The Nationals manic series with Atlanta over the weekend included squandering a 9-run lead Friday night, a crushing loss in the first half of Saturday’s doubleheader only to be followed by John Lannan’s stellar performance Saturday night to lead the Nationals to win the nightcap and split the twin-bill, and concluded with a dominating effort Sunday from Ross Detwiler and the entire roster to clobber the Braves and split their 4-game series.  What a weekend!  Unfortunately, moments after Sunday’s win the Nationals announced that Ian Desmond was heading to the disabled list in an effort to heal his ailing oblique muscle, meaning Danny Espinosa becomes the everyday shortstop and Steve Lombardozzi reverts back to his natural position of second base, with Mark DeRosa now serving as the primary backup middle infielder.

Desmond will be missed during his absence, as he has clearly been the Nationals MVP so far in 2012 and his .286/.322/.503 batting line and 17 home runs will be extremely difficult to replace.  The typical oblique injury keeps a position player on the disabled list an average of 26 days (Nationals Journal James Wagner 7/22/12), and assuming Desmond is sent on a short minor league rehab stint, he should return around September 1st. The Nationals play 36 games between today and the aforementioned September 1st, virtually a quarter of the season, which begs the question, how badly will this hurt the Nationals.

Certainly Danny Espinosa is more than capable of playing shortstop, and has the potential to be close to Desmond’s equal, not to mention Espinosa’s bat has heated up in July with a .343/.382/.543 hitting line with 9 extra base hits.  While not on par with the standard Desmond has set this season, Espinosa should adequately manage the position in his absence.  With Espinosa the everyday shortstop, Steve Lombardozzi now becomes the starting second baseman and has an excellent opportunity to prove that he is a starting-caliber major league middle infielder, a longtime schism amongst scouts.  Lombardozzi is not the defensive equal to Espinosa at second base and his season numbers of .268/.317/.336 with 1 home run and 3 stolen bases in 235 at-bats point toward a utility player: how Lombardozzi produces is one of the major storylines for the Nationals the rest of the summer.

Now that Espinosa and Lombardozzi are manning the middle infield, Mark DeRosa becomes the only middle infield backup on the Nationals roster, a particularly scary thought considering he has not played shortstop since 2008 and played 55 unimpressive innings at second base the past 3 years.  At 37 years of age and a 2012 batting line of .148/.288/.222, DeRosa is a guaranteed defensive liability and unless the organization has some reason for optimism with his bat, the numbers say he is a liability offensively as well.  With only 54 total at-bats this season, his struggles have yet to affect the team, but now that his playing time will dramatically increase in the next 30-45 days as a result of Desmond’s injury, the Nationals should attempt to upgrade from DeRosa.
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Because Ian Desmond is expected to return this season, the Nationals do not need to seek a permanent solution at second base, but rather a right-handed hitting second baseman that can platoon with Steve Lombardozzi (.205/.271/.250 against LHP in 2012, career .200/.265/.244) until Desmond returns, then revert to a bench role as a pinch hitter and occasional starter against left-handed pitching.  I recommend GM Mike Rizzo call the Chicago Cubs and check on the availability of Jeff Baker, a versatile 31-year old right-handed hitter with reasonable defensive skills at second base and a career .306/.354/.521 hitter against left-handed pitching.  Baker is hitting .282/.323/.470 in 2012 and appears to be a solid fit as a platoon partner with Lombardozzi in the upcoming weeks and would provide the Nationals with a potent weapon off the bench once Desmond returns.  Given that he is a free agent at the end of the season, Baker should not be especially costly in terms of prospects and the Cubs should be amicable to a deal.

Assuming the best case scenario that Espinosa does a wonderful job at shortstop and the Nationals trade for a platoon partner to pair with Lombardozzi, the loss of Ian Desmond could still cost the Nationals 1-2 wins over the course of the next few weeks, hardly a crippling amount but further narrows the gap between the Nationals and their competition.  The schedule works in the team’s favor in the next few weeks as they play 5 consecutive series against teams under .500, and the addition of Werth into the lineup within the next 2 weeks should help offset some of the Desmond loss offensively.  Therefore, the Nationals should be able to survive yet another injury to a critical player, but the front office should look to bolster the team by upgrading their middle infield depth and protect them in case Desmond does not recover as quickly as expected.  Buckle up Nationals fans, the recent Braves series is going to be nothing compared to the rollercoaster of the upcoming pennant chase.

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Early Thursday morning one of my more active readers emailed me to ask who I thought the Nationals Top-12 prospects currently are in the minor leagues.  Much of the talent depth in the farm system was depleted last December when the Nationals traded A.J. Cole, Tom Milone, Derek Norris, and Brad Peacock to Oakland to secure LHP Gio Gonzalez.  That said, now that the MLB Draft signing deadline has passed, I thought the timing was perfect to examine the talent level in the Nationals minor league system.  In my opinion, these are the current Nationals Top-12 prospects.

Washington Nationals Top-12

#1 – Anthony Rendon 3B -> Selected 6^th overall in 2011, Rendon has suffered through yet another injury-plagued season as he shattered his ankle early this spring.  He returned to game action this past week, and should rocket through the Nationals farm system and if he can stay healthy, could arrive in Washington as soon as mid-2013.  Rendon heads this list because he has all-star ability as an above-average or better defender at third base while hitting .280-.300 with 20 or more home runs.

#2 – Lucas Giolito RHP -> The 1^st round pick of the team in last month’s draft, Giolito has the highest ceiling in the organization, as he has true #1 starter type talent, with a plus to plus-plus fastball in the mid-to-high 90s, a devastating swing-and-miss curveball, and a developing changeup that shows promise to be an above-average offering as well.  A huge kid with limitless potential, Giolito needs to get back on the pitcher’s mound to prove his elbow is healthy, and if he does, he immediately becomes one of the best 12 pitching prospects in the minor leagues.

#3 – Brian Goodwin OF -> One of my favorite prospects currently in the minor leagues, Goodwin was selected by the Nationals with pick #34 in the 2011 draft, and after some injuries earlier this season, has punished Low-A pitching to the tune of .324/.438/.542 with 9 home runs and 15 stolen bases in 58 games.  Goodwin has a terrific left-handed swing with some power and the tools to be an above-average defensive center fielder, but needs polish and refinement in the minor leagues in order to reach his enormous potential.

#4 – Alex Meyer RHP -> Recently promoted to High-A Potomac after overpowering Low-A in the 1^st half of the season (90 innings pitched, 3.10 ERA, 107 strikeouts), Meyer has an electric fastball in the mid-to-high 90s, and one of the best sliders in the minor leagues.  Meyer still needs to improve his changeup and refine his throwing motion as his massive 6-9 frame hurts his ability to consistently repeat his delivery and results in below-average command.  If he can make these improvements, his ceiling is that of a #2-3 starting pitcher and if not, the quality of his fastball and slider should make him an elite relief pitcher in time.

#5 – Matt Purke LHP -> The ultimate boom-or-bust prospect, Purke has shown top-of-the-rotation ability in high school and his freshman season at Texas Christian, unfortunately he has struggled for the past two years with injuries to his pitching shoulder, which has sapped some of his fastball velocity.  If the Nationals can rehabilitate his shoulder and help him rediscover his previous stuff, Purke has the talent to become a #2-3 starter; if not, Purke is headed toward a career as a left-handed reliever.

#6 – Nathan Karns RHP -> Aggressively ranked at #6, Karns has battled injures since being drafted in the 12^th round of the 2009 draft by the Nationals, but has posted excellent numbers (albeit against competition a bit younger than himself) with a career 2.15 ERA and 178 strikeouts in 146.1 innings pitched, including a 2.08 ERA and 120 strikeouts in 91 innings in 2012.  Now healthy and a 24 year old still in High-A, the Nationals need to aggressively promote him to Harrisburg in a few weeks and see if his powerful repertoire continues to miss bats in Double-A and later this fall, in the Arizona Fall League.  Sure, he needs to reduce his career walk rate from 4.4 BB/9, but if Karns can harness his control, he could be an important asset for the Nationals either as a #3-4 starter or a high-leverage relief pitcher as soon as late 2013.

#7 – Matt Skole 3B/1B -> After a successful collegiate career at Georgia Tech, Skole has continued to hit as a professional, posting a .280/.434/.553 with 26 home runs in 155 games and 554 career minor league at-bats.  His glove is suspect at third base, likely requiring a position shift to either left field or first base, and his numbers should be seen through the lens of a polished college player succeeding in Low-A, but power is at a premium in baseball right now and his on-base skills are excellent.  Skole is a prospect with plenty of risk, but his bat is impressive enough that it should carry him to a career in the big leagues.

#8 – Michael Taylor OF -> Perhaps the player with the most tools in the organization, I was simply awestruck watching Taylor taking batting practice and show off his incredible athletic ability shagging fly balls in spring training this winter.  The ball legitimately sounds like an explosion off his bat and after watching him extensively in Viera, I was convinced 2012 was his breakout season; unfortunately he has proven me wrong with a .223/.311/.330 and 92 strikeouts against only 37 walks in 90 games for High-A Potomac.  His defense in center field is respectable and could become an asset with refinement, and since he is only 21 years old, Taylor still has time to develop his hitting and improve his approach at the plate.  Taylor is an impressive prospect whose tools currently outmatch his performance.

Inclusion of ghee, milk, meat and other nutrient foods in diet find out to find out more generic levitra helps to increase body weight and improve strength. Thankfully, we are living http://www.donssite.com/OPTICALIILLUSIONS/next14.htm viagra prices in a moment where there’s constant bombardment of data and information at the time of trading. Apart from ED, it cialis on line is prescribed for the men’s most common sexual disorder i.e. erectile dysfunction. We will not say that toilet tool is instant relief but, it really generic pill viagra works. #9 – Tony Renda 2B -> The Nationals 2^nd round pick last month, Renda has an excellent ability to hit the baseball and has more pop than you might expect from his rather diminutive stature.  A true “baseball rat”, Renda’s scrappy nature allows him to maximize his average tools and his impressive determination gives him a strong chance to carve out a niche, whether as a starting second baseman or utility player, in the major leagues.

#10 – Brett Mooneyham LHP -> His repertoire and talent warrant him being higher on this list, but his below-average command and extremely raw present skills keep my expectations tempered.  Mooneyham’s upside is that of a #3-4 starter, the probability of a career as a left-handed reliever, but unfortunately has a reasonable chance of not reaching the majors as well.

#11 – Eury Perez OF -> An outstanding defensive center fielder with exceptional speed, Perez is a major league caliber defender and makes good contact with the ball as a career .304 batter, but hits for little power (11 home runs in 1,791 at-bats) and although he owns a career on-base percentage of .362, his .332, .319, and .345 OBP the past three years make scouts question if he can hit at the top of a professional lineup.  Only 22 and promoted only yesterday to Triple-A, Perez still has time to improve his ability to get on-base but his 8 total walks this season in 372 at-bats points toward an eventual career as a backup outfielder and defensive replacement unless he makes adjustments at the plate.

#12 – Jeff Kobernus 2B -> A prospect I liked more than the general consensus in his 2009 draft year after watching him considerably as a collegiate player, Kobernus has produced a career .279/.314/.357 batting line with 9 home runs and 113 stolen bases over 4 minor league seasons. I expected Kobernus to show more power as a professional but has yet to build on the 7 home runs and 22 doubles he produced in 2011. Kobernus must improve his plate discipline (he has never walked more than 21 times in a season) if he wants to become a starting caliber second baseman, but his speed, instincts, and versatility should allow him to carve out a reasonable career as a utility infielder.

Also Receiving Consideration

Corey Brown OF, Destin Hood OF, David Freitas C, Sandy Leon C, Chris Marrero 1B, Jason Martinson SS, Robbie Ray LHP, Danny Rosenbaum LHP, Sammy Solis LHP, Kylin Turnbull LHP, and Zach Walters IF

The Nationals system has struggled thus far in 2012 with poor seasons from Destin Hood and Michael Taylor, amongst many prospects, and has struggled with injuries to Anthony Rendon, Matt Purke, and Sammy Solis, making this a difficult system to judge.  Not to mention (without beating the proverbial dead horse) that much of the depth of the system departed in the Gio Gonzalez trade last winter.  In spite of this, the Nationals still have 4 excellent prospects in Rendon, Giolito, Goodwin, and Meyer, a true lottery ticket in Matt Purke, and the #6-15 in this system could be ranked in most any order as the parity and depth of these prospects is noteworthy.  A negative person would knock this system for lacking some “higher quality” prospects from #5-10, and the more positive person would commend the Nationals for the sheer organizational depth they have accumulated in recent years, in addition to the many young players that have graduated to the major leagues in the past 3 seasons: both viewpoints have merit.  Nevertheless, although the minor leagues do not possess the same quality and high-ceiling talent it did 12-24 months ago, the Nationals still have a respectable farm system filled with plenty of interesting and talented prospects.

Farm System Mid-Term Grade -> B-/C+

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I mentioned in my article last Friday how much the talent level has improved in recent seasons in the local Cal Ripken League and that attending these games is one of the best kept secrets of the Washington D.C. metro area.  This topic certainly grasped the attention of the readers, as I received more emails about this than any other subject this year besides the Nationals need for a center fielder and the 2012 MLB Draft.  The general consensus was everyone wanted me to highlight and analyze a few of the more impressive prospects in the league this summer.  The names I discuss below are just a few of the many draft prospects littering these rosters, but players that have particularly caught my attention so far this summer.

K.J. Hockaday 3B/SS Youse’s Orioles (University of Maryland)

A rising sophomore at the University of Maryland, Hockaday passed on opportunities to play in the Cape Cod League this summer to stay close to home and play for Youse’s Orioles.  An exciting young player, Hockaday possesses an ideal major league body at 6-3 210lbs and looks the part of a first-rate, elite athlete.  Hockaday has quick wrists and shows some healthy bat speed, but needs general refinement with his approach at the plate like most young hitters.  That said, Hockaday has a knack for barreling the baseball and shows power in batting practice which has not translated into game action quite yet, with only 2 home runs for Maryland this season, and 1 this summer.  Hockaday is playing shortstop this summer, but is a natural third baseman in professional baseball with his reasonable athleticism and foot speed, relatively strong arm but mediocre hands.  An outstanding collection of tools simply needing polish, Hockaday stands an excellent chance of being an early round selection in the 2014 draft.

Hunter Renfroe C/OF Bethesda Big Train (Mississippi State)

Hunter Renfroe has a thick, powerful body frame similar to a Greco-Roman wrestler and has impressive plus power in his right-handed bat.  The ball simply sounds different off his bat, with the violence and sound of a car accident, but his raw approach at the plate needs development and Renfroe must make contact more often (51 strikeouts in 61 games in 2012).  That said, Renfroe’s 25 extra base hits with wood bats this summer shows his power and potential at the plate, and in time, he could become an average major league hitter with above-average power, quite a valuable commodity.

After spending a great deal of time last summer catching, Mississippi State and Bethesda Big Train have used Renfroe exclusively in the outfield in 2012, where his average or slightly above-average speed and athleticism in addition to his plus throwing arm makes him a surprisingly good outfielder.  If a major league scouting department believes he can be an adequate defensive catcher with fine-tuning in the minor leagues, Renfroe could be drafted within the first 3 rounds, and if viewed exclusively as an outfielder, his hitting ability and overall package of tools make him a likely top-5 rounds pick in 2013.

Ryan Ripken 1B Youse’s Orioles (University of South Carolina)

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A massive young man who appears like an awkward kid still growing into his 6-6 or 6-7 frame, Ripken needs to dedicate a significant portion of his time in college adding strength and weight to his skinny, projectable 210lbs. body.  A polished player with impressive fundamentals, Ripken has a major crouch at the plate and uses an interesting arm-bar type movement with the bat as his swing trigger.  His physical proportions and relative lack of speed seem to destine him to first base, meaning he must get stronger and learn to use his leverage to produce more backspin on the baseball, thus creating more power. Ripken has solid left-handed bat speed and often squares the barrel to the ball, but needs to learn to use his size to produce more pull power.  His talent is quite apparent in this league, especially considering he is playing against kids 2-3 years older, making Ryan Ripken a name to watch next year for the Gamecocks and file away for the 2015 Draft.

Quick Takes

Radford’s Jake Taylor

Silver Spring-Takoma Park Thunderbolts and Radford University junior 1B/DH Jake Taylor flashed his massive right-handed pull power last week in winning the annual Ripken League Home Run Derby, pounding numerous batting practice fastballs well into the trees beyond left field.  Taylor has an enormous frame (listed as 6-4 230lbs.) and a lengthy swing which hurts his ability to consistently square up the baseball and hampers his batting average, making scouts question his long-term hit tool.  That said his gigantic, fairly athletic frame and “light tower power” should give him a chance at professional baseball either in 2013 or more likely, as an intriguing senior sign in 2014… Although the pitching talent in the Ripken league trails the hitters this summer, VMI  junior left-handed pitcher Connor Bach is an interesting name to remember, as his 6-5 210lbs. frame has plenty of projection left and he owns a low-90s fastball and flashes a decent breaking pitch.  In his 26.2 innings pitched this summer for the Vienna River Dogs, Wade has a 6.08 ERA with 44 strikeouts against 19 walks and 27 hits allowed; his below-average command and lack of polish are major impediments to his current success, but his size, fastball velocity, and vast room for improvement will keep him on scout’s radars next spring.

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