Thursday, August 7, 2008

1.1 To The Plate

Washington Times

“It doesn't matter how fast Bonifacio was [Sunday],” Acta said. “Cueto was able to stop him just by going 1.1 [seconds] to home plate with a good catcher. But also, when you have the type of speed that he does, and you get whoever's on the mound rushing to home plate, they have a good chance of hanging a breaking ball. So that's what speed does for you.”

Gunned Down

Washington Times:

The importance of running responsibly came through Sunday, when Bonifacio was gunned down against the Reds.
“Guys need to learn when to pick the spot. You just don't run to run,” Acta said. “If a guy, like [last Sunday], [Reds pitcher Johnny] Cueto was really quick to the plate, there are times when you just need to shut it down.”
He puts more emphasis on going from first to third on a single as he does on stealing, preferring to take an extra base in a situation where the defense doesn't have as much control over the play.

boni, please give teddy a few pointers.
thank you.







Boni does 6.22

From Chico Harlan

Rizzo first saw Bonifacio when the latter was a 16-year-old, trying out at the Diamondbacks' complex in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. As part of the drilling, players were asked to run a 60-yard dash. Rizzo watched a blur, looked at his stopwatch and gasped: Bonifacio had run a 6.22.

"I said, 'Is this 60 yards legit?' '' Rizzo recalled Tuesday. " 'Or is this a Dominican 60 yards?' '' They re-measured the distance and confirmed its accuracy.

BoniPix






















































Emilio Jose Bonifacio Rosario...Married to Coralina...Attended Loyola High School in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

"He's as intriguing a player as we have because of his sheer athleticism. He's in a good spot because he could literally cover any type of injury in the big leagues. That's not to say another outfielder or infielder wouldn't be considered, but he's your perfect call-up." --Director of player development (D-Backs) A.J. Hinch on infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio

Excitement on the basepaths and in the field. Bonifacio close to being the fastest player in baseball. Also Winter Dominican League Player of the Year. Think about that. POY for the season, then in the Caribbean Series and on the championship team as well.

Gonzalez has a Ripken-like gun, goes to his left as well as almost anyone for over-the-middle hits, and won a championship, along with Gonzalez at SS. Okay, it was the Midwest League, class A ball, but still. They work well together. Both hungry and pliable players with not-too-bad strokes at the plate.

Interviewed after Licey championship was won, Boni (who played outfield for the Series with Ronnie Belliard and Erick Aybar in the way) made sure that the interviewer knew that it was the SECOND title for him. Still proud of his class A Silver Hawks championship, tho it seems far removed from his current situation. http://tinyurl.com/5u4gkf or http://preview.tinyurl.com/5u4gkf if you are apprehensive.

I don't have the words to describe what I am feeling right now," Bonifacio said. "The Aguilas are a good team and to do what we did to them is not easy. That team is full of stars. I think you can see that we have a few stars on our team, too."

http://tinyurl.com/5u4gkf or http://preview.tinyurl.com/5u4gkf if you are apprehensive.
Baseball America's scouting report of Bonifacio said his “swing isn't conducive to the small-ball game he needs to play,” and though Rizzo said his plate discipline is getting better, Bonifacio's numbers in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League this season suggest he still has work to do.

"His swing isn't conducive to the small-ball game he needs to play." Boni struck out a LOT in the past. How much? Starting in Rookie League and ending in AA, his strikeouts/ABs were the following perecentages: 24, 29, 30, 17, 19, 19. Then, in AAA 8 PERCENT! So he's coachable.

Once his bunting is involved, look for .280 minimum, .295 possible. He walks 7-8% of the time. Improve that and get OBP of .330-.360? Compare Weeks, Ugglia, Matsui; also Cano and Roberts.

My boy Rizzo: "Hitting ability, he's a work in progress in the leadoff aspect. I got a call from [former Giants and Dodgers outfielder] Brett Butler, who was a terrific leadoff hitter in his day. I hired Brett with the Diamondbacks. He said, 'You took my boy.' He said, 'This was a guy we were grooming to be me for the Diamondbacks.' With that praise, it kind of says it all for me."

Fielder swings and misses! How fun is that? If you were Flores, would you mumble “A swing and miss, wuss?” Our team is happy, theirs is not! Dissension, boos, etc. Bring ‘em on, ya drunk cheeseheads! Take this Favre and shove it! "Stuff happens like that all the time," Parra said. "We're not too concerned about it." It does? In the UFC? In the Octagon? Or in the dugout? They will hate to play a happy team like ours. They’ll swing at anything. It’ll just piss them off when they see Boni smile.