Announcement
The Washington Township Senators announced today that former two-time team MVP Joe Santone will be pulling the spikes on once again to attempt a comeback with the club in 2008.
"I love coaching my son's team," Santone said, "But I just missed the game and the guys. I'm not sure if I can physically do it next year, but I am going to give it a whirl. We'll see what happens."
A former stalwart shortstop, Santone would bring some serious pop to an already potent Senator lineup.
"I know Joey worries about conditioning and whether or not he'll be able to make it back," GM Nick Frese stated, "But let's face facts: the guy was always in terrific shape when he played. I have no doubt that number six will be able to make the leap. If anyone can do it, it's Joe Santone."
Santone had some big, big years with the Nats, including his consecutive MVP seasons in 2003-4 during which he hit a lusty .365 and .381, leading the club in several offensive categories. His career average stands at .368 for the regular season.
Having Santone on the club will give manager Frese many defensive options, all of them good.
"Joey is one hell of a shortstop, and we all know Jim McAllister misses lots of games to coach his boy, too." Frese reported. "I can envision Santone and Mac spelling each other at short when they have to miss games. Plus, Joey is a solid secondbaseman, too, and I wouldn't be afraid of putting either of them at thirdbase, either when Chris Lawrence isn't around. And Chris can also play either second or short. It's simply a win-win situation for the club."
Many current Senators might not realize it, but Santone started out as a rightfielder back in the West Deptford Athletics days, and really didn't evey try the shortstop position until the mid-1990s.
"And the guy could play some RF, too," Frese said. "Joey had a cannon out there, and used to lead the USOTB in assists regularly. He is a versatile player, that's for sure."
Santone is expected to begin off-season workouts with Mark Alessandrini sometime just after the holidays as he attempts to get his body ready for the 2008 campaign, one in which the Senators will seek to reclaim their championship trophy.
"I don't think anyone on the club is going to have a pleasant winter after the way we went out last year," Frese said. "But we'll be back to 0-0 come April, and I expect to see a very, very hungry Senator team on the field in the opener. Losing will do that to you every time...and maybe that's a lesson we needed to learn again."
