Tuesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | OFF DAY | vs. Lehigh Valley, 6:05 p.m. | Abbott (2-4, 5.47) vs. Phillips (0-1, 3.38) |
| Harrisburg | OFF DAY | vs. Bowie, 6:30 p.m. | Saenz (4-5, 4.57) vs. Van Loon (2-6, 5.68) |
Rochester Red Wings, 28-33, 7th place I.L. East, 11GB – 62-72 Overall
This week is the final homestand for the Red Wings, who still haven’t been eliminated yet from the second half race. As noted in the comments, it seems likely that Jackson Rutledge may be called up this week to make a start or two, though he was listed as Friday’s probable in Sunday’s press notes. Then again, Tommy Romero was also supposed to start today by those same notes and appeared in relief on Sunday.
Harrisburg Senators, 25-38, 6th place E.L. Southwest, 12GB – 56-75 Overall
Harrisburg is on a five-game losing streak and were eliminated from playoff contention last week. Bowie comes to the City Island for the final series of 2023, trailing the second-half leader Richmond by three games. With some “help” from the Sens, the BaySox could sneak into the playoffs if the Seawolves win both halves and the Flying Squirrels finish third.
word on the twitters is Morales and Pinkney heading to AA. guess they want to see if it’s something in the water
Or that’s lowest level available that’s still playing. Just as you wouldn’t have called a player sent to Auburn after Hagerstown was done a demotion, you shouldn’t call these moves a promotion. I may be tilting at windmills, but I work with words for a living… (and fill up inboxes 😉
I had higher hopes for Romero this year but also did not see Irvin’s rapid ascension and success in the tea leaves.
Fred MD you must be listening to Steeley Dan Reelin in the Years
Tea leaves … had enough of mine !
Play it Jeff Skunk Baxter !!
Well, that’s a bit surprising! Morales and Pinckney got promoted to Harrisburg. They deserve it, and most of the Senators line up has earned a bench role, so it will be very interesting to see whose playing time gets cut to make room for them, especially Morales. House is one of the only guys still hitting, but has only been playing sporadically, so I wonder if he’s carrying an injury, and that they’ll move him to DH?
I suppose they could start a line up of LF: Hassell, CF: Wood, RF: Pinckney, 3B: Morales, SS: Lipscomb? or Fox, 2B: Arruda, 1B: Stehly, C: Pineda, DH: House
The bigger problem will be how to accommodate all of these guys next season. House, Morales and Lipscomb are all first and foremost 3B. They can ease the issue, by having House start the season in AAA, Morales in AA and keep using Lipscomb as a super utility infielder. But now that they’re all within striking distance of the majors, I suspect Morales might see playing time at 1B. We’re still dealing with very small sample sizes, but his .922 Fielding% doesn’t exactly inspire confidence.
Oh man, how did I forget Crews? That’s actually going to be a much tougher problem to solve… Maybe Morales or House moves to 1B, and the odd man out in the OF of Crews, Wood, Hassell and Pinckney start at DH?
Will be very interesting to watch…
Will: I just coveted House in response to your post yesterday. Basically 4 out of 6 has been the plan.
Good to know thanks! As suspected it is injury related, but precautionary rather than reactive, so that’s also positive. Though I do hope it’s precautionary and not House dealing with a chronic injury…
House has played exactly four games every series since his promotion, I suspect that won’t change for this last series.
It seems pretty clear that the intention is that House is anointed as the 3B of the future. Speculation always has been that Morales would move to 1B, although unless he has some past experience there, it wouldn’t make any sense for him to play there for one series. Lipscomb’s path to the majors runs through 2B and/or as a super utility guy. They have continued to give him some looks at SS.
The 2B derby with the big club is still wide open. They’ve signed their dissatisfaction with Garcia and his perpetual sub-.300 OBP, not to mention sloppy defensive fundamentals. Kieboom (currently playing 3B) is flunking what figures to be his final opportunity. Alu and Blankenhorn haven’t made much of their chances, either. Jeter Downs hasn’t shown anything. If they had any immediate hope in Baker they’d have brought him up now. His lack of pop is a big hindrance, though.
The brief promotions of Pinckney and Morales do seem to signal that they may good AFL candidates. The long collegiate season for Crews may preclude him going. With House’s playing time limited during the season, one would guess that they’re going to shut him down. Hassell clearly needs some extra work. Wood doesn’t seem to have a lot to prove but might benefit from that level of competition if they’re trying to get him ready for the majors. Lipscomb could be in the AFL conversation as well. Plus they always send at least two catchers.
Well maybe with some hitters you want them to avoid the MKUltra effect of Wilmington Grand Canyon Polo Grounds