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Preview: 2015 Fisher Cats Season Opener
Mandatory Credit: Eastern League Twitter https://twitter.com/EasternLeague
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats will open the 2015 season on April 9th at 6:35 ET with a 4-game series against the New Britain Rock Cats. In 2014, the Rock Cats were the Double-A farm team of the Minnesota Twins, but are now home to the Colorado Rockies Double-A team.
The Twins Double-A team finished the season in 3rd place, 15.0GB of Eastern Division winner Portland Sea Dogs. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats finished the year in tied for last place, 22.0GB.
The Eastern League is also home to the following American League East Double-A teams: Portland SeaDogs (Boston), Trenton Thunder (NYY), and Bowie Baysox. The Fisher Cats can expect to see the following ALE Top Prospects,who are listed on the respective teams Top 30 lists:
Boston- OF Henry Ramos
New York Yankees- RHP Luis Severino, C Gary Sanchez, OF Aaron Judge, 1B Greg Bird, 3B Eric Jagielo, OF Jake Cave, and OF Mason Williams
Baltimore- RHP Dylan Bundy, RHP Zach Davies, LHP Tim Berry, RHP Mychal Givens, RHP Branden Kline, OF Mike Yastrzemski
The Eastern League was established in 1923 will be entering their 92nd season, but will be faced several new rules in an attempt to speed the game up. The time between innings and pitches will be monitored and the time between pitching changes will be decreased.
ʺMinor League Baseball is excited to implement the pace of game initiatives at the Triple‐A and Double‐A levels of our organization,ʺ said Minor League Baseball President Pat OʹConner. ʺWe feel the emphasis on pace will lead to more fan enjoyment and better play on the field and is another example of the cooperative relationship between our leagues and Major League Baseball in the advancement of player development.ʺ (source)
It’ll be interesting to see how these rule changes will impact the pace of the game, but let’s hope that it doesn’t take away from the product that is on the field. Speaking of which, lets look at how the Fisher Cats and the Rock Cats stack up.
Mandatory Credit: New Britain Rock Cats Twitter https://twitter.com/RockCats
New Britain Rock Cats
Parent Team: Colorado Rockies
Coaches: Manager Darin Everson, Pitching Dave Burba, and Hitting Jeff Salazar
Ball Park: New Britain Stadium
2014 record: 73-69
Offence: .254 BA, .708 OPS, .319 OBP, 100 HR, 564 RBI, 98 SB, 307 extra base hits
Pitching: 3.89 ERA, 96 HR, 7 CG, 9 SHO, 38 SV, 351 BB, 1071 K, and 1.30 WHIP
The Rock Cats pitching staff will be consist of RHP Shane Carle, LHP Carlos Hernandez, RHP Gus Schlosser, LHP Ryan Carpenter, and RHP Matt Flemer. They have a good mix of experience and youth. The Fisher Cats will recognize former relief pitcher Tyler Ybara, as he is now a member of the Rock Cats.
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- Blue Jays: Can expanded rosters provide positivity?
- Blue Jays: 2022 Tournament 12 returns as Canadian Futures Showcase
- Blue Jays: Top Pitching Prospect Tiedemann Impresses in AA Debut
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Behind the plate New Britain will have top prospect Tommy Murphy, who finished last year with the Rockies Double-A. Now that he is fully healed, he is primed for a big year after missing much of 2014 with a shoulder injury.
The Rock Cats will field a strong infield of Trevor Story and Patrick Valaika. Story had a strong showing in Arizona this fall and will look to build off a .263 BA, 14HR, 48RBI, 23SB season. Valaika has a strong arm and is being groomed as a utility player. He’ll see time at 3rd, but he looks like a 2nd baseman to me.
The outfield with have, at 21-year-old and the Rockies Top Prospect, David Dahl bring his 14 HR and 21 SB up from Asheville. The 2012 first round draft pick currently has gap power, but could see that turn into home run power in 2015. David is a toolsy outfielder who could turn in a 20/20 campaign.
Mandatory Credit: SportsLogo.net (http://news.sportslogos.net/2015/02/26/u-s-historical-figures-on-sports-logos/new-hampshire-fisher-cats-uncle-sam-logo/)
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
Coaches: Manager Bobby Meacham, Hitting Stubby Clapp, and Pitching Bob Stanley
Ball Park: Northeast Delta Dental Stadium
2014 record: 66-76
Offence: .245 BA, .677 OPS, .295 OBP, 114HR, 529RBI, 125 SB, 272 extra base hits
Pitching: 3.73 ERA, 106 HR, 4 CG, 10 SHO, 43 SV, 414 BB, 1046 K, and 1.28 WHIP
Jays Journal has already completed a series for articles forecasting the Fisher Cats rotation, bullpen, infielders, and outfielders, please check them out and feel free to comment.
The Fisher Cats will see many of it player returning from 2014 to make things right in 2015. They will be joined by several veteran minor leaguers. This team isn’t filled many high end prospects in the mould of Aaron Sanchez or Daniel Norris, but they will still field a couple interesting players.
The rotation will have Dunedin stand-outs Taylor Cole and Matt Boyd (#22), both struggled last year when they were called up. Cole is an older prospect who put his career on hold for his faith, but has made up for lost time and lead the FSL in strike outs. Matt Boyd could be on the fast track this year if he dominates the EL like he did the FSL. My personal favorite Casey Lawrence will continue his dominance with NH and will have Mike Lee and John Anderson complete the rotation. Lots of minor league innings in this group.
More from Toronto Blue Jays Prospects
- One prospect the Blue Jays should not have traded at the deadline
- Blue Jays: Can expanded rosters provide positivity?
- Blue Jays: 2022 Tournament 12 returns as Canadian Futures Showcase
- Blue Jays: Top Pitching Prospect Tiedemann Impresses in AA Debut
- Blue Jays 2022 Draft: Who did Toronto Land in Round Two?
The pen will welcome back Luis Perez and will cheer him on in his bid to re-establishing himself as big league RP. Dustin Antolin and Blake McFarland will rejoin the Fisher Cats bullpen and will be joined by Jays Journal favourite closer Arik Sikula. Rounding out the pen will be new additions Greg Burke, Cory Burns and Matt West. Congrats to newly promoted Danny Barnes who will be making his début after a solid 2014 with the Dunedin Blue Jays.
The infield will look much the same as it did last year. Andy Burns and Kevin Nolan will be back for their 3rd season with the Fisher Cats, with last year MVP Jon Berti and Jorge Flores returning for their 2nd season. New Hampshire will welcome veteran minor leaguer Jake Fox, who will add a lot of power and will take over for Mike McDade.
Behind the plate NH will be missing Derrick Chung on Opening Day, but will be happy have fan favourite and living legend Mike Murphy behind the plate.
Former Yankees farmhand Melky Mesa and Matt Newman will be returning to man the Fisher Cats outfield. Top Prospect Dwight Smith Jr. will be moving on up to New Hampshire after an outstanding 2014 with the D-Jays. This is where it gets interesting…..Jon Berti normally plays 2nd but could see more time in LF and Dwight Smith normally plays LF/CF but could see more time at 2nd. To further add some intrigue INF Ryan Schimpf could be taking reps in the OF as well.