Washington Nationals -Minor News-

[Roscoe]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...08/266615.html
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NOT-SO HOT SHEET
• Michael Burgess, of, Nationals. Maybe it was the home run derby. Burgess won the event at the SAL all-star game in June, but has hit just four home runs since and none in the last three weeks. He hit only .182/.250/.273 (4-for-22) this week for low Class A Hagerstown and has continued to strikeout at a high rate, which was more palatable when he was hitting home runs, but not so much when the power dries up.
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HELIUM WATCH

DEREK NORRIS, C NATIONALS

Team: short-season Vermont (New York-Penn)
Age: 19
Why He's Here: .455/.676/.818 (10-for-22), 2 2B, 2HR, 6 RBIs, 14 BB, 2 IBB, 3 SO
The Scoop: Norris is putting up impressive numbers in the NYP this year after scuffling through his first stint in pro ball in the Gulf Coast League last summer. Norris is relatively inexperienced as a catcher—he just began catching his senior year in high school—but his offensive approach is extremely mature as evidenced by his 14 walks in the past week. Perhaps the most telling sign of Norris' maturity at the plate was his 3-for-4 performance in an 18-inning victory over Lowell. Norris came to the plate nine times in the game, but was only retired once, as he drew five walks in addition to his three hits. Norris certainly won't walk his way to the big leagues, but his advanced approach at the plate is a contrast to his inexperience behind the plate.

[TheRedMarauder]

The Washington Post reports that Cristian Guzman (thumb) took batting practice Tuesday and "should be ready in a few days."

Guzman hasn't started a game since July 25, but did come in as a defensive replacement Saturday. Alberto Gonzalez had started four straight games in his place, but his leg contusion gave Willie Harris the nod at shortstop Tuesday despite not having played the position in the majors since 2005.

rotoworld

[TheRedMarauder]

Nationals activated infielder Aaron Boone from the 15-day disabled list.

Boone has been out since early July with a strained left calf. He was hitting .258/.313/.417 before the injury and should resume a part-time role.

Nationals placed infielder Alberto Gonzalez on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 5, with a left hamstring strain.

Acquired from the Yankees on July 31, Gonzalez went 6-for-13 with three doubles in limited action with the Nationals before leaving Monday's game with a strained hammy.

rotoworld

[Roscoe]

From the Washington Times...

Hill still not ready

Though right-hander Shawn Hill has been throwing off a mound at the Nationals' spring training complex in Viera, Fla., he remains several weeks away from returning to the majors.

General manager Jim Bowden said Sunday that Hill, who has been hampered by forearm pain all season, likely won't be ready to come off the disabled list as soon as originally planned.

“He's made some good progress,” Bowden said. “He's not as far along as I would have hoped. I was hoping he'd be able to pitch in a game September 1. That's not going to happen now.”

The club now has targeted a return for Hill around Sept. 10. Whenever he pitches for Washington, he will do so out of the bullpen, not in his usual capacity as a starter.

Young gets going

Dmitri Young reported to Viera on Saturday evening and has begun baseball activities, the next step toward his return from diabetes.

Bowden said after a month working with doctors to get his blood sugar levels stabilized, the organization is “very comfortable” that Young is in good health.

The 34-year-old still must work himself back into better physical and baseball shape, but the GM remains hopeful he will come off the DL before the season is over.

“We're getting him into baseball shape right now. Full steam, that's what we're going to do,” Bowden said. “And I think you're going to see him in September.”

[Roscoe]

Washington Nationals 18 year-old shortstop Esmailyn Gonzalez today won the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League batting title. Gonzalez went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI this afternoon at GCL Marlins to complete his second domestic season with a .350 batting average. Gonzalez signed with the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2006.

In addition to batting .350 (62-for-177), Gonzalez finished the GCL regular season with 12 doubles, three triples, two home runs, 33 RBI, 23 walks nine stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .436 in 50 games.

[YanksNats1987]

Oh man I forgot about Gonzalez. He was signed so young but its nice to see him playing well. Two home runs though....I honestly don't want too many more non power hitting middle infielders.

[Roscoe]

We need corner infielders and corner outfielders who can hit. Our power stats are truly embarassing.

Three guys with 40+ RBI. Flores, Milledge, Belliard.

Here are the HR Leaders...Milledge-13 Harris-12 Belliard-11 Flores-8 Zimmerman-8

[YanksNats1987]

When healthy of course, I will expect the numbers for Zimm and Milledge to be higher and with time it should be. I like what Flores is doing. He could be a guy who hits 10-15 per year and that's not bad for a catcher who can also hit with average.

All in all we need balance in order to get better b/c you're right, it is quite embarrassing this season.

[Roscoe]

I don't know why I noticed, but on the Nats MLB.com page, I noticed that the picture in the "More from the Nationals" section changed recently. Maybe even this week. It used to have Cordero, Zimm and somebody else on it. Now it has Zimm, Milledge, and Flores.

[Roscoe]

Just saw this listed on MLB.com...slightly surprising but I assume they needed to clear room on the 40 man roster for the September call-ups.

Washington Nationals
Outrighted RHPs Brian Sanches and Chris Schroder.

[YanksNats1987]

Just saw this listed on MLB.com...slightly surprising but I assume they needed to clear room on the 40 man roster for the September call-ups.

Washington Nationals
Outrighted RHPs Brian Sanches and Chris Schroder.

Ya they did that earlier today for the exact reason you mentioned. A bunch of guys on our 40 right now are hurt or just plain bad. This will make room for guys like Montz or Davis who they can now place on the 40 which protects them from the Rule 5 draft in December.

[YanksNats1987]

From the Nationals …

The Washington Nationals tomorrow are expected to recall outfielder Roger Bernadina and first baseman/outfielder Kory Casto from Columbus of the Triple-A International League, and recall from rehab and reinstate shortstop Alberto Gonzalez from the 15-Day Disabled List. The Nationals are also expected to select the contracts of left-handed pitcher Mike Hinckley, right-handed pitcher Shairon Martis and right-handed pitcher Levale Speigner from Columbus. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.

Hinckley, Speigner and Martis will be added to the 40-man roster.

Nats Farm Authority

[Roscoe]

Washington Nationals
Recalled RHPs Tyler Clippard and Ryan Wagner and LHP Mike O'Connor from Triple-A Columbus. Recalled OF Justin Maxwell from Double-A Harrisburg. Placed OF Justin Maxwell on the 60-day disabled list.

The Washington Nationals today recalled, not to report, right-handed pitcher Tyler Clippard, left-handed pitcher Mike O'Connor and right-handed pitcher Ryan Wagner from Columbus of the Triple-A International League. The Nationals also recalled outfielder Justin Maxwell from Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League. Maxwell was then immediately placed on the 60-day disabled list (right wrist). Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcements.

Clippard, 23, finished 6-13 with a 4.66 ERA in 27 starts with Columbus. Clippard walked one and struck out 10 in his final start of the season on Sunday vs. Toledo. Washington went 1-1 during Clippard's two big league spot starts (June 9 vs. San Francisco, June 14 at Seattle) this season. He went 0-1 with a 4.35 ERA (5 ER/10.1 IP) with the Nationals.

The 24 year-old Maxwell hit .233 with six doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 28 RBI in 2008, during which he was limited to 43 games due to the wrist injury. Nevertheless, Maxwell posted 31 walks in 43 games en route to posting a stout .367 on-base percentage. He also scored 35 runs.

O'Connor, 28, went 5-3 with a 2.14 ERA in 17 starts for Columbus and the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Nationals (one start). Thanks to 18 walks and 76 strikeouts, O'Connor posted a 4.2/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio at the Minor-League level this season. O'Connor also pitched in five games (one start) for Washington in his first big league action since making 20 starts for the 2006 Nationals.

The 26 year-old Wagner pitched with Columbus and Potomac of the Single-A Carolina League this season, going a combined 0-3 with two saves and a 4.44 ERA in 23 games (one start).

[Roscoe]

Strained butt muscle.

[Roscoe]

This doesn't mean anything, but...

10/3
Washington Nationals
Activated INF Ronnie Belliard, RHP Matt Chico, C Jesus Flores, RHP Shawn Hill and OF Austin Kearns from from the 15-day disabled list.