Laird’s struggles continue in Arizona

Sorry I’ve been slacking with DotF lately, but I’ve been busy. Here’s what you’ve missed…

AzFL Phoenix Desert Dogs (9-6 win over Mesa on Wednesday)
Brandon Laird, LF: 1 for 5, 2 RBI, 1 K
Jose Pirela, 2B: 1 for 4, 1 BB – got picked off first
Manny Banuelos: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 4-3 GB/FB – 40 of 71 pitches were strikes (56.3%) … 2 ER or less in five of his last six starts

AzFL Phoenix Desert Dogs (5-1 loss to Scottsdale on Thursday)
Brandon Laird, LF: 1 for 4, 1 2B, 2 K

AzFL Phoenix Desert Dogs (2-2 tie with Mesa on Friday) musta run out of pitchers
Brandon Laird, LF: 1 for 4, 1 R, 2 K – three a runner out at third … he’s six for his last 42 (.143)
Jose Pirela, 2B: 1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 K
George Kontos: 1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 1-1 GB/FB – seven of his ten pitches were strikes … just the third time in his last eight appearances that he didn’t allow a run
Ryan Pope: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1-0 GB/FB – 13 of 21 pitches were strikes (61.9%)

AzFL Phoenix Desert Dogs (8-1 win over Peoria in seven innings)
Jose Pirela. 2B: 0 for 3, 1 K
Craig Heyer: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 10-2 GB/FB – 22 of 33 pitches were strikes … love the grounders

I have no idea why Austin Romine hasn’t played in the last five days, hopefully it’s nothing serious. They could have just shut him down after a long, long season. The season does end of Thursday, so that’s possible. Phoenix has already been eliminated from Saturday’s Championship Game since they have the league’s worst record at 9-17. Here’s the other winter leagues…

Australian Baseball League
Nathan Aron: 2 G, 2 for 4, 2 RBI, 2 K (.500/.400/.500)
Kyle Perkins: 6 K, 0 for 6, 6 K – yikes

Dominican Winter League
Juan Miranda: 3 G, 1 for 10, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K (.100/.250/.100)
Francisco Santana: 5 G, 2 for 7, 2 R, 1 K (.286/.286/.286)
Wilkins Arias: 8 H, 5.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K (1.69 ERA, 1.31 WHIP)

Mexican Pacific League
Walt Ibarra: 25 G, 22 for 74, 18 R, 4 2B, 4 RBI, 6 BB, 16 K, 3 SB, 1 CS (.297/.354/.351)
Jorge Vazquez: 7 G, 6 for 26, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 10 K, 1 CS (.231/.310/.385)

Puerto Rican League
Francisco Gil: 4 G, 6 IP, 10 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 WP (10.50 ERA, 2.17 WHIP)
Eric Wordekemper: 13 G, 12.1 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 5 BB, 13 K, 1 WP (5.84 ERA, 1.38 WHIP)

Venezuelan Winter League
Luis Nunez: 7 G, 2 or 10, 1 R (.200/.200/.200)
Romulo Sanchez: 4 G, 3.1 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 0 K (10.80 ERA, 3.00 WHIP) – eek
Josh Schmidt: 6 G, 5 GS, 28.2 IP, 14 H, 5 ER, 4 ER, 13 BB, 32 K (1.26 ERA, 0.94 WHIP)

Justin Christian isn’t with the organization after becoming a minor league free agent, hence the exclusion from the update. He is hitting .389/.459/.620 in 27 games though. Same deal with Jose Gil (.276/.306/.466 in 17 games), Edwar Gonzalez (.333/.360/.417 in 16 games), Rene Rivera (.208/.309/.354 in 14 games), Marcos Vechionacci (.317/.368/.397 in 18 games), Jon Ortiz (6.75 ERA, 2.25 WHIP in three appearances), and Zack Segovia (3.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP in six appearances). Also, Mark Newman confirmed to Josh Norris that Jesus Montero will not be playing winter ball this year. For shame.