Arizona Fall League game notes
Published on November 8, 2004 under Arizona Fall League (AzFL) News Release
RAINY MONDAY: The Arizona Fall league's 13th season continues with the Desert Dogs traveling to Peoria to play the Saguaros and the Scorpions hosting the Rafters at Scottsdale Stadium. The Solar Sox host the Javelinas at Hohokam Stadium. All three games will begin at 1:05 p.m. Each team will play 38 games and the winners of the two divisions will meet in a one-game championship on November 20th at Scottsdale Stadium.
Hall of Fame: The Arizona Fall League continues its tradition of honoring former player and managers by inducting them into the Hall of Fame. This years inductees are Garret Anderson (Rafters), Albert Pujols (Scorpions) and Tony Peña Sr. (Saguaros). Anderson's ceremony (10/29) and Peña's ceremony (11/3) were both completed at Scottsdale Stadium. The ceremony for Albert Pujols will be postponed until the 2005 Arizona Fall League season. Due to Pujols' extended season participating in the World Series and his prior commitment to the Nike Tour, there was not sufficient time to schedule for the 2004 AFL season. We look forward to honoring him next year.
Q & A: Boston Red Sox prospect Manny Delcarmen will be answering your questions on MLB.com. Log on to the website today and send in your questions then stay tuned for their responses.
Sportsmanship Award: MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, and the Arizona Fall League (AFL), regarded throughout professional baseball as the "graduate school" for Major League Baseball's top prospects, announced Wednesday, November 3rd the creation of the Dernell Stenson AFL Sportsmanship Award.
This new annual award, named for Dernell Stenson, a 2003 player in the AFL who was tragically killed, will be given to the AFL player who demonstrates the qualities that Dernell brought to the ball park every day; a quiet, hard-nosed attitude, a player who does his job without complaint, who - as many who played with Dernell said - played the game the way it was meant to be played.
The managers, coaches and players from each of the six AFL teams will nominate one player each year. The AFL, in conjunction with MLB.com will then select a winner from the six nominees. The winner will be presented with a commemorative plaque in a special on-field presentation on November 18th, the final day of the AFL regular season.
MLB.com will also host an online auction later this month and the proceeds will be contributed in Dernell Stenson's name to the award winner's favorite charity. This year, the AFL has donated a one-of-a-kind AFL jersey worn by Mike Piazza in 1993 and later autographed by the Met's All-Star catcher.
"Dernell's death was a very difficult situation for the league," said Steve Cobb, Executive Vice President of the Arizona Fall League. "We suffered a tremendous loss but we came together as a family last year. At this point, we want to remember the contributions Dernell Stenson made to this league, in his work ethic and his dedication to the game. We think this is a fitting way to remember Dernell and we are pleased to work hand-in-hand with MLB.com to make this happen."
SATURDAY'S RECAPS
Scorpions En Fuego: In a rematch between the two first place teams, Brewers' prospect Rickie Weeks pounded a three-run home run, his sixth of the season, in the second inning leading the Scorpions to a 9-4 win over Phoenix. Diamondbacks' prospect Corey Myers and Dodgers' prospect Russ Martin added two hits apiece. Pitchers Tom Farmer (LA), John Novinsky (MIL), Mike Schultz (AZ), Justin Wechsler (AZ) and Steve Schmoll (LA) were the driving force for the Scorpions win as they shut out the Desert Dogs in six combined innings. Farmer notched his first win of the season.
Surging Saguaros: The Peoria Saguaros find themselves four games behind the first place Scottsdale Scorpion after a string of wins. The Saguaros won their second consecutive game Saturday beating the Javelinas 10-8. Saguaros' leadoff hitter Wayne Lydon (NYM) was 3-for-5 with two RBIs. The Javelinas offense did not score off Jeremy Harts (PIT), Vince Perkins (TOR), Royce Ring (NYM) or Matt Lorenzo (TEX) in their final five innings.
Rafters Win: The Grand Canyon Rafters remain alive in the playoff hunt after a 7-2 win over the Mesa Solar Sox Saturday night. Kevin Thompson (NYY) was 2-for-3 with a home run, his fifth of the season, for Grand Canyon. Pitchers Ben Julianel (NYY), Rick Kirsten (DET), Lee Rodney (DET) and David Aardsma (SF) combined to hold the Solar Sox scoreless in five combined innings. Julianel earned his first win of the season. The Rafters trail the Desert Dogs by 4 ½ games with ten games remaining in the season.
MONTH IN REVIEW: November is here, which means the first month of the Arizona Fall League season has come to a close. A couple of hitters are tearing up the Fall League and have been since day one. Two relievers have been nearly perfect for their teams coming out of the bullpen, and two of the AFL's six teams remain atop their respective divisions with just over two weeks until the championship game.
Detroit prospect Chris Shelton is a contender for the Triple Crown and has hit his Grand Canyon Rafters into playoff contention. Going into Thursday's action, Shelton leads the league in hitting at .425, has the most home runs in the Fall League with six and has 29 RBIs, five more than hot-hitting Conor Jackson of Arizona. Shelton joins the AFL after beginning the year with Toledo in the AAA International League, and left the Mud Hens on 7/7 to be called up to the Tigers.
Ryan Howard's Arizona Fall League season with the Phoenix Desert Dogs has been under a lot of hype following his 2004 season. The Phillies' prospect hit 37 home runs for Philadelphia's AA team in Reading, PA, to lead the minor leagues. Howard began his fall league campaign right where he left off the regular season, hitting .379 with three home runs and 22 RBIs through Thursday's games.
In general the Arizona Fall League has been a hitter's league in 2004, with four of the six teams posting batting averages over .300. Out of the first 71 games of the 2004 season, only 10 saw less than eight runs between the two teams.
The pitcher in the Arizona Fall League with the least amount of professional experience is having as much success as anyone. Huston Street was drafted by Oakland in the first round of the 2004 draft out of the University of Texas and is playing for the Phoenix Desert Dogs after stops at three different levels in his first professional season. Street was the Fall League's pitcher of the week in late October, and has only allowed one earned run through his first 12 innings of work. Street has four saves and has held opponents to a .225 batting average.
Jeff Miller has been a solid reliever out of the Peoria Saguaros' bullpen only allowing two earned runs in his first 12 innings of work. The Pittsburgh farmhand is the AFL Pitcher of the Month for October after holding opponents to a .171 batting average, striking out 12 batters and not walking anybody. Miller is in the Fall League after pitching for the Pirates' AA affiliate in Altoona, PA in 2004.
Both division leading teams have led since the first week of the season. With 11 games to go, the Phoenix Desert Dogs are atop the National Division by 5.5 games and the Scottsdale Scorpions lead the American Division by four games.
MLB.com: Log on to MLB.com for the latest news on the Arizona Fall League. Click on the Minors tab to access the Fall League website where you will find player journals, stories and more. You can sign up for an Arizona Fall League weekly newsletter emailed directly to your inbox.
Dolan on MLB.com RADIO: Today Brett Dolan will call the action of the Rafters vs. Scorpions game at Scottsdale Stadium. The game will be heard live 1:05 pm (MST) on MLB.com.
Championship Game: The winner of the National Division and the American Division will face off for a one game playoff to determine the 2004 AFL Championship. The Championship game will be played at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday, November 20th at 1:05 pm. The winner of the Joe Black MVP Award will be presented in a pre-game ceremony.
STANDINGS
American Division W L GB National Division W L GB
Scorpions 17 10 - Desert Dogs 17 9 -
Saguaros 12 13 4.0 Rafters 12 13 4.5
Solar Sox 10 16 6.5 Javelinas 10 17 7.5
TODAY'S GAMES
Javelinas @ Solar Sox 1:05 p.m. RHP Seung Song (0-0) vs. LHP Zach Parker (0-2)
Desert Dogs @ Saguaros 1:05 p.m. LHP Michael Stodolka (1-2) vs. RHP Jason Arnold (2-1)
Rafters @ Scorpions 1:05 p.m. RHP Zach Miner (2-1) vs. LHP Ryan Costello (1-0)
TUESDAY'S PROBABLE STARTERS
Solar Sox @ Javelinas 1:05 p.m. LHP Sean Marshall (0-1) vs. LHP Richard Stahl (0-2)
Saguaros @ Desert Dogs 1:05 p.m. RHP Kevin Deaton (0-1) vs. RHP Jeff Fulchino (0-0)
Scorpions @ Rafters 7:05 p.m. LHP Jeff Housman (0-1) vs. RHP Sam Marsonek (1-2)
Arizona Fall League Stories from November 8, 2004
- Arizona Fall League game notes - AzFL
- Arizona Fall League game notes - AzFL
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