Bubba Links
Baseball Links
Because how can you not love a baseball player named "Bubba"?
MLB sources: Former @RiceBaseball star Paul Janish,who has played for Reds,Braves& @Orioles,expected to join Owls staff following 2017season pic.twitter.com/hDGw8VZDhP
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) August 10, 2017
I'm not surprised he's contemplating retirement. He’s been talking about the end of his playing career for awhile now. I was planning to go see the Tides in Rochester this weekend, in part because I suspected it might be my last chance to see him play.
But I am surprised he's returning to Rice. I was expecting him to join the Baltimore Orioles minor league coaching staff. Buck Showalter said he wanted Janish as a coach when he retired, and Janish seemed happy at the idea. I guess Rice would be a more appealing option to a guy with three little kids. Less travel, and family around to help out.
I am disappointed that it's looking like Janish won't be on the big league roster for Player's Weekend. I wonder what name he would choose? Maybe "Soft-J," the nickname given to him in Cincinnati?
Tony Cingrani, now a Dodger, is going with "Grani." Tyler Duffey is "The Doof." Brock Holt is "Brock Star." Anthony Rendon is "Ant." At least they didn't go with their real first or last names, like a lot of players did.
Labels: Anthony Rendon, brock holt, Paul Janish, Tony Cingrani, Tyler Duffey
Paul Janish started at 2B yesterday, and made this amazing play. Might have saved the game.
I'm reminded of this article from last year, which quoted a scout about Janish:
"His RBIs are in his glove. He has quick feet. He's poised, and he executes all the plays he needs to make.He wants it hit to him with the game on the line. He positions himself well and his instincts enable him to have better range on both sides, and on popups."
It was hit to him with the game on the line, and he came through. Wow.
His RBIs might be in his glove, but he singled and scored a run, too. Nice game for him.
The Atlanta broadcast pointed out during the game that both starting second basemen were products of Rice University. It was of course Anthony Rendon at 2B for the Nationals. Janish scored from second on Rendon's throwing error. Rendon went 2 for 3, so he had a pretty good night, too, aside from the error.
Labels: Anthony Rendon, Paul Janish
Anthony Rendon hit his first big league home run last night, winning the game for the Nats. He was 3 for 5 on the night with two runs scored.
Meanwhile, Tony Cingrani is still in the big leagues. They are keeping him in Cincinnati even though Johnny Cueto has returned. Apparently, they're going to use him out of the pen.
Not sure I like that. Cueto's been rushed back, IMO. And Cingrani still has things to learn as a starter. I'm sure Tony's thrilled, though.
Labels: Anthony Rendon, Tony Cingrani
Wow, that was quick. Anthony Rendon was promoted from AA to AAA just three days ago. Today, he was recalled to the big leagues. Danny Espinosa has been DL'd and will likely need surgery to repair his torn labrum. If so, his season is done, and the starting second baseman's job is Rendon's, if he can handle it.
The Nationals are really struggling. They were just about everyone's pick for best team in the NL, if not MLB, but a third of the way through the season, they have a below .500 record. I guess they had to do something.
Labels: Anthony Rendon
It figures. The day I leave Syracuse, the Nats promote Anthony Rendon to the AAA Syracuse Chiefs.
He played 2B last night, and went 1 for 4 with a walk. The Nats might be grooming him to replace the ailing Danny Espinosa.
I hope to get back to Syracuse and catch a few Chiefs games in July, after the All-Star Break. But Rendon might be in DC by then.
Labels: Anthony Rendon
Anthony Rendon got his first big league hit tonight. It was a RBI double.
He was called up yesterday to replace injured Ryan Zimmerman. He went 0 for 4, but got one hit tonight.
According to his manager, it doesn't matter how he hits. He'll be sent back down to AA when Zimmerman comes off the DL. Zimmerman is the starting third baseman, and they want Rendon to play every day, not rust on the bench.
Meanwhile, Paul Janish is MIA. For the second game in a row, he was not in the Gwinnett Braves lineup, and not available off the bench. Not sure what's going on. A minor injury, maybe. Or they're secretly working on a trade.
Gwinnett goes to Louisville tomorrow to play against Janish's former team. Be interesting to see if he's in the lineup.
Labels: Anthony Rendon, Paul Janish
The Peoria Javelinas hung on to defeat the Salt River Rafters and take the Arizona Fall League championship, though it was not without controversy.
Anthony Rendon was 1 for 4, but the one was a triple to the wall. Reds shortstop turned center fielder Billy Hamilton hit the wall hard but missed. He chased after the ball, threw it back in, and then collapsed. He was down for a quite awhile, before walking off the field supported by two coaches.
He's a gamer. He was clearly in pain from the moment he hit the wall, but he ran the ball down anyway, holding Rendon to a triple instead of an inside the park home run. They announced after the game that it was "lower back spasms." He came out onto the field to celebrate the victory with his teammates, so I guess he's all right.
He said afterwards, "There aren't walls when you play shortstop, but I better get used to that."
Well, there might be a wall or two at shortstop...
Labels: Anthony Rendon
No, not football. The last game of the Arizona Fall League "regular season" was today. The Javelinas hung on, and secured their spot in the championship game. The Salt River Rafters clinched a few days ago.
The Javelinas are made up of prospects from the Reds, Twins, Phillies, Padres, and Mariners. The River Rafters have prospects from the Diamondbacks, White Sox, Rockies, Jays, and Nationals.
Anthony Rendon is a River Rafter; he did pretty well, putting up a .329 / .418 / .487 line.
The one-game championship will be broadcast on the MLB Network and MLB.com, Saturday, 3:10pm ET.
Labels: Anthony Rendon
Pitchers and catchers have reported for most teams. Position players don't have to report until next week, but Paul Janish is already in Goodyear.
Anthony Rendon has reported already for the Nationals. He'll likely end up in A-ball, but he's okay with that.
Rendon may be part of major league camp, a designation he earned only by signing a major league contract out of the draft last year. But he knows he will begin his first professional season in the minors, perhaps Class A Potomac. His outlook could not be more different than the Nationals’ first pick in last year’s camp, Bryce Harper. Rendon’s primary goal this spring is to learn. His second is not to stand out.
“I feel like I’m a freshman back at Rice,” Rendon said. “I’m just going to be like a fly on the wall, see what everybody else does, see what I’m supposed to do, what I’m not supposed to do. I just want to be a fly on the wall, try to learn all these new ways.
“I’m more reserved. There’s a really high chance I’m not going to make this team. I’m not like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m shooting to try to go straight to the bigs.’ I’m going to take my time and try to get used to this lifestyle.”
Labels: Anthony Rendon, Paul Janish
