Arizona Fall League Report 10/4 - Nelson, Denorfia & Howard in action

[Unassisted]

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/NASAp...4/c1249696.jsp

Howard, Denorfia leading Solar Sox
10/14/2005 1:00 PM ET
By Ben Hill / Special to MLB.com

Kevin Howard's first AFL home run helped the Mesa Solar Sox post their first win of the season, 12-2, over the Peoria Saguaros on Saturday. In five games, the 24-year-old is batting .278 (5-for-18) with three RBIs.

Howard and six other Reds prospects are playing for the Solar Sox. Here's how they fared over the first eight games of the AFL's 32-game schedule:

OF Chris Denorfia: After ending 2005 with the Reds, Denorfia has had no problem adjusting to AFL pitching. In 26 at-bats, the 25-year-old outfielder is batting .308 with nine RBIs and a .438 on-base percentage.

C Ryan Hanigan: Hanigan has struggled in the early going, batting just .167 (2-for-12). The 25-year-old backstop managed a rare triple on Wednesday against the Surprise Scorpions.

RHP Luke Hudson: The 27-year-old Major Leaguer started and lost in his lone AFL appearance, yielding three runs -- two earned -- on three hits over three innings on Monday, as the Peoria Javelinas defeated Mesa, 5-3.

RHP Bubba Nelson: After getting the loss on Opening Day, when he surrendered three runs on three hits over two innings, Nelson finished the week by tossing a scoreless frame on Tuesday and another one on Wednesday.

RHP Allan Simpson: The 28-year-old has seen limited action so far, allowing a hit and a walk in 1 1/3 scoreless innings against the Surprise Scorpions on Wednesday.

3B Joey Votto: Votto is still looking for his first AFL hit after going 0-for-4 with a walk on Saturday and falling short in a pinch-hit appearance on Wednesday.

[Doc. Scott]

10/14: Mesa is one inning away from finishing a 14-4 blasting of the Saguaros. Allan Simpson allowed one unearned run on one hit (although the game log also lists a couple of lineouts, again) in two innings of relief, walking one, hitting one, and whiffing two; Kevin Howard pinch-hit and lashed an RBI single, then stayed in the game at shortstop (!). Ryan Hanigan also came in mid-game to catch, going 0-for-1 (.154). Two Indians, CF Brad Snyder (2 HR) and 1B Ryan Garko (3 RBI) have carried the offensive load for the Sox today.

[Doc. Scott]

10/15: The Giants' Justin Knoedler (pinch-hitting for Ryan Hanigan) popped the go-ahead homer in the eighth inning as Mesa beat Grand Canyon, 6-5.

Bubba Nelson has done quite well since his first outing- he threw 2.2 hitless innings to even his record at 1-1. John Koronka got the save.

Luke Hudson started and again was mediocre, allowing seven hits and three earned runs in 4.1 innings. He didn't walk anyone, at least. As he so often does, Hudson pitched well for four innings and was hammered in the fifth.

Chris Denorfia was four for five with two doubles, an RBI, a stolen base, and two runs scored, running his average to .387. Joey Votto DHed and managed one hit in five trips, his first hit of the AFL season. Ryan Hanigan was 0-for-3, and is struggling at .125.

The Solar Sox have evened their record at 5-5, and play Phoenix on Monday afternoon.

[Aronchis]

I bet Hudson's shoulder is in bad shape. Looks like his surgury didn't hold for him. Time to start thinking about his next career choice.

[Doc. Scott]

10/17: Phoenix bombs the Solar Sox in a game shortened to seven innings by rain, 10-2.

No, no Reds pitched.

Chris Denorfia doubled in three trips; Kevin Howard played third and managed a single in three PAs.

The Yankees' Brian Burres was nuked for nine earned runs in a single inning after pitching solidly in his first two starts. David Aardsma followed and managed three scoreless innings, although like Allan Simpson's performances, there were a bunch of line drives everywhere.

[IslandRed]

Kevin Howard pinch-hit and lashed an RBI single, then stayed in the game at shortstop (!).

Along with the time logged at third base, I wonder if they're sizing him up for a possible utility role.

[Doc. Scott]

Along with the time logged at third base, I wonder if they're sizing him up for a possible utility role.

I think you're right. Howard's defense has never been much lauded; his promotion to and stay in the majors will be determined by his bat. Good bat, he'll find a home. Mediocre bat, he'll be 25th Man Yo-Yo Boy.

[Doc. Scott]

10/19: Mesa falls 9-3 to Surprise. Chris Denorfia finally goes 0-fer (still batting .342) and Kevin Howard, playing third, is 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.

The Solar Sox play tonight against the Peoria Saguaros. Detroit's Humberto Sanchez will start, with the strong possibility that we'll see Allan Simpson and/or Bubba Nelson in relief.

[flyer85]

Amazing how poor the quality of the Reds prospects. The best we can do is a guy who projects to a part-time OF or a utility player.

[Aronchis]

Amazing how poor the quality of the Reds prospects. The best we can do is a guy who projects to a part-time OF or a utility player.

Considering that these are upper level prospects, you don't like Bowden drafts?

[Doc. Scott]

10/20: Mesa and Peoria go to ten innings, but the Saguaros maul Detroit's Mark Woodyard in the extra frame for six runs, just one earned, thanks to errors by 3B Kevin Howard (#3) and SS Kevin Frandsen. Peoria wins, 8-2.

Howard did, however, smack a single, double, and solo homer (#2) off Seattle's Clint Nageotte. He's hitting .345. Chris Denorfia was 0-for-5 to drop to .302. Ryan Hanigan had three more hitless trips, falling to .105, and also committed his second passed ball.

Bubba Nelson pitched two innings in relief, allowing two hits and one earned run- a solo homer by Colorado's Ian Stewart.

The Solar Sox fall to 5-8, while the Saguaros got just their second win in thirteen games. Mesa is at it again today at 1:05 against Grand Canyon.

[flyer85]

Considering that these are upper level prospects, you don't like Bowden drafts?

UGH

[Milezinni]

Anybody able to watch these games?

Is Denorfia playing situational baseball and getting the AB in tough situations, or is he just up there hacking?

[Doc. Scott]

10/21: Fun game today. After digging a 6-1 hole to Grand Canyon after homers by Lastings Milledge, Reggie Abercrombie, and Josh Wilson, the Solar Sox blow up for five runs in the fifth and five more in the sixth.

Chris Denorfia is 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, and two runs scored; Kevin Howard, DHing, has an RBI single and RBI FC along with two runs scored in five trips.

Allan Simpson relieved the Indians' Adam Miller after Adam gave up six runs and promptly refused to allow a hit in 2.1 innings, walking one. He did uncork a wild pitch, and whiffed two. He stands to get the win, assuming the Solar Sox maintain their five-run lead.

Postscript: Mesa wins, 11-7. Simpson is now 2-0, and has not allowed an earned run in six innings pitched. DanO is ordering Allan's recliner as he reads this.

[Doc. Scott]

10/22: Mesa falls to Phoenix, 5-4. Luke Hudson starts and gives up seven hits and three earned runs in five innings, walking one, hitting one, and fanning six. Joey Votto starts at first and goes 0-for-4 with a run scored, two Ks, and an error (.071). Ryan Hanigan lashes a single in his only at-bat.

The Solar Sox take the field again Monday afternoon against Peoria.