Tomorrow is the day we've been waiting for since we launched Beyond Fenway! Opening Day for Minor League Baseball is upon us and we have all four in-season teams kicking things off on Thursday, including our first interregional battle! Here is the schedule of games for Opening Day, including starting pitchers and links to the live radio broadcasts.New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Kyle Drabek)
vs. New Britain Rock Cats (Carlos Gutierrez) @ 6:05pm
WGIR AM 610 (Fisher Cats Radio Network)
WTIC FM 96.4 (Rock Cats Radio Network)
Portland Sea Dogs (Felix Doubront)
vs. Reading Phillies (Vance Worley) @ 7:05pm
AM 1490 & 1400 (Sea Dogs Radio Network)
Rochester Red Wings (Anthony Swarzak)
vs. Pawtucket Red Sox (Boof Bonser) @ 7:05pm
WHJJ AM 920 (Paw Sox Radio Network)
Also be sure to follow our live coverage from Pawtucket tomorrow. We'll have on-the-spot blogs, photos and tweets from all the Opening Day festivities at McCoy Stadium!
I finally just watched the Mark Buehrle play from the White Sox opening day. That was spectacular! It looked like something that you'd see at a softball beer league game except executed with professional athleticism...Fordy you need to give us weekend warriors a post on what the hell is going on with the Red Sox catcher position. I flip the game on last night and see Tek, Victor, and then I know there is some prospect in the farm system. What's your prediction?
ReplyDeleteYeah, I think I'll try that Buehrle play on my recently repaired knee when my softball season begins in May...piece of cake!
ReplyDeleteRegarding the catching position for the Sox, it HAS to be VMart for some time to come. Tek is obviously done, but could be a serviceable backup. He can still call a good game, he just has a junk arm...so maybe if he can call a no-hitter he'll be all set. Of course his bad is as bad as his arm, but who cares, he's a backup. Speaking of bats, that is why VMart is necessary. He's off to a bit of a slow start this year, but he'll come around. He's a pure hitter and he will be a big part of this offense, especially with Papi no longer being "Big"...
On the prospect front, they do have a Molina at AAA, but it's Gustavo who is of no relation to the "Magnificent Catching Molinas of the Majors!" Their best bet is probably Luis Exposito who is currently playing in Portland. He jacked a homer in the Sea Dogs first game of the season. He's a big dude behind the dish at 6'3", 220lbs. He threw out 27% of potential base stealers in 2009 and has sought out advice from Tek on how to manage a pitching staff.
The other option is Tim Federowicz, who is a better defensive catcher than Exposito, with a slightly better arm. His offense skills aren't as highly touted, but he certainly does have some pop off of his bat. He is starting the season with Single-A Salem, but should jump up at some point during the year.
BTW - every time I read something from you I get "Thunder Struck" stuck in my head...
"THUN-DAH"