Link Roundup: Nats Demote Milledge, and Minor League News

by Charlie Wilmoth on Apr 14, 2009 7:58 PM EDT

-P- The Nationals have sent Lastings Milledge to the minors, thus clearing more playing time for Elijah Dukes and Josh Willingham. Neither Milledge nor the Nationals are off to a good start, but one would think that a team with enough capable outfielders to try this stunt (it's only been a week!) and such incredible needs in other areas would start making some trades. Even with Milledge in the minors, the Nats have Dukes, Willingham, Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns to man the outfield. In Class AAA, they also have Roger Bernadina, who'd make a nice fourth outfielder for a team with as many lumbering outfielders as the Nats. One would think they'd try to deal someone, perhaps WIllingham or Kearns, for some pitching.

-P- After missing the first week of the season with a wrist injury, second base prospect Shelby Ford is back in business for Indianapolis.

-P- Robbie Grossman is off to a great start for West Virginia.

-P- Zach Duke credits Joe Kerrigan for the Pirates' starters' strong beginning. That's to be expected--crediting coaches for strong performances is just part of ballplayer etiquette--but if the Pirates continue to pitch so well while looking as different as they have in past years, it won't be long before I start crediting Kerrigan too.

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Looks like Cutch is getting one more AB tonight…He needs a homer for the cycle.

Bixler is 4-4 with 2 doubles, too.

North Side Notch

by northsidenotch on Apr 14, 2009 9:53 PM EDT reply actions

And Shelby Ford got off to a good start. He’s homered tonight in his first game back.

North Side Notch

by northsidenotch on Apr 14, 2009 9:55 PM EDT reply actions

Pirates get Delwyn Young.

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090415&content_id=4275936&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit

by phil79 on Apr 15, 2009 12:31 AM EDT reply actions

If Duke continues on this path, I will tend to agree with him too…If Snell comes around then there is no doubt…

by Mick Kraut on Apr 15, 2009 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

wasnt a fan of Andrews. He looked too young and sounded too phiisophical. I like the approach of Kerrigan – position yourself on the rubber and pitch inside.

by vanslyke on Apr 15, 2009 9:17 AM EDT reply actions

It was also

refereshing to see a Pirates pitcher with a lead quit pissing around and throw first-pitch strikes. Nothing irritates me more than to see a guy with a 4-5-6 run lead nibble nibble and nibble some more. Of course, Pirates pitchers seldom have practice pitching with a 4-5-6 run lead …

by bucdaddy on Apr 15, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

I wasn’t a fan of Andrews. Seemed like he was more a ‘Hands off’ kind of pitching coach. IMO, a pitching staff should improve throughout the year or teams call up/send down players if possible. I didn’t see that last year at all aside from Maholm and that may have just been all Maholm. Have to give the pitchers more time to see what their overall averages are gonna be. Then I will get a better feel for how Kerrigan is doing as a pitching coach. 8 games is a small sample.

by lfhlaw on Apr 16, 2009 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions