16 replies to this topic

[mabrowndog]

AFL Home Page

The season started today, and runs a little over 5 weeks through November 15 with each team playing 32 games. To recap, the Sox have the following players assigned to the Surprise Saguaros, which shares affiliations with the Mets, Royals, Cardinals & Rangers:

RHP Brock Huntzinger
RHP Chris Martin
RHP Ryan Pressly
RHP Pete Ruiz
C Christian Vazquez
3B/1B Michael Almanzar
OF Bryce Brentz

All Sox players except Ruiz saw action in today's opener. Gameday

Huntzinger was the first arm in from the pen to start the 4th, taking the loss in a 5-2 setback at Peoria [2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H (3 sgl, 1 dbl), 0 BB, 0 K, 25 pitches, 19 strikes]. Martin worked the next 2 innings [2 ER, 4 H (2 sgl, 2 dbl), 0 BB, 1 K, 28 pit, 19 str]. Pressly pitched the final inning [1 UER, 1 H, 1 K, 19 pit, 15 str].

All 3 Sox position players started and played the whole game. Brentz batted 5th and went 1-for-4 with a triple, K and a run scored. Almanzar hit 7th, going 1-for-4 with a walk. In the 8-hole, Vazquez was 0-for-4 with 2 Ks and 3 left on base. They all batted in the 9th with Brentz whiffing, Almanzar walking in an 11-pitch PA, and Vazquez going down swinging on 3 pitches.

Surprise hosts Peoria tomorrow at 12:35 pm MST.

[Jnai]

As I have for the last few years, I will have PITCHf/x data for the games where they release public data:

Example link:
http://www.brooksbas...1/&prevDate=109

[mabrowndog]

Surprise bounces back today with an 8-4 win over Peoria. Gameday

Brentz was the only Sox position player to see action, starting in RF and batting 5th. He went 1-for-5 with an RBI single and 2 Ks while also reaching base twice by fielders choice, one of them netting another RBI.

Likewise, RHP Pete Ruiz was the only Sox pitcher to get any work in. He came on with 2 out in the 7th with runners on 2nd & 3rd and 3 runs already in. Ruiz struck out Padres RF prospect Rymer Liriano looking at a 4th-pitch curveball to earn the hold, then worked a perfect 8th striking out Twins CF Evan Bigley (2-2 CB swinging) and Mariners LF Vinnie Catricala (1-2 FB looking). All 4 batters he faced were RHH.

The Saguaros host the Mesa Solar Sox tomorrow at 12:35 pm MST.

[Plympton91]

I wonder what it means that they are putting Almanzar into the AFL. On the "good news" side of the ledger this is a AA league, so they may feel that he's earned the promotion to AA and they have already decided to protect him on the 40-man. On the "bad news" side of the ledger, they are still deciding whether to protect him on the 40-man and want to see how well he reacts to the generally higher level and more experienced pitching over the next month. I'm hoping it's the former and not the latter. His breakout during the second half of the season was reminiscent of Middlebrooks putting it all together two years ago.

[someoneanywhere]

I doubt Almanzar is a candidate for the 40-man. Someone might Rule 5 him, but he would be returned -- he's just not ready, or close to being ready, for a major-league roster spot. The thinking might be a combination of reward and challenge. Reward him, in a sense, by telling him that he is back on their radar screen as a true prospect; challenge him with advanced competition, but also with the notion that he needs to keep working hard to advance and keep himself in the mix. If something did click for Michael over the last year -- that clicking noise being the sound of a professional work ethic -- there would seem to be no better way of continuing the clicking.

[mabrowndog]

A quiet day for Boston interests as Mesa beats the Saguaros 6-5. No Sox pitchers see action today. Gameday

Almanzar starts at 1B batting 7th and goes 1-for-4 with a single, walk & run scored along with 2 Ks, leaving 5 runners on base. Vazquez starts at catcher batting 8th, going 0-for-4 with a walk, a run, and a whiff while stranding 2 on base.

Vazquez did have a busy third inning in the field as battery mate for Cards RHSP Seth Blair. After a one-out walk, Dodgers 2B prospect Rafael Ynoa stole second. A single by Cubs CF Matt Szczur single put runners on 1st & 3rd. As Dodgers LF Joc Pederson struck out swinging, Mesa went for the double steal. Vazquez threw to Rangers SS Hanser Alberto, who sent it right back home without Szczur ever touching second base safely. Vazquez slapped the tag on the sliding Ynoa for the 2-6-2 inning-ending double play.

He was also charged with a passed ball in the 6th that moved a runner to third, but Surprise got out of the inning without further damage.

The teams play again tomorrow in Mesa at 12:35 pm MST.

Edited by mabrowndog, 11 October 2012 - 11:13 PM.

[OttoC]

I doubt Almanzar is a candidate for the 40-man. Someone might Rule 5 him, but he would be returned -- he's just not ready, or close to being ready, for a major-league roster spot...

Couldn't Almanzar be taken in the Double-A portion of the Rule 5 draft?

[OttoC]

Surprise bounces back today with an 8-4 win over Peoria. Gameday...

Also, former Red Sox draftee (2009, 13rh round), Chris McGuiness went 4 for 5 with a double and home run and 3 RBI for the Surprise. McGuiness was part of the Saltalamacchia trade (along with Roman Mendez and Michael Thomas).

[Joshv02]

Couldn't Almanzar be taken in the Double-A portion of the Rule 5 draft?

Theoretically, but probably not. For the AA portion, he has to be on either the AAA or AA reserve list by the middle of November. Those lists total 75 players. (They are not akin to the AA roster. For example, a player can be on the AAA reserve list, but the AA active roster.) I can't see how he isn't one of the top 75 minor league players (or 115 overall) protected by the organization. I'd assume he'll be on the AAA reserve list, actually.

[mabrowndog]

Catching up on Friday's action, Mesa shit all over Surprise 12-6. Gameday

Brentz started in RF batting 3rd, going 2-for-4 with a single, K, and a solo HR -- a first-pitch FB in the 8th to straightaway CF off Orioles LHP Mike Belfiore. Almanzar started at 3B batting 7th, going 0-for-4 with 2 Ks (swinging in the 4th off Cubs RHP Kevin Rhoderick, swinging in the 7th off Tigers LHP Matt Hoffman).

Pete Ruiz came on the 6th with his team trailing 8-5. He recorded 4 Ks in 1.1 innings, but one was safe at first on a 3rd strike wild pitch. He gave up a solo HR to Dodgers 2B Rafael Ynoa in the 6th, and 2 more ER in the 7th on 2 singles, a walk and 2 wild pitches. One of the runs scored on a base hit after he was pulled.

Ryan Pressly worked the 8th, giving up a run on a pair of doubles and a walk while striking out 2 (both swinging).

[mabrowndog]

Today Surprise got back on track with a 20-hit attack in a 10-2 win over the Salt River Rafters. Gameday

Brentz was the only Sox hitter to see action, starting in RF and batting 3rd. He was 2-for-4 with a walk, a pair of singles, an RBI and 2 runs scored. Bryce is now 6-for-17 in four AFL games with a .353/.389/.647/1.036 line.

Brock Huntzinger worked the 4th & 5th innings, striking out 2 and giving up an unearned run on a pair of singles and a sac fly. He threw 18 of 26 pitches for strikes. Chris Martin worked a perfect 8th with a strikeout, a pop-up to 2B, and a come-backer to the mound. He tossed 8 of 11 pitches for strikes.

The league is off on Sunday. Action resumes Monday with Surprise hosting Scottsdale at 12:35 pm MST.

[someoneanywhere]

Catching up on Friday's action, Mesa shit all over Surprise 12-6.

Now that is a lede.

[mabrowndog]

Surprise shut out Scottsdale yesterday, 4-0. Gameday

Brentz started in RF batting 5th, going 1-for-4 with a single. Almanzar started at 3B batting 7th, going 0-for-2 with a walk, strikeout and run scored. Vazquez started at C batting 8th, going 0-for-1 with a pair of walks.

Brentz got to 3B with 2 out after singling in the bottom of the 1st, but Almanzar whiffed on a foul tip to end the inning. Vazquez walked to lead off the 2nd, but was forced out on a grounder.

With Alamnzar & Vazquez on 1st & 2nd after back-to-back leadoff walks in the 4th, Almanzar scored on a single to RF by Rangers SS Hanser Alberto. However Vazquez was thrown out by Indians RF Tyler Holt trying to go from first to third. That was the end of any offense for the day from Sox prospects. No Boston pitching prospects saw action.

The two teams play again in Scottsdale today at 12:35 pm MST.

[mabrowndog]

Catching up on a week-plus of action...

Surprise played 8 games since 10/16, going 4-3 with one game suspended due to darkness. 5 of the 8 games were on the road. The Saguaros are now 7-6 on the season, in 3rd place in the West Division where all 3 clubs are over .500.

Bryce Brentz - Played just twice over that span (yesterday & Tuesday), going 2-for-8 with a walk and 3 Ks. Now hitting .310/.355/.483/.838 on the season with 1 HR and 4 RBI in 31 PA over 7 G.

Michael Almanzar - Played in 5 games, going 5-for-19 with a double, 2 walks, 3 Ks, 3 RBI and 5 runs scored. Now hitting .219/.342/.250/.592 on the season with 3 RBI, 5 walks & 7 runs in 37 PA over 9 G.

Christian Vazquez - Played in 3 games, going 3-for-11 with a double, 3 walks, 3 Ks and a run scored. In Tuesday's game at Salt River, he took an 0-for-5 collar with a pair of strikeouts. In the same game, he and RHSP Seth Blair allowed 3 steals of second. Now hitting .150/.346/.200/.546 on the season with 6 walks, 5 Ks and 2 runs in 26 PA over 6 G.

Brock Huntzinger - Pitched in 3 games giving up 1 ER on 6 H with 5 Ks and a walk in 4 IP. In the 2-2 suspended game in Phoenix on the 18th, Brock got himself into a one-out bases-loaded jam in the last of the 9th after a single, strikeout, double and intentional walk, but he got out of it on a 6-4-3 GIDP. On the season he's worked 8 IP over 5 G with 12 H, 7 Ks and a walk, logging a 3.38 ERA, 1.63 WHIP and .364 BAA.

Ryan Pressly - Pitched in 3 games giving up 1 ER on 5 H (one of them a solo HR) with no walks and 6 Ks in 4 IP. On the season he's worked 6 IP over 5 G with 3 R (2 ER) on 8 H, 9 Ks and a walk, logging a 3.00 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and .308 BAA. 13 of the 27 batters he's faced have been lefties, but they've had just 3 hits off him while accounting for 7 of his whiffs.

Pete Ruiz - Pitched in 3 games giving up 2 ER on 2 singles, a double and a triple with 2 walks and 5 Ks in 5 IP. On the season he's worked 7.2 IP over 5 G with 5 ER on 7 H, 12 Ks and 3 walks, logging a 5.87 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and .233 BAA.

Chris Martin - Pitched in 3 games giving up 2 ER on 4 H, 1 walk and 2 Ks in 3.2 IP. He was brought in twice with the bases loaded, forcing in a run with a walk the first time (10/17 vs Phoenix) before retiring the side. All the hits and both runs came the second time, a 15-1 blowout loss to Phoenix yesterday. On the season he's worked 6.2 IP in 5 G with 4 ER on 8 H, 5 Ks and a walk, logging a 5.40 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and .286 BAA.

The Saguaros play at Scottsdale today at 12:35 pm MST.

Edited by mabrowndog, 25 October 2012 - 09:29 AM.

[mabrowndog]

Surprise loses at Scottsdale 6-3. GameDay

No Sox prospects pitched today, but all 3 Boston position players saw action and drove in all the Saguaro runs while scoring 2 of them. Bryce Brentz, however, had no part in any of it. Playing RF and batting cleanup, he went 0-for-3 with a first-inning walk. He also grounded out, struck out looking and reached on an odd pop-out fielder's choice in the 6th. That same inning he stole second, but was stranded there. Brentz also made an error on a fly ball in the last of the 6th, allowing a pair of Scorpion runners to score. It was one of 4 Surprise miscues on the day.

Playing 1B and batting 8th, Michael Almanzar went 1-for-4 with an RBI single in the 2nd. That same inning he was caught stealing second for the third out. Later he popped out, flew out to left, and line out to deep center.

Hero of the Day was Christian Vazquez, going 4-for-4 with a single, a pair of doubles, and a 9th-inning solo HR. He scored twice, once on Almanzar's single. Just before that, one of his doubles drove in Cesar Puello from second base. Defensively, he gunned down 3 of 5 base stealers, including Yankees prospects Slade Heatcott and Austin Romine.

Surprise hosts Phoenix tomorrow in a night game at 6:35 pm MST.

Edited by mabrowndog, 25 October 2012 - 07:44 PM.

[BobVealeFan]

Rising stars game on mlb network now.

Bryce Brentz at dh batting 7th for the west

[OnWisc]

Surprise v Scottsdale on MLB Network tomorrow (Saturday the 10th) at 8 EST.

(It's the Military Appreciation Game which, rather than being any sort of All-Star game, is apparently just a designated game between two existing teams.)

Edited by OnWisc, 09 November 2012 - 06:53 PM.