Yesterday’s league action did not conjure the offensive fireworks that Tuesday’s action did, but there were a few fine performances to note. Dustin Ackley had two hits in his first action as a pro, scoring once. Ike Davis added two more RBI to up his league leading total to 8. Trayvon Robinson tripled, scored and drove in a run, walking twice and stealing two bases. Domonic Brown doubled twice and drove in a run while new Arizona Diamondbacks OF prospect Cole Gillespie went 3-3 with two walks and a stolen base.
Today’s top award goes to unheralded Florida Marlins OF prospect Bryan Petersen, who collected three hits including his first AFL HR and two doubles. Petersen’s numbers, on the surface, were solid but not standout (.297 7 HR 49 RBI 13 SB 64 runs in 121 games). Oddly, areas that he excelled in in 2008 (23 HR 23 SB) diminished somewhat this past season, but his plate discipline (50 BB/66 K) and batting average experienced significant improvements. All told, Petersen is a 23 year old player with a limited upside and enough athleticism and polish to be a solid contributor to a franchise. The Marlins, however, are a team that is flush with more talented OF’s which could relegate Petersen to an eventual 4th outfielder role with the club. He also remains someone who could draw some interest by other clubs as an inclusion in a trade, though the Marlins tend to be an organization that trades for prospects instead of shipping them out. Until the situation changes, Petersen’s 2008 autos should continue to languish in the $3-5 range.
AFL Player of the Day—BRYAN PETERSEN
Other League Action:
Phoenix Desert Dogs 4
- Jemile Weeks—2-5 2B R RBI SB(1)
- Chris Marrero—2-4 2B RBI BB
- Brandon Waring—1-5 HR(1) RBI
Mesa Solar Sox 2
- Bryan Petersen—3-5 HR(1) RBI 2 2B
- Josh Vitters—3-4 2B
- Michael Stanton—2-4 SB(2)
- David Cooper—1-4 2B RBI
- Mike McCardell—2 IP H 4K
Scottsdale Scorpions 3
- Domonic Brown—2-5 2 2B RBI
- Cole Gillespie—3-3 RBI 2 BB SB(1)
- Donald Veal—2 IP 3K
Peoria Saguaros 1
- Jason Heyward—1-4 2B R
- Matt McBride—2-3 3B RBI BB
- Josh Rodriguez—2-4 2B
Surprise Rafters 6
- Ruben Tejeda—2-5 2R RBI
- Mike Moustakas—1-4 2B R RBI
- Austin Romine—3-4 RBI
- Ike Davis—1-3 2 RBI
- Trey Henley—2-3 RBI R BB
Peoria Javelinas 4
- Trayvon Robinson—1-3 3R R RBI 2 BB 2 SB(2)
- C.J. Retherford—1-4 3B RBI R
- Taylor Green—1-2 2 BB
- Dustin Ackley—2-4 R
I wish we could go and watch some of those games. You are fun to go to minor league games with. I like how you pick up on so much that is going on! I am distracted by the cookies and popcorn vendors walking by …while you are listening to the sound of the ball in the glove, critiquing the pitcher’s wind up, naming every pitch, telling me what the coach is deciding right before it is done on the field. By the end of the game, you have learned every player and their weaknesses enough to say how good they are and if you are impressed or not with them.
Well, some of those popcorn venders were pretty handsome.
Taking you and Derek to games this summer was a dream come true. Your willingness to allow me to be a kid is appeciated and revered in more ways than you know.
Next year we’ll do more of it and perhaps we can scratch together enough funds to make it down to Arizona this coming fall!