-be 30-year-old right-hander back after an '09 season which saw Wang go (1-6) with an ERA in the 9.00's, a 2.02 WHIP, 4.1 BB/9 and a 1.53 K/BB. If Rizzo's going to sign a pitcher coming off shoulder surgery, i'd bet it will be Olsen...

• ?'s For The DC Faithful:

Did anyone go on the market last night the Nationals should think about?

Do you like Kelly Johnson or Chien-Ming Wang for Washington?

Will MacDougal be back? What about Olsen?

Will Josh Willingham defy the rumors to remain on the roster?

What's Rizzo's next move...?

Scott Olsen non-tendered

craig — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 04:20:32 -0000

Scott Olsen is available.

... Scott Olsen became free agents when the Washington Nationals decided not to offer them 2010 contracts on Saturday.

---

Olsen was 2-4 with a 6.03 in 11 starts this year, his first after Washington acquired him from Florida. He did not pitch after July 10 and had surgery to repair a small tear in his left shoulder.

I doubt the Marlins will pursue Scottie O. There are two main problems, one being shoulder injuries are sometimes tough to recover from and two, he made 2.8 million last season.

However, should they, I wouldn't mind at all, he has a way about him to make the team a bit more interesting.

Washington Nationals Non-Tender Mike MacDougal.

Ed Chigliak — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:00:41 -0000

by John Amis - AP

The Washington Nationals non-tendered '09 closer Mike MacDougal, though they say they wouldn't mind bringing him back for 2010. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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It's not that the Washington Nationals don't want Mike MacDougal, at least according to what they've said in the press, it's just that they don't want to pay him what he'd be due to earn should it go to arbitration. Whether or not they're serious when they say that they'd like MacDougal back, or when they said they'd consider bringing back Scott Olsen, who was also non-tendered earlier today, who knows...? DC GM Mike Rizzo told Washington Post writer Chico Harlan, in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nats tender Olsen, MacDougal", that, "...you never know. They'll be free to discuss with all 29 other clubs, but suffice to say I'd be very comfortable if they're wearing the Washington Nationals uniform next season."

(cont.)...

No word yet on whether or not the rest of the arbitration-eligible players, (Jason Bergmann, Wil Nieves, Jesus Flores, Josh Willingham, Sean Burnett and Brian Bruney) have been tendered contracts, though the Nationals have until midnight tonight to make decisions on each...Jason Bergmann played for $439,000 last year, on his fifth-straight one-year deal. Nieves signed for $400,000 as a free agent in '08, and resigned in '09 for $445,000, his fifth one-year deal...Jesus Flores earned $411,500 in his third year in the majors...Sean Burnett, in his 5th-year with the Pirates last season, earned $485,000....Bruney avoided arbitration by signing a 1-year/$1.25M dollar deal with the Yankees in January of '09....Mike MacDougal was in the last of a three-year deal with the White Sox when they bought him out for $3M, ($2.65M salary + $350,000 buyout), making him available for the Nationals, who signed the soon-to-be 33-year-old right-hander to a minor league contract...Olsen, avoided arbitration after being dealt to DC and signed for one year and $2.8 million...

While Olsen's labrum surgery is well-documented, less has been said about the hip surgery Mike MacDougal had in mid-October. Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling wrote in a Chatter post entitled, "MacDougal has hip surgery" that the 32-year-old right hander underwent, "...arthroscopic surgery on his right hip in Vail, Colo., on Tuesday, repairing an injury that hampered the right-hander during the last week of the Nationals’ season." Mr. Goessling wrote at the time that MacDougal should be ready for Spring Training...will he be brought back to DC? They obviously brought Bruney in in case he's not...and there is that Storen kid...?

Washington Nationals Non-Tender Scott Olsen.

Ed Chigliak — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 19:52:34 -0000

More photos » by Julie Jacobson - AP

The Washington Nationals have decided to part ways with left-handed starter Scott Olsen, who is recovering from surgery to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder, rather than go to arbitration. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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The Washington Nationals acquired Scott Olsen from Florida along with Josh Willingham in a November 11, 2008 trade that sent infielders Emilio Bonifacio and Jake Smolinski and pitcher P.J. Dean to the Marlins. The then-24-year-old left- hander was coming off a 2008 season which saw the the 4th-year starter post an (8-11) record with a 4.20 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 5.0 K/9 and 3.1 BB/9. Olsen signed a 1-year/$2.8M dollar deal with the Nationals, avoiding arbitration, but made just 11 starts in 2009 before he was shut down for the season with a tear in his left labrum which required surgery. Faced with the possibility of having to give the rehabbing arbitration eligible pitcher a raise for the 2010 season, Washington Post writer Chico Harlan is reporting in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nats will non-tender Olsen", that the Nationals have decided to part ways with the soon-to-be 26-year-old lefty, though Washington hasn't ruled out the possibility of bringing him back for (probably) far less than he would have been due...

Before midnight, The Post's Mr. Harlan reports, the Nationals must make decisions on what to do with their other arbitration eligible players: pitchers, Jason Bergmann, Sean Burnett and Mike MacDougal, catchers Wil Nieves and Jesus Flores, and outfielder Josh Willingham...

More news when it's available...

No word on how Olsen's rehab was progressing...Did the Nationals make the correct decision here? Is there any chance Olsen will return to DC?

Former Marlins News

craig — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:25:48 -0000

I'm sure there is a lot more than is about to be reported, but it is all I found for today.

First up is Scott Olsen.

Nationals left-hander Scott Olsen is arbitration eligible and it's not known if he will remain with the club.

---

When reached by phone recently, Olsen said he is not sure what the Nationals are thinking these days, but he made it known that his shoulder is 100 percent.

"The medical staffs in DC and Melbourne, [Fla.] were real good about the shoulder," Olsen said. "We had a job to do and we did it. I went down to Florida with a plan for getting myself back. By Spring Training, there is not going to be any issues. When I do my throwing program in offseason, I've been told to go about it as if I wasn't even hurt. I will not do anything different."

When asked about his future with the Nationals, Olsen said it's too early to tell.

If the Nationals are willing to take Bonifacio back, I more than willing to take Olsen back in exchange. Of course that isn't going to happen, but nonetheless I am still willing. I guess there is a reason the Marlins have never contacted me to a part of the GM's staff.

The second one is Robert Andino.

David Pinto is doing his very ambitious series on Baseball Musings evaluating all players from A to Z, this is what he had to say about Andino.

Players A to Z, Robert Andino

Truthfully, I think Dino can hit better than he did last season. However, projections don't mean anything unless you can prove it in the field and Robert didn't last season.

So that concludes the Former Marlins in the news. Like I said, there are probably a lot of others but you really didn't think I was going to work that hard to find them all? Did you? We catch them as they come.

New Washington Nationals' Manager Jim Riggleman Talks To Internet...

Ed Chigliak — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:45:05 -0000

More photos » by Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP

On Friday afternoon, the Washington Nationals made their new manager, Jim Riggleman, available to online writers who follow the Nationals... (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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The newly-promoted Washington Nationals' manager Jim Riggleman made himself available this afternoon to the online press who follow the nation's capital's favorite MLB team, answering questions about his promotion to full-time skipper and discussing his plans for the twenty-ten Nats, who are looking to recover from back-to-back 100-loss seasons. It got off to a rocky start as he first hung up on the conference call, (he's probably still learning how to use all the electronic equiptment the Washington Times reported that he'd received), but Mr. Riggleman quickly returned, (humorously) blaming a member of the Nationals' front office for the technical difficulties, and from then on he was straightforward and willing to entertain all of our questions...

Mr. Riggleman was reluctant to say what it was he thought made the Nationals decide that he was the best choice as the full-time manager, telling those on the conference call that, "The criteria that the job is based on is in somebody else's hands," but he was, in his own words, "...confident that I'm going to be able to do this job," saying that he, "...has 16-years of experience to draw from when I'm managing a game." As far as putting together his coaching staff, Mr. Riggleman said, "We are in the process of doing that, we don't have anything to announce right now," but, Mr. Riggleman continued, "...there will be a couple of changes on the staff...if we were doing this call two days from now I'd probably have a final list for you." •(ed. note - "Washington Times' writers Ben Goessling and Mark Zuckerman quoted "club sources" in their 11/4/09 article entitled, "Riggleman could stay with Nationals", who said that, "Riggleman has identified potential staff members, who, combined with holdovers from last season, could fill out a coaching staff relatively soon.")

Asked about the possibility of adding free agents to the roster, Mr. Riggleman would only say that he doesn't want to add offensive players who can't play their positions, and when I followed up on the potential free agent targets, and asked specifically how you would convince free agents to join a team coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons, Mr. Riggleman responded by saying, "Surprisingly ballplayers are looking for opportunities...sometimes it's not just a matter of where you are in the standings,":

"For some guys it’s where they're going to fit on the ball club? How bad you need that position that they play or pitch. If they are a closer, if they can come in and be the closer, instead of being a set-up guy. There are different reasons for guys to go places. They may want to be the closer, like I said...they may want to know they are coming in as the regular shortstop...or you're offering them the chance to be our catcher rather than go somewhere else and not be the regular guy, they can come here and be the regular catcher..." **

Any possibility of Drew Storen or Stephen Strasburg, who are currently playing in the Arizona Fall League, seeing time in DC this season? Mr. Riggleman pointed out that, "...a higher percentage of those guys chosen to play in that league end up in the big leagues, so that is a great path to go on, if you're respected by your organization enough to be invited to that league...", (ed. note - An AFL fan told me the 'higher percentage' was around 60%...") and on Drew Storen in particular, Mr. Riggleman offered that, though he thought, "Decisions like this are tough to talk about right now," before the team is anywhere near Spring Training, "Drew signed quickly last year and that's a great thing...his path to the big leagues is definitely sped up...", and as far as Storen's role, should he make the team, "...the role would probably be somewhere in the middle, not a long man by any chance but somewhere in the middle." No word on Strasburg...

The Nationals would have liked to try Cristian Guzman out at second last September, but he was injured and shut down right when the opportunity arose...Mr. Riggleman thinks that in the post-steroid-era, teams will get back to speed and athleticism and you'll see more stolen bases...The Nationals need to get Jesus Flores healthy and back in the lineup, and there's a decision to be made when it comes to Scott Olsen...Mr. Riggleman knows there's a great deal of work to be done before Spring Training, but before that there are the Winter Meetings and that gives DC GM Mike Rizzo a few months to shape the roster much the way he has reshaped the Nationals' front office and with Mr. Riggleman in place on the bench and his coaching staff soon to follow, Washington's once again rolling out a new plan for success...

(ed. note - " ** = I didn't have anything to record this conversation, so I checked the full translation that SBF at Nats320 posted to clean up the notes I made and more accurately represent Mr. Riggleman's answers...")

The Bill James Handbook 2010 - Projections For The Washington Nationals' Pitchers In 2010 + Fall Notes.

Ed Chigliak — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:00:30 -0000

More photos » by John Amis - AP

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With the help of The Bill James Handbook 2010 (available 11/1/09) and Acta Sports.com, who made Mr. James' Hitter and Pitcher projections available before the book's publication, we're able to take a look at what the future might hold for the pitchers expected to throw for the Nationals next season. Will Garrett Mock start or work out of the pen? Will some of the older pitchers like Craig Stammen and J.D. Martin make the rotation this time around? What will John Lannan's role be as more and more prospects rise through the system? What should fans expect from the Nationals' bullpen arms like Sean Burnett, Mike MacDougal or Saul Rivera? After that, what one Chicago writer says about the Nationals' managerial search, and another night in the DWL with Ian Desmond...

After The JUMP...

The Bill James Handbook 2010 Hitter Projections For The Washington Nationals' Pitchers:

Collin Balester:

Balester, Collin	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	----	--	-	---	---
'09 Stats	7	7	30.1	20	10	1	4	6.82	0
2010 Projections	11	11	47.0	32	6	2	3	5.38	0

Jason Bergmann:

Bergmann, Jason	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	33	21	139.0	113	20	7	9	4.25	0
'09 Stats	56	0	48.0	40	7	2	4	4.50	0
2010 Projections	73	0	60.0	48	8	3	4	4.35	0

Sean Burnett:

Burnett, Sean	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	67	0	60.0	29	7	2	5	6.27	0
'09 Stats	71	0	57.2	43	6	2	3	3.12	1
2010 Projections	65	0	49.0	27	5	2	3	5.14	0

Tyler Clippard:

Clipper, Tyler	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	---	--
'09 Stats	41	0	60.1	67	9	4	2	2.69	0
2010 Projections	62	0	91.0	84	13	4	6	4.55	0

Livan Herandez?

Hernandez, Livan	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	27	27	150.0	84	19	8	9	4.90	0
'09 Stats	31	31	183.2	102	19	9	12	5.44	0
2010 Projections	31	31	188.0	103	23	8	13	4.98	0

Logan Kensing:

Kensing, Logan	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	43	0	46.0	45	6	2	3	4.33	0
'09 Stats	32	0	35.1	19	8	1	2	8.92	1
2010 Projections	36	0	41.0	38	8	2	3	4.81	0

John Lannan:

	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	29	29	177.0	103	18	9	11	4.08	0
'09 Stats	33	33	206.1	89	22	9	13	3.88	0
2010 Projections	32	32	199.0	101	21	11	11	4.03	0

Mike MacDougal:

MacDougal, Mike	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	----	---
'09 Stats	52	0	50.0	31	3	1	1	3.60	20
2010 Projections	67	0	67.0	59	4	3	4	4.43	4

J.D. Martin:

J.D. Martin	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	---	--
'09 Stats	15	15	77.0	37	14	5	4	4.44	0
2010 Projections	29	29	177.0	125	19	10	10	4.07	0

Shairon Martis:

Martis, Shairon	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	---	--
'09 Stats	15	15	85.2	34	11	5	3	5.25	0
2010 Projections	7	7	43.0	26	26	2	3	5.23	0

Garrett Mock:

Mock, Garrett	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	---	--
'09 Stats	28	15	91.1	72	9	3	10	5.62	0
2010 Projections	31	25	143.0	122	14	8	10	4.91	o

Scott Olsen:

Olsen, Scott	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	32	32	199.0	153	29	10	12	4.58	0
'09 Stats	11	11	62.2	42	11	2	4	6.03	0
2010 Projections	22	22	121.0	91	18	5	8	4.98	0

Saul Rivera:

Rivera, Saul	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	74	0	80	60	3	4	4	3.80	0
'09 Stats	30	0	38.1	21	7	1	3	6.10	0
2010 Projections	43.0	0	59.0	42	3	3	4	4.42	0

Craig Stammen:

Stammen, Craig	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	--	---	--	--	---	--	-	---	--
'09 Stats	19	19	105.2	48	14	4	7	5.11	0
2010 Projections	20	20	120.0	64	13	6	8	4.50	0

Ron Villone:

Villone, Ron	G	GS	IP	K	HR	W	L	ERA	SV
'09 Projections	76	0	42.0	36	4	2	2	4.22	0
'09 Stats	63	0	48.2	33	6	5	6	4.25	1
2010 Projections	71	0	54.0	44	5	3	3	4.33	0

?'s Raised By The #'s:

• Is there any room on the pitching staff for Logan Kensing in 2010? What bullpen arms from last year are you bringing back? Which would you part with?

• Which pitchers will make the twenty-ten rotation? Craig Stammen? Collin Balester? J.D. Martin? Shairon Martis? Do you expect anything from Scott Olsen?

• Mike MacDougal's projections are cleary skewed by the fact that he hadn't saved a game since 2006 before '09's 20 saves? Will MacDougal hold the closer's role throughout the twenty-ten campaign?

• A .500 season from John Lannan? Does that mean he'll finally receive some support this season? Is anyone guaranteed an 2010 rotation spot right now, outside of Lannan?

• Is Livan Hernandez coming back to DC next season?

2010 Skipper Search UPDATE:

If you haven't already read this when it was linked to in the comments of a previous post or elsewhere around the internet, since it was basically the only "news" to come out of DC this weekend, check out Chicago Tribune writer Phil Rogers "On Baseball" column entitled, "Cuban pitcher Aroldis Chapman in great demand", wherein, Mr. uh, Rogers writes (without citing a source, anonymous or otherwise) that the time for Bobby Valentine to claim a major league managing job may have passed:

"Bobby Valentine may be shut out on the job market. He was a finalist for the Indians job that went to Manny Acta, and it appears the Nationals are close to giving former Cubs manager Jim Riggleman the job he had on an interim basis last season."

Is the Washington Nationals' search for a full-time manager going to end with a promotion?

Saturday Night In The DWL:

The Tigres del Licey and Gigantes del Cibao squared off on Saturday with Nationals' infielder Ian Desmond starting at second for Licey and going 1 for 2 with a walk and a sac fly RBI, but it was Desmond's throwing error in the ninth that allowed the Gigantes to rally to tie the game at 3-3 and eventually steal a walk-off win when Tigres' pitcher Oneli Perez gave up a sac fly to left that ended it. Desmond's first DWL error proves costly. The 24-year-old, who impressed after his September call-up to DC, is now hitting .214 (6 for 28) with 7 RBI's in 8 games. Notes: Atahualpa Severino got a backwards K from the first batter he faced in the eighth after replacing Yhancy Brazoban, but Severino was out after allowing a run-scoring single in the next AB, though the run was Brazoban's.

Final Score: Gigantes 4, Tigres 3. MLB.com Box Score.

Washington Nationals' Possible Candidates for September Roster Expansion

Dave at Nats News Network — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 21:54:55 -0000

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Collin Balester could rejoin the team as early as Sept. 1 when the major league rosters expand. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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With September 1 literally just hours away, major league teams can expand their active roster to include anyone occupying a spot on their 40-man roster. Traditionally, teams have utilized the "September call-up" in one of several ways:

1) For contenders, it's a chance to give their regulars a night off here and there in preparation for the gruel of the playoffs

2) For middle of the pack teams, it's often a reward to long-time minor leaguers or AAAA-types toiling in obsurity

3) For bottomfeeders, it's an opportunity for a chance to see that prospect that everyone is excited about, even for just a quick appearance

The Nats seem to fall into all three categories this year.

The Nats have already indicated that they will wait until Syracuse's season is over before calling anyone up, though. So any help will still be at least a week away from arriving in D.C.

Because of the rash of injuries, trades and bullpen struggles, general manager Mike Rizzo has already made the bulk of his September call-ups before the roster expansion happened. Jorge Padilla, Pete Orr, Justin Maxwell, Mike Morse...even pitchers like J.D. Martin, Tyler Clippard and Jorge Sosa would have been prime candidates, were it not for the need earlier in the season.

So who is left? Let's take a look!

ON THE 40-MAN ROSTER

By my count, with Justin Maxwell's impending promotion there are currently 14 players on the 40-man roster NOT on the active 25-man roster:

C: Jesus Flores (15-day DL), Luke Montz (AA-Harrisburg)

SS: Ian Desmond (AAA-Syracuse)

OF Austin Kearns (15-day DL), Nyjer Morgan (15-day DL)

LHP: Scott Olsen (15-day DL), Ross Detwiler (AAA-Syracuse), Matt Chico (AA-Harrisburg)

RHP: Collin Balester (AAA-Syracuse), Shairon Martis (AAA-Syracuse), Marco Estrada (AAA-Syracuse), Luis Atilano (AAA-Syracuse), Ryan Mattheus (minor league DL), Stephen Strasburg

60-day DL: OF Roger Bernadina, RHP Terrell Young, 1B Dmitri Young, RHP Jordan Zimmermann

Players on the 60-day DL do not count toward the 40-man roster, so there may still be some wiggle room to place a player or two on the 60-day to open 40-man space.

Of the 14 players on the 40-man, Flores, Morgan, Olsen and Mattheus are out for the season with injury. And from the sounds of this, Kearns is probably joining them. So we can rule all of those players out.

Rizzo has already been on record that Chico is not likely a candidate, and Strasburg's plans have been laid out in excrutiating detail. Additionally, Rizzo has all but ruled out a cameo for Drew Storen, blazing his way up the minor league chain after being selected No. 10 overall in this year's amateur draft.

That leaves Desmond, Detwiler, Balester, Martis, Estrada and Atilano off the 40-man roster eligible. It's been assumed that the Nats will recall a couple starters to relieve some of the burden from young arms accumulation of innings. But with the signing of Livan Hernandez, who eats innings as well as any pitcher in the majors, maybe that goal has already been achieved.

Still, I can envision seeing Balester, Detwiler, Martis and Estrada all being recalled and utilized as starters or swing-men in September.

And I'll also pencil in Desmond. He's had a terrific season, and the Nats have to be wondering if the best arm and range in their minor league system can handle the bat enough at the big league level to replace the very quickly aging Cristian Guzman and his bunions.

Atilano is 2-0, 2.45 in two starts since his promotion to Syracuse, and the one-time first round draft pick of the Altanta Braves has enjoyed a fine season overall, but the Nats are probably happy to let him finish the season and head into spring training.

As for players currently not on the 40-man roster? There are certainly some candidates, and most of them are bullpen guys that could again help manage the workload of some of the young starters.

OTHER PITCHERS

There are six relievers in Syracuse that could certainly get "The Call" : RHPs Zech Zinicola, Zack Segovia, Josh Wilkie, Clint Everts and LHPs Jack Spradlin and Yunior Novoa.

Segovia has some major league experince, a 2.70 ERA and five saves for Syracuse. Everts was the Expos 2002 first round pick. In 2009, in over 57.1 IP at three levels (Potomac, Harrisburg & Syracuse), Everts has been outstanding (8-1, 1.41 ERA, 1.116 WHIP, 10.4 K/9). Spradlin is 4-3 with four saves and has a 3.19 ERA and 1.212 WHIP across AAA-AA in 44 games. He has struck out an even 7.0 per nine.

Wilkie was an unheralded pitcher from George Washington University (sound familiar?) and has been promoted twice this season. Novoa has a great change but has only been "just decent" this season, despite being promoted three times this season. Zinicola (6.04 ERA) has struggled this year.

OTHER HITTERS

Most of them are already with the big club. Rizzo said the other day he doesn't envision calling up a third catcher just for the heck of it. Montz is the only other catcher on the 40-man, and he's really regressed this season (.184/.295/.314 in 347 plate appearances) after hitting 16 homers last season.

Could Seth Bynum (.263/.306./453, 18 HR, 62 RBI in 433 ABs), Kory Casto (.268/.332/.373, 7-55), Norris Hopper (.291/.342/.344, 23 SBs), Brad Eldred (.267/.338/.478, 16-56) or Daryle Ward (.235/.320/.389, 12-45) get promoted? Possible, but not likely. The only compelling possibility is Hopper, who is a plus defender in center. But you have to figure whatever at bats Wee Willie Harris doesn't get are going to go to Justin Maxwell, in what could make or break his tenure in the organization.

SURE TO BE INCORRECT PREDICTIONS

The Nats add a bunch of arms, but just one more hitter, injury notwithstanding.

From the 40-man: RHPs Balester, Detwiler, Martis, Estrada and SS Desmond

Need to be added to 40-man: RHP Everts and Segovia and LHP Spradlin

Your guess is as good as mine, though. Let's hear 'em in the comments.