AZ Fall League - Rosters, Schedule, Streaming, etc.

[Joseph Zarr]

That pitching play-by-play from Jim absolutely encapsulates the 2024 AFL Javelinas experience. A literal pitching staff roller coaster. You don't have to look far - just check those pitching staff peripherals. Lottttttta elevated everythings. But, I'm choosing to give the benefit of the doubt many of these young men are devoutly working on distinct aspects of their skillsets - a cumulative up and down affair. It's the journey not the destination here. I do believe Manfredi's last two outings have had a balk apiece? Not a good trend.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

More Baez video here and here.

[Joseph Zarr]

Hey the Javelinas won last night! Feels like a Harvest Moon! 3-2 over the (also not all that good early) Scottsdale Scorpions.

• RHP Ryan Birchard did ongoing AFL Birchard things - strikeout and walk at a near 1:1 clip while keeping damage at a bare minimum. 3.0 IP, 1 H, 4 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 0 R. ERA is down to 3.75. However, it is absolutely worth sharing: the results are acceptable but the in-game process remains unsound. 1.83 WHIP on the season. Leads the AFL in walks. Has 16 BB to 15 K in just 12.0 IP. His saving grace at present is despite those peripherals his raw stuff is evolving. He is holding hitters to a 0.162 BAA. Ingredients absolutely there. Still very much a raw ball of clay at this stage of his development path.
• RF Luis Lara grabbed another OF assist (he has several) in an 0-for-3 day at the plate. Despite the lack of eye-popping results of any kind at the plate he is still managing a 12:10 K:BB ratio. He is staying relevant, if unimpressive, while adding very very good defense as per usual. 
• 3B Brock Wilken continues to get #3 and #4 chances in the batters box. He continues to struggle producing anything of consistent substance. 0-for-3, 1 BB, 2 K. His AFL output is now a 0.138 BA with a paltry 0.493 OPS. He leads all 3B in the AFL in strikeouts (26). He is second last (of 11 players consistently manning the hot corner) in BA and OPS. He continues to be given each and every opportunity despite a three month long super slump. Sigh.
• 2B Juan Baez continues to shine brightest for the Brewers in the desert. He essentially is nipping at the heels of the Cardinals' highly-touted Thomas Saggese in nearly every important offensive category for 2B in Arizona. He went 1-for-4 with 1 2B (his 3rd overall) and 1 RBI (his 13th overall).

The Javelinas 'improve' to 6-16 on the season. They will face the 15-7 Surprise Saguaros today.

 

[jay87shot]

On 10/31/2024 at 6:18 AM, Jim Goulart said:

Recent Peoria action -

Sunday's game - RHP Ryan Birchard, Juan Baez at 2B, Luis Lara in RF

Tuesday's game - RHP's Coleman Crow and Nick Merkel, Juan Baez at 2B, Brock Wilken at 3B, Luis Lara in RF

Wednesday's game - RHP Will Childers, Juan Baez at 2B, Brock Wilken at 3B, Luis Lara in LF

 

I am no expert but doesn't it look like his bat/hands aren't in a great hitting ready position when the pitch is coming in. It seems like the bat is way behind his head when he loads. Maybe it's the camera angle or the is a mechanical reason but I would push a guy like him to shorten his swing a bit.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

So, Peoria now has two ties in the past week. LOL. Didn't have that on my AFL Bingo card.

[nate82]

21 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

 

Hopefully the reverse HR Derby curse happens for Wilken!

[Jim Goulart]

Here are more boxes to review:

Tuesday 3-3 tie: 3B Brock Wilken (HR, BB), 2B Juan Baez (BB), RF/CF Luis Lara (2B, 1B, two SB)

Wednesday 8-1 loss: 3B Wilken, 2B Baez (two singles, SB, E), CF Lara (RBI), RHP Nick Merkel (allowed two inherited runners to score, then zero earned runs of his own over two additional innings), RHP Will Childers (scoreless inning with three strikeouts, one reaching on a wild pitch)

[Ro Mueller]

Hey, Peoria went all-in, starting 4 Brewers’ position players, including C Ramon Rodriguez in his AFL debut. Of course, this resulted in a blowout 10-3 victory.

[Jim Goulart]

VIDEO: Brewers No. 17 prospect Luis Lara puts together a three-hit performance for the Peoria Javelinas in the Fall League

Lara also walked and stole his 10th base in 15 tries. OPS now at .728

 

---

 

Thursday's Box Score - In addition to Lara, production within from Brock Wilken, Juan Baez, and LHP Mark Manfredi; fall debut for catcher Ramon Rodriguez (walk)

Former Brewers farmhand LHP Justin King took the loss, surrendered a grand slam in the 3rd

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

6 hours ago, Jim Goulart said:

VIDEO: Brewers No. 17 prospect Luis Lara puts together a three-hit performance for the Peoria Javelinas in the Fall League

Lara also walked and stole his 10th base in 15 tries. OPS now at .728

 

---

 

Thursday's Box Score - In addition to Lara, production within from Brock Wilken, Juan Baez, and LHP Mark Manfredi; fall debut for catcher Ramon Rodriguez (walk)

Former Brewers farmhand LHP Justin King took the loss, surrendered a grand slam in the 3rd

Rodriguez was also HBP in the second inning, fwiw. So it was an 0-for-2, 1 BB, 1 HBP.

[Jim Goulart]

Watch Juan Baez (and hopefully RHP Ryan Birchard) Saturday night.

 

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

Wilken impresses in the final round - VIDEO

[Jim Goulart]

It was a good game to watch on MLB Network Saturday night.

Juan Baez entered in the 6th, was called out on strikes in the 7th, but hit a hard one-out ground ball infield hit to the right side in the 9th as his team was trying to rally from down 6-5. But his Marlins' teammate rounded 2nd base was thrown out off the bag. The next batter K'd ending the game with Baez stranded as the tying run.

In the top of the 9th, Baez made a nice play on a slow roller to 3rd, getting the speedy runner at first base. The next batter, the catcher the Tigers received in the Jack Flaherty trade, did this:

Former Pirates/Cubs southpaw Steven Brault on the play-by-play, he now works in the booth for Pittsburgh.

As noted in the first tweet above, Ryan Birchard (they emphasized the 2nd syllable, Bur-shard') only threw four pitches. The LH-batter lined it to left, but the left fielder made a nice reach going back.

[Jim Goulart]

 

[Jim Goulart]

Monday's Box Score (7-1 Peoria loss, Javelinas drop to 7-18):

• 3B Brock Wilken 0-for-4, 1 K
• 2B Juan Baez, 1-for-3 (double), walk
• DH Ramon Rodriguez, 1-for-3, walk, K

Peoria has games through Thursday, when their season ends.

[Jim Goulart]

Tuesday's Box Score (13-10 Peoria loss, Javelinas drop to 7-19):

• 2B Juan Baez, 0-for-3, two BB's, 2 R
• RF Luis Lara, 1-for-6 (double), first error (fielding)
• RHP Will Childers, 1 IP, 1 R (unearned), 1 BB, 2 K

Peoria has games through Thursday, when their season ends.

[Jim Goulart]

 

 

[Jim Goulart]

Wednesday's Box Score (12-3 Peoria loss, Javelinas drop to 7-20):

• 3B Brock Wilken's day detailed in the post just above
• 2B Juan Baez, 0-for-4, two K's (OPS now .876)
• RF Luis Lara, 1-for-3 (triple), R, K
• C Ramon Rodriguez, 1-for-3, BB, two RBI, K
• RHP Nick Merkel and LHP Mark Manfredi combined to walk eight batters in 3.2 IP, six runs allowed; only two hits and seven K's, but clearly not strong outings

Peoria season finale is Thursday. RHP Ryan Birchard gets the start.