Tuesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rochester | Won, 5-4 | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Harrisburg | OFF DAY | @ Reading, 12pm | Lyon (AA debut) vs Tucker (3-3, 1.46) |
| Wilmington | OFF DAY | @ Brooklyn, 6:40pm | Meckley (A+ debut) vs. D. Hurtafo (A+ debut) |
| Fredericksburg | OFF DAY | @ Delmarva, 7:05pm | Sullivan (1-1, 7.11) vs. C. Rodriguez (2-2, 3.00) |
| FCL Nationals | OFF DAY | @ FCL Marlins, 12pm |
Rochester 5 Syracuse 4
• Lara 6IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 1BB, 4K, HR, E, PO @ 1B
• Sinclair (BS, 2) 1IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 1BB, 1K
• Shuman (W, 5-0) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K
• King 2-4, R, HR, 2RBI
• Ortiz 2-5, R, 2B, HR, 3RBI
• Lipscomb 2-4, 2R, HR, RBI
After blowing leads of 3-0 and 4-3, the Red Wings fell behind 5-4 and went meekly in the 8th. The 9th, however, was a different story. Trey Lipscomb tied it with his 9th HR to lead off the innings. Robert Hassell walked with one out while Yoyo Morales singled for the second time in two trips to the plate. Abimelec Ortiz sent ’em all in with a three-run HR for Rochester’s ninth straight win.
Andry Lara turned in a quality start of three runs allowed on five hits (one HR) and a walk while striking out four. Jack Sinclair took away the “W” with two runs allowed on two hits and a walk in the 8th. Seth Shuman worked around a walk in the 9th got his fifth win as the pitcher of record. Ortiz also doubled to go 2-for-5 while Seaver King homered and had an RBI single as the Red Wings marched to a ten-hit parade with four walks and nine strikeouts. Roster moves: LHP Carson Palmquist assigned from Washington (trade with Rockies).
Harrisburg Senators, 24-21, 3rd E.L. Southwest, 7½ GB
Sunday’s doubleheader sweep earned Harrisburg a series split with Akron. The Flying Squirrels, however, remain atop the division with a comfortable lead over both the RubberDucks and the Senators, who are outperforming their Pythagorean projection with a -2 run differential. This week, they head to Readiing with matinees today, tomorrow and night games for the other four games (Ok, maybe Sunday’s 5:15pm is a “prevening” game). UPDATE: OF Sam Petersen was named POTW for the Eastern League for May 18 – 24 (sorry, no story yet).
Wilmington Blue Rocks, 24-20, 3rd Sally Lg. North, 5GB
The Blue Rocks took five of six from the BlueClaws and picked up a game in the standings. This week, they head to Brooklyn for six with a matinee on Thursday and day games on Saturday and Sunday. Roster moves: RHP Xander Meckley promoted from Fredericksburg.
Fredericksburg Nationals, 32-13, 1st C.L. North, 9GA
Fredericksburg pushed its lead to nine games with less than a month to go in the first half with a 5-1 showing against Fayetteville. This week, they visit the cellar-dwelling Shorebirds for six with a Thursday matinee and a day game on Sunday.
The Fred Nats have hit 55 home runs. They hit 57 all last year.
The Blue Rocks have hit 54 home runs. They hit 59 all last year.
The power turnaround from Rookie ball to MLB is astonishing.
The 2025 Nats hits 161 HR, and are currently on pace for 209.
The Senators hit 86 last year, and are on pace to hit 129.
The FCL Nats hit 26 last season, and are on pace for 63 this year.
Though the Red Wings are basically on the same pace as last year.
Goes to show what a terrible development staff we’ve had the past 10 years that suddenly everyone is massively improving under a new regime. Having said that though, even with this great new staff, Hassell seems beyond reparable. Hate to say it, but he just doesn’t have a future here. Rizzo was terrible at building a draft and player development operation, but man was he good at trades and hit a grand slam with the Soto one. Imagine if Hassell did live up to the hype? That trade would have gone from outstanding to legendary.
sometimes a change of scenery is best for all
I think there’s pretty strong evidence that the minors below AAA are using a different ball this year. For example, the South Atlantic league has hit 617 HRs, which paces to almost 1800 for the full season. Last year, the league hit 1048.
I’ve seen similar trends reported for other leagues too. And, while I do think the numbers you both listed show org improvement even after accounting for the shift in environment, it’s important to consider them with that context and not only credit the new coaches / blame the old ones.
There was an article in BA about how offense is up across the minors: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/home-runs-are-exploding-across-the-minor-leagues-and-no-one-knows-why/
MLB wouldn’t be juicing the balls in case they need to go all 1995 again… would they?
Sports has been rigged forever all of them
Palmquist will probably alternate with Von Scoyoc in the 1-4 or 5-7 inning swing shifts .
AAA innings eater as Narron works with him .
Ahem Spaulding fans
The young Turks blue book ways of the New Nats way working
Let’s drift back in time after seeing Young Turks reel in Carson Palmquist .,., I think about the Expos kicking the tires on Butch Henry in 1993.
Henry was a unique revelation for Felipe .
I have to say this after seeing the career path of Brooklyn beau Bogosian yet another yankee farm hand added by Young Turks .
The Oakland Ballers pioneer league .Adam sunk too .
I just shake my head at the cosmic humor of Oakland through time having gone
From the old PCL to Charlie Finleys and other owned Athletics to this pioneer league pony operation
Begs the question: is there a bar nearby named Nuts Deep ?
Ok boss man how many of the 42 miiilb FA signees are ex yankee farm hands ?
This latest has a: story
Angel Obando
Nicaraguan
Who hasn’t pitched in an org since 2020
Huh?
HRs are up across all of the minor leagues. There’s some suspicion of a juiced ball, but I haven’t seen any formal study.
I struggle to think that Palmquist would have found another team willing to give him a 40 man roster spot, after walking over 6 batters per inning and posting an ERA over 6 over the past three seasons in AAA and MLB. He’s a junk ball pitcher with a 90 MPH fastball. What’s the upside?
a better version of PJ Poulin?
agree that this was surprising but with no one at risk…
It amuses me that on the same thread we can have “boy, the player improvement really shows that the new guys are really smart/good at their job [and put the previous regime to shame]” along with “what on Earth are they doing???” (Palmquist acquisition).
I don’t know why they picked up Palmquist. But, then again, I don’t have the access to the data/information that they do. And like you point out, what’s the cost? There was a lot of grumbling when Toboni was sifting through the waiver wire and picking up/discarding players like a day trader. But that churn is how he got a pitcher who has been a sometime closer (Lovelady) for the team. Maybe I should assume that he has an idea. Or maybe even a plan!
I’m guessing the logic is that some pitching coach thinks there’s a tweak that could change him from not-a-major-leaguer into a good pitcher. Worth a shot, but don’t expect much.
the blasts for Lipscomb and Ortiz were 114.4 and 116.3 respectfully. my ears are still ringing!
let’s hope some better weather will help the good folks of Rochester get out and enjoy what they’ve got going.
Who gets called up from Rochester first between House and Yoyo?
Yoyo
Isaac Lyon up to AA with Aaron Shortridge taking his spot in A+
and now Josh Randall can share cab fare with Lyon
Get with the times Fred MD
It’s Uber lol! Lyft ! lol
Just busting your chops
And Jackie Gleason type is the uber driver with an annoying wife !