9/18/19

Tom Brennan - AFL Starts Today

Source: Wikipedia


No, Joe Namath is not starting for the American Football League (AFL) today.  It is defunct, you see. 

However:

The Arizona Fall League starts today - the non-defunct AFL.

Mets represented on the Scottsdale Scorpions roster as of late month included:

Andres Gimenez, SS/2B; 
David Peterson, LHP; 
Thomas Szapucki, LHP; 
Ryley Gilliam, RHP; 
Ali Sanchez, C; 
Patrick Mazeika, C; 
Luis Carpio, SS/2B.

A few weeks ago, Newsday disappointingly reported that Szapucki would NOT pitch in the AFL, with no reason given - who is replacing him is not published yet, to my knowledge.

Last year's Mets Players' stats:
Pete Alonso - 27 G, .255, 6 HR, 27 RBI
A. Gimenez - 19 G, .125, 1 HR, 7 RBI
D. Lindsay - 8 G, .286, 3 HR, 4 RBI (with the appropriate initials DL)
Ali Sanchez - 11 G, .120 (3 for 25), 1 RBI

Matt Blackham - 10 IP, 2.70 ERA, 9 BB, 11 K
Steve Nogosek - 7.1 IP, 3.86, 6 BB, 7 K
Joe Zanghi - 10 IP, 4.50 ERA, 2 BB, 9 K

According to Wikipedia, "Each August, Major League Baseball clubs hold a position draft to determine the players who will go to Arizona.[1] Most are Double-A and Triple-A Minor League players.[1] Each club can opt to send two players below Double-A. Foreign players are allowed, as long as the player is not on his native country's primary protected player list. 
The league is designed for these prospects to refine their skills and perform in game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who are in attendance at almost every game. Play begins shortly after the end of MLB's regular season in early October and ends in mid-November with a championship game between the winners of the East and West divisions.
The Arizona Fall League teams are each affiliated with five separate Major League teams; each affiliated Major League team provides seven players who team up to fill the 35-man roster of each team.[1] Additionally, teams may elect to send Taxi Squad players who are only eligible on Wednesdays and Saturdays. MLB teams also provide managers, coaches, and trainers.[1]"




10 comments:

Tom Brennan said...

That guy Alonso - all he needed was 27 games in the AFL to become a star.

This just in - Desmond Lindsay is due back in 2025, mid season. It is not too early to get excited.

Tom Brennan said...

Lindsay was the 53rd overall pick in 2015 - still short of 1000 plate appearances in 5 seasons. So he has averaged less than 200 plate appearances per season.

# 66 overall pick the following year? Bo Bichette. Bo is hitting .310/.356/.583 in his first 44 MLB games, looking like a superstar in the making.

Where the heck was Bo in 2015 when we needed him??

bill metsiac said...

Is there really a Desmond Lindsay? 🤔

Mike Freire said...

I think Lindsay has paper mâché for bones and ligaments.

As far as the AFL is concerned, I am hoping it serves as a springboard for Mr Gimenez heading into 2020 and beyond.

Reese Kaplan said...

Desmond "AJ Pollock" Lindsay? I think Lindsey Nelson has greater probability of Mets' success. Or Ozzie Nelson. Or Willie Nelson. Or Charles Nelson Reilly. Or Pat Riley. Or SNL's "It's Pat"...

Hobie said...

Maybe Desmond will run for mayor?

Tom Brennan said...

Desmond is missing in action as much as Mayor Bill DeBlasio (a/k/a Werner Wilhelm) - and that's hard to do.

Mike, after Gimenez's poor showing in the AFL last year, I began to question his high prospect status. It is no surprise to me, therefore, that in MLB's just released Top 100, he slipped from # 58 last year to # 93 this time around. THAT is a big drop.

Tom Brennan said...

Just looked - rosters now up - Blake Taylor and Jordan Humphreys were added as pitchers. Great for the resurgent Blake, and hopefully, Humphreys is ready and raring to go after a LONG hiatus. JH missed half of 2017, all of 2018, and threw only 2 official innings in 2019.

Tom Brennan said...

Gimenez was 1-3 and a walk and RBI. SANCHEZ was a D replacement for bopping catcher Joey Bart, who launched 2 homers.

Tom Brennan said...

Game 2, Mazeika goes 3 for 5 as catcher, and Ryley Gilliam allows 2 unearned in 2 IP