AFL Update: November 12, 2010
Scottsdale wins again and three Nats see action on Thursday
The Scottsdale Scorpions took their second straight with a 5-1 decision over the Phoenix Desert Dogs. Highlights from the Nats included…
- Steve Lombardozzi led off, played 2B, and went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base
- Michael Burgess tripled and drove in two for is 1-for-4, playing RF and batting seventh
- Cole Kimball closed out the game with a scoreless inning, allowing a hit, a walk, but striking out one
The win combined with a loss by the Mesa Solar Sox extends the Scottsdale lead to four games with six to play. They host the Peoria Saguaros tonight, then visit the Surprise Rafters tomorrow. Check back on Monday to see how they did, plus our weekly review of the AFL stats. Plus, the last of the affiliate season reviews is on tap for Tuesday.
I truly hope that Rizzo does not go after Quentin and his planter foot problems in past!
Hi Folks,
This is overdue, so apologies in advance. Sue’s earlier post jogged my memory, Byron Kerr had this terrific interview with Rick Schu, the Nats overall hitting instructor, a couple a weeks ago about the surprises and news from the Intructional league.
Hopefully, the Hagerstown & Potomac crowd can fill in the blanks.
#1) Steven Souza was THE star of the Florida Instructional League, which was a huge surprise. He just turned 21 this year!
#2) Stephen King is one of the best defensive talents in the entire Nationals system, which is something I didn’t know.
I’ll look forward to hearing from the rest of you. As we all know, they were both suspended this year for substance abuse. I really don’t know more than that.
And when spring training comes, I’ll be in the best shape of my life…
In all seriousness, I’ve heard the raves about both Souza’s athleticism before and I’ve seen for myself what King is capable of defensively. Both young men have a history of PED use and (let’s just use the broadest term possible) attitude problems that have been probably discussed too much here already.
For folks interested in the story Mark’s referring to, I’m 95% certain it’s this one.
…and I’ll lose my beer-gut without giving up beer.
If the Nationals could find a way to merge the two players (Souza’s bat with King’s glovework), they might have a real player. But in the real world, they’ve got a 3B that can’t field, and a MI that can’t hit. Oh, and while I’m on the subject of ‘can’t hit’, will somebody please explain to me why the Nationals re-signed Adam Fox (BA Transactions, Nov. 1-8)??
I’m far more inclined to give Souza a whole lot of rope here. He just turned 21 a little over 6 months ago! How smart were you when you were 21? Probably not very.
When Rick Schu says you were the star of the FIL, it has to mean something. His job is to evaluate these things and, without knowing him, have to think he’s not paid to sugarcoat things.
Coaches are more likely to give praise to an individual when they’re sure it’ll be written up than to criticize, which, when they do, is usually as a group or unit (e.g. our bullpen hasn’t been getting the job done). I don’t think that’s sugarcoating; that’s just human nature.