The Athletics recently changed Triple-A affiliations from nearby Sacramento to far-away Nashville, but there are benefits to the move despite the distance, Eno Sarris of Fangraphs writes. Sacramento is certainly more convenient to the Athletics for travel purposes, but the A’s lately haven’t promoted more players from Triple-A than other teams, and Nashville has a new ballpark opening next season. In the last decade, big-league teams have frequently picked minor-league affiliates that are relatively close by, but judging from this year’s affiliate changes so far, perhaps that’s changing. Here are more notes from the West divisions.
- Rockies hurler Juan Nicasio will likely be a reliever next season, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post writes. Nicasio has struggled as a starter this season, posting a 5.92 ERA with peripherals to match, but he’s had much more success out of the bullpen, with a significantly higher strikeout rate and many fewer walks. The righty has mostly been a starter in his big-league career, but he’s at little success while trying to survive at Coors Field, posting a 5.06 ERA with 7.0 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in parts of four seasons.
- The Rangers have won seven straight games, which is great for them, except that they’re doing all that winning with 12 players on the 60-day DL, the Dallas News’ Evan Grant writes. That means they’re winning thanks to contributions from less established players like Jake Smolinski, Adam Rosales and Phil Klein. With so many injured players who will have to be re-added to the 40-man roster this offseason, and with players like Smolinski making a case for future roles with the team, the Rangers have some tough decisions ahead of them.
MLB needs to investigate the Giants and the River Cats something is fishy about what happened
What is there to investigate? The River Cats contract with the A’s expired and they decided to switch to the Giants. Sacramento is much more of a Giants town so the River Cats ownership probably thinks they can benefit more from that than having a winning team that the A’s have provided. Fresno is a poor franchise situation so the Giants were happy to switch and I am sure they were also happy to hurt the A’s a little in the process.
It is a big mistake by the owners of the river cats. Fans only care about winning not which team they play for. The first month or so they will draw but once the losing starts they will be complaining. That is why Nashville wnet after the A’s fast once the opportunity opened up.
Actually you are wrong. The mlb team associated with the minor league team is the most important.
I wish the Mets and the A´s could switch their affiliations. Las Vegas for the As and Nashville for the Mets. It would make sense.
Rangers Key: 1) Move Elvis’ $14mm/multi-year contract. 2) Get one big arm 3) Get one big bat. Rangers may start 2015 with a Budget around $75mm to $100mm. Daniels has much to do during the off-season. Rangers rebound with a majority of youth who’s ready to stay in the Bigs.
Sign Bogar, as NEW Mgr… please J.D.