Arizona Fall League Coming Along Nicely, Garishly Depending on Who You Ask

The Peoria Javelinas are getting gratuitious autumnal props for the performances of prospects like Mariners’ Mike Zunino, who went 3-for-5 with a pair of triples in Saturday’s 7-2 win over the Scottsdale Scorpions, and the Twins’ Kyle Gibson, who has returned from Tommy John surgery and is even more powerful somehow.

So the Phillies prospects also on the team are going to have to work extra hard to keep the attention rightfully on them, no matter which teammates are providing highers numbers and more inspiring narratives.  I mean, why the weekend’s Peoria-Scottsdale matchup didn’t get more coverage for the “2011 Philadelphia AFL rep vs. 2012 Philadelphia AFL rep” angle, or the fact that Peoria is facing off against a prospect named Jarred Cosart, who you may remember for being traded for Hunter Pence.  Whose Phillies legacy lives on in the form of his subsequent trade to another team.

The AFL is a collision of 3-2 and 2-3 records, which is fine, because it really doesn’t matter.  What does matter is sweet, sweet offense.  Which we have a little of.

• Cody Asche:  15 AB, 4 H, 3 2B, 1 RBI, 6 SO
• Zach Collier:  12 AB, 3 H, 1 RBI
• Tommy Joseph:  9 AB, 1 H, 1 RBI, 3 BB

The disparity between pitching performances is what can call “noticeable,” as Tyler Knigge and Colby Shreve have been suffocating hitters, while they appear to be quite comfortable with the Thome-acquired Kyle Simon. Jay Johnson, whose numbers aren’t great, has the luxury of usually being on a list with Simon, and therefore looking better by comparison.

Kyle Simon:  0.1 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 189.00 ERA, 21.00 WHIP, one devastating accusation

Jay Johnson:  1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 4 K, 6.75 ERA, at least several trips to Sonic

Tyler Knigge:  2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 0.00 ERA

Colby Shreve:  2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 K, 0.00 ERA

The important thing is that everybody stays fast and loose and everybody refrains from letting the pressure get to them.