Still a prospect
Desmond goes to Potomac to find his stroke
Sunday, May 28, 2006
BY GEOFF MORROW
Of The Patriot-News
Ian Desmond's lack of a plan forced the Washington Nationals to rethink
theirs.
Ranked as the Nationals' No. 4 prospect before the season by Baseball
America, the 20-year-old Desmond rode the fast-track to Double-A Harrisburg
this year.
The athletically gifted shortstop, often compared to New York Yankees
megastar Derek Jeter, carried lofty goals into the 2006 Eastern League
campaign.
Suffice to say, Desmond's demotion to Single-A Potomac yesterday suggests
just how far off pace he was in achieving those goals.
Senators fans noticed as Desmond batted .182 with just three RBIs in 121
at-bats. He committed a team-high 11 errors, including four in one game.
Many wondered why there was so much hype.
But when you wash away the statistical dirt, it's easy to see why Desmond had
-- and still has -- a bright future with this organization.
"He's going to play in the big leagues for about 15 years," Senators manager
John Stearns said last night from Manchester, N.H., where the Senators are
playing a four-game set with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. "Having said
that, he had his hands full this year at Double-A. If he gets his head
straight and starts hitting consistently and with a plan, he'll be back here,
maybe even this year.
"This isn't even a bump in the road for him, considering his age."
Age is likely reason No. 1 Desmond struggled mightily at this level.
He was easily the youngest player on the Senators and was among the youngest
in the league. Heck, even on Potomac he's the second-youngest player.
Stearns reminds you that this is only his third year of professional baseball
after getting drafted straight out of Sarasota (Fla.) High School in 2004.
Where his inexperience was most notable was at the plate, where Desmond often
looked overmatched. He'd only drawn five walks vs. 35 strikeouts in his 37
games here.
His lack of a plan at the plate, as Stearns called it, basically meant he
just went up there swinging, as you or I might do if we found ourselves
facing a Double-A pitcher.
"He was just looking for the ball and swinging at anything," Stearns said.
"He didn't have strike zone recognition. World-class hitters do not swing at
balls out of the strike zone. On an 0-0 pitch, for example, he has to be
looking for a pitch in a certain location. If he doesn't get it, he has to
take it, even if it's a strike. That's my idea of having a plan."
By swinging wildly, Desmond fell behind in the count far too often, passing
the advantage to the pitcher.
"When you're behind, the pitcher has you in his pocket," Stearns said. "It's
a world of difference statistically and mentally."
Even though Desmond took his share of lumps in Harrisburg, he never stewed,
rarely complained to umpires and showed maturity beyond his years. Still, he
was "quiet and dejected" when informed him of the demotion late Friday night,
Stearns said.
But in the minds of those who know best and care most, guys like Stearns and
Nationals director of player development Andy Dunn, this ranks as barely a
minor setback.
"The bottom line is we want to make sure we put all of our guys in the
position to have success," Dunn said. "We're not down on Ian. No one is upset
with Ian. I'd like to see him get real hot [in Potomac]."
At Potomac, where Desmond hit .256 in 55 games last year, he'll hit near the
top of the lineup and try like crazy to find a consistent stroke at the
plate.
And everyone in the organization will be watching and hoping.
"The ceiling on this guy is higher than anybody on our team," said Stearns,
singling out Desmond's major league arm, hands, feet and glove. "I have no
reservations saying that.
"And there's no sin in going through a down period."
--
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