December 2009
4 posts
Q & A with Zack Wheeler
The first entry in our Due Diligence series is with high school phenom and Giants 2009 First Round Pick, Zack Wheeler.
Zack was gracious enough to sit down and answer some questions for AZGIANTS and you, the fans.
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AZG: Thanks Zack, for taking the time to answer some questions. First off, you absolutely dominated high school batters last year going 9-0, with an opponent BA of .118, striking...
November 2009
29 posts
Giants Top 10 Prospect List Released
Courtesy of Andrew Baggarly and Baseball America, the updated top 10 prospect list is available here.
Quickly 1-10
1. Buster Posey
2. Madison Bumgarner
3. Zack Wheeler
4. Thomas Neal
5. Dan Runzler
6. Tommy Joseph
7. Roger Kieschnick
8. Ehire Adrianza
9. Brandon Crawford
10. Francisco Peguero
I am also pleased to announce that 7 of the 10 prospects have been exclusively covered here...
New Interview Segment - "Due Diligence," Winter...
Hello Giants Fans,
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and didn’t get too crazy on Black Friday.
I will be starting a new interview segment here on the site named “Due Diligence.” As a throwback to Sabean, I picked that title as I am going to try and get insight on some of our top prospects making sure I have kicked all of the proverbial tires. More than just stats,...
Photos Used On Steve Edlefsen's Blog
Steven was kind of enough to post some of my photos from this year’s AFL on his blog today. Go over and read his entry at aflgiants.mlblogs.com when you have a chance.
Thanks again Steven!
The 2009 AFL Season Experience, Thank You's
This was my first Arizona Fall League experience and I gotta say it was a blessing. As many before me have already stated, it is truly the “hidden gem” in baseball. Top prospects, games everyday, and sit wherever you want all for about $1.50/game? If you wanted to, you could see Buster Posey behind the dish during the day and then see Stephen Strasburg on the hill that night. You...
Javelinas Win AFL 2009 Championship
A lot of coverage on this one from MLB so I’ll just post up some photos I snapped. I didn’t move around so they are all from the same vantage point, also, the “nutty guy who steals all the baseballs” was sitting in front of me and decided to keep moving back and forth, so you’ll see his dome in some of the edges….sigh.
Ackley Photo on Project Prospect, Coverage of...
* A Dustin Ackley photo I took is currently on projectprospect.com They are doing a championship game chat for those who can’t be here in Scottsdale. Check it out.
* My wife and I are going to take in the championship game today @ Scottsdale Stadium even though the Scorpions were eliminated. Strasburg was scratched but it should still be a good game. I’ll snap a couple shots and...
Scorps Win Finale, All Giants Play, Tabata is a...
The AFL 2009 season is officially over and Giants baseball resumes when pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training. However, the Scorpions apparently didn’t want the season to end going on a hit parade to the tune of 17 runs on 21 hits. It was a long game, but every Giant was in the lineup which made it a little less painful as I was able to get some more shots.
Diamond Notes:
* Joe...
Goodbye to Scottsdale, Chasing Chase, Tuffy...
Tonight was the last game at Scottsdale Stadium for the Scorpions as well as the last night game for the 2009 AFL season. They close out the home season with a win in chilly weather in front of Hall of Fame inductee Brian Giles (He probably left before the game even started).
I met Bob Brenly tonight as well. Man he was a good catcher. I wish he would come back to the organization instead of...
Scorpions hold on 5-4 Cisco Wins, Crawford Gets...
Mike Cisco went into the off season on a high note, going 4IP, H, 0ER, 2BB, K. He finally got that elusive W and ends his AFL career with a 1-2 record. The game was rolling along, when the Desert Dogs decided to make a top of the 9th rally cutting the lead to 1 run. With the bases loaded and 2 out, the “Ninja” Tooru Murata came in and let 2 of the 3 score on a single, but then...
Scorpions Shut Out, Neal's A League Leading Thief,...
Scorpions only get 2 hits in a 8-0 rout.
Augenstein gets the loss, which is unfortunate because he pitched really well again for 4IP. Layne and Watson really let it get out of reach, giving up 5 runs in the 6th, all of which count against Layne as Watson walked in inherited runners. 3 games left to play until the off season.
Diamond Notes:
* Thomas Neal got the first hit of the day, going 1-2...
Last Off Day Sunday, Last Week's Winner, Off...
Good Morning Everyone,
Feeling a little better today, but still worked. Mixed feelings from today’s off day… I’m pretty tired from just this 2 month season, and I don’t even play. I can imagine the players are ready to relax to weeks of off days and they deserve it.
At the same time, the AFL is probably my favorite other league and seeing it come to an end is a downer....
Crawford Wins It, Neal Gets Robbed, Shout Out to...
Scorpions win 4-2 today in Surprise. This post is going to be short because I feel like crap.
Diamond Notes:
* Brandon Crawford drove a 2-run shot to RF after having a great AB. Fought off some pitches, then crushed one to the off limits berm. He also had a great day with the glove, starting a DP.
* Thomas Neal was back at 1B and also started a double play of his own. He got absolutely robbed...
Welcome to "K" Mart.
Another night game in Scottsdale, fun times. I only stayed for warm ups and the first 2 innings because I wanted to spend a Friday night with my beautiful wife. She definitely deserved a date night.
That said, most of the pictures are of Joe Martinez and opposing pitcher Mike Leake.
Diamond Notes:
* You’ve heard of “K-ville” but what about “K”-Mart (cheese, I know...
Veal Gets The Loss, Saguaros Exterminate Scorps
Donnie Veal finally got hit today as he gave up 3ER in 2.1IP. Not the typical dominating stuff we have seen as he also walked 3 batters, leaving the bases loaded in the 3rd for Garcia. Garcia did an excellent job though, and got the remaining 2 outs to pick up Veal and limit the damage.
With this loss, the Scorpions are basically eliminated from championship contention being 4 games back with 6...
Scorpions Lose Big, Lose Ground
It was a tale of back to back games with Phoenix. Yesterday, a solid pitching performance with impeccable defense. Today however, had pitching struggles and errors galore. At one point in the game, it was 5-0 Phoenix, on 2 hits and a BB…5 runs on 2hits!? You just can’t give extra outs like that and expect to compete in the game.
With this loss, the Scorpions fall back to 3.5 games...
Project Prospect Photo
A couple photos recently got picked up by projectprospect.com. There is currently one up featuring Domonic Brown of the Phillies. Take a look at their site, very useful info for those of us that can’t get enough of baseball.
Thanks Adam!
Scorpions Shut Out Dogs 2-0, Cuts Lead to 2.5...
Huge win today in Phoenix as the Scorpions lead by Bryan Augenstein tossed a shut out against a potent Desert Dogs lineup.
Shutouts are definitely a stat in the AFL that can be easily overlooked. Due to pitch counts, starters are limited on how many innings that can go. Usually 4IP is a “going deep” in to the game, but it still leaves 5 innings to get eaten up by the bullpen every...
Scottsdale Drops a Close One to Mesa 3-2
Two early runs weren’t enough in this contest as the Solar Sox got to the bullpen edging out the Scorpions 3-2. Roe pitched a great game to start, going 3IP, 2H, 4K’s. Unfortunately, Valdez wishes he had a pitch back when Singleton went yard on him in the 5th, knocking a shot in to the bullpens, erasing Roe’s work and making this a 4 inning game. Mesa was able to squeak out 1 run...
Off Day Contest - Win New Era Scorpions Cap
Happy Off Day Sunday once again!
Congratulations to last week’s winner of the Brandon Crawford Autographed Photo CaliArchie!
Thanks again to all who participated and for helping promote the site!
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AFL Rising Stars Game
The AFL Rising Stars Game started with a bang with the East All Stars putting up a crooked number off of SP Minor. 7 runs total, but they would score no more.
The West came all the way back from 7 down to win 8-7 thanks to a Matt McBride. McBride launched a 2-run shot off the heralded reliever, and Stanford alum, Drew Storen.
Hopefully you got a chance to watch the game on TV or online, the...
Scorpions Down Desert Dogs 8-4, Veal Snubbed,...
Back to back wins is always a great thing to write about. Today the Scorpions beat the division leading Desert Dogs 8-4 @ Phoenix Muni. A great way to close out the week before heading into the All Star break (Which is only one extra day for players not selected).
* Donnie Veal has been absolutley legit from what I’ve seen. He goes 4IP, 3H, 1ER, 5K’s, he’s a nasty lefty that...
Scorpions Come Back to WIN, Neal at 1B, Joe Pics...
The Scorpions earn a much needed W today by coming back down 7-4 in the bottom of the 8th. The Scorps throw up a 4 spot and Reynolds came in to close it out. Willin Rosario was a beast, going 3-5 with 2HR, 3RBI’s. Joe Martinez started the game a little shaky allowing 3 runs in the top of the 1st, but then shut the Rafters down, 4IP, 3H, 3ER, BB, 4K’s. The late inning heroics saved Joe...
Scorpions Do Not Win, Neal Goes Yard, I Love Walks
UPDATE: Gallery for this game will not be fully online until after midnight.
I am at a “loss” for words when it comes to creating new titles for “Scorpions Lose.” Rafters roll 10-5.
The bright spot was definitely the offense, 13 hits with almost everyone in the lineup getting a knock. Tabata continued to tear it up, 3-5 from the lead off spot, Gosewisch goes 2-4.
*...
I Hate Night Games in Scottsdale, Scorpions Lose
It’s a bit of a hike for me to get out there already, but night games make me get home so late. That’s not really the issue though, Scottsdale Stadium at night shoots like crap with my rig. That said, I left after 4 innings to make it home at a decent hour. Buster was the only Giant in the lineup and Turpen and Edlefsen came in to combine on 4 innings of shut out ball. Not a lot of...
Buster Posey Selected to AFL Rising Stars Game
Rosters just announced, Buster is the lone representative from the Giants organization. I think Crawford and Edlefsen got robbed. Murata really? I guess it’s so peeps can see his delivery on TV.
Posey Goes Oppo, Dings Salty's Pavilion
Nothing like going oppo yard on the first pitch you see. That’s exactly what Buster Posey did today as he demolished a Nick Hill fastball back, back, back and deep on to Salty’s Pavilion in right field. It was a 2 run shot that gave the Scorpions the lead 2-0 after 2.
I left midway through the 5th inning and it seemed that 2 runs were all it was going to take as Mike Cisco was...
Win An Autographed Brandon Crawford Photo!
Happy Off Day Sunday.
Our winner from last week’s contest was JMSmooth with a quote from Bull Durham,
“…anyone says anything bad about Millie I’ll break his neck”
I gotta respect the knowledge of a great movie about the game. Congratulations.
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