More Minor League Signings
It’s mostly quiet on the minor-league front, but since our last post there have a been a few signings:
- UT Andres Blanco (Texas)
- RHP Jeff Fulchino (Houston/San Diego)
- 2B Manny Mayorson (Toronto)
- OF Jason Michaels (Houston)
- 1B/3B Tim Pahuta (re-signed)
- RHP Luis Chirinos (McAllen, NAL)
- RHP Marcel Prado (Margarita, VWL)
- IF-OF Chad Tracy (Japan, ’11; Cubs/Marlins, ’10)
- OF Xavier Paul (L.A. Dodgers, Pittsburgh)
As you can see, most of these moves fall into either the category of roster-filling or spring-training competition. Unfortunately, I am also awaiting the inevitable BA transaction post in which we’ll learn about some of the releases and retirements.
In other news…
Byron Kerr has tweeted that he expects an announcement regarding the minor-league coaching staffs early next week. I’ve heard nothing definitive elsewhere.
Lastly, there are rumblings from Hagerstown about upgrading Municipal Stadium (or else). Our favorite Hagerstown blogger makes some very good points in his latest post (and open letter) to the county officials.
UPDATE: Baseball America has issued its latest transaction update, and in red are two names that were added. Both pitched in the Venezuela Winter League on the same pitching staff as Ryan Tatusko this offseason. Chirinos pitched in the independent North American League this past summer, while Prado pitched in the Golden Baseball League in 2010.
UPDATE #2: A few more minor-league signings in blue, with the requisite invite to spring training (plus Brett Carroll), which was also extended to Sandy Leon, Cory Brown, and Rafael Martin.
Regarding the new signings – Nothing to see here, just move along. Much more of interest to me (at least) is the ongoing situations with the Nationals’ minor-league parks & franchises. Stadium issues in both HAG & POT, along with the flood damage in HAR (in a city that is fighting off bankrupcy) could make for a messy 2012 in our neck of the woods.
It’s a Mexican standoff of sorts when it comes to those two counties because they know that the threat to move elsewhere is largely empty in the current economy. The best that can be hoped for is for a renovation to buy another 10-15 years of time.
Fascinating stuff on Hagerstown, I remember going to see games there in the 90’s when it was a AA team.
My, how things have changed for the better.
Look forward to hearing from the Hagerstown contingent on this one.
Should be interesting to follow the 2 ptchers. Always fun to see guys come over from the indy leagues
It wasn’t too many years ago that blogging about minor league signings were a big deal for me, dissecting each player and their talents. Back then, guys like this were a quick phone call away from the majors. Now, with so much more depth, I hardly give them more than a passing thought.
And, really, though having talent in the system is so much nicer, I do miss knowing so much about all of these guys.
How times have changed.
IMHO, the Muni is one of the greatest places to watch a game. There are no “merry-go-round” distractions, no alternate entertainment venues to be at within the stadium. You either go to watch a ballgame, or you stay home. BUT….it’s unfortunately not what the paying public/private business sector wants from a stadium now. Baseball is seen as “entertainment”, not just sport. So when the family comes, and little Billy can’t sit still – there’s something to do for him. When the signifigant other doesn’t like baseball, there’s something for them to do.
I’ve been to probably 10 minor league stadiums now, and I’ve always been impressed with the stadiums for the Power and the Pelicans. The right mix of modern and entertainment without turning the place into Kings Dominion. Purists can watch the game without auditory or visual disruption, while the non-baseball believers can be doing something else.
There is a happy medium somewhere for both the City and the Suns’ owners. I hope they find it and not lose the gem that the Suns’ have been to this city for years.
Commentary from the local paper on the need to keep the Suns’ and the Muni open…
http://www.herald-mail.com/sports/hm-parasiliti-commitment-to-suns-could-jump-start-citys-progress-20111218,0,6297500.story
“There has been a long unwritten rule here that stunts progress. There is a desire to have big-city amenities as long as they don’t change the small-town feel. Bring in new businesses, outlets and entertainment possibilities, just don’t put them in my neighborhood and don’t use any of my tax money to get something I personally won’t use.”
Nailed it. It’s a shame that the generation of folks that built the (now crumbling) mid-century infrastructure upon which most of America depends, no longer feels compelled to pay for it and no longer believes in the civic pride that it was supposed to instill.
Everyone pitches in except the city of hagerstown it seems.
The fan club just bought a new field tarp for the team, not the city, or the suns, or the nationals. People will pitch in, we just need to take that first step!