Jay Austin, may have just ended the most significant season of his career. The 2011 Arizona Fall League. One year ago, Austin had finished the Arizona Fall League with a paltry .156 and a .425 OPS in 12 games (52 AB). Granted he was 20 at the time but that was still less than impressive. Then he started the 2011 season where he had ended 2010, in Lancaster. His numbers were about the same but growth wasn't happening as expected. Towards the end of the 2011 season, he was demoted. He was sent back to low A Lexington to finish the season. There he played his last 32 games of the season, hitting just .203. People who follow Astros minor league baseball started hearing comments appearing to indicate Austin's bat would never develop.
Then he showed back up in Arizona. What a difference a year makes. This year in 11 games (45 AB) in the Arizona Fall League, Austin hit .311. His OPS was a solid .829. His defense also appears to have been boosted this year, making no errors after making two in 2010.
I know this is a small sample size. Yet, if Austin puts up a solid 2012, we can point to the 2011 AFL as the the turning point in his career.
Showing posts with label AFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AFL. Show all posts
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Saturday, November 20, 2010
AFL Championship Game Report - Greenwalt, & Barnes
Kyle Greenwalt did start the game in Arizona today. MLB turned off the Pitch/FX & speed for game day to day so I don't know what he was throwing or how fast he was throwing it. What we do know are the outcomes of what he threw.
Greenwalt went three innings, giving up two runs (both earned) on four hits and a hit batter. He did strike out three and didn't walk any one. He did commit an error on a throw.
In the first, he set them down in order with two strike outs and a fly out. In the second, staked to a 1-0 lead, he allowed a lead off single. Greenwalt then threw away a come backer that put the runners at 1st & 3rd with no one out. A sac fly and two singles later, it was a 2-1 ball game. In the third, he stranded the batter he hit and the other single to get out of the inning.
Greenwalt left the game trailing 2-1 but his teammates tied it up in the top of the 4th, taking him off the hook for the loss. The final score of the game was a 3-2 loss for the Javelinas.
Brandon Barnes started in CF batting 9th. He made the first out of the 3rd inning with a swinging strike out. He grounded out in the 5th and then flew out in the 7th. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the 9th. He made two putouts in the field.
Even though this game didn't end the way they wanted it to, both players have to feel good about their performance in the Arizona Fall League.
Greenwalt went three innings, giving up two runs (both earned) on four hits and a hit batter. He did strike out three and didn't walk any one. He did commit an error on a throw.
In the first, he set them down in order with two strike outs and a fly out. In the second, staked to a 1-0 lead, he allowed a lead off single. Greenwalt then threw away a come backer that put the runners at 1st & 3rd with no one out. A sac fly and two singles later, it was a 2-1 ball game. In the third, he stranded the batter he hit and the other single to get out of the inning.
Greenwalt left the game trailing 2-1 but his teammates tied it up in the top of the 4th, taking him off the hook for the loss. The final score of the game was a 3-2 loss for the Javelinas.
Brandon Barnes started in CF batting 9th. He made the first out of the 3rd inning with a swinging strike out. He grounded out in the 5th and then flew out in the 7th. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the 9th. He made two putouts in the field.
Even though this game didn't end the way they wanted it to, both players have to feel good about their performance in the Arizona Fall League.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Former G-Stros in AFL Championship Game
Saturday's Arizona Fall League Championship will be determined on Saturday. The game will be carried live on MLB.com/Live starting at 3:08 Eastern Time. Former Greeneville Astros Koby Clements and Brandon Barnes could be in the starting line up. Former G-Stro Patrick Urckfitz might make an appearance out of the pen. The final game of the season yesterday featured the two teams who will face each other in the Championship Game. The Peoria Javelinas beat the Scottsdale Scorpions 1-0 with the lone run coming in unearned. Clemens & Barnes both went 0 for 2.
Here is a quick breakdown of how the former G-Stros have done in the AFL:
Brandon Barnes - a late addition to the roster, he saw his playing time increase because of injuries. He finished the regular season hitting .250 with with 8 of his 20 hits being for extra bases in 20 games. He didn't make a single error in the field playing mostly center.
Koby Clemens - In 20 games, he hit .288 with 9 of his 20 hits being extra base hits. He made 4 errors in the field at first base.
Jay Austin - Jay had his season cut short due to a hamstring injury. In 12 games, he hit .156with no extra base hits. His on base percentage was over 100 points higher than his batting average due to taking seven walks. This was a point of emphasis for him to improve his game this fall. He was one of the youngest players in the league. He made two errors in the field.
Patrick Urckfitz - One of the solid performers out of the Javelinas' bullpen this season. In 9 games, he pitched 11 2/3 innings. He struck out 8 and walked only 4. His ERA was 3.86. In 6 of his 9 outings, he didn't allow a hit or a run. He also pitched one no hit , no run inning in the AFL Rising Stars game.
Kyle Greenwalt - Kyle had a rough first outing, giving up 2 runs in 2 IP but really settled down after that, giving up just 2 more earned runs in his next 4 starts combined (13 1/3 IP). He fanned 10 and walked 3 over 15 1/3 IP. He hasn't pitched since 11/9 so his season is over.
I expect that all of these guys will be on the AA roster this spring with the exception of Koby Clemens who is likely slated for AAA. Some of them might get some action in spring training with the big club. It appears that all of them have something positive they can carry away from this experience and build off of next year.
Here is a quick breakdown of how the former G-Stros have done in the AFL:
Brandon Barnes - a late addition to the roster, he saw his playing time increase because of injuries. He finished the regular season hitting .250 with with 8 of his 20 hits being for extra bases in 20 games. He didn't make a single error in the field playing mostly center.
Koby Clemens - In 20 games, he hit .288 with 9 of his 20 hits being extra base hits. He made 4 errors in the field at first base.
Jay Austin - Jay had his season cut short due to a hamstring injury. In 12 games, he hit .156with no extra base hits. His on base percentage was over 100 points higher than his batting average due to taking seven walks. This was a point of emphasis for him to improve his game this fall. He was one of the youngest players in the league. He made two errors in the field.
Patrick Urckfitz - One of the solid performers out of the Javelinas' bullpen this season. In 9 games, he pitched 11 2/3 innings. He struck out 8 and walked only 4. His ERA was 3.86. In 6 of his 9 outings, he didn't allow a hit or a run. He also pitched one no hit , no run inning in the AFL Rising Stars game.
Kyle Greenwalt - Kyle had a rough first outing, giving up 2 runs in 2 IP but really settled down after that, giving up just 2 more earned runs in his next 4 starts combined (13 1/3 IP). He fanned 10 and walked 3 over 15 1/3 IP. He hasn't pitched since 11/9 so his season is over.
I expect that all of these guys will be on the AA roster this spring with the exception of Koby Clemens who is likely slated for AAA. Some of them might get some action in spring training with the big club. It appears that all of them have something positive they can carry away from this experience and build off of next year.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Instructs & AFL Rosters
Zachary Levine at the Houston Chronicle has posted the roster of players who are in Kissimmee at the Instructional League. This three week season allows for some fine tuning and work with some of the younger prospects. This is where the work begins for "Lino" DeShields to become a second baseman.
Players off the 2010 Greeneville Roster attending include:
Ruben Alaniz
Michael Foltynewicz
Euris Quezada
Rodney Quintero
Roberto Pena
Chris Wallace
Delino DeShields
Marcus Nidiffer
Telvin Nash
Breaking down where the other players spent the MAJORITY of their season:
DSL: 3
The fact the 16 year old Ariel Ovando is in Instructs is a strong sign he will be state side for spring training. Here's hoping he winds up in G'ville.
GCL: 11
A couple of teens to watch out of this group, Jose Fernandez who won't turn 18 until next May, and Jordan Scott who put up solid numbers for a 14th round pick out of HS.
Tri Cities: 11
No surprise Ben Heath is on the list since he finished the year at AA. Glad to see Thomas Shirley on the list since he hadn't pitched since mid July.
Lexington: 11
Last years draft darlings, Mier & Meyer, return to recover from the dose of reality they faced this year.
Lancaster: 5
Jay Austin is spending time in instructs prior to heading out to Arizona for fall league.
AFL Roster Moves
Levine also reports there have been some changes to the Arizona Fall League players from the Astros. T. J. Steele has been removed from the roster and replaced with Jay Austin. Also Brandon Barnes has been added to the roster and according to his twitter, it is as a member of the Taxi Squad. That means he can only play on Wednesdays and Saturdays. But at bats against strong competition is a good thing.
Players off the 2010 Greeneville Roster attending include:
Ruben Alaniz
Michael Foltynewicz
Euris Quezada
Rodney Quintero
Roberto Pena
Chris Wallace
Delino DeShields
Marcus Nidiffer
Telvin Nash
Breaking down where the other players spent the MAJORITY of their season:
DSL: 3
The fact the 16 year old Ariel Ovando is in Instructs is a strong sign he will be state side for spring training. Here's hoping he winds up in G'ville.
GCL: 11
A couple of teens to watch out of this group, Jose Fernandez who won't turn 18 until next May, and Jordan Scott who put up solid numbers for a 14th round pick out of HS.
Tri Cities: 11
No surprise Ben Heath is on the list since he finished the year at AA. Glad to see Thomas Shirley on the list since he hadn't pitched since mid July.
Lexington: 11
Last years draft darlings, Mier & Meyer, return to recover from the dose of reality they faced this year.
Lancaster: 5
Jay Austin is spending time in instructs prior to heading out to Arizona for fall league.
AFL Roster Moves
Levine also reports there have been some changes to the Arizona Fall League players from the Astros. T. J. Steele has been removed from the roster and replaced with Jay Austin. Also Brandon Barnes has been added to the roster and according to his twitter, it is as a member of the Taxi Squad. That means he can only play on Wednesdays and Saturdays. But at bats against strong competition is a good thing.
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