News and Notes: Nationals Become Acquainted with the Work of Mr. David James Fry

News and Notes for Saturday, June 1st, 2024

Perhaps the Nationals were lulled into a false sense of security by David Fry’s failure to record a hit against known bad lefty pitcher, Patrick Corbin.

After the Nationals intentionally walked Jose Ramirez to load the bases (wise decision) in the seventh inning, they brought in left-handed reliever Robert Garcia to face Josh Naylor (complicated decision). Naylor put up a good at-bat but ended up hitting a ball deep into the infield to the shortstop. However, Naylz was absolutely busting it down the line to first base and managed to just avoid the double play, which scored a run to make it 3-1 Guardians. Both manager Stephen Vogt and David Fry credited Naylor’s hustle in postgame interviews as the key play in this sequence as it allowed David Fry to see one pitch from a left-handed reliever. And, that’s all David Fry needs to see these days.

Guess who made a return to the starting lineup by going 3 for 4 with three singles and a walk?

If Tyler Freeman can continue to hit the ball hard and take the occasional walk/hit by pitch, his presence in the #2 spot in the lineup will work very nicely. He also doesn’t seem wont to sacrifice bunt as one Andres Gimenez tends to be, so that helps my mental health. Gimenez was 2 for 4 with a double and Brayan Rocchio had two walks and a nice hustle run and slide to score the first run of the game.

Gabriel Arias looked remarkably lost at the plate yet again, and misplayed a ball in the right-field corner to allow the only run Tanner Bibee gave up (off the bat of Eddie Rosario, of course, who LOVES hitting in Progressive Field, but only as a visiting player). It is so frustrating to me how the Guardians continue to try to shove the Arias as a super utility player idea down everyone’s throats. He’s a good shortstop. It’s really his only path to major league relevance. Stop trying to make fetch happen. And, since the Guardians have a promising young shortstop showing potential in Rocchio, it is beyond time to move on from Arias. Let him re-establish any trade value he might have by dominating in Columbus and playing a sparkling shortstop position there for six weeks and include him in some sort of deadline deal.

To go back to Bibee, he struck out seven in six and a third and looked dominant until the very end of his outing, where Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase took over in typically dominant fashion.

And speaking of deals, Estevan Florial was designated for assignment to make room for Steven Kwan. I know some will likely call the trade of Cody Morris for Florial a failure. As Morris returned to the Yankees on Thursday, we will get a further chance to see what he’s capable of doing, but, so far, both players look like flashes of potential with heavy doses of disappointment. They both know how to handle Triple-A competition. I’ll always remember Florial’s big home runs against the Yankees, and I enjoyed watching his demeanor. But, his swing-and-miss in the zone, inability to consistently hit the ball in the air, and the Guardians’ seeming allergy to playing him in center made it possible for players like Tyler Freeman, Will Brennan and David Fry to provide value that Florial was unable to offer. Maybe he finds his way through waivers to the Clippers; I hope so.

Yesterday was quite a start for prospects the Guardians might consider with the number one pick. Charlie Condon was 3 for 3 a walk and three hits including a homer and a double, Braden Montgomery was 3-5 with 3 singles, JJ Wetherholt was 0 for 2 with a walk, Jac Caglianone was 1-2 with a double and 3 walks, and Travis Bazzana was 2 for 3 with a home run and two intentional walks. Only Nick Kurtz (whom I don’t believe is a real option at 1.1) disappointed, going 0 for 3 with a walk, and Wake Forest was the only team with 1.1 prospects on it to lose in day one.

Here’s the Condon homer:

Here’s the Bazzana homer:

Today, if you’d like to try to follow the prospects, Kurtz and Wake Forest play East Carolina at noon EST in the loser’s bracket (assumedly Chase Burns will start). The winner’s bracket features Condon and Georgia taking on North Carolina-Wilmington at 6PM EST, Caglianone and Florida take on Oklahoma State at 7PM, Arkansas plays at 9pm where I assume Hagen Smith will start, Wetherholt and West Virginia play Grand Canyon at 10pm, Montgomery and Texas A&M face Texas at 9pm, and Bazzana and Oregon State play UC Irvine at 10pm.

Around MLB:

The Twins seem to have found it again, beating the Astros.

The Royals are falling apart a bit, losing to the Padres allowing 11 hits and nine runs in the eighth inning.

The Tigers lost to the Red Sox.