With only 4 games left to play in the AFL, the Peoria Saguaros win 1 of their 6 games during week 5. This gives them an overall record of 8-19 for last place in their division and the worst record in the league. They played an even 6-6 at home but their away record of 2-13 was by far the worst of the 6 teams playing fall ball. Defense and pitching have been the biggest issues for the Saguaros.

The bright spot for Padres fans is that the best performing players on the team are Padres farm hands. Andy Parrino has the best batting avg on the team at .382/.444/.509, which is 4^th best in the league. The two lowest ERA on the pitching staff belong to Brad Brach and Colt Hynes respectively. After 11.1 IP Brach has a 3.18 ERA and Hynes, with 13 IP, is 1-0 with a 3.46 ERA.

2B Cole Figueroa has seen limited duty throughout the season. Catcher Luis Martinez has performed well as the back up catcher and is hitting .394 but does not have enough plate appearances to figure in the leaders.

Starter Erik Davis had his first good outing during the week, pitching 4 innings with 3 hits, 1 run and lowering his ERA to 7.36.

Radhames Liz

Reliever Alexis Lara had 1 inning pitched with 2 hits and 2 strikeouts and has a 16.20 ERA.

Brad Brach had a 1.74 ERA going into the Saturday game but gave up 4 runs on 3 hits (HR) in 1 innings pitched to elevate his ERA to 3.18.

Michael Collins, playing in Canada, and Luis Durango, playing in the Venezuelan league, joined the rest of the Padres playing in Winter League ball this week. Both 1B Matt Clark and 2B Adan Velazquez are injured and have been placed on the DL.

Lake Elsinore SS Jesus Lopez is hitting .295/.357/.477 in 88 AB with 19 runs scored and 17 RBI for his Mexican League team.

Oscar Salazar has played in 15 games with a .274/.308/.419 line in his Mexican League contests. He has 2 HR and 7 RBI.

Tearing up his winter league season is catcher Ali Solis. Hitting .292/.346/.403 in 72 AB with 10 runs 2 2B, 2 HR and 1 RBI.

Starters Matt Buschman 3-0, 3.48 ERA in 31 IP and Radhames Liz 1-1 1.83 ERA in 19.2 IP with 3 BB and 24 SO have put up the best numbers so far this winter season.

Reliever Stiven Osuna continues to do well in his 6.2 IP with a 1.35 ERA.

Radhames Liz, the Dominican prospect picked up from the Baltimore organization after 5 years in their system, is a frustrating but promising 26 year old with a great arm and strikeout ability who has not been able to stay consistent. As a starter in Portland in 2010, Liz had an 8-8 record and 4.83 ERA in 22 games started and 123 innings pitched. Hitters had a .242 avg against. He gave up 20 HR and 38 BB but had 109 SO in 25 total games. In one game during the season he had a no hitter for 6.2 innings and only gave up one hit over 8 innings.

Based on his numbers it is safe to say that he catches too much of the plate at times with his fastball. He throws a mid to high 90’s fastball as well as a curve and a change but has always struggled with his off speed pitches and the control of his fastball. He has a tendency to overthrow and that flattens out his fastball and leaves it hittable. There is not too much more time for him to mature into the pitcher he was projected to be while in the Baltimore organization. Their willingness to let him go shows they lost faith in his ability to get consistent. His day of reckoning with the Padres might be coming soon as well.