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• Nats' Top 10: Bryce Harper was out in the Arizona Fall League continuing to rake while Baseball America was preparing to release their 2012 list of the Washington Nationals Top 10 Prospects. Harper is, of course the top prospect on the list. The rest of the list you can read below. 2011 1st Round pick Anthony Rendon...2011 3rd Round pick Matt Purke...2010 2nd Rounder Sammy Solis...Where will Baseball America place the Nats' top prospects? How will the 2011 Draft class impact the list. Which player on the list will be the first to the majors? Stephen Lombardozzi (no.10 on the list) already made it to the majors, who's next? Check out the list below...
• THE BIG STORY:
• BASEBALL AMERICA'S TOP 10:
• "You can probably go back and take a look at past BA Top 10 lists and chuckle. There are plenty of major leaguers (now) who were buried at the bottom of that list a few years ago..." - "Harper, Rendon headline Baseball America's list of Nationals' Top 10 prospects" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "[Anthony] Rendon earned the No. 2 spot behind Harper based entirely on his potential; the former Rice University third baseman has not yet played in a professional ballgame..." - "Harper, Rendon, Peacock top '12 BA list" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com• "Aaron Fitt, national writer for Baseball America, said Lombardozzi has the unique combination of hitting and defense that could make him a consistent player at baseball's top level." - "Baseball America's top Nats prospects - No. 10: Steve Lombardozzi" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "Anthony Rendon, Matt Purke, Alex Meyer and Brian Goodwin all should be included somewhere in the Top 10, with Rendon potentially No. 2 behind You-Know-Who." - "Read top prospects list with grain of salt" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• NATS BEAT:
• "The National League East has seemingly been the busiest division in baseball since the World Series ended." - "Nationals linked to Roy Oswalt as the NL East stays busy" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Ask a scout about the Nationals‘ depth at catcher, and his face will assume the same look. The team’s front office executives have mastered it, too." - "For Nationals, there's a catch to Norris" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "[Scott] Boras, who also represents high-profile free agents Edwin Jackson and Prince Fielder, said he and General Manager Mike Rizzo would sit down this week..." - "What is Rick Ankiel’s offseason outlook?" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "To increase our altruism, we must motivate ourselves to take into consideration the effects of our actions both in the present and future." -
• AFL/WINTER LEAGUES:
• Arizona Fall League: Scottsdale 2, Surprise 0 - Bryce Harper - 1 for 4, 1 R, 3 K's; Zach Walters - 1 for 3, 1 BB; Matt Purke - 1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K's - Gameday Box.
• Liga Mexicana del Pacifico: Venados de Mazatlan 2, Venados de Mazatlan 0 - Patrick McCoy - 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 K - Zech Zinicola - 1.0 IP, 1 K - Box Score.
• Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional: Navegantes del Magallanes 4, Tigres de la Guaira 5 - Jesus Flores (MAG) - 2 for 3, 1 2B, 2 RBI's; Henry Blanco (GUA) - 2 for 4, 1 2B, 2 K's - Gameday.
• Liga de Beisbol Dominicano: Tigres del Licey 7, Aguilas Cibaenas 5 - Chris Marrero (LIC) - 2 for 3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Atahualpa Severino - 0.2 IP, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K's - GameDay.
• Liga de Beisbol Dominicano: Toros del Este 6; Leones del Escogido - Eury Perez - 0 for 4. Box Score.
• Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico: Indios de Mayaguez 2, Criollos de Caguas 1 - Alex Cora (CAG) - 1 for 4; Pudge Rodriguez - 0 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K - Box Score.
• NATSTOWN:
• "MLB.com has begun their own awards for each team this season, and Michael Morse and Tyler Clippard earned the Nats honors for the inaugural year." - "Clippard, Morse Earn Nats MLB.com Honors" - Keara Dowd, Win For Teddy
• "Here's video of Michael Morse at the airport, leaving Taiwan" - Nats Enquirer
• "How he became a Nat: Acquired via trade from the Cincinnati Reds for minor-league OF Bill Rhinehart and minor-league pitcher Chris Manno on July 26th." - "A Few Good Men: 22 - Gomes" - Sean, Capitol Baseball
• "The video above is 20 minutes long and absolutely ridiculous, but seemingly more ridiculous is Cespedes raw power and talent." - "The Nationals Have Interest In Yeonis Cespedes, A True Freak Of Nature" - Will Yoder, The Nats Blog
• "Baseball America Ranks The Top 10 Nats Prospects" - NationalsProspects.com
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Mets: "The Mets, it is no secret, want Reyes back in New York next season. Reyes wants to return." - "Jose Reyes a rarity who will likely redefine market" - Anthony DiComo, mets.com: News
• Mets: "If Jose [Reyes] goes, I guess anybody can go, so I kinda understand the situation," [David] Wright said Tuesday night." - "As teams pursue free agent Jose Reyes, David Wright wants him to stay with NY Mets" - Kristie Ackert, NY Daily News
• Marlins: "By bringing in pitcher Mark Buehrle for a sales pitch and tour of their new ballpark on Tuesday, the Marlins continued to work briskly in their bid to reel in a top free agent..." - "Florida Marlins woo pitcher Mark Buehrle with tour of new park" - Clark Spencer, MiamiHerald.com
• Phillies: "It appears that Madson soon will be rewarded monetarily for his decision as well as his ascent to the role of main man in the Phillies bullpen." - "Phillies, Madson said to be close to 4-year deal" - Bob Brookover, Philly.com
• Braves: "Chipper Jones succinctly stated after tearing his ACL in 2010 that he would play again in 2011, but many Braves fans were understandably worried about how his scarred-up knees would hold up at 39 years old." - "2011 Atlanta Braves Player Review: Chipper Jones" - TonyAlmeyda, Talking Chop