The Arizona Fall League...

[TruffleShuffle]

After yesterday's game, E-Patt cracked the AFL top 10 in OBP and OPS!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa wins 4-0, box:

 

2B E. Patterson 2/4

3B S. Moore 0/3, BB (14), K (19)

RP C. Pignatiello 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 3 K/0 BB, 15 pitches (11 strikes)

RP C. Rapada 1 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 2 GO-1 FO, 26 pitches (19 strikes)

 

Overall:

 

Eric Patterson: 30/83, .361/.424/.518/.942, 9 BB, 10 K, 10/12 SB, 6 E

Scott Moore: 19/78, .244/.359/.462/.821, 14 BB, 19 K, 4/5 SB, 3 E

Carmen Pignatiello: 5.2 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 9 K/1 BB, 0.00 ERA, 0.71 WHIP

Clay Rapada: 11.1 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 16 K/2 BB, 2.38 ERA, 0.88 WHIP

[TruffleShuffle]

E-Patt for Cubs' 2007 2B

[cubweiser03]

I really like that Moore's OBP is 100 points higher than his average.

 

Bellhorn part deux?

[TruffleShuffle]

AFL mailbag!

 

Do you think Eric Patterson is on track to become an average Major Leaguer? He kind of reminds me of Scott Hairston. --Adam F., Calif.

 

That's not a bad comparison in many ways, including going into the "family business." Both at one time played the same position, though Hairston is now an outfielder. Both can hit some -- Hairston's got a .322 batting average in 474 Minor League games, while Patterson's at .299. Here's where they diverge: Patterson has hit double-digit homers in his first two seasons while moving very quickly up the Cubs' ladder, but his game is really his speed. He's swiped 89 bags in two years. Hairston has more pop and can be more of a run-producer.

 

Of course, Patterson did have 10 homers, 10 triples and 23 doubles in 2006, not too bad for a leadoff type. His outstanding AFL season -- .354, 12 RBIs, 10 SB in 20 games -- can't hurt, either. With the Cubs very thin at his position, it's possible you'll soon see Patterson at Wrigley, where I think he'll fare better than his brother did. In the end, I think he has the chance to be more than average once he establishes himself.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa wins 5-4 in 11 innings, box:

 

2B E. Patterson 0/4, R, BB (10), K (11), SB (11)

3B S. Moore 1/5, R, 3B (1), RBI (11), 3 K (22)

C J. Fox 1/5, RBI (15), 2 PB (2)

RP C. Pignatiello 0.2 IP, 1 ER, 0 H, 1 K/1 BB, 1 GO-0 FO, 11 pitches (6 strikes)

RP L. Holdzkom 0.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 K/3 BB, 0 GO-1 FO, 25 pitches (9 strikes)

RP C. Rapada 0.2 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 1 GO-1 FO, 9 pitches (5 strikes)

 

Overall:

 

Eric Patterson: 30/87, .345/.412/.494/.906, 10 BB, 11 K, 11/13 SB, 6 E

Scott Moore: 20/83, .241/.351/.470/.821, 14 BB, 22 K, 4/5 SB, 3 E

Jake Fox: 13/54, .241/.268/.315/.583, 2 BB, 10 K, 1/1 SB, 1 E, 2 PB

Carmen Pignatiello: 6.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 10 K/2 BB, 1.42 ERA, 0.79 WHIP

Clay Rapada: 12 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 16 K/2 BB, 3.00 ERA, 0.92 WHIP

Lincoln Holdzkom: 15.2 IP, 10 R, 7 ER, 13 H, 18 K/8 BB, 4.02 ERA, 1.34 WHIP

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa loses 2-1, box:

 

2B E. Patterson 2/4, R

3B S. Moore 2/4, RBI (12)

 

Overall:

 

Eric Patterson: 32/91, .352/.416/.495/.911, 10 BB, 11 K, 11/13 SB, 6 E

Scott Moore: 22/87, .253/.356/.471/.827, 14 BB, 22 K, 4/5 SB, 3 E

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Kevin(Chicago): Chris, who from the Cubs system looks like they can be above average MLB players? Patterson, Veal, Pie, Pawelek? Please give a Cubs fan some hope. Thank you.

 

SportsNation Chris Kline: I'm on Veal, and I'm a Patterson believer. Pie? Just can't figure that guy out--when he gets down, he gets WAY down. Needs to show more consistency for me. If Pawelek's healthy, he could be something. Also--and I'm just throwing this out there--a few scouts I talked to in the AFL liked Lincoln Holdzkom. I know the makeup issues, but his stuff looked pretty good post-TJ in AZ.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs.com[/url]"]Jake Fox turned in his best performance on Election Day.

 

The 24-year-old catcher went 3-for-6 with a season-high six RBIs on Nov. 7, leading the Mesa Solar Sox over the Grand Canyon Rafters, 21-4. Fox smacked a three-run double in the first inning, a two-run single in the second and added a run-scoring single in the fifth.

 

Fox and six other Cubs prospects are playing for the Solar Sox. Here's how they fared from Nov. 1 to Nov. 7:

 

3B Scott Moore: Following an eight-game hitting streak, Moore went hitless in two straight games before going 3-for-8 with three walks and six runs scored during his last two contests.

 

RHP Lincoln Holdzkom: Holdzkom (2-0) gave up runs in four consecutives outings. On Nov. 2, he served up his first home run. Two days later, the 24-year-old right-hander surrendered three runs -- one earned -- on two hits and two walks while recording just two outs in the fifth inning as the Scorpions doubled up the Solar Sox, 4-2.

 

RHP Adam Harben: Harben (0-1) hasn't pitch since Oct. 21. Over seven innings this fall, he has been charged with five runs on 10 hits and four walks.

 

LHP Clay Rapada: Rapada (1-1) allowed a run for just the second time in 11 outings. On Nov. 3, he yielded two runs on two hits in one inning of relief. Overall, the 25-year-old southpaw has 16 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.

 

2B Eric Patterson: Patterson ended the first week of November by going 6-for-11 with three RBIs and three runs scored to raise his average to .354 (28-for-79) through 20 games.

 

LHP Carmen Pignatiello: Pignatiello saw his first action since Oct. 21 on Nov. 6, when he worked a scoreless inning.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Man, Lincoln Holdzkom got LIT up today. :( Jake Fox with his first AFL homer, though.

[Drew Doughty]

The wheels fell off of Holdzkom's wagon, eh?

 

Patterson is tearing it up, which is good. Part of me wants him to succeed and do very well. The other part wants him to slouch a little bit so Hendry doesn't think he has a 2B already on the team; I doubt EPatt is ready...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa loses 13-10, box:

 

2B E. Patterson 2/4, BB (11), K (12), SB (12)

C J. Fox 2/5, 2 R, 2B (5), HR (1), 3 RBI (18), E (2, missed catch)

3B S. Moore 2/4, R, RBI (13)

RP L. Holdzkom 3 IP, 7 ER, 5 H, 2 K/4 BB, HBP, HR, 5 GO-2 FO, 54 pitches (24 strikes)

 

Overall:

 

Eric Patterson: 34/95, .358/.419/.495/.914, 11 BB, 12 K, 12/14 SB, 6 E

Jake Fox: 15/59, .254/.279/.390/.669, 2 BB, 10 K, 1/1 SB, 2 E, 2 PB

Scott Moore: 24/91, .264/.362/.473/.835, 14 BB, 22 K, 4/5 SB, 3 E

Lincoln Holdzkom: 18.2 IP, 17 R, 14 ER, 18 H, 18 K/8 BB, 6.75 ERA, 1.39 WHIP

 

I have NO clue why Pat Listach is trying to make Holdzkom throw so many innings each outing.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Moore is still doing well, but I'd like to see him slugging a bit higher.

[cubweiser03]

Moore is still doing well, but I'd like to see him slugging a bit higher.

 

His bb/k ratio has really improved...a lot. The more he gets control of the strike zone the more id expect his slugging to improve.

[Vinestal]

Im really encouraged with what EPatt is doing. Hitting and running really well, Id love to see him put up those type of numbers in Iowa and get a shot at the 2nd base job in late 2007 or in 2008. The coaches in Iowa are going to have to help him figure out his defensive problems though.

[mg420]

Im really encouraged with what EPatt is doing. Hitting and running really well, Id love to see him put up those type of numbers in Iowa and get a shot at the 2nd base job in late 2007 or in 2008. The coaches in Iowa are going to have to help him figure out his defensive problems though.

 

having ryno on the staff would be a good idea too. i'm sure he could help ep defensively.

[TruffleShuffle]

The wheels fell off of Holdzkom's wagon, eh?

 

Patterson is tearing it up, which is good. Part of me wants him to succeed and do very well. The other part wants him to slouch a little bit so Hendry doesn't think he has a 2B already on the team; I doubt EPatt is ready...

 

worst post in this thread!

[RichHillIsABeast]

The wheels fell off of Holdzkom's wagon, eh?

 

Patterson is tearing it up, which is good. Part of me wants him to succeed and do very well. The other part wants him to slouch a little bit so Hendry doesn't think he has a 2B already on the team; I doubt EPatt is ready...

 

worst post in this thread!

 

His glove definitely isn't ready for the bigs.

[TruffleShuffle]

The wheels fell off of Holdzkom's wagon, eh?

 

Patterson is tearing it up, which is good. Part of me wants him to succeed and do very well. The other part wants him to slouch a little bit so Hendry doesn't think he has a 2B already on the team; I doubt EPatt is ready...

 

worst post in this thread!

 

His glove definitely isn't ready for the bigs.

 

Maybe. He made 16 errors in about 140 games this year. Seven 2B in MLB made that many errors at 2B this year. I think some people have concluded his defense is horrendous based on a poor 3-4 game stretch in the AFL. He hasn't made an error in probably about 10 games now, so that wasn't a permanent, Chuck Knoblauch type of thing.

[Guest]

The wheels fell off of Holdzkom's wagon, eh?

 

Patterson is tearing it up, which is good. Part of me wants him to succeed and do very well. The other part wants him to slouch a little bit so Hendry doesn't think he has a 2B already on the team; I doubt EPatt is ready...

 

worst post in this thread!

 

His glove definitely isn't ready for the bigs.

 

Maybe. He made 16 errors in about 140 games this year. Seven 2B in MLB made that many errors at 2B this year. I think some people have concluded his defense is horrendous based on a poor 3-4 game stretch in the AFL. He hasn't made an error in probably about 10 games now, so that wasn't a permanent, Chuck Knoblauch type of thing.

Didn't Chuck end up in LF after those issues? ;)

[RichHillIsABeast]

The wheels fell off of Holdzkom's wagon, eh?

 

Patterson is tearing it up, which is good. Part of me wants him to succeed and do very well. The other part wants him to slouch a little bit so Hendry doesn't think he has a 2B already on the team; I doubt EPatt is ready...

 

worst post in this thread!

 

His glove definitely isn't ready for the bigs.

 

Maybe. He made 16 errors in about 140 games this year. Seven 2B in MLB made that many errors at 2B this year. I think some people have concluded his defense is horrendous based on a poor 3-4 game stretch in the AFL. He hasn't made an error in probably about 10 games now, so that wasn't a permanent, Chuck Knoblauch type of thing.

Didn't Chuck end up in LF after those issues? ;)

 

I think he was saying that EPatt doesn't have Knoblauch syndrome.

 

But anyway, there have always been questions about EPatt's defense. Errors are a very subjective way of measuring defense, as it depends on the scorer.

[Drew Doughty]

The wheels fell off of Holdzkom's wagon, eh?

 

Patterson is tearing it up, which is good. Part of me wants him to succeed and do very well. The other part wants him to slouch a little bit so Hendry doesn't think he has a 2B already on the team; I doubt EPatt is ready...

 

worst post in this thread!

 

Do you want him to start at 2B next year?

[Guest]

The wheels fell off of Holdzkom's wagon, eh?

 

Patterson is tearing it up, which is good. Part of me wants him to succeed and do very well. The other part wants him to slouch a little bit so Hendry doesn't think he has a 2B already on the team; I doubt EPatt is ready...

 

worst post in this thread!

 

His glove definitely isn't ready for the bigs.

 

Maybe. He made 16 errors in about 140 games this year. Seven 2B in MLB made that many errors at 2B this year. I think some people have concluded his defense is horrendous based on a poor 3-4 game stretch in the AFL. He hasn't made an error in probably about 10 games now, so that wasn't a permanent, Chuck Knoblauch type of thing.

Didn't Chuck end up in LF after those issues? ;)

 

I think he was saying that EPatt doesn't have Knoblauch syndrome.

 

But anyway, there have always been questions about EPatt's defense. Errors are a very subjective way of measuring defense, as it depends on the scorer.

You're right. My bad.

 

Reading is fundamental.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Mesa game suspended, tied 5-5 after 11, box:

 

2B E. Patterson 1/5, RBI (13), SB (13)

LF S. Moore 1/5, R, 3B (2), 2 K (24), HBP

RP C. Pignatiello 1.2 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 4 K/2 BB, 1 GO-0 FO, 30 pitches (16 strikes)

RP C. Rapada 1 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 3 GO-0 FO, 12 pitches (6 strikes)

 

Overall:

 

Eric Patterson: 35/100, .350/.414/.480/.894, 11 BB, 12 K, 13/15 SB, 6 E

Scott Moore: 25/96, .260/.360/.479/.839, 1 HBP, 14 BB, 24 K, 4/5 SB, 3 E

Carmen Pignatiello: 8 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 14 K/4 BB, 1.13 ERA, 0.88 WHIP

Clay Rapada: 13 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 16 K/2 BB, 2.77 ERA, 0.58 WHIP

 

MiLB.com[/url]"]28 K's later, Mesa-Phoenix not won

November 13, 2006

 

Mesa's Mark McLemore struck out nearly every batter he faced, but Phoenix forced a 5-5, 11-inning tie with the Desert Dogs on Monday.

 

McLemore made his first start of the fall against the visiting Desert Dogs. He struck out the first three batters he faced before Chip Cannon started the second with a popup to third baseman David Winfree.

 

The 26-year-old left-hander then fanned the last five batters he faced before leaving after the third inning, having thrown 52 pitches -- 37 for strikes. Reliever Carmen Pignatiello struck out four in 1 2/3 innings, but he also gave up two walks.

 

Both teams combined to whiff 28 times, with Mesa pitchers collecting 18 strikeouts.

 

The Solar Sox (14-14) scored the first runs of the game on Winfree's two-run homer in the second. Mesa's Anthony Raglani went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.

 

Phoenix (18-10) pushed across the tying run in the seventh when Ben Zobrist led off the inning with a home run, his second of the fall. Curtis Thigpen drove in the bulk of the Desert Dogs' runs with a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a two-run single in the fifth.

 

The Desert Dogs used eight pitchers Monday, beginning with starter Phil Dumatrait. The last four -- Jeff Ridgway, Jared Burton, Corey Hamman and Tracy Thorpe -- held the Solar Sox hitless for four innings.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Adam Harben's AFL season is over because of that elbow soreness. No one has replaced him on Mesa's roster yet.