Laird stays hot in the desert

That’s a picture of Austin Romine chatting with Phoenix Desert Dogs manager and Yankee legend Don Mattingly before a recent Arizona Fall League game, which comes courtesy of reader Ryan NotsureifhewantsmetousehislastnamesoIwont. Here’s a slideshow of the rest of Ryan’s pics, make sure you click “Show Info”: so you know what you’re looking at. Let’s get you caught up on all the winter ball action …

Phoenix Desert Dogs (4-3 loss to Peoria on Thursday)
Austin Romine, DH: 0 for 4, 1 BB, 1 K
Brandon Laird, 1B: 2 for 5, 1 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI – no outfield in this one

Phoenix Desert Dogs (7-6 loss to Surprise on Friday)
Austin Romine, C: 0 for 4, 1 BB, 1 PB – just three for his last 20 (.150) allowed one stolen base in one attempt
Jose Pirela, 2B: 0 for 4, 2 K, 1 E (throwing)
Craig Heyer: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 5-3 GB/FB – 25 of 41 pitches were strikes (60.8%)
Ryan Pope: 2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 3-2 GB/FB – 16 of 25 pitches were strikes (64%) … he was on the mound when the runner stole
George Kontos: 1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 2-0 GB/FB, 1 E (throwing) – 16 of 24 pitches were strikes (66.7%)

Phoenix Desert Dogs (6-1 loss to Scottsdale on Saturday)
Brandon Laird, LF: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 K – .353/.371/.647
Jose Pirela, 2B: 0 for 4, 1 K
Manny Banuelos: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 Balk, 3-4 GB/FB – 46 of 65 pitches were strikes (70.8%) … lots of strikes, that’s good

There were no AzFL games today. Now onto the Latin American leagues …

Dominican Winter League
Zack Segovia: 1 G, 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

Wilkins Arias and Jon Ortiz are also playing in the league, and chances are a few more players will trickle in during the season. Former Yank Humberto Sanchez is also playing in the DWL.

Mexican Pacific League
Justin Christian: 10 G, 16 for 45, 7 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K, 6 SB (.356/.383/.533)
Walt Ibarra: 10 G, 10 for 34, 9 R, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 6 K, 1 SB, 1 CS (.294/.375/.382)
Francisco Gil: 2 G, 1 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP (36.00 ERA, 4.00 WHIP)
Eric Wordekemper: 4 G, 4.1 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 WP (10.38 ERA, 1.62 WHIP)

Venezuelan Winter League
Jose Gil: 8 G, 11 for 30, 4 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 5 K (.367/.375/.567)
Luis Nunez: 6 G, 2 for 10, 1 R (.200/.200/.200)
Marcos Vechionacci: 8 G, 9 for 28, 2 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, 2 SB, 1 CS (.321/.345/.357)
Edwar Gonzalez: 3 G, 1 for 6, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 K (.167/.167/.333)
Josh Schmidt: 2 G, 2 GS, 8 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 5 BB, 11 K (4.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP)

Juan Marcano, Emerson Landoni, Eduardo Sosa, and Jesus Montero are all playing in the VWL as well, but have yet to appear in a game. No Yankee farmhands have played in the Puerto Rican League yet (season started two days ago), but Jon Albaladejo and Rene Rivera are there.