The Harrisburg Senators and Washington Nationals announced today that Randy Knorr is the new manager of the Senators. Knorr replaces John Stearns who had been the Sens manager the past two seasons. He becomes the 15th different manager for the Sens since 1987. He leads a staff familiar to Sens fans as Troy Gingrich, Randy Tomlin, and Atsushi Toriida all return for 2010.
For more information please visit:Senators Announce 2010 Coaching Staff
Here is a news release from the Central Penn Business Journal:
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation today announced that the non-profit organization has added MARK BUTLER of Carlisle, Pa.to its 30-member board of directors. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation helps to build character and teach critical life lessons to at-risk youth, through the use of baseball and softball-themed programs in America’s most distressed communities.
For more information please visit: Central Penn Business
Last week Baseball America released their list of the 2010 Nationals Top 10 Prospects. Included is my review of the top 10, who should have been in the top 10 and who from the top 10 might start the 2010 season in Harrisburg. Also included is BA's ranking of the Nat's players with the "Top Tools" and the Nat's Projected lineup for the 2013 season.
Nationals Top 10 Prospects
1.) Stephen Strasburg (RHP)
2.) Derek Norris (C)
3.) Drew Storen (RHP) *
4.) Ian Desmond (SS) *
5.) Danny Espinosa (SS)
6.) Chris Marrero (1B) *
7.) Jeff Kobernus (2B)
8.) Justin Maxwell (OF) *
9.) Michael Burgess (OF)
10.) Destin Hood (OF)
*-Played for Senators
No real surprise that Strasburg tops the list. Norris had a decent 09 season with low-A Hagerstown batting .286 with 23 HR’s and 84 RBI’s. Storen’s rise through the minors is reminisant of Zinicola’s 2006 season; both ended up near the top of BA prospect list, noted as have the best slider in the system and pegged as the Nat’s closer of the future; looking forward to see how Storen responds in 2010.
Two surprises in the top 10 for me are Jeff Kobernus and Justin Maxwell. Kobernus was selected in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft and has only played 10 games at short-season Vermont. Baseball America called him "athletic," "projectable" and "one of the most versatile players in the nation" but with only a few games under his belt I think he is ranked to high. In my opinion Maxwell is a serviceable 4th outfielder who has been injured to often and has not rebound very well (production wise) from his 2008 injury to be ranked 8th. I like Maxwell and Kobernus but with pitching prospects like Josh Wilkie, Aaron Thompson, or Brad Myers.
Who from the Top 10 do I think will start the 2010season in Harrisburg? I’m going out on a limb and saying that Strasburg should start the season in Harrisburg; just image opening day in the new stadium and Strasburg on the mound. After spending the entire 09 season at High-A Potomac, Danny Espinosa should be the Sens starting SS/2B; currently batting .329 in the AFL. Marrero is hitting .338 with 3 HR’s and 18 RBI’s in the AFL but only played in 23 games with Harrisburg last season. My guess is he will return to Harrisburg in 2010. Burgess played the entire 09 season at Potomac but struggled hitting, probably should return to Potomac to work on his approach at the plate with a possible mid-season promotion to Harrisburg
Here is the Rest of Baseball America’s projections.
Best Tools
Best hitter for average: Derek Norris
Best Power Hitter: Derek Norris
Best Strike-Zone Discipline: Derek Norris
Fastest Baserunner: Roger Bernadina*
Best Athlete: Justin Maxwell *
Best FastBall: Stephen Strasburg
Best Curveball: Stephen Strasburg
Best Slider: Drew Storen*
Best Changeup: Josh Wilkie *
Best Control: Stephen Strasburg
Best Defensive Catcher: Sandy Leon
Best Defensive Infielder: Danny Espinosa
Best Infield Arm: Ian Desmond *
Best Defensive Outfielder: Roger Bernadina*
Best Outfield Arm: Michael Burgess
*-Played for Senators
Projected 2013 Lineup
Catcher: Derek Norris
First Base: Chris Marrero *
Second Base: Danny Espinosa
Third Base: Ryan Zimmerman *
Shortstop: Ian Desmond *
LF: Josh Willingham
CF: Nyjer Morgan
RF: Adam Dunn
#1 Starter: Stephen Strasburg
#2 Starter: Jordan Zimmermann *
#3 Starter: Ross Detwiler *
#4 Starter: John Lannan *
#5 Starter: Collin Balester *
Closer: Drew Storen *
*-Played for Senators
The Harrisburg Senators release the full 2010 Schedule today.
To view and print the schedule please visit: Senators 2010 Schedule
From the Nationals homepage Knorr to manage at Double-A Harrisburg:
After having conversations with Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo and interim manager Jim Riggleman, Randy Knorr has decided to become the manager of Double-A Harrisburg, replacing John Stearns.
Knorr spent last season as the team's bullpen coach, but Rizzo and Riggleman told him his future was as a manager.
Knorr said if he had to do it all over again, he would have been more vocal when it came to the pitching staff and have tried his best to convince Josh Bard and Wil Nieves that catching was more important than hitting.
"I love managing," Knorr said. "It's a new job. I want to be on the bench."
Knorr has a history of success in the Minor Leagues. In 2008, he guided Class A Potomac to a 79-61 record en route to the Carolina League championship.
The Nationals have not announced who will replace Knorr as the bullpen coach.
In other news, Rick Schu will replace Ralph Dickenson as the Nationals' hitting coordinator. Best known as an infielder with the Phillies, Schu was a hitting coach with the D-backs for almost two seasons.
Sorry for the lack of updates. My computer has been ready to die for the past month or so, which makes providing updates a challenge. Good news is I have a new computer on the way. Hopefully next week it will be up and running.
I haven’t been to the stadium since the final home game on Sept 3 so I’m getting a little curious as to what the Phase 2 construction looks like. Maybe I’ll make a trip over in a coming weeks.
Anyway, here is the latest announcement from the Senators:
The Harrisburg Senators today announce that they have placed two mini-plans on sale. The plans are the Weekender Plan and Saturday Plan. The Weekender Plan includes 35 games while the Saturday Plan has 13 games. These two plans, along with full-season tickets, also include the 2010 Eastern League All-Star Game to be held at Metro Bank Park on July 14th.
The Weekender Plan includes every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Opening Night and the All-Star Game. Fans will receive their same seat to each of the 34 games during the regular season and the 2010 All-Star Game. Every Friday night game this season is a Fireworks Friday and this season, there are additional Firework shows on selected Saturday nights and two Sunday nights.
The Senators are offering a 10% discount off the price of the plan with a $50 deposit placed by December 1st. If the deposit is made by November 15th, fans receive a Senators cap. Monthly payment plans make box seats even more affordable for the best games on the best nights of the week. With maximum savings, dugout box seats are just $10.28 per game instead of the $12.50 paid at the gate the night of the game.
The Saturday Plan includes all 11 Saturday night games, Opening Night, and the 2010 Eastern League All-Star Game. Saturday plan holders also receive their same seat to each of their 12 regular season games and the All-Star Game.
The Saturday plan is only $99 with a $25 deposit placed by December 1st. In addition, for just $21 more dollars, you can get a box seat right down on the field!
With Phase II of the renovation to Metro Bank Park currently underway, the only way to guarantee a ticket for the historic 2010 Home Opener and 2010 Eastern League All-Star Game is purchasing a mini-plan, or a full-season ticket.
MLB.com launched a new website this week to follow each major league team’s affiliates (this is a greatly expanded version of ‘Affiliate Round Up’ offered by MLB and MiLB during the 2009 season). The Nationals affiliate site can be accessed via Nationals Affiliate's
Arizona Fall League (AFL)
MLB.com is reporting that the Pirates Minor League field coordinator, and former Harrisburg Senator, Jeff Banister will be coaching the Scottsdale Scorpions this season. The Scorpions will be comprised of players from Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants.
Washington Natioanls players will be apart of the Phoenix Desert Dogs who will be coached by Gary Cathcart. Cathcart was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1984 and played four seasons in the Yankees organization. Cathcart has served as a coach at college and professional level since 2002, most recently in 08 & 09 with New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
The Phoenix roster is a combination of prospects from the Oakland A's, the Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays and Washington Nationals. ‘The Desert Dogs will be aiming for their sixth straight AFL title, a run difficult to explain considering that not only do the personnel change every year, but so do the organizations feeding each AFL roster.’
The Nationals are scheduled to send the following players:
RHP Jeff Mandel
RHP Drew Storen
RHP Stephen Strasburg
RHP Josh Wilkie
C Derek Norris
SS Danny Espinosa
1B Chris Marrero
Note: Also appearing on the Desert Dogs roster is former Senator Josh Perrault (now with the Baltimore Orioles).
Opening Day for the AFL is October 13, 2009. You can follow the AFL season on MLB’s AFL Page; entire Winter League coverage is available at MLB Winter League
