Time for a quick update on the Arizona Fall League and the Peoria Saguaros, managed by AAA Syracuse skipper Marty Pevey and home to six Jays prospects of varying degrees of interest. The Saguaros sit last in the three-team American Divison with a 2-4 record; they beat previously undefeated Phoenix 14-7 yesterday, a memorable game for Jays hitters -- for the pitchers, meeeh, not so much.
Francisco Rosario started and was beaten soundly about the head and shoulders, surrendering 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits in 2 2/3 innings; on the bright side, he struck out 4 and walked 1. Jason Arnold followed and was scarcely more effective, getting peppered for 7 hits in 3 2/3 frames, but he allowed just 2 runs (1 earned); far better, he walked nobody and struck out 5 batters. Arnold's difficulty lately has been getting the batters to swing and miss; this relief appearance, which garnered him a win when his teammates took the lead, is certainly a step in the right direction. Rosario's only previous appearance had been much stronger, and he still sits with a 0/8 BB/K rate in his first 5 2/3 innings (this is largely a hitter's league). Adam Peterson has thrown just 3 innings so far and hasn't allowed any runs.
The hitters, as indicated, fared better. Aaron Hill had 3 hits, scored 3 times and walked yesterday, raising his line to .304/.360/.391 in 23 AB. Hill's not hitting for power in the early going, but I was expecting he'd be tired after a lengthy season and playoff run. Fellow Jays prospect Vito Chiaravalotti sits at .412/.474/.647 in 17 AB (4 doubles), while John Hattig is hitting .368/.429/.579 in 19 AB (2 2B, 1 3B). These numbers are solid, of course, but not necessarily exceptional: as mentioned, offence normally trumps defence in the AFL. And perhaps needless to say, all the sample sizes here are so small as to be next to useless; these numbers are noteworthy only to give a sense of general performance. The AFL season ends November 18th.
Francisco Rosario started and was beaten soundly about the head and shoulders, surrendering 5 runs (4 earned) on 6 hits in 2 2/3 innings; on the bright side, he struck out 4 and walked 1. Jason Arnold followed and was scarcely more effective, getting peppered for 7 hits in 3 2/3 frames, but he allowed just 2 runs (1 earned); far better, he walked nobody and struck out 5 batters. Arnold's difficulty lately has been getting the batters to swing and miss; this relief appearance, which garnered him a win when his teammates took the lead, is certainly a step in the right direction. Rosario's only previous appearance had been much stronger, and he still sits with a 0/8 BB/K rate in his first 5 2/3 innings (this is largely a hitter's league). Adam Peterson has thrown just 3 innings so far and hasn't allowed any runs.
The hitters, as indicated, fared better. Aaron Hill had 3 hits, scored 3 times and walked yesterday, raising his line to .304/.360/.391 in 23 AB. Hill's not hitting for power in the early going, but I was expecting he'd be tired after a lengthy season and playoff run. Fellow Jays prospect Vito Chiaravalotti sits at .412/.474/.647 in 17 AB (4 doubles), while John Hattig is hitting .368/.429/.579 in 19 AB (2 2B, 1 3B). These numbers are solid, of course, but not necessarily exceptional: as mentioned, offence normally trumps defence in the AFL. And perhaps needless to say, all the sample sizes here are so small as to be next to useless; these numbers are noteworthy only to give a sense of general performance. The AFL season ends November 18th.
