Arizona Fall League: Week Three

Injury Overview
This week saw some very big names withdraw because of injury concerns, although both appear to be minor fatigue issues, rather than any serious damage.

Phil Humber – Told to shut it down on Monday after tests revealed shoulder tendonitis. Apparently, Humber thinks he’s fine:

“I don't think it's going to be a big deal," Humber told mlb.com. "They're just making sure nothing bad happens out of season. I wanted to stay and compete, but it's best to be safe so I came home and now I'll get ready for spring….There's nothing wrong with the muscles, though, or my labrum or my rotator cuff. Everything came back good on the MRI.”

After 2005 Tommy John surgery, the Mets will certainly be cautious.

Luke Hochevar – Sadly, the highly anticipated Hochevar-Pelfrey “showdown” did not take place, as the Royals pulled their No. 1 pick from the AFL Tuesday, after he experienced some shoulder tightness. Hochevar was examined a few days later in Kansas City with positive results.

“It's a shoulder strain and Dr. [Steve] Joyce is very encouraged," Royals general manager Dayton Moore told mlb.com. "There is nothing we can or should do.”

Monday
The really top names all got Monday off, so we give space to former sure things who pitched well.

Gavin Floyd – The Philly starter with the great hook has disappeared these last two years and Cole Hamels has made him eminently forgettable. However, Floyd did finally post a strong AFL effort, pitching three scoreless innings allowing a lone walk.

Dustin McGowan – Another guy fighting to hang onto his prospect status, the 24-year-old went five innings this time, allowing six hits, two walks, and two runs on a 38:25 strike to ball ratio.

Wednesday
An Astro followed up a perfect performance with a solid one; A Twins control artist kept up his good work from the pen; the wonder that is Billy Sadler continued.

Matt Albers – Albers pitched four perfect innings in his outing last week and backed it up with another good performance, yielding just two runs on a two-run home run in four more frames. He allowed three hits and a walk on the night, striking out two with a 37-21 strike to ball ratio.

Kevin Slowey – Despite his status as a starting pitching prospect with major league command, Slowey came out of the bullpen for the third time. He needed just 11 pitches (seven strikes) to finish, allowing just a single. Slowey has allowed only two runs in his nine innings of AFL work.

Billy Sadler – Provided he arrives at spring training in good health, Sadler will get a long audition for the Giants' 2007 bullpen . The 25-year-old finished off the game and earned his first win, pitching a perfect inning and a third. He now has allowed just three hits and two walks in 7.1 scoreless innings, striking out 12.

Friday
The Rising Stars Showcase made its debut this year in the AFL. Keen to elevate its profile as a true hotbed of major league talent, the AFL decided to have a de facto all-star game -- albeit with players picked mostly for reputation. The inaugural version was a pitchers’ duel, as the West beat the East 3-1.

Mike Pelfrey – The Mets’ jewel began his outing by allowing the first three batters faced to reach -- single, walk, single. A mound visit ensued, but was Pelfrey worried? Apparently not, as he promptly struck out the next three, Kevin Kouzmanoff and Jacoby Ellsbury included.

He would be pulled after allowing two more runners on and two outs, but would neither scored. He finished with a 29:19 ratio, those three big punch outs in succession against three hits and two walks.

Matt Albers – It was he who relieved Pelfrey and did so perfectly. Four batters faced and four retired for the 23-year-old, two by strikeout, on an 11:4 strike to ball ratio.

Gio Gonzalez – The Philly lefty started in place of Hochevar and matched Pelfrey pretty well . Gonzalez yielded an unearned run on a passed ball and was otherwise undamaged, allowing a hit and a walk in two innings of work. He struck out two on a 14:13 stike to ball ratio.

Billy Sadler – After coming on with two outs in the seventh, Sadler did his usual AFL routine : 1.1 scoreless innings, one walk and one strikeout on just 13 pitches, 11 for strikes.

Saturday
The oft-criticized McGowan and Floyd delivered terrific performances and a Dodgers prospect continued to make his mark in relief.

Dustin McGowan – Well the much maligned Blue Jay struck back, as he pitched a pretty dominant five innings, striking out eight batters and allowing just one run on two hits and a walk. Despite an excellent 45:20 ratio strike to ball, the hard luck McGowan still took the loss.

Gavin Floyd – The 23-year-old threw four scoreless frames with a lone hit being the only wound. Floyd struck out two and lowered his AFL ERA to 6.35, which looks pretty bad, but except for a woeful outing where he allowed seven runs in 1.2 innings, he’s actually been very good.

Jonathan Meloan – Talk about a deep farm system. We’ve all heard of Billingsley, Broxton, Elbert, and Kershaw, but who’s Meloan? Well, the 22-year-old “quietly” struck out 91 batters against 16 walks in 51.0 minor league innings this year over three levels, ending with 23 K’s in 10.2 Double-A innings.

He got the save Saturday, allowing a walk but still striking out the side (13:7 strike to ball ratio). He now boasts an AFL line that reads: 9.1 innings, one earned run, five hits, four walks, and 13 punch outs.

Prospect Watch: Hitting

Ryan Braun – Braun has been a rock at the plate this fall. The 2005 No. 5 overall pick has posted a 1.134 OPS, including a crazy .745 slugging percentage. Each week he’s been steady, and his 21 RBI are far and away the league best. The bad news for the Brewers is that their prize third baseman has not looked good at third base. He’s batted in the DH spot frequently, and made an error at third during the Rising Stars game.

Trevor Crowe – Cleveland’s speedy prospect had his least effective week, but his AFL season has been an unqualified success so far. His line for his 11 games of work: 16-for-46, an 8:8 walk to strikeout ratio, and an OBP of .436. He’s been a prototypical leadoff man, as just two of his hits have gone for extra bases and he’s scored 12 runs -- a team-high.

Eric Duncan – The 21-year-old Yankee prospect has been no different than during his last two years in the minors: his OBP is .317, he’s only slugging at a .411 rate, and he’s struck out 10 times and walked just three.

Elijah Dukes – The big news this week -- aside from the pitching injury concerns -- was the revelation that Dukes would come to the AFL. He arrived Monday, and set about showing everyone that, all emotional issues aside, he can hit. In four games this week, Dukes went 8-for-18, including three doubles and a home run -- he did strike out five times against two walks.

He’s also here with the intention of learning first base, as Tampa Bay has a crowded outfield already. The idea is a good one, but it will take some time. Dukes committed two errors in his second game, but he’s a very fine athlete and should develop provided that he can be happy in whatever environment he finds himself.

Brett Gardner – We can’t keep ignoring this guy. A relatively unheralded Yankees centerfield prospect -- he didn’t make the cut for the AFL Rising Stars Game -- Gardner is really raking from the leadoff position. After yet another strong week, his AFL stats now read: 18-for-57, 18 walks versus 13 strikeouts, an OBP of .487, and a league-high 18 runs in 15 games.

Joe Koshansky – After stroking 31 home runs this year in Double-A Tulsa, Koshansky entered the AFL on a high note. He’s been ice cold since, however, going just 7-for-41, with a 6:12 walk ratio. Not a good performance so far the minor league power king.

Kevin Kouzmanoff – Business as usual for the guy who hit .380 in the minors this year. He’s only gotten 37 plate appearances, so as to not qualify for official AFL stat rankings, but he’s raked. Kouzmanoff's line: 15-for-35 (five doubles, two home runs), a 2:3 walk ratio, and a 1.230 OPS.

Fernando Martinez – More struggles for the 18-year-old, as he managed just two hits this week. For the fall he’s gone 10-for-51 (two home runs) with a 1:11 walk ratio. The older competition is winning at this point -- handily.

Nolan Reimold – Reimold continues to show great plate discipline as he now has 10 walks in three weeks (10:9 ratio), to give him a robust .481 OBP. And his six extra-base-hits (5 doubles, one home run) elevate his OPS to a lofty 1.005.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia – He’s still not getting much playing time (just six games and 28 plate appearances), but he’s on fire. Saltalamacchia's OPS now stands at an incredible 1.655, including 13 hits, three home runs, 12 RBI, and five walks against just two strikeouts.

Troy Tulowitzki – One of most highly regarded position prospects in the AFL this season, the shortstop continues to put a good foot forward. He’s gone 15-for-45, although with just three extra base hits -- none of which got over the fence. His walk to strikeout ratio is an unimpressive 2:7.

Neil Walker – Another poor week for the Pirates’ catcher of the future, who has not looked good at all in the AFL. Walker has just 10 hits (two doubles) in 37 at-bats with six strikeouts to a lone walk to add up to a dismal .614 OPS.