2009 Arizona Fall League

[Guest]

Starlin Castro is batting second and DHing for the Solar Sox today. Castillo and Vitters aren't in the lineup. Let's see if any of the 3 relievers will get in.

 

You can follow the game on Gameday here.

[bubblesdachimp]

castro 1-2 so far

[bubblesdachimp]

castro 2-3 with 2 RBI

[Guest]

Both singles were up the middle to CF.

[Rob]

An AFL MVP would work wonders towards Castro going from one of the great unheralded prospects to simply a top prospect.

[Ryno12]

Castro now 3-4 with 3 RBI. The third single was a line drive to the CF.

[bubblesdachimp]

Castro 3-4 with 3 RBI

[Guest]

Another RBI single up the middle for Starlin.

 

3/4, 3 singles, 3 RBI.

[TruffleShuffle]

he's living up to his scouting report, as the first ab was a ground out on an 0-1 pitch, the next two were singles on the first pitch, and the fourth ab was a single on a 2-0 pitch. doesn't get deep in counts and hits the ball pretty hard.

[bubblesdachimp]

a really big AFL could turn him into a top 30 prospect?

[Guest]

Castro grounded out to second base on the second pitch of the AB in the 7th.

 

3/5, 3 singles, 3 RBI

 

a really big AFL could turn him into a top 30 prospect?

 

I doubt it. Maybe if he shows power.

[TruffleShuffle]

Castro grounded out to second base on the second pitch of the AB in the 7th.

 

3/5, 3 singles, 3 RBI

 

a really big AFL could turn him into a top 30 prospect?

 

I doubt it. Maybe if he shows power.

 

callis didn't have andrus in his top 50; lingo and manuel had him in the 30s. that's probably the best parallel for castro right now. andrus played his entire "age 19" season at AA, while castro played it at high A and then AA but was several months younger for his "age 19" season. castro has better contact skills and power potential, while andrus is faster and had plus-plus potential in the field. i'd say castro may be very slightly below andrus at this point as a prospect, but seeing what andrus did for the rangers this year - not-terrible offensively and very good defense - that's not a bad thing.

[Guest]

Castro grounded out to second base on the second pitch of the AB in the 7th.

 

3/5, 3 singles, 3 RBI

 

a really big AFL could turn him into a top 30 prospect?

 

I doubt it. Maybe if he shows power.

And convinces everyone he'll stay at SS.

[CubColtPacer]

Castro grounded out to second base on the second pitch of the AB in the 7th.

 

3/5, 3 singles, 3 RBI

 

a really big AFL could turn him into a top 30 prospect?

 

I doubt it. Maybe if he shows power.

And convinces everyone he'll stay at SS.

 

I haven't seen much that he won't stay at SS. There was that one isolated report, but it doesn't seem to have been substantiated by anything else. He seems to have all the right tools for the position (excellent range to both sides, decently strong arm, etc.). With Castro it's all about consistency, and that's something that isn't going to be improved by moving him over to 2nd.

 

However if you meant convince everyone that he'll be a plus defender at SS, that I could get behind as a big help to his value.

[Guest]

Castro grounded out to second base on the second pitch of the AB in the 7th.

 

3/5, 3 singles, 3 RBI

 

a really big AFL could turn him into a top 30 prospect?

 

I doubt it. Maybe if he shows power.

And convinces everyone he'll stay at SS.

 

I haven't seen much that he won't stay at SS. There was that one isolated report, but it doesn't seem to have been substantiated by anything else. He seems to have all the right tools for the position (excellent range to both sides, decently strong arm, etc.). With Castro it's all about consistency, and that's something that isn't going to be improved by moving him over to 2nd.

 

However if you meant convince everyone that he'll be a plus defender at SS, that I could get behind as a big help to his value.

 

Yeah, I think most are convinced he'll stick at SS. I think that one comment was based as much on Theriot being "entrenched" at shortstop in the big leagues.

[Guest]

Mesa won the AFL season opener 10-6 Box Score

 

DH S. Castro 3/5, 3 RBI

[Guest]

Part 3 (the pitchers) will be out soon.

 

Goldstein's preview of the pitchers:

 

Dream Rotation

 

Andrew Cashner, Cubs (Solar Sox): The best college closer in the 2008 draft, the Cubs very cautiously began a conversion to starting this year for Cashner, who despite making 24 starts between High- and Double-A, still notched just over 100 innings. Trying to rectify his command issues has led to a reduction in velocity, but his slider is still a wipeout pitch at times, and his changeup was surprisingly solid.

 

The other members of the dream rotation are RHP Stephen Strasburg (Washington), RHP Jenrry Mejia (NY Mets), RHP Mike Leake (Reds) and LHP Mike Minor (Braves).

 

Other starters of note:

 

Donald Veal, Pirates (Scorpions): After surviving the year as a rarely used Rule 5 pick, Veal will be converted back to starting, as 6-foot-4 lefties who can throw 94 mph don't exactly grow on trees.

 

None of the 3 releivers the Cubs sent to the AFL made his preview.

[bubblesdachimp]

castro starting at SS tonight Vitters at 3rd and Castillo behind the plate

[bubblesdachimp]

castro 1-1 with a double

[davell]

Keith Law just tweeted that whatever the Cubs paid for Starlin Castro, it was a bargain.

[Guest]

Starlin Castro and Josh Vitters are each 1/2 with a double but Vitters has a throwing error. Welington Castillo is 1/2 with a single and a strikeout.

 

James Russell came in to pitch in the 5th inning: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.

[bubblesdachimp]

vitters 3-4 as of right now. Keith laW also tweeted Gaub touched 95... I think Castro will be top 50 maybe top 30..

[Guest]

10/14: Mesa lost 4-2 Box Score

 

SS S. Castro 1/5, 2B (1)

3B J. Vitters 3/4, 2B (1), CS (1), E (1, throw)

C W. Castillo 1/4, 2 K

RP J. Russell 2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 3-1 GO-FO

RP J. Gaub 1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1-0 GO-FO

RP B. Parker 1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-1 GO-FO

[ctcf]

What level of the minors is the AFL comparable to?

[biittner77]

What level of the minors is the AFL comparable to?

 

There's really no easy answer to that question as teams can send players from I believe high A- AAA. They also send a lot of guys that are trying to make the 40 man roster. It's usually more of a hitters league. Sam Fuld, for example, tore the league up maybe last year.

 

I'd say it was most like AA because there are a lot of talented but raw players mixed in with experienced but lower ceiling guys.