Everyone else is off today, other than the Arizona Fall League. Here ya go-
Brett Wallace went 1-4 with a HR. His homer was a two run shot with two outs and he also drew a walk with the based loaded. He committed his first fielding error at 3b in the AFL, and struck out twice.
Shane Robinson took a lead off walk and stole 2B in front of Wallace in the first inning. Later in the game he also drew a bases loaded walk for an RBI. No hits in four at bats, and he grounded into a DP. Box.
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Nice to see Wallace have some shining moment this fall. Hopefully, this can provide a spark for the Walrus. On another note, how does anyone see the 3B situation playing out this year…Glaus only has this year on his contract and I’d imagine the Org. hopes to hand it off, so who do you all think they give the first shot to?
Yeah, he’s had a slow AFL, with a surprising amount of strikeouts, 13 in 34 at bats. Wallace will get the first shot, Freese probably next. I think Craig eventually settles into a corner outfield spot.
The 3B situation will be yet another where management butts heads with LaDuncan … if LaDuncan is back in 2010. A rebuilding team would make sure Freese gets MLB ABs in 2009 then transition to him in 2010. Glaus is likely to be a Type A or B free agent meaning we get at least a sandwich pick when he walks. But TLR will cry a river if we let Glaus walk and turn up his nose at Freese. A classic TLR-management test of wills is brewing at 3B.
I’ll have to agree with you, Erik, on the Craig move to a COF spot…I’m hoping Freese or Wallace sets the world on fire in spring training. Moz has a lot of shuffling to do this offseason to get the big league club and the minors meshed together (i.e.- the OF situation and the final SP for the start of the year) This should shape up to be a very interesting winter.
On another note Project Prospect has their list of youngest by level look at AA. Solano and D-Jones make the list at #10 and #15 respectively. This gives us 5 names so far between the AAA and AA list. I don’t care what any expert says this system is astronomically better than it was in the past.
Joe-
I don’t understand how Freese gets enough AB’s at the MLB level in 2009… Glaus played 151 games last year, so that only leaves 11 games at 3B for Freese. The problem with Freese is he is not a SS or a 2B so he is not going to get PT anywhere else…. I guess you could move Glaus to 1B when Albert is not playing and play Freese at 3B but why would you move one of the best defensive 3B to 1B to let Freese play? I don’t know where Freese gets enough AB’s to put up a good showing….
Maybe I’m too obsessed with defense but I don’t see Wallace as being ready to be the 3b in 2010. I think Freese will get another season at Memphis and, if he improves on this year he’ll get a real shot in two years. Wallace will devote this next year to trying to prove he can play the third sack well in AA. If he does, and if he hits like some people think he will AND if Freese doesn’t thrive, Wallace will get a mid season call up to Memphis and maybe be the guy in 2010. I’m actually betting that none of that will happen. I’ve heard enough so so reports on Wallace’s D to assume they are correct, at least for right now. His struggles in the AFL and the fact that he will have to concentrate on his D make me skeptical that he’ll rake offensively next year. I also think that Freese could capitalize on this situation, blow up at Memphis and get first shot in 2010. With Craig and Pina also in the picture we do look pretty strong at that position.