Arizona Fall League -- Javelinas Win Championship

[marty22]

Rogers got at least one whiff on his change-up, and got a lot of weak contact. Pitchfx on gameday showed good fade on the changeup, but I'm not sure how reliable that is. Still, nice to see him working all 4 pitches

[battlekow]

Someone asked Project Prospect's Adam Foster what he thought of Lucroy and Cain, and he said:

I had high expectations for both. They've exceeded them.

[battlekow]

We're not the only ones concerned about Taylor Green:

After a bit of a breakout year in 2008, Green's 2009 campaign was just as big a step in the wrong direction. Plagued by injuries, he played in just 87 games for Double-A Huntsville during the regular season, hitting an unimpressive .258/.330/.356 line in the process. Things aren't going any better for the Javelinas, as he's now down to .184 without an extra base hit in 12 games. After narrowly missing last year's Top 11 prospect list, he's suddenly facing a bit of a make-it-or-break-it 2010 campaign.

[Mass Haas]

Tuesday's Game

 

Josh Butler's rough outing included two wild pitches -- fastball at 91 MPH, as you can follow through the Gameday pitch-by-pitch link

 

Peo Saguaros Top 1st

• Jose Vallejo singles on a line drive to left fielder Dustin Ackley.
• Chris Heisey grounds out softly, third baseman Brent Morel to first baseman Russ Mitchell. Jose Vallejo to 2nd.
• Yonder Alonso walks.
• Matt McBride flies out to right fielder Jordan Danks.
• Jonathan Gaston singles on a ground ball to second baseman Carlos Triunfel. Jose Vallejo scores. Yonder Alonso to 2nd.
• Brandon Hicks singles on a ground ball to shortstop Cale Iorg. Yonder Alonso to 3rd. Jonathan Gaston to 2nd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Lance Zawadzki doubles (5) on a ground ball to right fielder Jordan Danks. Yonder Alonso scores. Jonathan Gaston scores. Brandon Hicks to 3rd.
• Carlos Rivero grounds out, shortstop Cale Iorg to first baseman Russ Mitchell.

Peo Saguaros Top 2nd

• Cedric Hunter walks.
• With Jose Vallejo batting, wild pitch by Josh Butler, Cedric Hunter to 2nd.
• Jose Vallejo strikes out swinging.
• Chris Heisey strikes out on foul tip.
• With Yonder Alonso batting, wild pitch by Josh Butler, Cedric Hunter to 3rd.
• Yonder Alonso singles on a soft fly ball to center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Cedric Hunter scores.
• Matt McBride grounds into a force out, shortstop Cale Iorg to second baseman Carlos Triunfel. Yonder Alonso out at 2nd.

Lorenzo Cain and Jonathan Lucroy with doubles in three AB's apiece thus far, Taylor Green not really earning a lot of playing time at this point...

[filthyfrog]

It's hard to really judge performances from the game logs, but it looks like Butler ran into some tough luck with back-to-back infield hits in the 1st and then a "soft fly" RBI single in the 2nd. Could easily have been a scoreless outing. One has to hope he learned his lesson after both of his walks came around to score, though.

[colbyjack]

11/11 Box Score

11/11 Gameday

 

Today's game in progress. Taylor Green as the DH, 0-2 so far as the AFL leading Javelinas (16-8) are up 3-1 after 4 innings.

[And That]

Green 0-5 today, dropping his slash line to .159/.302/.159. It's only 44 AB, but that's a crappy 44 AB. Most of his lastest appearances have come as a DH, too. It's looking pretty likely that he'll be headed back to AA next year.

 

On the other hand, Rob Wooten had another strong outing today, striking out two in an inning of work. He's struck out 9 and walked 1 in 6.2 innings, in an admittedly small sample.

[jjfanec]

Green 0-5 today, dropping his slash line to .159/.302/.159. It's only 44 AB, but that's a crappy 44 AB. Most of his lastest appearances have come as a DH, too. It's looking pretty likely that he'll be headed back to AA next year.

 

On the other hand, Rob Wooten had another strong outing today, striking out two in an inning of work. He's struck out 9 and walked 1 in 6.2 innings, in an admittedly small sample.

Even though it is a small sample size it is nice to see Wooten continue to miss the bats of some of the best minor league hitters. If Braddock stays in the bullpen he and Wooten could help us from having to over pay for relievers in the future. Both are having very nice AFL seasons, even if Wooten has not pitched much.

[Mass Haas]

Thursday's game about to get underway, Lorenzo Cain hitting leadoff, Jonathan Lucroy batting 3rd

 

Nice write-up on Jonathan's little brother

[battlekow]

FirstInning.com praising Cain's defense:

Brewers CF Lorenzo Cain has real range out there.

[Mass Haas]

Rough day at the plate for Cain and Lucroy (Jonathan walked once), Zach Braddock goes ---

 

ground out - walk - fly out, then had Lucroy gun down the runner to end the inning.

 

Zach threw 15 pitches, all but one a fastball in the non-save situation (8-6 Javelinas loss). 92-94 MPH, hit 95 once.

 

Anybody else starting to think he could be the Brewers' lefty version of Papelbon, closing for three years starting in '11 on short money before the arby years?

[YostInfection]

I'll say this, he better get EVERY shot to make the big league club out of spring training. Lefty who sits at 92-93 and can get both lefties and righties out is pretty darn exciting.

[Mass Haas]

How do you break open a scoreless game in the 6th? Bring in Mark Rogers...

 

Surprise Top 6th

• Pitcher Change: Mark Rogers replaces Eric Krebs.
• Jarrod Dyson singles on a sharp ground ball to third baseman Brent Morel, deflected by pitcher Mark Rogers.
• Injury Delay.
• Daniel Descalso flies out to center fielder Jordan Danks.
• With Brandon Laird batting, Jarrod Dyson steals (2) 2nd base.
• Brandon Laird doubles (7) on a line drive to left fielder Dustin Ackley. Jarrod Dyson scores.
• Mitch Moreland singles on a pop up to shortstop Cale Iorg. Brandon Laird scores.
• Taylor Teagarden strikes out swinging.
• Colin Curtis triples (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Jordan Danks. Mitch Moreland scores.
• Nick Evans pops out to second baseman Carlos Triunfel in foul territory.

Mark's ERA is at 15.19. He did hit 95 a couple of times, including a strikeout pitch to Taylor Teagarden.

Still rooting big time for you, kid, and if you can walk away from these AFL efforts with a good feeling into next spring, you're a strong young man. Because it's been harsh...

[wibadgers23]

Ugh, Rogers needs to leave Arizona and never come back.

[Mass Haas]

Jonathan Lucroy walked twice and threw out the only attempted base stealer in the Javelina's 4-2 loss.

 

Rob Wooten worked around three base hits in two scoreless innings as his fine AFL season continues.

 

Mesa Top 5th

• Pitcher Change: Robert Wooten replaces Jacob Rasner.
• Josh Vitters grounds out, shortstop Cale Iorg to first baseman Russ Mitchell.
• P. J. Phillips singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Jordan Danks.
• Luis Exposito pops out to third baseman Brent Morel.
• Ryan Mount singles on a sharp ground ball to second baseman Carlos Triunfel, deflected by first baseman Russ Mitchell. P. J. Phillips to 2nd.
• Greg Burns called out on strikes.

Mesa Top 6th

• Rene Tosoni singles on a soft fly ball to left fielder Dustin Ackley.
• Starlin Castro grounds into double play, pitcher Robert Wooten to shortstop Cale Iorg to first baseman Russ Mitchell. Rene Tosoni out at 2nd.
• David Cooper called out on strikes.

[Mass Haas]

Josh Butler gets the start here in a few minutes (box / gameday). Taylor Green batting 7th, no Cain or Lucroy to start.

[Mass Haas]

28 pitches in an eventful 1st inning for Josh, gets out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam, strikes out the side.

 

EDIT: 2nd inning, not so lucky -- ugh...

 

Surprise Bottom 2nd

• Colin Curtis walks.
• Jeff Bianchi flies out to right fielder Casper Wells.
• Ruben Tejada walks. Colin Curtis to 2nd.
• Jarrod Dyson doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Andrew Lambo. Colin Curtis scores. Ruben Tejada scores.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Daniel Descalso lines out to center fielder Trayvon Robinson.
• Brandon Laird walks.
• Ike Davis singles on a line drive to center fielder Trayvon Robinson. Jarrod Dyson scores. Brandon Laird to 3rd.
• Coaching visit to mound.
• Pitcher Change: Omar Aguilar replaces Josh Butler.
• Mitch Moreland walks. Ike Davis to 2nd.
• Taylor Teagarden grounds into a force out, fielded by shortstop Justin Sellers. Mitch Moreland out at 2nd.

1.2 innings, 4 hits, 4 walks, three runs for Butler. 55(!) pitches, only 27 for strikes.

 

Omar Aguliar worked 1.1 innings, walking two and allowing one run.

 

Taylor Green has a sacrifice fly, it's still early.

[Mass Haas]

Zach Braddock extends his scoreless streak despite allowing two singles, benefiting from a strike-em-out-throw-em-out.

 

Surprise Bottom 8th

• Pitcher Change: Zach Braddock replaces Javy Guerra.
• Brandon Laird singles on a fly ball to center fielder Trayvon Robinson.
• Ike Davis flies out to left fielder Andrew Lambo.
• Mitch Moreland singles on a ground ball to right fielder Casper Wells. Brandon Laird to 2nd.
• Taylor Teagarden strikes out swinging and Brandon Laird caught stealing 3rd, catcher Jessie Mier to third baseman Taylor Green.

Taylor Green singled twice in addition to his sac fly -- he needed that.

[MJLiverock]

Is it just me or has Mark Rogers and Josh Butler been very disappointing thus far in AFL? Maybe they are just fatigued after the minor league season but it doesn't bode well for two guys hoped for depth or more next year.

[TheCrew07]

If you look around quite a few of the top of the better pitching prospects in the league are getting torched, it's not unique to our guys. I'd feel better if they were giving up less runs but pretty much every pitcher is putting too many runners on base.

 

I'm not thrilled, but I'm not exactly unhappy either.

[TooLiveBrew]

I have to guess that fatigue & the notoriously hitter-friendly AZ air are the main reasons so many pitchers are struggling. Facing top hitting prospects from basically every organization can't help, either. I hope Butler, Rogers, etc. all fare better, but I'm just having a hard time making heads or tails of all the mound struggles.

[strawbossisevil]

Well Butler has admitted to be working on secondary pitches and not throwing some of his more dominate stuff. I don't think you can take a lot away from his numbers. If he's focusing on developing secondary pitches against top level talent he is going to get torched more often than not.

[battlekow]

You'd think with the Javelinas game being 15-13 in the 5th inning, there would be some interesting Brewers stat lines, either for good (hitters) or bad (pitchers), but there's not much going on. No Milwaukee pitchers have gotten into the game so far, and it's just Green and Lucroy on the offensive side. Lucroy started and is 1-4 with a double and two strikeouts, while Green entered the game as a pinch-runner in the 3rd and tallied an RBI double in his first plate appearance.

 

EDIT: As I was typing this, Green hit a three-run bomb. Awesome!

 

(box / gameday)

[wibadgers23]

Lucroy with another CS. His CS% has to be through the roof right now. It seems like he's been throwing out one or two baserunners per game lately with virtually no SB against.

[sbrylski]

Lucroy with another CS. His CS% has to be through the roof right now. It seems like he's been throwing out one or two baserunners per game lately with virtually no SB against.

Awesome "adjective" selection. Through the roof to describe a statistic that can only be between 0 and 1 just struck me as really funny.