Who Needs Pitchers? A New Way to Speed-up the Game AND Cut Payroll
Danny Lockhart drilled three hits (two singles and a double) and drove-in a run, Mark Zagunis doubled and tripled and scored a run, and Jeimer Candelario and Wladimir Galindo clubbed solo home runs, in a 5-1/2 inning AZ Instructional League intrasquad "sim" game played this afternoon on Field #5 at the Under Armour Performance Center at Riverview Park in Mesa, AZ.
With Field Coordinator Tim Cossins and Infield Coach Jose Flores taking turns feeding him balls from behind a screen set-up in front of the pitcher's mound, "Iron Mike" threw a complete game for both squads. Mike is a relentless machine who throws at a constant speed and almost always throws strikes, so there were no walks or strikeouts, and no pitching changes to slow down the game. Just crisp, fast-paced, mechanical baseball.
The defense was shaky for both squads (seven errors combined), but there was one stand-out defensive play, a diving double-saving stop by 17-year old Venezuelan third-baseman Wladimir Galindo, who then quickly got to his feet and threw-out the baserunner. (OK, the base-runner was slow-footed Mark Malave, but it was a nice play). Galindo is a load. He's built like a power forward.
While the sim game was in progress on Field #5, the AFL prep group took BP and worked out on Field #4 in preparation for the start of the Arizona Fall League season next Tuesday. Addison Russell, Dan Vogelbach, Jake Hannemann and Bijan Rademacher were joined by 3B Christian Villanueva, who will be leaving for Mexico this weekend to play winter ball for Los Yaquis de Obregon in the Mexican Pacific League (LMP), which begins play in about ten days.
Here is the box score from the game:
SQUAD "A" LINEUP:
1. Rashad Crawford, CF: 0-3 (F-8, E-7, 4-3)
2. Mark Zagunis, DH #1: 2-3 (2B, F-9, 3B, R)
3. Jeimer Candelario, 3B: 2-3 (1B, HR, F-8, R, RBI)
4. Kyle Schwarber, DH-1B: 0-2 (F-9 SF, P-4, 4-3, RBI)
5. Chesny Young, 2B: 0-3 (L-8, L-7, F-8)
6. Mark Malave, 1B-C: 1-3 (1B, P-4, 5-3, R)
7. Kevin Encarnacion, RF: 1-2 (1B, F-8, R)
8. Tyler Alamo, C-DH: 1-2 (1B, E-4)
9. Ho-Young Son, SS-DH: 0-2 (1-U DP, F-9)
10. Frandy de la Rosa, DH-SS: 1-2 (1B+E9, L-7, R, 2 RBI)
11. Charlie White, LF: 1-2 (2B, F-8, R)
SQUAD "B" LINEUP:
1. Charcer Burks, CF: 1-3 (F-8, F-8, 1B, R, RBI)
2. Danny Lockhart, DH #1: 3-3 (2B, 1B, 1B, RBI)
3. Gioskar Amaya, C-1B: 0-2 (6-3, F-9, F-9 SF, RBI)
4. Billy McKinney, DH #2: 0-3 (F-7, L-7, 4-3)
5. Jordan Hankins, 1B-C: 1-3 (F-7, 1B, L-4)
6. Eloy Jimenez, RF: 0-2 (5-3, E-9)
7. Kevonte Mitchell, LF: 0-2 (L-8, F-8)
8. Wladimir Galindo, 3B: 1-2 (HR, F-8, R, RBI)
9. Jason Vosler, SS: 2-2 (1B, 1B, R)
10. Andrew Ely, 2B: 0-2 (F-9, E-6, R)
SQUAD "A" ERRORS: 3
1. RF Kevin Encarnacion - E-9 (dropped fly ball allowing batter to reach base safely)
2. SS Frandy de la Rosa - E-6 (fielding error allowed batter to reach base safely)
3. 1B Kyle Schwarber - E-3 (throwing error at 2nd base allowed runner to advance to 3rd)
SQUAD "B" ERRORS: 4
1. RF Eloy Jimenez - E-9 (three-base fielding error on line-drive single allowed batter to circle bases & score)
2. 3B Wladimir Galindo - E-5 (dropped pop fly in foul territory)
3. LF Kevonte Mitchell - E-7 (dropped pop fly in shallow LF allowing batter to reach 2nd base safely & run to score)
4. 2B Andrew Ely - E-4 (dropped pop fly in shallow RF allowing batter reach base safely)
ATTENDANCE: 4
WEATHER: Sunny with temperatures in the 80's
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