Quite a day

 

I drove by Dutchess Stadium yesterday. OK, in truth, I pulled into the parking lot, gazed through the fence at the snowy field and soon left. As I did when I quietly visited last March (literally 48 hours before things really changed), I departed with hope in my heart.

Today brought news.

Major League Baseball announced that all 120 teams that have been invited to join affiliated Minor League Baseball had signed their PDL licenses.

With that, the leagues and divisions were announced. The rumors had been finally put to rest.

The Renegades will play in what's being called (for now) the Northern Division of the High-A East League. The teams are:

North:
Hudson Valley Renegades
Aberdeen IronBirds
Brooklyn Cyclones
Jersey Shore BlueClaws
Wilmington Blue Rocks

South:
Asheville Tourists
Bowling Green Hot Rods
Greensboro Grasshoppers
Greenville Drive
Hickory Crawdads
Rome Braves
Winston-Salem Dash

So, that differs a bit from what the so-called "experts" had said. The league wouldn't be just six teams, with the Lake County Captains from Ohio joining the "North Division" teams. No, Lake County is in High-A Central, and there's a whole "Waffle House Division" (my name for it).

This, I should mention, was exactly what JJ Cooper of Baseball America said would happen three months ago.

So, have all questions been answered? Well, no. We still need schedules and other things before a first pitch. And, we need to decide if there really will be a first pitch.

No, today provided hope and promise -- both dangerous things. But, I do think MLB knows what they're doing and they can't afford to screw this up. There's already enough scrutiny on them.

At this point, the past is the past. I feel like we say that way too often but it is true. If you're longing for the minor leagues of 2019 then you're out of luck. This is a new era and it could begin sometime in April or May (I've seen May for the Renegades -- again, I'll believe it when I see it).

There was much excitement for me today and I felt it. I appreciate it. I'm still taking a very measured approach but, yes, I let my guard down a little today. I don't know about road games -- even if I just want to go as a vacation on my own dime. Will opposing broadcasters be welcomed? That could be mandated as "no" by MLB or government authorities.

Still so many questions and we'll patiently wait for the answers.

Still, I edited the map of the league I created a month back. I put a spreadsheet together with various facts about the teams. Basic stuff right now, but one thing I wanted to know was travel distances and times.

And so...the closest team to Dutchess Stadium is Brooklyn (probably not surprising) at 93 miles. Jersey Shore in Lakewood, NJ is next at 126 miles, followed by Wilmingon, DE (187) and Aberdeen, MD (223).

Then there's the Southern Division, beginning with Greensboro (604), Winston-Salem (610), Hickory (680) and Asheville (737) -- all in North Carolina.

Greenville, SC comes in at 784 miles.

Bowling Green, KY is 888 miles away.

Rome, GA is 920 miles away.

But my mind also raced to the ballparks and the faces and the cities. Asheville's McCormick Field -- seen in Bull Durham -- opened in 1924. (Hi, my name is Rob and I like history). Greenville's Fluor Field at the West End is known as "Little Fenway" for exactly the reason you might think, right down to a little Green Monster. The Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum is next door, and that would be a must-visit for me.

There are stories to be told. Of players and managers and their quirks and lives. Of the road trips. Of the food and smells and sights and sounds. A veritable tapestry is there to be described and I desperately want to bring it to you in full or part.

The Renegades last played on Sep 6, 2019, when they lost 4-3 to the Brooklyn Cyclones in Game 3 of the NY-Penn League semifinals. That was 525 days ago.

So, what's a little longer?

Name a cat after the team mascot (Rascal, anyone?)

It's coming. Be patient.

At least that's what I keep telling myself.