Hudson Valley, Princeton Make Season Debuts Today

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jun 17, 2008 10:34 AM EDT in Minors Comment 18 comments

The Rays' two half-season minor league affiliates play their first games today. The Short Season Hudson Valley Renegades of the NY-Penn League will take on the Aberdeen IronBirds at 7:05, while the Rookie League Princeton Devil Rays of the Appalachian League play at 7 o'clock sharp. RH Tyree Hayes will make the opening night start for Hudson Valley, while LH Matt Moore gets the nod for the P-Rays. He will face the Pulaski Mariners, a re-incarnated version of the Pulaski franchise that took a year off after Toronto severed their affiliation with the team.

The Poughkeepsie Journal and Times Herald-Record did a wealth of articles on the Renegades prior to their season debut, befitting the team's popularity in the Hudson Valley region. Among them:

Journal:

Renegades eager to start new season

A great time to be a Renegade

Interactive look at the roster

Times Herald-Record:

Alvarez gets chance to guide the 'Gades

Renegades pitcher goes distance for mom

Meet the 2008 Hudson Valley Renegades

Hayes gets the first call for Renegades

All are worth reading if you get the chance, particularly "A great time to be a Renegade", which takes a look at the changed attitudes of players this season regarding the major league team's success. The interactive roster is also cool, but more than anything else it is a quick way to discover the team suck-ups. Three players had Renegades coach Jared Sandberg listed as their favorite professional player, while one other had Pitching Coach Rafael Montalvo as their favorite. Give a bit of credit to Michael Ross for breaking orthodoxy and choosing himself as his "favorite pro player".

Also, check out "Renegades pitcher goes distance for mom", a great profile of 24th round choice Marquis Fleming. And just for reference, the Hudson Valley rotation will be, in order, Hayes, Frank De Los Santos, Chris Andujar, Nick Barnese, and Shane Dyer. Should be a good pitching staff, which is nothing new for Hudson Valley. Let's just hope the lineup doesn't stick to tradition.

Meanwhile, the Bluefield Daily Telegraph ran a couple articles on the impending P-Rays season. One profiled opening day starter Moore, while the other just gave a general overview of the season.

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I've been wondering

As far as Minor League hierarchy goes, is there any difference between Princeton and Hudson Valley? Is one like what Vero is to Columbus, or are they are on par with each other?

by usfraysfan on Jun 17, 2008 10:49 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They aren't on par with each other.

Hudson Valley is most definitely a more advanced team. Whereas Princeton is usually the destination for high school and debuting Caribbean players, Hudson Valley is more generally the place for second year players and college players. This is very general, and it is subject to change, but both teams feature young rosters. Hudson Valley is just at a higher level of competition. In addition, the Appy League sees far smaller crowds than does the NY-Penn League, which routinely draws at the level of the full-season leagues. The Appy is pretty much interchangeable with the complex leagues, such as the GCL and ASL, and every other year or so a plan arises that would turn it into a co-op league or just eliminate it entirely.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jun 17, 2008 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for clearing things up

by usfraysfan on Jun 18, 2008 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Being a fan of Jared Sandberg doesn't mean you're a kiss-up.

Jerk.

Also can it please be Tyree domination time?

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 17, 2008 10:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am going to fine anyone

who says anything positive about Tyree until he puts up back to back solid starts. He had nothing, Fastball command – F … Breaking Ball command – F… Command within the strike zone – F.

It was sad that Charlie flew in for this one. The game was 11-0 before the Renegades turned over their lineup.

Tough to gauge on 1 game but the Power guys were real long and late all night. McKenna had a dreadful night at DH, looked overmatched each time. Corder, Kang, and Thomas were long and behind the heat. Corder’s 2 hits in his last 2 ABs wer half swing dunks over the IF. Estrada had the only well struck ball of the night a screaming double off the LCF wall. He was the best Renegade tonight by far. Looked sharp at SS. Della Grotta looked OK in mop up (he’s got a funky slide kick motion).

There is a lot more power potential on this team than last season but the timing was way off tonight. Power usually takes some reps to refine.

And some athleticism on this team. McKenna is supposed to be a fine athlete (he looks it) and he DHed tonight. Corder showed his arm off once and it is a plus. He also hit the cutoff man when needed. Appel looked quick and fluid in CF.

Tweedy had a nightmarish 2 errors (throw, field) in the 1st inning. Aberdine’s defense was just as bad. 11 unearned runs in the game.

Short memory boys. Do it again tomorrow.

Former Marlin Tim Spooneybarger closed for Aberdine.

Finally a tip of the hat to the fans. I didn’t hear one negative comment the entire game. Tyree actually received a nice round of supportive applause when he was lifted afer 2/3 IP. Well done, Dutchess County!

RJ is not an elitist douchebag who hates scouting

by ttnorm on Jun 18, 2008 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the report, ttnorm

I’m sorry for you that you had to see that game, of all. Good to hear that the Fishkill/New Paltz/Poughkeepsie folk remain as supportive as ever.

by Patrick L. Kennedy on Jun 18, 2008 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hayes disappoints me greatly.

"I've seen many, many blue skies turn gray, but the sun will eventually return, and so will I. So will I." - Carlos Pena

by R.J. Anderson on Jun 18, 2008 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty sure Hudson Valley is higher than Princeton.

There are hardly any players on Hudson that are under 20, while many of Princeton’s players are teenagers. One guy on Princeton was born in 1990 and will be 17 the entire season. That blows my mind.

I’m interested to know who the best pitching prospect in Princeton is? Chris Luck, Matt Moore, other?

Jamie DeLuca

by JDeLuca on Jun 17, 2008 11:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs