My friend John O’Connor at the Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote an article last week asking why the minor league season continues after Labor Day, which for decades was the traditional close of the minor league calendar. It’s a good question. Since MLB took over the minor leagues, they shrunk the number of games played and extended the period of playing them. A big part of the reason is to increase player health and well-being. Fewer games, more regular rest. Over six months that adds up to a fairly large benefit. Player development is moving towards the idea of greater efficiency. That’s especially true with pitchers, where “not wasting bullets in the minors” is becoming more and more the consensus philosophy, but it applies to hitters somewhat as well. They need their reps, but they don’t need to be weighed down and over-fatigued with them.
Some of the extended calendar has to do with logistics, and support of the major league rosters. That’s the reason why the Triple A schedule now carries on until September 24.
You can sense a little bit of lassitude in the air. I can feel it myself — I’m itching to start writing up organizational all stars and puzzle together my depth charts, but first, there are handful more games to be played. For some, it’s time to play out the string, while for others the screw is turning and tightening with a chance at playoff excitement. But soon the games will go and we’ll miss them achingly through the long winter.
HITTER of the NIGHT: David Villar (Sac), 3 for 6, HR (14), 2b, 1 R, 3 RBI
PITCHER of the NIGHT: Nomar Medina (SJ), 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
But enough of our philosophizing. The game is afoot. The play’s the thing and the action will wait for no one.
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