The Buffalo Bisons are in town for a six-game series that includes an ‘Education Day’ game to kick things off. Here’s what you need to know about this series…and more!
Looking Back
The Durham Series
It’s unusual for Tampa to put a weak team at Triple-A, in Durham, but this year’s squad down there isn’t very good. The ‘Pigs beat them 5-1 in the series including a doubleheader sweep on Sunday to close things out. Saturday was a rare pre-game rain out. Kudos to the IronPigs organization for not dragging everyone out to satisfy group requirements; it’s early enough in the season that they can reschedule most groups easily. Durham is currently 11-22 and in last place.
A Week in the ‘Cuse
Syracuse took the series 5-1. However, it is notable that three of the games Syracuse won were non-regulation length affairs, due to weather interruptions. Once that was over, the Pigs were able to mount some come-back efforts in the late innings. It is a good team up there with the Smets, though, and they are currently 18-14 and in first place in the International league East.
Standings
The IronPigs are 17-16 and in 5th place in the International League East–a bunch of teams grouped at the top there. Overall–which is what counts–the ‘Pigs sit 5.0 games back of the overall leader, Memphis (AAA-STL). Buffalo comes in this week. They are 15-18 and in 8th place in the East, coming off a 2-4 showing in Scranton last week.
Roster Update
May 1 isn’t usually as dramatic as June 1, but we did already have an opt-out: “Sweet Lou” Trivino, RHP and Slippery Rock product from Green Lane, PA, exercised his opt-out clause on May 1, getting his release and becoming a free agent. He then signed a Majors deal with Baltimore, so good move for him.
4/26: RHP Jonathan Bowlan added on MLB Rehab; he has returned to the Phillies
4/27: RHP Nolan Hoffman has been up and back from the Phillies
4/28: RHP Colin Peluse returned to AA-Reading
4/29: RHP Trevor Richards had his contract selected by Philadelphia. He does not have options and does have enough service time to elect free agency should he go through waivers. He was also pitching well; perhaps he had the same opt-out that Trivino had?
5/1: RHP Lou Trivino released (see above)
5/2: RHP Michael Mercado (no relation to Oscar) activated from the 7-Day IL
5/2: C JT Realmuto was activated from the MLB Injured List and UTIL Dylan Moore was designated for assignment, as the Phillies are currently keeping three catchers. A lot is being made about Stubbs’ ability to play (read: “stand at”) a variety of positions. However, this is mostly about the lack of MLB-ready catching depth at the upper minors. Mark Kolozsvary has 11 games of MLB time, but is on the 60-day injured list. René Pinto has 83 games of MLB time, but is on the 7-day Injured List. Paul McIntosh and Caleb Ricketts are still getting their feet wet at Triple-A–each has less than 25 games. Marchan and his .078 batting average probably aren’t long for the Phillies, but they need his experience behind the plate right now in case Realmuto needs to go back on the Injured List.
5/2: RHP Connor Gillispie transferred to ‘full-season’ injured list. I saw his name pop up in a live box score last week but that must have been an error because I can’t find that now. Perhaps RHP Michael Mercado took his jersey number? Yup, that’s it. Feel bad for Gillispie, he was starting to have a really nice season.
5/4: SS Jose Rodriguez released (had been on 60-day injured list)
5/5: Duran should be activated today for the Phillies. We’ll see whom they option. Chase Shugart has been a dude, but he might be the one with the option available.
The flurry of ‘Tuesday Transactions’ may come early this week as we’ve got the day game Tuesday morning. Some of them may be the “retroactive” variety.
Printable Roster (5/2)
Welcome, Bisons
The Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays arrives in town with a fair few names you might recognize:
Old Friends: LHP Michael Plassmeyer and INF Rafael Lantigua are the first names that jump out. C William Simoneit was with Reading a bunch in 2024, with one game for Lehigh Valley.
Relatives: C CJ Stubbs is Garrett’s brother
Big Leaguers: RHP Jose Berrios was with this team last week on rehab. We’ll monitor his status; a regular 5-day start would come Friday but he is not listed among the probables for the week. He also hasn’t been getting great numbers in his first two appearances.
40-Man Guys: RHP Chase Lee, LHP Brendon Little, LHP Adam Macko, LHP Ricky Tiedemann (injured), C Willie MacIver, and OF Jonatan Clase
Top Prospects: RHP Jake Bloss and OF RJ Schreck are the players to watch here.
Notable: RHP Nic Enright is a cancer survivor and as far as we can tell, not related to IronPig great, Barry Enright.
Other notes on the Bisons: The spent last week in Scranton, so this is their second week in a row on the road. They have a significant number of players on the injured list–particularly pitchers.
Notebook
Radio: The audio broadcast of the game can still be heard on Fox Radio, Lehigh Valley, 94.7 FM and 1230 AM. This season, the ‘Pigs are also broadcasting audio live on YouTube, which made me wonder if the broadcast radio coverage was in danger of ending. I do appreciate listening to the away games as well as the end of home games on the drive home from the stadium. The FM broadcast is super clean, although not terribly useful in the park where it is a pitch or two behind the live game. The AM broadcast is more in real time but the reception can sometimes be troublesome. For me, I could also ask Sam to open the window and speak up a bit and I could hear him from my seat. Anyway, I was able to find out that as of now, the radio broadcast isn’t going anywhere. Many minor league teams do not have terrestrial radio available, and that was my fear.
Food: The ‘new food items’ post still hasn’t been updated with prices and reviews. The rain last Saturday interfered with the “research.”
Start Times: As you likely noticed, the 6:35PM start times in April were something new this season. We’ll go to 6:45PM now, for the remainder of the season for most week-day evening games with 6:35PM on Saturdays. This wasn’t anything mandated by the league, just something the IronPigs are trying in an effort to play the games when the weather is a bit warmer in the Spring, as well as being a bit earlier to keep folks in the stadium a bit longer. The 11:00AM Education starts are MLB impacted, as schools would rather start at 10:30AM, but earlier than 11 is no longer allowed (See Also: Reading “Morning Game” no longer at 9:30AM). Time between games is also an MLB mandated item, which is why we have a 6:00PM start on Tuesday, two weeks from now against Scranton, due to a Wednesday Education Day the following day. The Sunday 1:15PM starts also give everyone a bit more time in the late afternoon and evening–probably something the players appreciate as well.
Additional Tickets: For season ticket holders and others, we now have a couple of rain credits due to the rain out last Saturday. These are valuable for when you need a couple extra tickets on a weekend. During the week (Tue – Thu), full season ticket holders can take advantage of “unused credits” unless you’ve used all of your tickets thus far in the season. Check in with your ticket rep for how this all works.
Weather This Week
Tuesday looks like a shorts and sunscreen kind of day for the 11AM game. Wednesday looks like the big rain threat as of now; we’ll be monitoring the hourly forecast as those games approach. Thursday through Saturday looks cooler, with some rain threat on Saturday. Sunday looks nice for Mother’s Day.
Probables
Tuesday: RHP Bryse Wilson (1-3, 9.67) vs RHP Hayden Juenger (0-1, 3.18, opener or bullpen game)
Wednesday: RHP Chuck King (1-0, 3.27) vs RHP Austin Voth (0-0, 4.05, 2025 in Japan)
Thursday: RHP Jean Cabrera (1-1, 8.25) vs TBA (maybe: RHP Chad Dallas (0-2, 4.29))
Friday: LHP Tucker Davidson (1-1, 6.75) vs TBA (maybe: Berrios–nope they moved Rogers and Van Eyk up for now)
Saturday: RHP Alan Rangel (2-3, 2.56) vs (maybe: RHP Grant Rogers (1-3, 6.29))
Sunday: RHP Bryse Wilson (1-3, 9.67) vs TBA (maybe: RHP CJ Van Eyk (1-1, 3.54)
Promotions
Tuesday: Education Day, 11:00AM Start. 9:45 Main Gates, 9:30AM Clubs and Suites
Wednesday: Easton Night; Crayola Jerseys; Tacos & Tallboys; 6:45PM Start; Check Rain
Thursday: Happy Hour 5PM – 7PM; All Gates 5:00PM; St Luke’s Night; Scrub jersey giveaway (adults); Tyler’s Amazing Balancing Act
Friday: Witches and Wizards Night; Butterbeer in the Plaza; Fireworks; Salisbury Youth pre-game parade
Saturday: Star Wars Night; Fireworks
Sunday: 1:15PM Start. Mother’s Day; Tumbler/Wine Glass giveaway (women); post-game kids run bases; post-game family catch on the field
See you at the park,
@Kram207
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