Whether you can make it to the game or not, I strongly suggest you pay attention to this one.  If you have the opportunity to ditch out on work, do so.  Otherwise be sure to check the box score.  Hughes v Scherzer.  Enjoy.

I missed the Scherzer v Hughes matchup by two days.  Turns out it is Monday.  That is the price I pay for just going to the game instead of checking the starters.  Regardless, Saturday's AZFL game at Phoenix Munincipal Stadium was a good one.  The wind was blowing everywhere which made for an adventure each and every time the ball was hit in the air.  And entertainment to say the least.

Items of note were the following:

D'Backs prospect Evan Frey had some very, very nice catches playing centerfield.

A's prospect Sean Doolittle did a lot (sorry couldn't resist) as he went 2-4 with 2 HR and 4RBI.

Dustin Martin of the Twins organization went 3-4 with a homer.  I am certain the ball came down somewhere near the Phoenix Zoo.  It was a shot.  The rightfielder on the play did not even turn around.  Dude has some serious power.  Oh by the way, he is batting .467.

Doolittle and Martin, the 3 and 4 hole hitters for the Phoenix Desert Dogs had a combined line of 5 for 8, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 4R.  Solid work if you can get it.

It might not be Spring Training, but the talent at the AZFL is quite impressive.  And guys, I am not talking about the players on the field.  You know what I am saying.  Check out a Saturday game.  Thank me later.

What follows are my thoughts from Day 1 of the Arizona Fall League:

The Yankees may not be in the post-season, but they are still making headlines.  Their top pitching prospect Phil Hughes threw five scoreless innings allowing just one hit and striking out seven.  For next year's fantasy fans, that line looks like this:

5IP, 1 W, 7K, 0.00 ERA, 1 H

Speaking of top prospects.... D'Backs top prospect (whom we have covered in previous posts) pitched a gem.  The line for Mighty-Mad Max Scherzer looks like this:

7IP, 4 K, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB

And continuing with the top pitching prospect trend... although he did not pitch, I was shocked to see Clay Bucholz is in the AZ Fall League.  This is a guy who has already thrown a no hitter in the major leagues.  Just goes to show you all the stars are out at the AZFL (there was also a Ryne Sandberg sighting in Phoenix).

I was at Scottsdale Stadium for the Scorpions opener and in the first inning saw a ball launched deep into the outfield grass.  During the spring it would have landed on a blanket being used by some ASU co-eds working on their tans.  Chad Huffman's (Padres) shot landed on dead grass with nobody within 100 yards of it.  Crazy.

Pirates prospect Jeff Sues threw two scoreless innings and struck out the side in one of them.  Very impressive.

My personal favorite from the night game came from Robert Mosebach of the Angels franchise who threw a mid-90's fastball high... over the catcher... over the umpire... and boomed off the plexiglas built into the backstop.  Reminded me of Bob Uecker from Major League, "Just a bit outside."

Oh and by the way.... I know it has nothing to do with the AZFL, but it is still not safe to kick it to Reggie Bush.

I know I might be a little behind the times on this one, but I have finally recovered from the Tom Brady injury. See like many of you, Brady was my starting Fantasy QB. So after cursing his name, I have finally forgiven Brady. Yes Tom, I forgive you... time for the Matt Cassell era to begin.

Besides if there was ever a chance for Giselle and I, its gotta be now...

Week 1 was a doozy for many NFL teams, players and fans as many stars went down with major injuries. Brady, Burleson, Vince Young, Colston, Merriman, Croyle, Jeff Garcia. The injured list is starting to resemble a Pro-Bowl team...

Don't look now, but the Arizona Cardinals are in first place. They are perfect on the season at 1-0 and with Miami coming to town, 2-0 should be a lock. Did I just say that? The Cards looked good, granted they were playing the 49ers, but defense is hitting, the running game is working and Rackers only missed one field goal. He is usually good for at least 2 misses.

Predictions: The Cards finish 1st in the NFC West... The Patriots still finish 1st in the AFC East and go deep in the playoffs... Oakland is not the worst team in the NFL... the Saint Louis Rams are... Hasselback gets tired of not having any receivers and completes at least one pass to himself... Vince Young will be missing again, this time he will be in the guesthouse eating eggos and playing Madden... Chad Ocho Cinco will not pay (or raise) the $4 million necessary to have Ocho Cinco on the back of his jersey... Carson Palmer pays him $3 million though just to get lost... Matt Leinart will start at least one game this year due to a Kurt Warner injury... and he will play well... and we will have another quarterback controversy... thats it for now. Oh wait, I do have one more...

What in the world is wrong with the Arizona Diamondbacks? I understand they cannot hit or pitch or play any defense, but come on... In the words of Jim Mora, "Playoffs?!? We can't even win a game!" I know exactly how he feels. I have free tickets for this Saturday's game and I do not even want to go.