AzFL Peoria (6-3 win over Scottsdale)
Austin Jackson: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB - picked off second
Kevin Russo: 2 for 4, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI - dude’s now 14 for his last 26 (.538)
Kevin Whelan: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 0-1 GB/FB - only 14 of 27 pitches were strikes (51.9%)

HWB Waikiki had a scheduled off day.

Some highlights from the Caribbean winter leagues:

• Matt Carson: 5 for 22 (.227), 2 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 SB in 6 games
• Frankie Cervelli: 1 for 11 (.091), 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K in 7 games
• Justin Christian: 14 for 59 (.237), 8 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 11 K, 7 SB in 14 games
• Reegie Corona: 8 for 21 (.381), 6 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K in 9 games
• Edwar Gonzalez: 5 for 11 (.455), 1 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 K in 4 games
• Former Met Victor Zambrano: 16 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 12 K in 3 starts

Popularity: 6% [?]

That’s the kind of quality title you’ve come to expect here at RAB…

AzL Peoria (15-4 loss to the other Peoria)
Kevin Russo: 2 for 3, 2 R - picked off first … 9 for his last 14 (.643)
Juan Miranda: 0 for 3, 1 BB, 2 K - 0 for his last 14 after a 10 for 20 binge
Jeff Marquez: 2.1 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1-3 GB/FB - 30 of 55 pitches were strikes (54.5%) … making the spot start in Phil Hughes‘ rotation spot since he started the Rising Stars Showcase on Friday

HWB Waikiki had their game rained out. Not sure if or when they’ll make this game up.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Phil Hughes, the promising but seemingly inconsistent Yanks youngster, made the start in the AFL’s Rising Stars showcase last night. He threw three innings but did not have his best stuff. He allowed four runs — but just one earned — on three hits and two walks. Two of those three hits were home runs. While he did strike out three, he threw just 27 of 50 pitches for strikes.

For Hughes, this effort was another in a recent spate of sub-par efforts. In the long run, AFL stats don’t account for anything; the whole purpose of Hughes’ stint in Arizona is to ensure him the innings he needs after he missed much of the season to an injury. Until we hear some first-hand scouting reports though, all we have to go on are the numbers, and a 54 percent strike rate is not what we’d like to see.

Update by Mike (1:05pm): Ben beat me to it, so I’m just going to tack on the rest of DotF here. Austin Jackson started in center and batted leadoff in said Rising Stars Showcase, going 0 for 1 with a walk, a strikeout, and a stolen base. The National team won the game when Reds’ prospect Drew Stubbs drew a walk-off bases loaded walk, an inning after Mets’ prospect Eddie Kunz blew the save by allowing all three inherited runners to score.

Jeremy Bleich took the mound for Waikiki, and had another strong outing: 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, throwing 58 of 86 pitches for strikes (67.4%). Bleich walked his first batter since October 4th, and over his last three starts he’s allowed just 13 baserunners in 19.2 IP, striking out 19 in the process. Impressive since he apparently needs elbow surgery.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Let’s do a chat tomorrow, how’s 3pm sound? Help ya get through that last few hours on a Friday. Here’s our past chats.

AzFL Peoria (13-1 loss to Phoenix)
Austin Jackson: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI - took a guy who throws kinda sorta hard deep
Juan Miranda: 0 for 3, 1 BB - 0 for his last 11
Humberto Sanchez: 0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 WP - my eyes, the goggles do nothing!!! … 16 of 26 pitches were strikes (61.5%)
Kevin Whelan: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2-1 GB/FB - only 12 of 23 pitches were strikes (52.2%)

HWB Waikiki had a scheduled off day.

Wednesday’s Games

AzFL Peoria (16-5 win over Phoenix)
Juan Miranda: 0 for 5, 1 BB, 2 K - 16 runs & 21 hits and he takes an 0-fer? lame…

HWB Waikiki beat West Oahu 9-8, but no Yankees’ prospects played in the game. This was Jeremy Bleich’s rotation turn, but he didn’t pitch. Not sure what that’s about. Oh, and Damon Sublett hasn’t played in over week. Hawaii hasn’t been too kind to the Yanks over the years, you may remember Mark Melancon & Chris Garcia blew out their elbows here in 2006.

Loyal reader Angel tells me that Brett Gardner will play for Toros de Este of the Dominican Winter League. He hasn’t played in a game yet.

Popularity: 4% [?]

AzFL Peoria (18-11 win over the other Peoria)
Kevin Russo: 1 for 2, 2 RBI, 1 BB - pinch ran for Milwaukee prospect Taylor Green after he was a pitch … you may recognize that name; Green is one of the two players the Indians could have selected as the fourth guy in the Sabathia trade, but they went with Michael Brantley instead
Austin Jackson: 3 for 6, 1 R, 2 RBI - 9 for his last 24 (.375)
Jeff Marquez: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 1 K, 3-1 GB/FB - 24 of 47 pitches were strikes (51.1%)

HWB Waikiki (7-2 lead over West Oahu in the 5th) all Yanks’ prospects have already exited the game, hence the early post
Austin Romine: 0 for 0, 1 HBP - left the game with an arm/wrist injury after the HBP … not sure how serious it is, but he’s got all winter to get better if need be
Andrew Brackman: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 5-4 GB/FB - 48 of 81 pitches were strikes (59.3%) … his control is slowly coming back, but he threw a first pitch strike to only 11 of 20 batters … he had men on 1st & 3rd with one out in the 3rd, but the guy on third was thrown out trying to steal home, and then the guy on first was tagged out in a rundown to get Brackman out of the inning

Monday’s Game

AzFL Peoria (4-2 win over the other Peoria)
Austin Jackson: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 K, 1 HBP
Juan Miranda: 0 for 3, 1 R, 1 BB - what, no extra base hits?
Kevin Russo: 1 for 3, 1 2B, 1 HBP, 1 SB
Kevin Whelan: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GB/FB - only 8 of 16 pitches were strikes (50%)

HWB Waikiki was off Monday.

Here’s some highlights for the guys playing winter ball in the Caribbean:

Matt Carson: 2 for 13 (.154), 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 SB in 3 games (DR)
Justin Christian: 7 for 33 (.212), 4 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 6 K, 6 SB in 8 games (Mex)
Reegie Corona: 3 for 7 (.429), 2 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K in 3 games (DR)
Victor Zambrano: 11 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 10 K in 2 starts  (VZ)- say whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Popularity: 3% [?]

AzFL Peoria (14-11 in over Scottsdale)
Austin Jackson: 1 for 5, 1 R, 3 K - 5 for his last 27
Juan Miranda: 2 for 4, 2 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K, 1 HBP - 9 of 14 hits have gone for extra bases … hitting .500-.548-.964 in his 7 games
Kevin Russo: 5 for 5, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB - batting avg jumps from .143 to .308
Busty McZOMGheonlythrows91: 2.2 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HB, 4-3 GB/FB - 36 of 60 pitches were strikes … after retiring 6 of the first 7 batters he faced, the wheels fell off in the 3rd: single-single-HBP-sac fly-homer-single-single-walk-pop out-walk-single w/ 3 run error by LFer … threw 42 pitches in the inning, 24 for strikes (57.1%)
Humberto Sanchez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0-3 GB/FB - 9 of 14 pitches were strikes (64.3%)

HWB Waikiki’s game has just started. Austin Romine is behind the plate and batting sixth. These games end mad late because of the time difference, and I don’t feel like waiting around for it. Check out Gameday in the meantime.

Friday’s Games

AzFL Peoria (7-3 loss to Scottsdale)
Juan Miranda: 0 for 4, 3 K, 1 HBP - teh bust
Jeff Marquez: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 3-0 GB/FB - 19 of 32 pitches were strikes (59.4%) … teh bust

HWB Waikiki (8-1 win over Honolulu)
Jeremy Bleich: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 9-6 GB/FB - 48 of 78 pitches were strikes (61.5%) … not teh bust, at least for today

Popularity: 4% [?]

How about a chat this afternoon, let’s call it 3pm? Help pass that always slow Friday afternoon. He’s the past chat transcripts.

AzFL Peoria (9-8 win over Mesa)
Austin Jackson: 1 for 4, 1 RBI
Juan Miranda: 3 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K - leads the league in batting avg by .144 pts, OBP by .019, SLG by .373 & OPS by .452
Kevin Russo: 1 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 K - he’s played 3 positions (3B, LF and now SS) in the 6 games he’s played

HWB Waikiki (7-4 loss to North Shore)
Austin Romine: 1 for 3, 1 BB, 1 K, 2 PB - allowed 5 passed balls in just 7 starts

Popularity: 3% [?]

AzFL Peoria (6-4 win over Mesa)
Austin Jackson: 3 for 5, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 SB - breaks out of an 0 for 13 slump … homer shy of the cycle
Juan Miranda: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K - 7 of his 9 hits have gone for extra bases
Humberto Sanchez: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 0-1 GB/FB - 8 of 10 pitches were strikes
Kevin Whelan: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 2-3 GB/FB - 23 of 36 pitches were strikes (63.9%)

HWB Waikiki’s game was postponed because of a power outage.

Popularity: 2% [?]

AzFL Peoria (5-4 loss to Pheonix)
Kevin Russo: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K - played left field for what I believe is the first time in his career … he threw a runner out at second, so I’m sure he’ll be seeing a little more action out there

HWB Waikiki (14-5 loss to North Shore)
Damon Sublett: 1 for 4, 2 R, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K - 15 strikeouts in only 38 at-bats … yikes
Andrew Brackman: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K, 2 WP, 1 HB, 4-4 GB/FB - only 45 of 84 pitches were strikes (53.6%) … the wheels kinda came off in the 3rd, when he allowed 3 runs (walk, homer, walk, steal, wild pitch, single) on 31 pitches … he’d thrown just 16 pitches in the first & 15 in the second

Popularity: 2% [?]

5-0-0, bitches.

AzFL Peoria (3-2 loss to Phoenix) Yanks’ prospects are blogging about their experience in the AzFL … check it out
Austin Jackson: 0 or 4, 2 K - 0 for his last 13
Juan Miranda: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 K - doubled off a guy you may have heard of
Phil Hughes: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 10-2 GB/FB - 47 of 79 pitches were strikes (59.5%) … strikeouts & grounders, that’s vintage Phil Hughes right there baby … he was named AzFL Pitcher of the Week after the game
Jeff Marquez: 1 IP, zeroes, 2 K, 1-0 GB/FB - 8 of 13 pitches were strikes (61.5%)

HWB Waikiki was off today, like the rest of the league.

Loyal reader Angel provided a list of the Yankees’ players in the Dominican Winter League, here’s what we got:

• Tigres del Licey: Jon Ortiz, Jairo Heredia, Edwar Ramirez, Damaso Marte, Oneli Perez, Juan Miranda, Jhonny Nunez
• Aguilas de Cibao: Bernie Castro, Melky Cabrera, Dellin Betances, Wilkins Arias, Matt Carson
• Estrellas Orientales: Robbie Cano, Noel Castillo, Wady Rufino, Prilys Cuello, Eduardo Nunez
• Leones del Escogido: Wilson Betemit, Jose Veras, Ivan Nova, Alex Rodriguez, Wilkins DeLaRosa, Abe Almonte, Andres Perez
• Toros del Este: Jose Valdez, Josue Calzado, Humberto Sanchez

These players aren’t necessarily on the team’s active roster, nor are they guaranteed any playing time, but these are the teams that hold their rights. A-Rod won’t even do so much as put a uniform on for Escogido.

You can see some other winter ball assignments here, and follow along with everyone’s progress here.

Popularity: 4% [?]