The Arizona Fall League...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Lincoln Holdzkom has routinely been hitting 94 and his slider has been very strong.

[craig]

Lincoln Holdzkom has routinely been hitting 94 and his slider has been very strong.

 

That's pretty encouraging. If he can sustain that, it would appear that his past surgery and arm trouble is no longer bothering him. INcluding whatever it was that DL'd him early this year.

 

He had no problem with the adjustment to AA. ERA below 2 there.

 

To me the big surprise for Holdzkom this year has been that he's kept his walks down to a reasonable number. Eaerly in his career he was a big-time walkaholic.

 

94 + good slider + decent control could equal a major-league career in 7th inning relief?

 

Or, could also equal a 40-man roster spot.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yeah, I think a good AFL season definitely gets him on the 40-man (same for Rapada).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa lost 6-5 but EPatt broke out of his slump, box:

 

2B E. Patterson 3/4, R, 2B (1), RBI (2), BB (1), 2 E (3, throwing, fielding)

1B J. Fox 2/5, 2B (1), 4 RBI (5), K (2)

PH-DH S. Moore 0/1

 

Overall:

 

Eric Patterson: 4/16, .250/.294/.313/.607

Jake Fox: 3/9, .333/.333/.556/.889

Scott Moore: 2/14, .143/.294/.286/.580

 

MiLB.com[/url]"]Chase Headley's two-run single capped a four-run seventh inning as the visiting Saguaros came back to beat Mesa, 6-5, on Saturday night.

 

Peoria (2-3) trailed, 3-2, in the seventh but put together a two-out rally against reliever Brian Akin (0-1). The Saguaros loaded the bases as Kory Casto singled, Amaury Cazana Marti reached on second baseman Eric Patterson's error and Eric Duncan walked. Jason Jamarillo also walked to force in the tying run and Marti raced home on a wild pitch.

 

Headley, a Padres prospect who went 2-for-4, followed with a two-run single up the middle.

 

Reliever Dennis Dove (1-0) picked up the win by tossing a perfect sixth. Eric Haberer gave up two runs in 1 1/3 innings before Daniel Foli pitched 1 2/3 scoreless frames for his first AFL save.

 

Casto went 2-for-3 to raise his batting average to .500.

 

The first three batters in the lineup combined for seven of the nine hits for the Solar Sox (1-3). Jake Fox was 2-for-4 with four RBIs, delivering a two-run double in the first and a two-run single in the seventh. Patterson finished 3-for-4 with an RBI to raise his average to .250, while Mike Rodriguez collected two hits and scored twice.

 

Mesa (1-3) used seven pitchers in the loss. Casey Hoorelbeke tossed two hitless frames and Mike Pelfrey and Kevin Cameron each hurled a hitless inning. All four runs charged to Akin were unearned.

 

The Solar Sox stranded nine men, including six over the final three frames.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Sunday is an off day for the AFL. Adam Harben starts for Mesa on Monday.

[CubsWin]

Thanks, CR, for all the updates.

 

I know that the guys who are chosen to go the AFL are generally guys who are being considered for 40-man roster spots. But do they need to pull the trigger on EPatt. He's still got some time yet, right?

[EricG]

I plan on taking Wednesday off of work and heading up to Pheonix for 2 games that day. Haven't decided if I am going to Peoria or Phoenix for game 1, but game 2 will be Mesa @ Scottsdale.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Thanks, CR, for all the updates.

 

I know that the guys who are chosen to go the AFL are generally guys who are being considered for 40-man roster spots. But do they need to pull the trigger on EPatt. He's still got some time yet, right?

 

No problem!

 

EPatt has one more year - he needs to be added next offseason.

[MPrior]

Cubs.com lists EPatt as a SS. Is that just a typo? Or has he seen any time at short?

 

Also, I've noticed over the past couple years that Patterson seems to be a very streaky hitter - if that's not just perception (I'm too lazy to look it up), do you guys think it'll keep him from making an impact at the ML level?

Edited October 17, 2006 by MPrior

[Warpticon]

I've been following him pretty closely myself, and he doesn't appear to be any more or less streaky than other players. He was actually remarkably consistent two years ago, but he struggled to get in rhythm this year, it seemed.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa loses 11-4, box:

 

2B E. Patterson 1/4, R, BB (2), K (1), SB (1)

DH S. Moore 1/4, R, RBI (4), BB (4), 2 K (6)

C J. Fox 2/5, R, 2B (1) - picked off a baserunner at first base

SP A. Harben 2 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 K/1 BB, 5 GO-0 FO

 

Overall:

 

Eric Patterson: 5/20, .250/.318/.300/.618, 1/1 SB

Scott Moore: 3/18, .167/.318/.278/.596

Jake Fox: 5/14, .357/.357/.571/.928

Adam Harben: 4 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 4 K/1 BB, 6.75 ERA

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs.com lists EPatt as a SS. Is that just a typo? Or has he seen any time at short?

 

Also, I've noticed over the past couple years that Patterson seems to be a very streaky hitter - if that's not just perception (I'm too lazy to look it up), do you guys think it'll keep him from making an impact at the ML level?

 

If I'm not mistaken, EPatt hasn't seen time at SS since high school (if he has, it's been limited innings at Georgia Tech). It's a typo.

 

Eric is a streaky hitter, but as Warpticon noted, he's not that much more streaky than most big league hitters.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Scott Moore with a solo HR in his second AB today to tie the game at 3. He's 1/2 thus far with a K also.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa wins 14-9, box:

 

3B S. Moore 2/4, 3 R, HR (1), RBI (5), BB (5), K (7), SB (2)

RP L. Holdzkom 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K/0 BB, 1 HBP

RP C. Rapada 1.1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K/0 BB, 2 GO-0 FO, 2 inherited runners - 0 scored

 

Overall:

 

Scott Moore: 5/22, .227/.370/.455/.825, 5 BB, 7 K, 2/2 SB

Lincoln Holdzkom: 4 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 6 K/0 BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.25 WHIP

Clay Rapada: 3 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 5 K/2 BB, 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP

[CaliforniaRaisin]

The AFL audio broadcast schedule. They broadcasted today's Mesa game, the next one they'll do is next Monday. All broadcasts are free and they've archived previous broadcasts too.

[Guest]

Jake Fox: 5/14, .357/.357/.571/.928

Jake. Fox.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Jake Fox: 5/14, .357/.357/.571/.928

Jake. Fox.

 

Gotta work on that IsoD, though. :)

[CaliforniaRaisin]

MiLB.com[/url]"]Anthony Raglani went 3-for-5 with five RBIs as Mesa outslugged the Peoria Javelinas, 14-9, on Tuesday.

 

Raglani stroked two-run doubles in the second and seventh innings and added an RBI single during a five-run sixth for the Solar Sox (2-4).

 

Scott Moore, Michel Abreu and Matt Tolbert homered for Mesa, which snapped a three-game losing streak.

 

Clay Rapada (1-1) picked up the win in relief, striking out two over 1 1/3 perfect innings.

 

Kevin Kouzmanoff had two doubles and three RBIs and Chad Spann went 2-for-5 with two RBIs for the Javelinas (4-3).

 

Scott Nestor (0-1) took the loss after surrendering five runs on three hits and two walks while retiring one batter in the sixth.

[Guest]

Jake Fox: 5/14, .357/.357/.571/.928

Jake. Fox.

 

Gotta work on that IsoD, though. :)

It's all good -- as long as he keeps hitting .357!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa loses 7-3, box:

 

2B E. Patterson 2/4, R, BB (3), K (2), SB (2)

1B S. Moore 0/3, 2 BB (7), K (8), SB (3)

 

Overall:

 

Eric Patterson: 7/24, .292/.370/.333/.703, 3 BB, 2 K, 2/2 SB

Scott Moore: 5/25, .200/.375/.400/.775, 7 BB, 8 K, 3/3 SB

 

MiLB.com[/url]"]Mark Reynolds continued his torrid hitting, capping a five-run fifth inning with a two-run single as Scottsdale beat Mesa, 7-3, on Wednesday.

 

Reynolds went 1-for-4 to extend his season-opening hitting streak to six games. He is batting .417 (10-for-24) during that stretch with 11 RBIs in his last five contests.

 

David Cook's RBI double gave the Scorpions a 3-1 lead before Kevin Frandsen and Reynolds followed with two-run singles.

 

Bobby Wilson went 2-for-4 with a double for Scottsdale (4-4), which moved into a first-place tie with Phoenix in the Arizona Fall League's East Division.

 

Matt Elliott (1-0) picked up the win in relief, striking out the side while allowing one hit in a scoreless fifth.

 

Solar Sox starter Kevin Mulvey (0-1) surrendered two unearned runs on two hits and a walk with three strikeouts over three innings.

 

Eric Patterson, Hunter Pence and Bobby Malek had two hits apiece for Mesa (2-5), which has dropped four of five.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Moore's numbers at this stage are Dunn-esque minus some slugging.

[EricG]

I went to 2 games yesterday. The first one was at Pheonix Stadium (A's spring training facility). The Pheonix Desert Dogs (A's, Reds, Tigers, Blue Jays, Devil Rays) played the Javalinas(Mariners, Marlins, Braves, Red Sox). As the team took the field they played 'who let the dogs out'. Notable players were Michael Garciaparra (SS),and Matt Tuiososopo(3B) both with the Mariners. Lots of scouts were there. The players wore the uniform for their parent club and cap/helmet for the team.

 

The second game was a short drive to Scottsdale and there were many of the same people in the stands. Dusty Baker has a plaque at the stadium for managing the 1992 Scottsdale Scorpions. Both Eric Patterson and Scott Moore walked and each stole a base in the first inning leading to a run without a hit. The guys sitting behind me kept commenting on a lady cheering every ball or strike that went the Scorpions way. The scoreboard operator fell asleep a couple of times not counting an out or a run in the 5th and the final run in the ninth wasn't counted on the scoreboard. The announcer even said the final score was 7-2.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Dusty is also in the AFL Hall of Fame.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa wins 9-1, box:

 

2B E. Patterson 2/5, 2 R, 2B (2), K (3)

C J. Fox 1/4, R, RBI (6), K (3), SB (1), E (1, throw)

RP L. Holdzkom 3 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 K/0 BB, 3 GO-4 FO, 25 pitches (17 strikes)

RP C. Pignatiello 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 1 K/0 BB, 1 GO-1 FO, 22 pitches (13 strikes)

RP C. Rapada 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 2 K/0 BB, 1 GO-0 FO, 15 pitches (11 strikes)

 

Fox's throwing error was on an attempted steal of second. This error led to Holdzkom surrendering the unearned run.

 

Overall:

 

Eric Patterson: 9/29, .310/.375/.379/.754, 3 BB, 3 K, 2/2 SB

Jake Fox: 6/18, .333/.333/.500/.833, 0 BB, 3 K, 1/1 SB

Lincoln Holdzkom: 7 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 8 K/0 BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.29 WHIP

Carmen Pignatiello: 2.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 4 K/1 BB, 0.00 ERA, 1.12 WHIP

Clay Rapada: 4 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 7 K/2 BB, 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I am quickly becoming a fan of Lincoln Holdzkom. I hope the Cubs add him to the 40-man.