AFL Update: Oct. 30, 2013
Cabbage night came a day early for the AFL Pitcher of the Week Matt Purke and Mesa as Salt River spoiled the evening for both with a 7-3 loss.
Purke was touched for two runs in the 1st and three in the 3rd, giving up eight hits and two walks total over his three innings of work. The former Horned Frog threw 60 pitches, just 35 for strikes while suffering his first loss of the fall season.
Robert Benincasa also pitched, but gave up back-to-back doubles with one out in the 8th and finished with one run allowed on two hits and one strikeout. It was the fourth time the 23-y.o. reliever has given up a run in seven AFL appearances.
Adrian Nieto was the sole Nationals position player to get in the game. He made 10 putouts, including a tag at the plate in the 3rd. Offensively, Nieto singled to lead off the 5th in the tripled in a run and scored on passed ball in the 8th. He finished at 2-for-4 for the game to push his average to .333 (8-for-24) for the fall.
The loss — Mesa’s third straight — cuts their lead over Salt River to just 1½ games in the AFL East. Next up: a pair of games (away, then home) against the Scorpions. For those wondering, Sammy Solis is not scheduled to pitch until next month.
The AFL also announced the rosters its eighth annual all-star game, renamed this season as the Fall Stars Game, which will be held this Saturday at Surprise Stadium, in… wait for it… Surprise, AZ. Brian Goodwin is the sole National on the AFL East roster.
Luke, what us your take on a prospect
Getting promoted a level out of camp
Versus repeating a level in April ?
For example. EstArlin Martinez had over
400 ABs but his average was under ,260
With 3-4 HRs … Does he play mentor on Suns
In April or join the core @ Potnats ???
A lot depends on the “pushdown” effect from AAA… as I wrote earlier this year:
A triple-A free agent blocks a guy at AA that might have gotten a shot, who in turn, blocks a High-A guy from making the jump, etc., etc.
Martinez could repeat Hagerstown… if the Nats don’t release the likes of Keyes, Oduber, or Ramsey or promote them to AA (or the uglier, third way: assigned to XST, from which some guys never return).
I would lean towards Martinez making the jump since he played nearly everyday, but my opinion could change based on the FAs that get signed over the next few weeks.
Purke before last night had legitimate grip about not making the All-Star game with a ERA of 0.00.
Uh, never mind.