Interesting article on a new camera and software system that should be able to provide insight into defense and fielding.  There is also a video embed that shows a sample play.  Aaron Cunningham can't be too happy about being chosen for this honor.

Interesting that Derek Jeter (last in Range Factor since 2006) was mentioned as someone who's skills will defy quantification.  Let the arguments begin.

Digital Eyes Will Chart Baseball's Unseen Skills

J.A. Happ was pulled after 2.2 yesterday.  Nick Fierro is reporting that Happ will be promted and Eaton will be released or reassigned.

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/nick...npigs_for.html

I guess the question now (assuming this is true) would be if Happ will be starting or going to the bullpen.  I would assume he is going to the bullpen, however I imagine there is some chance that he could be inserted into the rotation and Myers could go to the pen, although I doubt it.

Our Saguaros took on the Javelinas Friday afternoon and lost 8-3.  Tommy Lasorda was present at the game, causing the autograph hounds to salivate.  Scouts abounded and Tuffy Gosewich received a great deal of fanfare, being an ASU alum.

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Time for another exciting Arizona Fall League Season.  We've got John Russell managing the team, another year of Joe Bisenius and a guy named Tuffy catching.  Someone tell me this is not more exciting than being in the playoffs.

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[editor's note, by dajafi] Promoted from the diaries--great info on rotation attrition, in addition to a solid case for keeping Lieber.

This diary a mutt.  It contains some part new information, some part response to the logic of my last diary set and some part attempt to reframe debate.  It's an ugly mutt, but I think after you read it, you'll love it.  Just like a Pug.

In response to the idea of keeping 6 starters and specifically not trading Jon Lieber, there have been several responses.  I'll list them in what I believe to be their level of merit:

1)    We could get a lot for him in a trade.
2)    Our AAA prospects are strong.
3)    FA starters would not want to come here.
4)    Number 5 starters are "largely superfluous".

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For those of you who say that we should have five starters and then act when and if one of them gets hurt, I present to you the fictional wives of our 5 starters.  Again, these are fictional wives!  They represent the likelihood of each player making the weekly poker game and also are a reflection of how well they will play when at the table.

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Starting pitchers are like your friends with wives (or serious girlfriends).  When you invite them over for poker, they always have to check with their wife first.  You know you have that friend that everyone likes to hang out with but his wife always keeps him from hanging out with the guys.  It's tempting to plan a night of poker with 5 friends.  What a great time you'll all have drinking beer, farting without fear and making fun of each other.  But what happens when Mike calls and says his wife has planned a night at the theatre?

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[Editor's note: Moved from the diaries. Thanks PhoenixPhilly for these great AFL reports over the past month!]

The Saguaros won their last game of the year, 5-0.  

Here are some links for you faithful readers:

Boxes, logs and recaps of all Saguaros games this year.
Final Stat Page
Phillies Organizational report (Jonathan Mayo)
Gonzalez interview

Gio Gonzalez performed interviews with Mayo throughout the AFL season.  I could only find the most recent one, however.

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The Rule 5 Draft is held annually on the last day of baseball's winter meetings. This year it will be December 7th. The changes to the collective bargaining agreement allow for another year of protection for young players not on the 40 man roster.  For an overview of Rule 5 Draft, go here and realize that the number of years that a player is protected has moved from 4 to 5 for those under 18 when they signed and 3 to 4 for those over 18 when they signed.  For a list of all Rule 5 picks since 1998, see this.  The most famous Rule 5 picks include Roberto Clemente, George Bell, Dan Uggla, Dan Kolb, Bobby Bonilla, Darrell Evans, Kelly Gruber, Mike Morgan, Scott Podsednik, Johan Santana and Derrick Turnbow (oops).  Turnbow actually did not achieve success until he was picked up off waivers by the Brewers from the Angels (the team that rule 5 drafted him).

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The Saguaros lost for the 6th time in 7 games today.  The team now has the second worst record in the AFL.  It is not looking likely that the Saguaros will make the playoffs this season.

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