Spin Williams: A.J. Cole has grown by "leaps and bounds"

Spin Williams: A.J. Cole has grown by "leaps and bounds"
Right-hander A.J. Cole wrapped up his 2013 season at fall instructional league in Viera, Fla. It was the culmination of his first full season back with the Nationals after spending last season in the A's organization. In 2012, Cole went from high Single-A to low Single-A in the Oakland system. In 2013, Cole jumped from high Single-A to Double-A in the Nationals system. In his final seven starts of the season with Double-A Harrisburg, Cole went 4-2 with a 2.18 ERA and 49 strikeouts. He had...

Souza showing hitting and speed ability early in Arizona play

Souza showing hitting and speed ability early in Arizona play
Outfielder Stephen Souza Jr. is excited to be able to continue his season playing in the Arizona Fall League, even if it is only two games a week. Souza is on Mesa's taxi squad, which means he is eligible to play Wednesday and Saturday each week for the Solar Sox. Souza's first week went so well he was nominated for Player of the Week even though he played in just two games and everyone else had the opportunity to play in at least six contests. "It is going great," Souza said of his...

Mesa falls to Surprise 4-2, but Mirowski throws scoreless frame

Mesa falls to Surprise 4-2, but Mirowski throws scoreless frame
Mesa fell to Surprise 4-2 on Tuesday in Arizona Fall League play. The Solar Sox had an early 1-0 lead, and held that advantage until the bottom of the sixth, when the Saguaros tied the game. Mesa then retook the lead 2-1 in the seventh, and Surprise had a surprise waiting for Mesa in the bottom of the inning (you knew I had to try it sometime during the season) by scoring three runs off the bullpen to win the game 4-2. Omar Dunn blew the save, allowing three runs in 2/3 of an...

Solis goes five strong innings as Mesa wins 9-6 in Arizona

Solis goes five strong innings as Mesa wins 9-6 in Arizona
Mesa snapped its two-game skid with a 9-6 win over Surprise behind the pitching of Sammy Solis and big hits from Devon Tarvis and former Nationals prospect David Freitas in Arizona Fall League play. Solis went five innings and scattered six hits, allowing one run, one walk and striking out four. He is now 3-0 in three starts and has a 1.42 ERA. Solis tossed 73 pitches, 47 for strikes. He induced seven groundouts and two flyouts. Travis Shaw had a double, but every other hit Solis allowed was...

Mirowski, Benincasa get in, but Mesa falls 8-2 to Salt River

Mirowski, Benincasa get in, but Mesa falls 8-2 to Salt River
Mesa hung in its game Saturday night until the ninth inning, before surrendering seven runs in an 8-2 loss to Salt River in Arizona Fall League play. Leading 2-1 heading into the top of the ninth, Salt River tallied seven runs on R.J. Alvarez, who blew the save. It was not all of his fault as four of the runs were unearned. Nationals prospects Richie Mirowski and Robert Benincasa got in before the onslaught. Mirowski went one inning, allowing two hits, a run and struck out one batter....

Mesa loses first game in AFL play, 11-9 against Surprise

Mesa loses first game in AFL play, 11-9 against Surprise
It was an historic day in Arizona. Why you may ask? Well, it was the first time Mesa lost a game in the 2013 Arizona Fall League. Surprise defeated Mesa 11-9 with two runs in the ninth inning. But this was after a dramatic comeback by the Solar Sox fell just a bit short. Mesa rallied from 3-0 and 9-5 deficits to tie the game at 9-9 through eight innings. Surprise scored two runs in the ninth on a sac fly and a Tyler Naquin run-scoring single. Surprise pounded out 17 hits to go with the 11...

Purke dominant, Skole homers in Mesa's 6-1 defeat of Peoria

Purke dominant, Skole homers in Mesa's 6-1 defeat of Peoria
Left-hander Matt Purke was outstanding again in the Arizona Fall League, going four innings for his second win as Mesa trumped Peoria 6-1. Purke (2-0) struck out seven hitters in gathering 12 outs, allowing no hits, no runs and walking only one. He tossed 54 pitches, 36 for strikes. Purke allowed only four groundouts and no flyouts. Peoria failed to make good contact against Purke. He had one hit by pitch. Brian Goodwin went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Goodwin is batting .364. Matt Skole...

Suero a part of new wave of Dominican pitchers making impact in Nationals system

Suero a part of new wave of Dominican pitchers making impact in Nationals system
There is a new wave of talent starting to gain momentum in the Nationals organization. That wave of talent is emanating from the Dominican Republic Academy the Nationals established a few years back, led by administrator Fausto Severino. I would not be surprised to see several of these Dominican pitchers work their way up through the minor league ranks of the Nationals system beginning next season. This confidence stems from how good these pitchers were with the rookie-level Gulf Coast...

Mesa remains unbeaten thanks to Souza's big hit

Mesa remains unbeaten thanks to Souza's big hit
Mesa remained unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Peoria in Wednesday's Arizona Fall League play. A Steven Souza Jr. line drive to right field plated two runs in a three-run sixth inning and six pitchers held Peoria to just a single run. Souza, a taxi squad member playing right field, finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBIs, and is now batting .364. Brian Goodwin led off for the first time in the AFL this season and played center field, going 1-for-4 with a strikeout and his first stolen base....

Solis "threw the ball well," Skole gains momentum in Mesa's 7-4 victory

Solis "threw the ball well," Skole gains momentum in Mesa's 7-4 victory
Tuesday was time for Sammy Solis and Matt Skole to shine in Arizona. Left-hander Solis was good last week, but put together an even better start Tuesday as Mesa rolled past Scottsdale 7-4 in Arizona Fall League play. The Solar Sox remained unbeaten at 5-0-1 to be the only undefeated team left in AFL play. Solis struck out eight over four innings, allowing three hits, one solo shot and two walks. His ERA is 1.17. He tossed 68 pitches, 43 for strikes. Nationals director of player development...

Goodwin and Nieto guide Mesa past Scottsdale 7-6

Goodwin and Nieto guide Mesa past Scottsdale 7-6
Nationals prospect Brian Goodwin had two doubles and a run scored as Mesa held off Scottsdale 7-6 to remain unbeaten in Arizona Fall League on Monday. Goodwin played center field and batted second for the Solar Sox, improving his average to .357 after going 2-for-4. He also reached base on a hit by pitch. Catcher Adrian Nieto picked up two hits in four at-bats with a run scored, a walk and one strikeout. He is batting .500 on the AFL season. The Solar Sox again smacked double-digit hits...

Handy guide to free agent left-handed relievers for 2014

Handy guide to free agent left-handed relievers for 2014
Hanging with some Nationals fans Saturday at Maryland's college football game versus Virginia (Terps won 27-26 in a very competitive battle), a lot of them asked me what left-handed relievers might be available next season to fire pitches at Nationals Park. Here is a quick list of available veteran free agent left-handed relievers, according to MLBTradeRumors.com: Scott Downs (38) Mike Gonzalez (36) Rich Hill (34) J.P. Howell (31) Boone Logan (29) Javier Lopez (36) Eric...

Souza shines as Mesa remains unbeaten, 7-3

Souza shines as Mesa remains unbeaten, 7-3
Maybe they should rename the Arizona Fall League taxi squad the "limousine squad." Slated to play only Wednesdays and Saturdays, center fielder Steven Souza Jr. instead played Friday for Mesa, and contributed two hits and three RBIs in a 7-3 defeat of the Surprise Saguaros in Arizona Fall League play. Because it was a short week, Friday's game counts as Saturday's game for Souza. Taxi squad players get to start two games per week, and Souza is one of the taxi squad participants for Mesa....

Purke, Goodwin part of Mesa's 8-1 win over Salt River

Purke, Goodwin part of Mesa's 8-1 win over Salt River
For the second game in a row, Mesa's pitching and hitting was far better than their opponent. The Solar Sox rolled past the Salt River Rafters 8-1 in Arizona Fall League play behind Matt Purke. The left-hander was outstanding, going three innings and allowing one unearned run on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Purke tossed 46 pitches, 30 for strikes, inducing six groundouts and two flyouts. That is also back-to-back games a Nationals southpaw prospect was a winner, as Mesa...

Could Nationals' best choice for a new manager come from the outside?

Could Nationals' best choice for a new manager come from the outside?
The managerial search continues for the Nationals. Most likely, a decision or announcement will not come until after the World Series. Manager Davey Johnson leaves with a Hall of Fame legacy. Finishing his career with the Nationals, he won 100 games in 2012 and 86 in 2013. General manager Mike Rizzo has to make one of the bigger decisions of his tenure. His choice will decide the direction the organization will go for at least the next five seasons. Bench coach Randy Knorr appears to have...

Mesa earns first win of season with Solis solid in initial start

Mesa earns first win of season with Solis solid in initial start
The Mesa Solar Sox flexed their offensive muscle early, racing to a 7-0 lead after two innings in their home opener against the Glendale Desert Dogs in Arizona Fall League play Wednesday. Mesa went on to win 13-3. Left-hander Sammy Solis (1-0) went 3 2/3 innings for the victory, allowing three hits, no runs, one walk and striking out two. Solis tossed 56 pitches, 39 for strikes. Solis told me he felt great on the mound and it was excited to be able to pitch back in his home state of...

Mesa and Glendale end up tied at 8-8 after 11 innings in AFL opener

Mesa and Glendale end up tied at 8-8 after 11 innings in AFL opener
One of the main rules in the Arizona Fall League is the 11-inning rule. To avoid games that could go on and on all day or all night, the rule was set up to end games after 11 innings if they are tied. The statistics count, but the game is suspended. The first game of the season for the Mesa Solar Sox, who are partially stocked by the Nationals, ended in an 8-8 deadlock with Glendale Desert Dogs. Glendale scored a run in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. The most dramatic inning,...

Eight Nationals prospects open season with Mesa Solar Sox today

Eight Nationals prospects open season with Mesa Solar Sox today
The Mesa Solar Sox begin play in the Arizona Fall League today at the Glendale Desert Dogs. The season runs through Nov. 6. The Nationals have eight players on this team, with four position players and four pitchers. Today's starters feature Mesa left-hander Michael Roth opposing former Nationals top prospect and Glendale starter Alex Meyer. Two of the pitchers are left-handed starters, Sammy Solis and Matt Purke. The other two are relievers, in Robert Benincasa and Richie Mirowski. Matt...

Benincasa, Grace promotions reveal strong Nationals system

Benincasa, Grace promotions reveal strong Nationals system
A couple of more pitchers who made moves this season deserve praise as we look ahead to 2014 and setting up the organizational rosters. Robert Benincasa and Matt Grace both were promoted this season and showed promise with their efficiency and consistency. One a right-hander and the other a southpaw, both spent time under high Single-A Potomac manager Brian Daubach in 2013. Daubach said Benincasa did not miss a beat after his promotion from low Single-A Hagerstown when he arrived with the...

Skole on Tommy John recovery: "I am swinging without even thinking about my elbow"

Skole on Tommy John recovery: "I am swinging without even thinking about my elbow"
Nationals hitting prospect Matt Skole recovered from a well-known baseball injury this summer: Tommy John surgery. But what was unusual is that Skole is not a pitcher and the injury occurred to his non-throwing arm. Therefore, he didn't need a long, drawn-out recovery. And he will not be placed on an innings limit in his comeback. In the second post of our two-part interview with Skole, he said that with this time off from throwing, he has been able to strengthen other parts of his body and...