Arizona Fall League Update
The Arizona Fall League is an instructional league for upper level prospects. There is a 32 game season, with playoffs. The top 2 teams from the first half and the top 2 teams at the end of the season make the playoffs. The first half winner will play the overall winner from their division. The season is just over half completed.
One note about the league: pitchers normally struggle in the league. In the regular season, pitchers face good and bad hitters. In the AFL, they face top prospects up and down the line up. As a result, the pitching stats are normally skewed upwards.
AFL East
1. Phoenix Desert Dogs 14-8, .636
On pace for a record of 20-12.
Pythagorean Record over 32 games: 23-9
Teams: Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Toronto Blue Jays.
Notable players: Travis Buck (OF, Athletics), Brent Clevlen (OF, Tigers), Elijah Dukes (OF/1B, Devil Rays), Kevin Melillo (2B, Athletics), Jeff Niemann (P, Devil Rays), Jordan Tata (P, Tigers), Curtis Thigpen (C, Blue Jays), Ben Zobrist (SS, Devil Rays).
2. Scottsdale Scorpions 11-11, .500, 3 games back
On pace for a record of 16-16.
Pythagorean Record over 32 games: 14-18
Teams: Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants.
Notable players: Ryan Braun (3B, Brewers), Kevin Frandsen (2B, Giants), Steven Jackson (P, Diamondbacks), Jerry Owens (OF, White Sox), Manny Parra (P, Brewers), Vinny Rottino (C, Brewers), Billy Sadler (P, Giants).
3. Mesa Solar Sox 10-12, .455, 4 games back
On pace for a record of 15-17.
Pythagorean Record over 32 games: 16-16
Teams: Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets.
Notable players: Michael Abreu (1B, Mets), Matt Albers (P, Astros), Chin Lung Hu (SS, Dodgers), Matt Moses (3B, Twins), Eric Patterson (2B, Cubs), Troy Patton (P, Astros), Mike Pelfrey (P, Mets), Errol Simonitsch (P, Twins), Kevin Slowey (P, Twins).
AFL West
1. Grand Canyon Rafters 12-10, .545
On pace for a record of 17-15.
Pythagorean Record over 32 games: 17-15
Teams: Baltimore Orioles, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers.
Notable Players: Brad Eldred (1B, Pirates), Chris Lubanski (OF, Royals), Nolan Reimold (OF, Orioles), Troy Tulowitzki (SS, Rockies), Neil Walker (C, Pirates), Dustin Yount (1B, Orioles).
2. Peoria Saguaros10-12, .455, 2 games back
On pace for a record of 15-17.
Pythagorean Record over 32 games: 13-19
Teams: New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals.
Notable Players: Dee Brown (OF, Washington), Kory Casto (OF, Washington), Eric Duncan (1B, Yankees), Gavin Floyd (P, Phillies), Sean Henn (P, Yankees), Brendan Ryan (SS, Cardinals), Jared Wells (P, Padres).
3. Peoria Javelinas 9-13, .409, 3 games back
On pace for a record of 13-19.
Pythagorean Record over 32 games: 15-17
Teams: Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, Seattle Mariners.
Notable Players: Joey Devine (P, Braves), Jacoby Ellsbury (OF, Red Sox), Michael Garciaparra (2B, Mariners), Kevin Kousmanoff (3B, Indians), Anthony Lerew (P, Braves), Bobby Livingston (P, Mariners), Gaby Sanchez (1B, Marlins), Matt Tuiasosopo (SS, Mariners).
There are 10 games to go before the playoff start. Once they are completed, I’ll do a follow up on the season.
