2015 Arizona Fall League

[dcsgm]

 The Rosters were released yesterday and playing for the Nats this year will be:

Pitchers: Dakota Bacus, Abel De los santos, Nick Lee, and John Simms. 
Catcher: Spencer Kieboom
SS: Wilmer Difo
3B Drew Ward
Some guys I’ll be interested in watching will be Nick Lee who will come out of the Bullpen and this year has limited Left- handed hitters to .194 Average.
 
Spencer Kieboom is making his 2nd appearance at the Fall League.  This year he was invited to Big League Camp in the Spring.  I’ve always liked this guy since I saw him at Clemson and was drafted in the 5th Round.  He made the Carolina All Star Team this year, but had some injuries.  As a College player and someone who is returning to his 2nd AZFL, he needs to make that next step.   A lot of scouts I’m sure will be interested in him, as the Nats have a couple of higher rated catching prospects ahead of him.   

Drew Ward will play 3rd base.  Was at High A most of the year hit .249 with 7 HR’s and 46 RBI’s.  Has some power, will see what he does at a little higher level. 

Finally l’m looking forward to see Wilmer Difo who is an Organizational Top 5 prospect.  He slashed .278/.374/.687 at AA and had a couple of cups of Coffee with the Big League Team.  He’s a speedster and stole 23 bases this year.  I think he has better range for 2nd base but also plays SS. Should be a good AZFL as always.  If anyone is interested or is making the trip out here, you can take a look at the schedule here: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/afl/y2015/afl_schedule_2015.pdf
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dcsgm

[houston-nat]

I'm interested in John Simms because he went to my alma mater and our friend-groups are only 1 degree away from each other. Pretty good chance I hang out with him one of these offseasons.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

A little surprised they did not put Lucas Giolito in the AFL. Pitched 98 innings last year, just 111 this with one more start.  I guess he's just barely 21, so 117 would be normal work and ~ 20 IP bump up.  Maybe he goes to the Florida Instructional league for an appearance or two where they manage his innings.  I thought they might have pushed him to 125 - 130 innings this year so that  he can go 160 next  and grab a rotation spot from the get go in 2017.  I guess a lot of teams keep their best pitchers out of the AFL.

Also, for those who do not recognize the name Dakota Baucus, he is more commonly known as

THE WHITEWALL NINJA

[Natsinpwc]

Are the Arizona Fall League games available with the MLB TV package or do I have to buy another service?

[BrandonK]

Are the Arizona Fall League games available with the MLB TV package or do I have to buy another service?

I don't think all of them are televised (on MLB.tv), but I've seen some free on there before.

[Natsinpwc]

I don't think all of them are televised (on MLB.tv), but I've seen some free on there before.

Ok. I don't have MLB on my cable package anymore but I did purchase the MLB TV package recently for the remainder of the year (for my Apple TV and computer) so maybe some of the games will be available on that?

[BrandonK]

Ok. I don't have MLB on my cable package anymore but I did purchase the MLB TV package recently for the remainder of the year (for my Apple TV and computer) so maybe some of the games will be available on that?

I think so. If not, MiLB.tv is like $10 more for the season (probably free when you got it?).

[Natsinpwc]

I think so. If not, MiLB.tv is like $10 more for the season (probably free when you got it?).

To tell the truth I don't know if I have that. Just got it last week  and was 9.99 so didn't look at the details.   so I will have to check that out.

[RD]

A little surprised they did not put Lucas Giolito in the AFL. Pitched 98 innings last year, just 111 this with one more start.  I guess he's just barely 21, so 117 would be normal work and ~ 20 IP bump up.  Maybe he goes to the Florida Instructional league for an appearance or two where they manage his innings.  I thought they might have pushed him to 125 - 130 innings this year so that  he can go 160 next  and grab a rotation spot from the get go in 2017.  I guess a lot of teams keep their best pitchers out of the AFL.

Also, for those who do not recognize the name Dakota Baucus, he is more commonly known as

THE WHITEWALL NINJA

I was a little surprised too. I wonder if maybe they're counting some of his extended spring innings into his eval this year. He might've been going 6/7 innings or 80 pitches for a bit before hitting Potomac.

I'm also a little surprised at the Ward allocation. I've always wondered if we've pushed him a bit fast and now he's in the AFL after hitting .249 with just 6 bombs at Potomac. I like that the team thinks he can handle challenges, but you'd also like to see him produce a bit more before hitting the higher levels. Promoting with mediocre numbers without getting a chance to get into a groove could cause him to really stall and not get a chance to get ahead. I'd rather have him repeat a level in A ball and work on things against less refined talent than to push him to AA and really struggle against guys on the brink of a promotion to the bigs. It could get him into a funk he can't get out of. Although I guess Michael Taylor was able to break out in AA with so so numbers at the lower levels ....

[Natsinpwc]

I think so. If not, MiLB.tv is like $10 more for the season (probably free when you got it?).

Tried it with my MLB account but didn't work and MiLB is like 29.99 rest of year.  Probably they will have other offers or I assume some of the games will pop up on mlb.com. 

[welch]

Turner??

[Slateman]

This is all we got now

[Truconfidence]

Difo must have really hurt his hand. Bostick is replacing him in the AFL

[Slateman]

Difo must have really hurt his hand. Bostick is replacing him in the AFL

Well he broke a bone ... so yeah ...

[Truconfidence]

Well he broke a bone ... so yeah ...

didnt hear that report.

[imref]

Turner will not play in the AFL per Byron Kerr on twitter, he's already played a full season so the Nats don't want to push him.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Turner will not play in the AFL per Byron Kerr on twitter, he's already played a full season so the Nats don't want to push him.

wait - he got 6 weeks of rest when he was called up.  do they want him to sit around eating Cheetos?

[BrandonK]

Bostick went yard twice!

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/154591510/nationals-chris-bostick-homers-in-afl-win?topicid=153494546

[GburgNatsFan]

Well. They are delicious.

wait - he got 6 weeks of rest when he was called up.  do they want him to sit around eating Cheetos?

[whytev]

Bostick went yard twice!

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/154591510/nationals-chris-bostick-homers-in-afl-win?topicid=153494546

Rizzo wins another trade.

[HalfSmokes]

Rizzo wins another trade.

Now if only he could win a playoff series

[BrandonK]

de Los Santos got smoked yesterday. 3H, 3ER, 1BB and a blown save.

[PC]

Keith Law:

• Washington catcher Spencer Kieboom missed the last six weeks of the season after suffering a concussion but is fully recovered now and continues to impress with his receiving. Pitchers love throwing to him and he has a comfortably plus arm. At the plate, it's a pretty simple swing that produces a lot of contact despite a lack of bat speed because he's so short to the ball and has good hand-eye coordination; I think he's a solid, everyday catcher because he'll play outstanding defense and put the ball in play enough to hit .250-.260.

[Mr Clean]

John (Sy) Simms with a 1.71 ERA now.

Could be a sleeper.

[houston-nat]

John (Sy) Simms with a 1.71 ERA now.

Could be a sleeper.

Sy?