Saturday, July 29, 2006
Nationals lose; Stanton gone, hello Martis; Soriano?
Rookie Billingsley picks up 2nd win as the Nationals are defeated 13-1. Nationals actually lead briefly in the top of the 2nd inning. With 2 out and 2 on (Johnson and Anderson out; Kearns and Church walked), Schneider shows that he can still, occasionally, hit the ball by driving in Kearns off of a single. Unfortunately that was all the offense that the Nationals would produce in the game. The Dodgers immediately responded in the bottom of the 2nd with 4 runs to take the lead for good. They would eventually win by a score of 13-1. Armas lasted just 3 innings, giving up 7 hits, 2 home-runs, 1 walk, and six runs while also striking out 2. Lopez (known for his poor fielding), Ward, and Jackson all committed errors in the game. Soriano was unexpectedly lifted in the fifth inning when Fick pinch-hit for him. Apparently he was lifted because Robinson thought the Dodgers were just too far in front of the Nationals (up 10-1 at the time) that he might as well rest Soriano (according to the ESPN recap).
Stanton – Martis:
Prior to the game, 39-year old reliever Mike Stanton was traded to the San Francisco Giants for a pitching prospect named Shairon Martis. Despite moving from an east coast team to a west coast team, Stanton will have to fly back from LA to Pittsburgh to join his new team. Shairon B. Martis is a right-handed pitcher born March 30, 1987. He stands 6 feet 1 inch, and is listed with a weight of 175 pounds. The 19 year-old is/was currently in Single-A Augusta and had a record of 6-4, 3.64 ERA in 15 games started. He has pitched in 76.2 innings so far this year, giving up 76 hits, 31 ER, 3 HR, 21 BB, 3 WP, and striking out 66 (and has a WalksHitsIP of 1.27). In 2005, Martis pitched for the Arizona Giants, the rookie level Giants minor league team. He started 5 games (appeared in 11), and had a record of 2-1, 1.85 ERA, 1 save - 34 innings pitched, 28 hits, 7 earned runs, 1 home-run 9 walks, 50 strike-outs, 3 wild pitches, 1.09 WHIP.
As has already been mentioned, Martis pitched in the 2006 World Baseball Classic with the Netherlands. The only information from his activity in the WBC seems to be that he threw a 7 inning no-hitter in 65 pitches.
Soriano:
Apparently the Astros and the Twins are now the front runners for Soriano’s services (according to what I read on ESPN, though Stark is reporting what others are saying). Tiger dropped from front-runner status because they don’t want to trade OF Cameron Maybin (10th overall pick in 2005; 19 year old currently in single A, 243 AB, 15 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home-runs, 47 RBI, 22 SB, 2 CS, 35 walks to 80 strike-outs, .317 batting average, .404 OBP, .481 slg, .886 OPS; 4 games in majors with Tigers, 5 AB, 1 strike-out), and the Nationals are concerned about Humberto Sanchez’s elbow (has played in both AA and AAA this year, 11 GS in AA – 5-3, 1.76, 71.2 IP, 47 H, 17 R, 14 ER, 2 HR, 27 BB, 86 SO, 4 WP, 1.03 WHIP; AAA: 5-3, 3.61, 47.1 IP, 45 hits, 20 runs, 19 earned, 2 home-runs, 19 walks, 39 strike-outs, 1 wild pitch, 1.35 WHIP; 2002-2005 minor league career stats: 64 GS (68 overall, 20-25, 4.73, 3 complete games, 331 IP, 321 H, 203 R, 174 ER, 24 HR, 183 BB 317 SO 29 WP 1.52 WHIP – 2002 A-; 2003 A; 2004 A+ & AA; 2005 AA (just 15 games total). White Sox dropped from co-front runner status because they won’t trade RHP Brandon McCarthy (17th round, 2002 Amateur draft; 23, 6-7, 180 pounds, 2006: majors: 3-4, 3.91 34 games, 1 GS, 53 IP, 39 hits, 23 er, 8 hr, 17 bb, 33 SO, 1.25 WHIP; 2005: majors: 3-2, 4.03, 12 games, 10 starts, 67 IP, 62 hits, 30 er, 13 hr, 17 walks, 48 strike-outs, 1 wp; 1.18 whip), nor 3B Josh Fields (6-2, 210 pounds, Dec. 14, 1982; 1st round 2004; currently in triple A, a 3B, so I won’t continue). Twins are said to have wanted Carlos Lee, but Lee is now a Ranger. Twins are apparently deep in prospects, and apparently Soriano is the last impact offensive player out there that will be a free agent in the off-season (as Stark puts it “money entanglements”). Astros want to add something, anything to increase their playoff chances, but are said to be reluctant to part with some of their prospects.
Tonight:
LHP Michael O’Connor (3-6, 4.59) vs. Lowe (7-7, 4.18 era)
I believe the game starts sometime after 4 pm EST, so I'll stick with "tonight".
Stanton – Martis:
Prior to the game, 39-year old reliever Mike Stanton was traded to the San Francisco Giants for a pitching prospect named Shairon Martis. Despite moving from an east coast team to a west coast team, Stanton will have to fly back from LA to Pittsburgh to join his new team. Shairon B. Martis is a right-handed pitcher born March 30, 1987. He stands 6 feet 1 inch, and is listed with a weight of 175 pounds. The 19 year-old is/was currently in Single-A Augusta and had a record of 6-4, 3.64 ERA in 15 games started. He has pitched in 76.2 innings so far this year, giving up 76 hits, 31 ER, 3 HR, 21 BB, 3 WP, and striking out 66 (and has a WalksHitsIP of 1.27). In 2005, Martis pitched for the Arizona Giants, the rookie level Giants minor league team. He started 5 games (appeared in 11), and had a record of 2-1, 1.85 ERA, 1 save - 34 innings pitched, 28 hits, 7 earned runs, 1 home-run 9 walks, 50 strike-outs, 3 wild pitches, 1.09 WHIP.
As has already been mentioned, Martis pitched in the 2006 World Baseball Classic with the Netherlands. The only information from his activity in the WBC seems to be that he threw a 7 inning no-hitter in 65 pitches.
Soriano:
Apparently the Astros and the Twins are now the front runners for Soriano’s services (according to what I read on ESPN, though Stark is reporting what others are saying). Tiger dropped from front-runner status because they don’t want to trade OF Cameron Maybin (10th overall pick in 2005; 19 year old currently in single A, 243 AB, 15 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home-runs, 47 RBI, 22 SB, 2 CS, 35 walks to 80 strike-outs, .317 batting average, .404 OBP, .481 slg, .886 OPS; 4 games in majors with Tigers, 5 AB, 1 strike-out), and the Nationals are concerned about Humberto Sanchez’s elbow (has played in both AA and AAA this year, 11 GS in AA – 5-3, 1.76, 71.2 IP, 47 H, 17 R, 14 ER, 2 HR, 27 BB, 86 SO, 4 WP, 1.03 WHIP; AAA: 5-3, 3.61, 47.1 IP, 45 hits, 20 runs, 19 earned, 2 home-runs, 19 walks, 39 strike-outs, 1 wild pitch, 1.35 WHIP; 2002-2005 minor league career stats: 64 GS (68 overall, 20-25, 4.73, 3 complete games, 331 IP, 321 H, 203 R, 174 ER, 24 HR, 183 BB 317 SO 29 WP 1.52 WHIP – 2002 A-; 2003 A; 2004 A+ & AA; 2005 AA (just 15 games total). White Sox dropped from co-front runner status because they won’t trade RHP Brandon McCarthy (17th round, 2002 Amateur draft; 23, 6-7, 180 pounds, 2006: majors: 3-4, 3.91 34 games, 1 GS, 53 IP, 39 hits, 23 er, 8 hr, 17 bb, 33 SO, 1.25 WHIP; 2005: majors: 3-2, 4.03, 12 games, 10 starts, 67 IP, 62 hits, 30 er, 13 hr, 17 walks, 48 strike-outs, 1 wp; 1.18 whip), nor 3B Josh Fields (6-2, 210 pounds, Dec. 14, 1982; 1st round 2004; currently in triple A, a 3B, so I won’t continue). Twins are said to have wanted Carlos Lee, but Lee is now a Ranger. Twins are apparently deep in prospects, and apparently Soriano is the last impact offensive player out there that will be a free agent in the off-season (as Stark puts it “money entanglements”). Astros want to add something, anything to increase their playoff chances, but are said to be reluctant to part with some of their prospects.
Tonight:
LHP Michael O’Connor (3-6, 4.59) vs. Lowe (7-7, 4.18 era)
I believe the game starts sometime after 4 pm EST, so I'll stick with "tonight".
