The Nationals released lefty reliever Ron Villone, tweets NatsTown News. Villone, 40, was given three spring appearances to show his stuff. He at least got more of a look than Eddie Guardado, who the Nats cut after two games.
Villone posted a 4.25 ERA, 6.1 K/9, and 5.4 BB/9 in 48.6 innings for the Nationals last year. Lefties have hit .293/.379/.414 against him over the past three seasons.
Go get him.
Wow…He pitched some good innings for the Nats last season. Also, Batista, Walker, Guardado (who was just released), and Capps have not been spectacular this Spring, so why release Ron Villone?
Capps was acquired via trade, if I’m not mistaken. Seems unlikely you’d cut someone you just went out and got.
Capps was signed as a free agent.
Ah, I must have been thinking of the Morgan deal. Players switching jerseys between the two worst teams in the NL are always… forgettable.
Yeah the Nyjer Morgan deal really worked out for the Nationals.
Well that is true, but the pitchers that u stated also didnt walk 6 people in 1.2 innings. ive stated before that i love this guys attitude towards the game of baseball and i wanted him to make it, but maybe its time for him to call it quits and come on board as a coaching assistant. i think that would be really nice.
I don’t know. I just think that the Nationals don’t have anything to lose by letting him break camp with the team. At least just keeping him for a week after the season starts. The Nationals obviously have some good things going for them, but Ron Villone still deserves a shot.
They should sign Joe Biemel and trade him mid-season…again.
In Villone’s last outing yesterday, he came in with the bases loaded and two out. He did not give up a hit, but walked two and saw three runs score, two on an easy comebacker that he threw away trying to get it back to the catcher for a force. This kind of play is a major reason why the Nats are 0-10 on the spring; his release may have been intended in part to send a message.
Storen’s going to make the team. I don’t think Villone would have accepted a Minor League job. The team probably did him a favor.
The Nats also optioned five other pitchers–Collin Balester, Atahualpa Severino, Juan Jaime, Ryan Mattheus, and Aaron Thompson. Don’t know how much this enhances Storen’s chances–the Nats still have a bunch of relievers in camp.
There have been many ball players I have liked over time, but liking Villone wasn’t a reason to keep him. Since he pitched badly enough for me to be sure he deserved to go, the scouts probably really saw how bad he was. If he can hook up elsewhere, all power to him.
PLEASE DEAR GOD LET THE CARDINALS SIGN HIM. He truly is the missing piece for any contending team.
He only needs to play for one more club to break his own record for most different teams played for in a career. Woo!