Astros Fall/Winter League Update: 10/11

While the Astros are ALCS bound, let's check in on a few Astros minor leaguers who are currently playing in fall and winter leagues.

Kyle Tucker - August 2017

Photo by Jayne Hansen

ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE (AFL)

The Mesa Solar Sox fell 7-4 to the Scottsdale Scorpions in the first night of AFL play. Three Astros minor leaguers got their feet wet. Kyle Tucker was the starting centerfielder and went 1-for-3 with a walk, RBI, stolen base and scored a run while starting 1B Yordan Alvarez was 0-for-3 with a walk; both players struck out once. RHP Brendan McCurry came out of the 'pen to start the 4th inning and only lasted two-thirds of an inning. He struck out the first batter but then promptly hit a batter, issued a walk, single and sac fly; he exited the game after allowing two runs. Mesa will be playing day games for the rest of the week through Saturday with an off day on Sunday.

As a reminder, here is the info posted previously regarding the Arizona Fall League ...

The Arizona Fall league will start play on Tuesday, October 10th and will conclude with the Championship game on November 18th. The full schedule can be found here. The Astros will be represented on the Mesa Solar Sox by the following players:

RHP Dean Deetz
RHP Riley Ferrell
RHP Josh James - no longer showing on the roster
RHP Brendan McCurry
LHP Framber Valdez
1B Yordan Alvarez
3B/2B Nick Tanielu
OF Kyle Tucker

2017 Buies Creek Manager Omar Lopez will be the Manager for the team and former Astros farmhand and legendary minor league home run hitter Mike Hessman will be one of the hitting coaches. Hessman is now a minor league hitting coach in the Tigers system. The full team roster can be found here.

VENEZUELAN WINTER LEAGUE (LVBP)

The LVBP started yesterday as well with a limited number of Astros seeing action. I have listed those players who have shown up on rosters so far. Some of those may be reserves.

Aguilas de Zulia
3B Arturo Michelena
SS Kristian Trompiz

Trompiz appeared as a pinch runner only in Zulia's 5 to 4 win over Magallanes.

Bravos de Margarita
2B Alfredo Angarita

In his first game for Margarita, Angarita was 3-for-5 with an RBI and scored twice in Margarita's 12-3 win over Caribes.

Leones del Caracas
RHP Diosward Gonzalez
RHP Yoanys Quiala
C Gabriel Bracamonte

None of these players appeared in Tuesday's game.

MEXICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LMP)

Bostick is the only Astros player I've seen show up on the rosters so far. The first game of the season for the LMP was yesterday as well.

Caneros de la Mochis
RHP Akeem Bostick

Bostick got the start for the Caneros. Things were mostly uneventful in the first inning, but the second did not go quite as well. Fly out, single, single, hit batter, single, grand slam --- ouch! Bostick lasted 3.2 innings, allowing the five runs in the second inning and striking out six. He allowed seven total hits including the grand slam, no walks, one wild pitch and one hit batter, but ended up not factoring into the decision in the 7-6 loss to Mexicali.

DOMINICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LIDOM)

Rosters not posted yet. Games set to start on 10/13.

PUERTO RICAN WINTER LEAGUE (LBPRC)

I haven't seen any information as to whether or not there will be a winter league season in Puerto Rico, but with the devastation to that island from Hurricane Maria, I find it doubtful.

AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL LEAGUE (ABL)

The Australian Baseball League will start their schedule with exhibition games on November 9th and will continue play through early/mid February.

Astros Arizona Fall League Season Review

Eight minor league players represented the Astros as a part of the Salt River Rafters team in the Arizona Fall League. Here is how they fared. (Click on their names for a link to their AFL stats.)

C Tyler Heineman - Heineman only played in three games and was sent home early due to a stubborn eye infection.

3G .400/.571/.400
2BB 1SO

IF/OF Joe Sclafani - Sclafani was a bit of a breakout star for the team, having signed on as a taxi squad member, slated to play only one or two days a week, but ending as an everyday player. Because he did not play regularly early in the season, he did not have enough at-bats to qualify as a league leader, but his .370 average would have led the league and he would have been in the top five in both OBP and SLG.

In the Championship Game on Saturday, Sclafani was 2-for-3 with a double, RBI, two walks, two runs scored and a strikeout as the DH.

12G .370/.431/.543
5-2B HR 10RBI 5BB 11SO 1SB

OF Andrew Aplin - Aplin more than held his own and had an OBP that was in the top 15 in the league. According to our Arizona correspondent, he also provided the plus defense that we have come to expect from him.

19G .269/.388/.358
2B 3B HR 9RBI 12BB 18SO 4SB 5CS

3B Rio Ruiz - Ruiz, at 20, was among the younger players in the league. But I don't think it was his age that kept his numbers down. I personally think he just ran out of gas. He peaked with a .267 batting average in his eighth game of the season and then just slid downhill from there.

21G .187/.292/.227
3-2B 7RBI 12BB 17SO 1CS

RHP Mark Appel - Appel led the league in innings pitched and his 0.839 WHIP was 8th among qualified pitchers. His very solid performance in the Fall League should go a long way toward addressing any doubts about his abilities.

31IP 2.61 ERA 0.839 WHIP
8BB 24SO

LHP Mitch Lambson - Lambson had an excellent fall season, ending the year with an ERA ranking 7th in the league and a WHIP ranking 10th. He pitched one perfect inning (with one strikeout) in the Championship game.

14.1IP 1.26 ERA 0.907 WHIP
7BB 17SO

RHP Tyson Perez - Perez showed us that his excellent numbers in Corpus Christi following his late May 2014 promotion were not a fluke. Perez ranked 3rd in ERA and 6th in WHIP. He walked only one batter in his 14.1 innings of work.

14.1IP 0.63 ERA 0.837 WHIP
1BB 11SO

RHP Vince Velasquez - Velasquez had a mixed bag of a season. He had his best outing on October 21st as he pitched four innings, allowing only one hit, no walks and no runs while striking out two. He was pulled on November 4th after only two-thirds of an inning after suffering a lat strain, thus prematurely ending his season.

13.2IP 6.59 ERA 1.244 WHIP
3BB 13 SO

The Salt River team was chosen as the guinea pig for the pace of game rules being tested for possible inclusion in the major leagues. According to the link, the rules clipped approximately 10 minutes off games.

The Rafters led the league in batting average, on-base percentage, ERA and WHIP, finished with a league best 17-11-4 record and, of course, won it all in the Championship Game on Saturday.

Offseason officially begins! Arizona Fall League Champs. pic.twitter.com/XLkVaput0E
— Rio Ruiz (@ruiz_rio) November 15, 2014

Get used to this "winning" thing. It will soon be coming to a Major League ballpark near you.

Astros Arizona Fall League Game 31 Eyewitness Report

This will be the last of Wallee Wright's missives for the time being, but I hope he will re-join us for next year's AFL season. I, for one, have truly enjoyed his unique voice and great humor.

Thank you, kind sir!

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Mark Appel was not dominant, but he was formidable for five innings last night, leaving the game with a 4-1 lead … Appel gave up three hits, one an absolute no-doubter bomb to right center field by Dodger farmhand Scott Schebler, struck out four, walked one, and bruised another. He appeared to have no problems from the stretch, though he had blessedly few opportunities to pitch from the stretch … apart from coming out a little cold in the second, Mark was very quick and efficient, throwing sixty-four pitches, forty-five for strikes.

Rio Ruiz was the only other Astros starter last night, going one-for-four with a double, RBI, and whiff on offense … but defensively Rio got caught on a short hop in the top of the ninth and his error allowed the tying run to reach behind Tyson Perez. A single and a base clearing triple hung the 5-4 loss on Tyson, though neither run was earned … and with that my tour of duty as your intrepid reporter on all things AFL came to a close.

I want to thank Jayne for the opportunity to write a little, and Dustin for his patience with my horning in on his turf … I hope everyone appreciates just how much Jayne and Dustin put into this gig of theirs, and how much poorer we would be without their efforts – can you imagine having to get information out of the front office, or worse yet, the Chronicle?

~ Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Game 30 Eyewitness Report

As Wallee Wright witnesses, the Joe Sclafani show continues in the AFL, as "Super Joe" evolves from a Taxi Squad player to one of the stars of the league!

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For the fourth time in 30 games, and the second time versus the Peoria Javelinas, the Salt River Rafters played to an eleven-inning tie Tuesday afternoon … the 4-4 tie was not the only oddity today, however, as I’m still searching for the last instance of a right fielder falling over a bullpen fence – facilitating an inside-the-park home run for the Rafters’ shortstop batting in the nine-hole today.

Yesterday I said that Joe Sclafani was only average in the outfield … my bad. The games leadoff batter, Mark Appel’s personal nemesis, Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor, smoked a shot down the left field line for a sure-fire double … Sclafani fielded the ball and threw a perfect strike a second baseman Trevor Story who made an outstanding play of his own to nail Lindor sliding into the bag – Story allowed the ball to come to his glove at the bag rather than reaching out for it and then trying for a swipe tag on Lindor. A splendid job all around on the play … except, perhaps, on Lindor’s part.

First batter of the second inning Rio Ruiz, starting at third today, laid out to his glove side to flag down a shot from Tampa Bay’s Patrick Leonard then scrambled to his feet to throw the not overly speedy first baseman out at first … Rio demonstrating far more energy early than in his last outing. Ruiz continues to be in a horrid slump, going hitless again today … but in the fifth Rio smoked a fly ball all the way to the left center field warning track, the best hit ball from Ruiz’ bat in several days.

After two entertaining innings the Rafters made a pitching change that became a game changer as well … the Twinkies Taylor Rogers was replaced by Colorado’s Nelson Gonzalez who promptly sucked all the life out of the Salt River squad. For an inning and two-thirds that felt more like a millennium Gonzalez slowly, tediously, and deliberately delivered thirty-five pitches good for five hits and three runs … and nearly a thousand slumbering baseball fans. Clearly, at some point in his career a pitching coach told him to slow down his delivery … perhaps the intent was lost in the translation for the hard-throwing Dominican.

Finally the Rafter management had seen enough and went to the ‘pen for relief … Mitch Lambson came on and shut down the Javelinas on just 33 pitches over the next two and a third innings, striking out three, and resuscitating not only the Rafters but the slumbering fans as well.

For four and two-third innings the Rafters sleep walked through at bats against Cleveland’s Dylan Baker … Max Kepler finally broke up the no hitter with a solid single, followed by a Ryan Casteel walk and Rio Ruiz’ long fly to left center field to close the inning. Baker was sterling today, throwing 68 pitches over five innings, giving up just the one hit and two walks. In the bottom of the seventh the Rafters finally awakened from their slumber and pulled ahead, scoring four runs on a pair of doubles, a single and the inside-the-park homer from light-hitting Justin Bohn … only to have the Javs come back in the top of the eighth to tie on a double and single.

In the bottom of the eighth inning Joe Sclafani stroked a double, moved to third on an out and then was stranded there following a pitching change … but then in the bottom of the eleventh Joe led off the inning with a single, moved to second on a wild pitch, and following a strikeout went to third on a fly ball out to center. But once again Joe died at third as Ryan Casteel struck out to end the game … Sclafani is now slashing .357/.426/.524 with only 42 at bats, at least five fewer than would be required to be eligible for the batting crown but tops on the Salt River Rafters – including Eddie Rosario’s .348, which leads the league.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Game 29 Eyewitness Report

Wallee is back with his thoughts on your Astros in the Arizona Fall League and his man crush for Joe Sclafani is getting stronger!

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Joe Sclafani was instrumental today in the Salt River Rafters’ clinching of the Arizona Fall League East crown … Joe went two-for-three, scored two, drove in two and had a walk and a whiff in the Rafters’ 8-4 win over the hapless Scottsdale Scorpions. The Mesa Solar Sox did their part in the clinching process by losing their third game in a row and will have to settle for second place … the Scottsdale squad, loaded with Yankees’, Mets’, Phillies’, Pirates’ and World Champion San Francisco Giant prospects are on their way to a twenty loss campaign in a thirty game league – what ever happened to East Coast baseball that they can’t buy a championship any more?

Sclafani, hitting eighth and DHing this afternoon, is now hitting .351 for his 42 appearances in ten games this fall … you’ll recall he was a ‘taxi squad’ member of the Rafter roster, eligible to suit up Wednesdays and Saturdays only – but Tyler Heineman’s eye infection cleared the way, apparently, for Joe to assume a regular roster spot. His DH role today might indicate that Miami Manager Andy Haines may be intent upon allowing Joe to accumulate sufficient At Bats to qualify for the batting title … then again, Joe’s presence might simply be a reminder to the other middle infielders on the roster that there’s always someone who can take your place – they did display some slick work with the leather today, until the ninth inning that is. Joe was the only Astro to make it onto the field today … Andrew Aplin was a last minute scratch from the leadoff position.

The Peoria Javelinas come to Salt River Field tomorrow … the Rafters are only 3-2 versus the Javelinas this fall. Peoria, Surprise and Glendale are locked in a virtual dead heat coming to the final three games of the fall … Peoria has a half-game lead on Surprise, and a two-game lead on Glendale, who visit Salt River Wednesday evening. Our Rafters can most likely hand the AFL West title to Surprise, against whom we’re 4-1-1 this fall, by beating both Peoria and Glendale.

The Rafters will be in the televised AFL Championship game this Saturday from Scottsdale Stadium … since it is impossible to get to Scottsdale Stadium early enough to secure a parking place within a half-mile of the stadium I’ll be watching the televised version with the rest of y’all - with any kind of luck, an Astro may even participate in the contest, though it will not be Mark Appel who is throwing Wednesday night. The highly touted top D-back prospect, Archie Bradley, who has been slapped around a bit, should throw on Thursday leaving the Championship game to Miami’s Anthony DeSclafani, who truly deserves the honor … but as we have seen previously with the Fall Star selections, worthiness is not a requisite for selection in MLB land.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Game 28 Eyewitness Report

Our intrepid Arizona correspondent, Wallee Wright, filed this brief last night after witnessing a rocky outing by the Salt River Rafters on Saturday afternoon ~

This past Monday the Salt River Rafters sat atop the Arizona Fall League East with a 15-5-3 record and a five game lead over the Mesa Solar Sox … with their 7-4 loss this afternoon to the Peoria Javelinas, the Rafters have lost four of five, three in a row, and could have only a 1.5 game lead over Mesa if they win their evening start [Note from Jayne: Mesa lost and the Rafters retain a 2.5 game lead.]

It’s not the losses that are so amazing, it’s the manner in which the Rafters lost … to wit: on Tuesday Vincent Velasquez injures himself in the first inning and gives up three runs in a 3-1 loss where the Rafters out hit Mesa 7-5; on Wednesday Christian Bergman could go only two outs while giving up four runs but the bullpen went the final 8.1 giving up just two hits in an 8-4 win; Thursday Mark Appel went five scoreless, giving up just a seeing eye ground ball hit, but the bullpen gave up four runs to lose two leads and the game 4-2 in ten; Friday Archie Bradley gave up three runs in four innings but the Rafters came back to tie in the top of the ninth only to lose in the bottom, 5-4; and, today, Anthony DeSclafani went five, giving up only two hits, and left with a 4-0 lead only to see the ‘pen give up seven runs on seven hits in the seventh and eighth to lose the game 7-4.

On a positive note, Joe Sclafani was at second today and, as is his custom when playing second base, Joe was spectacular … getting an ovation from the crowd for a spectacular save of a Ryan Casteel muff to nip Hunter Dozier at first base – an absolutely brilliant play. In addition to that play, Joe was in the middle of two more double plays and on offense went 2-for-3 with a double, drew a walk, and scored two runs and is now hitting .324. It is a damn shame his route to The Show as an Astro at second base is blocked by that Venezuelan fella Jose Altuve because, though Joe can play the outfield, he is just average out in the pasture and something very special at the keystone sack … but you bank on this, Joe will be going to The Show very soon.

Andrew Aplin has become a ball magnet at the plate … he took another one for the team in the bottom of the sixth – then promptly got himself thrown out at second for the fifth time in nine attempts. The HBP and a walk were Andrew’s only base-running opportunities for the day and his batting average has now fallen to .286 … and he has fallen from the top three to seventh in the batting order as a consequence of that production slump.

Rio Ruiz simply looked gassed today … he did get a hit on a ball dumped down the right field line that will frequently go for two bags then held up at first. But it was on defense that Rio seemed out of sync today … Ruiz had four different balls hit through, past, or off him that earlier this year he would have snagged – on the other hand he did initiate two double plays on a very busy day at the hot corner. Rio is in a very deep slump even with his base hit today … he is now below .200.

Were it not for Joe Sclafani the park attendants would have found me this evening in the third base bleachers, face down in my suds … thank you Joe.

~ WalleeWright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Game 26 Eyewitness Report

Wallee is back to weigh in on last night's start by Astros RHP Mark Appel ~

Mark Appel went to the mound this evening to face the resurgent, second place, Mesa Solar Sox with the opportunity to cut the ‘magic number’ between the Salt River Rafters and the Solar Sox in half … and unlike his last two starts, Mark did not let men on base disrupt his rhythm and slow his offerings to the point of throwing batting practice. From a full wind-up Mark is virtually untouchable, deliberately gathering himself and shoving 94-to-97 MPH pitches down the throats of prospective hitters … but pitching from a stretch in order to hold the runner he has been losing at least five miles-per-hour off his power pitches and had become altogether much too hittable – but not tonight.

The Solar Sox first two hits were upon, not by, the top of their order … hit batsmen put two men on in the first for the Sox and Appel was forced to throw from the stretch most of the inning. But instead of becoming focused on the base runners, and losing his rhythm and velocity by doing so, Mark seemed to become more confident in his situation not less so, throwing strikes and forcing an inning-ending ground out. And this was the story of the full five innings Appel threw, needing only 53 pitches, 37 of them strikes, and giving up only one hit while striking out four … and leaving the game after five with a 1-0 lead.

But tonight the bullpen work by the hometown D-back relievers was uncharacteristically bad … Jimmy Sherfy coughed up three walks and a hit in the seventh to knot up the game at 1-1, then after the Rafters pulled ahead in the bottom of the eighth Enrique Burgos gave up three hits in the top of the ninth to knot it up again at 2-2, and two more hits and two more runs in the top of the tenth to give the game to the Solar Sox.

Neither Burgos nor Sherfy had surrendered a run in their previous seven and eight appearances, respectively, so their performance compounds the mystery of the disappearing home field advantage … the Rafters are now 6-5 at home and 10-2 on the road this fall, and have tied three games – and there have been only four ties total in the AFL this year. But for Astros fans the news is all good … Appel has bounced back and appears to have mastered whatever had been ailing him with men on base.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Game 22 Eyewitness Report

Wallee has the latest from the Arizona Fall League as he recounts a Halloween Halloweird game fraught with more frights than a Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie marathon!

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Though I missed it, apparently a few of the players dressed up in Halloween costumes for the MLB.com cameras during early morning warmups … for Astros fans, though, the most frightening moment of the day came after the umpire yelled ‘play ball’ – it was a scary display that we’ll hopefully not see repeated after the Fall(en) Stars game Saturday.

Mark Appel started and his first two innings were largely uneventful … vintage Appel – K, K, 6-3 and 3U, F-8, Single, F-9. It was at this point that the evil Astros made their appearance … and it started so promisingly – Andrew Aplin laid down a first-pitch bunt and advanced to second on the pitcher’s throwing error.

I don’t know if the Salt River Rafter’s manager, Andy Haines, gave Andrew the steal sign or if Aplin decided to take third on his own … but he was out by the old-timey country mile, and for the third time in seven tries this fall – it may be time for either Andy or Andrew to rethink this thing because were it not for the defensive incompetence of the whole Scottsdale team Andrew might have run the Rafters out of the inning.

Someone wearing the uniform of Mark Appel took the mound in the top of the third with a sweet 3-0 cushion and promptly made a mess of it … triple, single, base on balls, fly out, base on balls, error, sac fly and finally, blessedly, a force at second to end the inning. In his previous outing I mentioned that Mark was upset with what was happening around him and it was reflected in his pitching … perhaps, I was wrong, and Appel's frustration stems from his struggles to be effective out of the stretch. That certainly would help make sense out of his troubles in the California League. Hooda thunk it?

The Rafters picked up Mark in the bottom of the inning … Aplin drew a walk behind D-back Peter O’Brien’s single and followed the big fellow home on a double by Appel’s battery mate today, Chris O’Dowd. On a related note, catcher Tyler Heineman, whose picture has been on milk cartons around the Valley since the second week of the AFL, has been allowed to go enjoy a little California beach time … Tyler has been on an AFL-type DL with an eye infection – I saw Joe Sclafani in uniform in the dugout today so I suspect Joe is now off the ‘Taxi Squad’ and can participate more fully in the proceedings from here on out.

Appel zipped through the fourth without any drama – meaning base runners – and we moved into the fifth, and normally last, inning for Mark clinging to a 5-3 lead … and that’s when the fellow impersonating Appel came out to throw again. Single, single, base on balls … and Mark was through for the day. But wait, there’s hope … Mitch Lambson is called out of the ‘pen for a classic lefty-on-lefty matchup … first pitch single, run scores. Dante Bichette, Jr, a right-handed hitter, singles on a 1-1 pitch and two more runs are in … all three of these runs are charged to Mark Appel, who finishes with a forgettable line I’ll leave to Dustin to disclose. A strikeout and a double play ends the inning and, viola, Lambson records a perfect inning … Halloween-style.

Once again, however, the Rafters come back to pull Mark and Mitch’s fat from the fire … that’s just an expression fellas. With one out in the bottom of the fifth Aplin singles again, moves to second on an out and scores on a single to tie the game at 6-6 … the Rafters add singletons in the sixth and eighth and win the game 8-6. But nothing I will see Halloween night will be nearly as frightening as the performance I witnessed this afternoon … burn the film and bury the ashes – oh, that’s right, everything is digital these days. Then burn those digitals and bury them.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Game 21 Eyewitness Report

Hmmmm, it's not a full moon, but according to Wallee Wright's eyewitness account of Salt River's 5-4 loss last night, a little lunar lunacy would have helped explain some of the action.

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The Surprise Saguaros made it abundantly clear from the outset that they do not like The Salt River Rafters even a little bit … perhaps the Rafters 4-0 record going into tonight’s game had something to do with it, but the baiting and derisive cheering by the opposing bullpens made it clear to everyone that this was no ordinary game.

What involvement can a bullpen have in the conduct of the game, you ask … you see, the ‘pens at Salt River field have chicken wire fascia and are located inside the foul lines so the pitching staff not going tonight was all but seated on the field of play – and both ‘pens were raucous from the get-go. Perhaps that is why Andrew Aplin misplayed the first fly ball of the evening into a double that eventually led to one of two runs in the top of the first.

The Rockies Jayson Aquino started for the Rafters and essentially threw BP for five innings … the Rafter outfielders pretty much played the first three innings on the warning track – but Aquino has now thrown sixteen innings, giving up sixteen hits including three of eight tonight for extra bases, and yet has a 2-0 record with a 3.38 ERA and 1.25 WHIP. Key to Jayson successfully dodging these bullets is his not giving up walks … just like the coaches keep telling you.

The Padres’ Mallex Smith is a 5’9”, 170 pound bolt of lightning on the base paths, making even sharply struck grounders a potential base hit with his speed … but baseball is more than running fast - you need to do little things like check in with the third base coach as you round second base. On the ball Andrew misplayed to start the game Smith wheeled into second base as Aplin attempted to corner the ball, and just stopped … Delino DeShields Sr was making like a windmill at third but by the time Mallex finally looked in that direction as he stood on second, Aplin was throwing the ball in to the cutoff man. The next batter fouled of a bunt attempt with Smith running on the play, but poor Mallex had made it all the way to third before time was called … I told you he was fast. Whereupon DeShields forcefully explained the concept of looking to the third base coach for guidance when rounding second – so forcefully, in fact, that Rio Ruiz felt compelled to pat Mallex on the butt as he made his way back to second.

Rio Ruiz drove in two runs this evening with one-out sacrifice flies … and was robbed of a base hit by a sensational play by the seventeen-year-old shortstop Michael DeLeon, who then doubled Peter O’Brien off second. Rio had an odd evening in the field as well, whiffing on a ball down the line in the second or third inning, then making a sensational backhand stop on Cincinnati’s top prospect Jesse Winkler and turning it into an around-the-horn double play to end the fifth … the second such double play to bail Aquino out of an inning tonight.

Andrew Aplin was similarly robbed in the bottom of the inning by San Diego’s Jace Peterson … Peterson laid out, completely airborne, to snag a scorched ball headed to centerfield. This evening was likely very frustrating to Andrew on another score … he was the target of an inordinate amount of noise from the Saguaro bullpen this evening. I don’t know if it was Andrew, personally, that was the target or the fact he was in right field directly in front of the chicken wire … or maybe there were a couple of University of Arizona grads seizing the opportunity to stick it to a Sun Devil – like I said, it was clear early on that something was going on between these two team.

Salt River led into the ninth inning when Kaleb Fleck of the home town D-backs came on to close it out … he promptly gave up 800 feet of fly balls, one of which left the yard to tie the game. Then, with the bases loaded, the lightning bolt Smith sprinted home with what would be the winner on a ground ball to Rio Ruiz … Rio’s only play was the force at third and that was the game as the Rafters went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth - Fleck has now closed two and blown two in four chances.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Arizona Fall League Game 19 Eyewitness Report

Dustin is taking a day off as he basks in the glow of the Rockets season-opening win against the Lakers, but rest assured he will bring you all the fall and winter league action on his return tomorrow. In the meantime, Wallee Wright has you covered with his Eyewitness Report of a game featuring several of your Astros, including an excellent start by RHP Vince Velasquez.

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The game today was never in doubt but it was, nonetheless, oddly interesting … while the final suggests a wipeout, the game was within reach for the Desert Dogs until the bottom fell out in the sixth - Astros prospects, and there were two or three in the game through out, played a leading role from beginning to end.

Vincent Velasquez blew through the Desert Dog lineup 1-2-3 for the first three innings … he did a pretty damn good Nolan Ryan imitation in the process – ‘here it is, hit it if you can’, and they couldn’t. Bear in mind that these Desert Dogs were the team that blew up Vincent’s ERA with five runs on two homers in three innings on the fifteen of this month … if you don’t remember, no problem, because it was clear that Velasquez did – he was overpowering.

Then came the fourth … the leadoff batter walked on a questionable 3-1 ball call that also had Vincent shaking his throwing hand as if he’d torn a nail or popped a blister. The Chisox’ Tim Anderson, the next hitter, bounced Velasquez’s next pitch into the Desert Dog bullpen for a ground rule double that left runners on second and third with none out … a ground out plates one and a sac fly plates Anderson and Vincent’s eight-inning scoreless streak was history. But that was it for the Dogs in the fourth and fifth and Vincent lowered his ERA to an increasingly more respectable 4.85 … but Velasquez’s 0.92 WHIP and twelve strikeouts in thirteen innings of work tells the real story of his Fall League efforts.

The seventh inning brought Mitch Lambson to the mound … and Mitch did his job just as he has every time out – strangely. Lambson struck out the leadoff batter on three pitches, then got the next hitter to ground out … Mitch has faced thirty-three batters in his eight innings of work, striking out ten and walking six, but this was just the third batter retired by Lambson on a ground ball – very un-Astro like. He then walked the next batter, though there were two called balls that could have gone either way, before getting the final batter of the inning on strikeouts with just three pitches … another strange outing for Mitch, who now sits at 2.25 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, and would be even better if one of those fly balls hadn’t left the yard a few games back.

And then the Rafters turned the game over to our Astros Fall Star, Tyson Perez … and Tyson did what he has done for ten innings now – he made the rest of the game almost uneventful. The only blip in his two innings work was a beater to Rio Ruiz that was thrown away in a futile effort to keep Tim Anderson from picking up his third hit of the game … Anderson got a hit, and Ruiz an error as he advanced to second, but Perez got Corey Seager on a 2-2 fly ball to left to end the inning. In the ninth, Tyson needed only ten pitches to end the game … Perez has faced only thirty-seven batters in ten innings work, maintained his 0.00 ERA and now sports a 0.70 WHIP.

On the offensive side of the ledger, the Astros were just as active … Andrew Aplin started in centerfield and led off, where upon he promptly walked and scored the first run. He went on to get two hits and to drive in two runs in five plate at bats, and is now slashing (.350/.395/.500). Rio Ruiz was in his normal six spot, playing third again as usual, and picked up a hit, two walks and scored two runs … a pretty typical day for the young man slashing (.245/.383/.286).

The Rafters are 13-4-2 after this afternoon, and now lead the Mesa Solar Sox by four games in the AFL East … the Glendale Desert Dogs remained in first place in the AFL East at 8-9-1. Any combination of ten Rafter wins and Solar Sox losses will clinch the Rafters a spot in the AFL Championship game November 15 … a game that will be televised.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Arizona Fall-Star Faux Pas: A Soapbox from Wallee Wright

The list of Fall League All-Stars came out yesterday and our intrepid Arizona correspondent was not amused. The good news is that Astros RHP Tyson Perez got the nod. The bad news? Well, let's hear from Wallee Wright about that as he borrows my soapbox for the day.

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The Arizona Fall League rosters for their Fall Star game were named today on MLB.com, and frankly folks, monkeys at the San Diego Zoo could have made better choices slinging dung at poster board rosters. It’s a shame the folks that make these selections have chosen to include young men who have not performed up to their billing because it lessens the honor for those who truly deserve the recognition … and Tyson Perez is one of those who has earned this recognition.

A little harsh, you say? Try this on for size … the list includes MLB Top-100 prospect number 86, Kansas City’s Hunter Dozier, who is rocking a .184/.298/.327 slash with 17 strikeouts in forty-nine at bats, but does not include the Yankees Greg Bird, slashing .343/.375/.672 with a league leading 6 home runs and sixteen strikeouts in sixty-seven at bats.

Had to get a certain number of players from each team, you say? Puzzle me this then, Batman … how does the roster include Minnesota Twin outfielder and MLB Top-100 Number One, Byron Buxton, who is stroking a modest.264/.316/.302 yet exclude Minnesota Twin outfielder/2B Eddie Rosario who is the second leading hitter in the entire league at .429/.436/.449?

But it’s the pitching staff that I’m sure those monkeys played a part in selecting … check these out – the Blue Jays Roberto Osuna made the squad with a 12.27 ERA and 2.59 WHIP in seven and one-third innings of work, walking four and striking out seven; and Tayron Guerrero of the monkey’s home town Padres made the squad with an astounding 21.60 ERA and 3.30 WHIP in three and one-third innings of work.

Not making the Falling Stars roster was our own Mark Appel, with a league high seventeen innings of work at a 1.59 ERA, 0.76 WHIP and four bases on balls to go with his fourteen strikeouts … nor did the Pirates Joely Rodriguez, with a 3-0 record in thirteen and one-third innings and a 1.35 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP and three walks against 13 strikeouts. But looking forward to ‘play(ing) the best, and beat(ing) the best’ is Arizona’s Archie Bradley with his 0-2 record and 6.55 ERA with a 2.18 WHIP while walking seven and striking out eight.

This screed is not an indictment of the players selected and mentioned … it is not their fault. These young men are all superior athletes, with extraordinary skills that folks like myself could have never dreamed of possessing, and it troubles me not just a little to write something like this piece. But an All Star game should include only those whose performance warranted selection and should not be based upon the number of winter visitors from a certain area, or the location of the game, or the ranking of the players by MLB.com, which is apparently what was employed this year … unless, of course, the San Diego Zoo is missing some monkeys.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Game 17 Eyewitness Report

Wallee Wright weighs in again with one of his excellent eyewitness reports of Arizona Fall League action ~

In the midst of Mark Appel’s widely-chronicled California League troubles one of the most frequently cited ‘proofs’ that Appel was an overrated bust in the making was the apparent absence of emotion when things were going badly … ‘he doesn’t even care enough to get upset.’ was the prevailing sentiment among the baseball ‘writers’ community. Well, he may not show the made-for-television ‘emotion’ they love at Fenway, but he does get genuinely upset … and the results are as predictable for a number 1-1 draft pick as they would be for a 40-30 selection.

After cruising through the first two innings Mark let a poor decision by his first baseman get to him in the third, opening the door to a two-run inning … in defense of his first sacker, he is another of the offensively talented but defense-challenged catchers getting time at another position this fall. The ball that resulted in a base hit was a skulled roller down the line that never even reached the bag - barely more than a drag bunt – that Appel was pursuing when Casteel called him off and attempted a scoop and tag play … and failed to come up with the ball. I don’t think Mark was upset with his first baseman so much as giving up a hit on a bleeder.

A sacrifice bunt and a ground out moved the runner to third and then Appel’s only tormentor this fall, Francisco Lindor, creamed a gapper between Astro shortstop/second baseman/third baseman (playing left field) Joe Sclafani and the Twins second baseman (playing center field) Eddie Rosario that became a triple … before the Rockies’ shortstop/third baseman (playing second base) Trevor Story, threw the relay into the dugout. Perhaps you’ve noticed the pattern here … the inning came to a merciful end three batters later when D-Backs outfielder, playing right field, Evan Marzilli made the first of two spectacular catches on balls that appeared to be destined for extra bases.

Sclafani and Rosario clearly had communication issues this afternoon … they played Alphonse and Gaston on a lazy fly ball to mid-left center field that dropped between the two of them for a ‘double’. A ground out and sacrifice fly and there’s one more ‘earned run’ for the Javelinas … Trevor Story redeemed himself briefly in the bottom of the inning with an RBI triple driving in Rosario, and then Sclafani and Rosario redeemed themselves in the bottom of the next inning with RBI singles to keep Appel from absorbing a loss in the game.

Today’s Rafters starting lineup included four Colorado Rockies, two Astros, and one each from Miami, Arizona and Minnesota … three of those four Rox contributed a total of nine strikeouts to the team’s total of thirteen – and two of the Rafter’s seven hits. I’m just sayin’ … there’s a reason the Rox lost four more games than the Astros while playing in the lamest division in baseball.

As you might have suspected by now, to these old eyes there was not a lot to like today from either our Astros or our Rafters … player of the game was clearly Evan Marzilli, who made two sterling defensive plays and went two-for-three with a double and a walk. Marzilli, who has not been getting the same playing time as the two ranked prospects, Drury and O’Brien, has nonetheless outplayed them both to date.

Just so you won’t think I’m just being a grump today, with nothing good to say about anything, I’d like to point out that they fixed enough of the centerfield scoreboard to display the score by the bottom of the first … he was 500 feet away, so I can’t be sure, but I don’t believe the man on the lift with the really cool tool belt was Tony LaRussa – but everyone else was out of position today so it may have been.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Game 15 Eyewitness Account

Wallee Wright once again brings us his eyewitness account of last night's Arizona Fall League game, featuring only one of your Astros, but also gives us a little more news about the experimental rule changes ...

Tonight was a Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks show with Rio Ruiz, playing third and batting fifth, making a token appearance for the Astros ... and while that would not normally be appealing to this Astros fan, it was actually a fun, competitive, game. Even the four relievers were equally divided between Minnesota and Arizona … sheesh, the Twins Zack Jones got his third Hold by pitching one-third an inning, walking three and leaving the bases loaded for the Snakes’ Kaleb Fleck – no problem, no runs.

The 5-3 win moves the Salt River Rafters to 11-3-1 and a full three game lead at the halfway point over the suddenly surging Mesa Solar Sox who are 7-3 in their last ten but only 8-6 overall. The Rafters opponent Friday night, the Glendale Desert Dogs, lead the Western division with a 7-6-1 record … the Desert Dogs beat the Rafters and Vincent Velasquez in Glendale ten days ago, and have a winning record at home, so this afternoon road game could be tough following tonight’s late start.

Although MLB has stated that all games played with the new clock have been completed in less than two and one-half hours they are blowin’ smoke … the first game under the clock barely came in under three hours. However, the clock is actually working better than I could have imagined, and has elicited some hilarious reactions from pitchers hit with a 20-second violation … funny for those of us whose future livelihood does not depend upon getting the batter out, that is. The biggest issue is still the timekeeper forgetting to start or stop the clock and the inconsistent application of the new rules by the home plate umps … for instance, does stepping off the mound reset the clock? And the between innings time, originally established at 2:05, has been tweaked a bit … the pitcher now has two and one-half minutes to make that first pitch, and the game is not the poorer for that change.

Another sign that Rio Ruiz is coming around … Rio has been making solid and loud contact of late, hitting line drives but not threatening the folks parked on the berms – tonight in the bottom of the seventh Ruiz backed the Saguaros’ center fielder to the warning track with a 400-foot pop to dead center. It is so good to see … understand that Rio is only 20 and had 602 plate appearances in the California desert before his 46 appearances here in the Arizona Desert – but the bus ride has to be better here.

The main scoreboard at Salt River Field was not working this evening, nor was the scorekeeper for that matter … the latter individual had difficulty keeping track of the opposition’s runs – such a shame, not. I’ll leave repairs to the scoreboard to Tony LaRussa … can’t you picture him with a Home Depot tool belt? Me neither …

Archie Bradley is throwing tomorrow … the young man has had a really tough time after the first inning in his previous starts – and this Desert Dogs team has some real bangers. It would sure be good to see Bradley get it turned around … and even better if we could see some of that Astro talent on the field as well.

The new AFL batting leader, Eddie Rosario, had two more hits tonight and three runs batted in … oh, and two stolen bases. Byron Buxton also had two, but one was an infield slow roller and the other a blooper to left center … Rosario does not hit for power, but he’s giving Byron a real run for his money for that centerfield slot – I’m wondering if Buxton isn’t still injured.

Saturday is my next game … later, dudes and dudettes.

~Wallee Wright~

Astros AFL Eyewitness Report and Random Observations

Wallee Wright has your eyewitness account of yesterday's Arizona Fall League action, along with some random observations ...

Seattle has replaced RHP Taijuan Walker on the roster of the Surprise Saguaros with LHP Scott DeCecco … as previously noted, AFL hitters were overmatched with Taijuan in the two games he started – nine innings, two runs, seven hits, two free passes and eleven strikeouts for a 2.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. It seems Walker, 22, made the decision himself to go home, not the Mariners … though Taijuan had a shoulder issue last year that delayed his 2014 season start to June, the M’s reported he is in good health – a young man from Louisiana would find little to like in the deserts of Arizona, and that is particularly true of shrimp and seafood - I’m sure the AFL hitters will heartily endorse Taijuan’s return home for a little gumbo and some LSU football.

With Taijuan gone fishing, the Peoria Javelinas’ and Kansas City’s Kyle Zimmer was the last remaining challenger to Mark Appel for King of the Mountain, or Desert in this case … but in the first inning of Saturday’s start Kyle tweaked the shoulder he had injured earlier this season and now the Arizona Fall League Week Two Pitcher of the Week is shut down for the remainder of the AFL season – this after striking out eleven in a five inning stint last week. That is no typo folks … and while your Salt River Rafters/Astros wish Kyle a rapid recovery I’m confident they won’t miss the opportunity to face him this fall. And that brings us to our man, Mark Appel …

Following a third consecutive outstanding performance, each building upon the previous, one can’t help but wonder what more Mark Appel has to prove this year … though I’m sure his detractors will note that Mark didn’t throw a 96MPH fastball until the fifth inning yesterday – what the hell, it was only ninety degrees for his 12:30 local time start. Appel needed only 54 pitches in his five innings work to dispatch a very good Peoria team … in three appearances Mark has now thrown twelve scoreless innings, allowing four hits and three bases on balls while striking out twelve – that’s a 0.00 ERA and 0.58 WHIP for those of you who rely upon those measures. It might be fair to ask at this point if it is worth the risk of injury to keep rolling Mark out when it has become quite clear that Appel is best pitcher still in Arizona.

Vincent Velasquez threw again today … and it was the antithesis of his only previous start in Glendale last Wednesday. The AFL had not been a pleasant experience for the 22-year-old California League strikeout artist who had given up two home runs in his four innings of work prior to this afternoon’s start … Velasquez carried an 11.25 ERA and 2.25 WHIP into today’s start and was in the unenviable position of having to follow Appel’s beat down of a Peoria Javelinas team starting three MLB Top-100 players. No problems today Astros fans … four innings, twelve batters, fifty pitches – thirty-one for strikes – and Houston, we have a winner. It was not the same guy I drove eighty miles round trip to see get creamed by a 5-6-1 Glendale Desert Dogs team … Vincent was completely in charge today and his teammates appeared genuinely excited for him.

Good hitting requires many things but very few of these can be more important than confidence … and right now Andrew Aplin could use a little of that commodity. After leading the AFL in hitting for ten days Andrew suddenly cannot buy a hit, going oh-for-nine and striking out four times since last Friday … his batting average has dropped from .529 to .346 with this slump which began when he fouled a pitch off home plate and into his nether regions. Hopefully a day or two off will give Andrew a chance to regroup, refocus, and get back into the batting title race.

Tyler Heineman continues to get the short end of the stick in the four-way battle for time behind the dish … yesterday the Arizona Diamondback’s Peter O’Brien caught Mark Appel, taking with it the one opportunity every week that Tyler had to play. It’s obviously a conspiracy … O’Brien and Miami’s Chad Wallach have caught eight of the twelve games thus far while Colorado’s Chris O’Dowd, a Taxi Squad member of the roster, has the other two starts – I also have the straight poop on Area 51 and the shooter on the knoll, but the authorities won’t allow me to divulge my sources. Tyler is a 23-year-old switch hitter who has two hits and two walks in his seven plate appearances … however, when he returns home to California and he’s asked how the Fall League went he can truthfully say: ‘I raked it – a .400/.579/.400 slash line’.

If Tyler has been short-changed this Fall, Rio Ruiz has not … Rio has started nine Rafters games at either 3B or DH and has been one of the few reliable gloves in a very porous infield for the Rafters. And now his bat is beginning to show some life. Ruiz got the start today at third, batting sixth, and hit well as Dustin will inform you … he’s making very solid, loud, contact now as opposed to ground balls of two weeks ago. Nothing close to going deep as yet, but Salt River Field is no grade school playground … 345-390-410-390-345, left to right – or right to left if you read that way.

Tyson Perez handled the ninth inning is very typical Tyson style … here it is, hit it if you can boys. Ten pitches, eight strikes … .000 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, seven strikeouts and one stinkin’ walk in seven innings to date. Tyson is so automatic he’s almost boring … good times are coming folks, just you wait and see.

Gonna take a pass on the bobble-head giveaway in Surprise Wednesday afternoon, so I’ll check back with you on Friday with my perspective on Thursday’s game with the Saguaros. But fear not, Dustin is back!

~Wallee Wright~

Arizona Fall League Observations from Wallee Wright

Wallee Wright weighs in with his observations on the three Top-100 players on the Salt River Rafters team in the AFL and how their brief AFL seasons have unfolded thus far. SSS (small sample size) Warning.

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Much was made by MLB.com about the composition of the Rafters given the number of Top-100 players (3) and individual team Top-20 players (12) ... but the three Top-100 players (Byron Buxton, Archie Bradley, and Mark Appel) have each come to the AFL with serious questions about either their health or their skills. To date only Mark Appel has demonstrated he is the player the MLB rating service believes him to be ... both Buxton, MLB-100 overall numero uno, and Bradley, Top-100 number nine, have been substantially below average relative to their current AFL company.

Buxton has demonstrated 385-foot power when he lifts one to the outfield, but this is an infrequent occurrence to date ... and since everything he hits is in line with the 6-4 hole these fly balls are just exciting outs to the deepest part of the yard. Byron has been given as much opportunity as anyone on the squad, playing in eight of the eleven games to date ... but his .229/.289/.257 slash and two errors in the field do not bode well for the young man (20) retaining his lofty ranking - and that may lift the load off Byron's back and free him to perform to his potential. As I've mentioned before, he could use a few more pounds ... he makes Dexter Fowler look like one of those SNL characters wanting to 'pump, pump you up' - and he steals bags with about the same frequency as Dexter, just one to date, though Byron has only been on base eleven times in his eight outings.

Bradley was a very late cut by the D-backs, having made the MLB marketing trip to Australia to play the Dodgers to start the season ... some have suggested the late cut got into his head as he struggled in AAA, was sent to the Rookie Arizona League for rehab, then only moved back to AA to finish the season. Archie has had control difficulties at all levels after A-ball, but a lively fast ball and decent breaking stuff has given him a high strikeout rate to offset this issue ... until now. In three starts and seven innings work Bradley has compiled a 10.29 ERA and 2.57 WHIP to go with six walks and six strikeouts ... each start has been the same with first inning control issues resulting in Archie making a hitter's pitch in a hitter's count - then compensating for that problem by grooving a pitch earlier in the count in the second and third innings. If the issues are with his head and not his arm or mechanics, this experience in the AFL is not doing anything to cure the problem.

Meanwhile Appel has been lights out ... .000 ERA and 0.71 WHIP to go with eight strikeouts and three walks in three starts and seven innings - hard to improve upon that. Maybe now we can put that awful California League experience behind us ... and Mark can move up in the MLB Top-100 from number 41.

~Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Stats: Week 2-ish

Since the Arizona Fall League had an off day on Sunday, there is no recap. Instead, Wallee Wright weighs in with his observations on the offense, defense and relief pitching on the Salt River Rafters crew after almost two weeks of play (and casually name drops Tony LaRussa). He will have another post coming out later today looking at Mark Appel and the other Top-100 prospects on the team.

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Minnesota Twin tenth-ranked prospect Eddie Rosario, one of three team-ranked centerfielders along with Byron Buxton and nineteenth-ranked Max Kepler, has passed Andrew Aplin for the Salt River Rafter and Arizona Fall League lead in batting … Rosario is slashing .417/.421/.444 to Aplin’s .409/.435/.682 after Saturday night’s four appearance ohfer – I suspect Andrew was still hurting from Friday night’s errant foul ball. Rosario does not exhibit any power, and has struck out seven times and walked only once in thirty-seven appearances … but Eddie has been very effective once on base, stealing six of seven bags. Kepler has been a non-factor, slashing only .211/.375/.211.

After a very slow start Rio Ruiz is beginning to assert himself in the Salt River Rafter lineup … Rio is now slashing .267/.353/.333 after thirty-four appearances with two doubles, three RBI, four walks and seven strikeouts. Tyler Heineman has made the most of his token appearances to date, slashing .400/.571/.400 … in seven plate appearances Tyler has two doubles, and two walks against a single strikeout – Tyler is playing second fiddle to the D-Backs attempt to find a position for seventh-ranked ‘Zona prospect C/1B Peter O’Brien, plus playing time for Miami’s Chad Wallach and Colorado’s taxi squad member Chris O’Dowd.

Peter O’Brien has not hit often, only six hits in forty appearances, but five of the six are for extra bases, including three dingers that may not have reached earth at this writing … unfortunately the National League game also includes a fielding aspect, and Peter has four fielding and throwing errors to date – though as a catcher he has far more opportunities to commit an error than most others. I asked Diamondback Chief Baseball Officer Tony LaRussa how they intended to use O’Brien, considering they owe catcher Miguel Montero $39MM over the next four years and have All-Star Paul Goldschmidt of The Woodlands installed at first base … he replied that with O’Brien’s bat they ‘would find a place’ – I’m guessing that place is with an American League team unless they eat a bunch of salary with Montero.

After going hitless in his first game, a game in which he played a superb second base, Joe Sclafani has picked up a hit apiece in each of his last two games … Joe is another ‘Taxi Squad’ member, meaning he only gets to suit up on Wednesdays and Saturdays – it is worthy of note that his two hits are a double as a third baseman and a homerun as a left fielder, giving him the oddest of slash lines at .200/.273/.600 and two RBI. Joe also has a walk, a strikeout and one stolen base … the Rafters have nine double plays as a team thus far, and in his only appearance at second base Joe started three of them and was in the middle of a fourth. By way of contrast, consider this: Trevor Story, Colorado’s eleventh-ranked prospect, has played six games at short and two at second and has committed four errors; the Rox’ Taylor Featherston has played two games at short and three at second and has committed two errors; Miami’s Austin Nola has played three games at second and one at short … combined these three have participated in only five double plays in eight games while at second base.

Mitch Lambson has appeared in four games in relief to date, and has pitched better than his numbers … Mitch has given up three hits, one of which was a dinger, leading to two earned runs in five innings over four appearances. He has struck out seven in those five innings and walked three … Mitch has a 3.60 ERA and 1.20 WHIP, while all three hits off him have come with two out in the inning. Our other Astro reliever, Tyson Perez, has proven more hittable giving up five hits in six innings over his four appearances … but unlike Lambson, Tyson has not given up a run and has struck out six while walking only one – a 0.00 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.

Note to Mr. Luhnow: To these unsophisticated eyes the most impressive reliever on the Rafters thus far has not been an Astros farmhand, though he is a Texan. Drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012 in the 23rd round out of Texas Tech as a 2B/3B, six-foot, 180-pound Reid Redman was released or traded to Miami after his one season of rookie ball … in five innings over four games he has very quickly and quietly accumulated a Win and two Holds, giving up one hit, and no walks while striking out four – that’s a 0.00 ERA and 0.20 WHIP, and to these untrained eyes it’s no fluke, I believe he’s going to be special.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Recap: Game 11

Despite an 8-4 loss to Mesa on Saturday, the Salt River Rafters remain atop the leaderboard in the AFL with their 7-3-1 record. They are currently two games in front of Mesa as the AFL goes into an off-day on Sunday.

The Diamondbacks Archie Bradley got the start for the Rafters and wasn't exactly sharp as he gave up three hits and walked four batters in two innings and left the bases loaded in the third. And Jason Adam of the Twins did Bradley no favors as he allowed all three of Bradley's runners to score. Bradley ended up getting charged with seven runs (four earned) and Adam was charged with one unearned run of his own. None of your Astros saw any pitching action.

The Rafters defense was not exactly sterling either as they committed four errors in the game, none of those coming from Astros players, however.

At the plate, the Rafters were held to eight hits, but four of those were for extra bases, including a home run from the Rockies Chris O'Dowd. Andrew Aplin (0-for-4 with a strikeout) and Joe Sclafani, playing at third base, were the only Astros players to make an appearance. Sclafani had a nice game, going 1-for-3 with a double, walk, run and stolen base.

Astros Arizona Fall League Game Recap: Game 10

Maybe the Arizona Fall League needs to incorporate some kind of sudden death or shootout rules because, as Wallee Wright so aptly described it to me, an 11-inning tie is like kissing your sister.

Salt River Rafters, with a big assist from the Astro contingent, blew their opportunity to improve their Fall League-best record to 8-2 and were forced to settle for a 3-3 tie with the League worst Peoria Javelinas in an excruciating eleven innings at Salt River Field. This was far and away the sloppiest performance by the Rafters, who have been making a habit of just eking out wins of late … the Javelinas had only five hits on the evening but four Rafter errors enabled them to keep scoring rallies alive while the Rafters could score no more than three singletons in spite of punching out eleven hits.

The Astros were spared a leading role in the sloppy defensive play by virtue of only starting a single player, Rio Ruiz batting seventh at DH, though there were three Astros in the game by the tenth inning. Rio had two hits on the evening in four plate appearances, and though his one-out double in the bottom of the ninth led to the tying run, he blew an earlier opportunity when he beat a ball into the dirt in front of home plate with the bases loaded to end a sixth inning rally. But Rio was not the only Astro farmhand to have a good news-bad news game this evening.

Mitch Lambson came on in the fifth inning with the Rafters trailing 2-1, and immediately walked number eight batter Daniel Castro on five pitches … then came back with a solid strike out of League City’s C.J. McElroy. With Francisco Lindor batting, the Rafter’s/Diamondback’s catcher Peter O’Brien attempted a pickoff at first that went through to right field, moving Castro to second where upon Lindor’s ground out moved him on to third and a missed diving catch in left center by Byron Buxton went for a double, scoring Castro. Mitch closed out his inning by striking out the next batter - his final numbers reading one run on one hit, one base-on-balls and two strikeouts.

Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth the Rafters inserted Andrew Aplin as a pinch runner for Rio Ruiz following Rio’s clutch double … and he was almost immediately wild-pitched to third where he was then driven home with the tying run by Aaron Nola’s clutch single. Astro Tyson Perez pitched the ninth and tenth innings for the Rafters in very business-like fashion, working around a hit in the ninth and an error in the tenth to keep the Javelinas off the board … Tyson finished with just the one hit and one strikeout in two scoreless innings – much improved over his last outing. But in the bottom of the tenth an Astro once again had an opportunity to send the Rafters home a winner and failed.

Two walks and a single loaded the bases with two out and brought Andrew Aplin, inserted to pinch run for Rio Ruiz in the ninth, the plate … Andrew took a called strike, then fouled the next pitch off the plate and his body, causing a break in play for an injury timeout. Aplin gamely resumed his position in the batter’s box but his swing and miss on the next pitch reflected the pain he was still feeling … and the opportunity for another fairy tale ending went down with him. He finished his relief role with a run scored and a strikeout.

Midland’s Reid Redman came on to shut down the Peoria squad in the eleventh, throwing to Tyler Heineman who had replaced O’Brien after he was lifted for a pinch runner in the tenth … and the Rafters had one last chance to send the fans home happy. But with runners on first and second and two out in the bottom of the eleventh, the DBacks’ Brandon Drury struck out to end the game … sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you.

Enjoy your weekend.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Eyewitness Report: Game 9

Much like those of us who have watched Andrew Aplin play in person, Wallee is quickly becoming a fan of the Astros outfielder ~

For the past four or five years there has been a continual debate throughout major league baseball as to just how much a team should rely upon the new, highly technical, measures to evaluate their personnel versus scouting observations and traditional measures and techniques … your Astros being one MLB club that is ‘all in’ for the science.

Just looking at his past performance, Glendale Desert Dog catcher and Baltimore Oriole prospect Mike Ohlman does not appear to be a particularly gifted defender … but for seven innings last night your Salt River Rafters, at least the two Astro members of that crew, made Ohlman look like Yadier Molina reincarnate as he killed potential Rafter rallies with his accurate throwing arm.

But in the eighth inning your Astros were once again front and center as the Rafters overcame a 1-0 deficit by scoring five runs on five hits … and our own Andrew ‘Babe’ Aplin drove in the tying run with a double to right and then scored the go ahead marker on the way to a 5-1 Rafter victory over the visiting Desert Dogs.

Oh, and along the way in the eighth Andrew evened the score with Ohlman by successfully stealing third, thus setting up the potential for scoring the winning run on a simple sacrifice fly … it proved unnecessary however as the Colorado Rockies Ryan Casteel singled to left, plating Aplin. The league’s leading hitter finished 2-for-3 with a walk, a single to go with his clutch double, the stolen base, a run scored and an RBI … and while he was also caught stealing and struck out once as well, Andrew is well on his way to a November first ‘Fall Star’ game selection with his lofty .529 batting average.

Rio Ruiz pitched in a single during the eighth inning rally and played his usual solid defense … Rio trapped a runner off third in the first inning to take the steam out of a Glendale rally and keep the game from once again getting out of hand early. Rio finished the evening 1-for-3, with a run scored and a walk in addition to striking out once and getting thrown out attempting to steal second in the seventh inning.

Your Rafters are now 7-2 and lead the Arizona Fall League East by two games over the slumping Scottsdale Scorpions. The Surprise Saguaros have moved back ahead of the Desert Dogs by virtue of their win over Scottsdale and Glendale’s loss. Salt River hosts the 2-6 Peoria Javelinas tonight … this will also be the last game I attend until next Tuesday because of a Taco Tasting Festival, or Hot Air Balloon Festival or Octoberfest – some kind of festival – but have no fear as we will still bring you the latest until Dustin gets back in the saddle early next week.

~ Wallee Wright ~

Astros Arizona Fall League Game 8 Recap: Eyewitness Report

Wallee braved crosstown traffic during rush hour to bring you this recap. Ummm, maybe he should have saved the gas.

If I were to guess, Vincent Velasquez’ instruction this evening was to get ahead in the count early … to just throw strikes. At least I hope that was the plan because that is exactly what he did … unfortunately this is not High-A ball, and the Glendale Desert Dog hitters caught on to the plan in the second inning and began to lay some wood on the ball early in the count from then on. Whether it was bad execution, a bad plan, or bad pitch calling, the results were entirely forgettable and our Rafters fell to the Desert Dogs 7-5 on the road last night.

Velasquez finished the evening having given up five earned runs on six hits in his three innings worked … he did not walk a soul and struck out two, including California League nemesis Corey Seager, but he also gave up home runs to a pair of Brewer prospects, Clint Coulter and Hector Gomez, good for all five runs – both coming with two outs in the inning.

The Rafters did come back from a 5-0 deficit to score three in the seventh and two more in the eighth … but a Twins prospect, Jason Adam, continued his own profligate ways giving up his fifth and sixth runs of the fall on a homerun to the Chisox’ number two prospect, Tim Anderson.

The good news about the two Rafter’s runs in the eighth is that they came on a Joe Sclafani dinger to left center field … Joe was batting ninth tonight and playing left field – that will teach him not to get involved in four double plays the next time he gets a shot at second base. Joe was one-for-four with the run scored and two RBIs … a decent nights work for a super utility player.

The Rafters fall to 6-2 with the loss, but by virtue of the Scottsdale Scorpions falling to the Surprise Saguaros by a two-point conversion this evening, Salt River remains in first place in the AFL East. The Rafters will be seeking revenge on the Desert Dogs at Salt River Field this evening.

~Wallee Wright ~