(ed. note - "Before I get to some Nationals' news...If anyone's ever glanced at my profile, you may have noticed one of the two names listed under "Boxing" in the list of my sports preferences is that of Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins, one of only two good things to ever come out of Philadelphia, (along with hip-hop sensations the Roots)...(though my Brother Scout, Braves' Fan and Source For All Things Culinary And Historical assures me that the cheesesteak and the Declaration of Independence are indeed important contributions to American society), but as far as I'm concerned it's Hopkins and the Roots, and last night the 43-year old Hopkins took on the Undefeated Middleweight Champion of the World, 26-year old Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik, and the elder statesman delivered a world-class *ss-whippin' to the formerly undefeated Champ, who moved up in weight to face Hopkins, and paid the price in the form of a twelve-round beatdown that would break the spirit of any lesser fighter. Final Scores - Hopkins v Pavlik, 119-106, 118-108, 117-109...Here's hoping Hopkins' crowning achievement isn't the end of Pavlik's burgeoning greatness. For Hopkins, here's hoping he finally makes good on his promise to his late mother and retires on top...unless of course Roy Jones Jr. somehow beats Calzaghe in a few weeks to set up...but now on to Nationals' news...")
AFL Update -
Nationals' prospect Cory VanAllen threw 3.0 scoreless, but came up empty in his third start of the fall last night in a 3-1 Peoria Saguaros' loss to the Mesa Solar Sox in Arizona Fall League action out of Mesa, AZ. VanAllen, the 23-year old left-hander taken by DC in the 5th Round of the '06 MLB draft, allowed just 2 hits to the Solar Sox, while striking out 3 batters. SS Ian Desmond was the only other Nationals' prospect to get in the game last night, starting at short and going 0 for 3 with 3 K's to lower his AFL average to .273 after 22 AB's.
The Peoria Saguaros are still in first in the AFL American division at 8-3, though they've lost their last two. Leonard Davis is tops amongst DC prospects in production for the Saguaros so far, going 8 for 28 in 7 games with 1 double, 1 triple and 6 RBI's. Ian Desmond is next at .273, 6 for 22 in 7, with 3 RBI's and 1 SB, and Bill Rhinehart (who got the MLB.com Bill Ladson-profile treatment the other day in an article entitled, "Rhinehart building impressive resume"), is 4 for 17, for a .235 AVG with 1 RBI in 6 games.
VanAllen's #'s after last night's start...(0-0, 6.43 ERA) in 3 starts and 7.0 IP, 10 hits, 6 runs allowed, (5 earned), 1 HR and 1 walk surrendered and 6 K's collected, with a 1.57 WHIP. The rest of the DC pitchers in AZ...
Ross Detwiler - (0-0, 0.00 ERA) in 3 G and 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1.00 WHIP.
Zechry Zinicola - (0-0, 1.59 ERA) in 4 G and 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 HR, 2 BB, 6 K's, 1.06 WHIP.
Adam Carr - (0-0, 2.08 ERA), 1 save in 4 G and 4.1 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K's, 1.38 WHIP.
Random Links...
In case you had entertained any illusions, scratch one free agent arm off the Nationals' Wish List as MLB.com's Bill Ladson wrote the other day at the Nationals' official site, "Nationals not in the mix for Peavy", in which Mr. Ladson also noted:
"Whether the Nationals will acquire a big-name free agent, such as Milwaukee left-hander CC Sabathia, remains to be seen. The team has been quiet since the season ended, and GM Jim Bowden and team president Stan Kasten were not available for comment."
Screech's Best Friend at "Nats 320 - A Washington Nationals Blog" had a post yesterday entitled, "2009 Uniform Changes" about the new look the Nationals will be sportin' come next season.
For those fans interested in all things financial, the examiner.com has an uncredited article entitled, "DC, Nationals strike deal regarding unpaid rent", which details the agreement the Lerners and the District have agreed upon.
That's all, folks. Not much going on...