(AP Photo. Ex-Nat Vinny Castilla taking in the Mexican National Anthem with his countrymen last March during the WBC.)
"We made some signings that we haven't released yet. We are going to release it the next few days, including one who could join the big league team this year -- a little bit of an older player."
(Stan Kasten, via Nationals.com, 2/25/2010)
A little bit of an older player, Stan? Hmmm...
Nationals sign Mexican League RHP Rafael Martin.
Smileygate II?
Anonymous sources with no knowledge of the situation report that the new crown jewel of the Nats' Latin American operations and proof of the team's revived international operations, 25-year-old Mexican League reliever Rafael Martin, is actually old enough to be the father of 42 year old ex-Nat Vinny Castilla.
Stan Kasten, unavailable for comment.
Speaking of the Nats' international presence, Chico Harlan continues his farewell tour by checking in on progress with the Nats' rebuilt Dominican baseball operation, a year after Kasten and Rizzo razed what was left of the Jim Bowden/Jose Rijo mess.
Meanwhile...
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Jesus Strasburg had his third bullpen session of the spring yesterday. Apparently, Steve McCatty didn't get Stan Kasten's memo about managing expectations for the kid:
"Everybody is talking about how good his stuff is. We might be underestimating it. It's pretty unbelievable. The kid's a horse. He's a stud. There's no other way to paint it. Hitters are going to tell you how good he is or how good he's doing. But you just don't see that stuff. You just don't. I have not seen it. I haven't been with Nolan (Ryan). Have any of you guys seen anything like that before?"
(Steve McCatty, via Ben Goessling/MASN Sports, 2/26/2010) -
The Post's new Nats beat reporter Adam Kilgore offers up video evidence of Jesus' latest miracle bullpen session over at Nationals Journal. Welcome, Adam.
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Elijah Dukes reported for duty. We'll see how the post-James Williams Era goes for Dukes this summer.
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The People's Champion, Mark Zuckerman, has a nice Q&A with top catching prospect Derek Norris.
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We concur with Harper's take on the Livo signing.
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Ian from NationalsPride compiles the list of Nats games slated to be televised this spring between MLB Network and MASN. Conspicuously absent? March 9th, Strasburg's projected debut vs. Detroit. Maybe ESPN picks that one up or something?
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Even if there's no TV, Charlie Slowes Tweets that he and Dave Jaeggeeglaeer (sp?) will be on the air for Strasburg's debut March 9th.
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The Nats just got around to sending Lastings Milledge the rest of his belongings from his days in Washington: the team shipped boxes of his old stuff to Pirates camp this month. We're sure he'll put that Nationals jacket to good use. Interestingly enough, Lastings's locker at Pirate City is right next to Ryan Church's.
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At least yesterday's signing wasn't Vinny Castilla.
Posted by: anonymouse | February 26, 2010 at 10:45 AM