Minor League Reporting

Yeah all kids of goofy stuff going on, went to milb, they said it was not available, then went to Spikes site where I got the game.

Have to sit down at least 30 minutes in advance to figure out where to get the broadcast!!!!

My luck, I won't find anything tonight!

quote:

but Staten Island, heck, that should be easy!!!!

Staten Island University did the games last year for a cost of 25k. According to a msg board since many of the NYY teams are in the area they had a listener crowd of about 12 people and they did not have the needed advertizing to make it a viable product. Who would have thunk . I guess the Yanks didn't get where they are because they were fiscally irresponsible .

quote:

Originally posted by Tiger Paw Mom:
My luck, I won't find anything tonight!

The State College/ Batavia game is on the radio

Aberdeen televises all their home games.

I bookmarked all the teams in the League for easy access to the official sites

Wise move, rz. I've only had it happen once, when the MiLB site said nothing was available, and the Ems' media link goes only to the MiLB site. I found the game on the opposing team's site, but a check back to the MiLB site later found that their problem had been fixed.

Think I'll gather the leagues' home sites tonight during the game myself!

Good point rz, if no one goes to the Batavia games, who is gonna listen!!!!!

Dave said that at away games there has been great attendance.

I know it is on I meant with my luck the feed will go bad!

Poor Muckdogs!

So Yogi was talking about the Muck Dogs?

"If people don't want to come to the ball park, how are you going to stop them?"

The only team around here that has been able to draw is Buffalo. I have seen 3-4 teams in my home area come and go. They are lucky to get 1200-1400 fans which is break even. I believe our team went to the New Jersey area. They are PENN guys.

Funny you should mention that.

I did some investigative reporting today and found out that Batavia doesn't have the capability to stream TWO broadcasts so they let the opposing teams, who have more of an interest (following) have the feed. The listeners of milb consist of families, friends of players, girlfriends, wives, etc. It's more of a courtesy at some places.
Batavia Muckdogs close to Buffalo Bisons, Buffalo is FOOTBALL driven.

The Bisons are a AAA team and graw a good crowd.

It's over, finally first one in the books! I think he will get the loss, who cares, he did good. Stayed ahead in the count, threw strikes, no walks, no ER. He called from the clubhouse, he was happy to get it done with. We were too!

His team made 3 errors, poor defense. I have noticed that defense is not as sharp (for his team) as he is used to. He'll have to adjust.

Dosen't that sound just like college ?

Not understanding your post.

Actually, defense was much better on his college team, but it's only been a week since the team started playing.

I can tell you one thing, it is not college.

Physical time.

Other 24 have had theirs.

Nurse will do most of it.

The others tell him that she will do the exam that all the over 50 year guys get.

That ain't how they described it to him.

She has him on the table drawing his blood and he's so nervous he turns white as a sheet, 'bout passes out, and she has to call the doctor in for help.

All they did was take his blood and make sure his joints and muscles are all working.

The female reporter could have probably given the nurse most of the information she needed.

Can't you just see it happening?

Standing there looking at a 95 mph fast ball is just no big deal, though.

Personally, I'd probably take my chances with the nurse.


Matty, you're in the big leagues now.

You don't have to run that line drive to the SS out.

(Then why the H have I been doing it all these years?*

Naw, you need to keep hustling son.

Yea, I know, I'm not letting up.

Unbelievable how much time I (me, not Matt) have now that I don't have to write all those papers, read all those novels and do the homework.

They didn't even draw blood for DK, just straight for the MRI.

One thing I am finding out, some games are sooooooo slowwwwwww and sooooooooo long.

TPM I was watching Penn league for 10 years up close and personal. We had big bonus guys and they all made errors. We had well over 100 guys go on to the majors and many came out to rehab. They are all great ball players but not invincible.

Bobbleheaddad,
I was making a statement, lots of errors, doesn't matter if you got a big bonus or not. Routine errors. In fact his manager had a talk with the team the other night. I realize that there is not a lot of practice before the season begins whereas in college you have practice, practice, practice until your head hurts. I am trying to give my perception for parents of players or players who might have an interest in this someday.

I am not sure what "we had well over a 100 guys go on to the majors and many came out to rehab" means in relation to this topic.

Who ever said players were invincible?

quote:

I am not sure what "we had well over a 100 guys go on to the majors and many came out to rehab" means in relation to this topic.

I was qualifying the fact that I have been around A ball for a long time and seeing lots of ball players go through the system. I know that the bonus doesn't gaurentee that players will not make errors. I remember one guy who got 1.5M and he was terrible. Error after error.
I think everyone should realize that BB is BB at all levels. I prefer college over MLB. I saw the life style of a lot of A ball players and it was not an easy life style but I am sure they loved it. My son was luck to work out with them occasionally and attend their picnics put on by a friend of mine. I used to go to morning work outs and got to know several of the top players in BB. Carlos Delgado, Chris Carpenter, Vernon Wells, Ryan Freel and on and on.
We also had a Pirates team for a few years and a Pro team for a year. They could not generat enough revenue to survive. My son worked out with tjhe pro team throwing bull pen with Ron Davis (NYY). That team was mostly guys who were cut from minor league. I talked to several and they told me what it was like . Many just got tired of not getting anywhere. Others were cut. I was amazed at how talented some of them were and they didn't make it. I am sure if some of them kept trying they might have. A few weeks ago I watched an amazing 3B guy who was just cut after 3 years and reached AAA. He was a phenom and I talked to his parents. They said he just gave up. Hewas going to hang up his cleats and an ex pro named Rick Johnson talked him into playing for the Brantford Red Sox a team Wayne Gretzsky played for and his dad owned.
My point is keep it real. Iam sure your son will do well but many don't. The 1st team is a real fun and an exciting time but reality is that you are in a fight for survival. This is where the business of BB comes into play. They will try and change your delivery and one of my friends told me he just told them to let him throw his way. They did and he made the 40 man roster after 3 years in the minors. He was sent back to AA and I am sure he is on the edge. He is a LHP with a 92mph FB. He didn't go to college and doesnn't see himself going to college.

quote:

Originally posted by BobbleheadDoll:
The 1st team is a real fun and an eciting time but reality is that you are in a fight for survival. This is where the business of BB comes into play. They will try and change your delivery and one of my friends told me he just told them to let him throw his way. They did and he made the 40 man roster after 3 years in the minors. He was sent back to AA and I am sure he is on the edge. He is a LHP with a 92mph FB. He didn't go to college and doesnn't see himself going to college.

Thank you very much for the advice that many of us parents and our players realize. We are not stupid.
In fact, I would bet that is most likely why most of us encouraged our players to get most if not all of their college in first. It's an exciting time for most of us "new" minor league parents, please don't try to burst my bubble by being negative. That is not what my intention was.

All that most of our boys want to do is get a shot at living the professional life and making the milb roster season after season and eventually the 40 man roster. After 2 weeks son will tell you it is a grind, a daily commitment to improve yourself. Now a bit harder with a setback. He was prepared well in college having to be at practice, workouts when not playing 7 days a week. It's not something that is all that new to him in terms of committing. He does admit though, he doesn't miss school.
There's the "fun" side and the "serious" side to all of this. We know the odds and so do they. I used to see OPP in chat and ask a lot of questions, I learned a lot from listening to him. I thought it would be a good idea to post experiences and encourage others so that parents and players, when making decisions can be informed by others experiences.

TPM I was not inferring you or anyone else was stupid. I am sure most realize the odds.
Your son has as good a chance as anyone.

quote:

I thought it would be a good idea to post experiences and encourage others so that parents and players, when making decisions can be informed by others experiences.

----------------------------------------------------
tpm
i think that is what bhd was trying to do as well. i for one am enjoying this thread ,it was a great idea.let's not make it nasty or take things personal. it is good to get different perspectives ,evean if they may be out there a little. lol. please keep the story's coming. and i hope dk heals quickly.

There are empty chairs and I think I hear the music...............

quote:

tpm quote:
It's an exciting time for most of us "new" minor league parents, please don't try to burst my bubble by being negative. That is not what my intention was.

If you want to hear it we have to hear it both ways. With the good comes the negative. My son has been in the minors a whole three weeks and I have three weeks of parental experience which is squat in my mind. I know nothing except the "stories" I hear or read about, nothing first hand and that's reality. I will pass along what he tells me, which will be what he wants me to hear. I will not hear about the loneliness, the frustrations, the redundancy, and the worries of a minor league player. He is now an adult working in a profession where it is his life and while I'd like to think I know it all, I know very little and I would like to understand from others on this site who may have seen the "darker" side so I can understand the realities. Ryan said it best. As far as he's concerned he is the bottom of the professional food chain, starting all over, and with all bottom feeders life is not a bowl of cherries. On a different plane, he said there are many similarities to being a college freshman, but, with grown up responsibilities.

rz,
Good points.

I have always carefully read posts from Fungo, njbb, txmom, infielddad, FBM, OPP about the next level. Good example of how I perceive their posts, Infielddad gives great insight WITHOUT being negative. There is a difference.

JMO.

Before my dad died he and Ryan would have these talks that I never remembered listening to, and I should have. I overheard him one time where he was trying to explain to Ryan about "taking the blinders off". He had Ryan hold his hands next to his eyes like blinders and then wacked him upside the head with a newspaper Then he said to take his hands down, another swing at his noggin and Ryan ducked it. When he finished laughing Ryan said "It sure is better when you see it coming". The posters you mention are great people who give great advice, but, reality isn't always coming right at you in the tone you want to hear. The best thing about this site is that many times you learn most with honest shots from the blindside.

As stated before, that's why we encouraged DK to go to college first. If we had worn blinders, he might not have had that experience.

I started this thread so some of the people that have followed all of our sons could find out about their new experiences and draw their own conclusions and I THINK most have enjoyed reading.

There have been many college vs. pro threads that have addressed the negatives and positvies on the subject.

My intention for creating this topic was not that.
Done.

I had two sons play in the following professional leagues

Gulf Coast - Rookie
NY/Penn – Short season
Pioneer – Short season
South Atlantic – Low A
Midwest – Low A
Florida State – High A
Eastern - Double A
International – Triple A
Pacific Coast – Triple A
Arizona Fall League
Winter ball in Venezuela, Australia, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico
National League – Major League
American League – Major League
Might be a couple I’m forgetting!

As a parent, I think I knew more before all the above happened. It will take “many” games before people will realize just how difficult and unpredictable this stuff is. The game gets “much” better and faster at every level. The ones who make it are the ones who continued to learn, improve and adjust in professional baseball.

There are some very interesting and misleading things that happen along the way. For one example, pitchers in rookie and other short season leagues can get a false read on pro baseball. You see a lot of unbelievable k/bb ratios. This is because many young pro hitters swing at anything close to the strike zone. The hitters get smarter at every level. In AA and AAA this just doesn’t happen as often, those hitters swing less freely and make pitchers throw strikes.

One interesting story… A college pitcher we were very familiar with went directly to the NY/Penn league out of college. He pitched 61 innings with 40 strikeouts and 0 walks. That’s correct Zero walks he gave up in 61 innings pitched. That was in 2001, fast forward to 2007 pitching in AAA, he has pitched 59 innings and has 36 strikeouts to 27 walks. He is a better pitcher now than he was his first year, but the competition is just that much better and smarter.

Anyway, I love hearing all the updates about those who are playing professional baseball. Like many other things in life… the more we’re around it, the more we come to realize just how much we “don’t” know.

Just got back from beautiful Clemson University - and saw that Hudson Valley just got "Zinked".

Way to go Ryan!!!

I love hearing from all the new pro parents. Its an exciting time.
Everyones experience will be different depending on what organization they play for,what league they are sent to and what their expectations are.
Remember its a marathon not a sprint and never doubt for a min. that your the best one on that field.

So far - from my perspective - not much has changed.
Competition ratcheted up a couple notches. You get a little dough. Crowds are bigger.

But - The player still has to hit it - catch it - and run like a wild dog.

And the pitchers have to get people out.

And I guess - if you dont do those things - you will be coming home sooner rather than later.

And thats about it.

Its,
It can be much different than that.
If you are signed for a signficant bonus, you will get a very, very long look before you ever head home. If you are a prospect, usually determined by where you are drafted or your bonus, you can be elevated and will continue to play even when the performance doesn't seem to warrant that.
If you are a pick from say the 12th/13th round on, you are going to earn every start by your performance. To earn a promotion, you have to prove you can play and dominate, and are a prospect.
I think the business of the minor league can be very much different than what you see on the field.
If you are, for instance a 20th round pick, you must prove you belong, and prove it every day. But that does not get you a promotion, and that is what this is all about.

its,
I have to agree with infielddad. I thought just as you but soon realized that draft rounds have the major impact on the lineups and player movement (at least at the lower levels of pro ball). What you say about a player having to hit, catch, run and get players out is true but that is only part of the formula. The window of opportunity is narrower for someone drafted in the later rounds.

The organization has to view you as a prospect at the major league level.
Higher round players were evaluated to have the tools, (hence the big bonus)and will be given every opportunity to prove themselves.
Once a player is in the system and the organization has had more time to evaluate them,a lower round player could project to have MLB tools (great scouting find)and will be given more playing time.

Another good article Josh says is "dead on".

Passing Up Life to Play Ball

BB is a great sport and even when you are considered one of the best you will still get guys like Pain / sports analysts telling you you ain't doing it right

quote:

Originally posted by njbb:
The organization has to view you as a prospect at the major league level.
Once a player is in the system and the organization has had more time to evaluate them,a lower round player could project to have MLB tools (great scouting find)and will be given more playing time.

njbb, while I agree with you, I also think it is important to recognize the opportunities to be "evaluated" can vary widely depending on the organization.
In 2004, there were 2 DIII shortstops drafted in nearly identical rounds. Both started in short season A. After about 1 month, they had similar playing time, close to nothing. By the end of the season, one had played 13 games with less than 30 AB's and one had played 45 games with about 130 AB's.
The next year, one player went to the AZL where he played 22 games with 60 AB's and one ended up in the MWL and ended up playing close to 120 games with nearly 500 AB's. I think these types of numbers and stories are important. The organizational approach, emphasis on player development, and minor league depth has a lot to do with who can "earn" a chance to prove they might have "tools."
And to be honest, if you are a lower pick, even if you prove something one year, you usually move to the bottom and have to prove things again the next year, with the drafted or bonus prospects getting preference.

Frank, thank you for posting the link. Great reading. Pretty accurate from our experience.

BHD, was that posted on the right thread?

Ya it was a rambling thought that crossed my mind. I see all these great ball players working hard and giving up life in the pusuit of BB and analysts I listened to talk about them like they don't have any skill. Just rambling.

MO, there are various things, all count, but in different ways at different times.

1. Ability, talent, tools… This is very important in order to be a early round draft pick.
2. Intangables, makeup, etc… This is important at all times.
3. Performance, improvement, etc… This is what causes a later round pick to pass by the early round picks.

While it is true that the early picks get the most benefit of the doubt and the late picks have to prove themselves, the system still works.

Sometimes the late rounder will have to succeed at every level while the early pick moves up quickly. But in the end the Major Leagues are full of later round picks and many early picks don’t get there. In the end, they get it right most of the time IMO.

Minor league baseball life is tough.
Period.
Exclamation point.
Bottom line !!!

I love the link Frank gave us to Fernando Perez's journal because it expresses so much of what the players feel and think on an everyday basis ... I know in talking with our son and his wife we definitely see it. But as our son's mother-in-law told me yesterday (after their return from Mobile), they never heard the kids complain at all ... even when the wife got up at 3 a.m. to pick our son up at the field after a 10 day road trip and still had to go to work in the morning at 8; even when there are strenuously long road trips of 15+ hours; etc. (Well, actually, they do complain about the heat and humidity ...) He loves it because it is his dream and she loves it because it is his dream and she loves him.

Some of the experiences that our son has told us about, the trials of finding a ride to a local WalMart so he can buy the dreaded shower shoes/flip flops and not get 'fined', of finding a place to live in a town where there are few if any host families, can put stress on the guys when it is all new to them. But far more important in the grand scheme of things is the living out of a dream, something many of us have never really done in our lives because we thought we had to have different priorities, something promoted by us as parents because we may not have lived out our own dreams, and something I feel the boys will never regret. Plus there are very funny times (I think baseball players have the best and funniest stories of the shennanigans in the club house and dug out), friendships that develop for life, and memories that will never fade ...

JMHO FWIW

Here is another aspect of life in the minor leagues.

http://www.wzzm13.com/video/sports_player_1.aspx?aid=20930&sid=77334&bw=

Fines will be levied and come out of that paycheck FO described before. Suspensions also impact that check.

PG, while I defer to your experience, and while I agree that "they get it right most of the time," I tend to wonder, some, about the process.`
When we look at ML rosters and teams, we usually can see the ones that are better run/managed from those with question marks. My current view is that the quality of talent judgement/decision making at the major league level may reflect similar practices in the minor leagues.
As a result, there are minor league organizations that are loaded with quality talent and depth of talent, and some that are not so. Neither works particularly well for the player but I think it is especially hard on the later round pick trying to prove himself. If he is with a great organization, they continue to load in talent above and behind him.
If he is with a "less so," they don't necessarily give him the look/opportunity/coaching he needs to develop.
With the Rule V being extended an additional year, I think it only adds to the dilemma of the player. It certainly does help the ML team ensure they make the right choices, ultimately, though.