Unlike years past, when I’d pull the plug around the first day of Spring (i.e., today), there’d be 2-3 weeks until minor-league Opening Day. Instead, Rochester is scheduled to host Lehigh Valley on the Friday after next, with temperatures in the mid-40s.
The rest of the full-season minors begin with a more normal timeframe of the first Thursday (Harrisburg, Wilmington) or Friday (Fredericksburg) of April. The Senators and Blue Rocks start on the road while The FredNats open at home.
Usually, this is where I’d comment on the prospects of the prospects making the big club. I don’t know about you, but I can’t get all that excited about whether or not Jeter Downs can beat out Michael Chavis for a bench spot or if Thad Ward will stick in the bullpen.
The cold, hard reality is that whatever chance the Big Nats had for something interesting went down when Cade Cavalli became the latest in a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong line of Nats prospects to require a UCL replacement.
And besides, we’re not here for the Washington present but for its future. We’ve all known since “The Trade” that the real interest and excitement for 2023 would be in Fredericksburg and Wilmington, where a sizable portion of the current watchlist will play to start the season.
Otherwise, we’re back to the offseason mode of waiting for roster moves, Godot, and for the minors to start back up.