• AFL Update: The Scottsdale Scorpions' first loss of 2010 ended with Nats' infield prospect Stephen Lombardozzi striking out to go 1 for 5 with the team's lone RBI in a 5-1 loss to the Phoenix Desert Dogs in AFL play yesterday. Lombardozzi's one hit was a two-out single in the third, after which he moved around to third on a ground rule double by Giants' 1B/OF prospect, 22-year-old '09 5th Round pick, Brandon Belt, but both runners were stranded when Nats' catching prospect Derek Norris K'd taking a called strike three from Oakland A's '07 4th Rounder Travis Banwart. Lombardozzi was the Scorpions' designated hitter, Norris started behind the plate and went 1 for 3 with a walk and the aforementioned K. Washington's '07 1st Round pick, Michael Burgess went 1 for 3 with the same walk and K, starting as the Scorpions' right fielder. Nats' right-hander Adam Carr was the only one of Washington's pitching prospects to throw in yesterday's game, and he gave up a leadoff double, one-out RBI single and a two-out walk before retiring the Desert Dogs in the eighth, after having thrown 24 pitches, 13 of them strikes. It's another late one tonight for Nats fans following on the east coast, as the Scorpions and Desert Dogs meet at 6:35 pm MST, 9:35 in D.C.
• More Dunn Talk From Chicago: ESPNChicago's Bruce Levine, in an article yesterday entitled, "Dunn would be perfect fit at Wrigley", wrote that after the Cubs find Lou Piniella's replacement on the bench, the obvious next step is to find the power bat who'll provide the Cubbies with what first baseman Derrek Lee did for the better part of 14 years before he was dealt to Atlanta this past August. Of course, as the title hints, Mr. Levine, much like Chicago Sun-Times' writer Gordon Wittenmyer, seems to think the Nats' soon-to-be free agent Adam Dunn would be the perfect fit for Wrigley Field, arguing that his raw power could overcome the elements, which, Mr. Levine points out, have conspired to limit many a left-handed pull-hitter's power in the past, noting that the 30-year-old-til-Nov.9th former division rival has hit 25 HR's in 66 games played in Wrigley over the course of his career. A quick look at Dunn's HR spray chart in the friendly confines confirms Mr. Levine's thinking, as Dunn's hit 15 of 25 HR's in Wrigley to right, 4 to left-center-to-right-center, and 6 to pretty-much-straight-left field.
Mr. Levine quotes an "MLB source" who tells him Dunn, "...would consider the Cubs to be one of his top choices," should the Nats fail at any last-minute attempt to get a deal done, and Mr. Levine mentions that, "Cubs general manger Jim Hendry has a personal friendship with Dunn," while several Cubs' players have been outspoken about their interest in playing alongside Dunn in 2010. Is there any chance the Nats get Dunn inked in that 5-day post World Series window? Why would Dunn? Will he find the 3-years the Nats are said to have offered elsewhere on the market?