Playing Some Good Ball
After a very sluggish start over the first couple of weeks, our team has really started to play some good ball. We won 6 in a row last week and 7 of our last 8. A lot of the victories have been close games and I think two of them were walk-off base hits. Earlier in the season, when our offense would put up plenty of runs, our pitching would let it slip. Then, when our pitching was on that day, our offense would struggle. Now everything is starting to click. Our offense has continued to put up runs and come up with that big hit late in the game and our pitching staff was lights out last week. We had thrown 3 shutouts in 4 games which is pretty impressive considering this is a hitter dominated league.
It could have had something to do with the weather. It was relatively cold here last week with the temperature dropping into the high 50’s. For some reason its always easier to pitch when its colder out. It was back up into the high 80’s today, so we will see if the bats heat back up along with the weather.
Mike Minor threw only one inning in his last start in order to get the rotation set for the Rising Stars All-Star game. He also pitched 3 innings today and has really looked good since arriving here. Craig Kimbrel will also be joining him in the All-Star game on Saturday. He continues to impress everyone in AZ and there really arent many pitchers in baseball who have stuff like his. Lee Hyde has probably been the most impressive of anyone so far – touching 94 mph from the left side and dominating. In the first few weeks of the AZFL, Freddie Freeman hit more balls hard right at defenders than I had seen in a while. Over the last week and a half, those hard hit balls have been finding the gaps for hits and he also hit an impressive opposite field homerun.Jason Heyward is back home in Atlanta nursing a strained muscle. It’s a minor injury and he just needs to rest it and get ready for next year.
I made my second start on Saturday to fill in for the Indian’s Zack Putnam who was battling a sore elbow. But, Zach will be fine and will probably start on Friday. I came out of the bullpen in addition to starting some games this past year for Mississippi and Gwinnett, so Im accustomed to filling both roles. I really don’t have a preference between being a starter or reliever, but I think that coming out of the bullpen has helped me as a starter. It taught me to be more aggressive and go right after hitters. I threw the ball well and have been feeling great on the mound over the last few outings.
There was a pretty cool situation that happened in the last game while I was pitching. Jason Castro and I grew up playing NorCal summer ball together. He caught me on saturday for the first time since our junior year in high school, at the same time Giants infielder Brandon Crawford was batting and he was also on our team for several years. This is the first time that I had seen either of them play since high school so it was pretty fun to face Brandon while Jason caught. I had faced Brandon earlier in the Fall League and had gotten him out but he hit a curveball back up the middle this time. I guess he will have bragging rights until next time. Another former high school teammate of ours is out here too and thats Toronto’s David Cooper. Its been great seeing these guys and catching up.
PS… Kimbrel won the best halloween costume contest with a pretty convincing oompa-loompa.
Braves in the AFL 
Hey Jeff,
Love the blog and am a frequent reader. Please tell me you have a picture of Krimel as an oompa-loompa. Its cruel and unusual punishment to withhold it if you do.
This is a great blog. I’m guessing you’ve written about baseball before, for a school paper, maybe? It gives us readers a good insight into everyday life in the AFL.
Let me ask you a question: Now that you’ve pitched at various levels in the minors, would you say the AFL is the equivalent of AA or AAA or somewhere between the two?
My wife and I try to get over from the L.A. area to Arizona every fall for a few AFL games. I always think fans will discover it from one year to the next and there will be 5,000 people in the stands. In a way, I like it with 400. Sit where you want, park right next to the stadium.
Good luck the rest of the season. I hope to watch the Rising Stars game tomorrow.
Jeff,
Enjoying the blog immensely; question for you. I am curious as to what direct guidance you receive regarding things you need to work on in the AFL. I understand if you dont want to share specifics but I am curious from a high level who typically within the organization talks with you before the fall league begins and if they talk about specific things to work on such as improving a specific pitch working or handling types of situations. If you know the answer as it applies to hitters I’d also appreciate your feedback. Continued success to you in AZ.
Regards,
Jason
My question is, where is Zack Cozart? Haven’t seen or heard anything about him.