Washington Nationals: Send Garrett Mock To Syracuse; Call Up Roger Bernadina.

by Patrick Reddington on Apr 11, 2010 11:22 AM EDT

Instead of sending a reliever out this morning as some (including me) had speculated, the Washington Nationals gave struggling starter Garrett Mock a ticket to Syracuse on Sunday as they made room on the roster for Livan Hernandez by optioning the struggling right-handed starter to their Triple-A affiliate, just as it was announced the fleet-footed outfielder Roger Bernadina hade been called down from upstate New York to replace the injured Mike Morse on the roster after the backup IF/OF was placed on the 15-Day DL this morning with what MLB.com's Bill Ladson (@washingnats) referred to in a Twitter note as a "left calf injury" which Morse sustained in the outfield a few games back.

Mock, who eked out the fifth spot in the rotation, besting left-hander Scott Olsen to the surprise of many who'd watched each pitcher's last few Spring starts, struggled in his only outing, walking 5 in 3.1 IP over which he gave up 4 hits and 2 ER, recording 3 K's along the way, while continuing to experience control issues. Where exactly Mock will fit into the Nationals' future plans is somewhat uncertain. With Chien-Ming Wang and Stephen Strasburg slated to be part of the rotation in late May or June, the 27-year-old right-hander might not have many more chances to become a full-time starter in DC.

Roger Bernadina, thought by many to be ready to assume an important (everyday?) role in the Nats' outfield plans this season, disappointed this Spring, and failed to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster, but after hitting in 6 of 15 at bats with the Syracuse Chiefs, with a triple, HR and 2 stolen bases, the 25-year-old outfielder got the call early enough this morning that he was in the locker room once everyone arrived at Citi Field today. Bernadina joins, Nyjer Morgan, Willie Harris and Willy Taveras in what could possibly be one of the fastest outfields (ever) assembled...

Mock's future? Who knows. Morse? Couldn't pick a worse time for an injury...

(ed. note - "MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling (@masnben) just Tweeted that, '...The #Nats plan to call Scott Olsen up to replace Garrett Mock in the rotation. He'll face the #Phillies on Thursday.' More moves to follow?")

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Tyler Clippard has to personally sign off on outfielders now

With his performance yesterday, another burner in the outfielder can only make fly ball specialist Clippard feel even better.

erskine has scored...now i can die in peace

by souldrummer on Apr 11, 2010 11:39 AM EDT reply actions

It's going to be hard to find open grass in the OF with the OFers assembled...

I think a lot of folks probably looked at that late-game OF yesterday and thought the same thing I did…

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Patrick Reddington on Apr 11, 2010 11:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Mock's Future

I was a Mock fan and would like to see him get a few more starts but I totally understand this move. It looks like he is done as a starter in DC unless he is lights out in the minors. Should the team convert him to a full time reliever? Trade bait?

by HobbsNY9 on Apr 11, 2010 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

I thought he'd work well as a reliever last season, but was disappointed with what he did...

Still think he could make a solid late-inning option if they give up on him as a SP…

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Patrick Reddington on Apr 11, 2010 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Trade

I wonder if other teams have any interest in Garret Mock as either a starter or a reliever. Maybe he’ll be packaged with a hitter like Dunn, Guz, or Willingham at the deadline. Or even traded sooner for someone who is getting squeezed off a roster. Garret Mock for Fred Lewis could work for the Nats.

It just seems like the Nats are giving up on Mock at this point. How well would he have to pitch to get another rotation shot considering that Strasburg and Wang will be up soon? They could put him in the bullpen and I’d rather see him than Batista, Walker, Bergmann but I just don’t think that is coming.

by HobbsNY9 on Apr 11, 2010 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

To me he's not part of the bullpen equation either

Mock has had the opportunity and failed in the bullpen in the past. Storen is going to replace one of those three bullpen names. Walker we kind of hope pans out to just worthy of keeping on the roster. Bergmann may have enough value to stick around. Let’s stay we swap Storen for low man on the totem pole and see what we have in the bullpen.

I’d rather see Balester given a chance in the bullpen than Storen. I also think that there’s a chance Stammen gets moved to the bullpen unless he is lights out. His most recent start he gave us a perfect bullpen line for 3 innings and fell of the third time through the order.

erskine has scored...now i can die in peace

by souldrummer on Apr 12, 2010 1:32 AM EDT up reply actions

I like the move too

I like that we aren’t settling for sub par efforts at the bottom of the rotation, and after the coach’s comments about Mock’s attitude you had to think the writing was on the wall.

Also, I’m stoked about the fast outfield, and Willy and Willie don’t have bad bats either. I’m liking the way Riggles has managed the games so far this season.

by Boo. on Apr 11, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions

I am super happy about these moves.

Bernadina has earned his way back onto the team.
And Mock just stunk in ST and his 1 start. I don’t know what his future with the team is until he gets his head into better shape. Ditto Balester.
I hope the next one to go in Bergmann.

by MissB on Apr 11, 2010 1:44 PM EDT reply actions

In Rizzo We Trust.

by RoscoeNats on Apr 11, 2010 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions

When he doesn't have to pick an RF!

erskine has scored...now i can die in peace

by souldrummer on Apr 12, 2010 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions

I hear that loud and clear.

Riggleman’s a puppet master out there.

by RoscoeNats on Apr 12, 2010 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Could Mock be a Nolan Ryan?

Some of you may not know that Nolan Ryan was pitching wild and had no control of his pitches as a NY Met in 1969. Then traded to the Angels, found his groove and became a star. I say give Mock some time in the minors to develop his skills rather than used as a trade bait. He has awesome stuff, a diamond in the rough.

by RajNWA on Apr 11, 2010 4:31 PM EDT reply actions

IQ test for Mock.....

Frankly I think there is something wrong with the guy. Every start its the same thing. Too many pitches. Too many walks. Nibble Nibble Nibble. He had his chances I doubt you ever see him up in DC again.

Olsen and Martin are next. Then Strasburg. Then Detwiller and Wang.

by artistfork on Apr 12, 2010 12:52 PM EDT reply actions