Bonifacio vs Hernandez...Prelude To A Spring Battle...

Emilio Bonifacio and Anderson Hernandez were both back on the field last night as the Tigres del Licey earned an 8-1 win over Estrellas de Oriente. Bonifacio started in right for the Tigres and went 3 for 4 with a double to lift his Dominican Winter League average to .319 in 19 games and 70 AB's. Anderson Hernandez was held hitless, but he's still got a .380 AVG in 19 games and 80 AB's...

Licey held a 2-1 lead from the second through the bottom of the eighth, when the Tigres struck with D'Angelo Jimenez (St. L) singling, Bonifacio doubling, and Erick Aybar (LAA) scoring the first run of the frame with an RBI single to center that brought JImenez home. Anderson Hernandez's grounder to short wasn't deep enough to score Bonifacio, who got nailed at the plate, but Licey followed with a walk, a sac fly, a single and a three-run HR to put the Tigres up 8-1, where it would end. Verdict: Advantage Bonifacio (for today)...

AFL UPDATE...

The Peoria Saguaros took a 2.0 game lead over the Arizona Fall League American Division's second-place Mesa Solar Sox, who dropped their second-straight game, 6-4 to the Surprise Rafters while the Saguaros were busy beating Peoria's second-favorite team, the Javelinas, 13-4. There were no DC arms on the mound in the win, but Nationals' infield prospect Ian Desmond was at the top of the order, leading off, playing short, and connecting for 2 hits, a double, a HR, and 1 RBI in 5 AB's to end the night with a .286 AVG in 19 G's and 70 overall at bats in which the 22-year-old infielder now has 4 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HR's and 12 RBI's with 3 steals and a .376 OBP.  

Leonard Davis, (an '04 8th Round Expos' pick and currently a Washington Nationals' 24-year old outfleld prospect), was the DH for Peoria, with a 1 for 3 game, a double, (his third) an RBI, (his 12th) and a .333 AVG after the Saguaros' 13-4 win. That's all for the DC system's contribution to the win...

Saguaros now 19-8. 2.0 games up in the AFL American division. 

Running Down A Rumor: Nationals Set To Make "Significant Offer" to Teixeira?...

I turned to ESPN tonight desperate for any Nationals' news I cound find, and after digging around a bit, I came across a section titled, "MLB Rumor Central: Phillies, Cards pursuing Holliday",*which neglects to include DC amongst Matt Holliday's potential suitors, but does put the Nationals on a list of teams interested in signing free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. ESPN writer/tv personality Buster Olney's opinion is cited, as it's noted that:

"...the Nationals are preparing to make a significant offer to Teixeira, but they'll have to compete with offers from the Angels, the Yankees and the Red Sox."

...the quote from Mr. Olney himself, in a post at "Buster Olney Blog" entitled, "Valentine on Seattle's list of  managerial candidates", isn't much different from the paraphrased quote above, as Mr. Olney states:

"The Nationals are preparing to make a significant offer to Mark Teixeira; we'll see how they compete with offers made by the Angels, Yankees and Red Sox."

A recent article at MLB.com by Jim Molony entitled, "Teixeira cream of the crop at first base", also mentions Washington's serious interest with Mr. Molony writing that:

"Nick Johnson's frequent stints on the disabled list have the Nationals stepping up the search for a first baseman, preferably on who is left-handed with power."

Will Mark Teixeira be the Nationals' first (estimated) $100-150 million dollar man? Doubtful...but seeing the Nationals listed with the Angels, Yanks and Sox is interesting...Are the Nationals actually being take seriously for once? Doubt it...Would Texeira agree to play in DC? Eh? Don't know...How would being the marquee player in a new market work for the 28-year old slugger? Is there any way Washington could outspend any of the three teams considered contenders? I'd be surprised...(Pleasantly surprised)...

* = Sorry, must be an ESPN Insider to read...