Wire Taps: Washington Nationals To Call Yunesky Maya, Collin Balester and Ross Detwiler Up Monday.
by Patrick Reddington on Sep 4, 2010 11:32 AM EDT
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PrintIn case you missed the announcement early Saturday morning, MLB.com's Bill Ladson reported in a blog post entitled, "Nationals to call up pitchers after Monday's game", that after the Nats' Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs, complete their 2010 schedule on Monday afternoon with a 1:05 pm EST game against the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Nationals will bring left-handed starter Ross Detwiler and right-handed pitchers Yuneski Maya and Collin Balester to the nation's capital to join the Nats' expanded roster. Detwiler's made 10 starts at three levels of the Nats' system on a rehab stint following surgery to repair a torn right hip flexor. (3-2) in 10 G and 43.2 IP, Detwiler's struck out 39 and walked 9 while pitching for the Class-A Potomac Nationals, Double-A Harrisburg Senators and most recently the Chiefs. In a September 2nd start, the 24-year-old left-hander walked 1 and K'd 2 in 5.0 IP in which he surrendered 5 hits and 3 runs, 1 earned.
Yunesky Maya has been building arm strength in the Nats' system since he officially signed on July 31st. The 29-year-old right-hander, who celebrated a birthday on August 28th, has given up 18 hits, 10 runs, 8 earned and 10 walks over 5 starts and 21.1 IP in which he's struck out 18 and held opponents to a .225 BAA.
Balester, 24, an '04 4th Round pick by the Montreal Expos, has struck out 12 batters in 7.2 IP with the Nats this season as he's bounced up and down between Triple-A Syracuse and DC, and he's (3-3) on the year in Syracuse, having struck out 50 (6.61 K/9) and walked 31 (4.10 BB/9) in 68.0 IP for the Chiefs.
Also of note, Mr. Ladson mentions in the article that if Nyjer Morgan misses a considerable amount of time, which he most likely will with 15 days from two suspensions currently under appeal, the Nats are expected to give 26-year-old outfielder Justin Maxwell playing time in center for the Nats. After struggling at the plate all season, Maxwell's shown signs of life with 3 hits (2 doubles) in his last 6 at bats. Considering he'll turn 27 in November, the Nats need to get a good look at Maxwell over the last month. In 45 games and 70 AB's with the Nats, Maxwell's put up a .143/.307/.271 slash line, he's got a lot to prove.
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I thought Ramos was already called up.
Also, does anyone know if Maya will be coming out of the pen for the Nats, or starting games when he’s called up? Hopefully he gets to start, because he’ll be an anchor in the middle of the 2011 rotation.
by Andrew Davidson on Sep 4, 2010 12:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Ramos is up yes, I haven't read/heard anything about what role Maya will play....
Hope they put him in the rotation, but I don’t know how his arm strength has built up. Should be interesting to see what they dowith the starters…
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 Sep 4, 2010 12:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Maya's arm strenth is build up fine.
He pitched 4.2 IP in his first start for Syracuse and 5.2IP in his second start for Syracuse. His pitch counts have been a bit high for those innings levels. If he’s efficient, he could go 5-7IP as early as Scott Olsen’s next turn. I’m about done with Olsen, and I hope that will save the money and have Maya pitch in his rotation spot. I think you just let Olsen walk after this year because there are cheaper internal options with greater upside.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
Balester's overall numbers are misleading.
He was godawful as a starter earlier this year and but he pitched 21 of his 68 innings as a starter at AAA and gave up 27 of his 45 runs as a starter.
As a reliever his stats are real, real solid: 47IP 2-0, 3.45 ERA; 7.66 K/9, 3.44 BB/9 .214 BAA. Since the all-star break after he adjusted to relieving he’s been even better: 21.2 IP, 2-0 record, 21.2 IP, 2.49 ERA; 8.72 K/9, 3.32 BB/9, .208 BAA.
Basically, he’s trending up and his stuff looks good. Much as I like Miguel Batista and appreciate the contributions of the veteran depth like Slaten and Peralta, I’d like to see the bullpen focus on Storen, Clippard, Burnett, and Balester down the stretch with Stammen as the long guy. I’m a real believer in Balester making the club out of spring training next year.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
Tonight would be a good night for Ramos to start.
Lannan’s already pitched to Ramos, and it’s time to see what the kid can do. I’d like to see Ramos get two starts a week from here on out with supplemental pinch hitting opportunities in some of the blowouts.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
Pudge is starting...
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 Sep 4, 2010 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Balester is finally becoming the real deal!
After 7 years in the Expos/Nats organization Balester is finally turning out to be the pitcher the Nationals knew he would be. His fastball is topping out at 97 MPH and his curve ball is nasty. Pitching from the stretch seems to be the key to Balester’s success. I agree that Balester should be ready to join the Nats in the pen after Spring training 2011.
He has the stuff, he’s been through the adversity, he’s gained mental toughness this year and now he will be effective out of the pen for years to come. I am excited to see what he does when he gets here from AAA. He has dominated AAA batters and it looks like he will do the same in the Bigs. 7 K’s in his last 9 outs to Big League hitters is quite impressive.
Couldn't be happier to see it either, been following him since Expos drafted him in '04.
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 Sep 4, 2010 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Maya to debut Tuesday according to Kilgore
Ask not for whom the bell tolls Scott Olsen, it tolls for thee.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
Hang on Because its going to be an awesome , Wild ride!
With all the heat, complaints, negative press Bally has been getting it is good to know he is mentally tough and ready to pitch in the big leagues. This guy is a powerhouse out of the pen and the Nats know it! Only 24 years old. What a wild ride this is going to be… and I’m not talking about control issues either! With a Healthy Strasburg, J Zimm, Marquis, Lannan, Maya in the Rotation and Stammen,Clippard, Storen, Burnett and Bally out of the pen this is looking like a playoff caliber pitching staff in the making ( 2 years away)
I like McCatty, but how about a member of the pitching coaches staff being Jaime Moyer when he retires? I think with him to mentor these young guns you have your winning combination!
DC will be "Pitching" playoff ready in 2012.
Having a nice mix of flame throwers and finess’ guys out of the pen to compliment the same type of pitcher in the rotation will equal huge results for the Nats! 2 years away. Lets match these guys up…
Lannan/Burnett, Strasburg/Balester, JZimm/Stammen, Marquis/Clippard, Maya/Storen.
Then if you add a Livan as a long reliever, Slaten as another lefty out of the pen you have veteran leadership and stability to steady the ship. Am I the only one thats drinking this cool aide? Maybe its because I have seen this happen so many times before in other Organizations.
69 Mats, 84 Tigers, 75-76Reds, 80’s Orioles, 90’s Braves, 2010 Rangers why not the 2012 Washington Nationals!
That's some serious Kool Aid right there, but glad you can remain optimistic.
I don’t think Livan’s on the team in 2012, but I hope I’m wrong. I’d sign up today for him sticking on the roster all year with a 4.20 ERA so and a healthy 200 innings. Marquis should also be gone by 2012. His contract only runs through 2011. Hopefully, there will be some additional arms from down on the farm working to get into the mix as well. Detwiler, Solis, Milone, and Meyers could be additional back end of the rotation arms.
I can’t get but so excited about that rotation yet, though. Strasburg has to be healthy. Zimmermann has to show he can pitch a full season as a number 2 starter and I’m still not seeing a number 3 starter yet. Rizzo seems committed to having the bullpen remain a strength, though, and that might enable us to have success with a merely okay back end.
Certainly a lot to be positive about since we can now hope to draw on depth from within the rotation instead of without. Still a ways to go before our rotation matches a team like the Braves, which already has a young core in guys like Hanson and Jurrjens and has top 3 starters like Teheran on the way. Mets have Niese, Pelfrey, and probably Mejiia as young arms who could be the core of a solid rotation.
There’s a lot of talent in the division and we just have to continue to work on good process and make steady progress to make some kind of run in the 2012-2013 window.
On a desperate search for Sunshine at Nats Park. In Rizzo and Ramos we trust.
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