The Arizona Fall League has come to a close (actually November 12). The Dodgers were one of 6 teams on the Glendale Desert Dogs and with a win November 9, they clinched a spot in the playoffs. Going into the 8th inning down 4-3, thanks in large part to Andy Pages and José Ramos, the Desert Dogs came from behind to score 7 and beat Mesa Solar Sox 10-4.
Pages and Ramos were the first two hitters in the inning, and both slugged HRs to take the lead. Pages came back later in the inning and singled in another run.
The Desert Dogs were playing a 1 game playoff against the Peoria Javelinas, with the winner to face the Surprise Saguaros for the championship. With the score tied 3-3 in the 7th, the Desert Dogs scored 3 runs, with the final two crossing the plate on an Andy Pages double.
In the Championship Game, the Desert Dogs took the lead in the 2nd, 5th, and 6th innings, only to be tied by the Saguaros each time. The first run of the game came from a José Ramos HR. The teams were tied 4-4 after 6 innings.
In the 6th, Pages had a run scoring double, and later scored his first run of the game.
In the 8th, Pages singled and stole 2B only to be stranded. The teams finished 9 with the score still tied at 4.
In the 10th, Pages started the inning at 2B. He scored his 2nd run of the game on a single and the Desert Dogs had a 5-4 lead.
Tanner Dodson was summoned to hold the lead, but gave up a run scoring double to the first batter to tie the score for the 4th time in the game After a single, the runner moved to 3rd. With the runner moving up to 2nd on defensive indifference, the Saguaros had runners on 2nd and 3rd with no outs, but got out of the inning without further damage. Dodson blown save #1.
In the 11th, the Desert Dogs scored on an Austin Martin single. In the bottom of the 11th, Dodson surrendered a pair of run scoring singles to get blown save #2 and the loss.
In the game, Pages went 2-3 with a double, walk, and stolen base. Ramos hit a HR.
Box Score
For the season:
Andy Pages – 22 games, 81 AB, .296/.398/.506/.904, 2 doubles, 5 HRs, 9 BB, 12 K
José Ramos – 20 games, 80 AB, .275/.326/.463/.789, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HRs, 5 BB, 20 K
Jorbit Vivas – 7 games, 27 AB, .333/.471/.407/.878, 2 doubles, 6 BB, 6 K
Emmet Sheehan – 6 games (all starts), 20.1 IP, 3.54 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, .169 BAA, 8 BB, 24 K
Hyun-il Choi – 9 games, 13.1 IP, 5.40 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, .220 BAA, 10 BB, 16K
Tanner Dodson – 9 games, 12.1 IP, 6.57 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, .296 BAA, 6 BB, 8 K
Ben Harris – 9 games, 11.1 IP, 6.35 ERA, 2.12 WHIP, .250 BAA, 14 BB, 10 K
Pages was the offensive star for the LAD group. His power was expected, but what was a surprise were the BB to K ratio. That was 12 strikeouts in 98 PA for a 12.2% K rate. For the regular season, Pages had a strikeout rate of 24.5%.
Sheehan was the LAD AFL pitching star. On November 8, Sheehan was simply dominating. Sheehan tied for the 2022 Fall League high with 10 strikeouts over five scoreless innings, including 8 consecutive; the only blemishes to his line were a bloop single and a first-inning walk.
Ben Harris’ performance for the AFL was also a surprise, but not a positive one. Harris was stellar during the season, but seemed to hit a wall in the AFL
For their efforts during the AFL season, both Pages and Sheehan made the AFL Top 30 prospect performers. Jim Calls, MLB, wrote the following:
- Andy Pages, OF, Glendale (Dodgers No. 5/MLB No. 66)
While his concentration can lapse at the plate, Pages is a dangerous hitter who taps into his well-above-average raw power when he’s locked in. He also has well-above-average arm strength and gets the job done in right field.
- Emmet Sheehan, RHP, Glendale (Dodgers No. 22)
Sheehan tied for the Fall League lead with three wins, thanks to some of the best fastball induced vertical break and one of the niftiest changeups in the circuit. His 92-96 mph heater can be unhittable when it’s on — and it has touched 99 in short stints — but he projects more as a multi-inning reliever than a starter unless he can improve his slider, control and command.
For those interested, here is a link to the article:
https://www.mlb.com/news/top-prospect-performers-from-the-2022-arizona-fall-league
I hope we get to see Pages in spring. Also interested to see Gavin Stone,
The strength of our system is in the mid-level power arms. Expect a few of them to be moved to replace holes on the big league roster.
Maybe playing in front of 45,000+ fans at Dodger Stadium would help Pages stay focused. Adrenalin makes everybody better if it doesn’t overwhelm.
Hopefully Sheehan nails a sinker and increases his command. I’d rather have him as a starter but his fastball and changeup puts him in the mix for closer.
I would bet $5 that Stone will make the opening day rotation.
Couple of Dodger bites from Twitter:
Dodgers prospect news: RHPs Edgardo Henriquez and Carlos Duran both had Tommy John surgery recently. The two big, hard-throwing righthanders were among the Dodgers top pitching prospects at the Class A levels.
Fangraphs mentioned Dodger prospect Adolfo Ramirez as an R5 candidate, and with good reason. System K-BB% leaders, min 60 IP:
1. Emmet Sheehan – 26.9%
2. Gavin Stone – 25.0%
3. RAMIREZ – 24.3%
4. Nick Nastrini – 23.7%
5. Ronan Kopp – 23.1%
All you can do is hope they sneak by…
Another thing stolen from Twitter and apropos of nothing, but being a cool stat:
Only 8 RP have recorded 10+ saves in each of the last three full seasons.
Edwin Diaz
Raisel Iglesias
Liam Hendriks
Kenley Jansen
Craig Kimbrel
Mark Melancon
Josh Hader
Ian Kennedy
If you go back five full seasons, the list drops to Diaz, Iglesias, Jansen, and Kimbrel.