AFL Update: October 14, 2010
Today's tidbits from Arizona
By now, you’ve heard that Bryce Harper has been assigned to the taxi squad and will play twice a week. As I put in one of the comments last night, I believe this is a move that has more to do keeping Harper under the watchful eye tutelage of one of the best baseball men in the system (Randy Knorr) than it is exposing him to high-level competition. From a PR standpoint, it’s also a nice gesture to appease the impatient DC fans (today’s submission from the department of redundancy department).
Anyway, just two Nationals saw action in yesterday’s 9-1 win by the Scottsdale Scorpions, but the results are what we love to see…
…Steve Lombardozzi doubled in his first two at-bats and went 2-for-6 overall while scoring a run. Defensively, he made just one play.
…Cole Kimball pitched a perfect ninth inning, striking out the side, which included Minnesota’s Joe Benson, and San Diego farmhands Luis Martinez and Cole Figueroa (seriously, what was up with the name “Cole” in the mid-to-late 80s?).
Sue,
Your love for Steve Lombardozzi is well recognized, but I was wondering if you could compare him to a regular MLBer. Who would Lombo be if he were in the majors right now?
Section 138 — I think one of the things that gets lost about Lombardozzi is his baseball breeding. His father (also Steve) played 6 years in the majors (1985-1990) and is now a full time scout. His father was also a 2nd baseman.
With Lombardozzi’s high basebal IQ, I’ll bet he could also make it as a utility guy in the majors.
Sue, it has to be gratifying for you to see Peacock get off to a strong start in the AFL. You were tooting his horn back when he was off most peoples radar. Hope he keeps it up!
I think his ceiling is a .260-something, 20-something doubles, 20-something steals, .980-or-so fielder, which is your Ryan Theriot or Skip Schumaker-types.
@MarkL
If it’s going to be utility for Lombo, doesn’t he have to learn some outfield? Not but so much range and lateral speed to play short. Channel your inner Ben Zobrist, Lombo!
I’d love to see…
Zim at 3rd, Espy at SS, Lombo at 2nd, and someone else other than Dunn at first. Outfield – ugh. :o) Catching is easy – Ramos, Flores, and Pudge.
perhaps Cole was a cool name in the SW or out west fuled by some show like Dallas or one of the many sopa operas to capture mother’s attention during the day????