Tomorrow begins the second half of the season for the AAA and AA levels, High A and Low A are already three games into it.
The great Jayson Stark wrote in an article published by the Athletic that the AAA level will go to a full time āchallengeā process for pitch calls in the second half.Ā For the past couple of seasons both of the AAA leagues had the first three games of each weekly series use totally automated calls via the ABS (automated balls and strikes) mechanism while the last three games of the series were challenge games with the umpire making the calls but each team having three challenges.Ā The disputed pitch calls were then reviewed by ABS and either confirmed or changed.Ā If the challenge was successful the team kept their challenge capacity however each time ABS agreed with the umpires they lost it.Ā In the new full scale challenge process the Pacific Coast League will keep the challenge capacity at three while the International League will reduce to two per team to experiment how it compares.Ā One other note is that the Low A Florida State League will continue to use fully automated ABS calls the first three games of each weekly series and a three challenge per team process for the last three games.Ā I watch a lot of games and to be honest Iāve still seen players react in disbelief at calls even made by the ABS - there is no perfect solution therefore the challenge process seems like the fairest compromise between the two.
As the trade deadline inches closer speculation also looms regarding potential trades.Ā There are always scouts at games with the backfields being no exception and in past years Iāve seen the volume of onlookers increase as the deadline approached, will likely be the same this summer - doesnāt always indicate a trade is looming but does reflect how each club does their due diligence.Ā Everyone knows which players draw the interest - some āwritersā run with that in their ātrade possibilitiesā articles - not my thing to do.
The second half of the minor league seasons goes into full bore this week.Ā In the minor leagues the years are divided into halves with each halfās winners meeting at year end in the playoffs.Ā Here are the first half winners in each of the leagues.
Minor League First Half Champions:
AAA International League : Omaha (Royals)
AAA Pacific League : Sugar Land (Astros)
AA Eastern League Northeast : Hartford (Rockies)
AA Eastern League Southwest : Erie (Tigers)
AA Southern League North : Birmingham (White Sox)
AA Southern League South : Montgomery (Rays)
AA Texas League North : Springfield (Cardinals)
AA Texas League South : Frisco (Rangers)
High A Midwest League East : Lake County (Guardians)
High A Midwest League West : Wisconsin (Brewers)
High A Northwest League : Spokane (Rockies)
High A South Atlantic League North : Greensboro (Pirates)
High A South Atlantic League South : Rome (Braves)
Low A California League North : Modesto (Mariners)
Low A California League South : Lake Elsinore (Padres)
Low A Carolina League North : Carolina (Brewers)
Low A Carolina League South : Kannapolis (White Sox)
Low A Florida State League East : Palm Beach (Cardinals)
Low A Florida State League West : Clearwater (Phillies)
2024 first half Playoff Berths clinched by organization :
Rockies - 2
White Sox - 2
Brewers - 2
Cardinals - 2
Pirates
Braves
Padres
Phillies
Royals
Astros
Tigers
Rays
Rangers
Guardians
Mariners
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ā¾ļø
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