Arizona Fall League Update

8. Arizona Fall League

Monday–Mesa suffered a 4-2, ten inning loss to Peo Javelinas , with Matt Rizzotti losing his cool a bit, getting tossed from the game after striking out in the 9th inning. Prior to his ejection, Rizzotti was 1-4 with two strikeouts. He also committed an error at first base.  BJ Rosenberg threw two scoreless innings (the 6th and 7th), allowing just one baserunner on a double. While not allowing a walk, his control was an issue as he threw 31 pitches, just 16 for strikes. 

Another tight game for Mesa on Tuesday, this time a 6-5 win over Peo Javelinas. The lone Phillie prospect to see any action was Tyson Brummett who threw two innings (the 4th and 5th), yielding one run on one hit. He struck out one and didn’t walk a batter, throwing 13 of his 20 pitches for strikes.

Wednesday evening saw the AFL debut of Nats prospect Bryce Harper, playing for Scottsdale against Mesa.  Scottsdale beat Mesa 6-3, with a three run 7th inning  being the key.  Harper was 1-4 with a double and 2 RBI’s but popped out in his only AB against Phils prospect Josh Zeid.  Zeid started and went three effective innings, giving up a run on 2 hits. He struck out two and did not yield a walk, throwing 47 pitches, 29 of them for strikes.  Reliever Justin DeFratus made his AFL debut after pitching in the Pan American games and threw a scoreless 8th inning, giving up just a walk.  Tim Kennelly was the lone Phillie position player seeing action as he caught and 8th, going 1-4 with 2 strikeouts.  He did throw out Scottsdale leadoff hitter Steve Lombardozzi attempting to steal.

Notes: Matt Rizzotti’s line thus far: 20 AB’s. .350/.480/.350 with 0HR and 2 RBI; 5 BB and 2K.

Tim Kennelly is 3-8 (.375) thus far.

Josh Zeid has given up a lone run in both of his appearances thus far, pitching three innings each game.  He has not walked a batter and struck out 5.

Updates on Brummett, Kissock and Rosenberg on Sunday.

10 thoughts on “Arizona Fall League Update”

  1. You can tell it’s been a rough morning – I saw Steve Lombardozzi’s name and was thinking, “The Twins second baseman. How old is he?” Then I realized that it’s (most likely) his son.

    – Jeff

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  2. See that Kennelly made his weekly catching appearance in the AFL. Guess he is catching alot of bullpens. Not bad behind the plate in two starts. He threw out the two runners who attemped to steal and his catcher’s ERA is 3.44 in 16 innings so far.

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  3. Zeid is showing he belongs and I believe this will keep him starting and earn him a double jump to Reading. DeFratus is just a beast and has opened plenty of eyes. I see him getting a major league camp invite before he’s sent down to LHV to be the closer there (with Schwim as the set up guy and Stutes as the 7th inning guy – roles they could all fill in the majors in 2012-2013). He has major league stuff and should be on the team in 2012 and could even make an appearance next year depending on injuries.

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  5. Murray
    Wait! Are you suggesting that the Phils put real players at Lehigh?
    THAT is a novel concept, giving the people a decent show for their money.
    Good luck with that. ( I agree 100% with your bullpen)

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  6. The “real” Matthew Rizzotti” after one game from which he gets tossed?? To me, he is at least showing some emotion. And, one game does not determine if anybody is “real”. I’m sure there must have been one game thus far in Hewitt’s career that he played great, but that certainly didn’t make him “real”. I am not picking on whomever said that, I am just sticking up for Matt and saying don’t judge him because of his indiscretion in one game. Fair enough?

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  7. The “real” Matthew Rizzotti” maybe had a valid complaint if the umpires have been anything close to some of the umps in the NLCS! I had never heard both radio announcers roasting the home plate umpire like they did last Saturday night.

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  8. The “real Matt Rizzotti” questioned the home plate umps bad strike call and asked that he confer with the 3rd base ump. His request was denied by the HP ump. Matt said it was BS and was ejected by the HP ump. Matt requested to speak to the Commissioner of the League about the bad call and surprisingly, his $50 fine was dismissed. Guess the “real Matt Rizzotti” has a good head on his shoulder and knows that every bad call has an impact on his stats and he will argue a bad call to protect his livelihood. Matt is in top 10 in AFL batting stats, can you blame him for not arguing a bad strike call.

    BTW, Matt had 20/12 vision which is superior eyesight when tested by the MLB scouting bureau prior being drafted. Matt’s our home town boy and we get the low down from his family.

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  9. Rizzotti hasn’t played in a game since Monday (the game in which he was ejected). Is he being punished, or is he hurt, or did he lose his job?

    Boring AFL for Phils’ prospects, I don’t think we’ve had a position player in a game this week.

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