minor league baseball

xavier mcdaniel

anyone follow it, go to games? I've become more interested in it in recent years. (full disclosure one of my jobs involves updating minor league play-by-play)

pearljammin41

xavier mcdaniel wrote:

anyone follow it, go to games? I've become more interested in it in recent years. (full disclosure one of my jobs involves updating minor league play-by-play)

follow all the saint louis cardinals teams and the local arkansas travelers here in little rock...... they are with anahiem

xavier mcdaniel

go to any of the games? i've been to a few in brooklyn, staten island, reading and lakewood. i like the smaller ballparks, the cheaper prices etc.

Fighting Hellfish

been to a few Long Island Ducks games. It's borderline intolerable. There's a 10 minute break for some carnival type act in between every half inning. A game takes 3 1/2 to 4 hours, and it's not even televised. The one plus is, since they are in an independent league, unaffiliated with any MLB team, they (and the other teams in the league) get a lot of former major leaguers, trying to make their way back to the bigs without being attached to one particular team. John Rocker was on the team for a few weeks, Jose offerman assaulted a pitcher with a bat.

Current Ducks include Pete Rose Jr, Carl Everett, busted steroid user Alex Sanchez, Jamal Strong, and recent Yankee draft pick, and spectacular bust, Estee Harris. Notable both due to his being drafted in the 2nd round in the 2003 draft, and because he trained at the place where I went for physical therapy following neck surgery in 2003, and I saw him there 2-3X per week

The Reds just signed Joe Valentine from the Ducks. he attended the same high school that I did, about 5 years after me

I did once go to a AA Yankees game, circa 1990. Great time. The Albany-Colonie (A/C)Yankees took on the hagerstown Suns (Orioles) I met an dgot autographs from Mike Mussina and Bernie Williams, among many others. The players had to walk thru the stands to get to the locker room. The dugout had no access to the clubhouse. Also got a bunch of balls during batting practice. Years ago, the Yankees tried to bring the AA A/C to Suffolk County, LI, but the asshole Mets blocked it, citing competition. They then put a team in Brooklyn, after blocking the yankees from having a team 40 miles away. Asshole Mets

xavier mcdaniel

Fighting Hellfish wrote:

been to a few Long Island Ducks games. It's borderline intolerable. There's a 10 minute break for some carnival type act in between every half inning. A game takes 3 1/2 to 4 hours, and it's not even televised. The one plus is, since they are in an independent league, unaffiliated with any MLB team, they (and the other teams in the league) get a lot of former major leaguers, trying to make their way back to the bigs without being attached to one particular team. John Rocker was on the team for a few weeks, Jose offerman assaulted a pitcher with a bat.

Current Ducks include Pete Rose Jr, Carl Everett, busted steroid user Alex Sanchez, Jamal Strong, and recent Yankee draft pick, and spectacular bust, Estee Harris. Notable both due to his being drafted in the 2nd round in the 2003 draft, and because he trained at the place where I went for physical therapy following neck surgery in 2003, and I saw him there 2-3X per week

The Reds just signed Joe Valentine from the Ducks. he attended the same high school that I did, about 5 years after me

I did once go to a AA Yankees game, circa 1990. Great time. The Albany-Colonie (A/C)Yankees took on the hagerstown Suns (Orioles) I met an dgot autographs from Mike Mussina and Bernie Williams, among many others. The players had to walk thru the stands to get to the locker room. The dugout had no access to the clubhouse. Also got a bunch of balls during batting practice. Years ago, the Yankees tried to bring the AA A/C to Suffolk County, LI, but the asshole Mets blocked it, citing competition. They then put a team in Brooklyn, after blocking the yankees from having a team 40 miles away. Asshole Mets

I was referring to the minor leagues that are affliated with major leagues. some years ago, i bought a set of minor league cards from 1992. in it are cards of jeter, pettitte, piazza, abreu (he's listed as bob abreu on the card).

pearljammin41

xavier mcdaniel wrote:

go to any of the games? i've been to a few in brooklyn, staten island, reading and lakewood. i like the smaller ballparks, the cheaper prices etc.

oh ya...... go to the travs all the time

All Those Yesterdays

Before the Mud Hens moved to the new downtown stadium, I used to go to Hens game every home stand. Sure high schools have better ball parks then Ned Skeldon Stadium. But I'd show up there (5 minutes from the house), get box seats for $5.25 each. Park for free and drink $3 beers while watching the game.

Now that they are down town it's about two times a year. Just more out of the way.

markymark550

When I lived close to Charlotte, NC my dad and I would go to a lot of the Charlotte Knights baseball games. When the Knights moved up to AAA classification I really started to follow them. They won the Governers Cup (International League championship) back in '94 and that was really exciting. They were with the Indians and we got to see guys like Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome play before they made it big in MLB.

When I moved to Columbia, there was a A team, but I never had a chance to see any of their games. They moved somewhere a couple of years ago (Greenville, SC I believe), so there went that chance. Now, we have the Columbia Blowfish, which is in the Coastal Plain League. This is one of the summer leagues for collegiate players to keep fresh and improve over the summer. The quality of play is ok, but I'd rather watch the South Carolina Gamecocks over the Blowfish any day.

DeLukin

In Altoona, PA there's a relatively new ballpark with a Pirates farm team. The tickets are cheap, the stadium is amazing and its very kid-friendly so I tend to go there a couple of times every season. Call me crazy, but I prefer those games to watching the pros any day. Of course when your home team is the Pirates that isn't such a profound statement...

pjsteelerfan

My mother ahs a Nationals single A team in her town, I have been to few games there- it was always a good time. And they always seemd to draw a decent crowd. I still check out their record when ever I visit her.

rival.

been to a few NJ Jackals games at Yogi Berra's Stadium in Montclair, NJ. tickets are only $8 and it's a beautiful stadium.

my highschool team was lucky enough to play a game there. nice treat.

smithnic

Seen the Brooklyn Cyclones a few times and the Mudhens in Toledo a few times as well. Always a good time.

Lizard

i go to the local games where I live that is a farm team for the Red Sox (started out for the Diamondbacks, then the Mariners and now the Sox).

aspoonfulweighsaton

We have the Lynchburg Hillcats where I live. They're the Class-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Carolina League. I used to have season tickets every year as a kid but haven't gone as much as I used to. We have made it to a few this year and I've even played the national anthem on guitar before a few games.

In previous years, we have been the Lynchburg Red Sox and the Lynchburg Mets among others. There have been TONS of MLB players come through here that you can see here: http://lynchburg-hillcats.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/PDFs/FML.pdf

Phantom Pain

I've been to a few of the Trenton Thunder games

Only because they are one of the closest farm teams

The Phillies farm teams are too far to drive to

Wobbie

The funniest thing is Thirsty Thursdays at our LV 51's games. One dollar beers positively draw the dregs of Las Vegas, like moths to a porchlight. Warm, 12 ouncers in a plastic cup! Game time temps are often 100+ degrees.

The 51's are named for top secret Area 51 - the place they test stealth bombers, etc. and may have some extra-terrestrial remains. I root against the 51's b/c they are the AAA team of the Dodgers, who I despise.

Back when the 51's were the Stars, they were the AAA team of the Padres. Benito Santiago, Sandy Alomar, Roberto Alomar and John Kruk were some of the more notable players who paid their dues here.

JOEJOEJOE

I've been to a few AAA games - Pawtucket and Vancouver.

I love the creativity of the team names/emblems in the minors. They have some really cool merch!

I live in L.A., but I really can't stand going to Dodger stadium.....its way too huge...no warmth at all!

I'll take a smaller park!

Wobbie

JOEJOEJOE wrote:

I live in L.A., but I really can't stand going to Dodger stadium.....its way too huge...no warmth at all!

That's a good call!! The Dodgers play there!!

Cutback - that was for you.

EvilMerlin

I used to go to Lake Elsinore Storm and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes games. Both are Single A teams. Went to a few San Berdoo Pilots games as well. I like the pacific minor league teams out here. It's just too far to get to a game though these days with traffic, gas, etc. The atmosphere is much more fun though. Plus it's fun when you see guys off the Padres, Angels etc all in rehab starts. But since I don't go to the games anymore I really don't follow it. My favorite baseball hat of all time though was the Lake Elsinore Storm hats/unis of the 90's. Man that I was my favorite hat. I wish it still fit.

xavier mcdaniel

i get a kick out of looking at the baseballcube.com and clicking the minor league teams to see what guys made it to the majors.

Fighting Hellfish

the minor leagues have the best logos and uniforms too

South of Seattle

Portland Beavers! Pads triple A team.

Best Minor league ever was when I was in living in Salt Lake during the late 90's early 00's. They were the twins AAA team at the time. Guys I remember from that team - David Ortiz, Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones, & Doug Mientkewicz. I don't remember ever seeing them lose a game.