Article: Twins Arizona Fall League Preview

[USAFChief]

Jake certainly pitched himself into trouble in the bottom of the ninth in a one-run game.  In a different situation, a new reliever might have been brought in, but apparently in the AFL you simply relieve yourself on the mound.  It worked out. 

 

Of note that inning were two consecutive batters who appeared to get hit in the hand but were not awarded first base (which would have scored a run each).  I don't recall if they were swinging at the pitch, but the umpire was most definite in his ruling and Lance Parrish (manager) didn't argue either time as far as I recall.  After some internet browsing, I see that it's not as simple as "the hand is part of the bat," despite the old saying.  So I'd like to know a little more about  the umpire's reasoning.

As I recall it, Reed's control was so shaky the two guys that he hit were both in the on deck circle.

 

Of course, my memory ain't what it used to be, so I can't swear to that.

[ashbury]

One other plug for the AFL, in case anyone else is considering making the trip: no between-innings malarky¹, like dizzy bats or mascot races.  People are there for the baseball.

 

^{1_{OK, in fairness, I'll admit that in the middle of the seventh they do play this old-timey song about what it's like going to a baseball game.  Some of the locals seem to know the words, and they sing along.  Must be an Arizona thing.  Charming.}}

[Zachary]

As I recall it, Reed's control was so shaky the two guys that he hit were both in the on deck circle.

 

Of course, my memory ain't what it used to be, so I can't swear to that.

You're right, your memory isn't quite what it used to be. What actually happened was the Ump checked down to the lady behind the third base dugout and she called them both strikes. Stee-RIKE!

[Mike Sixel]

From KLAW:

 

Jake Reed from Minnesota probably had the best pure fastball, 93-97 with plus life, but his slider at 78-81 was surprisingly soft given his arm speed.

[amjgt]

In this context is "soft" a compliment?

 

I'm leaning toward no.

[amjgt]

Eddie Rosario with all multi-hit games so far (four 2-hit games)

[tobi0040]

No extra base hits yet, but seeing Buxton hit about .300 is very encouraging.

[DJL44]

apparently in the AFL you simply relieve yourself on the mound.  It worked out. 

 

Yuck

[ashbury]

Eddie Rosario with all multi-hit games so far (four 2-hit games)

I don't think we saw more than one bad plate appearance from him per game, if that.  The hits were stroked, and even the outs tended to be at'em balls.  My only quibbles were that nothing much was hit for power, and he was surprisingly slow down the first base line the one time I remember him trying to leg something out (not slow like a catcher, I was just expecting him to make it close and it wound up routine).  He has stolen some bases.  Quibbles, like I say.

[USAFChief]

I don't think we saw more than one bad plate appearance from him per game, if that.  The hits were stroked, and even the outs tended to be at'em balls.  My only quibbles were that nothing much was hit for power, and he was surprisingly slow down the first base line the one time I remember him trying to leg something out (not slow like a catcher, I was just expecting him to make it close and it wound up routine).  He has stolen some bases.  Quibbles, like I say.

He could add a bit more chalant to his OF play, too, for my tastes.

[USAFChief]

Jake certainly pitched himself into trouble in the bottom of the ninth in a one-run game.  In a different situation, a new reliever might have been brought in, but apparently in the AFL you simply relieve yourself on the mound.  It worked out. 

 

Of note that inning were two consecutive batters who appeared to get hit in the hand but were not awarded first base (which would have scored a run each).  I don't recall if they were swinging at the pitch, but the umpire was most definite in his ruling and Lance Parrish (manager) didn't argue either time as far as I recall.  After some internet browsing, I see that it's not as simple as "the hand is part of the bat," despite the old saying.  So I'd like to know a little more about  the umpire's reasoning.

I can't recall...were the pitches called strikes? If they were called strikes, that seems to settle the issue...if called balls, that seems to confuse the issue. I guess I should have noticed that at the time.

[ashbury]

I believe it was the final two batters of the game, and here is what AFL's website "Gameday" page for them shows:

Hector Gomez: ball, foul, swinging strike, called strike

Nick ("You Killed Kenny You") Basto: foul, swinging strike, ball, out to CF

 

That doesn't pin it down, unless I'm correct in remembering that on the first guy it wasn't the first pitch where it happened.  That would rule out it being called a ball.  Don't know if a foul or swinging strike would be the one.

 

Too bad the brains of my family wasn't keeping his scorebook that evening.