When the AAA-Indianapolis Indians and High A-Greensboro Grasshoppers Rosters were unveiled, I immediately grabbed my phone and asked Siri how long it would take me to get to First National Bank Field. The bad news is that it came out to 6 hours and 55 minutes, on the first leg of a 870 mile round trip, from my home here in Western Pennsylvania; so not an ideal weekend drive with three kiddos and a wife that lovingly tolerates my baseball obsession.
However, the more important part of the decision to see if I could swing a weekend trip to Greensboro was the overall excitement for an everyday lineup, rotation and bullpen that the team would be rolling out on a game to game basis. Thinking that I might catch a start from Quinn Priester, Tahnaj Thomas, Carmen Mlodzinski or Omar Cruz, see a double play turned by a middle infield of Liover Pegeuro and Nick Gonzalez, or a homer off the bat of Jack Herman, Aaron Shackelford or Kyle Wilkie, was more than enough incentive to at least explore the possibility.
On the other side of the coin was a place that I already had a trip mapped out for, Victory Field in Indianapolis; with baseball being the bonus of a getaway that is pretty much a middle ground meeting place for immediate family members in Chicago and St. Louis. Although, I have to admit I was less excited about this excursion than I had been about my imaginary one to North Carolina; no offense to my family.
I can’t lie; the roster just doesn’t excite me as much. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that we have already gotten a more of a glimpse of some of these players over the years, in Spring Training and so far this season; or possibly because many remind me of the potential failings and pitfalls from the previous regime. And maybe, just maybe, I can’t identify as many high ceiling prospects that exist at every other level.
I am not trying to be overly pessimistic with these views, and hopefully I am a little off on my immediate thoughts and judgements; but as of right now I don’t think I am. This is not to say that there aren’t any players I am excited or anxious to see in Indianapolis, yet, the level of anticipation isn’t the same; which really makes me start to wonder if I am alone in my train of thought.
As I look at the rosters listed below, I still can’t see it; and believe me, I hope that I am wrong.
Inside The Bucs Basement 