Throughout the fall, Surprise outslugged its AFL opponents on its way to a division title. The Saguaros were the highest scoring team in the league, averaging six runs per game. But in the AFL Championship Game at Scottsdale Stadium on Saturday, it was Surprise’s pitching that shined. The Saguaros scored a run in the second and they held on for a 2-0 victory.

Cubs third-base prospect Kris Bryant added to his trophy case Saturday when he was named the Arizona Fall League’s 2013 Joe Black MVP Award winner before his Mesa Solar Sox faced the Surprise Saguaros for the league title.

Jorge Alfaro, the Rangers’ top prospect, contributed in all phases of the game Saturday at Scottsdale Stadium. As a result, the Surprise Saguaros won the Arizona Fall League championship, 2-0, over the Mesa Solar Sox.

The Hot Stove endured a quiet day on Friday, but there’s always the promise of weekend moves to come. Phil Rogers sees the Phillies as a team that could be aggressive this winter, and he points to the recent Marlon Byrd signing as evidence that Philadelphia won’t be rebuilding.

Rick Renteria’s navigation of the interview process was unconventional, as Oct. 4 hip surgery had him unable to travel for six weeks when the clubs with managerial vacancies came calling. Despite needing a walker, Chicago’s new manager was able to put his best foot forward from his home in Temecula, Calif.

Yes, Tim Anderson committed 19 errors at shortstop in just 63 games for Class A Kannapolis. But that short season of work didn’t stop Anderson from believing shortstop remains his best position. The White Sox stand in agreement with the 20-year-old.

AT&T Park has seen its share of batboys. Friday was different, with “Batkid’s” dramatic appearance. Batkid, aka 5-year-old Miles Scott, performed a series of daring feats throughout the city, fulfilling his desire to be a superhero. The Giants became involved in Batkid’s saga as he dashed into their ballpark to rescue Lou Seal, the club’s mascot, from the dastardly clutches of the Penguin.

Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington will get to honor his profession and his hometown in one fell swoop on Monday, when he hosts a golf tournament designed to benefit the Urban Youth Academy in New Orleans.

Pitchers Dave Dravecky and Mike McCormick, former owner Bob Lurie and ex-manager Alvin Dark are the nominees with Giants connections who appear on the 2014 ballot for the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame (BASHOF).

One day reliever J.P. Howell is reading a book written by his wife to preschoolers, and the next day he’s drawn into the national discussion over bullying. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, it was written that Howell said he saw teammate Yasiel Puig bullied in the Dodgers’ clubhouse. On Friday, Howell insisted that’s not what he said.

Trading Max Scherzer, while attractive both from the money it would save and the youth it could inject into the organization, makes too little sense for the Tigers to be taken too seriously.

Pending a Dec. 3 vote by the Memphis City Council, the Cardinals are poised to take ownership of a fourth Minor League affiliate. According to a news release issued by the Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation on Friday, the Cardinals have agreed to take ownership of the Memphis Redbirds, their Triple-A club since 1998.

The Red Sox are not thinking about locking up 21-year-old shortstop/third baseman Xander Bogaerts to a long-term contract, general manager Ben Cherington confirmed earlier this month. Not now, at least.

Speaking to on-site reporters via ESPNDeportes Radio earlier this week, Albert Pujols said his left foot, which suffered a partial tear of the plantar fascia and put him out for the last two months, is “99.9 percent healthy” and his rehab is going “really good.”

Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera earned a second consecutive American League Most Valuable Player Award in part for his ability to play through injuries in 2013. He does not expect to have to do the same in 2014.

Astros manager Bo Porter said Thursday the team has reached out to several free agents in its quest to find an outfield bat, relief pitching help and a veteran starting pitcher to add to the young rotation.

Andre Dawson didn’t think twice when asked if former Astros first baseman Jeff Bagwell deserved to be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Bagwell is on the ballot for the fourth time. Dawson had some career numbers that were pretty similar to Bagwell, and “The Hawk” had to wait until his ninth time on the ballot to get inducted in 2010.