good ol' country hardball
September 15, 2010 5:32 PM Subscribe
Help me understand how the Minor League Baseball system works.
I have become kind of intrigued by minor league baseball. I've read this fantastic long article, and I've picked up bits and pieces from occasionally going to my hometown's AAA team's games, but most of my baseball knowledge comes from watching major league games on tv and paying attention to the commentators.
What I'm interested in is the 90% of players who don't make it to the majors. If you never leave the minors, how long does your career last? How long can (or could) you stay with the same team? (I randomly looked at rosters and it looks like the average is 1-2, with some coming back for a year or two after a stint in the majors. But I'm wondering what's possible.) As you get older, is there any glory to being a veteran or do you just gradually drift down the levels of your major league affiliate as younger guys come in and linger in single-A until your contract expires? Or do most older players tend to be free agents?
What else is interesting to know or understand about the system that I wouldn't pick up as a major league fan?
I have become kind of intrigued by minor league baseball. I've read this fantastic long article, and I've picked up bits and pieces from occasionally going to my hometown's AAA team's games, but most of my baseball knowledge comes from watching major league games on tv and paying attention to the commentators.
What I'm interested in is the 90% of players who don't make it to the majors. If you never leave the minors, how long does your career last? How long can (or could) you stay with the same team? (I randomly looked at rosters and it looks like the average is 1-2, with some coming back for a year or two after a stint in the majors. But I'm wondering what's possible.) As you get older, is there any glory to being a veteran or do you just gradually drift down the levels of your major league affiliate as younger guys come in and linger in single-A until your contract expires? Or do most older players tend to be free agents?
What else is interesting to know or understand about the system that I wouldn't pick up as a major league fan?
Older players who are on AAA rosters are "spare parts". They're in the organization in case of an injury to a major league player. If they're not likely to be useful and they're not prospects, they'll probably be cut to mmake room for younger players. You're not too likely to see older former major leathers below AAA. In fact, the lower minor league levels often have age limits.
The rule 5 draft and minor league free agency will probably be of interest to you.
posted by chrchr at 5:57 PM on September 15, 2010
The rule 5 draft and minor league free agency will probably be of interest to you.
posted by chrchr at 5:57 PM on September 15, 2010
If you never leave the minors, how long does your career last?
Some minor-league teams are affiliates of major-league teams, but some are not. You could theoretically play forever, drifting down the system, or into independent leagues, so long as someone will pay you.
How long can (or could) you stay with the same team?
Let's presume you're on a major-league affiliate. You could stay as long as the club thought you had potential value to the major-league club -- more value than if they offered the roster spot to someone else, someone that is possibly younger with a bigger upside.
Note, though, that the scenario from Bull Durham -- the older catcher working with the younger pitcher -- is still somewhat valid. You may hang on to a AAA veteran a little longer, if he has some ancillary clubhouse value. He may turn into a member of the coaching or scouting staff.
As you get older, is there any glory to being a veteran or do you just gradually drift down the levels of your major league affiliate as younger guys come in and linger in single-A until your contract expires?
There's very little glory. If you're going backward (e.g. a AAA player not performing at that level, being sent to AA ball), you're in big, big trouble. Most times, going backward is not even an option -- you're pretty much done.
Or do most older players tend to be free agents?
Yes. Once you're past the rookie contract period, you're free, no matter what level you're at.
What else is interesting to know or understand about the system that I wouldn't pick up as a major league fan?
It used to be that AAA ball was where your up-and-comers would be. Not really, not anymore. Single A is where you bring in a freshly drafted rookie and work him out before giving him a shot in spring training. Scouting and training has gotten so intense that you'll pretty much know where someone's going to land after a season in Single A.
Triple AAA is now where your also-rans and veterans go just to hang on, not make a big leap. If you're in AAA, something went wrong, not right.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 6:14 PM on September 15, 2010
Some minor-league teams are affiliates of major-league teams, but some are not. You could theoretically play forever, drifting down the system, or into independent leagues, so long as someone will pay you.
How long can (or could) you stay with the same team?
Let's presume you're on a major-league affiliate. You could stay as long as the club thought you had potential value to the major-league club -- more value than if they offered the roster spot to someone else, someone that is possibly younger with a bigger upside.
Note, though, that the scenario from Bull Durham -- the older catcher working with the younger pitcher -- is still somewhat valid. You may hang on to a AAA veteran a little longer, if he has some ancillary clubhouse value. He may turn into a member of the coaching or scouting staff.
As you get older, is there any glory to being a veteran or do you just gradually drift down the levels of your major league affiliate as younger guys come in and linger in single-A until your contract expires?
There's very little glory. If you're going backward (e.g. a AAA player not performing at that level, being sent to AA ball), you're in big, big trouble. Most times, going backward is not even an option -- you're pretty much done.
Or do most older players tend to be free agents?
Yes. Once you're past the rookie contract period, you're free, no matter what level you're at.
What else is interesting to know or understand about the system that I wouldn't pick up as a major league fan?
It used to be that AAA ball was where your up-and-comers would be. Not really, not anymore. Single A is where you bring in a freshly drafted rookie and work him out before giving him a shot in spring training. Scouting and training has gotten so intense that you'll pretty much know where someone's going to land after a season in Single A.
Triple AAA is now where your also-rans and veterans go just to hang on, not make a big leap. If you're in AAA, something went wrong, not right.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 6:14 PM on September 15, 2010
Guy I used to work with was drafted out of college by the Padres and realized mid way through his second season he was never going to make it, so he quit. He reckoned he could have hung on for a couple more years, but as a late round draft pick in low A-ball, he was making less than $1000 a month. He'd spent his time at college getting a couple of degrees, so it was a pretty easy choice. I imagine for most of the guys who quit at that level it's ultimately a financial decision.
posted by IanMorr at 6:15 PM on September 15, 2010
posted by IanMorr at 6:15 PM on September 15, 2010
One of the interesting things going on at almost any minor league baseball game, but it frequently goes unnoticed: look in the stands behind home plate and you'll usually see two young guys, one with a book and one with a radar gun. They are starting pitchers on an off-day, charting pitches. Pitch type, speed, location. Minor league parks don't have any kind of Pitch F/X system, so this is all done manually. This is part of their job, but it's also a part of learning how to be a better pitcher.
A movie to watch for some color on career minor leaguers is "A Player to Be Named Later" (it's on Netflix streaming). An interesting review of the movie is here - it's written by Garret Broshuis, who wrote the "Life in the Minors" column in the Sporting News (and the Prospect Diary at Baseball America).
Baseball America in general has a lot of interesting stuff on this type of thing - this one from January 2009 talks about the take home pay of a minor leaguer. And this article talks about some of the different roles in a minor league club. The section on the "clubhouse manager" provides the other side of the "clubhouse dues" that minor leaguers have to pay:
A movie to watch for some color on career minor leaguers is "A Player to Be Named Later" (it's on Netflix streaming). An interesting review of the movie is here - it's written by Garret Broshuis, who wrote the "Life in the Minors" column in the Sporting News (and the Prospect Diary at Baseball America).
Baseball America in general has a lot of interesting stuff on this type of thing - this one from January 2009 talks about the take home pay of a minor leaguer. And this article talks about some of the different roles in a minor league club. The section on the "clubhouse manager" provides the other side of the "clubhouse dues" that minor leaguers have to pay:
A portion of his salary, roughly $800-$1,000 a month, is paid by the Barons (who are reimbursed by their major league affiliate, the White Sox). Perro then charges each member of the team clubhouse dues of $11 a day. From those dues, Perro purchases the pregame and postgame meals, along with clubhouse supplies. He tries to leave himself roughly $1 a day from each player (plus tips), usually working out to about $50 a game. Perro's goal is to earn about $2,000 a month.posted by milkrate at 6:20 PM on September 15, 2010
chrchr: "Older players who are on AAA rosters are "spare parts". They're in the organization in case of an injury to a major league player. If they're not likely to be useful and they're not prospects, they'll probably be cut to mmake room for younger players. You're not too likely to see older former major leathers below AAA. In fact, the lower minor league levels often have age limits. "
Some of the older players are there to provide organizational depth and to coach the younger guys coming up through the system. My favorite call-up last year for the Texas Rangers was Kevin Richardson, a catcher with AAA Oklahoma City RedHawks. He's been in the system for over 5 years, with just a brief stint in The Show last year. Frankly, given the Rangers' crappy situation at catcher, I wish they'd kept him up, but what do I know? Anyway, it's been repeatedly stated that Richardson is a great catcher for working with struggling pitchers, so he's kept on to get pitchers back on-track without the pitcher doing damage to a major league season.
Oh, and on the question of what happens as a player gets older: Generally, the older a player gets the shorter the contracts become. See also: Vladimir Guerrero. He was only offered a 1-year contract (with a mutual option, I believe), whereas before he would have commanded multi-year guarantees with large sums behind them. If a player truly craps out before the end of a contract, he will probably be "designated for assignment." Usually this means he's placed on waivers to see if another team wants to pick up his contract, and if not then he's given a release and his contract paid out. This is drastic, but can happen (a la Alex Cora).
posted by fireoyster at 12:21 AM on September 16, 2010
Some of the older players are there to provide organizational depth and to coach the younger guys coming up through the system. My favorite call-up last year for the Texas Rangers was Kevin Richardson, a catcher with AAA Oklahoma City RedHawks. He's been in the system for over 5 years, with just a brief stint in The Show last year. Frankly, given the Rangers' crappy situation at catcher, I wish they'd kept him up, but what do I know? Anyway, it's been repeatedly stated that Richardson is a great catcher for working with struggling pitchers, so he's kept on to get pitchers back on-track without the pitcher doing damage to a major league season.
Oh, and on the question of what happens as a player gets older: Generally, the older a player gets the shorter the contracts become. See also: Vladimir Guerrero. He was only offered a 1-year contract (with a mutual option, I believe), whereas before he would have commanded multi-year guarantees with large sums behind them. If a player truly craps out before the end of a contract, he will probably be "designated for assignment." Usually this means he's placed on waivers to see if another team wants to pick up his contract, and if not then he's given a release and his contract paid out. This is drastic, but can happen (a la Alex Cora).
posted by fireoyster at 12:21 AM on September 16, 2010
Response by poster: How does independant league baseball fit into all of this? Is this mostly minor-leaguers who have given up on going to the majors and just want to play? Or people who never even made the minors?
posted by thinkingwoman at 5:36 AM on September 16, 2010
posted by thinkingwoman at 5:36 AM on September 16, 2010
The independent leagues can be both, or players who suffered injuries trying to find a way back into baseball. For example, Mark Prior, who was the Stephan Strasburg, played in the indie leagues this year.
posted by drezdn at 6:43 AM on September 16, 2010
posted by drezdn at 6:43 AM on September 16, 2010
Jose Lima, who won 21 games with the Astros in 99, was released by the Tigers in 02. He pitched in the Independent League until he was acquired by the Royals in 03. He won an NLDS game for the Dodgers in 04. The career section of his wikipedia page may give you an idea of how some players use the minors and the independent leagues to prolong their careers.
posted by IanMorr at 8:18 AM on September 16, 2010
posted by IanMorr at 8:18 AM on September 16, 2010
As a fan of a major league team (Go Brew Crew) who keeps a casual eye on the minor league system, I would say these are the things I find interesting about the minor leagues.
1. The "average" amount of minor league players that make the Big Show is 17%. So that's pretty tiny, but it also means that on any rookie-level team, about 4-5 of those players will eventually play in the majors.
2. Its clear, very early on which drafted players are expected to make it to the majors (and/or make an impact). The highly drafted players (1-3 rounds) will at least get some time in the majors, and after a year of rookie ball, you find out if all the rest of the players have the tools to be a significant professional. First year players that do poorly do get released or quit, a lot. That's why there are so many draft slots.
3. There is only a significant "upward" trend for the minors - its not like players go from A to AA to AAA then back down the ladder. There is some bumping up and down, due to injury or a mechanics problem, but almost never for a highly touted prospect. If you can't hack it at a level, you will eventually get released.
4. There are vets that stick around to fill positions for years and years (always need pitchers and catchers) but there are less of those than you think. If you are in the minors more than 5 years you are probably not going to make it, and your career will be over soon.
5. Also, there
Oh, and the Indy Leagues rock. That's where you see old vets with glory years gone by, not-quite-good-enough players that won't quit, and young kids just having fun for a year or two after school. The best though, is the players with crazy back stories just needing a place to show they can still play, like JD Drew or Darryl Strawberry - and then they do and DOMINATE and you are reminded just how amazing major league level players are.
posted by RajahKing at 8:29 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
1. The "average" amount of minor league players that make the Big Show is 17%. So that's pretty tiny, but it also means that on any rookie-level team, about 4-5 of those players will eventually play in the majors.
2. Its clear, very early on which drafted players are expected to make it to the majors (and/or make an impact). The highly drafted players (1-3 rounds) will at least get some time in the majors, and after a year of rookie ball, you find out if all the rest of the players have the tools to be a significant professional. First year players that do poorly do get released or quit, a lot. That's why there are so many draft slots.
3. There is only a significant "upward" trend for the minors - its not like players go from A to AA to AAA then back down the ladder. There is some bumping up and down, due to injury or a mechanics problem, but almost never for a highly touted prospect. If you can't hack it at a level, you will eventually get released.
4. There are vets that stick around to fill positions for years and years (always need pitchers and catchers) but there are less of those than you think. If you are in the minors more than 5 years you are probably not going to make it, and your career will be over soon.
5. Also, there
Oh, and the Indy Leagues rock. That's where you see old vets with glory years gone by, not-quite-good-enough players that won't quit, and young kids just having fun for a year or two after school. The best though, is the players with crazy back stories just needing a place to show they can still play, like JD Drew or Darryl Strawberry - and then they do and DOMINATE and you are reminded just how amazing major league level players are.
posted by RajahKing at 8:29 AM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
It used to be that AAA ball was where your up-and-comers would be. Not really, not anymore. Single A is where you bring in a freshly drafted rookie and work him out before giving him a shot in spring training. Scouting and training has gotten so intense that you'll pretty much know where someone's going to land after a season in Single A.
Triple AAA is now where your also-rans and veterans go just to hang on, not make a big leap. If you're in AAA, something went wrong, not right.
The rest of your response is right on, but the above is not really true - even most highly touted players will spend some time in AAA, and at very least, AA.
Only the "once in a lifetime" kind of players like Stephen Strasberg are jumping right from A to the majors.
posted by RajahKing at 8:33 AM on September 16, 2010
Triple AAA is now where your also-rans and veterans go just to hang on, not make a big leap. If you're in AAA, something went wrong, not right.
The rest of your response is right on, but the above is not really true - even most highly touted players will spend some time in AAA, and at very least, AA.
Only the "once in a lifetime" kind of players like Stephen Strasberg are jumping right from A to the majors.
posted by RajahKing at 8:33 AM on September 16, 2010
The rest of your response is right on, but the above is not really true - even most highly touted players will spend some time in AAA, and at very least, AA.
Only the "once in a lifetime" kind of players like Stephen Strasberg are jumping right from A to the majors.
first of all, no no no. you don't know where someone is going to land after one year in single A. first of all, the difference in competition between High A and Low A is not exactly small (at the guy you were responding to)
Second of all, often players do not spend much time in AAA (limited time almost for sure) -- look at the Rangers (who used to be affiliated with the OKC Redhawks until this week -- now they are affiliated with the former AAA Houston Franchise which is located in Round Rock) how much time have the rangers "top prospects" spent in AAA over the last few years? Feliz, Andrus, Chris Davis (at that point in time he was a top guy), Alexi Ogando, etc.
It will be interesting to see how much guys like Scheppers (P), Engel Beltre (OF), Martin Perez (P) spend at AAA now since the MLB team has gotten stronger, but also with Beltre/Perez due to the fact they are very young.
Strasberg was the exception to the rule, but over the last few years (5-6) the top guys have often skipped or spent a minimal amount of time at AAA.
...and no one pulls a David Clyde and goes straight from High School to MLB anymore. You will see it from time to time with guys getting drafted one year and reaching the MLB team in the same year (typically are relief pitchers - guys like Ryan Wagner a few years ago with the Reds and Christopher Sale with the White Sox this year)
posted by knockoutking at 4:13 PM on September 16, 2010
Only the "once in a lifetime" kind of players like Stephen Strasberg are jumping right from A to the majors.
first of all, no no no. you don't know where someone is going to land after one year in single A. first of all, the difference in competition between High A and Low A is not exactly small (at the guy you were responding to)
Second of all, often players do not spend much time in AAA (limited time almost for sure) -- look at the Rangers (who used to be affiliated with the OKC Redhawks until this week -- now they are affiliated with the former AAA Houston Franchise which is located in Round Rock) how much time have the rangers "top prospects" spent in AAA over the last few years? Feliz, Andrus, Chris Davis (at that point in time he was a top guy), Alexi Ogando, etc.
It will be interesting to see how much guys like Scheppers (P), Engel Beltre (OF), Martin Perez (P) spend at AAA now since the MLB team has gotten stronger, but also with Beltre/Perez due to the fact they are very young.
Strasberg was the exception to the rule, but over the last few years (5-6) the top guys have often skipped or spent a minimal amount of time at AAA.
...and no one pulls a David Clyde and goes straight from High School to MLB anymore. You will see it from time to time with guys getting drafted one year and reaching the MLB team in the same year (typically are relief pitchers - guys like Ryan Wagner a few years ago with the Reds and Christopher Sale with the White Sox this year)
posted by knockoutking at 4:13 PM on September 16, 2010
may i suggest the book "the bullpen gospels" by Dirk Hayhurst -- great book about a year in the life of a minor league player
also, there are a large number of minor league players who use twitter -- look up the #MILB hash on there if it is your style or look up michael schlact - a pitcher for the rangers.
posted by knockoutking at 4:17 PM on September 16, 2010
also, there are a large number of minor league players who use twitter -- look up the #MILB hash on there if it is your style or look up michael schlact - a pitcher for the rangers.
posted by knockoutking at 4:17 PM on September 16, 2010
bad link, sorry -- "the bullpen gospels" by dirk hayhurst
posted by knockoutking at 4:24 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by knockoutking at 4:24 PM on September 16, 2010
This Wikipedia article is an excellent in explaining the Minor League system. But here's a broad level overview.
The Minor Leagues are broadly separated into two groups, Affiliated or Independent Leagues. In an affiliated league each member team is either owned by, or is contracted by a Major League team. It's much rarer these days for a minor league team to be owned by a major league team, so a majority of these minor league teams enter into either a 2 or 4 year Player Development Contract with a Major League team. The Major League team provides the players and coaches for these minor league clubs, while the minor league club is responsible for the facilities. Major League teams prefer to have their AA, and AAA affiliates close to them, so that if a need arise they're able to quickly recall players.
Minor League owners are running a business, and as such are trying to sell as many tickets as possible. The one consistent draw in all of sports isn't the San Diego Chicken, it's winning. If a Minor League affiliate is unhappy with the quality of players that the Major League club is sending to them they will generally not renew their Player Development Contracts with the club. This is where the journeyman comes in. Journeyman players are at a point in their careers where they've stopped progressing, and are unlikely to make and stay on a major league roster, but still have the desire to keep playing. They're signed to minor league contracts, and assigned to minor league teams to help the clubs win, and sometimes mentor younger players. Journeyman players are generally found at the AAA and AA levels of baseball, it's very rare for someone with more than 3 years of experience to be found in Single-A unless they're working their way back from an injury.
When a player begins their minor league career, either being drafted by a major league club, signing as an undrafted free agent, or as an international free agent they're placed onto a team at a level appropriate to their abilities and age level. Generally High School aged players in Low-A, College Aged players in High-A or Double-A. Most organizations are pretty predictable in the way they progress their players through the minor league system, generally moving them up one rung a year, assessing their likelihood of making the ML team along the way. But there are teams like the Marlins, who like to promote hitters directly from the AA team to the majors, bypassing completely the AAA level (see Michael Stanton this year, and Miguel Cabrera in 2003). So generally, following a normal career path, a player who was drafted when they were 18 will be in the majors by the age of 23-24. If a player doesn't get a single Major League AB or IP by the time they are 26 they are extremely unlikely to have any major league career.
Of course, this completely ignores minor league free agency, the rule v draft, and the 40 man roster and option years.
posted by nulledge at 4:58 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Minor Leagues are broadly separated into two groups, Affiliated or Independent Leagues. In an affiliated league each member team is either owned by, or is contracted by a Major League team. It's much rarer these days for a minor league team to be owned by a major league team, so a majority of these minor league teams enter into either a 2 or 4 year Player Development Contract with a Major League team. The Major League team provides the players and coaches for these minor league clubs, while the minor league club is responsible for the facilities. Major League teams prefer to have their AA, and AAA affiliates close to them, so that if a need arise they're able to quickly recall players.
Minor League owners are running a business, and as such are trying to sell as many tickets as possible. The one consistent draw in all of sports isn't the San Diego Chicken, it's winning. If a Minor League affiliate is unhappy with the quality of players that the Major League club is sending to them they will generally not renew their Player Development Contracts with the club. This is where the journeyman comes in. Journeyman players are at a point in their careers where they've stopped progressing, and are unlikely to make and stay on a major league roster, but still have the desire to keep playing. They're signed to minor league contracts, and assigned to minor league teams to help the clubs win, and sometimes mentor younger players. Journeyman players are generally found at the AAA and AA levels of baseball, it's very rare for someone with more than 3 years of experience to be found in Single-A unless they're working their way back from an injury.
When a player begins their minor league career, either being drafted by a major league club, signing as an undrafted free agent, or as an international free agent they're placed onto a team at a level appropriate to their abilities and age level. Generally High School aged players in Low-A, College Aged players in High-A or Double-A. Most organizations are pretty predictable in the way they progress their players through the minor league system, generally moving them up one rung a year, assessing their likelihood of making the ML team along the way. But there are teams like the Marlins, who like to promote hitters directly from the AA team to the majors, bypassing completely the AAA level (see Michael Stanton this year, and Miguel Cabrera in 2003). So generally, following a normal career path, a player who was drafted when they were 18 will be in the majors by the age of 23-24. If a player doesn't get a single Major League AB or IP by the time they are 26 they are extremely unlikely to have any major league career.
Of course, this completely ignores minor league free agency, the rule v draft, and the 40 man roster and option years.
posted by nulledge at 4:58 PM on September 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: interesting! explain minor league free agency and option years, please!
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:18 PM on September 16, 2010
posted by thinkingwoman at 7:18 PM on September 16, 2010
A couple of notes from my household baseball expert:
Each team has a 40-man roster, including minor and major league players, from which they pick their 25-man playing major league roster (there are caveats here about players on the disabled list). If a player hasn't been placed on the 40-man roster within 7 years of signing with the team, they become minor league free agents, and can sign with any team. By that point, however, any player who hasn't been put on the 40-man roster likely will not be a productive player in the majors, though some players can play useful bench roles.
If you go to minor league games, the best way to pick out which players might be headed to play in the majors is by their age. If a player is significantly younger than the rest of the players (especially in high-A, AA, and AAA leagues), they likely have a decent future ahead of them.
Adding to a comment made by one of the earlier posters, nearly all draft picks (college-age players included) start out in a Rookie league, a development league, or a short-season league; in these leagues you get a wide range of ages, and at this point, nearly all of the players have some sort of future. After one season there, older players (if they perform well) are promoted up to A-ball, whereas younger players, even if they do well, tend to take a couple more years before going to the higher-profile minor leagues.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:43 PM on September 16, 2010
Each team has a 40-man roster, including minor and major league players, from which they pick their 25-man playing major league roster (there are caveats here about players on the disabled list). If a player hasn't been placed on the 40-man roster within 7 years of signing with the team, they become minor league free agents, and can sign with any team. By that point, however, any player who hasn't been put on the 40-man roster likely will not be a productive player in the majors, though some players can play useful bench roles.
If you go to minor league games, the best way to pick out which players might be headed to play in the majors is by their age. If a player is significantly younger than the rest of the players (especially in high-A, AA, and AAA leagues), they likely have a decent future ahead of them.
Adding to a comment made by one of the earlier posters, nearly all draft picks (college-age players included) start out in a Rookie league, a development league, or a short-season league; in these leagues you get a wide range of ages, and at this point, nearly all of the players have some sort of future. After one season there, older players (if they perform well) are promoted up to A-ball, whereas younger players, even if they do well, tend to take a couple more years before going to the higher-profile minor leagues.
posted by LobsterMitten at 9:43 PM on September 16, 2010
I think you might enjoy reading Dirk Hayhurt's book The Bullpen Gospels, which describes his stint in the Padres' minor league system. He's with the Blue Jays now and got called up, but hasn't played this year due to an injury. It's really a great book and it might not explain the technicalities but provides a good portrait of life in the minor leagues.
posted by synecdoche at 6:03 AM on September 17, 2010
posted by synecdoche at 6:03 AM on September 17, 2010
Er, HayhurSt.
posted by synecdoche at 6:04 AM on September 17, 2010
posted by synecdoche at 6:04 AM on September 17, 2010
Stephen Strasburg spent some time in all three levels, he was in Potomac for a few games (it was rediculious, nobody could touch him there), went up to Harrisburg (AA), spent a few games there, and then spend a few weeks in Syracuse (AAA) before being called up. The whole process was basically just a warm up, as he didnt really have an significant challenges in the majors, except for the ligament thing...
posted by BobbyDigital at 11:06 AM on September 17, 2010
posted by BobbyDigital at 11:06 AM on September 17, 2010
This explains MLB contracts far better than I can, and in far greater detail.
posted by nulledge at 5:11 PM on September 17, 2010
posted by nulledge at 5:11 PM on September 17, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by radicarian at 5:54 PM on September 15, 2010