The Arizona Fall League...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

...gets started tomorrow, Tuesday.

 

The Mesa Solar Sox will play the Phoenix Desert Dogs in Phoenix at 1:05 pm MT. Here's the MiLB.com scoreboard.

 

The Cubs prospects on the Solar Sox are:

 

RHP Adam Harben

RHP Lincoln Holdzkom

LHP Carmen Pignatiello

LHP Clay Rapada

C Jake Fox

2B Eric Patterson

3B Scott Moore

[Drew Doughty]

Interesting. I know I followed it last year for Ronny and Murton. May as well do the same for Moore and EPatt this year.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

And Pat Listach, who interviewed for the vacant Cubs managerial position, is managing Mesa.

[mhuber92211]

wow. long year for moore

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Just like Murton last year.

 

Gameday is available off MiLB.com's web site. Phoenix leads it 2-0 in the top of the 5th. Harben started on the mound, EPatt is leading off at second base and Scott Moore is DHing.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd like to see Moore get some starts at SS.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I'd like to see Moore get some starts at SS.

 

I don't think he'll get much time there with Chin Lung Hu, Matt Moses and Matt Tolbert already listed as SS on the roster.

 

Mesa loses 3-0: box

 

2B E. Patterson 0/3, E (1, throw)

DH S. Moore 0/4, K

SP A. Harben 2 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 3 K/0 BB, HR, 2 GO-1 FO, 33 pitches (20 strikes)

RP C. Pignatiello 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K/1 BB, WP, 1 GO-1 FO, 18 pitches (9 strikes)

 

That's Harben's first outing since being traded to the Cubs.

 

MiLB.com[/url]"]Kevin Melillo ripped a solo homer and seven pitchers combined on a four-hitter Tuesday as the Phoenix Desert Dogs blanked the Mesa Solar Sox, 3-0, in the Arizona Fall League season opener for both teams.

 

Melillo's roundtripper in the opening frame put the Desert Dogs ahead for good. The 24-year-old second baseman also drove in Ben Zobrist with a double in the fifth. In 500 at-bats at Double-A Midland in 2006, the Oakland Athletics prospect hit .280 with 12 home runs and 73 RBIs.

 

Cody Strait and Chip Cannon added two hits apiece for Phoenix (1-0).

 

Reliever Jordan De Jong (1-0) picked up the win after striking out one in a perfect fourth inning. Starter Jeff Niemann tossed three frames, allowing two hits and a walk while fanning four, and Marcus McBeth struck out one in a perfect ninth for his first save.

 

Starter Adam Harben (0-1) took the loss for the Solar Sox (0-1) after yielding a run on two hits over two frames while fanning three.

 

Mesa left fielder Anthony Raglani led off the fifth with a triple off Brian Henderson but was stranded when Fernando Martinez popped up, Eric Patterson lined out and Chin Lung Hu grounded out.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scout.com[/url]"]Listach managed the Cubs’ Double-A team at West Tennessee this past season and will manage the Mesa Solar Sox in this year’s Fall League.

 

The 39-year-old recently learned he’d be formally interviewed for the Cubs’ managerial vacancy later this week by General Manager Jim Hendry.

 

 

One could understand if Listach was distracted by the business of interviewing for his first ever big league managerial position.

 

Instead, he is only focused on the current task at hand: preparing players for big league careers in the AFL.

 

...

 

Harben was not one of the original pitchers slated to participate in this year’s Fall League (at least not for the Cubs), but he will go in place of right-hander Grant Johnson.

 

...

 

Harben, acquired from Minnesota recently to complete the Phil Nevin trade to the Twins on Aug. 31, is scheduled to start Tuesday’s opener.

 

“He asked to get the start,” Listach said.

[questionmarkgrace]

why isn't grant johnson going? If anyone needs to go its him. He has been terrible since making the jump to high A.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

why isn't grant johnson going? If anyone needs to go its him. He has been terrible since making the jump to high A.

 

Well, Harben was scheduled to go when he was still a Twin and the Cubs couldn't send 8 players. The Cubs decided to send Harben to the AFL and send Grant Johnson to instructs instead (probably a better place for him).

[BigbadB]

How long has Piggy been in the minors. He's not a 6 year free agent yet?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

How long has Piggy been in the minors. He's not a 6 year free agent yet?

 

He is, but he'll be back next year. I'm guessing the Cubs used an AFL invite as incentive for him to re-sign (they did this with Brandon Sing last year).

Edited October 11, 2006 by CaliforniaRaisin

[questionmarkgrace]

Well, Harben was scheduled to go when he was still a Twin and the Cubs couldn't send 8 players. The Cubs decided to send Harben to the AFL and send Grant Johnson to instructs instead (probably a better place for him).

 

Is that the best way for him to get innings? I don't know much about instructs except that they have different rules. It seems that he needs consistent innings after some injuries this year and considering his inury history. Build up that arm strength, etc.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Well, Harben was scheduled to go when he was still a Twin and the Cubs couldn't send 8 players. The Cubs decided to send Harben to the AFL and send Grant Johnson to instructs instead (probably a better place for him).

 

Is that the best way for him to get innings? I don't know much about instructs except that they have different rules. It seems that he needs consistent innings after some injuries this year and considering his inury history. Build up that arm strength, etc.

 

Probably not the best way for him to get innings but he'll probably get as many as he would have in the AFL. He'd be getting better, more direct instruction/coaching.

[questionmarkgrace]

cool thanks. I actually went to high school with him and though I was just a casual aquanintance its interesting to see what going on with him. When he and the ND team went to the finals his freshman year I thought he was going to be the real deal. He came back decent enough off of injury in college and was pretty good last year but he sort of derailed this year.

[EricG]

Has anyone here ever gone to AFL games? I am thinking of going to a game next week.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Has anyone here ever gone to AFL games? I am thinking of going to a game next week.

 

$6 for a ticket to see some of the best prospects in the game. Not bad.

 

I'm envious!!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa wins 3-0, box

 

2B E. Patterson 1/4, R, bunt single

1B S. Moore 1/1, 2B (1), RBI (1)

C J. Fox 0/1, K

RP L. Holdzkom 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K/0 BB, 1 GO-0 FO, 8 pitches (7 strikes)

RP C. Rapada 0.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 K/1 BB, 0 GO-0 FO, 11 pitches (4 strikes)

 

Dodgers' prospect Chin Lung Ho left with a wrist injury after being hit by a pitch.

 

MiLB.com[/url]"]Errol Simonitsch and six relievers combined on a five-hit shutout as Mesa blanked visiting Phoenix, 3-0, on Wednesday.

 

Simonitsch allowed three hits over 2 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking one before the Solar Sox bullpen took over. Kevin Cameron (1-0) picked up the win after yielding a hit and striking out three in 1 1/3 frames.

 

Lincoln Holdzkom tossed a perfect fifth inning, Casey Hoorelbeke worked a hitless sixth, and Mark McLemore retired four straight batters before Clay Rapada got the final two outs in the eighth.

 

Chin Lung Hu, Matt Moses and Scott Moore each drove in a run for the Solar Sox (1-1).

 

Ryan Klosterman lined a two-out single in the ninth for his second hit of the night and the Desert Dogs' first since the fourth. But Kevin Slowey got Drew Anderson to fly out for his first save.

 

Mesa hurlers combined for 11 strikeouts while walking four, avenging a 3-0 loss to Phoenix in Tuesday's season opener.

 

Starter Dustin McGowen (0-1) took the loss for Phoenix (1-1) after giving up a run on two hits over three innings. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.

 

Mesa had a moment of silence before the game started for Cory Lidle, who died when his plane crashed into a New York apartment building Wednesday afternoon. The New York Yankees pitcher played for the Solar Sox in 1995.

[Balsa]

If we purchase MiLB.TV do we get to watch these games?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If we purchase MiLB.TV do we get to watch these games?

 

I haven't been able to find audio for the games, let alone video, so I don't think so.

 

Uhh, the one and only John Koronka is starting against Mesa. :shock: Scott Moore (3B) is batting cleanup, Jake Fox © fifth and EPatt was dropped to the 9th spot in the lineup.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa ties Grand Canyon in a suspended 11-inning game, 7-7: box.

 

3B S. Moore 1/4, 2B (2), R, 2 RBI (3), SB (1), 2 BB, 2 K, E (1, fielding)

C J. Fox 1/3, RBI (1)

2B E. Patterson 0/5, RBI (1)

RP C. Pignatiello 0.2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 K/0 BB, 0 GO-0 FO, 14 pitches (10 strikes), 2-1 inherited runners-scored

 

AFL Season to Date:

 

Scott Moore: 2/9, 2 doubles, 2 BB, 3 K

Jake Fox: 1/5, 0 BB, 1 K

Eric Patterson: 1/12, 0 BB, 0 K - only hit was a bunt single

Carmen Pignatiello: 1.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 3 K/1 BB

[Twiggy]

Looks like E-Pat is struggling to get some hits.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa ties Grand Canyon in a suspended 11-inning game, 7-7: box.

 

This game will resume on October 21st.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa lost 5-4, box

 

SS-3B S. Moore 0/4, R, BB (3), K (4) - overall: 2/13, .154/.313/.308/.621

PR-2B E. Patterson 0/0 - overall: 1/12, .083/.083/.083/.166

RP L. Holdzkom 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 K/0 BB, WP, 1 GO-3 FO - overall: 3 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 4 K/0 BB

RP C. Rapada 1 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 2 K/1 BB, WP, 1 GO-0 FO - overall: 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 K/2 BB

 

Scott Moore recorded an out on all 7 chances at SS (4 groundouts [1 DP], 3 popouts). Clay Rapada took the loss.

 

MiLB.com[/url]"]Mitch Maier's RBI single in the top of the ninth inning lifted Grand Canyon to a 5-4 victory over Mesa on Friday.

 

Kevin Richardson worked a two-out walk off Clay Rapada (0-1) in the ninth before being lifted for pinch-runner Jeff Fiorentino, who went to second on a wild pitch before dashing home on Maier's base hit to right field.

 

Maier went 2-for-5 with a run scored and Matt Miller hit his second homer, a leadoff shot in the sixth, for the Rafters (3-0-1). Nolan Reimold had two doubles and an RBI to help Grand Canyon remain unbeaten.

 

Jesse Chavez (1-0) picked up the win in relief after allowing two hits and a walk with three strikeouts over two scoreless innings. Nick McCurdy pitched a scoreless ninth for his first save.

 

David Winfree smacked a two-run double during a four-run fourth for the Solar Sox (1-2-1). Matt Moses went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

 

Rapada yielded a run on one hit and a walk with two strikeouts in one inning.

Edited October 14, 2006 by CaliforniaRaisin

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If Moore could handle SS, he would be a very huge asset.