Goodbye, neighbor: That said, there are a few strange instances in which some relatively close-by clubs won't play each other at all, as the schedule dictates they will head in other directions. Listen to the Show Before the Show podcast.So Marlins prospects at the Minors' top level will get to know White Sox and Orioles farmhands extremely well before they set off for other divisions in the Majors. The new Triple-A club in Jacksonville, for instance, will play Charlotte or Norfolk in 84 (42 each) of their 142 games. Even when teams aren't sticking to their divisions, they will see other clubs much more often than others. Travel will therefore be limited to New York, Pennsylvania and one city in Central Massachusetts. For example, the Triple-A East Northeast Division only plays within itself in 2021, meaning Buffalo, Lehigh Valley, Rochester, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Syracuse and Worcester won't compete against any of the other 14 teams on that circuit. These aren't bubbles, per se, but they're pretty close given the circumstance. Keeping it local: The new leagues were formed to have additional emphasis on keeping things as regional as possible, and the schedules for 2021 take that to a whole new level. The consistency also should be helpful mentally, especially during what is commonly referred to as the grind of the summer. One day off per week should be a boon for players and clubs alike instead of them receiving as little as one day off per month in years past. That day will be used for travel or rest, if the club is staying home. Mondays (or Wednesdays) off: Because of the six-game series, Triple-A West clubs will have every Wednesday off while clubs on the other 10 circuits will have Mondays off. In the end, there will be a lot of familiarity between clubs. And possible player-development staffs could use the six-game series to try out six-man rotations. It's also possible one starting pitcher could see the same team twice in the same series. But if, say, the other side realizes a player can't hit the high fastball by Wednesday and he doesn't correct for that, it could be a long, long week. Prospects who can assess what changes they need to make against a specific opponent and then actually follow through will be those who thrive the most in the season ahead. Seeing one team exclusively for one week is going to make those adjustments all the more necessary. Players talk all the time about making adjustments and then adjusting to the adjustments of others. All series will be six games in a single stadium, which could have fascinating repercussions. Six-game series: To limit travel in 2021, Minor League teams are going to get to know each other over longer stretches in the season ahead. This edition of the Toolshed walks you through what stands out about this year's schedule announcement and the implications it will have on the Minor League landscape. As part of the steps being taken to ensure players and fans will be safe in the months ahead, the 2021 Minor League schedule features a few other changes that will take some getting used to. There remains the possibility that Triple-A games could be pushed back with alternate sites taking their place for April if the state of the pandemic calls for it. However, the news doesn't come in a vacuum. None of the league will play a post-season.Īll of this feels like reaching the shores of a massive lake after traversing a desert in 2020. 19, except in the case of Triple-A West, which will wrap up on Sept. The seasons are scheduled to end on Sept. Yes, Opening Day is Star Wars Day for 90 teams in the Minor League galaxy. Triple-A East play begins on April 6, Triple-A West on April 8 and everything else on May 4. The two Triple-A leagues will feature 142 regular-season games per team, while clubs on the Double-A, High-A and Low-A circuits will have 120 games apiece. That much-anticipated reveal came Thursday. One important item still in limbo was the schedule for all the leagues, which needed to be hashed out before it could become official. Last Friday, Major League Baseball unveiled a new structure for Minor League Baseball that included 120 teams, 11 leagues and four full-season levels.
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