Author Archives: Ryan Sullivan

Heroes of Half Street – Washington Nationals Catcher Jesus Flores

Posted on by

20120504Nats-27

Often when a baseball prospect fails to achieve the hype placed upon him, he is remembered more as a trivia question or in a pejorative way.  Fortunately no one in NatsTown could remember this fan-favorite in a negative manner due to his passion for the game and engaging personality.  This edition of Heroes of Half Street fondly recalls one of the most affable players in Washington Nationals’ franchise history, catcher Jesus Flores.

Flores signed with the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in March of 2002. For the first three minor league seasons, Flores hit .257 and was named to the Gulf Coast League All-Star team. 2006 saw Flores breakout at High-A St.Lucie, slugging .266/.335/.487 with 32 doubles and 21 home runs while making the mid-season and post-season All-Star teams. The Mets decided to pass on including Flores on their 40-man roster after the season, thereby exposing him to the Rule 5 draft that offseason.

Having never played above A-ball, on December 7, 2006 the Washington Nationals selected Flores from the New York Mets in the annual Rule 5 Draft. Although these were lean years for the franchise, Flores somewhat surprisingly spent all of 2007 as the backup catcher to Brian Schneider for the Nationals. For the year Flores played in 79 games for Washington, hitting .244/.310/.361 with 4 home runs in 180 at-bats.  In an otherwise poor season for Washington, Flores was one of the few bright spots for the Nationals’ organization heading into that offseason.

2008 was another difficult year for the Nationals, as the team finished with a 59-102 record for the season; however, due to an offseason trade of Schneider to New York, Flores found himself serving as the starting catcher much of the year. He played in 90 games in 2008 batting .256/.296/.402 with 9 home runs and 59 runs batted in. Unfortunately his season was cut short in early September after a collision at home plate with Philadelphia’s Chase Utley. This event would begin his career-long struggle to stay off the disabled list.

Flores rehabilitated that winter and returned in time to begin the 2009 season as the opening day catcher for the Nationals. After only 29 games, Flores was placed on the disabled list with a stress fracture in his shoulder, instantly ending his season after only 93 at-bats. Sadly, Flores was in the midst of a breakout season at 24-years-old, hitting .301/.371/.505 with 4 homers at the time he was placed on the disabled list. This injury would cause him to miss the entire 2010 season and limited him to only 30 games in 2011.

Some of the other medications that may interact purchase generic viagra cute-n-tiny.com with ED drugs are alpha blockers like alfuzosin, tamsulosin terazosin, doxazosin, or prazosin and antibiotics such as troleandomycin, sparfloxacin, erythromycin and clarithromycin medications consumed to treat HIV or AIDs infection. In some cases, gallbladder removals can also lead cialis mastercard to the anxiety and causes impotence in tadalafil for men . The secret of true and lasting beauty is to provide your body with lots of pure water, pure and organic foods containing adequate amounts of macro-and micronutrients, enough levitra buy generic http://cute-n-tiny.com/tag/anteater/ sleep, regular exercise, limit stress to a minimum and to live a lifestyle that results in wellbeing. Doctors diagnose it as hypertension and will prescribe medication, lifestyle cialis online Continue Shopping change and maybe even a high blood pressure patient and facing difficult in erections and losing interest in sex, then you need to consult Dr. Flores put his injury struggles behind him to play 83 games for the Nationals, essentially splitting time behind the plate with Kurt Suzuki and others after Wilson Ramos struggled with injuries. He batted only .213/.248/.329 with 6 home runs in 277 at-bats in 2012 and with Ramos emerging as the future catcher in Washington, Flores was granted free agency on November 30th.

Quickly Flores signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on a minor league deal with a spring training invitation. He did not make the 25-man roster and was assigned to Triple-A Albuquerque, playing in 22 games before being released in late May. A few weeks later Flores signed a minor league contract with Tampa Bay and spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Durham, hitting only .178 over 52 games played. Flores was granted free agency by Tampa Bay soon after the end of the 2013 season.

Shortly before the 2014 season Flores signed a minor league pact with Kansas City and was sent to Triple-A Omaha, hitting .248/.304/.394 in 40 games before being released on July 23, 2014. Last winter Flores again signed a minor league contract, this time with the Atlanta Braves. Flores failed to make the team during spring training and was released by Atlanta on April 3rd. Then on May 2, 2015, Flores signed a minor league deal with Miami, spending 27 games with Triple-A New Orleans. Still only 31-years-old, one would expect Flores to seek another minor league offer this winter, along with a spring training invite, in an effort to compete for a role as a backup catcher next season.

20120821Nats-Flores-2233

Certainly there is an element of “what if” he stayed healthy involved with Flores, as a catcher capable of hitting for power and average while holding his own defensively is a franchise type player.  And no question injuries curtailed what could have been a fantastic career in Washington for him.  However, I prefer to recall his wonderful personality, infectious smile, and love for baseball when remembering Jesus Flores.

His achievements on the field will never get him inducted into the Washington Baseball Ring of Honor, but I recommend Flores be honored in the Washington Baseball Hall of Fan Favorites, trademark pending. Good luck Jesus, and here is hoping you have one more summer in the sun coming your way in 2016!

* Special Thank You to Cheryl Nichols of District Sports Page for generously sharing some of her impressive photos! *

THE Joshua Kusnick Experience #9 – Comp Me A Ticket

Posted on by

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

JKE Logo

Josh and I are back for a brand new episode of THE Joshua Kusnick Experience, just days before the 2015 MLB Winter Meetings.

In fact, NF Cure capsules do not provide any negative side viagra 50 mg tonysplate.com effects. It belongs to phophodiesterase inhibitors class of levitra price tonysplate.com drugs which blocks the action of this enzyme and thus aids the smooth blood flow inside the penis. They witnessed improved erections, enhanced sex libido and sex desire, more intense orgasm, protection order levitra online http://www.tonysplate.com/blog/index.php?blogid=1&archive=2010-03 from other penis related problems, increased blood flow to genitals, and many more. This is the only reason that the doctor specifies and also it has been mentioned that the kamagra is not a magical pill; cialis 100mg canada it needs sexual arousal to work flawlessly in the male body. This week we cover many subjects, beginning with discussing his client Carlos Asuaje being a part of the recent Craig Kimbrel trade.  Then we pivot and talk about New York Mets RHP Seth Lugo, his incredible story of perseverance and his inclusion on the team’s 40-man roster last month.  Next we talk about the upcoming Winter Meetings in Nashville and what an agent does during these four days each year.  Finally, I prompt Josh to tell his story of negotiating Adrian Nieto’s first professional contract with former Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden.

I want to thank Josh for joining me so close to the Winter Meetings.  Furthermore, follow our Podcast Twitter @JoshKusnickPod and please send your questions for Josh (or myself) there with the hashtag #AskKusnick.  Thanks for downloading!

5 Names To Remember for the 2015 Rule 5 Draft

Posted on by
IMG_3359

Ty Buttrey

Last Friday all 30 major league teams were forced to make critical roster decisions about which prospects to add to their 40-man roster in order to protect them from next month’s Rule 5 draft. Prospects first signed at age 18 must be added to 40-man rosters within five years and players signed at 19 years or older must be added within four seasons or be exposed to the Rule 5 draft, which takes place annually on the final day of the MLB Winter Meetings. Teams must pay $50,000 and have an open 40-man roster spot in order to select a player and he must remain on the 25-man roster all season or be offered back to his original team.

Dozens of players were added to various team’s 40-man rosters last week, yet as with every year, several interesting prospects were left exposed. These are five specific prospects that I was surprised to see left available to the Rule 5 draft and could hear their names selected next month.

Ty Buttrey RHP Boston Red Sox

A 2012 4th round pick who commanded $1.4 million to sign from high school, Buttrey owns a near ideal 6-6 235lbs pitcher’s frame, along with a strong three-pitch repertoire including a 91-93mph fastball, curveball and changeup. The 22-year-old is still raw on the mound, but possesses plenty of physical tools and potential. It is difficult to envision Buttrey spending all of 2016 in the majors, but any organization would be thrilled to add him to their farm system, as his immense talent could quickly turn into production on the field. A long-shot to get drafted, I am curious to see if a general manager is tempted to try to stash him in their organization next year.

Reymin Guduan LHP Houston Astros

A prototypical 6-4 205lbs, Guduan is a pure left-handed relief prospect capable of hitting 100mph on the radar gun and sits comfortably in the high-90s. He struggles woefully with his command, as evidenced by his 33 walks allowed in 45.2 innings in 2015 and career 7.4 BB/9 rate. This is the primary reason Houston left him exposed, as they are betting his lack of control will not enable him to stick in the majors an entire season. However, lefties that can throw triple-digits tempt front offices like supermodels do New York investment bankers and a team will select Guduan next month gambling on his excellent size and velocity.

The oil should be rubbed over a prostatic gland cheap viagra pill smoothly. However very few of them are willing to acknowledge that they have a penile downtownsault.org sildenafil 100mg viagra issue. The condition could occur due to stress, tension, heart levitra samples problems, diabetes or obesity, to name just a few. Thereby maintain a healthy lifestyle to secure your life free from impotency then this is the suitable option for you that order generic viagra http://downtownsault.org/did1043.html can be helpful for you in getting back to their normal love life. Roberto Pena Catcher Houston Astros

Houston chose to protect fellow catcher Alfredo Gonzalez, but there is also a good chance the Astros lose Pena, a 23-year-old defensive wizard who threw out 25 of 51 base stealers in 2015 at Double-A. With teams always seeking Spanish-speaking catchers with outstanding defensive skills, I would be mildly surprised if a team does not select Pena.

Luis Perdomo RHP St. Louis Cardinals

Serving as an injury replacement, Perdomo pitched in the 2015 Futures Game and impressed scouts with an upper-90s fastball and a hard slider. The Cardinals likely left the 22-year-old exposed because he has not yet reached the Double-A level, but his live arm and exposure in the Futures Game could get him selected next month.

Sam Selman LHP Kansas City Royals

A former 2012 2nd round pick from Vanderbilt, Selman moved to the bullpen in 2015 with mixed results, as he struck out 69 hitters in 56.1 innings, but also walked 42 hitters. Selman has a lively fastball that can reach the high-90s and an inconsistent but intriguing hard slider, which potentially gives him two above-average to plus pitches if he can harness his control. Considering his draft pedigree and excellent raw tools, I would be surprised if Selman is not selected in this year’s draft.

Others of Note: Corey Black RHP Chicago Cubs, Wuilmer Becerra OF New York Mets, Zack Jones RHP Minnesota Twins, TJ Rivera SS New York Mets, and Dwight Smith Jr. OF Toronto Blue Jays

The Washington Nationals Add Christopher Bostick, Spencer Kieboom and Nick Lee To Their 40-Man Roster

Posted on by

12248733_909896649100154_2123247142_n
Late Thursday afternoon the Washington Nationals announced that they have added 2B Christopher Bostick, Catcher Spencer Kieboom and LHP Nick Lee to their 40-man roster, in order to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. Without getting too deep into specifics, the Rule 5 draft occurs at the Winter Meetings each year and those eligible this year are any college draftee from 2011 and before or any high school draftee from 2010 and before not on a team’s 40-man roster. By adding them to the 40-man, these three are now immediately protected from the Rule 5 draft next month.

IMG_0721

Acquired along with Abel De Los Santos from Texas last offseason for LHP Ross Detwiler, the 22-year-old Christopher Bostick quietly had a productive season, hitting .258/.312/.398 with 12 home runs, 42 extra base hits and 31 stolen bases in 137 games while splitting time for both the Potomac Nationals and Harrisburg Senators in 2015. Defensively he spent most of the season playing second base, though he did see some time at left field, center field and shortstop.

Offensively Bostick is a right-handed hitter with quality bat speed and loose wrists which he uses to whip the barrel through the strike zone. In addition Bostick is a wiry 5-11 185lbs with excellent athleticism and possesses plus speed, which he has used to steal 96 bases in 480 career minor league games. His swing has some excess length and generates some whiffs, but he has managed to swat 92 extra bases hits the past two seasons. He will take a walk and if he can make a few adjustments, Bostick projects as a potential below-average to fringe-average major league hitter.

In the field Bostick has an average (“50”) arm with a reasonably quick release and good athleticism. Unfortunately these skills do not add up to a dynamic defensive second baseman, as Bostick does not look comfortable and will make errors on the routine play. I project him as a potential “40” defender at second and think his future could be as a utility player.

The Nationals sent Bostick to the Arizona Fall League this spring, likely to help in this decision of whether or not to protect him in the Rule 5 draft – Bostick has seized the opportunity, batting .268/.333/.549 with 4 homers in 71 at-bats. This performance in front of scouts, plus his obvious physical tools, made this an easy decision for Washington’s front office to add him to their 40-man roster.
These coupons cost of viagra pill are very beneficial because patients can buy online or in drugstores. Shyness: Although it may require a bit of time, it can be absolutely sorted. secretworldchronicle.com discount cialis PDE5 cheap pfizer viagra meds are valuable to treat men experiencing wounds to spinal line. This improves blood flow browse description cialis uk to the reproductive organs.

IMG_0616

Chris Bostick

Drafted in the 5th round of the 2012 draft, catcher Spencer Kieboom has earned the reputation as a terrific defensive catcher. The 24-year-old Kieboom possesses a plus arm, a quick release and nimble feet, which allow him to routinely post sub-1.95 second pop times to second base. In addition, he has a good aptitude for receiving the baseball and shows the ability to block pitches in the dirt. Overall Kieboom profiles as a plus or “60” defensive catcher.

Offensively the right-handed hitting Kieboom shows good raw pull power in batting practice and a keen eye at the plate, as evidenced by his .352 career on-base percentage. He also makes contact and does not strike out much, but this contact ability does not often translate into power during game action. Kieboom should see major league time simply because of his defensive wizardry but his likely “30” hit and “30/35” raw power limits his ceiling to an above-average major league backup. Kieboom should begin 2016 as the starting catcher at Double-A Harrisburg and could reach the majors sometime next year.

Nick Lee

Nick Lee

Nick Lee was drafted by the Nationals in the 18th round of the 2011 draft from Weatherford College in Texas. A left-handed relief pitcher, Lee possesses an imposing 93-94mph fastball that touches 96, in addition to a hard 79-82mph slider with sharp downward movement. Lee spent 2015 pitching for both High-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, posting a combined 3.12 ERA over 52 innings pitched with 57 strikeouts against 33 walks. Lee has excellent pure stuff, but his difficulty avoiding walks as shown by a career 4.8 BB/9 ratio (5.7 BB/9 in 2015), hinders his overall effectiveness. After being exposed to scouts this fall in the Arizona Fall League and the dearth of lefties who can throw in the mid-90s, I am not surprised the Nationals decided to protect the soon-to-be 25-year-old from the draft.

The Nationals truly had legitimate decisions to make on likely six prospects, obviously Bostick, Kieboom and Lee, in addition to 1B Jose Marmolejos-Diaz, Catcher Raudy Read and 1B Matt Skole. Due to the limited ceiling of Skole and the distance from the majors of Marmolejos-Diaz and Read, the Nationals probably make the proper call leaving them off the roster. The Nationals currently have 38 players on their 40-man roster, giving them flexibility for free agent signings and trades going forward, not to mention the potential to select a prospect themselves in the Rule 5 draft. Thursday’s activity represents one of many small moves in what is expected to be a busy offseason for the Nationals’ front office.