I know, I know. This is a big day in the National League East. The Philadelphia Phillies dismantled the Yankees in Game 1 of the World Series, in the Bronx, against C.C. Sabathia. The same pitcher they dismantled last year when he pitched for the Brewers. It begs the question, is the National League East the best division in baseball? Admittedly, it is early, and the Yankees could win four in a row and make this post irrelevant, but if you compare the division to the American League East, tell me that the teams do not match up? The Phillies and the Yankees, the Mets and the Red Sox, the Marlins and Rays, the Braves and Blue Jays, and the Nationals and Orioles. I guess that is a post for another time, but it will be an interesting off season argument.

Now on to the AFL:

The Phoenix Desert Dogs (Nationals) defeated the Peoria Javelinas 11-6 yesterday. The only Desert Dog from the National League East who saw any action was Drew Storen who pitched one inning giving up one hit and striking out a batter.

The Mesa Solar Sox (Marlins) routed the Scottsdale Scorpions (Phillies) by a final count of 12-5. Bryan Petersen led the way for the Solar Sox with a 2-5 effort, scoring two runs, driving in two and hitting a homerun. Steve Susdorf tried to keep the Scorpions close with a 2 run homerun in a 1-2 effort but Domonic Brown (0-5, 2K) and Edgar Garcia (2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER (4R)) failed to help him out.

Steve Susdorf, Scorpions

Future stars of the National League East keep bowing out of the AFL as the Marlins shut down Mike Stanton due to a sore back. Prior to this, Stanton was hitting a scorching .478 for the Solar Sox. The Marlins do expect Stanton to be ready for Spring Training.

Mike Stanton, Solar Sox

Lastly, the Peoria Saguaros (Braves) blanked the Surprise Rafters (Mets) 9-0. Freddie Freeman (3-4, 1 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and Brandon Hicks (2-4, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 BB) led the hit parade while Jeff Lyman (1 IP, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 K) and Lee Hyde (1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K) helped to keep the Rafters off the scoreboard. The Rafters received a 2-4 day from Reese Havens and a 1-4 from Ruben Tejada.

 

 

  Todays actions will see the Phoenix Desert Dogs take on the Peoria Saguaros. The Mesa Solar Sox will give Andrew Miller the start against the Javelinas, and the Rafters will take on the Scorpions.

The National League East has transplanted west in the sunshine of Arizona for the moment, except of course for the Philadelphia Phillies who are still alive in the playoffs. Here is a statistical recap of the players the National League East sent to the Arizona Fall League:

Phoenix Desert Dogs:
(featuring the Washington Nationals)                                                                                                      

Danny Espinosa, 2B: .200 AVG; 2 R; 4 RBI; 2 BB; 2 K; 1 SB
Chris Marrero, 1B: .429 AVG; 1 R; 1 2B; 1 HR; 2 RBI; 3 BB; 1 K
Stephen Strasburg, P: 1 W; 3.1 IP; 2 H; 1 BB; 2 K; 0 ER
Drew Storen, P: 2.0 IP; 4 H; 2 R; 0 ER; 0 BB; 2 K
Jeff Mandel, P: 1 IP; 1 H; 0 ER; 0 BB; 0 K
Josh Wilkie, P: 1 IP; 3 H; 4 R; 0 ER; 2 BB; 2 K
Sean Rooney: Has Not Played

Surprise Rafters:
(featuring the New York Mets)

Lucas Duda, OF: .400 AVG; 1 2B; 1 R; 2 RBI, 1 BB                                                                                       
Ruben Tejada, SS: .385 AVG; 1 2B; 5 R; 3 RBI; 1 BB; 3 K; 2 SB
Ike Davis, 1B: .357 AVG; 2 2B; 2 R; 8 RBI; 1 HR; 0 BB; 4 K
Reese Havens, SS: .000 AVG; 1 BB; 3 K
Josh Stinson, P: 2 IP; 2 H, 2 ER; 1 HR Allowed; 2 BB, 1 K
Scott Moviel, P: 1 W; 2 IP; 0 H; 0 ER; 1 HB; 3 BB; 0 K
Jenrry Mejia, P: 1.0 IP; 1 H; 3 ER; 3 BB; 1 K
Eric Niesen, P: 1 IP; 0 ER; 0 H; 0 BB; 0 K

Mesa Solar Sox
(featuring the Florida Marlins):

Mike Stanton, OF: .533 AVG; 2 R; 2 RBI; 1 HR; 2 BB; 6 K; 3 SB                                                          
Bryan Petersen, OF: .400 AVG; 3 R; 2 2B; 1 RBI; 1 HR; 0 BB; 1 K
Matt Dominguez, 3B: .154 AVG; 2 R; 0 RBI; 0 BB; 3 K
Greg Burns, OF: .000 AVG; 2 BB; 1 K
Andrew Miller, P: 2 IP; 1 H; 1 ER; 3 BB; 2 K
Jay Voss, P: 2 IP; 2 H; 3 ER; 1 HR Allowed; 2 BB; 3 K
Garrett Parcell, P: 1.2 IP; 5 H; 3 R; 0 ER; 0 BB; 3 K
Jay Buente, P: 1 IP; 2 H; 2 R; 1 ER; 0 BB; 0 K

Peoria Saguaros:
(featuring the Atlanta Braves):

Jason Heyward, RF: .286 AVG; 3 R; 3 2B; 1 RBI; 2 BB; 1 K; 2 SB
Brandon Hicks, SS: .231 AVG; 1 R; 0 BB; 3 K
Freddie Freeman, 1B: .143 AVG; 0 R; 0 RBI; 2 BB; 3 K                                                                                                     
Jeff Lyman, P: 0-1; 2.1 IP; 6 H; 6 ER; 2 HR Allowed; 4 BB; 2 K
Mike Minor, P: 2.0 IP; 1 H, 1 R; 0 ER; 2 BB: 0 K
Lee Hyde, P: 2.0 IP; 1 H; 0 R; 1 BB; 4 K

Scottsdale Scorpions
(featuring the Philadelphia Phillies):

Tuffy Gosewisch, C: .444 AVG; 0 R; 0 RBI; 0 BB; 3 K
Domonic Brown, OF: .300 AVG; 2 R; 3 2B; 4 RBI; 1 HR; 4 BB; 3 K
Steve Susdorf, OF: .077 AVG; 1 R; 1 RBI; 1 HR; 1 BB; 2 K
Troy Hanzawa, SS: .000 AVG; 1 R; 1 BB; 1 K
Edgar Garcia, P: 1-1; 4.0 IP; 4H; 4 R; 3 ER; 3 BB; 4 K                                                                                                 
Michael Cisco, P: 2 IP; 1 H; 0 ER; 2 BB; 3 K
Michael Schwimer, P: 2.0 IP; 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Scott Mathieson, P: 2 IP; 0 H; 0 ER; 0 BB; 2 K