Season Review: The 2024 DSL Nationals After a trainwreck in 2023, it’s hard not to describe 2024 as anything but an improvement for the DSL Nationals. The ’24 D-Nats bats were below-average on offense—like most Nationals affiliates, natch—but they weren’t the worst in the DSL as they were in 2023. The ’24 arms weren’t as …
Salt River jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the 1st and never trailed as the Rafters trampled the Saguaros, 14-1. Robert Hassell started in centerfield, where he had three putouts and fielded two singles. At the plate he doubled twice, scored once, and drove in two. He also took one off the helmet (pictured …
The Rafters paddled back from a 9-1 deficit, including a five-run 8th, to force extras with the Saguaros. Alas, they could not finish the job as Surprise plated the free runner in the 10th to win 11-10. Two Nationals appeared in the game: ● Michael Cuevas (pictured above) was the first man out of the …
Salt River rallied again in the middle innings, erasing a two-run deficit with a three-run 6th to take their second straight game, 6-4. Robert Hassell (pictured, from 2023) led the Rafters batters with three hits and three RBI, including a two-run HR in the 7th that put Salt River on top for good. The 23-y.o. …
Two Nationals appeared in the game:
● Cayden Wallace started at third base. Like the 118th Congress, he did nothing defensively. However, at the plate the 23-y.o. singled, doubled, and scored a run. He also struck out twice.
● Luke Young pitched the final two innings to earn the save. He gave up one hit, walked none, and struck out none on 19 pitches (12 strikes).
Next up: An afternoon game between the Rafters and the Solar Sox in Mesa.
The 2024 AFL campaign kicked off for the Nats’ contingent with a 9-8 loss by the Salt River Rafters to the Scottsdale Scorpions. Three Nationals were in the starting lineup and two came out of the bullen. Cayden Wallace, a.k.a. the return from the Hunter Harvey Trade, started at third base and went 1-for-5 with …
Just an obligatory post to let you the know the site has not gone dark.
Apparently, MLB has mandated the AFL begin on the first full week of October no matter what, so we’re a week behind last year’s schedule. Not sure why that is but between the coup d’état of 2020-21 and the current lapdog commmissioner* it’s pointless to wonder.
* Let’s face it: If the Pete Rose scandal happened in 2024 instead of 1989, DraftKings would be taking bets on the number of games he would have been suspended.
The 2024 Rosters for the Arizona Fall League were finally revealed yesterday, including a septet of Nationals on the Salt River Rafters. LHP Matt Cronin RHP Michael Cuevas OF Robert Hassell III C Maxwell Romero Jr.* LHP Dustin Saenz RHP Chase Solesky 3B Cayden Wallace* To make things easier, I have only denoted the players …
It’s awards season, as the Washington Nationals honored six players in its 2024 Minor League Awards: Hitter – OF Dylan Crews Pitcher – RHP Travis Sykora Defensive Player – OF Elijah Green Baserunner – UT Darren Baker “Nationals Way” – OF Daylen Lile and RHP Brad Lord Maybe you might want to quibble that Green …
First of all, thanks for the kind words in the comments. It’s a reminder that people do care about what I do, even if this is a niche site with a small readership. I ain’t in this for the money or the glory, which is good because like the minors, there’s not that much of …