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Lorenzo Cain leading off, playing center field in AFL Opener
Brew Crew Ball — Lorenzo Cain leading off, playing center field in AFL Opener The link will take you to the box score.

Ike Davis Hits a Grand Slam in AFL opener
Amazin' Avenue — Ike Davis Hits a Grand Slam in AFL opener First off, I Like Ike, and I will continue to say that until I no longer like him. Second, he hit it off a left handed pitcher. And third, I love having Gameday for minor league games In what is likely to be his final line on the day: 4-6 with 2 doubles, 1 home run, 1 single, no walks, no strikeouts, ...

Another step forward for Kennedy
The LoHud Yankees Blog — Ian Kennedy struck out four and walked none through four strong innings this afternoon in Arizona. He allowed a double to the first batter he faced but allowed just one other base runner. He struck out four of the last six batters he faced. He wasn’t the only Yankee getting off to a strong start in the Arizona Fall League opener. Brandon Laird was 4-for-6 with three RBI, Colin Curtis was 3-for-6 with two RBI and Austin Romine was 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI and two runs scored. Big right-handed reliever Grant Duff pitched a scoreless ninth while Zach Kroenke pitched one inning of relief and allowed a run on a two-out RBI single. To answer a ...

AFL Season kicks off
The Detroit Tiger Weblog — The Arizona Fall League started today. The Tigers had quite a few representatives in today’s effort, a game that saw the opposition hang 17 runs on the board. I guess the bad news first, the Tigers had 3 pitchers in today’s game. Scot Drucker started and allowed a run in 2 innings. It was downhill from there. Andy Oliver drew a tough assignment for his first professional action and he was tagged for 4 runs due to 2 hits, including a homer, and 2 walks in his inning of work. Robbie Weinhardt got knocked around for 5 runs on 6 hits, a walk, a wild pitch, and a hit by pitch in 1.2 innings. Offensively things were a little better. Scott Sizemore ...

Yanks’ prospects shine in AzFL opener
River Avenue Blues — The 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 ...

Andrew Oliver, Robbie Weinhardt take their lumps in AFL opener
Detroit Tigers blog — Tigers' second-round draft pick Andrew Oliver made his professional debut today in the Arizona Fall League, and it was unfortunately a memorable one. He gave up four runs, including a home run, in one inning on the mound, as the Peoria Javelinas lost, 17-4, to Surprise. Fellow Tigers pitching prospects Robbie Weinhardt (Double-A Erie) gave up five runs on six hits a walks and a hit batter in 1-2/3 innings, and Scot Drucker (Triple-A Toledo) allowed a run in two innings. Just glancing at the PitchFX data (as shown at Beyond the Box Score) it looks like all three threw in the low- to mid-90s. Oliver ...

10/13 Fall & Winter Ball Report
Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog — As I mentioned earlier, seven Yankees are playing for the Surprise Rafters in the Arizona Fall League. The opener of the AFL was today and the Rafters beat the Peoria Javelinas 17-4. Here's how the Yankees minor leaguers did: Offense: Austin Romine: 1-for-4, RBI, B, 2 R Brandon Laird: 4-for-6, 3 RBI, 2 R Colin Curtis: 3-for-6, 2B, 2 RBI, R Pitching: Ian Kennedy (W, 1-0): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K (2.25 ERA) Zack Kroenke: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K (9.00 ERA) Grant Duff: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K (0.00 ERA) Winter ball in Mexico and Venezuela also started up last ...

A leader emerges in race out of town
Sox Machine — If you picked Bobby Jenks as your offseason scapegoat , you might be feeling pretty good about yourself after reading this Scott Merkin article : Jenks is not a happy man, and it has nothing to do with another offseason beginning with trade rumors. Instead, during a weekend chat with MLB.com, Jenks took umbrage with the White Sox once again calling out his conditioning at the end of the 2009 season.“I’ve done everything I can do, I’ve done everything that is physically possible, to make myself in better shape this year,” said Jenks. “Where the years previously I didn’t lose weight in-season, I didn’t want my weight issue to be a factor as to why I had an off ...

Wednesday's Frosty Mug
Brew Crew Ball — ... The Arizona Fall League's Opening Day was yesterday, but it wasn't a great start for the Javelinas, who got pummeled by Surprise, 17-4. Lorenzo Cain led off with a double for Peoria in the first and scored the game's first run, but the Rafters responded with runs in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings. Omar Aguilar also pitched in the game, and allowed three runs on four hits and a walk in 1.2 innings. ...

Tigers' second-round pick Andrew Oliver roughed up in professional debut
Detroit Tigers — Tigers' second-round pick Andrew Oliver roughed up in professional debut By James Schmehl | MLive.com October 14, 2009, 10:05AM Tigers second-round draft pick Andrew Oliver’s professional debut Tuesday was likely one he will try to forget. The former Oklahoma State standout was roughed up for four runs in an inning as the Arizona Fall League opened play Tuesday . Oliver allowed two hits, including a home run to Mets’ prospect Ike Davis, walked two and struck out one en route to the Peoria Javelinas’ 17-4 loss against Surprise of the AFL. The 6-foot-3 southpaw threw 29 pitches -- mostly fastballs in the low 90s -- and mixed in a few breaking balls, including an ...

Romine stars in another Surprise win
River Avenue Blues — Why 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. Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog > > Romine stars in another Surprise win

Fall/Winter League Update for 10/15/2009
Brew Crew Ball — In Arizona: Jonathan Lucroy started at catcher, batted cleanup and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout and a GIDP for the Javelinas, who lost to Surprise, 6-4. Taylor Green started at third and went 1-for-2 with an infield single and two walks. In Venezuela: Adam Heether went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts as Caracas beat Margarita, 6-4. Even after the 0-for, Heether is hitting .294/.478/.529 in his first five games. Brendan Katin went 0-for-3 with a walk in Zulia's 4-3 win over Lara. ...

Nick Hill And Anthony Varvaro Today
Lookout Landing — ... In a rush to head out of town (don't anticipate much presence this weekend), but before I go, here's a look at the stuff Hill and Varvaro were throwing in AFL action this afternoon. Hill threw three innings in a start, while Varvaro threw one in relief. (Box score!) ...

Laird’s perfect day helps Surprise win again
River Avenue Blues — AzFL 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. Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog > > Laird’s perfect day helps Surprise win again ...

10/15 Fall & Winter Ball Report
Sliding Into Home: A Yankees Blog — The Surprise Rafters won for the third straight day, defeating the Mesa Solar Sox 12-5. Offense: Offense: Bradon Laird: 5-for-5, 2B, RBI, 3 R Colin Curtis: 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, R Winter ball in Mexico and Venezuela also started up last week. The Dominican Winter League begins tomorrow. Here's how the Yankees have done so far: Naranjeros de Hermosillo: INF Walter Ibarra: 1-for-3, 3 R RHP Danny Gil: Has not played yet. Venezuelan Winter League: Aguilas de Zulia: INF Luis Nunez: 6-for-15, 2B and 4 RBI. RHP Josh Schmidt: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 IP, 3 ...

Bunt Singles: Laird's glovework dazzles, Avila profiled, and AFL updates
Detroit Tigers blog — We all know Gerald Laird's at-bats could be painful. But it seemed like his work as a catcher made up for it. Just, we didn't have much more than a gut feel for that before. A writer at Driveline Mechanics looked into just what kind of value catchers bring to the game. (Via Detroit Tigers Weblog, which has a great post.). The findings? Laird was worth 13.3 runs saved above the average catcher, and fully five better than any other catcher in baseball. The final result is that he was worth about two wins above a replacement catcher, or well worth his relatively modest expense. Now whether Alex Avila is ...

Fall/Winter League Update for 10/16/2009
Brew Crew Ball — In Arizona: Lorenzo Cain went 2-for-4 with two walks and scored two runs as the Javelinas outslugged the Saguaros 17-9. Mark Rogers had a rough AFL debut, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk in one inning of work, but Zach Braddock was impressive in his, allowing a hit and a walk but nothing else while closing out the game with 1.1 scoreless innings. In Venezuela: Adam Heether went 1-for-5 with an RBI triple in Caracas' 13-8 win over Margarita.  Hernan Iribarren went 1-for-4, scored a run and struck out twice in Lara's 5-4 win over Aragua.  Brendan Katin went 1-for-1, drove in two runs ...

Laird goes deep as Surprise wins again
River Avenue Blues — AzFL 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 ...

AFL Game 4
Future Redbirds — Surprise 7, Mesa 3 Surprise: 4-0 Daniel Descalso was 3-for-5. Tyler Henley was 0-for-4. Gary Daley pitched 2 innings allowing 3 hits, 1 ER and striking out 1. Keep in mind that offense in Arizona will be higher than other environments due to the air among other conditions.  The lack of power from Cardinal prospects thus far (even if they are hitting for average) isn’t a good sign.