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2004 season

October 10, 2004

The 2004 Arizona Fall League season has begun, and we've returned to cover the action from Arizona for all of you serious baseball junkies.

The biggest news this year is the return of regular night games, a welcome change after last year's MLB budget debacle when only six night games were on the schedule. This means we'll be able to spend more time at the ballparks without sneaking away from the day job.

Attendance appears to be on the rise this season, the weather's been great, and Fall baseball is back ... life couldn't be better!

Out of the park:

The most impressive big fly this week was by no means the longest homerun. Jason Repko's (Dodgers - OF) homer barely cleared the outstretched glove of rival third baseman Buzz Hannahan (Phillies - 3B), but the hard liner kept rising until it shot over the left field fence ...

Jason Repko is greeted at home plate after his line drive homerun

Two other homeruns that drew oohs and ahs from the crowd were the Opening Day blast from Mike Napoli (Angels - 1B/C), clearing the double billboards in left field at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, and Ryan Garko's Saturday night shot at Peoria, which landed on the top of the berm beyond the left field wall ... Ian Kinsler (Rangers - SS) is already showing that his 2004 breakout season was no fluke; the second-year pro homered twice in the Saguaros' Friday afternoon game against the Javelinas ... Behemoth Ryan Howard (Phillies - 1B) continued his torrid homerun streak from the regular season with a pair of bombs in his first four games; the left-handed hitter smacked 46 homers between AA and AAA this season. Howard is slated to get some action in the outfield, but so far he's only played first base and DH ... In a very short period of time, Jeremy Hermida (Marlins - OF) is showing that he may be one of the more talented hitters in the AFL. The 20-year-old left-handed hitter, who spent the entire season in the Class A Florida State League, has homered twice and is tied for the league lead in stolen bases with three. Is it too soon to peg Hermida as our sleeper pick for future stardom? ... Kevin Thompson (Yankees - OF) also hit a pair of homeruns this week, including a granny; he's batting .438 with a league-leading eight RBIs.

From the mound:

It's a little too early to get a good reading on the pitching in the AFL, as no goes more than a few innings at a time during the early part of the season. But Michael Burns (Astros - P) got off to a strong start with three scoreless innings in his AFL debut. The 26-year-old right-hander gave up only one hit and no walks, while striking out four. Burns was one of the top relievers in the Texas League in '04, posting a 1.67 ERA for the Astros' Round Rock affiliate ...

Huston Street is on the fast track to Oakland, as he's closing in on the closer job with the Athletics ...

Toronto management must be pleased with the first AFL outing from Francisco Rosario (Blue Jays - P), who missed all of the 2003 regular season after injuring his elbow while preparing for the 2002 AFL season. Rosario pitched three scoreless innings, striking out four ... Acclaimed closer candidate Huston Street (Athletics - P), the former U. of Texas pitcher, went up against Rickie Weeks (Brewers - 2B) in the last inning of yesterday's game at Phoenix Muni. With two outs in the ninth, Street fanned the Brewers' number one prospect to close out a 9-6 Desert Dog victory.

Acrobats on turf:

Wayne Lydon (Mets - OF) made a spectacular over the shoulder catch off the bat of Weeks in Tuesday's night game at Scottsdale Stadium ... Casey Smith (Angels - SS) is overshadowed by the wealth of middle infield prospects in the Anaheim system, but he showed enough in his first week in the AFL to convince observers that he's certainly got the glove to play a role in the big leagues. Smith made a number of acrobatic moves on the field in yesterday's game at Phoenix Muni.

Looking ahead:

The AFL returns tomorrow with a full slate of games, including five contests under the lights. A few late arrivals, such as Curtis Granderson (Detroit - OF), are due in town this week. Daytime temperatures are forecast for the 80s, so we should see perfect baseball weather in AZ.

Play ball!

--- Bill Mitchell

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All photos on the Arizona Fall League Report are credited to Bill Mitchell, unless noted otherwise, and are not to be used for any other purpose without express permission.