[ed. note - "Every Friday morning throughout this season, hopefully, if they'll continue to have me, I'll be writing a post over at MASNSports.com's Nationals Buzz, "... as part of MASNsports.com's season-long initiative of welcoming guest," writers to their site. All opinions expressed are my own... A sample follows... You can read the entire post HERE or through the link included below."]:
"Meanwhile, back in Triple-A, Danny Espinosa has started to hit. After going 2-for-4 with a double and a home run last night, the switch-hitting infielder was 15-for-36 (.417/.475/.750) with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, four walks and eight strikeouts in his last 10 games. It's a nice run for Espinosa, but just how good is he going to have to be and for how long to earn himself a return to the majors?
"With Anthony Rendon's emergence, Steve Lombardozzi's at bats have dried up. In mostly pinch-hit appearances in his last eight games going back to June 25, the 24-year-old utility infielder and sometime outfielder is 2-for-7 with a double, but he hasn't started a game since June 23. On the year, Lombardozzi has a .236/.249/.298 line. Bryce Harper's return took away at bats in left. Rendon's getting all the time at second. Is Lombardozzi next in line for a trip to the minors, like Tyler Moore, to get more consistent at bats?
"Like Moore, Lombardozzi excelled in a difficult role as a bench player and fill-in for the Nationals last season, but both he and Moore have struggled to do the same so far this year.
Could Espinosa hit his way back into a role as a utility player in the second half if Lombardozzi is not getting at-bats and is struggling to produce when he does?"
• Read the entire post HERE or through the link below:
What will #Nats do with Danny Espinosa, wonders @masnsports guest blogger Patrick Reddington of Federal Baseball. http://t.co/D8xPoy3K8h
— Pete Kerzel (@masnPete) July 12, 2013