I will make the very bold prediction that the Grizzlies will give in and accept the demotion (and the reported $12M payout) despite all the posturing. MLB has tied that decision to foregoing any claims against it or any of its entities, which means the only legal wrangling may be between Fresno and the Grizzlies.
SHORTER SEASONS?
Earlier this week, we learned that MLB plans to shorten the length of the minor-league seasons starting in 2022 from ~140 games to 132 at Low- and High-A and 138 games for AA. Meanwhile, AAA teams will gain two games from 142 to 144.
In theory, this change is negligible if the season starts later in April. But if it doesn’t it will further hamstring the minor-league operators, who will have more odd start times and fewer “Thirsty Thursdays” due to new travel requirements.
A COUPLE OF RELEASES
While double-checking to make sure I didn’t list someone on the 2021 Watchlist who had already been released, I did come across a couple of names that were familiar at the very lowest levels – Charls Jameson, and Thony Amoroso.
Jameson was on the 2019 Watchlist after posting a 0.31/3.19/1.14 line in 29IP in the DSL in 2018 as a 17-y.o. Last summer, he was knocked around for 23 hits and 13 runs in 16⅔ IP in the GCL. He’ll turn 20 in January.
Amoroso was a 2016 IFA who spent two years in the DSL, got the bump to the GCL in 2019, and was suspended after three appearances, then returned to the DSL. We never did learn more than that.
TOP 10’s
The more I think about this, the more I’m leaning towards skipping them. Why? Because we have so little to base them on. Namely, whether or not they were named to the 60-man player pool and whatever the coaches have said to Byron Kerr or Lacy Lusk. That’s it.
We now return you to your leftovers and online shopping…