Sunday Rafters Report & Moustakas’ AFL Rising Stars Performance

Time for the Sunday Rafters Report which includes my notes on Mike Moustakas’ performance in Saturday’s AFL Rising Stars Showcase.

Thursday, November 5th (8-7 Loss)
CF-Jarrod Dyson:  1-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SO
SS-Jeff Bianchi:  0-4, 1 SO, 1 E
RHP-Aaron Hartsock:  2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO

Friday, November 6th (11-1 Loss)
CF-Jarrod Dyson: 1-5, 2 SO
3B-Mike Moustakas:  1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 1 E
RHP-Blake Wood:  1.1 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO

Saturday, November 7th:  AFL Rising Stars Showcase (West wins 8-7)
3B-Mike Moustakas:  1-3, 1 R
Moose started the game at 3B for the West Division squad and hit 3rd in the order.

His first AB came against RHP-Tommy Mendoza with a runner on 1st and 1 out.  He saw 3 pitches, the first of which was a ball well outside.  The second pitch was a changeup on the inside corner that he took for a strike.  The third pitch he grounded to the right side of the infield.  1B-Brandon Snyder made an excellent diving stop and flipped to the pitcher covering to retire Moustakas.  He didn’t hit the ball exceptionally hard, but the pitch looked to be a strike and took a great defensive play to get him out.

Moustakas came up for the 2nd time in the bottom of the 3rd with the bases empty and 2 out.  Opposing him on the mound this time around was Pirates LHP-Danny Moskos.  Moose swung at the first pitch and shot the ball between first and second for a base hit.  The pitch was a fastball high and inside, and he put a real good swing on it.  I’ve read a lot about his excellent bat speed and vicious swing, but it was impressive an impressive sight to be able to watch.  The bat head absolutely flew through the zone.  I’d venture to say that maybe one or two guys currently on the Royals ML roster could match Moose’s bat speed.  Moskos failed to get out of the inning and the West went on to 4 runs off of him.

Mike led off in the bottom of the 5th against Red Sox LHP-Dustin Richardson.  Moose took the first pitch for a strike as a fastball caught the outside corner and then processed to ground out to the SS on the second pitch.

His only action in the field came when Jemile Weeks easily stole 3B in the top of the 6th.  All Moose had to do was catch the ball, and he did.  I was hoping to see more of his defensive handiwork in the game, but sometimes the ball never comes your way.  In the top of the 7th, Carlos Rivero (Cleveland)  took over for Moustakas at 3B.

Season Stats:
CF-Jarrod Dyson:  0.280/.321/.380, 1 2B, 3 3B, 1 SB, 3 CS, 3 BB, 12 SO
SS-Jeff Bianchi:  0.278/.322/.407, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 SB, 4 BB, 7 SO
3B-Mike Moustakas:  0.268/.300/.554, 4 2B, 4 HR, 1 SB, 2 BB, 10 SO
RHP-Blake Wood:  5 G, 10.0 IP, 9.90 ERA, 19 H, 4 BB, 7 SO
RHP-Aaron Hartsock:  8 G, 9.1 IP, 3.86 ERA, 8 H, 2 BB, 7 SO
RHP-Aaron Crow:  2 G, 7.1 IP, 7.36 ERA, 9 H, 2 BB, 4 SO
LHP-Ben Swaggerty:  6 G, 6.2 IP, 9.45 ERA, 7 H, 7 BB, 4 SO
LHP-Brandon Sisk:  6 G, 8.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 6 H, 4 BB, 7 SO