AzFL wraps up
ByThursday’s AzFL Peoria Game (13-6 win over Phoenix) the Javelinas finished the season at 16-22, 3.0 GB of a playoff spot … the Phoenix Desert Dogs won their fifth straight league title
Kevin Russo: 0 or 4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K – finished at .309-.377-.464 while playing at least four positions (SS, 3B, LF, RF) … he may have played more, but that’s all I can remember
Austin Jackson: 0 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K – finished at .246-.298-.377 with 30 K (7 BB) in 114 at-bats … not what we would have liked to see, but eh, it’s only the fall league
Juan Miranda: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 K – finished at .301-.378-.658 with 14 XBH & 20 RBI in 73 at-bats
Kevin Whelan: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 B, 2 K, 1-3 GB/FB – 18 of 33 pitches were strikes (54.5%) … finished with a 21-14 K/BB ratio & a .175 AVG against in 17.1 IP … his reward, exposured to the Rule 5 draft
Humberto Sanchez: 0.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1-0 GB/FB – 12 of 21 pitches were strikes (57.1%) … finished with 4-11 K/BB ratio (that’s not a typo) & a .389 AVG against in 12 IP … ouch
The Hawaii Winter Baseball season is over, Waikiki took home the league title.
Other notables:
- Melky Cabrera: 8 for 19 (.421), 4 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 SB in 5 games
- Robbie Cano: 2 for 9 (.222), 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB in 2 games
- Frankie Cervelli: 8 for 31 (.258), 7 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 6 BB, 6 K in 15 games
- Justin Christian: 33 for 116 (.284), 18 R, 5 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 21 K, 9 SB, 1 CS in 28 games
- Reegie Corona: 15 for 49 (.306), 9 R, 5 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 SB, 1 CS in 19 games
- Walt Ibarra: 12 for 52 (.231), 3 R, 2 RBI, 5 BB, 12 K, 2 SB, 1 CS in 23 games
- Ramiro Pena: 11 for 43 (.256), 4 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 CS in 12 games
- Jon Albaladejo: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP in 4 appearances
- Wilkins Arias: 6.1 IP, 10 H, 10 R, 10 ER, 5 BB, 8 K, 2 WP in 10 appearances
Ian Kennedy might be starting Mayaguez’s game today, but I’m not sure. There was a suspended game at the end of the week, and I’m not sure how it effected the rotation. I’ll update this post when I find out if he’s pitching. Here’s the scoreboard.
Update (4:27pm): Oh, and one more thing. J! E! T! S! JETS JETS JETS!!!
Do you think Whelan gets through the Rule V undrafted? Do you think Whelan is a better bet than JB Cox?
I can’t see someone taking Whelan, he is still very much a project as he walks almost a batter per inning.
No, someone will probably take a chance on him. One of those “try him out in ST, see what happens” things. No, I think Cox is a better bet, better prospect, and better pitcher.
Mike, Is there anyone that the Yanks might take in the Rule V draft? If you were drafting for them.
I haven’t really done too much digging, but right now I think I’d take a flier on Chuck Lofgren. He was brutal in AA this year, but you hope that was an aberration and he’ll pitch more like the rest of his pro career.
Doesn’t matter though, the Yanks can’t make a pick because they didn’t have an open 40-man spot as of the roster deadline.
I guess the GMs for Baltimore, Toronto, Florida, Pittsburgh, Texas, Colorado and Kansas City can go with Cash to a strip club during the draft.
I would bet both Whalen and Horne are selected unless they are traded first.
at what point do we get the slightest point concerned about ajax k rates?
He’s always going to strikeout a lot because of his swing. You live with the K’s if he does other things well enough.
What’s encouraging is Jackson’s OBP was pretty solid at AA. It’d be nice to see more power production at AAA. I know he’s only 22 or so, but i’m hoping he’s guy the Yanks can rely upon to give’em 40 doubles.
The K’s are a concern for me…especially if you want him as a leadoff guy.
i dont think anybody wants him as a leadoff more a 6-7
Yeah, definitely more of a 6-7 guy. Maybe 2 or 3-hole in his peak years.
K’s aren’t worrisome as long as he’s also walking and seeing pitches. Ozzie Guillen never struck out, but it’s only because he never saw 3 pitches. If he’s walking and working counts, K’s happen. Almost all good OBP guys strike out a lot.
mike how untouchable is ajax for you? would you do ipk jackson and say sanchez for peavy? I mean i admittedly have a man-crush on jackson but do you think he may start to get a little bit exposed when he faces better pitching in aaa and the majors?
He’s not untouchable, but he’s less touchable than most. If he gets a full year in at AAA, he’ll have less trouble adjusting to the bigs once he gets there.
IPK + Ajax + Sanchez for Peavy? Sign me up.
Back a few years, people didn’t complain about Mickeys’ strike-outs, they commented on them, but said the same thing; “He hits a lot but who is better?” By the way, he had the SO record for a few years. If A-Jaxs comes within 3/4 of the Mick, the team will gladly put up with the SOs.
A-Jax is still learning the game, give him time, he’s only been playing baseball for 4-5 years…besides, you’re right, his strikeouts may only subside a bit. 27/09.
hahah ranger the mick is one of the top 5 greatest players of all time if austin is even 1/10th the player he was we’ll have a star on our hands
True!
Really, are we comparing AJax to The Mick? Stop, just stop.
Oh, and if the Pads asked for Sanchez/AJax for Peavy and that’s it? Show me where to sign off on that…
Relax he was’nt comparing them talent wise I think..He was just stating the Mick struck out alot and look what he did.. Coulda been the best all time if it wasnt for injuries
True, thanks! 27/09.
Mickey would have been the best ever…EVER… if not for injuries, and BOOZE.I’ve seen them all,in their heyday,during MM time, Mays Aaron,Clemente,Mathews.Killebrew et al.If Mantle had an ounce of self control,he would be BBalls hood ornament.
I too have seen them all the way back to Joe “D” Scooter, and teddy baseball. The thing with Mick was Osteomyelitis (bad spelling-bone trouble in legs), getting hurt, playing when hurt and the big one…drinking. There is a story behind his drinking and women etc., but some other time.
The guy had everything one player could wish for, people talk of players having 5 tools, they have never seen 5 tools like the Mick had.
Canon arm, speed (Brett would kill for), good eye (when sober), best bunter on the team, power (even with one hand), and avg. Hell, if they would’ve let him (drinking would have stopped him), he could have stolen 50 bases a year, hit .350 and knock in 120 runs for many years. But in those days, the Yanks were a power team, not fiennes.
I saw him run from CF all the way to the RF foul line and catch a pop-up that no one could find in the lights.
He was the best alaround player I have ever seen, and I’ve seen a few. 27/09.
Austin Jackson may be a little more like Mickey Rivers than Mickey Mantle.
..and I’m sure that Austin Jackson has been playing baseball his entire life, maybe now full time, but I’m sure he picked up a bat before he turned 17.
There is playing AT baseball and there is playing baseball, two different things…don’t you think? 27/09.
I think you may be closer to the truth then I was. 27/09.
Old Ranger’s comment was awesome
Mike, what is the likelihood that Whelan figures it out? I think he can be better than Cox if he keeps his walks to even 3 per 9.
I’d put it at … I dunno, 40%? That’s just a guess.
Could a team take a flier on Horne, put him on the active roster and then DL him for the year without offering him back to the Yanks?
Time on the DL doesn’t count against the year. It happened with Adam Stern a few years back. He has to be on their 25 man roster for an MLB year, so time not served in 2009 would have to be served in 2010.
G-Men struggling. Argh!!!
theyre playin without jacobs and plax and holding a very potent offense in check, theyre dloin aight
I know its only Winter Ball but Id like to see Cano put together some nice stats…could give him and the fans some confidence back after a rough ‘08. It was nice to see Phil Hughes finish up strong in the AzFL and get good reviews on his velocity from scouts, hopefully Cano can put together a similar confidence-gaining offseason.
i hear you man, just a little something to build on going into 09
it looks like Cano already exceeded our expectation of his walk total in winter league!