What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
-
- Ex-GM
- Posts: 5630
- Joined: Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:50 pm
- Has thanked: 368 times
- Been thanked: 378 times
What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
So I live in Peoria, IL, which has the low A team of my beloved St. Louis Cardinals. Most of the time, I wish they were the high A or AA equivalent. I feel like those are the levels where prospects really start to get interesting/distinguish themselves. Accordingly, those teams have a large number of players with unknown upsides who I'm interested in watching. However, the lower levels can be fun because the guys are just so young, and despite scouting, bonuses, and drafting, you really just don't know who will turn into a future star.
Then tonight happened. I got to watch Alex Reyes in a rehab start, a guy who hits 100, has a devastating curve, and by all rights should have been pitching in the bigs last year (stupid Tommy John). These guys look amazing at the big league level, but seeing an elite talent just completely outclass 18-22 year olds (he's only 23) is something else entirely. These kids are freaking good, and he just carved them up like it was nothing. It was honestly one of the most fun baseball games I've ever watched.
Anywho, so maybe low A isn't so bad. Tickets are $10 at most. The kids play hard. And one of these randos who isn't even on the organizations' top 30 list might be some time in the future.
Then tonight happened. I got to watch Alex Reyes in a rehab start, a guy who hits 100, has a devastating curve, and by all rights should have been pitching in the bigs last year (stupid Tommy John). These guys look amazing at the big league level, but seeing an elite talent just completely outclass 18-22 year olds (he's only 23) is something else entirely. These kids are freaking good, and he just carved them up like it was nothing. It was honestly one of the most fun baseball games I've ever watched.
Anywho, so maybe low A isn't so bad. Tickets are $10 at most. The kids play hard. And one of these randos who isn't even on the organizations' top 30 list might be some time in the future.
Ted Schmidt
Twin Cities Typing Nightmares(2044-present)
California Crusaders (2021-2038)
Twin Cities Typing Nightmares(2044-present)
California Crusaders (2021-2038)
- RonCo
- GB: JL Frontier Division Director
- Posts: 19974
- Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:48 pm
- Has thanked: 2008 times
- Been thanked: 2976 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
I need to go to some spring training games. I'm here in Tucson, after all. I used to love going to AAA games in louisville... and indy, for that matter.
- bcslouck
- BBA GM
- Posts: 3136
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2016 10:09 am
- Location: Millersville, MD
- Has thanked: 356 times
- Been thanked: 292 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
AA here. Baysox games are closest, thought I’m lucky to have a couple affiliates within an hour of me. But Baysox games are a good time.
Brandon Slouck
Rocky Mountain Oysters (2058 - present)
Cairo Pharaohs (2057)
Charm City Jimmies (2029 - 2049)
Paris Patriots (2028)
Rocky Mountain Oysters (2058 - present)
Cairo Pharaohs (2057)
Charm City Jimmies (2029 - 2049)
Paris Patriots (2028)
- niles08
- BBA GM
- Posts: 2507
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2017 9:15 pm
- Has thanked: 168 times
- Been thanked: 424 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
I enjoy watching AAA in Des Moines for my beloved Cubbies...I liked going to the Bakersfield Blaze games as well when they were in Bakersfield. They were the low A team for the Mariners but they left town in 2016 about the same time I left town lol.
- jiminyhopkins
- BBA GM
- Posts: 3514
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:33 pm
- Location: OH
- Has thanked: 303 times
- Been thanked: 932 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
AAA Toledo Mud Hens. They have one of the best minor league stadia in the country, there's a good downtown scene in Toledo these days, and there are always plenty of future or former Tigers to watch. Club level tix are $12, food and beverage reasonable. I also like to venture down to Columbus to catch the Hens playing the Clippers; Cbus has a nice stadium as well.
GM, 2051, 2053, and 2058 JL WILDCARD Phoenix Talons (2029-??), BBA
CARETAKER GM, 2053 GBC CHAMPION Tokyo Pearls (2053 - 2058)
GM, THE GREATEST MINOR LEAGUE TEAM OF ALL TIME Toledo Liberty
Vic Caleca Team News Award Winner: 2051, 2054, 2057
CARETAKER GM, 2053 GBC CHAMPION Tokyo Pearls (2053 - 2058)
GM, THE GREATEST MINOR LEAGUE TEAM OF ALL TIME Toledo Liberty
Vic Caleca Team News Award Winner: 2051, 2054, 2057
-
- Ex-GM
- Posts: 6652
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:39 am
- Location: Manama, Bahrain
- Has thanked: 207 times
- Been thanked: 776 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
The I-Cubs park is a cool setting, ran by there a few times back in the day when I was at drake (and the stadium wasn't underwater like the summer of 08....).niles08 wrote:I enjoy watching AAA in Des Moines for my beloved Cubbies...I liked going to the Bakersfield Blaze games as well when they were in Bakersfield. They were the low A team for the Mariners but they left town in 2016 about the same time I left town lol.
Randy Weigand
Havana Sugar Kings/San Fernando Bears: 32-50 (1608-1481)
Des Moines Kernels: 52-
League Champion- 34
JL Champion- 34
FL Champion- 36, 37
JL Southern- 34
FL Pacific- 37, 39
Wild Card- 33, 35, 36, 40, 43
Havana Sugar Kings/San Fernando Bears: 32-50 (1608-1481)
Des Moines Kernels: 52-
League Champion- 34
JL Champion- 34
FL Champion- 36, 37
JL Southern- 34
FL Pacific- 37, 39
Wild Card- 33, 35, 36, 40, 43
-
- Ex-GM
- Posts: 3317
- Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2018 1:36 pm
- Location: South Riding, VA
- Has thanked: 728 times
- Been thanked: 485 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
I prefer AA but the Nats' High A is really close to home and they are always fun. Nice outing last year seeing both Jason Werth and Trea Turner in the same High A (Potomac Nationals) game for rehab assignement. Both High and Low A games are always fun for promotions too!
Brett "The Brain" Golden
GM: Nashville Goats 2034-2039 (The Plan® was working when I left!)
GM: Charlotte Cougars 2040-2052
GM: Rocky Mountain Oysters 2053-2057
2056 BBA Champions!
"Tonight, we take over the world!"
-- The Brain
GM: Nashville Goats 2034-2039 (The Plan® was working when I left!)
GM: Charlotte Cougars 2040-2052
GM: Rocky Mountain Oysters 2053-2057
2056 BBA Champions!
"Tonight, we take over the world!"
-- The Brain
-
- Ex-GM
- Posts: 3982
- Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:50 pm
- Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, ENGLAND
- Has thanked: 586 times
- Been thanked: 456 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
Unfortunately not many minor league games in England lol. Will get to the Sox-Yankees game in London next year though
Nigel Laverick
(former GM of El Paso Chilis #WeWereShitty) ,
Now GM Riyadh Red Crescents #WeBeNotSoNewNow #WeAreJustAsShitty
Riyadh GM since May 2046
JL Manager of the Year 2000 (Baltimore Monarchs)
Nothing since
An MBBA GM since 1995 (off & on)
(former GM of El Paso Chilis #WeWereShitty) ,
Now GM Riyadh Red Crescents #WeBeNotSoNewNow #WeAreJustAsShitty
Riyadh GM since May 2046
JL Manager of the Year 2000 (Baltimore Monarchs)
Nothing since
An MBBA GM since 1995 (off & on)
- jiminyhopkins
- BBA GM
- Posts: 3514
- Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:33 pm
- Location: OH
- Has thanked: 303 times
- Been thanked: 932 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
That sounds amazing. I expect nothing less than world class hooliganism and a pitch invasion.Fat Nige wrote:Unfortunately not many minor league games in England lol. Will get to the Sox-Yankees game in London next year though
GM, 2051, 2053, and 2058 JL WILDCARD Phoenix Talons (2029-??), BBA
CARETAKER GM, 2053 GBC CHAMPION Tokyo Pearls (2053 - 2058)
GM, THE GREATEST MINOR LEAGUE TEAM OF ALL TIME Toledo Liberty
Vic Caleca Team News Award Winner: 2051, 2054, 2057
CARETAKER GM, 2053 GBC CHAMPION Tokyo Pearls (2053 - 2058)
GM, THE GREATEST MINOR LEAGUE TEAM OF ALL TIME Toledo Liberty
Vic Caleca Team News Award Winner: 2051, 2054, 2057
-
- Ex-GM
- Posts: 6652
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 9:39 am
- Location: Manama, Bahrain
- Has thanked: 207 times
- Been thanked: 776 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
Where are they playing, lords?Fat Nige wrote:Unfortunately not many minor league games in England lol. Will get to the Sox-Yankees game in London next year though
Randy Weigand
Havana Sugar Kings/San Fernando Bears: 32-50 (1608-1481)
Des Moines Kernels: 52-
League Champion- 34
JL Champion- 34
FL Champion- 36, 37
JL Southern- 34
FL Pacific- 37, 39
Wild Card- 33, 35, 36, 40, 43
Havana Sugar Kings/San Fernando Bears: 32-50 (1608-1481)
Des Moines Kernels: 52-
League Champion- 34
JL Champion- 34
FL Champion- 36, 37
JL Southern- 34
FL Pacific- 37, 39
Wild Card- 33, 35, 36, 40, 43
- ae37jr
- BBA GM
- Posts: 3012
- Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2016 1:37 pm
- Location: Davenport, FL
- Has thanked: 41 times
- Been thanked: 666 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
My best minor league baseball story....
I used to live in central NJ about 10 minutes away from where the Lakewood Blueclaws (Phi- Low A) play. I went to a game once by myself and just was standing in the concourse behind home plate(I used to watch from random spots). This cute girl on the party patrol came up to me and asked if I wanted to do a promotion on the field. I'm like oh great, sounds like fun. So I went through the player entrance and hung out in the tunnel for a minute waiting for instructions. They said this was a last minute thing and to go out and see the head groundskeeper for instructions. So I walked out into the dugout and all the players are saying "what's up?" to me.
I find the grounds keeper and he hands me one of those big ass infield rakes. I guess one of the grounds crew called out and they needed someone to run across the field like a mule raking the dirt. He said run from the first base line, around second to third , then turn around and do the same thing coming back. Most important thing.... don't drag over the chalk lines. I was like wait... this doesn't sound like fun. 2 seconds later he yells go, go, go. So I run out towards first and drop the rake on the wrong of the line. The first baseman.. Ryan Howard goes.... "Whoah... other side of the line." So I had to pick up the 4 ft wide rake and drop it back down. By this time the rest of the crew is 3/4 of the way to second base. So here I am busting my ass trying to catch up. I had a few beers that night and was really blowing up. I think I almost tripped a couple of times too. I get back in the dugout and all the guys are giving me hi-5' and atta boys. I find the girl that picked me and she hands me this cheap ass t-shirt that they used for a giveaway the season before and said thanks. I was so mad I left the game right away.
Of course the next day I ran into a co-worker who saw me on the field and gave me a hard time about. As time went on I found some humor in the story. I think what helped is that the first baseman turned out to be who he was. At the time he was just some 21 year old in A-ball.
I used to live in central NJ about 10 minutes away from where the Lakewood Blueclaws (Phi- Low A) play. I went to a game once by myself and just was standing in the concourse behind home plate(I used to watch from random spots). This cute girl on the party patrol came up to me and asked if I wanted to do a promotion on the field. I'm like oh great, sounds like fun. So I went through the player entrance and hung out in the tunnel for a minute waiting for instructions. They said this was a last minute thing and to go out and see the head groundskeeper for instructions. So I walked out into the dugout and all the players are saying "what's up?" to me.
I find the grounds keeper and he hands me one of those big ass infield rakes. I guess one of the grounds crew called out and they needed someone to run across the field like a mule raking the dirt. He said run from the first base line, around second to third , then turn around and do the same thing coming back. Most important thing.... don't drag over the chalk lines. I was like wait... this doesn't sound like fun. 2 seconds later he yells go, go, go. So I run out towards first and drop the rake on the wrong of the line. The first baseman.. Ryan Howard goes.... "Whoah... other side of the line." So I had to pick up the 4 ft wide rake and drop it back down. By this time the rest of the crew is 3/4 of the way to second base. So here I am busting my ass trying to catch up. I had a few beers that night and was really blowing up. I think I almost tripped a couple of times too. I get back in the dugout and all the guys are giving me hi-5' and atta boys. I find the girl that picked me and she hands me this cheap ass t-shirt that they used for a giveaway the season before and said thanks. I was so mad I left the game right away.
Of course the next day I ran into a co-worker who saw me on the field and gave me a hard time about. As time went on I found some humor in the story. I think what helped is that the first baseman turned out to be who he was. At the time he was just some 21 year old in A-ball.
Alan Ehlers
GM of the Twin Cities River Monster
GM of the Twin Cities River Monster
-
- Ex-GM
- Posts: 3317
- Joined: Wed Mar 14, 2018 1:36 pm
- Location: South Riding, VA
- Has thanked: 728 times
- Been thanked: 485 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
This is the fun part with the minors.....
For anyone that has spent time in Western NY (Syracuse and west is not Upstate), this is pretty good: Go Plates!
And coming soon - the Wings vs. the Plates: Go Plates!
For anyone that has spent time in Western NY (Syracuse and west is not Upstate), this is pretty good: Go Plates!
And coming soon - the Wings vs. the Plates: Go Plates!
Brett "The Brain" Golden
GM: Nashville Goats 2034-2039 (The Plan® was working when I left!)
GM: Charlotte Cougars 2040-2052
GM: Rocky Mountain Oysters 2053-2057
2056 BBA Champions!
"Tonight, we take over the world!"
-- The Brain
GM: Nashville Goats 2034-2039 (The Plan® was working when I left!)
GM: Charlotte Cougars 2040-2052
GM: Rocky Mountain Oysters 2053-2057
2056 BBA Champions!
"Tonight, we take over the world!"
-- The Brain
-
- Ex-GM
- Posts: 4560
- Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2010 11:21 am
- Has thanked: 16 times
- Been thanked: 81 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
I kind of wish I lived in an area where I could go to minor league hockey and baseball games, had year round good weather, affordable housing market, and very little traffic
Not sure if that exists, lol
Currently I have affordable housing, and no traffic
Not sure if that exists, lol
Currently I have affordable housing, and no traffic
- RonCo
- GB: JL Frontier Division Director
- Posts: 19974
- Joined: Sat Nov 14, 2015 10:48 pm
- Has thanked: 2008 times
- Been thanked: 2976 times
Re: What Minor League Level Do You Prefer to Watch?
Next year my favorite minor league will be the JLSE or whatever we're going to call it.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests