By: Ben Raby
Woodbridge, VA: As the Washington Nationals return from the All-Star break 24 games below .500, they can at least say that things are going well within the farm system.
Through July 17, the Columbus Clippers (AAA) were just three games out of first place, the Harrisburg Senators (AA) had the Eastern League's third best record, and the Vermont Lake Monsters (A-Short Season) led the New York Penn League's Stedlar Division.
And then there are the Carolina League's Potomac Nationals (Advanced Single-A) who have already clinched a playoff berth with their first half division title. With a 6-2 win over the Lynchburg Hillcats tonight from Richard Pfitzner Stadium, the P-Nats improved their overall record to 57-39 (15-11 second half).
And making the Nationals record even more impressive is how they've done it- with 56 different players. Sure player turnover is inevitable in the minor leagues but the Potomac Nationals may be setting a new standard. The Nats lead the Carolina League in player transactions, but no matter who Manager Randy Knorr puts in his lineup, his players seem to respond.
"When I first got here managing," Knorr said, "we were still feeling the effects of being part of the Montreal [Expos] system. They didn't spend a lot of money on draft picks. I think over the last few years our scouting department has had that ability to get guys and sign them, and I think as a result we have better athletes and better players throughout the organization."
Since April 10, the P-Nats have spent only two days where they were not in or had a share of first place. Not bad for a club that has just one starter remaining from its Opening Day five-man rotation. Jordan Zimmermann (above) Jhonny Nunez, Cory VanAllen, and Adrian Alaniz have all been called up to Double-A Harrisburg.
"The best part of my day," Knorr said, "is when we can move a player up to the next level. And everyday we send somebody it's a great day for our staff and we welcome the new players because it's a challenge and it lets us know what's in the system."
With so many Potomac Nationals earning promotions, the door has opened for others within the organization. Pitcher Jeff Mendel is one such example filling a starting spot with the P-Nats after beginning the season in Hagerstown. Mendel hasn't looked out of place since his June call up, going 4-2 with a 2.83 ERA.
"It just seems as soon as one guy goes up, another guys comes in and gets the job done," said Anthony Oppermann, the P-Nats radio voice.
"It's weird because every week our lineup changes," Mendel said. And not only are the faces changing week-to-week, but so too is the team's identity.
"In the last two weeks we've gone from being a power team leading the league in home runs and RBIs and now we're more of a small ball team, bunting and running out groundballs."
But that type of identity change can't be considered much of a surprise with five recent call-ups having left Potomac with a combined 48 home runs and 171 RBIs. To put that in perspective, the P-Nats as a team had 88 total home runs at the time of the fifth promotion.
Matt Rogelstad (above), Edgardo Baez, Marvin Lowrance, and Bill Rhinehart are all up with Double-A Harrisburg, while Leonard Davis had reached Triple-A Columbus.
So with all the heavy hitting to go along with one of the Carolina League's best pitching staffs, it's no wonder the P-Nats clinched the first-half division title with a 42-28 record. The division win means regardless of how the Nationals do the rest of the season, they are playoff bound. Yes, the Nationals are heading to the playoffs.
"What's so strange about [all the player turnover]," Mendel said, "is that the team that clinched the playoffs, isn't going to be the same team that actually shows up for the playoffs. It's definately a strange thing. You don't get used to the team before it changes."
Woodbridge, VA: As the Washington Nationals return from the All-Star break 24 games below .500, they can at least say that things are going well within the farm system.
Through July 17, the Columbus Clippers (AAA) were just three games out of first place, the Harrisburg Senators (AA) had the Eastern League's third best record, and the Vermont Lake Monsters (A-Short Season) led the New York Penn League's Stedlar Division.
And then there are the Carolina League's Potomac Nationals (Advanced Single-A) who have already clinched a playoff berth with their first half division title. With a 6-2 win over the Lynchburg Hillcats tonight from Richard Pfitzner Stadium, the P-Nats improved their overall record to 57-39 (15-11 second half).
And making the Nationals record even more impressive is how they've done it- with 56 different players. Sure player turnover is inevitable in the minor leagues but the Potomac Nationals may be setting a new standard. The Nats lead the Carolina League in player transactions, but no matter who Manager Randy Knorr puts in his lineup, his players seem to respond.
"When I first got here managing," Knorr said, "we were still feeling the effects of being part of the Montreal [Expos] system. They didn't spend a lot of money on draft picks. I think over the last few years our scouting department has had that ability to get guys and sign them, and I think as a result we have better athletes and better players throughout the organization."
Since April 10, the P-Nats have spent only two days where they were not in or had a share of first place. Not bad for a club that has just one starter remaining from its Opening Day five-man rotation. Jordan Zimmermann (above) Jhonny Nunez, Cory VanAllen, and Adrian Alaniz have all been called up to Double-A Harrisburg.
"The best part of my day," Knorr said, "is when we can move a player up to the next level. And everyday we send somebody it's a great day for our staff and we welcome the new players because it's a challenge and it lets us know what's in the system."
With so many Potomac Nationals earning promotions, the door has opened for others within the organization. Pitcher Jeff Mendel is one such example filling a starting spot with the P-Nats after beginning the season in Hagerstown. Mendel hasn't looked out of place since his June call up, going 4-2 with a 2.83 ERA.
"It just seems as soon as one guy goes up, another guys comes in and gets the job done," said Anthony Oppermann, the P-Nats radio voice.
"It's weird because every week our lineup changes," Mendel said. And not only are the faces changing week-to-week, but so too is the team's identity.
"In the last two weeks we've gone from being a power team leading the league in home runs and RBIs and now we're more of a small ball team, bunting and running out groundballs."
But that type of identity change can't be considered much of a surprise with five recent call-ups having left Potomac with a combined 48 home runs and 171 RBIs. To put that in perspective, the P-Nats as a team had 88 total home runs at the time of the fifth promotion.
Matt Rogelstad (above), Edgardo Baez, Marvin Lowrance, and Bill Rhinehart are all up with Double-A Harrisburg, while Leonard Davis had reached Triple-A Columbus.
So with all the heavy hitting to go along with one of the Carolina League's best pitching staffs, it's no wonder the P-Nats clinched the first-half division title with a 42-28 record. The division win means regardless of how the Nationals do the rest of the season, they are playoff bound. Yes, the Nationals are heading to the playoffs.
"What's so strange about [all the player turnover]," Mendel said, "is that the team that clinched the playoffs, isn't going to be the same team that actually shows up for the playoffs. It's definately a strange thing. You don't get used to the team before it changes."
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