AFL Update: Nov. 6, 2015
Salt River’s winning streak ended with a 4-2 loss to Mesa last night, setting up a battle for 1st place between the Rafters and the Desert Dogs tonight.
Five Nats saw game action yesterday, including three position players and two relievers.
- Christopher Bostick batted second and played 2B, but was 0-for-4. He helped turned two double plays on defense and had three assists and a putout.
- That putout came when catcher Spencer Kieboom threw out Chad Pinder. He singled in the 1st and went 1-for-4 overall.
- Drew Ward batted 9th and drew another walk but was hitless for his fifth straight game to lower his BA to .095 (2-for-21). Defensively, he had two putouts and three assists while playing 3B.
- Nick Lee worked around three singles — thanks to a double-play grounder — for a scoreless inning in the 6th. He threw 21 pitches, 12 for strikes.
- Dakota Bacus pitched the 8th but let in a run on a double and a single. Seven of his 11 pitches went for strikes.
Salt River is now 12-7 with 11 games left to play. The Rafters play division rival Scottsdale tonight, Monday, and the final game of the regular season on Nov. 19.
Unless I’m missing something, I can’t see that the AFL is changing the status too much of any of the Nats. Ward has certainly confirmed that he needs another year at Potomac, if he hadn’t already. Bostick has continued to show a little pop but also a lack of consistency. Kieboom has hit enough to match expectations.
Simms, Bacus, and Lee have all done pretty well on the mound, although they’re all behind a higher tier of “prospects” within the organization. I thought all along that part of the reason Simms in particular was going to AZ was to advertise him for the trade market. We’ll see. To be clear, I’m not wishing him out of the organization, but he may have better opportunities with another one. With DC, he would probably end up in the bullpen, but he might be able to start for other teams.
KW — have to agree with everything you said.
Ward was in hindsight an overly aggressive assignment to the AFL. Another year at Potomac will do him good. He’s still just a pup.
PotomAc should have some depth with lefty swing
Infielders behind Ward with Meiija , Kinery and
Maybe even Austin Davidson. OMD manning 1b/ DH
Along with page (?)?
Thinking out loud after mlbrumors piece on FA guesses.
Would the Nats be thinking this ??
Free agent ads in Weiters, Parra and BJ Upton.
Rotate the outfield with Upton in RF , Haroer and parra
Splitting time in CF ( Taylor there oops for four days ).
Werth playing his RF and first base if ryan. 11 cannot
Shake planter muscle locking up in foot ??
Robinson losing lumber off improved bench .
that free agent arm add may be dicey with Giants
Being shoppers for two arms and AL teams
Moving in on one for back end support ??
So Nats and Dusty can go with Werth and Turner
Flip flopping on lead off / table setting role or even
Go with Taylor some who should benefit having
Dusty looking over his game and suggesting a few
Things. Maybe the most interesting relationship
Between Dusty and a Nat player
Would Dusty suggest adding Marlon Byrd??
Looks like three top shelf draft picks this next
June draft .
Anybody know how Rizzo will utilize Chad Tracy
In org this year upcoming ??
Gil Grissom, where art thou
I truly believe Nats will go with kids
And seed roster with everyday player FAs.
Maddux might have King Midas touch with
Cole , Voth and Ross. Rivero is a better fit than
Trading for Reds Cuban lefty .
Luke , how is the dog walking this month??