Tuesday’s News & Notes

Rochester Red Wings, 7-11, 8th I.L. East, 5GB – 34-57 Overall
Rochester won three-of-six for the second straight series and ascended to 8th place. No word on whether or not oxygen needed to be administered.

Harrisburg Senators, 7-10, 5th E.L. Southwest, 3GB – 41-45 Overall
The Senators got an extra day for the All-Star Break, which may be fortuitous given that the parent club has been taking a Magic-8 Ball approach to the rotation, creating an inordinate number of bullpen games that are more typical to short-season teams than affiliate two steps from the majors.

Wilmington Blue Rocks, 10-11, 4th Sally Lg. North, 5GB – 40-46 Overall
Wilmington split its series with Brooklyn but fell another game back in the 2nd half chase. Despite the bevy of too-old-for-the-level players, the Blue Rocks remain dead-last on offense in the Sally Lg.

Fredericksburg Nationals, 12-8, 2nd C.L. North, ½ GB – 42-43 Overall
Like the Sens, the FredNats got an early start on the break after taking three of five from Carolina to pull within a half game of first place. Since the New World Order began in 2021, the Nats have used the end of the FCL season to shuffle guys around… but things may be different in the post-Rizzo world. The safe bet is that there won’t be nearly as many promotions (or demotions) as we want (or should be).

FCL Mets 3 FCL Nationals 2
• J. Feliz 4IP, 6H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 6K
• Luis (BS, 3; L, 1-1) ⅔ IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 0K, HR
• D. Tejeda 1-3, 2SB (21)
• Green 0-1, 2BB, 0K, SB

Picking up where they left off on Friday, the two teams traded zeroes until the last of the 7th. That’s when the F-Mets walked off the F-Nats with a two-out, two-run HR to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 win. Elijah Green drew a walk in the 5th to be the last FCL Nationals baserunner to reach base. Andy Luis served up the game-winner in the 7th to take the loss. The F-Nats went 1-for-7 with RISP and left on five.

FCL Nationals 7 FCL Mets 4
• Lunar 3IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 1K
• R. Ramirez (W, 2-0) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Perez 1⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, 3-1 IR-S
• J. De La Rosa 2-2, R, HR, 2RBI
• Jones 1-2, 2B, R, BB
• Williams 1-2, R

FCL Nationals blew an early 2-0 lead but got it back with a three-spot in the 3rd and added single runs in the 4th and 5th for a 7-4 win over the FCL Mets. Darrel Lunar was chased after three runs on five hits and a walk over three innings. Reilin Ramirez was credited with the win while Doimil Perez got the last five outs—three by way of the K—to earn the save. Jeremy De La Rosa emerged from witness protection to hit a two-run HR and a single while Jamison Jones led that AATL players with a double and a walk. Roster moves: OFs Jeremy De La Rosa, Donta’ Williams assigned from Harrisburg for MiLB rehab.

DSL Mets 3 DSL Nationals 1
• Reyes (L, 2-2) 5IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 1K
• Jo. Sanchez 1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 2K
• N. De La Cruz 2-2, BB
• Vargas 2-3, R

The D-Mets struck for three in the first and cruised to a 3-1 win over the D-Nats. Juan Reyes gave up all three DSL Mets runs on six hits and a walk over fic innings to take the loss. Nauris De La Cruz reached base three times on a pair of safeties and a base-on-balls while Esnaider Vargas singled twice and scored the lone DSL Nationals run on an RBI single by Marconi German – the D-Nats’ one (1) hit in ten RISP chances.

With the draft compacted into two days, there’s too many to list (building HTML tables is part of my day job; this is a hobby). But I do have some thoughts…

…The first thing that jumps out—like a missing tooth on a supermodel—is the hard reversion to the historical mean when it comes to draft collegiate picks. Last year there were three seniors or graduate students. This year there were EIGHT.

…Ostensibly, this may be to “pay” for four of the top five picks being HS guys. That’s certainly the take of people smarter than me about this.

…Despite the need for more and better hitting, there was only one more position player taken this year vs. last. Whether this is a vote of confidence or the usual, knee-jerk analysis is up for debate.

…However, of the position players just two were outfielders. I do think this may be indicative of the current surplus. Well, maybe hope.

…Likewise, both catchers taken were upperclassmen. And at least one (Boston Smith) fits the “Raudy Read” mold (hitter hidden at catcher, natch).