River Avenue Blues » Down on the Farm

Curtis finishes the season with a bomb

Mike Axisa — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:00:06 +0000

The Arizona Fall League regular season is over. Surprise finished 16-16, two games back of the Peoria Javelinas for the West Division title. The Javelinas will take on Phoenix in the title game on Saturday.

AzFL Surprise (11-9 loss to the Peoria Saguaros on Wednesday)
Brandon Laird: 1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 BB, 1 K
Colin Curtis: 3 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K - finishes the season on a 14 for 37 (.378) with 4 doubles, a triple, and a homer

AzFL Surprise (7-4 win over Phoenix on Thursday)
Mike Dunn: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1-0 GB/FB – 14 of 26 pitches were strikes (53.8%) … PitchFX had the fastball at 93.94-95

So that’s it for nightly DotF until next April. You’ll still get your winter ball updates every Sunday, but those won’t last much longer either.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Curtis finishes the season with a bomb

Kennedy strong in his final start of 2009

Mike Axisa — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:00:32 +0000

AzFL Surprise (9-2 win over Mesa) the season ends on Tuesday … Phoenix and the Peoria Javelinas will play in the AzFL Title Game on Saturday .. chances are it’ll be on MLB Network, but I’m not 100% sure
Colin Curtis: 2 for 4, 2 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB – 4 HR in 19 games
Ian Kennedy: 5 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 5-5 GB/FB – 50 of 66 pitches were strike (75.8% (!!!)) … he finishes his AzFL stint with a 4.25 ERA but a 2.26 FIP in 29.2 IP … considering how ridiculously offensive this league is, giving up just one homer is a minor miracle … IPK also said he feels great

Meanwhile, the list of minor league free agents was released today. Here’s who the Yanks are losing:

RHP: Paul Bush (AA), Michael Gardner (AA), Justin Pope (AA), Humberto Sanchez (AAA), Jay Stephens (AA), Jose Valdez (AAA)
C: Brian Peterson (AAA), Chris Stewart (AAA)
3B: Eric Duncan (AAA), Carlos Mendoza (AA), Cody Ransom (AAA), Marcos Vechionacci (AA)
SS: Doug Bernier (AAA)
OF: Edwar Gonzalez (AA), Freddy Guzman (AAA), Richie Robnett (AA), John Rodriguez (AAA)

I guess I was wrong that Jason Hirsh was eligible for free agency, so that’s good. They’ll probably re-sign a few of these guys, but most of them can walk. Old buddies Chase Wright and Justin Christian are free agents now. I’d love to see the Yanks bring in Ryan Speier, Andrew Brown, and/or Chad Cordero to add to that cache of dirt cheap, interchangeable relievers.

Oh, and the guys at Project Prospect rated Slade Heathcott the 14th best centerfield prospect in the game.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Kennedy strong in his final start of 2009

Dunn strikes out four … in one inning

Mike Axisa — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:00:10 +0000

AzFL Surprise (6-4 win over Peoria Javelinas)
Brandon Laird: 3 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 BB, 1 CS
Colin Curtis: 0 for 2, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K – no contact kind of day
Mike Dunn: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K – 19 of 30 pitches were strikes (63.3%) … you gotta love the four strikeout inning … PitchFX had him at 93.04-94.6 with the fastball
Zach Kroenke: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 WP, 1-0 GB/FB – 20 of 28 pitches were strikes (71.4%) … PFX had him at 91.6-93.1

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Dunn strikes out four … in one inning

Winter ball in Puerto Rico begins

Mike Axisa — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00:12 +0000

As usual, the Arizona Fall League was off today since it’s a Sunday. The regular season ends on Thursday, and Surprise is buried in last place thanks to the second worst run differential (-21) in the league.

Here’s the winter ball updates…

Dominican Winter League
Abe Almonte: 7 G, 1 for 5 (.200), 3 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 SB
Juan Miranda: 4 G, 5 for 13 (.385), 3 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 SB – check out Mr. Miranda with the steal
Eduardo Nunez: 1 G, 1 for 3 (.333), 1 R, 1 BB
Wilkins Arias: 12 G, 9.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
Ivan Nova: 5 G, 4 GS, 25.2 IP, 17 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 17 K - studly
Jon Ortiz: 6 G, 4 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
Jose Valdez: 11 G, 12 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

Mexican Pacific League
Walt Ibarra: 19 G, 11 for 36 (.306), 7 R, 1 2B, 4 R, 2 BB, 12 K, 1 SB
Jorge Vazquez: 4 R, 3 for 15 (.200), 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K – good to see him back from his shoulder injury and terrorizing pitchers again
Humberto Sanchez: 6 G, 7.1 IP, 11 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 7 BB, 5 K – eek

Venezuelan Winter League
Reegie Corona: 18 G, 13 for 40 (.325), 10 R, 5 2B, 6 RBI, 8 BB, 7 K, 1 SB
Edwar Gonzalez: 21 G, 18 for 63 (.286), 9 R, 2 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 4 BB, 11 K, 3 SB, 3 CS
Carlos Mendoza: 3 G, 0 for 3, 3 K – fail
Jesus Montero: 9 G, 3 for 26 (.115), 2 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K – he hasn’t played in about three weeks, though I suspect it’s nothing major … they play to win in these leagues, and if you’re not doing the job, you’ll sit
Luis Nunez: 11 G, 8 for 32 (.250), 1 2B, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 4 K – on-base ten times in 11 games and you don’t score a run? weak
Marcos Vechionacci: 15 G, 12 for 42 (.286), 5 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 9 K, 1 CS
Romulo Sanchez: 13 G, 16.1 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 8 BB, 22 K – he’s settled down after the bad start … love the K’s
Josh Schmidt: 8 G, 6 GS, 28.1 IP, 28 H, 20 R, 14 ER, 10 BB, 24 K
Pat Venditte: 7 G, 9.1 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 7 K - he’s gotten batters to ground into 4 double plays in those 9.1 IP, so he’s getting a little lucky
Eric Wordekemper: 3 G, 1 GS, 4.1 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 0 K

Puerto Rican League
Amaury Sanit: 1 G, 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K

Soon to be ex-Yankee Jose Molina is also playing in the PRL, though he hasn’t gotten into a game yet.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Winter ball in Puerto Rico begins

Duff throws a scoreless frame in Surprise loss

Mike Axisa — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:00:49 +0000

Shortest DotF ever?

AzFL Surprise (4-2 loss to Scottsdale)
Grant Duff: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0-3 GB/FB – 8 of 12 pitches were strikes … PitchFX had him at 93.59-95.3 with the fastball, while his one slider came in at 86.6

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Duff throws a scoreless frame in Surprise loss

Laird & Curtis help Surprise to a win

Mike Axisa — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:00:39 +0000

AzFL Surprise (5-4 win over Peoria Javelinas)
Brandon Laird: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 E (fielding) – .313-.374-.614 in 83 at-bats
Colin Curtis: 1 for 3, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB – .388-.453-.687 in 67 at-bats

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Laird & Curtis help Surprise to a win

Curtis keeps on raking

Mike Axisa — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:00:25 +0000

AzFL Surprise (8-6 win over Peoria Javelinas)
Colin Curtis: 1 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 CS – 17 for his last 39 (.436) with five doubles, a triple, and two jacks
Zach Kroenke: 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-3 GB/FB – 16 of 26 pitches were strikes (61.5%) … PitchFX had him at 91.72-92.6 with the fastball, but says he threw only nine of them, compared to twelve sliders … that’s odd

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Curtis keeps on raking

Kennedy knocked around in Arizona

Mike Axisa — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:00:03 +0000

AzFL Surprise (9-8 loss to Mesa, walk-off style)
Brandon Laird: 2 for 5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI
Ian Kennedy: 4.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 4-5 GB/FB – 46 of 70 pitches were strikes (65.7%)
Mike Dunn: 0.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K – 13 of 21 pitches were strikes (61.9%) … allowed an inherited runner to score, which was charged to IPK

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Kennedy knocked around in Arizona

Curtis’ hot hitting continues

Mike Axisa — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:00:42 +0000

AzFL Peoria (6-4 loss to Mesa)
Brandon Laird: 0 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 E (missed catch)
Colin Curtis: 3 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI – 16 for his last 36 (.444) with four doubles, a triple, and a homer
Grant Duff: 1 IP, zeroes, 1 K, 1-1 GB/FB - 9 of 14 pitches were strikes (64.3%) … PitchFX has his heater at 93.38-95.3 mpg

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Curtis’ hot hitting continues

Curtis goes deep for Surprise

Mike Axisa — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 03:00:45 +0000

Make sure you check out Fack Youk’s take on Austin Jackson.

AzFL Surprise (5-2 loss to Peoria Saguaros)
Brandon Laird: 0 for 4, 1 K
Colin Curtis: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 K – three homers in 57 at-bats in the AzFL, seven in 464 during the regular season
Zach Kroenke: 1 IP, zeroes, 0-3 GB/FB, 1 E (throwing) – 8 of 10 pitches were strikes … PitchFX had him at 90.88-91.7 mph with the fastball, which he threw eight times

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Curtis goes deep for Surprise