2009 Arizona Fall League

[CUBZ99]

Lost in the Castro hype is the fact that Vitters is doing pretty darn well for himself at the plate, with a .400/.429/.500 line. The three errors hurt, but for a guy who struggled after being promoted to the FSL, he's doing a pretty good job in the AFL so far.

 

Yeah, the AFL is roughly AA caliber, so Vitters doing well is very encouraging. Although obviously you'd really like to see some more walks.

 

Does anyone have any indication on whether Vitters hand/wrist problems are chronic or if the team is optimistic that they will resolve? It seems that whenever Vitters is healthy (I'm assuming he is healthy in the AFL after some rest) he is impressive at the plate.

[Guest]

10/21: Mesa won 5-4 Box Score

 

3B J. Vitters 3/5, R, 2B (2), 2 RBI, 2 K

C W. Castillo 3/4, BB, K

PR-DH S. Castro 0/0, CS (1)

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

RP B. Parker 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 4-0 GO-FO

 

OVERALL:

 

Welington Castillo 5/11, 1 HR, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 E - .455/.538/.727/1.266

Starlin Castro 12/23, 1 2B, 1 BB, 0 K, 1/2 SB - .522/.542/.565/1.107

Josh Vitters 8/20, 2 2B, 1 BB, 2 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .400/.429/.500/.929

Andrew Cashner 2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 2-2 GO-FO, 13.50 EA

John Gaub 2 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 2-1 GO-FO, 9.00 ERA

Blake Parker 3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 5-2 GO-FO, 0.00 ERA

James Russell 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 4-6 GO-FO, 3.60 ERA

[Guest]

Andrew Cashner gets the start for Mesa this afternoon.

 

MLB.com[/url]"]But there's something that doesn't come naturally to the highly touted third baseman out of California: his defense.

 

"I'm just trying to work on everything [in the field] -- agility and always being ready at every pitch," Vitters said of his focus while playing for the Arizona Fall League's Mesa Solar Sox. "I know my hitting will always be there, and these things [on defense] will help me be better."

 

In that case, the errors column has been the only one with a zero next to Vitters' name. The 20-year-old went 3-for-5 with a two-run double and a run scored Wednesday night as Mesa held on for a 5-4 victory over the Scottsdale Scorpions.

 

...

 

"In A-ball, you get to know the opposing team and pitchers better," Vitters said. "[The AFL is] kind of like starting all over again."

 

...

 

Vitters opened the season with Class A Peoria and batted .316 with 15 homers and 46 RBIs in 70 games. Although he's facing pitchers in the AFL with Double-A and Triple-A experience, he doesn't think he's overmatched.

 

"I don't think the talent level is much different at all [from the regular season]," Vitters said. "I just need to get used to facing pitchers I've never faced before. ... The competition is definitely better, but I'm trying to keep my game plan."

[A-Cal]

dear lord do i like josh vitters

[Guest]

Odd first for Cashner:

 

Single.

Pick off.

Single.

3-6-3 double play.

 

1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 2-0 GO-FO, 11-6 pitches-strikes.

 

Castron is DHing and batting 2nd (he's already 0 for 1). Castillo is catching and batting 9th.

[A-Cal]

castron sounds like a transformer

[Guest]

Cashner's 2nd:

 

FO-7.

5-3 GO.

FO-9.

 

2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K, 3-2 GO-FO, 26-15 pitches-strikes.

 

He should get a third inning of work.

[Guest]

Cashner's 3rd:

 

K swinging.

FO-9.

GO 3-1.

 

3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 4-3 GO-FO, 38-24 pitches-strikes.

 

Got to imagine his day is over. His pitch count is around 40 or 45.

[Guest]

Never mind, Cashner is out there for the 4th inning.

 

Cashner's 4th:

 

GO 6-3.

FO-9.

Single to LF on an 0-2 count.

Pitching change.

 

The runner at first is his responsibility. And, of course, some guy called Marco Albano serves up a 2-run HR to ruin Cashner's scoreless outing.

 

3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 5-4 GO-FO, 54-36 pitches-strikes.

[Guest]

Yesterday:

 

Others Of Note

 

Josh Vitters, 3B, Cubs (AFL), 3-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI, 2 K: Vitters is healthy and raking as one of the youngest players on the circuit.

[Rob]

Gaub gave up 4 ER in 1+ IP today. Ouchies.

 

Castro was 1-4 with a double and a strikeout.

 

Castillo was 0-3 with two strikeouts.

[Guest]

Castro was 1-4 with a double and a strikeout.

Another K? Kid needs to make more contact.

 

Oh wait. It was his first. :D

[ctcf]

What the heck happened to Gaub? He was lights out in the minors this year and he's getting shelled in the AFL? Any thoughts?

[jacey]

Tired?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What the heck happened to Gaub? He was lights out in the minors this year and he's getting shelled in the AFL? Any thoughts?

 

The AFL is the most hitter friendly league in the world, the average OPS is over .800. I'm not too worried about any pitchers getting hit hard. If anything it's exciting that Parker is doing so well down there.

[Guest]

10/22: Mesa lost 11-1 Box Score

 

DH S. Castro 1/4, 2B (2), K

C W. Castillo 0/3, 2 K, PB (1)

SP A. Cashner 3.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K, 5-4 GO-FO

RP J. Gaub 1 IP, 4 H, 4 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 0-1 GO-FO

 

OVERALL:

 

Welington Castillo 5/14, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 E, 1 PB - .357/.438/.571/1.009

Starlin Castro 13/27, 2 2B, 1 BB, 1 K, 1/2 SB - .481/.500/.555/1.055

Josh Vitters 8/20, 2 2B, 1 BB, 2 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .400/.429/.500/.929

Andrew Cashner 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 7-6 GO-FO, 6.35 ERA

John Gaub 3 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 2-2 GO-FO, 18.00 ERA

Blake Parker 3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 5-2 GO-FO, 0.00 ERA

James Russell 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 4-6 GO-FO, 3.60 ERA

[Guest]

10/23: Mesa lost 11-10 Box Score

 

SS S. Castro 0/3, 2 R, 2 BB

3B J. Vitters 1/4, R, BB, K

 

OVERALL:

 

Welington Castillo 5/14, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 E, 1 PB - .357/.438/.571/1.009

Starlin Castro 13/30, 2 2B, 3 BB, 1 K, 1/2 SB - .433/.485/.500/.985

Josh Vitters 9/24, 2 2B, 2 BB, 3 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .375/.423/.458/.881

Andrew Cashner 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 7-6 GO-FO, 6.35 ERA

John Gaub 3 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 2-2 GO-FO, 18.00 ERA

Blake Parker 3.1 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 5-2 GO-FO, 0.00 ERA, 2 saves

James Russell 5 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 4-6 GO-FO, 3.60 ERA

[Outshined_One]

10/24: Mesa won 4-3 in the 10th Box Score

 

P J. Russell 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1/0 K/BB, 0-1 GO-FO

P B. Parker 1 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 0/0 K/BB, 2 HR, 1-1 GO-FO

[Keener98]

What the heck happened to Gaub? He was lights out in the minors this year and he's getting shelled in the AFL? Any thoughts?

 

The AFL is the most hitter friendly league in the world, the average OPS is over .800. I'm not too worried about any pitchers getting hit hard. If anything it's exciting that Parker is doing so well down there.

 

Way to jinx Parker, TT.

[Guest]

10/26: Mesa lost 9-5 Box Score

 

SS S. Castro 2/5, R, K, SB (2)

3B J. Vitters 1/4, 2B (3), K

RP J. Gaub 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K, 1-1 GO-FO

 

OVERALL:

 

Welington Castillo 5/14, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 E, 1 PB - .357/.438/.571/1.009

Starlin Castro 15/35, 2 2B, 3 BB, 2 K, 2/3 SB - .429/.474/.486/.960

Josh Vitters 10/28, 3 2B, 2 BB, 4 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .357/.400/.464/.864

Andrew Cashner 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 7-6 GO-FO, 6.35 ERA

John Gaub 4 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 3-3 GO-FO, 13.50 ERA

Blake Parker 4.1 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 6-3 GO-FO, 4.16 ERA, 2 saves

James Russell 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 4-7 GO-FO, 3.00 ERA

[SouthSideRyan]

I guess Castillo will be rostered then.

[Guest]

10/27 - BP:

 

Others Of Note

 

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs (AFL), 2-for-5, R, K, SB: In June, there wasn't much of a debate as to who the Number one prospect in the Cubs system was, but now Castro is making it interesting.

[CUBZ99]

http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=l119&t=g_box&gid=2009_10_27_msswin_peswin_1

 

Looks like Castro and Vitters sat today with Parker getting the L.

[Guest]

Mesa lost 6-5 Box Score

 

RP B. Parker 0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 0-2 GO-FO

 

OVERALL:

 

Welington Castillo 5/14, 1 HR, 2 BB, 5 K, 1 E, 1 PB - .357/.438/.571/1.009

Starlin Castro 15/35, 2 2B, 3 BB, 2 K, 2/3 SB - .429/.474/.486/.960

Josh Vitters 10/28, 3 2B, 2 BB, 4 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .357/.400/.464/.864

Andrew Cashner 5.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 7-6 GO-FO, 6.35 ERA

John Gaub 4 IP, 8 H, 6 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 3-3 GO-FO, 13.50 ERA

Blake Parker 5 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 2 HR, 6-5 GO-FO, 5.40 ERA, 2 saves

James Russell 6 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 4-7 GO-FO, 3.00 ERA

[utkcub]

I'd really like to see castillo get some more ABs