2013 AFL Thread

[d_money]

How does he get picked for the AFL? With Only 7 players per team - I'm surprised he's somewhat under the radar

[Hairyducked Idiot]

How does he get picked for the AFL? With Only 7 players per team - I'm surprised he's somewhat under the radar

 

AFL pitchers tend to be "whoever we have laying around that has some innings left to give"

[davell]

Trying to remember exactly, but I think it goes like this: Each MLB team is responsible for filling certain positions on whichever team they send players to. It may be a drawing, where the club draws a number and gets to pick which position they want to fill. At any rate, every team is responsible for each of a SP and a bullpen arm(maybe more).

 

But with the offensive environment, you often don't get the elite pitching prospects, its more guys that are auditioning for 40 man spots, ala Beeler and Loosen this year.

[Boris]

Cravy is reminding me of a young Kenny Powers.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Soler lines out to left on a 2-1 pitch, reasonably well hit but right at the LFer.

[davell]

Bases loaded, one out for KB. 2-0 count.....

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Bryant up with bases loaded, 1 out, down 1-0.

 

Takes a breaking ball in the dirt

Takes another breaking ball in the dirt

Pitching coach comes to the mound

Jammed inside on a fastball, pop foul, stays in play for 1b

[Guest]

Trying to remember exactly, but I think it goes like this: Each MLB team is responsible for filling certain positions on whichever team they send players to. It may be a drawing, where the club draws a number and gets to pick which position they want to fill. At any rate, every team is responsible for each of a SP and a bullpen arm(maybe more).

 

But with the offensive environment, you often don't get the elite pitching prospects, its more guys that are auditioning for 40 man spots, ala Beeler and Loosen this year.

 

It's 2 relievers normally.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

They have a vision specialist on the broadcast and apparently having blue eyes makes you worse at baseball. Wow.

 

They made a big deal out of that one year when Josh Hamilton was struggling.

[Guest]

I'm at a bar and the first thing I see on a TV here is Dallas Beeler pitching in the AFL Championship. So weird.

[jumbo]

I'm at a bar and the first thing I see on a TV here is Dallas Beeler pitching in the AFL Championship. So weird.

 

Does anyone want to handicap whether or not Beeler gets added to the 40 man? Is he anything more than a back-end type?

[davell]

I'm at a bar and the first thing I see on a TV here is Dallas Beeler pitching in the AFL Championship. So weird.

 

Does anyone want to handicap whether or not Beeler gets added to the 40 man? Is he anything more than a back-end type?

I'd say that's his basic upside, especially if he's NOT hitting low 90 's anymore, as Manuel suggested yesterday. I asked Harry Pavlidis the same question and his response made sense....He asked me if I really thought any of Jokisch, Beeler, or Loosen would stick all year on another teams active roster?

 

I kind of doubt it. No idea right now who else may be made available by other teams. But you gotta think there'll be a bit more upside out there than that group. In the end, the only way I think we add anyone other than Alcantara is if we either make a trade very soon that nets us an extra spot or two or if we de-roster Bard or Lim.

[Guest]

I'm at a bar and the first thing I see on a TV here is Dallas Beeler pitching in the AFL Championship. So weird.

 

Does anyone want to handicap whether or not Beeler gets added to the 40 man? Is he anything more than a back-end type?

 

He's a #5 at best. Sinkerball pitcher with no development on his breaking ball.

 

I don't think he'll get added to the 40-man.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

The Cardinals will get him in the rule 5 and he'll turn into some unstoppable groundball pitcher.

[Guest]

BA's top 20 AFL prospects: http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/arizona-fall-league-top-20-prospects-with-scouting-reports/

 

3. Kris Bryant, 3b, Mesa/Cubs

 

College baseball’s top player in 2013 took the AFL by storm to conclude his first season as a pro, leading the league in home runs (six), slugging percentage (.727) and OPS (1.184) en route to being named league MVP. Bryant, 21, has explosive bat speed, easy power to all fields and a good approach at the plate, although scouts noted holes in the swing that will need refinement. The common opinion is that the 6-foot-5 Bryant will need to move off third base at some point, but his plus arm and athleticism will allow a move to an outfield corner.  Bryant also earns kudos for his makeup and has the tools to be a major league star.

 

11. Albert Almora, of, Mesa/Cubs

 

Almora, 19, the Cubs’ 2012 first round pick (sixth overall), missed part of his first full season with a broken hamate and then later with a groin injury, returning to action in time to put in a full six weeks in the AFL. The Hialeah, Fla., native wows scouts more with excellent baseball instincts, a solid work ethic and off-the-charts makeup than with plus tools. He makes good contact at the plate, striking out only nine times in 75 AFL at-bats but drawing only four walks. His AFL numbers (.307/.342/.480) were solid, but scouts are hoping to see more power develop in time. He’s a plus defender in center field with plus-plus range because of his instincts despite modest speed. With only 94 games on his professional résumé Almora was one of the least experienced AFL players, but was cited by the Mesa coaching staff for making adjustments throughout the season.

 

20. Jorge Soler, of, Mesa/Cubs

 

No player drew more diverse opinions on his AFL performance and projection than the 21-year-old Soler. The native of Cuba was coming off a regular season that ended early due to a stress fracture in the leg, and his recovery from that injury slowed him down in the early weeks of the AFL season. While he has plenty of tools, raw power and good size, there’s also a lot of swing-and-miss at the plate and inconsistent effort on the field. Other than one four-game stretch late October when he went 8 for 17, Soler put together few multi-hit games, finishing at .271/.311/.376 with one home run in 85 at-bats. He has tremendous bat speed and runs well when healthy. While some scouts are concerned that Soler’s performance may not match up with his potential, he’s still got a big future if he puts it together. One observer summed up his feelings about Soler by saying, “He makes you smile and frown on the same play.”

[Cubswin11]

Who was 1 and 2?

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Buxton and Addison Russell.

[imb]

Raisin, are this year's AFL numbers stored anywhere?

[Guest]

MiLB.com has them.

 

This isn't fair, but neither is doing an AFL Top 20 and then pretty much ignoring what happens in the AFL.

 

Buxton: 57 PA, .212/.288/.404, 15/5 K/BB

Russell: 95 PA, .282/.361/.435 15/10 K/BB

Bryant: 91 PA, .364/.457/.727, 23/14 K/BB

Almora: 79 PA, .307/.342/.480, 9/4 K/BB

Soler: 90 PA, .271/.311/.376, 21/5 K/BB

 

 

EDIT: Just for kicks, let's toss Almora and Soler in there

[Cubswin11]

I didn't even know Buxton was in it. What's the point of doing an AFL top 20, if you basically are just moving guys up from their top 100 rankings to the next closest guy who is also in the AFL?