Mike Silva's New York Baseball Digest » Arizona Fall League

Recap of Mets and Yanks Prospects in the AFL

Sunday, December 11th, 2011

The prestigious Arizona Fall League, baseball’s pre-eminent development program, recently wrapped up its twentieth season with the Salt River Rafters victory over the Surprise Saguaros in the Championship Game on November 19th. Every year, each major league franchise sends six or seven prospects, some with major league experience, to the Valley of the Sun for […]

Plenty of Stars Shine at the Rising Stars Game

Monday, November 7th, 2011

In what has quickly become a haven for Major League scouts and Executives, the prestigious Arizona Fall League held its sixth annual “Rising Stars” game Saturday night in Surprise, AZ. And there were plenty of stars on hand to see. The announcement earlier in the week of the opposing pitchers began the game’s anticipation when […]

Yanks Prospects Update Live From the AFL

Sunday, October 30th, 2011

I attended the Phoenix at Surprise game on Friday and had a chance to see Yankee prospects Rob Segedin and Corban Joseph. I was lucky enough to hit the right game as I also caught pitching prospects Chase Whitley and Preston Claiborne on their bullpen rotation day. My primary reasons for picking this game was the schedule; I wouldn’t have an opportunity […]

Mets Prospect Update Live from the AFL

Saturday, October 22nd, 2011

Chuck Johnson is covering the Arizona Fall League. Occasionally he will be providing us updates about any Mets and Yankees prospects. Tonight he had a chance to see 3 Mets farm hands during the Peoria Javelinas/Surprise Saguaros game.  I was not impressed with either Juan Lagares or Jefry Marte today. Neither are considered top prospects in […]

Potential 2011 AFL Yankees Prospects

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

With the Arizona Fall League (AFL) schedule recently announced, it is time to discuss which players the New York Yankees might send to play in the desert. Each team has to send six players to the AFL and the rules clearly state that only one player may be from the A level.  Since each played […]

The Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

The Arizona Fall League has gained some notoriety in the age of the internet. To be honest, before I started doing this show I really never paid attention to winter ball. I will admit I didn’t even know much about the AFL till about three years ago. Up until today I didn’t even know there […]

Analysis on Jordany Valdespin

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Yesterday Michael Baron pointed out on Metsblog that Jordany Valdespin was tearing up the Arizona Fall League. On Sunday, NYBD contributor Joe Delgrippo joined me on the podcast to discuss his week covering the AFL. Valdespin was one of the players he was able to watch quite a bit. Here were his thoughts: Valdespin I […]

AFL, Top 50 Prospects, and Terry Collins @9pm

Sunday, November 7th, 2010

We kick off our first official hot stove show with 90 minutes of New York baseball talk. Jed Weisberger will discuss his just released NYBD Top 50 Yankees Prospects to kick off the show. NYBD contributor Joe Delgrippo will call in live from the Arizona Fall League where he spent a week watching Mets and […]

Holt Aims to Make an Impression in AFL

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

Ever since he was the Mets’ first-round pick in 2008, right-hander Brad Holt has been an enigma. The talent is there for the 24-year-old, but the results haven’t been. He looked great at Brooklyn in 2008, going 5-3, 1.87 in 14 starts, striking out 96 and walking just 33 in 74.1 innings. That rightfully got […]

Winter Baseball Serves Its Purpose for Yanks Prospects

Friday, October 22nd, 2010

As many fans know, baseball doesn’t stop with the playoffs and World Series. Beginning with the Arizona Fall League, Winter Baseball takes center stage. The AFL, Venezuelan League and Mexican Pacific League are in full swing, while the Dominican and Puerto Rican Leagues are poised to start. There are a few purposes to Winter Baseball. […]

Davis Appears To Be Promising Off the Field

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

Kevin Kernan of the NY Post caught up with Ron Davis, father of Mets prospect Ike, this week. It’s natural to be excited about the power and defense Davis can bring to first base. According to Ron he believes his son can play 10-15 years in the big leagues. The Mets haven’t really developed a […]

Toby Hyde on AFL, Backman, Top 10

Thursday, November 19th, 2009

Last night Toby Hyde of Mets Minor League Blog joined me to discuss the state of the Mets farm system. He updated us on his impressions of the organization in the Arizona Fall League, gave his thoughts on the hire of Wally Backman, Marty Noble’s mailbag about the winning attitude of Mets young ballplayers, and […]

Satchel, Toby Hyde, Mets Minors Tonight @ 7pm

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Great hour of radio tonight. Author Larry Tye joins me to discuss his recent book “Satchel: The Life and Times of an American Legend.” We will discuss the great career of Satchel Paige who was estimated to have won 2,000 games and pitch 50 no hitters. In 1948 he joined the Cleveland Indians and helped […]

Miranda This Weeks Top Yanks Prospect in Winter Ball

Monday, November 16th, 2009

Yankees prospect Juan Miranda is off to quite a start with Licey of the Dominican Winter League. The Cuban expatriate, who signed a four-year, $4 million pact in 2006, is batting .385 (6-for-13) with a homer and four RBIs in his first four games with the Tigres as he readies for what will be an […]

Davis, Dunn in AFL Rising Star Classic

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

This will probably get lost post World Series, but local prospects Ike Davis and Michael Dunn were in the AFL Rising Star Game last night. Davis came off the bench and was 1-2, while Dunn pitched a scoreless inning striking out two and was credited with the win. You can check out the entire boxscore […]