Arizona Fall League -- Javelinas Win Championship

[colbyjack]

I don't mean to sound unappreciative of the blog entry, since I'll take any news I can get this time of year, but Tom has enough resources to tap into to get some early impressions of their performances. We all have access to the stats, although I know we here are the only ones crazed enough to look at them everyday http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif.

 

I would argue that Cain isn't off to a poor start. Entering today's game he had a .364 OBP with 7 runs scored in 7 games. He's doing his job atop the Javelinas lineup, even if he isn't hitting the greatest.

 

A night game tonight, just recently underway:

 

10/26 Box Score

 

Cain again in the leadoff spot (0-1 so far), with Lucroy playing catcher (batting sixth) and Green at third (batting eighth).

[TooLiveBrew]

I don't mean to sound unappreciative of the blog entry, since I'll take any news I can get this time of year, but Tom has enough resources to tap into to get some early impressions of their performances. We all have access to the stats

 

No, that's exactly what I thought too, colby. It's definitely ok to demand better from what is typically pretty average coverage from TH.

[Mass Haas]

Cain, Lucroy, and Green go 0-for-10, and Zach Braddock gives up his first run while facing seven batters in his inning -- yet still impresses in giving up just one run, especialy while holding on to a one-run lead...Javelinas win, 2-1, link just above, as you saw...

 

Surprise Top 8th

• Pitcher Change: Zach Braddock replaces Robbie Weinhardt.
• Daniel Descalso doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Andrew Lambo.
• Colin Curtis singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Daniel Descalso to 3rd.
• Ike Davis pops out to third baseman Taylor Green.
• Brandon Laird walks. Colin Curtis to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Mitchell Moreland walks. Daniel Descalso scores. Colin Curtis to 3rd. Brandon Laird to 2nd.
• Mike Moustakas called out on strikes.
• Bryan Anderson strikes out swinging.

[Invader3K]

I don't mean to sound unappreciative of the blog entry, since I'll take any news I can get this time of year, but Tom has enough resources to tap into to get some early impressions of their performances. We all have access to the stats

 

No, that's exactly what I thought too, colby. It's definitely ok to demand better from what is typically pretty average coverage from TH.

Most of the readers on that blog aren't really looking for super in-depth coverage of propsects. I think Haudricourt does a pretty good job over all.

[TooLiveBrew]

I know I've been very outspoken in my criticism of TH at times. I really don't think he's a bad beat reporter, but I just don't think he's a good one. Like colbyjack said, we all have access to the stats -- and in that case Mass Haas does a far better job at keeping us informed.

 

It would be interesting imo for Tom to maybe do a phone interview, or talk to some Brewers personnel to get some info that fans can't access on their own. Call me a dreamer, but I don't believe a beat writer should limit his product to what the casual fan wants.

[TheCrew07]

I just have a problem with his speculation when he's in a position to get real answers. Does the organization think Lucroy passed up Salome? Is that just speculation based on Lucroy's AFL assignment? I would personally like some details, and it's impossible to know if that's just speculation on his part or an organization move.

[twobrewers]

Maybe Haudricourt is withholding some of that information for Baseball America? For the most part, his target audience for the Journal Sentinel doesn't care about the AFL. He is only writing for his audience.

I'm a pretty big Haudricourt supporter. If you ever have a question - you can just email him, he always responds.

I just have a problem with his speculation when he's in a position to get real answers.

I've always taken his "speculation" to really mean "I hear from people within the Brewer's organization - but they don't want to go on the record".

Why would anyone in the Brewers actually go on record and admit that Salome has been passed by Lucroy? It would only be an insult to Salome and lower his trade value.

[TooLiveBrew]

Strasburg allowed 8 runs in 2.2 innings while Butler allowed 3 runs in 2.2 innings. Clearly, Butler is the better prospect.

 

Seriously, has Butler had a scoreless appearance since getting promoted to Milwaukee in September? It's only been five or so appearances, but he's got to be getting frustrated.

From his second blog post...

 

 

So far, I have gotten into a rough start off the the field down here in Arizona. As if getting a flat tire wasn't enough last week, this week I got strep throat and was out a few days. I am pretty sure i got it from a few other teammates that had it right before me. It was just one of those things that sometimes go through the clubhouse and I was unfortunate enough to have a locker right next to one of the first guys to come down with it.

...

As of today [10/27] I am feeling a lot better...still a little light headed and all but I am still scheduled to make my next start on Wednesday. As long as I continue to throw strikes and avoid the long ball, I should be able to improve on my first two starts

Sounds like Wednesday will definitely be a day to check in on Butler's performance. He sounds like he's going to update the blog several more times before the AFL ends, & he also seems to have a decent sense of humor.

 

Finally the weather has cooled and the temperature here is perfect. Now i am starting to see why people move here for the winter. It almost reminds me of being home in San Diego...almost. For whatever reason, the cooler temps have caused the games to move along at a quicker pace and the play of our team has improved

...

Because of my illness, my weekend was me being a bum... I was able to do one productive thing this weekend as my roommate had his wife in town for their anniversary so i volunteered to be their chauffer to and from dinner just so i could get out of the house and do something. I wanted to wear a suit and the little hat that chauffers wear but my roommate wouldn't let me...probably for the best

He goes on to answer some questions posted in the comments on his first entry...

 

I am a power sink pitcher that works in the 88-92 mph range with my fastball for the most part. I also throw a curve, slider and change-up.

...

One of the big things im working on down here in Arizona is fastball command and with that comes repeating my arm slot on every pitch. Sometimes I tend to vary my arm path so in the AFL, I'm just trying to be more consistent with it. One other thing that i am working on is my change-up. I need to develop that pitch into a pitch that i can throw at anytime to keep hitters from jumping on my fastball and at this time right now I just dont feel comfortable enough to throw it in any count

[TheCrew07]

If he's worried about trade value then why put it in print at all? We're just supposed to assume it came from the organization but they don't want the information publicly acknowledge it? If it were me I just wouldn't have said anything.

[colbyjack]

I really don't want to turn this thread into a debate about Tom Haudricourt's abilities as a beat writer. However, I can't bring myself to say he's good, although I honestly don't know how good other beat writers are. It just doesn't seem as though he's motivated to go out of his way to report some of the stuff that so many of us crave. He has been better since JSOnline added the blog feature, and he does seem very responsive when reached out to. However, he just seems to do as much as he needs to to earn his paycheck.

 

Plus, he really lost me a few years ago during the BA Brewers top prospect chat when he got defensive to some questions challenging his credibility, asking who else out there got paid to know the Brewers prospects as well as he did. If any of us had his job we would be working stories a lot harder than he does.

 

Anyway, here's today's box score. Mark Rogers just entered the game in the fourth:

 

10/27 Box Score

10/27 Gameday

 

Cain already 0-2 and hasn't been as productive from the leadoff spot in recent games. The pitch types/speeds don't seem to be working on Gameday this evening.

[Mass Haas]

I followed along as well, leadoff walk by Rogers plus two wild pitches as he allowed a run. He did bear down and strand a man on 3rd after only one was out. He should be back for another inning. Three groundouts in his first inning.

 

Cain worked a walk to begin the 5th.

[Mass Haas]

Rogers made it painful to watch in the 5th, even on Gameday. After one out, a walk to Buster Posey, a single by some guy named Gillespie, and then another walk has loaded the bases. Mark's night is done, he'll have to hope for help from his pen.

[homer]

However, he just seems to do as much as he needs to to earn his paycheck.

------------------------------------

 

Be thankful you aren't a Bucks fan. Charles Gardner is the laziest beat writer in sports.

[Mike]

colbyjack[/b]]It just doesn't seem as though he's motivated to go out of his way to report some of the stuff that so many of us crave.

Colbyjack,

 

You have been at this much longer than myself both watching the Brewers and reading Haurdicourt's work, but perhaps "Two Brewers" is correct? Why would the Milwaukee organization want to give away the store to Tom? The detail that guys like us crave are for the junkies like us and do not pertain to the average Brewer fan.

 

If I were Doug Melvin, I would tell my staff not to divulge too much information for the reason "Two Brewers" mentioned. No need to give the competition information that might hinder our progress as an organization.

 

Of course, I have no idea if Haurdicourt is just skating or hindered by the information flow he receives.

[Mass Haas]

Javelinas lose, 11-6, and three Brewer pitchers (Butler, Wooten, Aguilar) combine to give up all 11 runs in their six innings of work (sigh).

 

Day off for the three Brewer bats. Former Milwaukee draft pick and Rickie Weeks' brother Jemile with a perfect day.

 

Haudricourt discusses things here.

[Invader3K]

One of the blog comments on JSOnline noted that Butler is supposedly working on his changeup a lot, which I guess is one of his worst pitches. If that is the case, that probably explains his poor results so far.

[TooLiveBrew]

Josh also mentioned that in his blog:

 

"One other thing that i am working on is my change-up. I need to develop that pitch into a pitch that i can throw at anytime to keep hitters from jumping on my fastball and at this time right now I just dont feel comfortable enough to throw it in any count."

[Tedaldtada]

Lo Cain with a go ahead single in the top of the 8th for the Javelins.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_10_29_perwin_msswin_1 Edit: Also, Braddock with a 6 up 6 down save. 3 GO's and 3 FO's. 16 pitches needed

[Tedaldtada]

Javelinas taking on Grant Desme and Phoenix today. Cain batting leadoff with a walk and K. Lucroy, batting 7th, with his second bomb of the AFL, this one off Brandon Erbe. Peoria up 1-0 in the top of the 6th. http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_10_30_perwin_pddwin_1

[colbyjack]

Nice to see one of the Brewers featured in a AFL story. Also nice to see Cain get on base again after struggling to do so over the last week.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2009/10/30/8WwkIN7h.jpg

 

Lucroy paces Javelinas' attack

Brewers catcher homers, drives in three in 5-4 win

 

Jonathan Lucroy's focus and positive attitude are beginning to pay dividends, as Friday's performance showed.

 

Lucroy homered and drove in three runs as the Peoria Javelinas held on to defeat the Phoenix Desert Dogs, 5-4, on Friday.

 

The Brewers prospect staked the Javelinas to an early 1-0 lead, homering in the second inning off former Orioles third-round pick Brandon Erbe. Lucroy, who splits time at catcher with Dodgers farmhands Lucas May and Jesse Mier, later added a decisive two-run single for first-place Peoria.

 

"I go into the cage between games," said Lucroy, Milwaukee's third-round selection in the 2007 Draft. "I don't take my days off lightly, they're just days I'm not catching. I just try to stay positive and stay focused."

 

Lucroy's focus is on reaching the Majors sooner rather than later. He was a South Atlantic League All-Star in 2008 for Class A West Virginia, and made the Southern League All-Star team in 2009 with Double-A Huntsville, batting .267 with 66 RBIs. That success, however, isn't enough for him.

 

"I don't know what the Brewers plans are for me, but I'm just going to work hard," Lucroy said. "I'm not going to settle for being in the Minor Leagues next year, I want to be in the big leagues."

 

Fellow Brewers prospect Lorenzo Cain reached base three times and picked up his fourth stolen base. Angels outfielder Andrew Lambo, batting .404 in Arizona, drove in a run, singling twice as the designated hitter batting cleanup.

 

Chris Marrero (Nationals) homered for the Desert Dogs and collected his sixth multi-hit game of the season while Brad Snyder, Baltimore's first-round pick in 2005, doubled and drove in his 16th run, good for third best in the league.

 

Phillipe Aumont, Seattle's top pick in the 2007 Draft, was credited with his first win for the Javelinas despite giving up four runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings. He struck out two.

 

Peoria starter Scot Drucker (Tigers) allowed three hits in four innings, fanning two.

 

Erbe was charged with one run on three hits in 4 1/3 frames. He whiffed five before Paul Phillips (Rays) allowed four runs on five hits in 1/3 of an inning to suffer the loss.

 

10/30 Box Score

[TheCrew07]

The pitchers sure are having a tough go of it, I was looking at the ERAs for the league, it's ugly, and almost universal across the board.

[Hammer]

TheCrew07[/b]]The pitchers sure are having a tough go of it, I was looking at the ERAs for the league, it's ugly, and almost universal across the board.

I'm guessing that a lot of the guys there are suffering with fatigue. I'm not an expert, but when I read your statement I immediately thought that "this is the longest season that they have ever pitched". Just my opinion though...

[Invader3K]

Boy, with as well as Lucroy has been playing, it sure would be nice to see him as a possible option to catch for the Brewers next year (maybe not as a starter, but splitting time with Rivera or someone if needed). I know he'll likely spend another year in the minors, though.

[battlekow]

With the way they talked about him after he impressed in spring training last year, I'm sure a second consecutive good spring would earn him some serious job consideration.

[TooLiveBrew]

TheCrew07[/b]]The pitchers sure are having a tough go of it, I was looking at the ERAs for the league, it's ugly, and almost universal across the board.

I'm guessing that a lot of the guys there are suffering with fatigue. I'm not an expert, but when I read your statement I immediately thought that "this is the longest season that they have ever pitched". Just my opinion though...

Not making a point that hasn't been made before by others, but the thin & warm AZ air certainly isn't helping things, either.