Nats' Tom Milone

[EXTRAPOLATER]

Anybody know anything about this dude?
I checked out his minor league numbers and some of them are quite amazing. No word of a high ranking by the minor scouts that be but kid could be a sleeper.
Most impressive is his K/BB ratio as in AAA Syracuse this year he struck out 155 while walking only 16 in 148.1 innings. Remarkable. Previous 2 years showed similar results. He's also kept the ball in the yard and compiled a 36-16 record the past 3 seasons while sporting solid whip's and era's.

Gee's been great in 2 of his past 3 vs very struggling offenses (SD & flor), but had a pounding at Philly sandwiched between and after a run of not looking too sharp. His outtings have been short, as well (wearing down late in first full season?), and I'm not a big fan of the mets middle relief. Gee also has great numbers vs the Nats, including a 3-0 record in 3 (2 this season).

Under the 8.5 was a thought but wind and ump Rapuano don't help there. Mets starting to hit some but they also had no day off following their series with the floudering fish (5 games in 4 days). Didn't seem to hurt in the opener vs promising lefty Detwiler but they were outhit 12-9 and their bullpen did work the final 3 innings.

I'm taking a chance on Tommy's debut.
Nats could have a promising future and I'm thinking that the sticks might do justice to the kid's first spotlight appearance.
Nationals -103
hoppy

 

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Washington Nationals' LHP Tom Milone's Been Under The Radar Long Enough.




Then-23-year-old '08 10th Round pick Tom Milone was named the Washington Nationals' Minor League Pitcher of the Year after a (12-5) 2010 season in which the left-hander walked 23 batters (1.31 BB/9), struck out 155 (8.83 K/9) and posted a 3.02 ERA with a 2.57 FIP. Asked if he felt he was under the radar going into the season, MIlone told reporters at Nats Park last October he felt he might have been, "Maybe a little bit. But it didn't really bother me that much. I just went out there and just threw like I usually do and didn't really let it bother me. I think that kinda helped a little bit, just going out there and pitching, instead of worrying about what other people are saying or when I'm going to get a call-up."

Milone didn't appear on any post season lists of the Nationals' top prospects either, though Baseball America's Aaron Fitt did recognize the USC lefty for having the Best Control in the Best Tools section of last December's list of the Nats' Top 10. Milone attributed his success in 2010 to, "Just keeping the ball low in the zone, throwing a lot of strikes with every pitch, just hitting my spots when I needed to, going out fo the zone when I needed to, and basically just throwing a lot of strikes."

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It's been more of the same this season, as Milone's walked just 16 (0.97 BB/9) and K'd 155 (9.40 K/9) in 24 starts and 148.1 IP at Triple-A Syracuse in which he's (12-6) with a 3.22 ERA and 2.24 FIP. On Tuesday afternoon, MLB.com's Bill Ladson (@washingnats) reported on Twitter that the soft-tossing left-hander would be called up to make his MLB debut on Saturday in place of the shut-down Jordan Zimmermann, who reached his innings-limit in his last start. No more remaining under the radar for Milone who'll be the big story until Stephen Strasburg returns to the mound on Tuesday night.

ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (@JCrasnick) Tweeted in disbelief about Milone Tuesday night, writing, "Lefty Tom Milone, new to #Nationals rotation, has 310 K's and 39 BBs over past 2 minor league seasons. That's not a misprint." When Nats' Skipper Davey Johnson discussed the potential call-up earlier this month, the 15-year-veteran manager praised the left-hander for having, "... done a great job down there [at Triple-A Syracuse], he's probably been if not the best, one of the best pitchers in the International League."

In Minor League Ball's John Sickels' profile of Milone earlier this season, he wrote that the reason the left-hander doesn't show up on most prospect lists is simple,"... because he doesn't throw hard,":

"... his fastball is just in the 85-87 range, hitting 88-89 on his very best days. Despite the lack of velocity, the fastball is an effective pitch for him due to the contrast with his plus-quality changeup, a good cutter, and a solid-to-above-average curve. His command is obviously terrific, he has mound presence, and a consistent habit of exceeding the expectations of scouts."

How will Milone's high-80's fastball, change, cutter and curve play in the majors? The 24-year-old lefty will have the first opportunity to test himself this Saturday against New York. It hasn't been his stuff, but his control that got him this far, as Chiefs' Skipper Randy Knorr too explained after a typical outing which saw the left-hander strike out ten without issuing a walk earlier this summer. "'I just think he?s got great command of his pitches," the Chiefs' manager told Syracuse.com writer Mike Waters in an article entitled, "Tom Milone notches 10th win of season as Syracuse Chiefs down Gwinnett", "'He commands the ball well and he never gives in and he makes good pitches.'"

After four seasons and 516.2 IP in the Nats' system, Tom Milone's finally going to get his chance with the Nationals. The 6'1'' left-hander will have all September to show what he can do. He's done it at each level of the organization so far in his career. The next step comes on Saturday.

 

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Another debut looming




The Tom Milone era kicks off Saturday night against the Mets, once a little roster shuffling takes place. The Nationals intend to take a look this month at Milone, Brad Peacock and Steve Lombardozzi, but all three have to be added to the 40-man roster. Hence, three names on there this morning will not be there much longer.

Milone was a 10th-round pick of the Nats in 2008 out of Southern California, and the lefty has advanced up the ladder like clockwork. In 91 minor league games - 86 starts - he's gone 37-22 with a 3.05 ERA. He's a command specialist: One look at his control numbers tell you all you need to know. In 516 2/3 innings, he's struck out 465, and walked just 84, two intentionally. His career strikeout-to-walk ratio per nine innings is 8-to-1.5. He also keeps the ball in the ballpark, averaging just about a half a homer per nine innings.

Milone also brings a little offense with him to Washington. This year at Syracuse he batted .346 in 26 at-bats, with a double and three RBIs. A lefty who can throw strikes and put the ball in play on offense? What's not to like?

Milone was on "Nats Xtra" with us at the ballpark last year after his impressive Double-A season at Harrisburg. He was personable, well-spoken and not at all reticent in front of the camera. His audition for the 2012 rotation begins tomorrow, and sometime very soon his Chiefs teammate, Peacock, should also get the ball.

If it's true that you can judge the competence of an organization's player development staff by the caliber of its September call-ups, the Nationals' administrators seem to be getting it right. Saturday's game with the Mets shapes up as another watershed moment in the history of this franchise.

 

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