Minor League Baseball reporting 2014

Fifth Third Ballpark, home of the West Michigan Whitecaps:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BdEvG3-CQAAsszS.jpg

Videos here:

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/article/277491/14/Massive-fire-breaks-out-at-Fifth-Third-Ballpark

Lawsuit seeks more money, freedom for Minor League Baseball players

A lawsuit filed in federal court seeks to overturn the Minor League Baseball contract system, with former players arguing low pay, mandatory overtime and lack of collective bargaining rights violates state and federal wage laws.

who will play Curt Flood in this case?

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BhVyUajCcAACipl.png

lehigh valley ironpigs (triple-a phillies) add bacon-themed alternate uniforms

toledo mud hens to wear ghostbusters jerseys on may 30

fresno grizzlies to wear teenage mutant ninja turtles jerseys

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BiVr-C7CEAEHouX.jpg

just passed Aberdeen park signage for THE RIPKEN WAY

fun with redneck mascots

http://deadspin.com/arkansas-minor-league-team-introduces-redneck-possum-ma-1553710118

pleasant plains to thread

ugh minor league teams with their stupid april fools jokes about renaming themselves

reno aces are paying tribute to mike jacobs, who is playing in his 1000th minor league game

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BkuZ4XlCAAAVEuk.jpg

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/73612556/newark-bears-implode-sold-off-for-parts-atlantic-league

RIP

Last team I saw Rickey Henderson AND Jose (and Ozzie) Canseco play for

guy designed an itinerary that would theoretically allow one to see a game in all 159 affiliated minor league ballparks this season: http://bensbiz.mlblogs.com/2014/04/28/on-the-road-the-ultimate-2014-itinerary

includes 14 split doubleheaders

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Maymenpg5bw

Fort Wayne TinCaps 1B kicks sprinkler head while tracking a popup, chaos ensues

Zachary Levine reports in BP today that Mike Macdougal and Bobby Kielty are still active in the Atlantic League

Sickels' updated top 150 prospects

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2014/5/1/5640414/top-150-prospects-for-2014-baseball-john-sickels

not sure if he'll make enough contact to work out -- although he's off to a hell of a start this year -- but joey gallo is a stanton-level beast

@jjcoop36
So Gallo's HR hit the Flow ad. That's about 40 feet above the field on a scoreboard 427 feet from the plate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_o_6qJU0nM

Crazy Joey Gallo?

down 17-1 after five, the clinton lumberkings beat the burlington bees 20-17 in 12 innings

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/winexpclintonburlington.png

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-burlington-vs-clinton-win-expectancy-chart/

just checked out joey gallo's ml numbers... woah.

- on friday, the bowling green hot rods (rays' low-a) overcame a 10-1 deficit to send their game at lake county, ohio to extra innings

- with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th, bowling green brought in a new reliever, who immediately balked in the winning run before throwing a pitch

- that reliever's name is Stone Speer

Tjco (Mattress Factory across from the Goldsteins ): With short season ball coming next month, other than this years draftees, which pitchers are you most looking forward to?

Jason Parks: I'm dying for short-season ball to start, and selfishly, I can't wait to see the arms slated for Brooklyn, such as Marcos Molina and Casey Meisner.

lol hero cat and the boy she saved will appear at the bakersfield blaze's next home game on tuesday

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fthSAuh9mEU

tacoma's left fielder and right fielder were each charged with an error on the same play last night

@MudHens
Congrats to Mike Hessman who smashed his 400th career @milb home run a few moments ago, giving the Hens a 2-0 lead at Rochester.

otm

@alannarizzo Alex Guerrero was sucker punched after an altercation in Albuquerque's dugout. Miguel Olivo has been replaced @ C. #notgood

uhh

@jonmorosi
Part of Alex Guerrero’s ear was “displaced by a bite” during altercation with Miguel Olivo, according to Guerrero’s agent, Scott Boras
@jonmorosi
Alex Guerrero is having plastic surgery on his ear right now, Scott Boras said

reporting hard today

http://blog.stingembees.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Isotopesfight33-622x350.jpg

guerrero's a real player, too -- he'd be in la if dee gordon hadn't been out of his mind lately

He'd also get called up today because uribe is going to the dl. Supposedly out 5 weeks for ear repair but that sounds nuts.

umm - so what the f are they going to do about Olivio?!

Olivo has always been a pig and deserves to be blackballed out of the game, which shdn't be hard given that he's washed up.

Jon Heyman ✔ @JonHeymanCBS
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i have dealt with miguel olivo on occasion, and have to say i am surprised he would bite off part of a teammate's ear

Jon Heyman ✔ @JonHeymanCBS
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the food at starbucks is still really terrible. sometimes to get them back, i provide a wrong name. i know, childish

alas I will be missing a Sugar Land Skeeters game at SABR Houston this summer, and possibly an opportunity to be eaten alive by skeeters.

The food at Starbucks?

jon griffin of the mobile baybears (double-a arizona) has homered in his last five at-bats. four last night, one today

an oral history of the hero cat's 'first pitch'

today the salem red sox committed five errors in the first inning, seven in the game, and won 13-4

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpUE85HIUAASO2n.jpg

the new britain rock cats' christmas in july uniforms from last year + halloween in may from last week

http://www.spin.com/sites/all/files/140606-merge-night-durham-bulls-walk-up-music.jpg

frank viola's son frank iii was a 29th-round pick by the white sox in 2004

he pitched in the appy league in 2005, missed 2006 with tommy john, got shelled in the appy league in 2007, was released, missed 2008 with knee surgery, spent some time in the independent leagues, etc

in 2012 he started working with r.a. dickey, presumably via his father's mets connections, on a knuckleball. on monday he made his first appearance in affiliated ball in seven years with the lansing lugnuts (low-a blue jays): 4 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 4 BB, 4 K.

he turns 30 next week. but he looks so happy in his head shot <3

is Joey Gallo a Giancarlo Stanton, an Adam Dunn or a Tony Solaita?

http://grantland.com/features/joey-gallo-texas-rangers-fascinating-prospect/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xdJQ02gkRM

kris bryant is now 4-for-18 in triple-a . . . with four homers

Lynchburg Hillcats no-hit the Wilmington Blue Rocks two games in a row.
http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140627&content_id=81960650&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb&sid=milb

Several Cedar Rapids Kernels (Low Class A; Midwest League) staffers were injured yesterday when 80-mph winds blew a tarp they were attempting to place over the field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Three staffers suffered concussions, while Assistant General Manager Scott Wilson dislocated his left shoulder.

Kernels popping

http://gallery.mailchimp.com/44b3ca905c31680f75f080333/images/d18e4a97-f6c1-4baa-9377-34c922c55be4.jpg

oh good

south bend silver hawks shortstop andrew velazquez, who turns 20 today, has reached base in 72 consecutive games, a minor league record*

grant kay, a 27th-round pick out of louisville, just hit for the cycle in his first professional game for the hudson valley renegades

also homered on the first pitch he saw as a pro

btw

http://m.mlb.com/video/v34578157/71314-allstar-futures-game

that Gallo HR was insane.

I'm being a hypocrite here, because I don't pay attention to the minors, but this is a good piece:

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/49815/time-to-invest-in-minor-leaguers

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BsryCcACQAAa2TA.jpg

The Chihuahuas will wear specially made jerseys that are to be auctioned off, with proceeds benefiting the Humane Society of El Paso.

Can I watch AAA All-Star Game online tonight?

it's on the mlb network, so you can probably find a stream

the triple-a all-star drinking game

Any time International League home run king Mike Hessman is mentioned, everyone must raise their glass and say “To the King!” The last person to do this must drink, and everyone else yells “Long Live The King” while that person drinks. Do this every time Hessman is mentioned.

Mike Jacobs "obviously not one of the top prospects in the game"

Still dippin'

Mike Jacobs has struck out.

joc pederson is the only actual prospect there iirc

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2014-07-22/mike-hessman-toledo-mud-hens-journey-detroit-tigers-crash-davis-jason-marquis

might have been worth mentioning that he's hit .188/.272/.422 in the majors (though it's true it's been in short stints here and there)

john lindsey is a guy who *really* never got a shot, except for a feel-good photo op in 2010. but he'll keep playing in mexico or the caribbean winter leagues or wherever as long as they'll have him. what else is he gonna do with his high school degree?

Bridgeport Bluefish create worst military "tribute" unis

http://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2014/7/25/5937983/blue-fish-topless-military-nipple-festival

Someone in the office saw a DVD called Basic Training with an all-hung cast, I guess.

Lieutenant Dan?

We see you, Mike Jacobs.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11270959/ten-minor-leaguers-ejected-brawl-los-angeles-dodgers-arizona-diamondbacks-affiliates

scouting Mets #1 pick Michael Conforto in Coney Island tonight

He took an ohfer as Brooklyn lost 14-3, v disappointing

should have waited until saturday for the star wars jerseys

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/6/9/8/86770698/cuts/brooklyn_uniforms_w531kcoq_3n8qosbm.jpg

sorry i couldn't make it -- didn't even get out of work until 7

Gil Hodges, Jedi mgr

Sunday the 24th is Catch on the Field Day

wait why is Gil Hodges a Sith lord, if I'm interpreting that prequel bullshit correctly

Cespedes Family BBQ were also at the game, I forgot to mention the leprechaun:

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=24324

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LkxOA_6B6A

another chapter in the legend of joe mikulik

Twins taking no chances, ending Buxton's year

manny ramirez just homered off randy wolf. in 2014

http://i.imgur.com/qcUmVta.jpg

One lucky fan at the Albuquerque Isotopes game next Friday, Aug. 29, will drive away (or tow away) outfielder Joc Pederson's luxurious 1994 Buick Century. Fans will not want to miss the chance to win this one-of-a-kind car driven by the next Los Angeles Dodgers superstar.

The car, nicknamed "Little Chucky," has only 166,000 miles on it and has at least one operable window, which is really all you need. It is perfect for cruising around during the New Mexico summers with its "awesome" stereo system and lack of air conditioning. Kelly Blue Book estimates the value at nearly $1,000 (depending on if it has a full tank of gas). Little Chucky will also come with two complimentary air fresheners and whatever else Pederson forgets to clean out.

The Isotopes guarantee 100 percent that this distinctive car will carry you all the way to your next destination out of the Isotopes Park parking lot. A satisfactory safety inspection has been completed on the vehicle.

On Aug. 29, fans can enter for a chance to win the car during the game on the concourse in front of the Isotopes Pro Shop. The car will be given away on the field following the game and just prior to that night's fireworks show. Contestants must be 18 years of age with a valid drivers license, and the winner is responsible for all license and registrations fees, as well as any taxes. The winner agrees to accept the vehicle "as is."

Pederson is on the brink of becoming the Pacific Coast League's first 30-30 player in the modern era. He currently has 31 home runs and 28 stolen bases. The last player to record a 30-30 season in the PCL was Frank Demaree in 1934 when he hit 45 homers and stolen 41 bases in 189 games. Prior to the 2014 season, Pederson was ranked the Dodgers top overall prospect by Baseball America.

the ogden raptors of the pioneer league refused to take the field in the bottom of the seventh at grand junction last night, citing unplayable field conditions. the umpires disagreed and ruled that ogden, which was leading 4-2, had forfeited. the game is under protest.

ogden's manager is black jack mcdowell

protest upheld! game to continue this evening

will Jack's band play first?

minor league musical chairs is underway

The Rockies are set to switch Triple-A affiliates, teaming up with the Albuquerque Isotopes and leaving behind the Colorado Springs Sky Sox after 21 years.

I enjoyed the park in C'Springs.

apparently the rockies didn't. after years of having triple-a teams move closer to their parent clubs, things seem to be going the other way.

dodgers replace astros in oklahoma city
rockies replace dodgers in albuquerque

sounds like
giants replace a's in sacramento
a's replace brewers in nashville

leaving the brewers and astros to fight over colorado springs and fresno. kinda surprised that the mets extended in las vegas, but maybe they realized that none of the better triple-a locations wanted to work with them

@beckjason
Mike Hessman, he of 417 minor-league HRs, homered for Aragua in the Venezuelan League last night. He's playing winter ball at age 36.

Respect

gotta get paid

Are there any reports out of the AZ Fall League about how the speeding-up rules are working out?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bz7k2hECYAAKv18.jpg

i haven't been paying much attention to the speeding-up rules, but mark appel was charged with two balls last night -- one for stepping off because of a jittery runner at first and one for throwing a wild pitch on his final warmup toss, which resulted in a violation of the 2:05-between-innings rule

not entirely sure how i feel about this one, but at the very least it captures triple-a well:

http://theclassical.org/articles/josh-lueke-and-the-ways-of-anger

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/milb-opposes-players-backs-mlb-lawsuit

Brand announced that beginning next year, he will petition Congress to add minor league baseball players to the list of 35 occupations not required to receive minimum wage or overtime pay as dictated in the Federal Labor Standards Act. If successful, minor leaguers would fall into a group that includes seasonal workers, trainees and babysitters —- likely dooming the lawsuit.

nagl

the rochester red wings were in havana as the cuban revolution began on july 26, 1960:

The Red Wings traveled to Havana for a series in late July that year. Before their game, Fidel Castro, the leader of the Cuban revolution, staged an exhibition game between a team of his supporters and a team of military police. Castro pitched two innings and helped whip the crowd into a frenzy.

The game stretched into extra innings, and at midnight the crowd erupted as the new day began. It was the 26th of July, a date traditionally celebrated as the beginning of the Cuban revolution.

Democrat and Chronicle reporter George Beahon, who was in the stadium that night, gave this account:

"Promptly at midnight, rockets in the background behind the stadium signaled the start of Cuba's first July 26 celebration. The Cuban anthem played and everyone rose to sing. At the same time, weapons inside and outside the ballpark began firing."

It wasn't simply a noisy spectacle. Bullets fired into the air must come down, of course. One stray bullet struck Red Wing infielder Frank Verdi in the head while he was warming up between innings. Fortunately for him, he was wearing a plastic helmet liner inside of his cap, otherwise he might have been killed. Verdi thought he had been struck by a baseball.

"Then I saw the bullet on the ground," Verdi later recounted. "It was a good size, a .45. It hit me right in the side of the head and took part of my ear off, then hit me in the shoulder. It really didn't bother me until an hour later, when I started to think about what happened. Hell, bullets were falling out of the sky like hailstones that night."

Havana shortstop Leo Cardenas was not so lucky. A bullet struck him in the right shoulder blade a few minutes later. At that point, both teams fled the field. The game ended in a tie.

more on the MILB players' case

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=25231