Notebook: When Madrigal Swings, He Just Doesn’t Miss
By John Hull | @JohnHullEG
I use an online app to help me read the Tweets of all the people I follow on Twitter called “TweetDeck.” While on a bit of a personal vacation this week I was drawn to one particular tweet from a sports journalist in Chicago where former Elk Grove High School star Nick Madrigal now plays for the White Sox:
Pitches seen - 190
Plate appearances - 53
Swings - 79
Hits - 15
Strikeouts - 1
Swings and misses – 1
The Sox’ second baseman is making contact of the best pitching in the world of baseball at a rate virtually unseen. He’s getting on base (on-base percentage of .350, OPS .708) at a decent rate and that alone will keep him in the lineup on a daily basis. When the balls he’s hitting begin to drop in safely – and they will – Madrigal will see his batting average, currently .283, edge higher and higher.
In this modern baseball world of treasuring the guys who can hit the long ball, Madrigal is keeping alive the foundational premise of the sport that success starts with getting yourself on base and playing good defense, which is what Nick can definitely do at the Major League level.
And, this is Madrigal’s first full year in the bigs.
Other EGHS players …
Dylan Carlson opened the season for the St. Louis Cardinals with a 3-run homer. In his first full year, as well, Carlson has played almost every game in the outfield batting .259 with three homers, 11 RBI’s, 3 doubles and two triples. Seems like on a daily basis he’s making the highlight reel on the Cardinals’ website.
Rowdy Tellez started this season 0-for-21 with the Toronto Blue Jays, but has rebounded nicely playing first base and as the team’s designated hitter. Dom Nunez, who started the season as the Colorado Rockies’ backup catcher has begun stroking the ball well at the plate and is now seemingly moved to the role as the everyday receiver for the Rox. He drilled another homer Tuesday night in a 6-2 win over the Astros, his fourth of this young season.
J.D. Davis had the unfortunate occasion of taking a pitch off his left hand in just the second game of the season for the New York Mets. That landed him on the injury list. He’s now returned as the Mets’ everyday third baseman. The past two years he’s played primarily in left field for New York.
Local football
The recently completed 2020 high school football season seemed more like college spring football than anything else. The pandemic forced all fall sports basically into a bite-sized season this spring, especially for football. Most teams got about three games in – Monterey Trail played five and won them all. Elk Grove barely got in three and one, the first one with Burbank, ended up being a controlled scrimmage.
Most teams dealt with kids contracting COVID-19, thus forcing the entire team into quarantine. Games were cancelled at the last minute and the opponents scrambling to finding an opponent. Bradshaw Christian ended up with just two games.
A spring post-season?
A local athletic director told me that it appears as though none of the indoor sports – basketball, volleyball and wrestling – will play this year. This comes even as in-person classes are beginning to resume.
Just had a local journalist tell me that things may be looking up, though, for spring sports such as track & field, baseball and softball. Word is the Sac-Joaquin Section may try for a modified playoff for these sports. That may be difficult, though, because the virus’ infection rates have been inching up in recent weeks.
Still, on the diamond there is some good play. Recently, Sheldon and Elk Grove had a three-and-a-half-hour 10-inning game, won by the Huskies, 5-2. Those two programs are continuing to be the teams to beat in this area under Sheldon’s forever coach Mary Jo Truesdale and Elk Grove’s Amanda Buck.
In baseball, the Bee has several EGUSD teams ranked in its top 20 list. They are Elk Grove, Franklin, Cosumnes Oaks, Pleasant Grove and Laguna Creek. Most high school baseball teams play weekdays at 4 p.m. and make for safe, outdoor entertainment. Take in one of the games in the coming couple of weeks, but bring your mask.
Copyright by Elk Grove News © 2021. All right reserved.
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