Autumn Dreamin

Your odds of making an MLB debut go up to something like 60% with an AFL assignment, and no org is sending guys they expect to contribute in the bigs to get random coaching from others sight unseen. Although almost every team does have at least one pair of division rivals, so I suppose the strategy of trying to sabotage your future competition could be an interesting one... Anyway, Eder left Bham early for Glendale specifically for the Sox to identify what mechanical tweaks they wanted to make. Then they sent him from the pitching lab to instructs to work on it in live reps, and now the AFL against tougher competition to keep working at it. There's pretty clearly a plan, his AFL time is a piece of it, and him complimenting the Dodgers coach when asked about him by the interviewer doesn't indicate otherwise IMO. AFL staff communicate with teams about their plans/goals for a player. The Sox aren't just closing their eyes and hoping everyone magically comes back more major league ready, they all essentially have "homework" assignments. Leasure, for example, is there to work on his new CB. And even though Anderson is actually one of his old LAD coaches, that's clearly a Sox directive (the third pitch the Dodgers had him tinker with was a changeup he apparently never got fully comfortable with, this curveball project started after the trade).

The Rangers and Dbacks had a cumulative 102 wins in 2021, which is fewer than the Braves alone had this season.

Oppor (5th round) makes a BA list of 10 standout pitching debuts: And Javier Mogollon ($75000 IFA) makes a list of underrated lower level hitters:

Eder confirms that his AFL tenure is primarily about getting his lower half right to iron out his mechanics. Says he found something in the outing tonight: So the focus seems a bit process over results, which makes sense. The stuff about spin efficiency, ride, and tunneling was all him, by the way. He seems well versed in the metrics behind his stuff and what he wants it to do. Also there's your velo check @baseball_gal_aly "mostly 93-94"

The Dogs stay hot to win 9-4, their 7th in a row. Jacob Burke went 1-4 with a sac fly RBI and a run scored. Bryan Ramos was 1-4 with a BB and a run scored after he reached on an error. Jake Eder had a rough 3 run first thanks to an IF single and a couple SBs (the Glendale catchers get run on with abandon), but settled in to go 4 IP, retiring his last 8 batters in order. 4 IP, 4 ER, 4 K, 0 BB. Fraser Ellard came on in relief for the 5th. Clean 2 K inning, and his second W. Jordan Leasure gave up the second hit of his AFL tenure, but got 3 Ks (all swinging) to seal the win in the 9th. He has 11K in 6 innings, a 0.50 WHIP, and his ticket to big league camp all but assured. Thanks, Dodgers! Eder's strikeouts were also all swinging:

Johan Dominguez goes 3 IP, 0 ER, 2H, 2BB, 2K. His second K was Veras., who finished 1-5 with a RBI.

Yep, that's my thinking too. Similar to how Ramos just quietly disappeared for a few days of rest before coming back apparently no worse for wear.

The Glendale Desert Dogs were undefeated last week, and our Sox boys made some pretty solid contributions to that 6-0 streak. Colson Montgomery went 5-16 with a 2B, 3B, and 6 RBI. Jacob Burke was 6-22 with a pair of 2B, 2 SB, and a game winning grand slam. Bryan Ramos hit the ground running in his return, going 5-9 with 2 HR in his two games back. Fraser Ellard (4K) and Jordan Leasure (3K) both chipped in two scoreless appearances apiece. Jake Eder had 4K in 2IP, but was tagged for 1 ER when a walk, steal, and sac fly from a reliever scored his runner from first. Josimar Cousin was burned by 2 HR (4 ER) in his start. Adisyn Coffey once again looked great in the first inning of an appearance (2K and a flyout) before falling apart when asked for a second (and inexplicably being hung out to dry). The White Sox bats are responsible for 28 of the team's 80 RBI through 18 games (and 7 of their 22 HR). Unfortunately, it looks like they'll have to keep up the production without Colson Montgomery (whose 14 RBI lead the team) for at least one more game. He was pulled for a PR late on Friday, missed Saturday's game, and after an off day Sunday, he's out of the lineup again for Monday's game. Some highlights: The Week Ahead: Five AFL games this week, two of which (Wednesday and Thursday) will be streamed. Also, winter ball is officially underway! Of particular note, RHP Johan Dominguez (returned from TJ midseason, and a sneaky SP depth option IMO) is scheduled for a LIDOM start this week, and top-30-but-still-underrated Wilfred Veras has been getting in some more ABs and OF reps. Game 1: GDD vs. SCO (Gameday | No Stream) After facing the top AFL team at the time of both of his last starts, Jake Eder gets the ball today to face...the new top AFL team! His 10 K and 3.24 ERA through 8.1 IP are respectable (and his mechanics look back on track) but I'm hoping to see him go a bit deeper in this one. His last outing was shortened by a tight zone leading to lots of deep counts. The AFL is experimenting with some kind of individualized batting stance adjusted zone IIRC and it leads to some odd looking calls. The opposing starter is also a lefty, which could be a non-injury reason to rest Colson again...There's an off day tomorrow, so we'll see if he's back in for Wednesday's game. Burke and Ramos are batting 2 and 4, playing their usual positions.

He was routinely getting 1-2 days off a week (he's played 12/18 games), so I wouldn't read much into that yet.

Dogs win 7-6 in extras and sweep the week. Ramos was 1-4 with a HR. Burke went 2-5 with 2 SB. He scored the go ahead run as the free runner top 10. No Sox arms.

Ramos with another ? as the Dogs go back-to-back-to-back.

If you were curious about Ramos' other 3 hits from last night: https://www.mlb.com/video/bryan-ramos-four-hit-game Game 6: GDD vs. MSS (Gameday | Live Stream) Colson is indeed out of the lineup today, hopefully nothing serious. Burke batting 2nd, Ramos batting 7th.

Yeah, I'm hoping it's just precautionary since the game is all but decided and he was unlikely to bat again anyway...

Ramos missed baseball, clearly. He's 3-3 with a HR (his first in AFL). Just listen to it: https://www.mlb.com/video/bryan-ramos-two-run-home-run-x0989? Colson is 1-4 with a run scored (first to home on a double). Burke is 2-4 with a 2B and RBI.

Game 5: GDD vs. MSS (Gameday | No Stream) Ramos is back! The top of the lineup has been clicking lately, so he's batting 7th while Burke/Montgomery stick at 2 and 3.

For at least the second time I've seen, the manager got greedy asking Coffey for a second inning and then hung him out to dry even though it was clear he didn't have it after sitting. The first inning was perfect, the second was 5 ER. A bases loaded 2 RBI double from Burke and a Colson sac fly chipped in to the comeback. Ellard came in to a 9-9 tie. He threw a warmup to the backstop, and walked his first batter on 4 straight...but ultimately turned in a scoreless bottom 8 thanks to a couple K's and a nice running catch by Colson in shallow left. He got a W for his efforts, Dogs scored 7 unanswered to win 10-9. Colson finished 1-4 with a 3B, 4 RBI, and a sac fly. Burke went with 1-4 with a 2B, 2 RBI, a BB, and a run scored. Colson's 13 RBI are tied for 3rd in the league. Ellard recently got a mention from BA for having one of the highest increases in 4SFB velo from 2022 to 2023. His average was up from 91.3 to 95.5mph. Statcast had him throwing only sinker/slider today at 94.4/86.3 avg.

112 mph off the bat. Cousin out early after giving up 4 ER on 6 hits including a pair of homers. Coffey comes on in relief with a nice bounceback outing, spotless inning with 2K on 12 pitches.

Burke walks to load the bases, Colson clears 'em with a triple.

Game 4: GDD vs. SRR (Gameday | Live Stream) Cousin is starting, Burke batting 2nd, Montgomery batting 3rd. Still no Ramos. This one will have a live stream, and once the game starts you should also be able to get Statcast pitch data here: https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?gamePk=747654

He started working on the CB after the trade, and refining it is apparently a priority for his AFL tenure. The full interview is here: https://www.milb.com/video/leasure-on-arizona-fall-league

Game 3: GDD vs. MSS (Gameday | Live Stream) If the AFL game is streaming, but no Sox are starting, does anyone really care? Well I did (for half an inning), because at least I got to watch Leasure do his thing again. 11 pitch, 2K 9th inning to secure the Dogs 6-2 win. He has not allowed a baserunner in his last 3 appearances. His AFL WHIP is 0.4. Hope he saw everything he wanted to during his time in Charlotte, because I'm not sure he'll be returning there. Side note: I know there are a lot of guys on the roster, but three days off in a row for Ramos feels notable.

Dogs win in extras. Montgomery 2-4 with a walk, 2B, RBI, and run scored. The RBI and run were for insurance top 10 that ended up being much needed. If you squint, you can almost see it: https://www.mlb.com/video/colson-montgomery-s-rbi-double Rough one for Burke though, 0-5 with 3Ks. No Sox arms today.

Game 2: GDD vs. PEJ (Gameday | No Stream) Burke leading off as usual, but he's playing LF today. Montgomery at the 3 spot. Ramos with a second consecutive day off, maybe something's nagging him?