Washington Nationals News: Davey Martinez on Victor Robles likely staying at Triple-A; Kyle Finnegan & location + more …

ROBLES 2022:

A 2-on-3 game for Victor Robles on Thursday night left the 24-year-old outfielder with a .324 / .360 / .592 line in 18 games and 76 home plate appearances at Triple-A Rochester, since a decision by the send to them Washington Nationals‘Top affiliate at the end of August. He’s doing everything the club had hoped for after struggling in major tournaments for the past two seasons, but with Lane Thomas posting solid numbers in major tournaments since arriving in DC from St. Louis on the date. trade limit in July, the Nats don’t seem to be in any rush to bring Robles back.

“They said he was playing well and playing consistently,” manager Davey Martinez said during his pre-game Zoom call with reporters on Friday afternoon, when asked for details. information on Robles from Triple-A, where the outfielder has eight doubles and three homers. from the descent.

“So it’s good for us to move forward,” added Martinez.

“So we want to continue to let him play every day and sort of like I said, it’s about making things right and being consistent, and he’s playing with a lot of energy. That’s something we talked about when we sent him there: he can see it two ways, and the way he sees it is that he goes out there and does whatever. he can get better, and he wants to come back here and help us win.

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That may not be the case this season, and the Nationals made it clear when they sent him to Triple-A.

“I told him, I said, ‘I don’t know if it’s going to be this year, but definitely spring training, you have to be ready to go, and you have to feel like you’re going to come here. and do this club next year. But he took it to heart, and he’s playing real hard, and [Rochester manager] Matt Lecroy appreciates the way he goes about his daily business and plays. So it’s good for us and good for him.

Meanwhile, in the majors, Thomas, acquired from the Cardinals in a direct trade for Jon Lester, started the night Friday with a .288 / .379 / .518 line, 10 doubles, two triples, six HR, 21 goals. . , and 36 K in 36 games and 161 AP since joining the Nationals.

Like Martinez said earlier, they want to get a good look at what Thomas can do, and they want Robles to play every day, so for now, they’re going to keep Robles at Triple-A.

“We want Victor to play every day, and that’s the key,” said the fourth-year skipper. “He’s going out there without pressure, and he’s working on different things. He’s working on stuff with his swing and playing the game, stealing bases, working on jumps, so we want him to keep doing that. Lane is playing well, and I don’t want to take Lane out of the lineup either, so we’ll let [Robles] stay down and keep playing. As long as they play there and they play in the playoffs, I want him to play every day.

And how’s Robles, whose struggles over the past two seasons followed a 2019 campaign that saw him help the Nationals win the first World events by a DC-based team since 1924 dealing with the struggles and relocation to Rochester, NY?

“Like I said, I spoke to him, [GM Mike Rizzo] spoke to her before leaving, ”Martinez said.

“We were very categorical saying, ‘This does not mean that we are abandoning you. We just want you to go out there, relax and play everyday with no pressure on you, and just understand some things, ”and work on the things we wanted him to work on. and it does.

Finnegan’s wake:

Kyle Finnegan struggled in a tough end, walking a tightrope to win the stoppage in Game 1 of the series in Cincinnati on Thursday night, allowing two runs after taking the mound with a 3-0 lead, then shutting the door before the Reds could match him at the top. It was the 64th trip to the mound and the 63rd inning of work for the hard-throw right-hander this season, so a reporter asked during Davey Martinez’s post-game Zoom call if he thought the 30-year-old reliever had been gassed at this point in the season.

“No, I’m more concerned with where he throws the ball, the location,” Martinez said.

“He is a lead player who throws 96, that is to say throwing the ball upwards,” he explained. “I spoke to him after the game, he has to get the ball down. We’ve got a lot of numbers, a lot of things about him and where he’s at, and the coaches say he’s good, he’s built himself to go this far, and honestly if we were going to make the playoffs, I want to for see what he can do, and he wants to see what he can do. So you know we gave him a few days off this week he had his chance to close the game it wasn’t the cleanest but he got away he got three strikeouts for us , and it recovers the backup. “

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It was Finnegan’s 11th save of the season, on 15 occasions. The follow-up question after Martinez’s comments on the closest to say down in the zone, was why he was with his throws in the first place.

“Sometimes you can read all this analysis on the launch, you know, and for him it was counterproductive,” Martinez said.

“He’s a guy like I said he’s really good when he throws the ball. He sinks the ball and moves the ball in and out. When he’s on the ground, his slider is much better, he can throw it down, and his split is much better. So like I said, I told him about it after the game, and we’re going to work with him, and I hope he starts shooting the ball and we’ll see if the results are better.

Finnegan allowed a single and hit a batter in the ninth inning of a draw last night, but he came out of the inning with things still in place at 7-7, and Martinez liked what he got. seen.

“Finnegan actually threw the ball a lot better,” said the manager after an 8-7 loss in extras.

“He kept the ball on the ground, touching the ground, but I thought he threw the ball much better today.

“We talked a lot today about him throwing the ball, and he did, and like I said, he kept the ball on the ground.

McGowin Update:

Kyle McGowin landed on 10-Day IL on July 11 with a straight bicep, and he was out of the mound in the majors until August 24, two days after being reinstated from IL.

McGowin, made five appearances out of the pen on his return, allowing two hits and a run in 4 1⁄3 innings pitched, but the 29-year-old right-hander sensed something was wrong during a pitching session and a subsequent MRI. revealed a UCL sprain to the lifter’s right elbow.

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Davey Martinez said at the time he didn’t want to jump to any hasty conclusions about next move for McGowin until the reliever gets a second opinion on the sprain.

“I don’t want to assume anything until we hear from the doctor and he assesses what’s going on,” Martinez said, “… so as soon as I know more, I’ll tell you more. , but like I said he was going to seek another doctor’s advice, then we’ll go from there.

There was finally an update last night.

“Obviously we closed it,” Martinez said.

“He had an injection, in his arm, in his elbow, and so he was arrested, and he will start to readjust as soon as he is cleared to start throwing and starts throwing again.”

So, for now at least, no need for Tommy John or any other type of surgery?

“No surgery,” said the director.