Arizona Fall League - Peoria Javelinas 2009

Wells keeps rolling in Fall League
Tigers prospect extends on-base streak to 35 games

By Robert Emrich / Special to MLB.com

11/07/09 12:55 AM EST

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Being relaxed at the plate may sound like an oxymoron, but the approach is paying off for Casper Wells.

The Tigers outfield prospect collected two hits and two RBIs on Friday to extend his Arizona Fall League on-base streak to 35 games and lead the Peoria Javelinas past the Peoria Saguaros, 6-3.

Wells, selected by Detroit in the 14th round of the 2005 Draft, is aware of the streak, which dates back to last season. But he said he tries not to carry that to the plate.

"It's something in the back of your mind, but its nothing that I take into the game at all or stress out about," Wells said. "I use a solid approach and it usually leads to getting on base. I just stay relaxed at the plate and it allows me to see the ball."

Invited to his first Major League Spring Training earlier this year, Wells is using the AFL to catch up after missing time during the regular season due to a fractured hamate bone. The Michigan native spent the year with Double-A Erie and already is looking forward to his second big league camp.

"[Next] year, I'll go into big league camp with a little more confidence, a little more comfortable and relaxed and battle for a spot out there, if it's possible," said Wells, who will play in Saturday's Rising Stars Showcase.

The 24-year-old Towson University product delivered an RBI double and scored to cap the Javelinas' three-run first inning. The Saguaros tied it in the third, but regained the lead an inning later. Wells provided some insurance in the seventh with an RBI bloop single.

Brewers prospect Lorenzo Cain stroked three singles, drove in a run and notched three of the Javelinas' seven steals. Brent Morel swiped home as part of a double-steal that snapped the fourth-inning tie.

Chris Heisey (Reds) blasted a two-run homer, his second in three games and fifth of the fall. Astros farmhand Jose Vallejo singled twice and drove in the Saguaros' other run.

Robert Wooten (1-0) struck out two in a perfect inning for the win and fellow Brewers prospect Zach Braddock pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save.

Zach Putnam, who did not allow a run in his first two AFL starts, surrendered three on four hits in two innings. Fellow Indians Minor Leaguer Connor Graham (1-1) was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs on two hits in 1 2/3 frames.

Robert Emrich is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Mitchell lifts Javelinas to victory
Dodgers prospect scores three times, drives in run

MLB.com

11/11/09 12:17 AM EST

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Arizona has done wonders for Russ Mitchell.

The Dodgers' first-base prospect, who has hit successfully in 17 of his 20 AFL games, fell a homer short of the cycle in his most recent appearance -- the Peoria Javelinas' 9-5 win over the Peoria Saguaros on Tuesday night.

Mitchell doubled and scored in the second inning, tripled in a run and scored in the third and singled in the fifth.

He hit .241 with 63 RBIs and 63 runs scored over 131 games for Double-A Chattanooga in the Southern League this season. He smacked 30 doubles and 13 home runs.

In Arizona, Mitchell is batting .329 with five homers, 24 RBIs and 18 runs on the season. He's tied for the league lead in RBIs with Phoenix's Grant Desme (Athletics).

Dustin Ackley, the Mariners' first-round pick (second overall) drove in two runs for the Javelinas (16-8) with a second-inning single. Brent Morel (Dodgers), who is batting .371 in 10 games, extended his hitting streak to eight games with a perfect 3-for-3 night at the plate, plating one run and scoring another. Joe Dunigan (Mariners) and Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers) added an RBI and a run apiece.

Javelinas starter Josh Butler (Brewers) allowed four runs on five hits and two walks over two innings. Jacob Rasner (White Sox) gave up a hit and two walks over a scoreless frame to pick up the win and Robbie Weinhardt (Tigers) fanned six while allowing a walk and a hit over three innings for his first save.

Lance Zawadzki (Padres) smacked a two-RBI double in the first for the Saguaros (11-13). Jon Gaston (Astros) scored twice and singled in a run.

Saguaros starter Wilton Lopez (Astros) was tagged for six runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings and Bradley Boxberger (Reds) tossed a perfect sixth.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

11/09/2009 6:00 PM ET
Arizona Fall League heads to CBR-G

Phoenix, Arizona - The Arizona Fall League comes to Camelback Ranch-Glendale (CBR-G) this Saturday night, November 14 when the Valley of the Sun YMCAs present the Mesa Solar Sox against the Peoria Javelinas at 6:35 p.m.

Prospects from the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, who play for the Javelinas, will feel at home at CBR-G where their organizations hold spring training.

The West Division's first-place Javelinas, the designated "home" team at CBR-G, field players from the Detroit Tigers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Seattle Mariners in addition to the Dodgers and White Sox The visiting Solar Sox are comprised of top prospects from the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Minnesota Twins.

Dodgers and White Sox Prospects At CBR-G

Dodgers prospects playing for the Javelinas are RHP Javy Guerra, RHP Kenley Jansen, RHP Eric Krebs, OF Andrew Lambo, C Lucas May, C Jessie Mier, IF Russ Mitchell, OF Trayvon Robinson, RHP Travis Schlichting and IF Justin Sellers.

White Sox prospects also with the Javelinas are RHP Kyle Bellamy, RHP Justin Cassel, OF Jordan Danks RHP Matt Long, IF Brent Morel, RHP Jacob Rasner, IF C.J. Retherford and RHP Sergio Santos.

Danks and Mitchell have been two of the Fall League's top offensive performers during the season's first four weeks. Danks, younger brother of White Sox starting pitcher John Danks, recently posted an 11-game hitting streak (.462). He ranks second in the league in runs (21) and third in walks (13) and on-base percentage (.452). Mitchell shares the league led in runs batted in (23) and ranks second in doubles (7) and home runs (5), third in extra-base hits (12), and fourth in total bases (44).

Local fans will remember Retherford from his college career at Arizona State.

What Is The Arizona Fall League?

Major League Baseball created the Arizona Fall League in 1992 to serve as an off-season "graduate school" for top prospects. The league is known as a showcase. Players have the opportunity to display their skills for basball scouts, general managers, and farm directors.

For baseball fans, it's a 40-day Valley homestand featuring many of baseball's elite prospects. Each major-league organization sends seven players to the Fall League. Five-organizaiton groupings comprise the six teams.

Arizona Fall League Contributions To Major League Baseball

Over 1,700 former Fall Leaguers have reached the major leagues. They include 141 all-stars, 6 most valuable players, 3 Cy Yound Award winners, 18 rookies-of-the-year, 3 World Series MVPs, 6 All-Star Game MVPs, 40 Silver Sluggers, 33 Gold Glovers, 8 batting champions, and single-season leaders in hits (12), RBI (5), home runs (2), and stolen bass (9).

Tickets

Tickers for the November 14 game at CBR-G are priced at $6 for adults, $5 for seniors (55 ) and youth (17 and under), and $3 for groups of 20 or more.

For group tickets and information, call 602-681-9362.

Tickets may be purchased on game day at CBR-G beginning one hour prior to game time.

There are no advance ticket sales.

All seating is general admission except for groups.

Gates open at 5:35 p.m. one hour prior to first pitch.

Top prospects square off in AFL finale
Title game to showcase plenty of talent; Strasburg out

By Tom Singer / MLB.com

11/20/09 2:45 PM EST

By the very nature of the Arizona Fall League, team rosters are completely overhauled every year. But team rank apparently is more consistent, and the Phoenix Desert Dogs are barking for their sixth consecutive title.

Phoenix, winner of the East Division, meets the West Division kingpin Peoria Javelinas in Saturday afternoon's AFL championship game at 2:35 p.m. ET/12:35 p.m. MT at Scottsdale Stadium.

It will be meaningful baseball in November -- rather, more meaningful baseball this November, with the 2009 World Series being resolved earlier this month -- on MLB.com, which will carry the live stream,and on MLB Network, which will air the game.

However, contrary to original expectations, the game will not provide a competitive preview of right-hander Stephen Strasburg, the Washington Nationals' No. 1 Draft choice.

Instead of being on the mound for Phoenix, as scheduled, Strasburg will be in the nation's capital having a twisted left knee evaluated by Nats medical personnel. The injury, suffered during a Thursday workout and diagnosed as inflammation, is not considered serious and the right-hander was scratched as a precaution.

Strasburg had similarly missed a scheduled start in the televised Nov. 7 Rising Stars Game due to a neck strain.

Rays prospect Mitch Talbot will start for the Desert Dogs in Strasburg's place against Peoria's Anthony Varvaro.

TV and Web viewers will still get No. 2, in First-Year Player Draft terms.

Occupying the outfield and the batter's box for Peoria will be Dustin Ackley -- whom the Mariners made the overall No. 2 pick in June's Draft.

Saturday's one-game showdown is between the obvious lords of the AFL's 18th season.

The Desert Dogs (19-13) and Javelinas (18-14) had the only winning records among the league's six teams across the 32-game regular season. Fittingly, they split the six games against each other. They were the league's top offensive teams, by far.

One possibly telling difference: Phoenix also boasted the offensive-minded league's top pitching staff (4.35 ERA) and Peoria its worst (6.14). But even that one disparity is mitigated by the fact the Javelinas' power hurlers led the league in strikeouts, with more than one an inning.

Strasburg and Ackley both signed too late in the summer to taste any Minor League action, hence they faced their first professional tests in this league populated by top prospects from the Double-A and Triple-A ranks.

Both passed those tests. Strasburg finished the five-week league with a 4-1 record, 4.26 ERA and a 23-7 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in 19 innings.

Ackley overcame a slow start to hit .315, with 12 RBIs in 20 games.

The Javelinas are led by Russ Mitchell and Casper Wells, among the league leaders with 25 RBIs.

Peoria also lines up Jordan Danks, brother of John and also with the White Sox, a .343 hitter with 23 RBIs, and speedster Lorenzo Cain of the Brewers (eight steals).

The Desert Dogs will still have a featured Washington pitching prospect available in the title game: hard-throwing righty Drew Storen, who led the AFL with four saves.

Phoenix also packs Grant Desme, the Oakland prospect who topped the league with 11 homers and had 27 RBIs, and Corey Brown, another A's hopeful, who batted .333 and closed hot to grab the RBI title with 28.

For one brisk afternoon in November, both teams will be about securing a title. Phoenix has had it for a long time. Peoria longs to claim it.

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Change for a Nickel. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Arizona native lifts Peoria to AFL title
Retherford hits decisive shot; MVP Desme homers in loss

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VIDEO:Weinhardt closes out Phoenix
Added: 11/21/09 Duration: 01:13
Tigers prospect Robbie Weinhardt strikes out the side in the eight inning and closes out the AFL Championship game
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By Tom Singer / MLB.com

11/21/09 6:46 PM EST



SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- White Sox prospect C.J. Retherford is a local product to whom the Arizona Fall League dynasty of Phoenix meant something.

So bringing the Desert Dogs' dominance to an end was particularly meaningful for the second baseman, whose two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Peoria Javelinas a 5-4 victory over Phoenix in Saturday's thrilling AFL championship game in front of 3,521 in Scottsdale Stadium.

"That was a big thing. They'd won the championship so many years in a row," Retherford said.

There was no sixth in a row for the Dogs.

Tampa Bay farmhand Shawn O'Malley's tiebreaking single had given them a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh, but soon after right-hander Josh Perrault, the sixth pitcher deployed by Phoenix manager Gary Cathcart, was treated roughly by Peoria.

Jonathan Lucroy, the backstop out of Milwaukee's organization, singled sharply to left with one away in the bottom of the eighth to bring up Retherford, who, on a 1-0 pitch, knew what he wanted.

"Something straight, middle-in," Retherford said.

The resident of Chandler and product of Arizona State got it, and put "a nice, compact swing" on Perrault's fastball, sending it on a line over the left-field fence.

A few minutes later, Detroit prospect Robbie Weinhardt finished his two hitless innings, and the game, with a strikeout of one of Oakland's top prospects, Jemile Weeks, and the celebration was on.

The Peoria players, who dream of being big leaguers soon enough, emulated their Major League forebears by piling atop each other on the mound in glee.

You could have called it a dog pile -- but not a Desert Dogs pile.

Tampa Bay prospect Mitch Talbot, pressed into starting duty for Phoenix after scheduled starter and No. 1 pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft by the Nationals, Stephen Strasburg, incurred a left-knee dislocation and had to be scratched, did a credible job in three innings, allowing a pair of runs.

Then the Desert Dogs began to match Peoria's bullpen parade, which was by design.

Peoria manager Kevin Bradshaw's decision to start reliever Anthony Varvaro -- a righty out of the Seattle organization whose prior 10 appearances had all been out of the bullpen -- yielded the odd sight of a starting pitcher beginning the game working from the stretch.

Varvaro's preferred style proved appropriate when Mark Angle led the game off with a triple, scoring seconds later on Danny Espinosa's infield grounder.

Five more pitchers followed Varvaro to the mound, and collectively they did enough to contain the AFL's loudest offense. Phoenix averaged seven runs during the 32-game AFL regular season.

"If our pitchers could hold them to under five runs," Bradshaw said, "I knew we had enough offense to win."

The Javelinas pitchers did so by living up to their reputation for throwing fire, combining to pile up 15 strikeouts.

Phoenix answered Peoria's little-ball go-ahead two-run rally in the second -- the runs scored on a fielder's choice grounder and Dustin Ackley's infield single -- loudly in the fourth.

A's prospect Grant Desme, the AFL's freshly named MVP, homered with one away to make it 2-2, and an out later Nevin Ashley also homered, to right-center, for a 3-2 lead.

The Javelinas came right back in the bottom of the fourth to tie it up at 3, on another run-scoring force-play grounder, this one off the bat of Jordan Danks.

The Desert Dogs had one more punch, on O'Malley's single to deliver Ashley, who had singled, stolen second and continued to third on Lucroy's throwing error, but the Javelinas landed the decisive counter-punch.

"This was awesome, to be able to do this with my family and friends here," said Retherford, signed in June 2007 by Chicago as a non-drafted free agent, "and to do it in a game played at such a high level."

For the Desert Dogs, caught between a very long year of ball and a very short rest before again cranking it up, there was only disappointment.

"It would've been nice to win after leading for much of the game," Desme said. "And it hurt to lose the way we did, late. But that's the way it goes."

Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog, Change for a Nickel. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.