THE BELTWAY BOYS: Nationals Continue To Add Depth To Minor League System

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Nationals Continue To Add Depth To Minor League System

[February 7th] - If the Washington Nationals keep this up, they might have to field two 'AAA' minor league teams this season.

The Nationals announced on Monday that they have resigned pitcher Justin Echols, and have added outfielder Mike Vento and pitchers Andrew Good, Anastacio Martinez and Dave Gil.

Do they have enough uniforms for all these guys when spring training opens?

CNN.si calls Mike Vento "at best" a 5th outfielder on a very thin team. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Rotoworld.com says that, although he isn't going to make the team's 25 man roster now, he might be able to help the team down the road. He has shown a little power the past two years at 'AAA' Columbus, banging out 27 homers, one every 35 at bats. He has a career .280 minor league average. He got two at-bats with the Yankees last year. I doubt we'll see him at the major league level, but he'll probably start with the Zephyrs, compiling a .280-16-80 type season. He's 27, so it's becoming "now or never" time for Vento.

Andrew Good has a major league record of 5-4, 5.30 in parts of three seasons, and a 40-32, 4.05 minor league record. Anastacio Martinez, 25, is a veteran of seven minor league campaigns, going 35-47, 4.25. He went 2-1, 8.44 during a short stint with the Boston Red Sox. Dave Gil was a member of the Zephyrs last season, going 1-3, 3.55.

None of these players will make any real impact on the future of the Nationals other than to fill out the Zephyrs' team roster. Each of them have real talent, but are missing that "one" thing that is keeping them from a career in the major leagues. Teams like the Yankees and Red Sox release players like these; teams like the Nationals sign them.

That's just the way it is.

# posted by Farid Rushdi @ 8:20 AM

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Rasner Rocks For Yanks

What was it that Jim Bowden said when he lost Darrell Rasner to the Yankees through waivers last winter? Wasn't it something like, "C'mon, it wasn't like he was going to make an impact at the major league level?" Well Jimbo, it seems like some of your "minor" transactions are coming back to haunt you.

Rasner, a 6'3" righty from Carson City, Nevada, was waived February 11th by the Nationals, just a couple of weeks before the start of spring training. He was picked up and assigned to 'AAA' Columbus. He had some injuries this year, but it didn't effect his pitching. In 58 innings for the Clippers, Rasner went 4-0, 2.76. But wait. There's more.

Pitching on Sunday against the Twins, Rasner pitched 6 strong innings, allowing just 1 run on 6 hits. In two starts, he's now 1-0, 1.17.

What do you always like to say, Jim, something about "You can never have enough pitching?" Let's see, you waived Rasner, and he's starting for the Yankees. You waived Claudio Vargas, and he's starting for the Diamondbacks. You waived Byung Young Kim, and he's starting for the Rockies. You traded Tomo Ohka for a guy no longer in the major leagues, and he's starting for the Brewers.

Jim, if I were you, I'd stay away from the waiver wire. Seems like you haven't figured it that it's supposed to help the team, not hurt it.

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Big Changes, Little Names

Big happenings? Nah. Just happenings. Zach Day was designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies and Capitol Punishment is reporting that the Nats have claimed him off the waiver wire. So we ended up getting Preston Wilson for nothing. That's nice. Billy Traber, he of the tight leash, was sent down to New Orleans and replaced by Mike O'Connor.

That's all well and good, but don't look to any of these moves making a difference in the play of the team. But hey, it's something to talk about. Right?