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AFL Update: October 20, 2011

Yesterday was Derek Norris’s day to silence the haters doubters. The 22-year-old catcher went 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI and even stole a base.

Meanwhile, the Scottsdale Scorpions lost 6-5 on two runs given up in the 9th to stop their one-game win streak and fall to 4-9 for the season. Zach Walters also appeared in the game and went 1-for-2 with two walks while playing third base (one assist).

Norris also threw out two runners, which prompted lightning-rod Keith Law of ESPN to remark/answer:

Q: How has Norris’ receiving looked? Can he catch in the majors?
A: Fine. Yes.

Law also remarked that the HR came on a 96mph fastball that Norris lined over the left-field fence in the 8th inning. The three hits raised Norris’s oft-criticized batting average to .286, his on-base percentage to .364 while the six total bases improved his slugging percentage to .429.

13 Commments

  1. I think perhaps too much weight is placed on the AFL, but it is a relief to see our hitters start to pick it up. I would think that a good showing by Norris would open the door a little wider for a trade involving Jesus Flores. Flores is helping that at the moment himself in the VWL.

    As for Zach Walters, it is hard to think where he would fit in except as another trade piece with time if he succeeds. Everybody seems to think Anthony Rendon’s success is assured if he stays healthy, and the Nats would have to be idiots not to sign Zimmerman to a long-term contract. Unless Walters’s ceiling is as a utility player, he’d have to really bloom to be more a part of the Nationals’ plans. Am I reading that right?

    +1/2St.

  2. Huh. It seems Byron Kerr at MASN picked up the same topic right as I wrote that.

    +1/2St.

  4. My man Derek Norris cannot be stopped!!! Seriously, I’m glad to here positive things about his receiving and that Flores is making moves in the VWL.

    1. Good to see you, Souldrummer! If you can swing by FB, I put up a guess at the Nats’ top 20 prospects that practically screams for your input 🙂

  5. Welcome back Souldrummer!

    I would also agree that the AFL results ought to be taken with a grain of salt… but I need the news peg to keep the site going in the offseason!

    As for the Rendon/Walters thing, whichever one hits will have his position chosen for him (see Bloxom, Justin). That said, there’s a bit of logjam coming in Potomac with Walters, Martinson, Hague, Kelso, and Sanchez vying for four IF slots — and that’s assuming that Hague has recovered from shoulder surgery, and that no one from the Auburn team will make the jump. Rendon will probably be assigned to Hagerstown, if Harper is indeed the blueprint for how high-profile position players are slotted.

    1. Would it be crazy to think the Rendon and Purke end up in Harrisburg? I think if they both have a good ST, I would start them in Harrisburg, Meyer is Potomac, and Goodwin in Hagerstown

      1. As 21-year-olds? Doubtful. I’m looking over the 2010 1st round and don’t see a single collegiate player that began above High-A. Let’s not forget Rizzo is less likely to challenge a pick and more likely to start him low and let him dominate before moving him up.

      2. Some of that could be contingent on how many OG’s they lose in the off-season. I’ve currently got Goodwin in EST/Auburn, Meyer in HAG, and Purke in POT; Rendon is a wildcard, falling somewhere between HAG & HAR.

        1. If I remeber right I think Hague’s problem wasnt with the Labrum or Rotator Cuff, it was a way more common and standard injury. I would expect him to start and Potomac, and move up to Harrisburg if the numbers are good

    2. I’d think that Hague might have to go the EST/AUB (or lower) route to start 2012 & possibly move to 2B to start the year. Shoulder/Labrum surgery takes a while to recover from & is probably tougher than a TJ proceedure to return to 100% from.

      And adding to the chorus, another welcome back to Souldrummer; Your comments have been missed here, and other boards as well. .

  6. I remember watching an AFL game last year, Tommy Lasorda was being interviewed while Norris was hitting. He stopped in mid-sentence after Norris ripped one to say “wow that kids got a quick bat”. It was so obvious to him that it told me Norris could be special.

    1. We’ll see what the rest of the AFL season & Viera-2012 shows, but it might be that Norris was a little too selective with pitches at HAR. If being a bit more aggressive at the plate doesn’t cause a collapse in his OBP, then he may be onto something.

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