2009 Arizona Fall League

[Little Slide Rooter]

Looks like our hitters are doing pretty well, but our pitchers, not so much. I know this is supposed to be a hitters league and a small sample size though.

[biittner77]

I guess Castillo will be rostered then.

 

Is Robinson playing winter ball somewhere?

[Guest]

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

 

He's on the taxi squad. He can only play twice a week.

[Guest]

I guess Castillo will be rostered then.

 

Is Robinson playing winter ball somewhere?

 

Not that I could find.

[Outshined_One]

Looks like our hitters are doing pretty well, but our pitchers, not so much. I know this is supposed to be a hitters league and a small sample size though.

 

The AFL is more of a scouts' league than anything else. Plus, it's one of the most hitter-friendly environments in baseball. I wouldn't put much stock into numbers and performance; especially for pitchers.

[TruffleShuffle]

castro and vitters each had ground ball singles to CF; castro's was on the first pitch and vitters was on a 2-0 pitch. castro is SS and vitters is DH. cashner is starting got a ground out, line out and strikeout for a perfect first.

[TruffleShuffle]

second inning, cashner has another 1-2-3 inning with a K, castro lines out to right on 1-0 pitch and vitters hits another ground ball single to cf on 3-2 pitch.

[TruffleShuffle]

cashner's third inning: four pitch walk, seven pitch K, pop out, fly out

 

castro grounded a single to left on a 1-1 pitch in the bottom of the third; vitters flied out on a 2-0 pitch. it's 10-0 mesa after 3.

[TruffleShuffle]

fourth inning for cashner: 4 pitch K, ground out, 5 pitch walk, ground out. he was taken out after 4 innings despite throwing only 44 pitches. final line was 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 4 GO/4 FO, 44 pitches, 25 strikes. of course the guy who relieved him gave up a single and home run right away.

[Guest]

10/28: Mesa won 12-5 Box Score

 

SS S. Castro 2/5, 2 R, RBI, K, E (1, throw)

DH J. Vitters 2/5, R, RBI, K

SP A. Cashner 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 4-4 GO-FO

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

 

OVERALL:

 

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

Starlin Castro 17/40, 2 2B, 3 BB, 3 K, 2/3 SB, 1 E - .425/.465/.475/.940

Josh Vitters 12/33, 3 2B, 2 BB, 5 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .364/.400/.455/.855

Andrew Cashner 9.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 11-10 GO-FO, 3.72 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 7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 7-7 GO-FO, 2.57 ERA

[Guest]

Arizona Phil was at yesterday's Solar Sox game and gives a review of the 4 Cubs who played: http://thecubreporter.com/2009/10/28/cub-contingent-leads-solar-sox-victory

 

Cashner was consistently 94-96 mph and Castro made a highlight reel defensive play.

[CUBZ99]

Castro starting at 2B today. So far he is 1/1 with a HBP. Vitters starting the game 0-2.

[Guest]

Kevin Goldstein[/url]"]Arizona has been good to the Cubs system

 

Andrew Cashner, RHP, Cubs (AFL: Mesa)

Yesterday's stats: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K

 

Whatever order you want to put them, Cashner, along with infielders Josh Vitters and Starlin Castro, are the top three prospects in the Cubs system, and all of them are having outstanding seasons so far for Mesa. Four no-hit innings are even more impressive considering the offensive context of the league, and his stuff matched the stats, as he sat at 92-96 mph with his fastball, and his slider is a wipeout offering at times.

[Guest]

10/29: Mesa lost 3-2 Box Score

 

2B S. Castro 1/3, R, HBP

3B J. Vitters 1/4

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

 

OVERALL:

 

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

Starlin Castro 18/43, 2 2B, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 2/3 SB, 1 E - .419/.468/.465/.933

Josh Vitters 13/37, 3 2B, 2 BB, 5 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .351/.385/.432/.817

Andrew Cashner 9.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 11-10 GO-FO, 3.72 ERA

John Gaub 5 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 WP, 1 HR, 4-3 GO-FO, 14.40 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 7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 7-7 GO-FO, 2.57 ERA

[Guest]

10/30: Mesa tied 5-5 (11 innings) Box Score

 

2B S. Castro 0/0 - defensive replacement after starting 2B was ejected

RP B. Parker 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 1 K, 1-4 GO-FO

 

OVERALL:

 

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

Starlin Castro 18/43, 2 2B, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 2/3 SB, 1 E - .419/.468/.465/.933

Josh Vitters 13/37, 3 2B, 2 BB, 5 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .351/.385/.432/.817

Andrew Cashner 9.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 11-10 GO-FO, 3.72 ERA

John Gaub 5 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 WP, 1 HR, 4-3 GO-FO, 14.40 ERA

Blake Parker 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 2 HR, 7-9 GO-FO, 3.86 ERA, 2 saves

James Russell 7 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 7-7 GO-FO, 2.57 ERA

[Guest]

10/31: Mesa lost 4-3 Box Score

 

SS S. Castro 2/5, K, SB (3), PO

DH J. Vitters 1/5, 2 K

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

 

OVERALL:

 

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

Starlin Castro 20/48, 2 2B, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP, 3/4 SB, 1 E - .417/.462/.458/.920

Josh Vitters 14/42, 3 2B, 2 BB, 7 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .333/.364/.405/.769

Andrew Cashner 9.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 11-10 GO-FO, 3.72 ERA

John Gaub 5 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 WP, 1 HR, 4-3 GO-FO, 14.40 ERA

Blake Parker 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 2 HR, 7-9 GO-FO, 3.86 ERA, 2 saves

James Russell 8 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 9-7 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

[TruffleShuffle]

today:

 

castro, dh

line drive single to lf on first pitch; stole 2b as part of a double steal

ground out to 3b on 2-0 pitch

ground ball single to lf on 1-1 pitch; caught stealing

strike out looking on 2-2 pitch

 

vitters, 3b

ground out to 2b on first pitch

fly out to shallow lf on 0-1 pitch

line drive triple to cf on 3-2 pitch

fly out to cf on 2-2 pitch

 

gaub pitched a perfect inning. apparently michael brenly came in as a defensive sub in the 9th inning; i didn't even know he was participating in this league.

[Guest]

gaub pitched a perfect inning. apparently michael brenly came in as a defensive sub in the 9th inning; i didn't even know he was participating in this league.

 

Huh, it just happened. From today's game notes:

 

C Michael Brenly (CHC), son of former Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly, has been added to the Solar Sox roster to

replace C Welington Castillo (CHC).

 

I guess Welington's hurt.

[biittner77]

gaub pitched a perfect inning. apparently michael brenly came in as a defensive sub in the 9th inning; i didn't even know he was participating in this league.

 

Huh, it just happened. From today's game notes:

 

C Michael Brenly (CHC), son of former Diamondbacks manager Bob Brenly, has been added to the Solar Sox roster to

replace C Welington Castillo (CHC).

 

I guess Welington's hurt.

 

Maybe they've seen enough and don't want to show other teams any more. If he kept playing well in the AFL the Cubs would have to roster him. This way there's still some doubt.

[Guest]

11/2: Mesa won 7-2 Box Score

 

DH S. Castro 2/4, R, 2 RBI, K, SB (4), CS (2)

3B J. Vitters 1/4, R, 3B (1)

C M. Brenly - defensive replacement

RP J. Gaub 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 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 22/52, 2 2B, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP, 4/6 SB, 1 E - .423/.464/.462/.926

Josh Vitters 15/46, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 BB, 7 K, 0/2 SB, 3 E - .326/.354/.435/.789

Andrew Cashner 9.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 11-10 GO-FO, 3.72 ERA

John Gaub 6 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, 1 WP, 1 HR, 4-4 GO-FO, 12.00 ERA

Blake Parker 7 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 4 K, 2 HR, 7-9 GO-FO, 3.86 ERA, 2 saves

James Russell 8 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR, 9-7 GO-FO, 2.25 ERA

[Guest]

Baseball Prospectus[/url]"]Others Of Note

 

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs (AFL), 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, SB, CS, K: Castro is tied for the league lead with a .423 batting average (22-for-52), but his overall line of .423/.462/.462 shows that there are precious few secondary skills.

[davell]

Baseball Prospectus[/url]"]Others Of Note

 

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs (AFL), 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, SB, CS, K: Castro is tied for the league lead with a .423 batting average (22-for-52), but his overall line of .423/.462/.462 shows that there are precious few secondary skills.

 

 

I really don't know what else you could ask for from a 19 year old SS.

[TruffleShuffle]

Baseball Prospectus[/url]"]Others Of Note

 

Starlin Castro, SS, Cubs (AFL), 2-for-4, R, 2 RBI, SB, CS, K: Castro is tied for the league lead with a .423 batting average (22-for-52), but his overall line of .423/.462/.462 shows that there are precious few secondary skills.

 

 

I really don't know what else you could ask for from a 19 year old SS.

 

well identifying his lack of patience/power is fine, but it really is nitpicking. how many 19 year old middle infielders from latin america show good power and patience? he's shown a good glove in the AFL and leads the league in batting average as the second-youngest player in the league. that's fine.

[Guest]

MLB.com[/url]"]MLB Network announced on Friday that it will televise two Arizona Fall League games in November, including the fourth annual Rising Stars Game and the Championship game.

 

The Rising Stars Game will take place on Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. ET. MLB Network's Tony Clark and Arizona D-backs announcer Daron Sutton will handle the broadcast live from Surprise Stadium.

 

The 18th annual Fall League Championship game will air on Nov. 21 at 2:30 p.m. ET. The Saturday contest will be played at Scottsdale Stadium, and MLB Network host Victor Rojas will call the game.

 

Chicago Tribune[/url]"]Four Cubs minor leaguers and one from the White Sox have been named to the Arizona Fall League's prospects showcase, the Rising Stars Game.

 

Cubs infielders Starlin Castro and Josh Vitters and pitchers Andrew Cashner and Blake Parker will play for the East. Outfielder Jordan Danks of the Sox will play for the West.

 

The game can be seen live at 7:15 p.m. Saturday on the MLB Network and mlb.com.

[TruffleShuffle]

starlin says "shove your secondary skills up your a**" and hits a home run in the 4th inning.