Arizona Fall League Review: Week Five

Does Fall League have Dog Days? If so, we must be coming down to them as the AFL enters its final days.

So pull up a podcast, and lend an ear. Mixed in below, Kyle Glaser of Baseball America discusses Melvin Adon, and even manages a quick hit on Garrett Williams among his AFL musings:

Garrett Williams also gets a write up in friend of Minor Lines Adam McInturff’s latest from the AFL:

(it’s in there, trust me).

The Hitters

C.J. Hinojosa: 3 G, 1 for 5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 K. Season totals: .162/.225/.270
Matt Winn: 3 G, 3 for 8, 2 HRs, 3b, 3 walks, 1 K. Season totals: .128/.320/.333
Heath Quinn: 4 G, 1 for 13, 2 BB, 7 K. Season totals: .128/.222/.128

Matt Winn broke an 0 for 22 streak on Monday night when he went deep for his first AFL home run. That was the start of a big week for the Catcher, who came back with another HR on Friday and a triple Saturday afternoon. He has just five hits in his 39 AFL at bats, but he’s supplemented that with 10 walks.

Later in the week, CJ Hinojosa also hit his first HR, a three-run shot after subbing into the game as a defensive replacement in the 6th inning. CJ has six RBI in the AFL and they’ve come on just two swings of the bat: a three-run bases clearing PH double and this HR. Those are his only XBH of the AFL and interestingly, both came in games in which he came off the bench. Heath Quinn also came up with a hit this week, his fifth in 35 ABs. Five hits for the trio — best week so far!

The Pitchers

Garrett Williams: 1 GS, 5 IP, 5H, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K. Season Totals: 1.35 ERA, 21 K/20 IP
Melvin Adon: 2 G, 2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 K. Season Total: 1.54 ERA, 21 K/11.2 IP
Chase Johnson: 1 G, 0.1 IP, 1 BB, 0 K. Season Totals: 4.50 ERA, 5 K/6 IP
Sam Wolff: 2 G, 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 Sv. Season Totals: 0.00 ERA, 12 K/9 IP

Williams and Adon each had their poorest outings of the year as we reach the drag zone for the pitchers. Williams allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits on Monday — he’d allowed just one run total prior to that game over four starts and 15 innings. Still he’s had the K pitch going lately, striking out 18 in his past three games (14 IP). Adon allowed a run on three hits and a walk in his last game of the week. That was the first run he’d allowed since his first game of the Fall way back on October 10, and the first hits he’d given up (aside from the Fall Stars game) in his last five outings. It was also just the second time he’s failed to K a batter in an outing in the AFL. Still, he’s racked up 21 Ks in less than 12 innings and has really been a revelation in a relief role.

Sam Wolff kept his perfect AFL campaign going as he moved into a closer role, closing out two of the Scorpions victories this week. Wolff hasn’t shown Adon’s eye-popping stuff, but he’s allowed just two hits and walked no one in his 9 AFL innings.

We’re into the final week of the fall as next Saturday marks the AFL Championship game (which the Scorpions are almost certainly not going to be a part of).