AFL Update: Nov. 16, 2016
Glendale got on the board first for a single run in the 1st and a quintet of pitchers, led by Austin Voth, (pictured) made it stand up for a 1-0 victory over Surprise.
Voth, who was named the AFL Pitcher of the week, tossed five scoreless innings and allowed just two hits and three walks to win for the third time this fall.
Nick Lee was the first man out of the Desert Dogs bullpen and struck out the side on 16 pitches (10 for strikes) in the 6th.
Andrew Stevenson scored the game’s lone run after leading off with a single, taking second on a wild pitch, and scoring on an RBI single by Nick Tanielu.
Osvaldo Abreu also appeared in the game but went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
The win returns the Desert Dogs to .500 (15-15) and into 2nd place in the AFL West. Glendale visits Mesa this afternoon, then Peoria tomorrow.
Glad you’re back in commission, Luke.
Overall, this has to be considered a really positive AZFL. The actual prospects in the group (Stevenson, Ward and Voth) have performed very well- Ward and Stevenson, in particular, have enhanced their prospect status.
Meanwhile, none of the organisational guys (Brinley, Johansen, Lee) have embarrassed themselves. Brinley has actually been quite good.
The only negative I see is Abreu’s unimpressive performance. The uptick in strikeouts and the drop in power, coupled with his disappointing regular season will probably diminish the hype from his excellent 2015. But even he didn’t play poorly.
All in all an improvement upon 2015’s pretty dreadful AZFL.
Yes, Luke, very glad to see you feeling well enough to get back to your offseason distraction.
I’ve generally heard that the AFL is equivalent to AA, but considering the success of Stevenson, Ward, and Brinley after struggling at the real AA level, you have to wonder whether it’s more A++ than AA. However, Abreu hasn’t played above A+ and is really scuffling. That doesn’t bode well for his step up to Harrisburg.
So what have we learned? Johansen seems to have done enough to get to keep trying for another year. I don’t know that Lee has done enough to get put back on the 40-man, but probably not enough to get lost in Rule 5, either. Ward seems to be on good pace to be in the MLB conversation by 2018.
Then there’s Stevenson. It’s no state secret that the Nats need a CF so Trea can move to SS and ease Danny out of the lineup. Has Stevenson’s big fall made the big club reconsider all the talk about trading for a CF with 2-3 years on his contract as a bridge to Robles? Or even to be more willing to consider trading Robles? I think it would be a big leap to think that Stevenson could be a starter by April 2017, but now perhaps not so much of a stretch to think that he could be a mid-season call-up.
I’m with you, KW, on the timing. Stevenson hopefully will be on track for a callup by July at the rate he’s playing.
Agree about Stevenson. I was solidly in the doubter category on Stevenson, but I’ve changed my tune based upon his AZL play. He’s in the top 3 in the AZL in total bases, he has speed, his pop has increased every year and he has been reported to be a plus defender.
Previously thought Stevenson’s ceiling was a 4th OF — Matt Den Dekker type, but I am now thinking that he could at least be the left-handed bat in an platoon role (like Tyler Naquin this past year for the Indians). As stated above, the notion has also crossed my mind that he could be the inexpensive bridge to Robles mid-2018 arrival.
That said, the Nats like veterans; so, I would expect the Nats to sign an everyday outfielder to play beside Harper and Werth, but if that somehow doesn’t pan out, it’s at least possible that Stevenson could be playing CF next year.
I was also a Stevenson doubter who is starting to change his tune. I’m much more encouraged now. Time will tell if he can be more than a 4th OF at the MLB level, but his general pop seems to be improving to go along with the speed. I had thought his ceiling might be Revere, but he’s turning himself into more of a weapon. I don’t think he’s going to make it to Trea level, but maybe more than Revere.
We’ll see. He’s done enough to get a look in the MLB camp in the spring. I wonder if they can arrange a race with Stevenson, Bautista, and Trea. Beyond that, it will be great for Stevenson and Bautista to get some exposure to Davey Lopes, base-running guru extraordinaire.
A scout friend, at Az Fall League, had this take on Stevenson, “he keeps upping the ante every time he’s on a bigger stage”.
That was his opinion after seeing him win the MVP honors in the Carolina League vs. California League game in Lake Elsinore, Ca. this past season and what he’s done at Fall League.