AFL/Offseason Update: Oct. 23, 2018
A three-run 7th broke open a 5-4 game as the Rafters beat the Saguaros, 8-5 yesterday afternoon.
The entire Nats pitching contingent made an appearance, beginning with L.L. (Luis “Livan”) Reyes, who made his third start. Reyes was credited with the win after allowing three runs on seven hits (two HRs) and a walk. He struck out one (1) over four and 2/3rds and threw 83 pitches, 50 for strikes.
Ben Braymer stranded two for Reyes while getting out of the 5th but gave up one in the 6th on two hits. After four appearances (5IP) his ERA is still 9.00 and his WHIP is a Kelley-esque 1.80.
Taylor Guilbeau and Jordan Mills both followed with a goose egg, with Guilbeau issuing a walk and Mills fanning a batter. Their ERAs lowered to 2.08 and 1.42 over 4⅓ and 6⅓ innings, respectively.
Carter Kieboom started at SS and drew a walk but was hitless for the sixth time in eight games. Tres Barrera started at catcher and went 1-for-4 at the plate and 1-for-1 throwing out would-be base thieves.
The two teams switch venues and play this afternoon in Salt River.
Yesterday, officials from the city of Auburn, NY and Cayuga Community College broke ground on a project to convert the grass field at Falcon Park to artificial turf for use by the latter for teams in multiple sports. Our local contributor, James Farrance, was on hand:
Interesting. Do any other minor league teams use turf fields? I suppose this means the infield “dirt” must also be turf.
If I were the Nats, I’d start looking for alternative NYPL teams. But then we’re stuck with Fresno, so I doubt anyone actually cares about these things.
Artificial turf just spells : injuries.
I recall the Louisville AAA club when playing in the football stadium played in false field
Not necessarily. At Buies Creek it was entirely artificial — including the “dirt” — but in some places it’s just the outfield, in others, dirt infield, turf grass. One thing that’s for sure though: this is not your father’s AstroTurf. In fact, there are some studies that suggest it reduces injuries in certain sports, most notably women’s soccer.
As for other teams, the Doubledays won’t even be the first team in the NYPL to have it: the Cyclones and Renegades installed it in 2013 and 2014 and there are two teams in Oregon (Hillsboro, Eugene) that also have it, even though they play during three of the five months it doesn’t rain there. It’s a popular option for colleges because, like a pimp for the Elks Club, it gets the most bang for their buck: $800,000 to $1M to install, lasts 10 years, costs about $2,500 a year to maintain.
Well spoken point , Luke
Still, almost no big league teams play on turf anymore, so that says everything you need to know about which is preferable.
A few hot takes from the AFL:
— Those of us who were hoping Kieboom could be ready for the majors after the Super 2 date in June are probably being overly optimistic. He’s looking like he needs a full season at AA. Unless the Nats are really sold on Kendrick’s recovery rate, I think they’ll now be looking to pick up another 2B/INF in the free agent market. I don’t mean to be too negative on Kieboom here; he’s just barely 21, younger than most of the college players drafted this summer, and he already has half a season at AA. The walks he’s drawing in AZ are promising.
— I don’t think Reyes has done anything in AZ to warrant adding him to the 40-man ahead of the Rule 5 draft. There will be plenty of other pitchers available in the draft with a better chance to stick with a club. Don’t see adding any of the other pitchers from the AFL to the 40-man, either. Braymer had an outside chance if he was blowing people away, but since he hasn’t pitched above Potomac, there shouldn’t be too much concern about losing him.
— I’ve generally been a Daniel Johnson fan, and six games is a SSS, and he did have a strong finish to the AA season coming back from a significant injury, but he seems to be struggling in the elite talent pool in the AFL, as he did last fall.
Ugh! Playing on plastic is a very bad thing.
Luke, you missed it. Reyes had a ‘Jack Morris’ win.