2008 Media/Scouts Notes Saturday, November 22, 2008 Media Relations CONTACTS: Paul Jensen (480/710-8201, [email protected]) Stephanie Armijo (602/791-2590, [email protected]) Adam C. Nichols (480/232-1291, [email protected]) Media Relations FAX: 602/681-9363 American Division Team W L Pct. GB Home Away Division Streak Last 10 AFL Record Setter Mesa Solar Sox* 26 12 .684 - 11-8 15-4 10-4 L1 8-2 Peoria Saguaros 26 12 .684 - 14-5 12-7 9-6 W1 7-3 The Solar Sox and Saguaros flirted with Fall League Scottsdale Scorpions 14 22 .389 11.0 8-9 6-13 3-12 W1 4-6 history by finishing with identical 26–12 records, a winning percentage of .684. That's the highest winning National Division percentage in the Fall League in nine years and the Team W L Pct. GB Home Away Division Streak Last 10 second highest in the 17-year history of the league. Phoenix Desert Dogs* 18 18 .500 - 12-7 6-11 9-5 L6 2-8 Peoria Javelinas 15 22 .405 4.0 8-10 7-12 6-9 W2 5-5 The 1999 Mesa Solar Sox went 31–13 (.705) and Surprise Rafters 12 26 .316 7.0 6-13 6-13 6-8 L1 3-7 won the league championship. *Division Champion AFL Championship Game Starting Pitchers Mesa Solar Sox (26-12) Phoenix Desert Dogs (18-18) RHP Tommy Hanson (Atlanta Braves) RHP Jeff Manship (Minnesota Twins) • 5-0, 0.63 ERA, 7 GS, 28.2 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 49 SO • 2-1, 5.01 ERA, 8 GS, 32.1 IP, 36 H, 23 R, 18 ER, 8 BB, 29 SO • League Leader in Wins, Strikeouts, and ERA • Selected as week two AFL Pitcher-of-the-week • Selected as week four AFL Pitcher-of-the-Week • 2008: Split between Ft. Myers (FSL) and New Britain (EAS) • Started AFL Rising Stars game, 3.0 IP, Combined: 10-9, 3.65 ERA, 27 GS, 155.1 IP, 158 H, 63 ER, 125 SO • 2008: Split between Myrtle Beach (CAR) and Mississippi (SOU) • 2008 Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star Combined: 11-5, 2.41 ERA, 25 GS, 138.0 IP, 85 H, 37 ER, 163 SO • 2007: Midwest League Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star • 2008: Baseball America Minor League All-Star • Selected by Minnesota in the 14th round (426th overall) in 2006 draft • 2007: South Atlantic League Mid and Post-Season All-Star • 2006 Big East Pitcher-of-the-Year and named Third team • Selected by Atlanta in the 22nd round (677th overall) in 2005 draft Louisville Slugger All-America at Notre Dame 2008 AFL League Leaders Batting Average: Triples: Wins: PDD Eric Young, Jr. (COL) .430 MSS Scott Cousins (FLA) 4 MSS Tommy Hanson (ATL) 5 PES Ian Desmond (WAS) Home Runs: ERA: MSS Tyler Flowers (ATL) 12 On-Base Percentage: MSS Tommy Hanson (ATL) 0.63 PDD Eric Young, Jr. (COL) .504 Runs Batted In: Saves: MSS Scott Cousins (FLA) 33 Slugging Percentage: PDD Andrew Carignan (OAK) 6 MSS Tyler Flowers (ATL) .973 Stolen Bases: Strikeouts: PDD Eric Young, Jr. (COL) 20 Extra Base Hits: MSS Tommy Hanson (ATL) 49 PEJ Rhyne Hughes (TB) 20 Hits: Games: SCO Chris Pettit (LAA) 52 Runs Scored: Five tied at 14 PDD Eric Young, Jr. (COL) 37 Doubles: Innings Pitched: SCO Chris Pettit (LAA) 13 SCO Kevin Pucetas (SF) 35.1 Umpire Roster HP: Dan Bellino, 1B: Will Robinson, 2B: Rob Healey, 3B: David Rackley www.mlbfallball.com Around the Arizona Fall League 2008 AFL Tidbits • Today’s Arizona Fall League championship game at Scottsdale Stadium will be streamed live by MLB.TV via www.mlb.com or www.mlbfallball.com. Vinny Micucci (play-by-play) and Jonathan Mayo (color analyst) describe the action. • The announcement that second baseman Dustin Pedroia (Scottsdale Scorpions, 2004) won American League MVP means former Arizona Fall League players swept MLB’s MVP and rookie-of-the-year awards. AFL Hall of Famer Albert Pujols (Scottsdale Scorpions, 2000) won his second National League MVP award. Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria (Scottsdale Scorpions, 2007) won AL ROY and Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto (Mesa Solar Sox, 2004) won NL ROY. •The Fall League honored Chicago Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee with a distinguished alumni award on November 15 at Hohokam Park. • Fifteen of the 18 players who won 2008 Silver Slugger Awards are former Arizona Fall Leaguers. The American League Silver Sluggers are C Joe Mauer (MIN), 1B Justin Morneau (MIN), 2B Dustin Pedroia (BOS), SS Derek Jeter (NYY), outfielders Josh Hamilton (TEX), Carlos Quentin (CWS), and Grady Sizemore (CLE), and DH Aubrey Huff (BAL). The National League Silver Sluggers are C Brian McCann (ATL), 1B Albert Pujols (STL), 3B David Wright (NYM), and outfielders Ryan Braun (MIL), Matt Holliday (COL), and Ryan Ludwick (STL). Braun, Hamilton, Huff, Ludwick, McCann, Pedrioa, Quentin, and Sizemore are first-time winners. • Jimmy Rollins, shortstop for the 2008 World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies, was inducted into the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame on November 5. Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge was inducted October 17. • The AFL held its second annual Pat Tillman Foundation Benefit Night at Scottsdale Stadium on October 31. The event raised $15,000. • Former major league umpire Rich Garcia received the 2008 Arizona Fall League Roland Hemond Award prior to the Rising Stars Game on October 24. Player/Pitcher of the Week Week Player Pitcher One Saguaros ─ IF Shawn Bowman (NYM) Javelinas ─ RHP Phil Hughes (NYY) Two Scorpions ─ IF Drew Sutton (HOU) Solar Sox ─ RHP Tommy Hanson (ATL) Three Solar Sox ─ C Tyler Flowers (ATL) Saguaros ─ LHP Jason Vargas (NYM) Four Solar Sox ─ IF Logan Morrison (FLA) Desert Dogs ─ RHP Jeff Manship (MIN) Desert Dogs ─ OF Eric Young, Jr. (COL) Five Scorpions ─ OF Chris Pettit (LAA) Desert Dogs ─ RHP Brooks Brown (ARI) Six Solar Sox ─ OF Casper Wells (DET) Scorpions ─ LHP Barret Browning (LAA) Transaction Log 10/10/08 --- OF Desmond Jennings (TB) added to the Peoria Javelinas roster 11/03/08 --- OF Darren Ford (SF) added to the Scottsdale Scorpions roster (taxi squad) 11/04/08 --- P Clay Buchholz (BOS) off Scottsdale Scorpions roster 10/13/08 --- P David Patton (COL) added to the Phoenix Desert Dogs roster 11/04/08 --- P Eammon Portice (BOS) activated from taxi squad 10/17/08 --- C Lou Palmisano (MIL) moved from Solar Sox to Javelinas roster 11/04/08 --- P Bob McCrory (BAL) removed from Surprise Rafters roster 10/17/08 --- OF Quintin Berry (PHI) active off taxi squad 11/05/08 --- IF Aaron Bates (BOS) removed from the Scorpions roster 10/20/08 --- Remove P Casey Weathers (COL) off Phoenix Desert Dogs roster 11/05/08 --- IF Blake Davis permanently active off taxi squad 10/20/08 --- Remove OF Tyler Colvin (CHC) off Mesa Solar Sox roster 11/05/08 --- C Tuffy Gosewisch (PHI) moved to the taxi squad 10/23/08 --- Remove OF Stefan Gartrell (CWS) off Peoria Saguaros roster 11/06/08 --- C Angel Salome (MIL) off the Peoria Javelinas roster 10/23/08 --- OF Mike Baxter (SD) temporarily active off taxi squad 11/06/08 --- C Lou Palmisano (MIL) permanently active off taxi squad 10/25/08 --- C Tuffy Gosewisch (PHI) added to Mesa Solar Sox roster 11/06/08 --- IF Mark Ori (HOU) permanently active off taxi squad 10/27/08 --- P Wade Townsend (TB) off Peoria Javelinas roster 11/11/08 --- IF Shelby Ford (PIT) removed from Scottsdale Scorpions roster 10/27/08 --- P Chris Blazek (HOU) off the Scottsdale Scorpions roster 11/11/08 --- IF Ryan Rohlinger (SF) activated from Scottsdale Scorpions taxi squad 10/27/08 --- P Max Scherzer (ARI) off the Phoenix Desert Dogs roster 11/12/08 --- RHP Brae Wright (MIL) removed from Peoria Javelina roster 10/27/08 --- P Reid Mahon (ARI) activated off taxi squad 11/14/08 --- RHP Jeffery Marquez (NYY) removed from Peoria Javelinas roster 10/28/08 --- OF John Raynor (FLA) off the Mesa Solar Sox roster 11/14/08 --- RHP Jeffery Marquez (CWS) added to Peoria Saguaros roster 10/28/08 --- OF Jordan Danks (CWS) added to the Peoria Saguaros roster 11/14/08 --- LHP Aaron Poreda (CWS) placed on taxi squad 10/28/08 --- OF Mike Baxter (SD) added back to the taxi squad 11/17/08 --- RHP Ryan Reid (TB) removed from Peoria Javelinas roster 10/28/08 --- OF Shawn Bowman (NYM) off the Peoria Saguaros roster 11/19/08 --- IF Gordon Beckham (CWS) removed from Peoria Saguaros roster 10/29/08 --- IF Taylor Greene (MIL) off the Peoria Javelinas roster 11/19/08 --- C Rob Johnson (SEA) removed from Peoria Javelinas roster 10/29/08 --- OF Mike Baxter (SD) permanently active off taxi squad 11/19/08 --- C Steve Hill (STL) activated from taxi squad 10/30/08 --- IF Justin Smoak (TEX) moved from Rafters to Javelinas roster 11/20/08 --- RHP Josh Tomlin (CLE) removed from Surprise Rafters roster 10/31/08 --- IF Brent Brewer (MIL) added to Peoria Javelinas roster 11/20/08 --- OF Stephen Head (CLE) removed from Surprise Rafters roster 11/01/08 --- P Eammon Portice (BOS) added to the Scottsdale Scorpions roster 11/20/08 --- C John Hester (ARI) activated as Peoria Javelinas emergency catcher 11/01/08 --- OF Ben Copeland (SF) off the Scottsdale Scorpions roster 11/21/08 --- OF Sean Doolittle (OAK) removed from Phoenix Desert Dogs roster American Division Champions: Phoenix Desert Dogs (18-18) 27 Hector Ambriz (RHP/ARI) ─ AFL: Opponents batting .069 with 12 strikeouts with runners on base.