Spring training injuries are really the only reason to think about extended spring training, and Major League Baseball benefited from its low profile, since it was a way for teams to hold on to players without paying them.
Now that the new collective bargaining agreement ensure that players employed by teams are paid regardless of their status on an affiliated roster, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America suggests that the current form of extended spring training -- exhibition games day after day, week after week -- serves zero purpose.
He floats the idea of a split-season Arizona/Florida Complex League, which he says has some support among front offices.
Extended spring training can be replaced by an extended complex league season in both Arizona and Florida split into halves. The first half could run from April until the draft. It could shut down for a few days or a week when the draft is held in July, and the second half could run from after the draft until the end of the Class A season. That would ensure that there would be pitchers ready to go if Class A teams needed reinforcements.
For the players, it would mean the games count. That by itself would be an key development. They would also be part of a team that’s actually working for a championship.
Yes, players can develop and improve over the course of their extended spring training tenure, but they can also do the same in games that don’t get erased as soon as the last out is recorded.
He notes a couple drawbacks. The most pressing one seems to be that teams benefit from mechanisms that protect pitchers, like the rolling of long innings or calling of games when teams run out of arms. Maybe it's possible to institute some sort of slaughter rule to help toward the latter end, especially since players aren't chasing statistical milestones for contractual incentives.
Charlotte 7, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 5
- Oscar Colás went 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Lenyn Sosa wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- Carlos Pérez, 0-for-4 with a K.
Notes:
*Clint Frazier is being called up, per Daryl Van Schouwen. We'll write about that later in the morning when we know the corresponding move.
Rocket City 5, Birmingham 1
- Alsander Womack went 1-for-4.
- Yoelqui Céspedes, 2-for-4 with a homer and a strikeout.
- Luis Mieses was 0-for-4.
Aberdeen 12, Winston-Salem 5
- Terrell Tatum went 1-for-5 with a walk and two strikeoluts.
- DJ Gladney, 0-for-4 with a walk
- Wilfred Veras doubled twice during a 3-for-5 night.
- Wes Kath, 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Andrew Dalquist: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Kannapolis 3, Carolina 2
- Jordan Sprinkle singled, walked, struck out twice and stole two bases.
- Brooks Baldwin was 1-for-4 with a K.
- Jacob Burke, 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Peyton Pallette: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 WP
