AFL/Offseason Update: Oct. 28, 2017
Victor Robles doubled to lead off the game as the Solar Sox put up two in the 1st en route to a 5-1 win over the Desert Dogs.
Robles, however, stuck three times in the four plate appearances that followed to finish at 1-for-5.
Taylor Gushue, who led off off MLB’s roundup on the Nats in the AFL yesterday, also started again behind the plate and got a single in four AB’s to get hits in back-to-back appearances for the first time.
Mesa returns home to rematch against Glendale to finish out the week. The Solar Sox lead the AFL East by a ½ game with an 8-7 record.
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WINTER LEAGUE UPDATE
Still pretty early, but no need to reinvent the wheel – Byron Kerr has the deal on how the guys have done so far.
HARRISBURG SENATORS
Next week will be the magnesium citrate, but this week we have the castor oil. For those of you too young or too healthy… the 2017 Senators weren’t as bad as the 2017 Chiefs, but they weren’t much better.
Like the 2016 edition, there was an enormous amount of roster churn – 52 different players, 13 pitchers who made five or more starts, and 16 position players who made 100 or more plate appearances. But the talent level wasn’t as high in 2017, and consequently the Sens finished with the second-worst record in the Eastern League at 60-80 (i.e. just 6½ games better than the Chiefs).
The pitching went from the third-best in the E.L. to the second-worst (4.79 R/G) while the hitting improved to near-league average (4.20 vs. 4.32) BUT both the hitters and pitchers were the oldest in the league by a year and a half or more, on average.
For the sixth straight year, it’s a combined list. And in keeping with a theme this year, unranked.
| Erick Fedde, RHP | 3.04/3.24/1.12, 8.63 K/IP in 56⅓IP (17G, 7GS) |
| Jose Marmolejos, 1B/LF | .288/.361/.458, 14HR in 107G |
| Raudy Read, C | .265/.312/.455, 17HR in 108G |
| Phillips Valdez, RHRP | 2.72/2.92/1.16 in 43IP (25G) |
An honorable mention to Ryan Brinley, who had a decent FIP at 2.96, but was otherwise unremarkable in his second go ’round the Eastern League. Likewise for Drew Ward, who nearly set a team record for strikeouts (131) and barely cracked into double digits for HR’s at 10.
Folks interested in seeing the full team’s statistics can find them here.
Beyond Fedde, Stevenson, and Robles, none of whom are likely to be coming back to Central PA, there’s not too much interesting here. The main thing I see on the pitching ledger is sadness, as in guys like Voth and Taylor Hill who have gone from the verge of the majors to the verge of starting another career. The sadness of Tyler Mapes disappearing completely, presumably with a major injury. Simms and Long got promoted to AAA but struggled. Austen Williams got demoted from AA, again, but is getting yet-yet-yet another chance in AZ. I agree that Valdez was probably the best of the rest. He’s said to have a big arm, but you wouldn’t know it by his K totals.
At the plate, Read lead the team in HRs and doubles, a rare feat for a catcher. Could he actually have a chance to beat out Severino to make the MLB club as the backup next year? Doubtful, but he may get some MLB time in 2018.
Marmolejos had another solid season but didn’t get the 40-man call-up in Sept. or the AZ invite. The intriguing news with him was that he spent some time in LF after a career at 1B. He can’t be slower out there than Lind, can he? If the big club wasn’t in such win-now mode for 2018, I would give him a shot at making the bench in the Lind role. Maybe by 2019 . . .
Yadiel Hernandez is an intriguing Cuban signee who was already “old” when he arrived. He struggled early but found his rhythm in the second half. Can he do enough in spring camp to at least get on the radar with the new manager?
Not sure what to say about Drew Ward. He turns 23 next month, so he’s been “young for the level” at several stops. I assume he’ll be back at Harrisburg, still trying to find enough power to truly be considered a prospect at a corner position. A SLG of .356 isn’t going to take him anywhere. The most promising stat for him is the 55 walks . . . at least if your eyes don’t continue on to the K column.
Read can hit but he sucks as a catcher.
Yes indeed.
Now there is a fave to recognize when I am South Korea on business : Emil Rogers. Some of the American players over there look familiar but
Korean is a tough language .
Mapes truly is a sad story. Some thought of him as the next Craig Stammen role guy. Barrett, Harper, Lee , T Lee, and Collins on the rebound or bouncing elsewhere ?
Knorr is a nice mentoring manager for the blue chip kids bound for Cuse .
Horseshack from Welcome Back , Kotter: I am so confused. Which direction Rizzo goes with Lerner $$ in one year manager with option ( not to be honored).
BA listed Cole Freeman as 2b/OF.
Keister or whoever is in dugout could rotate bodies throughout the week: Cole in OF against tough Lefties with Noll @2b? Right , Luke.
Cute pumpkin dog photo !