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2006 season October 22, 2006 Longtime followers of the AFL have agreed that the quality of play is down this year, with many of the players looking just downright tired. Pitching is still inconsistent, due to the long layoff after the end of the minor league season. The sloppy defense is a little surprising. But this week there were signs that players were getting back into condition, both mentally and physically, so we've hopefully got four weeks of quality baseball ahead of us. The big event for the coming week is the first ever mid-season all-star game on Friday night at Surprise Stadium. There's no word yet on who will be participating in this game, although rumors indicate that Mike Pelfrey (Mets - P) may face Luke Hochevar (Royals - P) to start the game. Stay tuned for details. Scorpions 1-2 punch
From the hill
Relievers pick up most of the wins in
the early part of the AFL season since starters rarely, if ever, go the
required five innings to earn a victory. Southpaw A.J.
Murray (Rangers - P) and
righty Jesse Chavez
(Pirates - P) have combined for four of the Rafters' five wins this
year. Chavez, who was traded last summer from the Rangers to the Pirates
for Kip Wells, has thrown six scoreless innings. Murray has pitched 9.1 IPs,
yielding only one run and sporting an impressive 9-1 K/BB rate ...
Former Texas Longhorn Kyle Yates
(lue Jays - P) has pitched effectively, fanning 10 batters in six
innings. The right-hander has a 1.50 ERA ...
Billy Sadler
(Giants - P),
who made his big league debut in '06, has posted some eye-popping
numbers in the AFL, striking out 11 batters and walking only one in five
shutout IPs. The right-hander has allowed two hits ... The Phillies sent
former top prospect Gavin Floyd
(Phillies - P) to the AFL to try to straighten himself out after two
dismal seasons. While stats are not the best indicator of performance,
it's certain that the Philadelphia brass would like to see more from
Floyd than his current 16.62 ERA after being lit up by opposing hitters
in both of his starts. New this week New AFL roster additions this week included Josh Perrault (Nationals - P), Dee Brown (Nationals - OF), Ryan Edell (Indians - P) and Brandon Nall (Mets - P). Kory Casto (Nationals - OF) will return after a brief respite to get married. --- Bill Mitchell 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.
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