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Opening Day for AAA (Maybe)

Team Today’s Game (ET) Pitching Matchup (’22 Stats at Level)
Rochester vs. Lehigh Valley, 4:05 p.m. TBD vs. Plassmeyer (6-9, 4.21)

As of this writing, it’s below freezing in Rochester, but they’re scheduled to play today at 4:05 p.m. The forecast for that time is 47 degrees and rainy, putting the Red Wings’ 50-degree guarantee in jeopardy.

Despite the big club playing yesterday, Rochester has not officially released its Opening Day roster. If it comes—and if I’m able—I’ll update this story with a link here.

There’s a possibility of a thunderstorm tomorrow and Sunday’s high is 38 degrees. As noted last year, even if there are projected starters in today’s game notes, the strong chance of postponements and doubleheaders renders that moot.

The next two series are against Syracuse and Buffalo so we could be in for a lot of PPD’s over the next three weeks

22 Commments

  1. Too bad the musical chairs of affiliations didn’t land Nats in Nash vulle ( as some say ).
    That Wake Forrest RH named Rhett L—- is an interesting possibility with the second pick in draft board if Pitt goes Chase Dollander .

    1. Happy birthday Jeff.

      If the Pirates take Dollander (or anyone else), I’d hope the Nats take Dylan Crews, at the moment the consensus #1 pick. True, OF congestion is quickly becoming a problem, but if these guys are the physical defensive specimens they’re projected to be, then they can also play in corner infield positions too with relative ease.

    3. With the AAA injured list hence Baker up to AAA
      Could we see Barley Peña or Sanchez on Sens to start season ?

    4. Small world
      The town I live in now was founded by a guy named
      Thomas White
      I doubt he could throw 95 mph
      As a lefty

  2. My Boston had me on dawn patrol ( grrat Errol Flynn movie ) early so bday guy up with cool hand Luke .
    At least we don’t have to wait up until 10 pm to listen to Fresno opening night if the old system was in play
    Interesting how both MLB and NHL made a mockery of sports with the ping pong balls like the lottery game on the ten pm news shift
    The Blackhawks now sport the worst record in nhl for Bad for Bedard but could end up seeing some team like Arizona who should be in Houston gsin the Bedard chip
    I guess the tee shirt through July in Seattle should read chasing Chase

  3. Roster is FINALLY up: https://img.mlbstatic.com/milb-images/image/upload/milb/fgglllq3rbdmjazlrz8g.pdf

    Some initial observations: Alu’s “minor” injury which kept him from playing for nearly a month, has found him on the IL to start the season. Casey and Mejia too.

    Cronin and Ferrer both make the roster, as well as Baker.

    Adams stuck with the team (good! I don’t think there’s a clearer path to the majors than the one through Dominic Smith and Michael Chavis.)

    1. A couple more thoughts: very surprised to see Onix Vega there, but I guess Pineda’s injury forces the issue. Still, Vega has a break out year, and I fear pushing him immediately from A+ to AAA will yield Joan Adon-esque results.

      The dearth of half-competent infielders shows itself through the presence of Jack Dunn and Cody Wilson. Wilson, you may remember, spent his 2022 season in the FCL and Wilmington, while Dunn posted a .535 OPS in Rochester…

      1. My guess is that they’re keeping Pineda on the MLB injured list to avoid burning an option year until they absolutely have to. We’ll see whether Riley Adams is hitting by the time Pineda is healthy. Options beyond those two for MLB playing time aren’t promising.

  4. The Leonel Valera question was answered : his bat fit for fan box Harrisburg
    Very interesting stick to park between the lefty hitters .
    Will let’s see what type of spring Thomas White has in prep school .

    3. Yes, I was also surprised to see Kieboom listed in the OF. Interesting if true. He may have to do the DH/1B thing until he can throw a little.

  7. Overall, this Rochester roster has a chance to be decent. And there’s plenty of incentive, as these guys know that there will be plenty of opportunities with such a poor MLB roster.

    1. no that’s not possible, any pitchers doing well at ROC will be called up to help out the big club and subsequently land on the DL 🙁

    2. I’m not seeing the upside. Where the offense going to come from? Downs, Barreto, and Fox would all be prospects if they could hit. But they can’t, and it’s why they were all released from their former clubs.

      Maybe Hernandez and Adams will bring some power, but I don’t expect Adams to last long. He’ll almost certainly have negotiated some sort of release if he isn’t promoted relatively quickly (which I will expect will happen pretty soon).

      As Bob pointed out, the best of the island of misfit toys will get promoted to DC, and we’ll be left with the guys sporting 5+ ERAs.

      And there’s not very much help coming from Harrisburg. Hassell and Millas could make appearances in a few months. And if Cate, Schaller, Rutledge start well, they too could be promoted quickly. But none of these guys are exactly game changers.

      The cavalry is still in Wilmington.

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