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Phoenix Desert Dogs (Arizona Fall League)

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/d...

OAKLAND PLAYERS:

LHP - Jerry Blevins (Midland) - 24 Years Old
RHP - Jeff Gray (Sacto) - 26 Years Old
LHP - Jay Marshall (MLB) - 24 Years Old
RHP - James Simmons (Midland) - 20 Years Old
C - Anthony Recker (Midland) - 24 Years Old
SS - Cliff Pennington (Midland) - 23 Years Old
3B - Jeff Baisley (Midland) - 24 Years Old

Trainer - TBA (Oakland)?!?!

Star-divide

In the last couple of AFL Seasons, Andre Ethier and Travis Buck have made the immediate jump from AFL to the MLB.   Jay Marshall is going to Phoenix... Not a huge surprise, but interesting nonetheless.  I'm kind of surprised to see that James Simmons is going to the AFL for more work.  I thought the A's might want to give his arm some time off after the College Season + Midland... but, I guess they like what they see in Simmons.

I'm midly surpised that guys like Trevor Cahill, Henry Alberto Rodriguez, Javier Herrera, Gregorio Petit, Andrew Bailey, Jermaine Mitchell, and Corey Brown didn't get the nod over some of these guys.

I really like the fact the Oakland hasn't determined who to send to Arizona to be the Team Trainer.  I hope that's a good sign (crosses fingers)

Poll
Who will wear the Green and Gold in 2008?
Jeff Baisley
3 votes
Jerry Blevins
1 votes
Jeff Gray
1 votes
Jay Marshall
24 votes
James Simmons
6 votes
Anthony Recker
4 votes
Cliff Pennington
7 votes

46 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 12 comments

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Comments

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Well I think

Marshall is an obvious choice to be back next year. I see Pennington also especially if Crosby struggles/ is injured.

"Their batters are patient to the point that it's annoying." -Ryan Franklin, Seattle Mariners

by Helloooo 1st on Aug 27, 2007 10:17 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Pennington

Penny was hitting .258 with no power last time I checked.  The guy may be hyped, but at this point he's officially lost his prospect status.  I wouldn't count on seeing him with the A's anytime soon.

by Threepwood XX on Aug 27, 2007 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No he hasn't ...

that's silly.

He's lost some luster, but he's still a prospect. He hasn't hit many jacks but he put up a good number of doubles and walks.

He's also shown solid plate control, with a pretty close to 1:1 k:bb.

It's not looking like he's headed for stardom, but he's still got a decent chance of being a solid contributor.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Aug 28, 2007 10:46 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Pennington's Stats

So far in 240 at bats in AA Pennington is hitting:

.258avg/.350obp/.346slg/.696ops

He's not even a doubles hitter like you claim, he only had 11 doubles in those 240 at bats.

For comparison, Travis Buck, a players who uses doubles to hit for power, hit 21 doubles (but only four home runs) in 212 at bats in AA.

Pennington has put up sub par numbers for 2 years now.  I ask you, at what point do we say "It's just not likely he'll contribute past AAA?"

by Threepwood XX on Aug 28, 2007 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

You only listed half of his 2007 stats ...

his power dropped off upon his promotion to AA ... same thing happened when he was promoted to high A, it came back the next year.

There's no definitive cutoff, but Pennington is just 23 and he's continued to advance at a reasonable pace and more or less hold his own ...

He's not destined for stardom, but he's still got a solid chance at a MLB future.

If he doesn't hit in AA next year, that'll be cause for concern ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Aug 28, 2007 11:43 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

And let's not forget...

..when he was drafted, NOBODY was saying he would be a superstar. He was drafted for his consistency, and though he's not shown a lot of that from season to season, he's also far from a bust.

Just look at how Nick Blasi went from .220 or so in Stockton to being a AAA regular in just a few weeks, and it's clear that a player with good fundamentals is always a short trip away from a slump or a tear.

The Kendall Shift: 6 infielders and 2 catchers.

by Ozzz on Aug 28, 2007 12:50 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Must agree that Pennington and Marshall

are the likely candidates to make the jump or improve to make the big league team next season.  Baisley would be a big jump, even with the need for a new thirdbaseman if there is still reluctance from Chavez to get the help he desperately needs.

Charlie Brown GO A'S WIN

by Charlie Brown on Aug 28, 2007 3:59 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Arizona Fall League

IIRC, teams are allowed only one player from below AA to participate in the AFL.  So that excludes most of those guys (Cahill, Brown, Bailey, Mitchell, Rodriguez).  Also, foreign born players are allowed only if they don't don't reside in a country which has winter ball.  Therefore Herrera and Petit might not be eligible because they come from Venezuela.

by jakarta on Aug 27, 2007 10:35 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

you are correct.

Eligibility Rules

Each Major League organization is required to provide six players subject to the following requirements:

All Triple-A and Double-A players are eligible, provided the players are on at least a Double-A level roster no later than Aug. 1.

One player below the Double-A level is allowed per Major League team.

One foreign player is allowed, as long as the player does not reside in a country that participates in winter ball, as part of the Caribbean Confederation or the Australian winter league.

No players with more than one year of credited Major League service as of August 31 are eligible, except a team may select one player picked in the most recently concluded Major League Rule 5 Draft.

To be eligible, players on Minor League disabled lists must be activated at least 45 days before the conclusion of their respective seasons.

http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/a...

by theblackpearl on Aug 28, 2007 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Go see AFL!

I've been there 4 out of the last 5 years.  It's an absolute blast.  The parks are virtually empty -- and most of those in attendance are scouts.  We always go the first week of November, right at the end of the fall ball season.  It's a great way to transition out of baseball and into the winter...and before you know it, it's spring!  I don't go to spring training any more because it's just so crowded and impersonal.  At fall ball, you can hear every sound coming out of the dugout -- and I mean every sound.  

"Put me down and I'll walk off the field." -- Bradley to Macha, 9/06

by skigurl on Aug 28, 2007 12:19 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Sounds like a great idea going to fall ball.

I have time to burn and enjoy traveling as well as following the A's, particularly their minor leaguers.  But I had never thought of going to AZ in late October or so to watch baseball.  Always thought of spring training.  Thanks for mentioning the fall league.  [Have timeshare that can be used in Scottsdate area.]

Charlie Brown GO A'S WIN

by Charlie Brown on Aug 28, 2007 4:06 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

We go to...

5-6 games in 3 days.  There's often a 7 pm game and 2-3 games that start at 1:00.  They use 4-5 of the spring training ball parks, so we've visited Maryvale, Peoria, Surprise as well as the usual closer-in ones.  If a game is a blowout, we'll sometimes leave and go to a different game.  Tix are $6 -- $5 if you're 55 or older.  And you can sit anywhere you like.  Can't beat it!  

"Put me down and I'll walk off the field." -- Bradley to Macha, 9/06

by skigurl on Aug 28, 2007 4:12 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

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