AFL Weekly Wrap-up

I had been doing the AFL on a daily basis but it kind of felt like after a few days that I was writing on the same players and that shortly–if not already– I’d be recycling the same thoughts over and over.

So instead of actually doing it on a daily basis, I’ll be trying to do it on more of a weekly basis.

I’m not much for intros today so let’s just get into it.

Mariners AFL Player of the Week – Chih-Hsien Chiang, OF

8-22, 5 RS, 2 2B’s, 1 3B’s, 4 BB, 4 SO and 1 SB

Chiang threw a couple of multi-hit games up and more than anything just showed a really good approach to the plate. That’s really what I’m most concerned with at the moment. I think Chiang is going to hit and I think he’ll have a bit of power go with the average. I like his bat a lot. But to sound like a broken record — he’s got to fix his approach.

Too many times, he wastes an at bat, while swinging at bad pitches. He does drive a lot of pitches but he could become a much better hitter– if not complete hitter– if he just refined his approach.

Another thing of note is that he threw out a runner trying to turn a single into a double earlier this week. Something that gets really understated with Chiang is his defense. He’s an average defender simply because he kind of pulls a Yuniesky Bentacourt from time to time in the outfield but at times he can be a plus defender. I’ve said this previously, I wonder if this is a trait that he is losing as he matures and moves through the minor league system. Which could potentially turn him into an above average defender, at least one could only hope it would.

Position Players

Adam Moore, C –  2-11 , 1 RS, 0 XB,  2 RBI’s, 2 BB, 6 SO

I just have to say that Moore is swinging-and-missing more than I’d like. I’m not worried about anything else. I just want to see his timing get back right now. Making consistent contact regardless of outcome would be a welcome sight. Everything else will come in time.

Nick Franklin, SS – 2-14, 3 RS, 1 HR, 2 RBI’s, 5 BB, 4 SO, 1 SB

Franklin has made 2 errors over the first week of the AFL, one throwing and one fielding. Still not worried about him defensively. I’ve seen him play two different games and while that was a small sample size I believe in his range and I believe the arm is enough. Don’t let others tell you otherwise. The home run is a fun and all but the more important thing to me is he’s driving balls and he’s walking more than striking out. he’s putting together really impressive at bats and right now the outcomes don’t matter. It’s all about the process. I like what I see out of Franklin and it’s encouraged me beyond just what what he did in Jackson. He’s legitimately taking steps forward to becoming a better hitter and more than just a onetime apparition that was in Clinton.

Pitchers

 Steven Hensley – 2.2 IP, 7 h, 6 R, 1 HR, 4 BB and 2 SO

Not the numbers one would hope to expect from someone I thought could slide into the bullpen for 2012. I’m not saying he can’t or that he won’t, but his last two appearances sure haven’t looked very good. The most important thing is that he stays healthy. That’s really been the problem for Hensley. I’m sure that if he can get healthy we’ll be square.

Danny Hultzen – 5 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 2 BB and 2 SO

There isn’t much to say on Hultzen. I’m not worried one way or another because at this point I have low expectations. Not because I don’t think a lot of him but because this is his first pro tour. Good numbers would be cool, but bad numbers wouldn’t really matter much to me. So there is that.

Brian Moran – 3 IP, 2, 2 R, 2 BB and 3 SO

I’m not really tracking Moran so much. But after AFL is over I’m going to review all his match ups and concentrate on splits and his pitches thrown. Should be an interesting little project in November, stay tuned.

Forrest Snow – 6.1 IP, 1 H , 0 R, 1 BB and 8 SO.

It’s easy to look at Hultzen or Hensley and say: “Meh, stats don’t matter much”. Then you turn around and look at what Forrest Snow has done. Because it’s easy to go into chat speak and be all: “OMG, WTF, SMH, ELITEZORS!” Okay, I made that last one up but you get the idea. What Snow has done in hitter friendly confines is exciting. What he has done all year is exciting. I’d normally say he just needs another year in the minors. But the other side of me is going …”Could the front office see him and throw him into the back of the rotation?!?!” 

In my humble opinion Snow is quickly growing to become a better option than Blake Beavan, then again, I have a very low opinion of Blake Beavan and I have for quite some time. People consistently compare him to Fister and this isn’t the article to tear down that theory but just know and understand I believe that is wrong.

Let’s just say I’m of the opinion, with Snow, that if he breaks camp with the Major League team I won’t be surprised. Then again if he goes back to Tacoma, I completely understand that rationality. I’m not leaning either way and I completely defer to the organization’s judgment. Not that I think they are always right on things but I certainly believe they have more information in this case than I.

All that said… don’t be surprised if it’s March 28th, 2012  and Forrest Snow is on the Major League roster. Just sayin’