SB Nation - Rafael Soriano

Game 67 WPA: Bombs away. Nats 7, CLE 6

Doghouse — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 02:50:20 -0000

Via Fangraphs (click to embiggen)

Rough outing: Jordan Zimmermann (-41.5%) cruises through 4, but finishes wasting a 5-run lead and goes behind in the 5th. He has 6Ks, 1 BB, and 6 ER on 5 IP in all.
Back to back: Ryan Zimmerman (+7.6%) hits a solo shot in the 1st (+10.4%), as does Jayson Werth (+10.9%) in the next AB (+9.8%).
New streak: Ian Desmond (+13.7%) is 1-3 with a walk and a second-inning solo dinger (+8.2%).
Light years beyond your imagination: Ian Krol (+12.1%) is rock-solid in relief, getting 5 straight outs in the 7th and 8th with 3 Ks for a shutdown.
Showing us: Chad Tracy (+26.5%) comes through in the clutch (not that clutch exists) with a two-out solo shot to tie the game in the aeyth (+26.5%).
Render unto Caesar, DINGERS: Anthony Rendon (+47.2%) picks the right spot for his first major lead home run, with a two-out, go-ahead solo shot in the top of the 9th (+41.5%).
Only slightly interesting: Rafael Soriano (+19.5%) fans two, gives up a double, and gets some help from Adam LaRoche (-13.0%), who makes up for his o-fer by snaring a hard line drive for the last out (+14.0%).

Washington Nationals Rewind: Nats Take Two Of Three In Colorado; Next Stop Cleveland

Patrick Reddington — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:32:20 -0000

A two-run Ryan Zimmerman home run in the third put the Washington Nationals up 2-1 on the Colorado Rockies after Dexter Fowler scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. In the bottom of the fourth, Troy Tulowitzki singled and scored to tie it at 2-2 on a Michael Cuddyer double when Jayson Werth misplayed a fly ball that bounced off the right field wall. Cuddyer took third on the play and scored on an RBI groundout by Rockies' catcher Wilin Rosario to put Colorado up 3-2. The one-run lead held up until the seventh when Ian Desmond singled and stole second with two down...

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Rockies' reliever Wilton Lopez was then called for back-to-back balks which moved the Nationals' shortstop from second to third and then home for the game-tying run. The Nats added two more in the eighth when Zimmerman doubled in a run and Desmond hit an RBI single that ended up being the game-winner when the Rockies rallied for a run on Nationals' closer Rafael Soriano in the ninth.

"You can't be moving toward your glove and stop. It's an automatic balk, and it was very obvious." - Davey Johnson on Wilton Lopez's balks

Wilton Lopez was inconsolable after the balks and he got himself tossed for shouting angrily at first base ump John Hirschbeck after a play at first ended the Nats' eighth. Asked about the balks, one called by home plate ump James Hoye and second base ump Bob Davidson and the second by third base umpire Jim Reynolds, Nats' skipper Davey Johnson told reporters after the game that the umpires made the right call. "Actually he did it three times," the 70-year-old manager said, "they only called it twice. Kept going toward his glove and then he would stop and they called two out of three. But you can't be moving toward your glove and stop. It's an automatic balk, and it was very obvious."

The Nationals took advantage of the calls to tie the game up and eventually win. "We've been battling," Johnson said. "Today was a better day for the offense. We swung the bats better, and [starter Jeff Francis] has always been kind of tough on us. A lot of changeups and stuff, but, you know it's a good team win. We needed that." The win gave Washington two of three in Coors Field, four of their last five overall and lifted them back over .500 at 33-32 on the year, 5.5 games out of first in the NL East and 5.5 out in the Wild Card race after 65 games.

"I got [Ross Detwiler] back in and [Stephen Strasburg] is coming this weekend and [Bryce Harper] is probably just around the corner." - Davey Johnson on Nats getting healthy

"We're getting healthier," the Nationals' manager said, "I got [Ross Detwiler] back in and [Stephen Strasburg] is coming this weekend and [Bryce Harper] is probably just around the corner." Detwiler returned to the mound for the first time since suffering an oblique strain in a May 15th start against the Dodgers in LA. Strasburg suffered a lat strain on the road in Turner Field in Atlanta. He's expected to return to the mound on Sunday afternoon in Cleveland opposite right-hander Corey Kluber. Gio Gonzalez starts the first game against the Indians' Justin Masterson tonight in Cleveland's Progressive Field. Jordan Zimmermann throws on Saturday afternoon against veteran left-hander Scott Kazmir.

Thursday afternoon in Coors Field, it was Detwiler on the hill for the Nats. The 27-year-old lefty was on a pitch limit in his first major league start in a month. Detwiler gave up six hits and three runs in 5.0 IP in which he threw 77 pitches, and he induced nine ground ball outs from the 21 batters he faced. Craig Stammen pitched two scoreless in relief. Xavier Cedeno and Drew Storen combined for a scoreless eighth and Rafael Soriano wrapped things up in spite of surrendering a run in the bottom of the ninth.

"[Det] really pitched good for being out for [as] long as he was," Davey Johnson said after the game, "and he went right to his pitch limit, 75 pitches, but he pitched a good ballgame. A couple balls dropped in normally we'd probably catch anywhere else, but the bullpen did a great job. Stammen shut the door, he usually comes along to get the win. He and [Tyler] Clippard are my good luck charms out there. But it was a well-played ballgame."

The Nationals play three this weekend in Cleveland then three in Philadelphia before they head home to the nation's capital to start another series with the Rockies next Thursday.

Game 65 WPA: This kind of circus, I like! Nats 5, Rox 4

Doghouse — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:39:23 -0000

Via Fangraphs (click to embiggen)

Getting back in shape: Ross Detwiler (+0.2%) fans 2 and walks none in 5 IP, but gets hit around for 3 ER.
What have you done with June Zim? Ryan Zimmerman (+31.2%) is 2-4 with a two-run bomb in the 3rd for the early lead (+17.4%) and a go-ahead RBI double in the aeyth (+19.1%).
That's clown clutch, bro: Ian Desmond (+35.7%) finds yet another ridiculous way to lead the team in WPA, going 4-4 and (among other things), stealing a base, scoring a game-tying run on a balk in the 7th (+11.5%), and hitting an RBI single for the eventual winning run in the aeyth (+11.7%).
Shutdowns: Craig Stammen (+16.6%) throws two scoreless innings, Drew Storen (+6.5%) gets two big outs in the aeyth, and Rafael Soriano (+13.6%) allows an ER in the 9th but fans 2 and saves the win.
Let him rest, Davey: Kurt Suzuki (-19.6%) is 0-4 with 5 LOB.

Closer Report: Week 11 Rankings

Ray Guilfoyle — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:43:19 -0000

Two weeks ago, I moved Jason Grilli into the #2 spot in my Closer rankings, and this week he moves into the top spot. Why? Because he has been the best closer in the game this season. Here is a look at his 2013 stats vs Craig Kimbrel, the former #1 closer:

Jason Grilli: 23 saves, 0 blow saves, 0.98 ERA, 0.50 FIP, 46-6 K-BB, 27.2 innings, 14.96 K/9, 7.67 K/BB

Craig Kimbrel: 18 saves, 3 blow saves, 1.85 ERA, 2.86 FIP, 34-6 K-BB, 24.1 innings, 12.58 K/9, 5.67 K/BB

While Kimbrel is considered the most dominant closer in the game, Grilli has had the better season of the two thus far, with no blown saves, and a higher K/9 and K/BB rate. Grilli leads the majors in saves with 23 and is second only to Reds closer Aroldis Chapman in K/9. His 0.50 FIP also leads all big league closers this season.

I have made a few changes to the rankings, moving guys like Edward Mujica, Heath Bell and Jim Henderson up a few spots, but, generally, the rankings haven't changed much. I did drop Red Sox closer Andrew Bailey down to the #22 spot after his dreadful performance last night.

I had thought about moving Kenley Jansen back down to the #34-35 spot in the rankings, but that was before Brandon League blew up in the ninth inning of last night's game vs the Diamondbacks. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has been using Jansen vs the opponent's best hitters this season, and using League in the ninth vs their opponent's lesser batters, but that blew up in his face last night. I see Jansen taking over the Dodgers closer role starting tonight.

Now let's take a look at my Week 11 Closer Rankings:

Week 11 Closer Rankings

Rank	Closer/Middle Reliever	Team
1	Jason Grilli	PIT
2	Craig Kimbrel	ATL
3	Mariano Rivera	NYY
4	Aroldis Chapman	CIN
5	Jim Johnson	BAL
6	Sergio Romo	SFG
7	Edward Mujica	STL
8	Casey Janssen	TOR
9	Rafael Soriano	WAS
10	Joe Nathan	TEX
11	Tom Wilhelmsen	SEA
12	Addison Reed	CHW
13	Jonathan Papelbon	PHI
14	Glen Perkins	MIN
15	Greg Holland	KC
16	Heath Bell	ARI
17	Grant Balfour	OAK
18	Jim Henderson	MIL
19	Chris Perez	CLE
20	Rafael Betancourt	COL
21	Kevin Gregg	CHC
22	Andrew Bailey	BOS
23	Jose Valverde	DET
24	Fernando Rodney	TB
25	Kenley Jansen	LAD
26	Luke Gregerson	SD
27	Steve Cishek	MIA
28	Ernesto Frieri	LAA
29	Bobby Parnell	NYM
30	Jose Veras	HOU
31	Rex Brothers	COL
32	Trevor Rosenthal	STL
33	Mark Melancon	PIT
34	Huston Street	SD
35	Brandon League	LAD
36	David Robertson	NYY
37	Jesse Crain	CHW
38	David Hernandez	ARI
39	Joel Peralta	TB
40	Francisco Rodriguez	MIL

Closer Changes

The only closer changes made were due to injury. Huston Street landed on the DL with a calf injury, but will start a rehab assignment this week, so he will get the Padres closer job back when he returns. Luke Gregerson filled in for him and earned two saves, but blew his most recent save opportunity in grand fashion on Sunday vs the Rockies. Gregerson gave up three runs on four hits and a walk in 0.2 innings to blow his second save of the season.

The other closer change was due to Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt landing on the DL with a groin injury. Rex Brothers has filled in for Betancourt, earning two saves and blowing one save. Betancourt may not be back until the end of June-early July, so Brothers is the one to own if he is available in your leagues.

Closer Situations to Watch

Brandon League, LAD

League more than likely will lose the closer role in Los Angeles after his blow up last night. I would be shocked if he did not lose the job. Grab Jansen as he is still available in 30% of ESPN leagues.

Edward Mujica, STL

With the way Trevor Rosenthal is pitching right now, it would probably only take 2-3 blown saves for Mujica to lose the closer job in St. Louis. Rosenthal struggled in April, but has been one of the more dominant relievers in the game since then. Rosenthal has given up just one earned run since April 17th, a span of 22 appearances.

Game 62 WPA: Chipping away. Nats 5, Twins 4

Doghouse — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 03:17:02 -0000

Via Fangraphs (click to embiggen)

Rookie mistakes: Nathan Karns (-29.9%) only makes it through 3 IP, giving up 2 walks and a HR to the opposing 7/8 hitters for 2 Ks, 3 BBs, 4 ER overall.
Veteran calm: Craig Stammen (+7.1%) throws two perfect innings in relief for a shutdown, fanning 1.
Rookie misadventures: Erik Davis (-6.0%) melts down in the 6th, giving up a leadoff triple but getting an out without letting the runner score.
Rookie calm: Fernando Abad (+11.0%) earns a shutdown by coming into the one-out, runner-on-third jam in the 6th and stranding the runner.
Deja vu AROOO: Jayson Werth (+2.9%) singles in the Shark, moving Zim to second, in the first (+9.9%)... and then again in the third (+7.1%).
Fin lurking: Roger Bernadina (+15.6%) can't stop getting on base, going 2-3 with a pair of walks.
Veteran luck: Ryan Zimmerman (+17.7%) is only 1-3 with a walk, but gets the big WPA with a bases-loading ROE in the 5th (+11.6%).
Remember me, Minnesotans? Denard Span (+21.4%) is 1-4 with a walk and a game-tying RBI triple in the 6th (+22.7%).
Needing a few second chances: Ian Desmond (-1.9%) strands six baserunners before finally doubling in the go-ahead run in the 7th (+19.5%).
Steady as you please: Tyler Clippard (+8.4%) throws a shutdown 7th, working around a single, while Drew Storen (+11.5%) gets his shutdown with a perfect aeyth.
Awfully interesting: Rafael Soriano (+15.2%) puts runners corners before getting the Hammer to foul out to ALR to end the game (+15.7%).

Game 60 WPA: Disappointing. Nats 3, Twins 4

Doghouse — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 03:56:04 -0000

Via Fangraphs (click to embiggen)

Not the worst: Gio Gonzalez (-9.0%) manages to go 6 IP with 2 ER (3 RA) with 7 Ks and 4 BBs. The walks are getting to be a problem.
Aroo? Jayson Werth (+1.3%) hits a two-run bomb in the 3rd for the early lead (+22.8%).
Klutch (if the existed): Kurt Suzuki (+9.0%) doubles in the tying run in the 7th (+23.4%).
Shutdowns: Tyler Clippard (+10.1%), Rafael Soriano (+12.8%), and Ian Krol (+18.9%) turn in solid relief work to get the game into the 11th.
Meltdown: Erik Davis (-6.1%) struggles in the 10th before Krol defuses his jam.
MELTDOWN: Craig Stammen (-31.5%) lets his leadoff walk come around to score for the losing run. Maybe don't walk the leadoff hitter, okay?
June: Ryan Zimmerman (-16.0%) is 0-5 with 3 Ks.

Minnesota Twins 4-3 Over Washington Nationals On 11th Inning RBI Single By Ryan Doumit

Patrick Reddington — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 23:51:09 -0000

Someone in the crowd at Nationals Park yelled out a compliment for Head and Shoulder's spokesmodel Joe Mauer's hair as he stepped to the plate for the first time today in Washington, D.C. That was apparently the kind of game it was going to be in the nation's capital this afternoon as the Nationals took on the one-time Washington Senators now known as the Minnesota Twins in the first of three the two teams will play in the next forty-eight hours. Nats' lefty Gio Gonzalez was on the mound for the home team in the series opener. Gonzalez issued a two-out walk to Twins' right fielder Ryan Doumit in the top of the first, but completed a 25-pitch scoreless frame after which Nationals' leadoff man Denard Span singled to center to start the home-half of the inning. But Span was erased on a double play grounder to third off Jayson Werth's bat and Minnesota starter Kevin Correia got Ryan Zimmerman swinging with a 2-2 curve on the final pitch of nine-pitch first vs the Nats. 0-0.

Davey Johnson had a quick, forceful discussion with first base ump Chris Conroy after the umpire incorrectly called Twins' center fielder Aaron Hicks safe on a weak grounder to the left of the mound which Ryan Zimmerman somehow got to before firing a sidearm throw to first. Hicks was called safe and Conroy was not persuaded by the Nats' 70-year-old skipper's argument. Gio Gonzalez refused to be rattled though, and the grounder to second he got from Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier allowed 2011 Nats' 1st Round pick Anthony Rendon to start his first 4-6-3 inning-ending DP. 12-pitch inning, 37 for Gonzalez after two. 0-0 in D.C.

After turning the double play, Anthony Rendon hit a 2-2 fastball outside from Kevin Correia to right for an opposite field double with two down in the Nationals' second. The rookie infielder's third two-base hit of the year didn't amount to anything unfortunately, as Roger Bernadina K'd swinging to end the second in the next AB.

Jamey Carroll does all the little things right. The Twins' utility infielder started at third today, and took a two-out walk from Gio Gonzalez at the end of a seven-pitch at bat in his second trip to the plate, after an eight-pitch battle with the Nats' starter in the top of the first. Another grounder to Anthony Rendon and a force at second ended Gonzalez's third scoreless after 16 pitches with the left-hander at 53 overall. Kurt Suzuki grounded out to Carroll at third base to start the Nationals' third inning. Denard Span lined to right for his second hit in two at bats this afternoon, giving Jayson Werth a two-out chance to make something happen. And Werth made it happen. #WERTHQUAKE. Two-out, two-run home run to left. 2-0 Nationals after three in Washington, D.C. Werth's fifth.

Former National Josh Willingham hit a sharp grounder toward third and off a diving Ryan Zimmerman's glove for a one-out hit in the Twins' fourth. An error by Adam LaRoche at first allowed a Justin Morneau grounder into right, and Willingham scored to cut the Nats' lead in half. 2-1 Nationals. Aaron Hicks worked the count full and walked on a fastball outside away. Brian Dozier stepped up next and ripped an 0-2 fastball inside to left for an RBI single that brought Morneau around to tie it at 2-2. Pedro Florimon didn't come close to Gonzalez's 1-2 bender as he K'd for the second time in two at bats and the second out of the Twins' fourth and the Nationals' lefty got the opposing pitcher swinging too to end a 24-pitch inning at 77 pitches overall. A 14-pitch, 1-2-3 4th had Kevin Correia at 57 total after four. 2-2 game in the nation's capital.

Gio Gonzalez's 85th pitch of the game ended up in the visitor's bullpen as Twins' catcher Joe Mauer hit an opposite field blast to left to break up the tie with his sixth home run of 2013 and the 100th of his career. 89 pitches on the day for the Nats' starter after a 12-pitch sixth inning. 3-2 Minnesota after four and a half. Roger Bernadina doubled off the right field wall to start the Nationals' half of the fifth, but three outs later he was stranded at third when Denard Span K'd swinging to end the inning.

• Wow, Joe Mauer, Wow:

#Twins' Joe Mauer hits a HR in #Nats Park then does this... vine.co/v/bLDwUPaujHQ
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) June 8, 2013

Justin Morneau doubled to the warning track in left to start the Twins' sixth, just out of the reach of a diving Roger Bernadina. Morneau's 14th two-base hit of 2013. Gio Gonzalez collected his fifth and sixth Ks of the day from Aaron Hicks and then Brian Dozier to hold Morneau at second, then walked Pedro Florimon intentionally to get to the opposing pitcher. Kevin Correia K'd looking to end a 25-pitch inning that had Gio Gonzalez at 114 overall. Adam LaRoche hit a two-out single to left in the Nationals' sixth, but Correia got a grounder back to the mound from Ian Desmond to finish the sixth at 84 pitches.

Fernando Abad took the mound for the Nationals in the top of the seventh and gave up a one-out double by Joe Mauer (2 for 4). One out later, Drew Storen replaced Abad with Josh Willingham due up and a got a sharp grounder to third from the outfielder. A slick, sliding backhand play and strong throw to first by Ryan Zimmerman kept it a one-run game after six and a half with the visiting Twins. Anthony Rendon (2 for 3) buzzed Kevin Correia's tower with a line drive back to the mound and off the pitcher's glove. A sac bunt by Roger Bernadina moved Rendon into scoring position and he scored from there when a high chopper to short off Kurt Suzuki's bat got under Twins' shortstop Pedro Florimon's glove. 3-3 game. Left-hander Brian Duensing took over for Correia with Suzuki on second. Pinch hitter Steve Lombardozzi flew to right field, allowing Suzuki to take third, but a groundout to short by Denard Span ended the seventh. 3-3 game.

Tyler Clippard started the eighth inning against Justin Morneau. A 3-1 pitch missed outside, putting the Twins' leadoff man on in the top of the inning. Aaron Hicks bunted/gave up an out to move pinch runner Eduardo Escobar over to second. Pinch hitter Chris Parmelee stepped in for Brian Dozier. Clippard threw a 1-1 fastball at Parmelee's feet, and it got by Kurt Suzuki, moving the runner to third with one out. A fly to left by Parmelee wasn't nearly deep enough for Escobar to test Roger Bernadina's arm. Pedro Florimon hit one back to the mound and off Tyler Clippard, but the Nats' reliever recovered and got the third out at first.

Casey Fien came out to the mound for Minnesota in the bottom of the eighth. Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman went down swinging and Adam LaRoche flew to center to end the inning.

Twins' pinch hitter Clete Thomas singled to left off Rafael Soriano to start the top of the ninth. Jamey Carroll was swinging away instead of bunting, and he grounded sharply to third to start a 5-6-3 DP. Joe Mauer hit a sharp grounder to third that Ian Desmond dove for and got, but the Nats' shortstop's bounced overhand throw arrived a step late at first according to first base ump Chris Conroy. Who was 1 for 1 on close calls today after seemingly getting this one right. A two-out single to right by Ryan Doumit sent Mauer around to third with Josh Willingham due up. The Hammer worked the count full, but K'd looking at a full-count fastball to end the Twins' ninth. Still 3-3.

Jared Burton vs Ian Desmond. Groundout to second. Anthony Rendon K'd swinging through a 1-2 heater. Roger Bernadina flew to center. 3-3 after nine.

Eduardo Escobar faced Erik Davis in the first at bat of the top of the tenth. A grounder up the middle got by a diving Anthony Rendon and into center. Escobar took second when Aaron Hicks bunted/gave up an out. Ian Krol came on to face lefty Chris Parmelee. A groundout to first moved Escobar to third. Pedro Florimon stepped in with two out and flew out to center to end the Twins' tenth. Josh Roenicke was Minnesota's fifth pitcher. Kurt Suzuki flew to center to start Washington's tenth. Pinch hitter Chad Tracy flew to center for out no.2, but Denard Span snuck a single through the right side with two down. Jayson Werth grounded into a force at second. 3-3 after ten.

It was Craig Stammen's turn in the top of the eleventh. A leadoff walk to Chris Hermann allowed Jamey Carroll to lay down a bunt/give up an out and after an intentional walk to Joe Mauer, a Ryan Doumit single to center brought Hermann around and made it 4-3 Twins after ten and a half. Glen Perkins came on to close it. Ryan Zimmerman grounded out to second. Adam LaRoche popped up behind short for out no.2, but Ian Desmond lined a two-out single to center to keep hope alive. Anthony Rendon? Fly out to left. Ballgame.

Twins win, 4-3 final.

Nationals now 29-31

MLB Draft 2013: Was excitement over Yankees' three first round picks misplaced?

Cliff Corcoran — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:00:07 -0000

The Yankees had three picks in the first round of last night's Rule 4 player draft thanks to the compensation they received for the free agent departures of Nick Swisher and Rafael Soriano. The lowest of those three picks was the 33rd overall. Only once before had the team had three picks that high in the draft. That was in 1978, when they had the 18th, 24th, and 26th picks. This was thus the cause of considerable excitement among Yankee fans. That excitement was likely misplaced.

The Yankees' picks were the 26th, 32nd, and 33rd overall. Earlier this week, over at SI.com, I did a study of the players who were drafted at each of the top 33 spots in the draft from 1990 to 2010. Here's what I found out about those spots:

The 63 players drafted in those three spots from 1990 to 2010 combined for exactly one All-Star appearance, that by Tigers pitcher Justin Thompson, who was an All-Star in 1997 and effectively finished as a major league pitcher by the end of 1999. Thompson was nonetheless the best player to come out of the number-32 pick in those 21 drafts. The best player to come out of the 26th pick over that span was another Tigers pitcher whose career was cut short by injuries, Jeremy Bonderman. Bonderman is currently staging a comeback with the Mariners. If that comeback lasts until next season, he'll be the first player drafted either 26th or 32nd since 1990 to spend any part of ten seasons in the major leagues. The best player picked 33rd overall since 1990 was Brad Wilkerson. The second-best was Jeff Mathis.

In 1978, the Yankees used those three first-round picks, all but the last higher than their top pick this year, to take Rex Hudler, outfielder Matt Winters, and righty Brian Ryder. Ryder never made the majors. Winters was released by the Yankees in 1985. He eventually made it to the Show with the Royals at the age of 29, played in 42 games, and finished his major league career below replacement level. Hudler spent 13 years in the majors as a utility man, but played just 29 games for the Yankees, never qualified for a batting title in any of those 13 seasons, and retired with a .296 on-base percentage.

The history here is that, while it's not impossible for a team to get lucky with a late first-round pick (see Marc Normandin's roundup of the best players ever taken at each slot), it is extremely unlikely.

That has been the Yankees' plight in the draft for most of the last two decades. Since landing Derek Jeter with the sixth-overall pick in 1993, the Yankees' have drafted in the top 20 just twice and, in large part as a result, their best first-round picks, per bWAR, have been Eric Milton (20, 1996), Ian Kennedy (21, 2006), Joba Chamberlain (41, 2006), and Phil Hughes (23, 2004). Fifth on that list is outfielder Brian Buchanan (24, 1994), who totaled 0.5 bWAR in his five-year career. The simple fact is that vast majority of the truly elite talent is off the board before the Yankees pick, and having a cluster of late first-round picks, while not a bad thing, is hardly the windfall it might have seemed.

Indeed, no one criticized the three picks the Yankees made on Thursday night, they drafted appropriately given their position, but the players they wound up with are hardly inspiring. Notre Dame third baseman Eric Jagielo, their pick at number 26, is slow, merely average in the field, and has a long swing. His upside would seem to be a league-average third baseman. Fresno State outfielder Aaron Judge, the number-32 pick, is a toolsy player, but one that has a similarly problematic swing. He's a huge guy with big power, but you're more likely to see that power in batting practice than in games and the overall description of him reminds me of the A's Michael Taylor, who hasn't panned out. Ian Clarkin, the number-33 pick, is a high school lefty with an excellent curveball, but he is committed to the University of San Diego. If he's really a front-of-the-rotation starter, he'll do what Mark Prior and Gerrit Cole did to the Yankees in 1998 and 2008, and this year's top pick Mark Appel did to the Pirates last year, go to college and reenter the draft when he can draw a higher pick and the larger associated bonus money.

A decade from now, when none of those three picks has produced a player meaningfully better than Hughes or Chamberlain has proven to be, don't blame the Yankees for blowing their supposedly big opportunity. It wasn't actually all that much of an opportunity to begin with.

More Yankees Draft Coverage from Pinstriped Bible:

Yankees select OF Aaron Judge|Yankees select 3B Eric Jagielo

Yankees select 2B Gosuke Katoh|Yankees select LHP Ian Clarkin

Yankees select OF Michael O'Neill|Yankees select SS Tyler Wade

Yankees select RHP David Palladino|Yankees select SS John Murphy

Yankees select RHP Nick Rumbelow|Yankees select OF Branden Thomas

Yankees select LHP Conner Kendrick|Yankees select LHP Tyler Webb

Draft: Yankees Day One implications

Washington Nationals Select RHP Jake Johansen With 68th Pick Of 2013 MLB Draft: Kris Kline And Roy Clark On Johansen

Patrick Reddington — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 05:08:18 -0000

The Washington Nationals selected right-handed starter Jake Johansen out of Dallas Baptist University with the 68th overall pick of the second round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft. After making the final selection of the second round, the Nats' Assistant GM and Vice President of Player Personnel Roy Clark and Scouting Director Kris Kline revealed that they had actually invited the 6'6'' right-hander to the nation's capital this week for a private workout that convinced them the hard-throwing pitcher was the pick for them if he was available when the Nationals' first pick of this year's draft came around.

"There's a lot of things to like about this young man," Kline said, "This is what we seek when we go out to the ballpark every day." - Kris Kline on Nats' 2nd Round pick Jake Johansen

The Nationals would have selected 33rd overall, but they forfeited that pick when they signed 33-year-old right-hander Rafael Soriano to a free agent deal this winter. Since they were drafting a lot lower than they have in years past when the Nats were losing 100 games regularly, general manager Mike Rizzo said the team would have to count on its scouts finding the right talent.

"There [are] going to be impact big leaguers in this draft," Rizzo told reporters this week, "Our job is to find out which guys those are? Where are the hidden gems? And take them, and have our development staff develop them into big league players. Major leaguers, impact major leaguers, are found all over the draft and with our scouting staff we feel that we're going to overturn all the rocks and try to find the hidden gems that will gives us a real impactful draft this year."

Here's the info on Johansen from the Nationals' press release on the selection:

The 6-foot-6, 235 lbs. Johansen cemented his status as one of college baseball’s top power arms after striking out 75 in 88.1 innings as a junior. Johansen went 7-6 with a 5.40 ERA in 15 starts and posted strong strikeout-to-walk (2.9/1) and walks per 9.0 inning (2.6) ratios. Twice during his junior campaign, Johansen posted double-digit strikeout totals (10 on both April 26 vs. University of Texas-San Antonio and February 22 vs. Mississippi Valley State).

In three seasons at Dallas Baptist, Johansen finished 13-7 with one save and a 6.03 ERA (99 ER/147.2 IP) in 46 games/23 starts.

Johansen is a graduate of Allen (TX) High School and participated in the Texas Scout Association All-Star Game in the Spring of 2011.

"He maintains his velocity, the sixth inning he's still 96-98. He's got a curve ball, slider and a changeup. The slider is an out-pitch now. It's a hard cutter that he'll thrown 88-90 and will blend into a slider." - Kris Kline on Jake Johansen's arsenal

The Nationals' Assistant GM and Scouting Director spoke to reporters about Johansen on a conference call after tonight's selection. "There's a lot of things to like about this young man," Mr. Kline said, "This is what we seek when we go out to the ballpark every day." Asked to break Johansen down, the scouting director said, "He's a 6'6'', 235 lb right-handed pitcher. If you put him next to [2012 1st Round pick Lucas] Giolito, you have some pretty good-looking bookends."

"You've got a guy that's 94 [mph] that's touching triple digits with his fastball," Kline continued, "I saw him twice this year. He maintains his velocity, the sixth inning he's still 96-98. He's got a curve ball, slider and a changeup. The slider is an out-pitch now. It's a hard cutter that he'll throw 88-90 and will blend into a slider. The curve ball is at times an above-average pitch and it's a 75-78 mph power downer curve ball. It's inconsistent as is the slider. This guy is -- I feel -- at 22-years-old is just scratching the surface and a late-bloomer. If we look at him from his high school days until last year and to this year, it's a very positive, encouraging change and progression to where he is today."

"If you look at his mechanics on the clips, videos and the things that we have on tape," Kline said, offering a comp though he said he didn't really like to, "His actions and arm action and delivery is very similar to Josh Beckett."

The Nationals' scouting director said Johansen "definitely" profiles as a starter in their minds. "Definitely a starter," Kline said. "He has starter actions. He repeats his delivery. It's a clean arm action. As I said, it's improved over the last year. You guys will see it for yourself. To me right now he profiles as a no.3 because the secondary pitches are a work in progress, but he does show you flashes of above-average breaking stuff. He has a good feel for his changeup. There is no reason why this guy can't -- with a few tweaks from our staff -- that this guy can't be a frontline guy."

Roy Clark jumped in at that point to offer his take on the tall right-hander the Nationals drafted. "We feel, we have numerous reports by many of our scouts that had him up to 100 [mph]," Clark said. "All of them said he's going to have a solid, average breaking ball. We brought him in this week, into Washington, we had [Nats' GM] Mike Rizzo, we had [Pitching Coach] Steve McCatty, we had our whole staff there to watch him, to analyze him to see if there was something we could pick up. Because we know he doesn't have good numbers. If he had good numbers, he wouldn't have gotten out of the top ten. But our guys feel like there are a couple of things that are easy fixes and we feel like when we get him signed and we turn this kid over to the best player development system in baseball -- in our opinion -- we think we've got a gem."

Johansen was definitely on the Nats' radar if he was available. "When I called the kid up," Kline said, "He was so excited, I said, 'Are you as fired up as I am? I've been waiting all day for this pick,' and I'm glad he fell in our laps at 68. And as Roy said, there [are] just a few minor mechanical issues. He's a long-leverage guy. With a tweak with his glove hand, his front side, he gets exposed a little early. That helps. The other thing he does right now, he's a little methodical, a little deliberate and I think increasing his tempo is going to help a lot also."

"As far as the draft went," Roy Clark added, "I don't think we had any surprises, but it actually went as we had hoped. We were really hoping that we'd have a shot at [Johansen]."

"We wouldn't have taken him if we couldn't sign him, " Kline said. "We all talked to him at length this week," Clark added, "And we felt good about it." - Nationals Kris Kline and Roy Clark on Jake Johansen

Asked about Johansen's signability, Kline said simply, "We wouldn't have taken him if we couldn't sign him."

"We all talked to him at length this week," Clark said, "And we felt good about it. We felt like this kid wants to go out and like Kris said, I think we'll get it done."

How soon? Before the signing deadline? "I think that that is a very good chance," Kline said, "I think Jake's very excited to start his career and we'll get this done as soon as we possibly can."

"We feel like this guy's a great second round pick," Clark said, wrapping it all up, "And we feel that Rafael Soriano is a great first round pick."

MLB Draft 2013: How the MLB draft works

Marc Normandin — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 13:00:06 -0000

You would think an institution like the MLB draft would be simple to understand at this point, given it has existed for decades. Thanks to constant rule changes -- the 2013 draft is the third in three years with new wrinkles -- and the fact it isn't structured at all like the drafts of other major sports, though, baseball's draft takes some explanation. Consider this guide a starter kit that doubles as a refresher course.

The Basics

Every team begins with a first-round draft pick, meaning there are 30 in all. Clubs select in reverse order of record, so, last year's 107-loss Astros get to go first in the 2013 draft. When we say "begins" with a first-round draft pick, what we mean is that everyone is scheduled to have just the one, until their own actions cost or gain them additional selections in the first round.

A team can gain additional first-round picks in two ways. Let's take an example from this off-season. The Yankees offered departing free agent Nick Swisher the qualifying offer. This made it so that if someone else signed Swisher, the Yankees would receive compensation in the form of a first-round draft pick. The Indians inked the outfielder, and New York received the #32 pick in the draft for their loss. The Yankees also gained another compensation pick for the loss of Rafael Soriano, giving them the #33 pick in the draft as well.

In addition to the Yankees, the Cardinals, Rays, Rangers, and Braves all received one compensation pick for the loss of their own free agents.

The other way to gain a pick is through failure to sign the previous season's first-round selection. The Pirates drafted Mark Appel in 2012, but did not sign him -- they now have a similar pick in the top-10 this year, in addition to the #14 selection based on last season's standings. You can gain them for other rounds, too: the Mets, Phillies, and Athletics have picks in the third round for failure to sign picks there last year.

As for losing picks, by signing a free agent who has been given the qualifying offer, a team agrees to give up their first available draft pick -- with the Indians and Swisher, since their first-round selection was in the top-10, it was protected. Therefore, they have sacrificed their second-round pick, but the Yankees still received a first-round selection for their trouble. Cleveland's pick simply vanishes, and everyone moves up a spot in the order. The Nationals, who signed Soriano from the Yanks, did not have a protected pick, so they are without a first-round pick -- that's how you end up with only 33 picks for 30 teams despite the fact there are seven "extra" picks in this year's draft due to compensation and the Pirates.

The Budget

A newish wrinkle to the draft is the budget. In years past, MLB recommended values for each draft pick based on where they were selected. Teams didn't have to follow these recommendations, though, and the only penalty for failure to adhere to them was a stern look from commissioner Bud Selig. Now, though, the most recent collective bargaining agreement changed that, and made it so that the values weren't just recommended, but were considered something of a soft cap on spending. Each pick has an assigned value, with the first overall being worth the most, and going down from there.

This budget covers the first 10 rounds of the draft. The money allotted to a specific pick does not have to be used there, though: if a team wants to draft a player who can be signed for less than the recommendation, they can, and they could then use the "extra" money leftover on a player who is more expensive than the recommendation.

As an example, in 2012, the Red Sox drafted multiple college seniors within the first 10 rounds, as college seniors typically have little in the way of leverage, and are apt to sign much smaller bonuses than younger players. In the fifth round, they drafted college senior Mike Augliera. That pick had an assigned budget value of $218,000, but Boston signed Augliera for just $25,000: they then used some of those savings, as well as the savings from other college seniors (including $142,000 saved by signing seventh-round selection Kyle Kraus to a $1,000 bonus) to sign high school pitcher Ty Buttrey for $1.3 million. Buttrey had been selected in the fourth round with a pick valued at under $300,000, but Boston was able to hand him nearly $1 million more by cutting costs elsewhere. They weren't the only team to do so, and expect to see more of this in Thursday's draft as well.

A team can go over their budget, but if they go too far over, there are strict penalties. If a team spends by 0-5 percent more than their budget allows, they are taxed 75 percent on the extra. If they spend between 5-10 percent more than allotted, they are taxed at a 75 percent rate and lose a first-round pick in the following draft. Overspending by 10-15 percent results in a 100 percent tax and the loss of both next year's first- and second-round selections. Pass that 15 percent threshold, and a team loses two future first-round picks, while also paying a 100 percent tax on the extra.

A team also can't just save all their high ceiling high schoolers for after the first 10 rounds covered by this budget. If a bonus from round 11 onward exceeds $100,000, it will count towards the allotted budget, meaning a team could get itself into trouble with penalties despite when the pick was made.

If a team fails to sign a player, as the Pirates did with Appel in 2012, they lose access to the value assigned to that pick. They can't just sign someone like Appel and then feign ignorance about his signability issues, use the allotted budget elsewhere, and collect their bonus pick in the following draft. Teams have to use the budget or lose it, and failure to sign a player means they've lost the budget associated with that selection. This makes players who could go into next year's draft, or head to college rather than the pros, occasionally risky.

Stanford's Mark Appel (Photo credit: Melina Vastola-US PRESSWIRE)

This leads to some weird situations, where potentially better players are taken a bit later in the draft: to go back to the Red Sox for a moment, Buttrey was their fourth-round pick, but might end up being the best player they drafted if he can actually reach his ceiling. However, if he had been selected with Boston's first pick, he could have demanded the full value for that slot, which was $1.75 million, or even more than that considering he still managed to pull in $1.3 million three rounds later. Failure to sign Buttrey in the fourth round would have cost them less than $300,000 on their budget, but failure to sign him in the first would have meant nearly $2 million gone from a budget of just $6.88 million, and severely impacted the rest of their negotiations.

Competitive-Balance Picks

The last item to cover is the introduction of competitive-balance picks. There are two rounds of extra draft picks inserted in between the first and second, as well as the second and third rounds. These are brand new, as they were discussed, but not implemented, in last summer's draft. In short, teams deemed to be in the smallest markets take place in an off-season lottery that determines where and how many extra draft picks they get in order to -- wait for it -- create competitive balance. So, teams like the Reds and Cardinals, while talented and successful, aren't from the largest markets. In order to be given the chance to remain talented and successful, they get extra picks from this pool, and the budget that comes with them, too.

Picks 34 through 39 in the draft are in this first round of competitive-balance, and 69 through 73 comprise the second round.

The neat thing about these picks, the thing that can't happen with any other pick in the draft, is that they can be traded. The Marlins, Pirates, and Tigers all swapped around competitive-balance picks this past off-season. One wonders if this is a precursor to eventually being able to trade any pick. Don't start planning for that to happen anytime soon, though.

*****

You can watch the draft on MLB Network starting at 7 p.m. Eastern on Thursday, June 6. You can also check back with us throughout the day and during the draft, as we'll have coverage leading into the event as well as reactions and analysis during it.