Baseball America reviewed the quality of play across the four full-season levels, and one wonders if the scouts and executives in the story have been mostly watching the White Sox's affiliates, because their impressions match what those four teams are doing.
Triple-A: "'Where you really see the difference is the pitching. Between injury callups and taxi squads, every Triple-A team is down four or five pitchers, and they’re being replaced by guys who really should still be at Double-A.'"
Double-A: “Double-A is, I dunno. It’s fine. It’s not great, but it’s fine."
High-A: "It was just awful baseball.”
Low-A: "It’s been a real s---show."
The story offers reasons along with anonymous gripes. Triple-A rosters were diluted by taxi squads and the crush of early-season soft-tissue injuries at the MLB level, and A-ball is a victim of rust and ambitious assignments due to the elimination of short-season leagues. Double-A has found a balance where players are experienced enough to master the fundamentals, but far enough from the majors where promotions for key players aren't merely dictated by emergencies above.
Gwinnett 4, Charlotte 3 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Blake Rutherford went 1-for-4.
- Yermín Mercedes was 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Micker Adolfo returned to the lineup, singling, walking and striking out twice.
Gwinnett 8, Charlotte 2 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Yermín Mercedes again went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Micker Adolfo, 1-for-3 with a double.
- Jimmy Lambert: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 HR
Mississippi 5, Birmingham 2
- Romy Gonzalez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Yolbert Sanchez was 1-for-4.
- So was Carlos Pérez, who struck out once.
- Davis Martin made his Double-A debut: 2 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 HR, 1 WP
- Blake Battenfield: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 WP, 1 HBP
Winston-Salem 9, Asheville 3 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Yoelqui Céspedes went 1-for-2, and was replaced after his second-inning single.
- Lenyn Sosa went 1-for-3 with a homer and a walk.
- Luis Curbelo wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- Luis Mieses went 2-for-4 with a homer and a double.
Asheville 9, Winston-Salem 4 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Luis Mieses went 0-for-4.
- Lenyn Sosa, 2-for-4.
- Luis Curbelo was 1-for-3 with a strikeout.
Carolina 13, Kannapolis 1
- Bryan Ramos went 2-for-3 with an HBP.
- Harvin Mendoza was 1-for-4.
- DJ Gladney went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Caberea Weaver was 1-for-4 with a K.
- James Beard went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
