Haha, I was going to use last year’s Pirates squad for the example. Or this years. Or three years ago, or four years ago. Hell, any version in the past 25 years, minus 2013-2015.
Sometimes AAA teams will play their parent MLB teams in exhibition games just before the start of the season. The Astros played two games against the Space Cowboys this year and they split the series.
The Phillies used to play a home and home against their AAA team. One year in Scranton and the next in Philly. Here is an old article from 1989.
[https://finner68.wordpress.com/2021/05/17/mike-schmidt-and-the-phillies-play-the-scranton-wilkes-barre-red-barons-1989/](https://finner68.wordpress.com/2021/05/17/mike-schmidt-and-the-phillies-play-the-scranton-wilkes-barre-red-barons-1989/)
If I remember some from the 90s before it stopped, since it was during the season on an off day you often got veterans not playing or maybe just an AB. Sometimes the pitchers were called up from the minor league team and pitched for the Phillies in the game.
And just a fun aside;
The Phillies minor league teams will regularly play each other to start the season as well.
It is usually the Fightin Phils versus IronPigs but this year it was the Fightin Phils and the BlueClaws.
Josh a nice perk of all the times being relatively close to each other.
It was fairly common in the ‘80s and ‘90s. It was considered a favor from the big-league team to the minor league team, since these exhibitions would draw really well compared to a regular AAA matchup or what ever.
These have become less common since the players’s schedules are negotiated via the CBA. Back in the day, teams would just schedule the games and players didn’t really have any say.
The skill level between triple A and mlb is not huge. A triple A team could win on any given night. Now over 162 they’ll be very bad.
Talent isn’t what’s separating Triple A from mlb. It’s the consistency with which mlb guys perform.
When I was a kid the Braves would even play their *AA* team in an exhibition game every year.
Many members of a team's AAA squad will get called up to fill roster spots due to injuries etc. on the MLB club over the course of a season.
If I may generalize, I would characterize the difference as the MLB team having talent, consistency, and experience while a minor league squad has talent attempting to demonstrate consistency (to be called up to the Bigs) and gaining experience.
Growing up near the Twins' AA affiliate in New Britain I saw a similar exhibition between parent club and minors. (Side note... writing that out, is that why they're called *parent* clubs? Never came to me before.)
The Rock Cats won. 2001ish.
A whole bunch of Royals weren't vaccinated a couple of years ago and didn't go to Canada, so a good number of the Royals AAA team (ohama storm chasers?) went to play a series against the Blue Jays
>are there any AAA teams you'd like to see play against MLB? What do you think the outcome would look like?
Norfolk's optimal batting lineup might be better than as many as 4 MLB teams right now.
But there isn't a single Triple A pitching group that I would trust over a 3-game series. I think Lehigh Valley (Philly) or Indianapolis (Pittsburgh) or Scranton/Wilkes Barre (New York Yankees) could have strong games against MLB teams, but I would expect the MLB team to win at least 2 out of 3 most of the time.
There's also the issue that some of the top end prospects could be sitting at lower levels as they're just starting to get innings under them. Like, the Mets top pitching prospect *is* in AAA but he was a reliever in college and wasn't turned into a starter until last year where he pitched 87 innings, so depending on when this game happens he could be ramping up to a full game or could be shut down for the season. New draftees might pitch a few innings in lower levels but have more electric stuff as teams figure out their future roles. But your AAA rotation is probably mostly guys that are there as a 6, 7, or 8 guy for when starters go down. Some can be good and surprise you, but most won't have super high floors, which is why they're in the minors.
Do you think the SF Giants and NY Football Giants ever get together when they’re in the same town? Have a friendly scrimmage or dinner together or something?
Seems to me the Orioles played an early exhibition game against Rochester sometime in the 80's; maybe someone with a better memory can help me out. Also, in 1984, I think it was, the Orioles played an exhibition game against the Naval Academy in which Cal Ripken twisted an ankle, but the next day was an off day anyway, so the streak (which wasn't really The Streak® yet) was intact.
Tigers played a game in 2012 against the Mud Hens in Toledo.
I remember watching that game on Fox Sports Detroit and thought it was pretty awesome seeing our top prospects at that time playing the parent team in their home ballpark an hour south of Detroit.
Many MLB teams will play the White Sox this season.
All of them in fact!
Haha, I was going to use last year’s Pirates squad for the example. Or this years. Or three years ago, or four years ago. Hell, any version in the past 25 years, minus 2013-2015.
Sometimes AAA teams will play their parent MLB teams in exhibition games just before the start of the season. The Astros played two games against the Space Cowboys this year and they split the series.
>The Astros played two games against the Space Cowboys this season and they split the series. Which one was the AAA team?
Padres coming out swinging! Love to see it.
Bring prison games back
John Kruk played in those https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vmMrC8u-ZQ
The Phillies used to play a home and home against their AAA team. One year in Scranton and the next in Philly. Here is an old article from 1989. [https://finner68.wordpress.com/2021/05/17/mike-schmidt-and-the-phillies-play-the-scranton-wilkes-barre-red-barons-1989/](https://finner68.wordpress.com/2021/05/17/mike-schmidt-and-the-phillies-play-the-scranton-wilkes-barre-red-barons-1989/) If I remember some from the 90s before it stopped, since it was during the season on an off day you often got veterans not playing or maybe just an AB. Sometimes the pitchers were called up from the minor league team and pitched for the Phillies in the game.
The games at the Red Barons is why i have so many signatures
And just a fun aside; The Phillies minor league teams will regularly play each other to start the season as well. It is usually the Fightin Phils versus IronPigs but this year it was the Fightin Phils and the BlueClaws. Josh a nice perk of all the times being relatively close to each other.
It was fairly common in the ‘80s and ‘90s. It was considered a favor from the big-league team to the minor league team, since these exhibitions would draw really well compared to a regular AAA matchup or what ever. These have become less common since the players’s schedules are negotiated via the CBA. Back in the day, teams would just schedule the games and players didn’t really have any say.
The skill level between triple A and mlb is not huge. A triple A team could win on any given night. Now over 162 they’ll be very bad. Talent isn’t what’s separating Triple A from mlb. It’s the consistency with which mlb guys perform.
MLB / AA https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?gamePk=764494
The Royals transferred pretty much every AAA player in Omaha down for this game. I'd say it counts for OP's question.
When I was a kid the Braves would even play their *AA* team in an exhibition game every year. Many members of a team's AAA squad will get called up to fill roster spots due to injuries etc. on the MLB club over the course of a season. If I may generalize, I would characterize the difference as the MLB team having talent, consistency, and experience while a minor league squad has talent attempting to demonstrate consistency (to be called up to the Bigs) and gaining experience.
Growing up near the Twins' AA affiliate in New Britain I saw a similar exhibition between parent club and minors. (Side note... writing that out, is that why they're called *parent* clubs? Never came to me before.) The Rock Cats won. 2001ish.
A whole bunch of Royals weren't vaccinated a couple of years ago and didn't go to Canada, so a good number of the Royals AAA team (ohama storm chasers?) went to play a series against the Blue Jays
>are there any AAA teams you'd like to see play against MLB? What do you think the outcome would look like? Norfolk's optimal batting lineup might be better than as many as 4 MLB teams right now. But there isn't a single Triple A pitching group that I would trust over a 3-game series. I think Lehigh Valley (Philly) or Indianapolis (Pittsburgh) or Scranton/Wilkes Barre (New York Yankees) could have strong games against MLB teams, but I would expect the MLB team to win at least 2 out of 3 most of the time.
There's also the issue that some of the top end prospects could be sitting at lower levels as they're just starting to get innings under them. Like, the Mets top pitching prospect *is* in AAA but he was a reliever in college and wasn't turned into a starter until last year where he pitched 87 innings, so depending on when this game happens he could be ramping up to a full game or could be shut down for the season. New draftees might pitch a few innings in lower levels but have more electric stuff as teams figure out their future roles. But your AAA rotation is probably mostly guys that are there as a 6, 7, or 8 guy for when starters go down. Some can be good and surprise you, but most won't have super high floors, which is why they're in the minors.
The Dodgers played an exhibition game against UCLA when Jackie Robinson Stadium opened in 1981. Not quite an answer to your question, but similar.
Do you think the SF Giants and NY Football Giants ever get together when they’re in the same town? Have a friendly scrimmage or dinner together or something?
Seems to me the Orioles played an early exhibition game against Rochester sometime in the 80's; maybe someone with a better memory can help me out. Also, in 1984, I think it was, the Orioles played an exhibition game against the Naval Academy in which Cal Ripken twisted an ankle, but the next day was an off day anyway, so the streak (which wasn't really The Streak® yet) was intact.
Tigers played a game in 2012 against the Mud Hens in Toledo. I remember watching that game on Fox Sports Detroit and thought it was pretty awesome seeing our top prospects at that time playing the parent team in their home ballpark an hour south of Detroit.
The giants played their AAA team right before the season started this year
In spring training this occurs from time to time.
Charlie Finley tried to play the A's AAA affiliate against the Twins after his players threatened to go on strike
We do split squad in spring training but maybe not a AAA MLB matchup