Archive for Down on the Farm
Dunn struggles to throw strikes in Surprise loss
Posted by: | CommentsDon’t miss our ALCS Game Three recap.
Baseball America posted this year’s minor league pitching leaderboard. Zach McAllister and David Phelps finished 7th and 10th in ERA, respectively. Andrew Brackman issued the 14th most walks.
AzFL Surprise (7-3 loss to Scottsdale)
Brandon Laird: 1 for 4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K
Colin Curtis: 1 for 4, 1 R
Mike Dunn: 1.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HB, 2-1 GB/FB – just 14 of 28 pitches were strikes … it’ll be tough to keep a big league bullpen job if he can’t throw strikes more consistently … he’d just be a lefty Brian Bruney
Zach Kroenke: 1 IP, zeroes, 1-2 GB/FB – 7 of 11 pitches were strikes (63.6%)
Still no Puerto Rican League rosters.
Kennedy hit around in Surprise loss
Posted by: | CommentsAZFL Surprise (7-3 loss to Scottsdale)
Brandon Laird: 0 for 4 – AVG plummets to .500
Colin Curtis: 1 for 2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 CS
Austin Romine: 0 for 2, 2 K, 1 PB - caught six innings
Ian Kennedy: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 11-5 GB/FB – 45 of 66 pitches were strikes (68.2%) … things unraveled a bit in the fourth, so he probably tired a bit
Still no Puerto Rican League rosters. One of these days…
Winter ball updates
Posted by: | CommentsThe entire Arizona Fall League was off tonight, so there’s no game to update. Here’s what the guys in Latin American are doing:
Dominican Winter League
Wilkins Arias: 1 G, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0.50 K/BB
Jose Valdez: 2 G, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0.33 GB/FB
Jon Ortiz: 1 G, 0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1.00 GB/FB
Josue Calzado: 1 G, 0.2 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 0.00 GB/FB – former outfielder just did the whole convert-to-pitcher thing after putting up a .252-.305-.376 batting line in close to 1,000 plate appearances
Noel Castillo, Gabriel Tatis, Abe Almonte, Jairo Heredia, Hector Noesi, Juan Miranda, Humberto Sanchez, and Eduardo Nunez are all listed on various DWL rosters, but have not yet played in a game.
Mexican Pacific League
Walt Ibarra: 4 G, 2 for 5 (.400), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 SB, 0 CS
Danny Gil is on the same team as Ibarra, but has not yet appeared in a game.
Venezuelan Winter League
Josh Schmidt: 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 2.13 GB/FB – picking up right where he left off with Double-A Trenton
Pat Venditte: 1 G, 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1.00 GB/FB
Romulo Sanchez: 2 G, 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 2 K,3.00 GB/FB
Carlos Mendoza: 1 G, no plate appearances
Luis Nunez: 6 G, 6 for 22 (.273), 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K, 0 SB, 0 CS
Edwar Gonzalez: 7 G, 3 for 22 (.136), 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 SB, 1 CS
Jesus Montero: 2 G, 1 for 8 (.125), 1 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K, 0 SB, 0 CS – good to see him back
Reegie Corona: 5 G, 5 for 17 (.294), 2 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 SB, 0 CS
Marcos Vechionacci: 2 G, 1 for 2, 0 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K, 0 SB, 0 CS
Juan Marcano, Jose Gil, Emerson Landoni, and Eduardo Sosa are listed on various VWL rosters, but have no appeared in a game yet.
Rosters for the Puerto Rican League aren’t posted yet, but the season doesn’t start for a month. After the playoffs are over, you’ll see some big leaguers make a few appearances in winter ball. Robbie Cano and Melky Cabrera usually make a cameo in the Dominican, but we might see guys like Frankie Cervelli, Ramiro Pena, and maybe even Al Aceves get some time in.
Dunn wild as Surprise loses their first game of the season
Posted by: | CommentsAzFL Surprise (11-2 loss to Phoenix)
Mike Dunn: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GB/FB - just 6 of 15 pitches were strikes (40%)
Lefty Wilkins Arias will pitch for Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican Winter League. Tomorrow night I’ll update you on all the action in Latin America.
Laird goes deep as Surprise wins again
Posted by: | CommentsAzFL Surprise (7-3 win over Mesa)
Brandon Laird: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 K – you think that .750 BABIP is sustainable?
Colin Curtis: 1 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 BB
Austin Romine: 2 for 5, 1 K – allowed two stolen bases
Zach Kroenke: 2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-2 GB/FB – picked a runner off first … 15 of 26 pitches were strikes (57.7%)
Well, most (but not all) of the Dominican Winter League rosters are out, so here’s what we got:
Estrellas de Oriente: RHP Noel Castillo, IF Wady Rufino
Gigantes del Cibao: RHP Gabriel Tatis
Tigres del Licey: RHP Jairo Heredia, RHP Hector Noesi, 1B Juan Miranda
Toros del Este: RHP Josue Calzado (yes, he’s a pitcher now), RHP Humberto Sanchez, SS Eduardo Nunez
Still waiting on the Puerto Rican League rosters, but the season doesn’t start for a month.
Laird’s perfect day helps Surprise win again
Posted by: | CommentsAzFL Surprise (12-5 win over Mesa)
Brandon Laird: 5 for 5, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI – amazingly, he was only the second best Surprise hitter today … Moose tacos drove in seven
Colin Curtis: 1 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 2 RBI – threw a runner out at second from RF
Still no Dominican Winter League or Puerto Rican League rosters. The DWL starts tomorrow, and I don’t know what they’re waiting for.
Romine stars in another Surprise win
Posted by: | CommentsWhy can’t every DotF be this easy?
AzFL Surprise (6-4 win over the Peoria Javelinas)
Austin Romine: 3 for 4, 1 RBI, 1 PB - allowed two stolen bases, but did gun down another
Colin Curtis: 1 for 4, 1 R
Mike Dunn: 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP, 2-0 GB/FB – just 13 of 25 pitches were strikes (52%)
Still no Dominican Winter League or Puerto Rican League rosters.
Yanks’ prospects shine in AzFL opener
Posted by: | CommentsThe Arizona Fall League kicked off it’s two month (or so) long season today, and as usual the Yanks sent a bunch of prospects. It’s an extreme hitter’s league, so don’t get too excited by great offensive lines or discouraged by poor pitching lines. Anyway, the updates will appear every night around this time, kinda like … DotF!
AzFL Surprise (17-4 win over the Peoria Javelinas) Mike Dunn is the only Yanks farmhand on the Surprise roster that didn’t get into the game
Austin Romine: 1 for 4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K – caught six innings before being replaced
Brandon Laird: 4 for 6, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 K
Colin Curtis: 3 for 6, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K – that’s his first three hit game since July 20th
Ian Kennedy: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 5-3 GB/FB – 37 of 53 pitches were strikes (69.8%) … I should also mention that starters are capped at 5 innings in the Fall League … oh, and AzFL FX!
Zack Kroenke: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 0-2 GB/FB – just 12 of 25 pitches were strikes (48%)
Grant Duff: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 0-3 GB/FB - 13 of 18 pitches were strikes (72.2%)
Both the Mexican Pacific League and Venezuelan Winter League started their seasons last week, but because those stats are a bitch to get to, I only update them once a week, on Sundays. Here’s the winter ball assignments we know of:
Mexican Pacific League
Naranjeros de Hermosillo: RHP Danny Gil, IF Walt Ibarra
Venezuelan Winter League
Aguilas de Zulia: RHP Josh Schmidt, IF Luis Nunez
Cardenales de Lara: IF Carlos Mendoza, OF Edwar Gonzalez
Caribes de Anzoategui: LHP Juan Marcano, C Jose Gil, IF Emerson Landoni, OF Eduardo Sosa
Leones del Caracas: RHP Romulo Sanchez
Navegantes del Magallanes: C Jesus Montero, IF Reegie Corona, IF Marcos Vechionacci
We’re still waiting for Dominican Winter League and Puerto Rican League rosters. The DWL season is supposed to start Friday, so we should get rosters pretty soon. The PRL doesn’t start until November.
Saying goodbye to DotF
Posted by: | CommentsWhen Triple-A Scranton lost to Durham last night, the Yankees’ 2009 minor league season officially came to an end. Both High-A Tampa and Short Season Staten Island won their league titles, making it the second consecutive year the Bombers have had multiple affiliates win championships. Minor league titles don’t tell you anything about what kind of prospects a team has, but they are a testament to the qualify of the coaching staffs and development people in place within the organization.
DotF will return when the Arizona Fall League season starts in just about a month (Oct. 13th to be exact), and of course I’ll keep you updated on what happens in the Mexican, Dominican, Venezuelan, and Puerto Rican Winter Leagues as well. The Caribbean Leagues don’t start until much later though, usually November. Remember, Hawaii Winter Baseball is no more, instead replaced by a second league in Arizona (dubbed the Junior League for the time being), but that doesn’t start until next season. Here’s the AzFL roster in case you forgot who’s going.
Thanks for paying attention all season, it’s been a blast.
Scranton falls short in bid to repeat
Posted by: | CommentsMarc Hulet of FanGraphs broke down Andrew Brackman’s season in 600 words. It took me three posts.
Triple-A Scranton (3-2 loss to Durham in 12 innings) Durham swept the best-of-five series and won the Governor’s Cup … congrats to them
Kevin Russo & Colin Curtis: both 0 for 6 – Russo K’ed twice, Curtis once … tough to score when your 1-2 hitters do that
Austin Jackson: 2 for 4, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K
Juan Miranda & Chris Stewart: both 1 for 4, 1 K – Miranda tripled, walked twice & scored a run … Stewart walked & doubled
Cody Ransom: 1 for 5, 2 RBI, 2 K – was at the plate with the winning run on third and two outs in the 9th, but he struck out
John Rodriguez: 0 for 5, 1 BB, 1 K
Reegie Corona: 1 for 3, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP
Doug Bernier: 0 for 3, 3 BB, 2 K – made the last out of the season
Ivan Nova: 7 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 9-7 GB/FB – 57 of 93 pitches were strikes (61.3%) … two outings in the playoffs, two brilliant starts
Zack Kroenke: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-3 GB/FB – 20 of 29 pitches were strikes (69%) … allowed a pair of inherited runners to score, hence the runs on Nova’s docket
Kevin Whelan: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 1-1 GB/FB – 23 of 45 pitches were strikes (51.1%) … he was cruising along, but then he started walking guys and left a bases loaded mess for
Eric Wordekemper: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2-0 GB/FB – 18 of 25 pitches were strikes (72%)
Double-A Trenton’s season is over. Akron leads Connecticut 2-1 in the best-of-five Eastern League Championship Series. Game Three is tomorrow night.
High-A Tampa won the Florida State League championship.
Low-A Charleston’s season is over. Greenville beat Lakewood tonight, but they still trail 2-1 in the South Atlantic League Championship Series (best-of-five). Game Three is tomorrow.
Short Season Staten Island won the NY-Penn League championship.
The Rookie GCL Yanks season is over after they lost to the GCL Marlins in Round One of the playoffs. The GCL Nats won the league championship.
