June 25, 2008
Jesus Saves
Despite retiring all five batters he faced, Jon Rauch ends up with a blown save for the Nationals this evening. He came in with a man on third and one out and gave up a sacrifice fly to allow the Angels to tie the Nationals at four. After pitching a perfect ninth, Jesus Flores put a W in Jon's column as he drove in the winning run with a single in the bottom of the ninth.
Flores is hitting very well for the Nationals. After a 1 for 5 tonight, his line is .294/.358/.485. His seasonal age is 23; maybe he'll turn out to be okay. His minor league numbers indicate this line is probably a fluke.
Posted by David Pinto at
10:52 PM
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I suppose I'm a bit biased as a Nationals fan (pity my plight; I also root for the Mariners, so pity me twice over), but why do you seem so lukewarm on Flores as a Major League prospect? "Maybe he'll turn out okay" suggests that you hold out little hope for a productive ML career from a guy who, prior to last year, had been projected as the Mets' catcher of the future.
I have to say that, in a season where there has been little to be cheerful about, Flores' development both behind the plate and at the plate is something to cheer. So I guess I feel your pessimism based on his minor league numbers is off-base. He did a serviceable job last year (his first in the majors), and he seems to have broken out now playing full time. Why couldn't this be classified as a part of the learning curve?
It could be Jeff. It's just that most players who are great in the majors were great in the minors, too.
