10 Comments

AFL = A+? AA-?

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It's usually around a AA level of play. It has occasional players with big league time, but almost always no one below A-Ball. Lower level (Class-A levels) are usually better prospects who won't be over-matched in the league.

That being said, this year seems to be a lot of bad pitching OR MLB is trying out new baseballs and not telling anyone. The league OPS is 71 points higher than last year, which was an average type year.

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Thanks, JD

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Volpe certainly redeemed himself after making what could’ve been the biggest WS base running blunder since Lonnie Smith. It was truly mind blowing how he didn’t score from 2nd on Wells double off the wall. I mean I at 60 years old could’ve scored on that play.

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Diamond to Indy AAA in April?

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April 2026.

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Agree. His stats at A+ were not that good to completely bypass significant time at AA in 2025. Plus, the pitching situation at AAA promises to be very crowded to start 2025. If he does well at AA, could be at AAA by July/Aug?

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Good work by Derek Diamond and Eddie Yean - both getting out of their innings with less than 10 pitches. In the zone, inducing swings, and supported by the defense. Both "double-parked"?

Listened to an excellent podcast of Jonathan Mayo interviewing Termarr Johnson who is leaving the AFL to join USA Baseball probably today. First time I had listened to an extensive interview of him (18 minutes), and he came across as well spoken and a "driven to excel" individual. Although very young, he talked intelligently about the state of his game, waiting for the hits to come, and one thing that impressed me was his statement that on defense at SS/2B he wanted to concentrate on making good throws and "staying trustworthy to my pitcher" - old timey stuff that players used to think and say! If you pull it up just to listen to the TJ portion, skip to around the 26 minute mark.

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Looks like Termarr was a guest on the MLB Pipeline podcast this week, I haven't listened yet but will be interested to hear from him

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Sorry, I was writing about the same interview - it is well worth the time.

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