I just got back from the Arizona Fall League. If you don’t know what the AFL is about, you need to do some homework. About 35 percent of all Major Leaguers spent at least one season at the AFL.    

Some writers call this the graduate school of baseball. You need to keep this in mind when watching AFL games or looking at the box scores. A pitcher might be asked to throw a specific pitch more often or throw out of the stretch the entire game. A hitter may be asked to try to get the lead and get thrown out or bunt for a hit. The purpose of the league is not always to win or to have the best statistics, but to work on those areas of the game where the player is weak.

From a competition standpoint, this league is quadruple-A ball.

One significant change in the league since my first AFL game in 1998 is pitching quality. When I first went to the AFL, you saw impact pitchers. The teams now rarely send their impact pitchers unless they missed significant time to injury or had a delay in signing. The stadiums all have mini Green monsters, especially in center field, to suppress home runs.

Each year has a unique characteristic. This year the defense was just terrible. Of the six games we attended, only one game had less than two errors. There were many plays where an error should have been called, but the scorer was generous. This obviously effected pitching, which was weak already.

If you read Lawr’s article, he said that not a single pitcher made an impression on him and that he couldn’t find a writer who didn’t agree with him. I’m here to tell you that Lawr is not making that up. I couldn’t find a writer or scout that had anything good to say either.

Angel Guzman (SP, CHN) had a decent start in front of manager Dusty Baker (5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 3 SO). While his motion was smooth, he didn’t challenge hitters like I thought he should. If his stuff is good enough to beat Major Leaguers, you’d think he’d have more than enough for these talented yet inexperienced minor leaguers.

Jered Weaver (SP, ANA) did not have a good start (5 IP, 7 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 5 SO). Clearly the pitching style is similar to his brother, but he is not nearly as talented. Weaver would pitch one inning and dominate, forcing hitters to hit ground balls. The next inning he’d watch hitter after hitter line hits all over the field.

You can see why people are excited about Adam Loewen (SP, BAL) by just looking at him. Standing at 6’6” with a 95 MPH fastball and 12 to 6 curveball that no one can hit, he is a dominating figure on the mound. Loewen’s problem is his control. He doesn’t have any. He got pounded (4 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO). You are looking at least another year in the minors.

While the pitching was bad, the hitting was very good.

People I talked with were not ashamed to say Brandon Wood and Albert Pujols in the same sentence. Wood’s performance in High-A Rancho Cucamonga was God-like (.321 BA, 51 2B, 43 HR in 536 AB). His performance in the AFL has been just as powerful (.292, 13 HR in 106 AB). The Angels have Orlando Cabrera signed for a long time, so a move to third is not out of the question. Wood has played short in all the games we saw. If you play Strat, Wood is a ss-3.

Lastings Milledge (OF, NYN) is an impact player with lead-off hitter written all over him. As a lead-off hitter, you’d like someone who would walk more, but his bat speed is so impressive that he has time to decide which pitch to hit. That aggressiveness will get him to the Majors. Once there, I expect him to walk more. He is fast and 20 SB is not out of the question. Defensively, you are looking at a LF/RF-2 with a -1 to -2 arm in Strat terms. He has had concentration difficulties in fielding, so you are looking at a player with a high error rating.

Billy Butler (OF, KCR) has serious bat speed and power, but his fielding is terrible. The Royals started him off at third, moved him to outfield, and are talking first base in the future. Right now he's a OF-5.

I really liked Brad Snyder (OF, CLE). The scouts said his arm was too weak for right field, but he looked great out there, getting two very impressive assists. He strikes out too much, but you can see why the Indians believe that he is a starter. He just needs more experience. He's an OF-3.

Corey Hart (3B, MIL) also impressed with the bat. While his body speaks power, he is very fast. He crushed a ball for a bases-clearing stand-up triple. The only thing holding Hart back is his glove. The only open position in Milwaukee is third, so Hart has returned to the hot corner. Right now, you are looking at a 3B-4.

Brad Eldred is almost as big as Richie Sexson at first. He clearly has serious power and 40 home runs is not out of the question. The problem is getting the bat on the ball. Yes, he can crush a mistake, but the pitchers at the Major League level do not make mistakes that often. I kept hearing people compare him to Rob Deer, but every Strat player knows that Deer took a walk. Eldred does not. He is no gem with the glove (1B-4).

Stephen Drew is as much a pansy as his brother. He does not like to get his uniform dirty. Until he plays with heart, he's a SS-4.

I really liked Chris Denorfia, although he is nothing more than a fourth outfielder. He takes a walk, steals a base and has good range in the outfield. He’s not big, and might have trouble hitting double digit home runs, but he plays with heart. You are looking at a LF/RF-2 CF-3 with a plus arm.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia was the most exciting catcher at the AFL. He is big for a catcher (6’4”), but didn’t have any difficulty blocking pitches in the dirt. The ball zips like a laser out of his hand when he throws to second. There is no dip at all. Hitting wise, he has Major League power, although he was clearly tired at the AFL. He is a Major League starter. He's a CA-3(-2).

I have to admit that the combination of weak pitching and poor defense made some hitters with lesser talent put up great numbers. I have never seen so many home runs and errors at the Fall League. I highly recommend flying out and seeing some games.