Heels On The Field: A Baseball Blog

Eye On...The Bowling Green Hot Rods: Starting Pitching Deserves Applause...and Run Support

The Bowling Green Hot Rods simply should not be 2-11.

They shouldn't be in last place of the Eastern Division of the Midwest League.

The reason they shouldn't comes down to starting pitching, which has been the driving force for the Rays Class-A club. Heading into the season, there was little doubt that the rotation was solid on paper. Additionally, there were guys in the lineup that had excellent 2013 seasons and expectations were high there, too.

But, so far, the 2014 season has been a showcase for the starting arms.

Earlier this week, German Marquez made his first official start for Bowling Green, allowing just one run on on 4 hits, lowering his ERA to nothing. Through two games (the first he didn't start, but pitched four innings) he has a 0.96 ERA, the lowest of all BG starters. In two starts Aaron Griffin has allowed just two runs through five innings. Blake Snell has been tagged with two losses, despite a 1.27 WHIP through eight innings. Jacob Faria has the lowest WHIP (0.91) on the team and the 10th lowest in the league. In his last three starts, fourteen innings pitched, RHP Faria allowed seven runs, only three of them earned. In his first and most recent start, two runs came across, but neither was earned. The Hot Rods scored just two runs, for his six-inning effort. He’s also struck out fourteen batters overall (the most of all starters) and has given up just two walks. He has yet to earn a win.

Similarly, Jordan Harrison has had two excellent starts, but also hasn’t won a game, though he was tagged for the loss after his last start in which he pitched five innings (exactly the same as his first two starts), allowing three runs on three hits. He’s not been hit hard and kept the walks to a minimum. But the quality starts he, Faria, and Chris Kirsch have pitched have not been backed by the offense.

For his part, lefty Kirsch turned in a sparkling debut performance for the team. Not surprisingly, based on his innings-eating performances in Short-A ball in 2013, he went five strong innings of one-hit one-run ball, and struck out six batters. He’s second in strikeouts overall (8) to fellow lefty Blake Snell (11). On April 15th Snell pitched four innings, allowed one run on three hits, and got tagged for the loss. Hitters are averaging just .172 off of him. In Kirsch’s debut, batters averaged just .067.

As a team, the Hot Rods have the 6th lowest WHIP (1.28) in the league, though they are 2nd in walks allowed (52). Peoria leads in the category, but, comparatively, they’re 10th in RBI (50). The Hot Rods are last in runs batted in, with 31. Bowling Green also clocks last in batting average (.203) and OBP (.265). Darryl George has had a particularly good run for the team with a seven-game hitting streak. He’s leading the team with a .316 batting average. George was honored by the Rays at the end of last season as 'Hudson Valley Renegades Player of the Year.' Johnny Field has also been a consistent part of the lineup, leading the team in hits with eight. On Thursday, he went 3-5 with a double.

Leading the way in the league in team BA are the West Michigan Whitecaps (.278), and they're third overall in wins.

Bowling Green's most recent win last week was a hit & run parade, with the Hot Rods getting an 11-8 victory over Peoria. There again, Field came through, this time with power, and hit two home runs.

If you’re catching a Bowling Green game, tip your cap to the starting rotation and ignore the win-loss record. Should the offense fire up with the pitching, the Hot Rods have a winning team.

Ready my Durham Bulls (Rays Triple-A affiliate) coverage all season for Minor League Ball in the weekly 'Hitting The Bull' feature.

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Five Tips For Minor League Reporters In The Digital Age

1. Don't Be A Fan - If you began a fan, you can't continue as one. Don't mistake what that means. In your heart, you can be a fan, and if you aren't something's wrong! Loving the sport you cover, and the stories that unfold, isn't a requirement, but I can't imagine not feeling that way and doing this with my life. And you can be a rabid, foaming fan in your living room or attending a game as a spectator. What I mean by don't be a fan comes down to ethics. You're a professional now, or, if you don't get paid, you've got a responsibility if you've been granted access. Minor league teams tend to be more open to non-accredited blogs, even ones that lean toward fandom. Don't take advantage of that. Conduct yourself as every reporter does in the press box. You don't cheer and you don't seek autographs when you enter the locker room. Even if you have a day job, this is a profession. Respect it.

2. Build Connections- You are your own advocate as a reporter. We chase our contacts, establish trust, and find ways of getting exclusive information. In the minor leagues, this works the same, but if you're an independent blogger, the development of those relationships is even more important. Twitter and Facebook can open those channels even more, but also just increase visibility and familiarity. If a player sees you at the park, covering the game, then you retweet something he's said or tweet/post his numbers from that night, attach his handle. They want to know who they're dealing with. And if they happen to like dealing with you, then they're going to be more open in interviews. If they follow you, you can privately contact them via DM to ask to set up an interview. This helps especially during the off-season. You're creating exclusivity by doing that. And in the digital age, that's gotten tougher to have. A bit of advice: going back to that 'don't be a fan' thing, don't over-socialize with them on Twitter or say something overly-gushy. I avoid birthday wishes, for example. If I know them, maybe I'll send a DM. If not, it doesn't occur to me to do that. If you're tweeting directly to them, keep it fairly cool. No law against fun or friendliness, so don't over-think this one. Just be mindful.

3. Keep Lists - If you're covering the minor leagues, you become aware of how many players are on Twitter. And new players are joining the social media giant everyday. Plus, after the MLB Draft college players quickly change their bio to identify themselves with the team that drafted them. So their presence is always changing and growing. I began a MiLB list a couple of years ago and it grew to 700 accounts, so I added a second which grew to 300. I have a third, which includes around 500 accounts, each one includes players (mostly), teams official accounts, independent team blogs, PR, and beat writers. This is far easier for me to keep track of interesting information, breaking news, and familiarizing with players. This also helps with my annual 'MiLB Twitter Twenty', so if you do any sort of end-of-season awards or best-of list, consider organizing lists centered on that subject.

4. Pay Attention To High School/College Players- Preps are your preparation. Being aware of high school, and college, players on the radar can only enhance your work. When the Draft comes around, if you have a good grasp of a player's progression before he goes professional, that allows you to talk shop with authority. Bonus if you can get to showcases, something I've not managed to do in my career. With so much information available, reading as many reports as you can is a huge asset. Also, connecting with players in high school and college on Twitter can create professional trust, as they begin their careers. I've had almost entirely great experiences with that. The 2013 Draft was a lesson for me, though. Two players that drafted in the first ten rounds had been friendly and open when I covered them throughout their high school/college days. I interviewed them and they were great to me. I consistently mentioned them on 'Follow Friday.' After being drafted, the script changed. One began calling me 'Ms. Quiroli' the week before the draft...he'd never called me that before. He became distinctly cold. He unfollowed me pretty fast. The other was great in giving me a post-draft interview, but quickly unfollowed me thereafter. The guy who called me 'Ms. Quiroli' basked in the national media spotlight and clearly had his course of action set: I was no longer useful. While this wasn't a fun realization, it's only a small part of my experience. Most of the time that early connecting is meaningful; most players don't lose that appreciation and humility from their early days, and generally respect everyone in the media. Try not take too much personally. There's plenty of stories to tell and your focus on high school/college players is important to your ability to tell that story later, if and when they go pro. Also, make sure to follow some college and high school accounts and reporters. If you're focusing on a specific region, know who the college and high school sports writers are. Read their information, and seek your own.

5. Develop Your Niche- In a market increasingly saturated with blogs and opinions, you need to find what you do and know best. If you're just trying to gain experience, covering any minor league team in your area is a great way to develop your skills, professionalism, and collect clips you can present to editors. Having a blog dedicated to one team (Mike Ashmore's 'Thunder Thoughts' is an excellent example), whether you work for a newspaper or publication, or you have an independent blog, fans of the team's parent club are going to read your thoughts. If you have access, even better. Access is key. While the saturation is mostly a good thing for the minor leagues, players are increasingly easier to 'get to' via social media. Having access has always been important to reporters and is far more important today, when they're are a lot of fans creating pathways to players. Reach out to the PR person of a team and see what their thoughts are, and what they expect of you. If they say they're willing to grant you access for a few games, take it. Send a thank you note (e-mail, obviously, not by a man on a horse known as the mail). When you're first in the locker room, follow the lead of the vets. When I first began covering the Thunder, I appreciated the helping hand. Around the third season, a young writer came in hotshotting. I was asked to keep an eye on him and another writer, and offer any guidance I could. But this guy gave me evil eye every time I offered help or asked him how he was faring. He wanted to be a vet before he'd put the time in. Don't do this. Be humble and respect the process, as well as anyone offering to help you, because not everyone will. Understand that valuing the other writers and employees around you creates a positive atmosphere, and in turn, a positive relationship with the team. If the PR person asked me about that writer, I wouldn't have had anything positive to say and that doesn't help someone who, in that case, wasn't working for a newspaper the team relied on, but a website. Bad move on his part. So respect EVERYONE. And respect the team's responsibility to the parent club. Minor league affiliates want to generate more publicity for their team, especially positive attention, but you're also showcasing your worth. Be professional and respectful. Ask questions. Figure some things out on your own. Focusing on one team or league allows you to be an authority on one subject and you want a unique voice in a crowd of thousands of writers, reporters, and bloggers.

Whatever your focus, have one. And do the work to the best of your ability. That's all you have control over. Hopefully these tips help you.

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Eye On... MLB Top 100 Prospects, Personal Perspective On Four Players

The MLB Top 100 Prospects has gotten bigger in excitement value. Social media is a big part of the reason, as well as MLB Network televising and paying so much attention to the unveiling. It's gotten...funner (heyyyy).

After watching it closely like so many fans and pros, here are the players that I've seen through the years, and my thoughts on their progress.

Travis d'Arnaud, C, Mets, Ranked #22- He does many things well, but that mental fortitude and defensive-mindedness are what makes him so valuable. With the injuries he's faced, his high placement should tell you everything you need to know. He's that good. His performance in the Eastern League was illuminating. No catcher in the league, and no catching prospect in baseball has his level of ability. While still in the Blue Jays organization, he hit .311, knocked in 78 runs, with 33 walks, and 21 home runs with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats of the Eastern League. His even-tempered, steely focus is the stuff teams catcher dreams are made of.

Jesse Biddle, LHP, Phillies, Ranked #53- Location of all his pitches, the ability to mix it up, and the whiffs he induced stood out in his Eastern League debut in 2013. Controlling his fastball and trusting his stuff will be crucial to his development. When I saw him pitch for Reading against the Trenton Thunder, he dominated with excellent pitch sequences and command of his fastball, which he consistently threw for strikes. The walks are a problem (82 in 2013), and he'll need to lower them to lessen the damage as he advances. His size (6'4") and maturity add to his value. And that maturity (see 'teachable') adds to his ability to fine-tune the weapons.

Casey Kelly, RHP, Padres, Ranked #87- Kelly's development was stalled due to Tommy John surgery in 2013, but he's expected to be in the big leagues in 2014 after making his debut in 2012. BIG, ATHLETIC, are words that come to mind when recalling seeing him in the EL. He had a tremendous sinking fastball, thrown heavy and in the low to mid nineties. Still with the Red Sox (before being part of a trade for Adrian Gonzalez) he struck out 81 in 95 innings for the Portland Sea Dogs. If ever the Padres needed Kelly to come through, after going 76-86 in 2013, it's now.

Taylor Guerrieri, RHP, Rays, Ranked #94- With Tommy John surgery and a recent suspension for testing positive for a banned substance (NOT steroid-related), 2013 didn't end well and 2014 is off to a challenging start. But setting that aside, Guerrieri is the best prospect I saw in the New York Penn League. Period. Yes, there were other top ranked prospects, recent top draftees that made a strong impression in their short- season A-Ball debut, but it was his improvement with each start in 2012 that was so impressive. In his professional debut season, he showed an ability to adjust quickly, and within that short span of playing time, there was a noted difference in how he handled himself on the mound. His maturity level, command, and mound composure just got better and better. By season's end, and the Hudson Valley Renegades won the league title, he was ready for the next level. With Bowling Green last year, he posted a 2.31 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 67 innings. He also continued to keep the free passes to a minimum: 12 in 14 starts for the Hot Rods last year, and while with the Rengades he allowed just FIVE in 12 starts, 52 innings pitched.

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Call For MiLB Team Writers

Beginning this season, I'll be adding a new component to overall coverage.

In addition to the first ever staff writer (Matt Kardos, who'll cover the Eastern League), there will be nightly post-game updates on two featured teams. 2-5 lines about significant moments from the game; you'll e-mail me the updates with brief video (20-30 seconds). Your name will appear with the blurb, as well as information about you (Twitter, FB, Wherever you regularly write, etc.,). The video is an important aspect of this. Instead of just writing a post-game update, you're adding a visual. So if you apply, know that you need to be comfortable with doing that. If you have no experience with filming prospect video or game highlights, watch some online. It's not that difficult to get the hang of what works.

If you're a team writer, and going to be covering one regular team or league this season, contact me at [email protected]. We'll talk details.

Thank you writers! Get at me.

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Managing In The Minor Leagues Tricky, Important Job

When Trenton Thunder manager Tony Franklin strolled into the visiting clubhouse in Harrisburg to find a player a reporter was looking for (ok, me), he was immediately displeased with the behavior of several of his players.

"Put some clothes on," he said lightly, but meaning business. He'd mentioned before that he told them he didn't like them walking around undressed post-game when reporters were filing in. [Note: The Thunder announced yesterday that Franklin will return for his 8th season with the team]

The point wasn't to control the environment or act as a parent, but to set the tone.

Managing in the majors works differently. They're not expected to look out for men in their thirties, who, hopefully, have figured out how to conduct themselves. Not always true, but in the minor leagues a heavy hand is needed more often. The manager has to act as disciplinarian and guide, and yet not create too much pressure for players early in their development. He also has to walk the line. When I interviewed John Kruk a few years back, he said that when he managed a Phillies affiliate, the big club had rules of what he could and couldn't do, who he could play, and when. Comparatively, with all the money involved today, teams are going to keep their million-dollar bonus players on a short leash from afar.

There were bigger things going on that day in Harrisburg. Bryce Harper was still riding the bus, preparing for the call to the majors everyone knew was just around the corner. The Nationals were watching his every move and that included how he was made available to the media. Mostly, he wasn't. The rule was specific. "Unless he does something to impact the game," Senators Media Relations Director Terry Byrom explained, "no one can talk to him."

Harper had been under a hot spotlight for years. He was no stranger to the special treatment and the attention, but he didn't carry himself differently than any other player. His manager at the time, Tony Beasley, was baffled by the negative attitude people had toward Harper. He didn't understand why people came just to boo. Beasley was in a unique position to gently guide the top prospect in baseball, already famous for controversy, while keeping his team focused. If the attention on Harper was a distraction, Beasley didn't speak of it. Instead he acknowledged how it actually benefited the other players, because more people would see them as well. Beasley led the way beautifully through what was the biggest media storm the minor leagues had likely ever seen (though I hear that Michael Jordan thing was pretty wild). [Note: Beasley will not return to manage the Triple-A Nationals affiliate in Syracuse, but instead fill the role of minor league field coordinator]

Minor league managers are guys players can't argue with because they've been there. Some haven't been to the majors (neither Beasley or Franklin had), but that's unimportant. They've been where they are at that moment. Toiling, scrapping, scraping, learning how to play everyday and be important to the parent club, or any parent club that'll have them and offer them an opportunity someday.

Some managers are career minor-leaguers, never having gotten a real shot, or any shot, to play in the majors. Franklin and Beasley understand that lot, as does Staten Island Yankees manager Justin Pope. Pope had been a player under Franklin's watch, then a coach, and even sat in the manager's chair when Franklin was out ill. For two seasons, he's managed the Class-A (short) Yankees affiliate. Pope, and any manager at that level, is essentially managing a college or high school team, with guys coming straight from the College World Series or skipping collegiate ball altogether.

How do you manage THAT? Pope explained with a memorable quote the first year he managed the team.

"We call this the tell 'em twice league," he said with a laugh.

Players need guidance like we all do, no matter how old you get. On the other hand, some guys don't need much. They lock in early and understand what they need to do. But as the attention on prospects gets bigger, along with the bonuses, the development process becomes less cloaked in mystery with even the lowest draft picks no longer under the radar (social media has practically erased that), and it's even more of a pressure cooker.

Minor league managers understand their players beyond what they remember, but in how they're trying to finally get to the big leagues themselves.

They're waiting for the call too.

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Rays 1st Rounder Jake Hager Continued Progress In 2013

For shortstop Jake Hager, the time to go pro was undeniable.

He was ready when the Tampa Bay Rays drafted him in the first round (32nd overall) in the 2011 MLB Draft. He'd committed to Arizona State, but opted to sign with the Rays after successful negotiations with the club.

And so it began. He made his professional debut with the Princeton Rays of the Advanced Rookie Appalachian League, finishing with a .269 AVG in 47 games. He also collected seventeen RBI and worked nine walks.

There wasn't a big adjustment period. He picked the process up quick.

"It definitely was a little difficult the first few games," he said Thursday. "After that, I was fine. Once I get that first at-bat out of the way, it was just like any other game."

The Henderson Nevada native, named Nevada State Player of the Year his senior year at Sierra Vista High where he also pitched, continued to flourish in 2012. His growth showed in the numbers for the Bowling Green Hot Rods. He played in 114 games and rose to the occasion with 124 hits and 72 RBI to end the season. In 2013, he advanced to High-A Charlotte, continuing a good pace, particularly with a hot start. He was selected to the Florida State League All-Star team, but due to an injury that sent him briefly to the DL, he didn't play.

Ultimately everything that happened added up to another great adjusting experience.

"The speed of the game changes completely [at the next level]. Pitches are throwing harder and throwing pitches you've never seen before. It gets faster and faster."

At 20, Hager is clear about what he did to "fall apart" in August. He has a grip on the reality of what it takes to develop a career that doesn't rely solely on the talent that got him there.

"If you don't have that positive approach, you won't succeed. That was the toughest thing. You have all the talent in the world, but you have to have the mental part of your game. Overall the season was good. I didn't finish the way I wanted to. Things didn't go my way. But the positive vibes I had helped me throughout the season."

His focus this winter, and heading into spring training, has been improving his speed and stealing more bases, something he said he'd like to have done more of in 2013. While he concentrated on being the best fielder and hitter he could be, he has a very exact plan about his future.

"The main reason I want to have better speed," he said, "Is that I want to be that player that can do it all."

You can follow him on Twitter @JakeHager1

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Checking In With.... Cubs Outfielder Anthony Giansanti

"Straight ahead never turn round
Don’t back up, don’t back down
Full throttle wide open,
You get tired, you don’t show it."
Jason Aldean, 'That's The Only Way I Know'

The pace is already quick and unforgiving in baseball. But Anthony Giansanti had to contend with an even bigger whirlwind in 2012.

Keeping his footing, and his focus, was a challenge, through an ankle injury and a position-change, that was more experiment than a concrete decision by the Cubs.

"I was in a weird transitional period," he said Tuesday. "I was originally converting to a catcher, played some, then played third at Peoria. I played a few games at catcher, but was then moved back to the outfield. Then there was the injury...."

He hit a wall making a play on a fly ball, spraining it and heading to the DL. The road back was tedious.

"It's the waiting game. I was going to physical therapy three times a week, then could hit with the boot. After a couple of weeks, I was able to hit without it and walk without crutches."

Giansanti, 25, played in 36 games, between three levels, but mostly in the Midwest League. He hit .296, with 12 RBI, and 9 runs scored for the Peoria Chiefs.

His first full-season was in the Midwest League in 2011, when he played a career high 125 games, hit .232, knocked in 56 runs, with 103 hits, 21 of them doubles.

Despite the disappointing turn 2012 quickly took, he was able to be productive in a short time. Something that may have helped keep his confidence up. His concern isn't one of anxiousness about the upcoming season.

"It's not so much about proving myself, but getting back out there and showing them the injury didn't slow me down. I go at it hard all the time. That's my style of playing. So I have to show I can still do that."

His arm, ranked by Baseball America as the best of all outfielders in the Cubs system, didn't betray him upon returning, but he did struggle some on his feet.

"The most difficult part was getting my wind back. If I had to chase a ball down the line, I'd be huffing and puffing. But they didn't rush me back and didn't hold me back either. I took the time I needed."

Looking back on his successful 2011 campaign, it's obvious that the lessons the Florida native took from then, carried into 2012 and helped him through that trying period.

"The most important lesson I learned was to not look too far ahead and stop looking at numbers. I'd be driving myself crazy, telling myself I had to get my average up. I learned how to set more monthly or yearly goals for myself, and take one day at a time, instead of adding goals day to day. Mentally I learned more of that aspect of the game."

There was also the matter of the positional shift. Why the Cubs, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2010, felt he should be moved from the outfield, to behind the plate isn't entirely clear.

"They gave me a kind of general response. They liked my agility and quick feet. I could get rid of the ball quickly. I'm not exactly a six foot three gazelle out there[He's 5-11]."

He explained that his throw, a short motion, helped him with assists. When they switched him back to the outfield, that was also a bit sketchy, but one of those typical baseball situations that players don't control.

"I'm not sure. I didn't get much of an explanation. But a couple of guys got hurt. I was experienced in a few positions, so they knew I could do it."

Heading into spring training, the versatile player is holding tight to the lessons he took from a rough 2012 experience.

"There's a lot of question marks for me. But the more I think about it, the harder it will be for me to perform. The goal this year is to focus on what I can control. Just play hard, be healthy, work on fundamentals, and not pay attention to the stuff around me. I often didn't know what position I was going to play, and I learned to just prepare myself and give myself the opportunity to execute when it was my time to
produce."

You can follow Anthony Giansanti on Twitter @GianSanity

Pitchers And Catchers Preview: MLB.Com #2 Ranked RHP, Mariners Taijuan Walker

Just one day after being ranked the 2nd best right-handed pitching prospect by MLB.com, Taijuan Walker spoke about his 2012 experiences and what he hopes to achieve this season.

The Mariners took Walker in the first round (43rd overall) in 2010, out of Yucaipa High School in California.

He spent all of 2011 in the Midwest League, pitching for the Clinton Lumberkings, and going 6-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 96 innings. His workload got heavier in 2012, when he pitched 126 innings for the Double-A Jackson Generals, posting a 4.69 ERA in 25 games started.

MLB.com calls him a potential 'frontline starter', and, so far, he's proving that projection could be right on target.

Here's what the twenty-year-old 2011 Mariners Minor League Player of the Year had to say Wednesday....

"I felt last year was one of my best years overall. One of the biggest things was learning about myself and just how to pitch. I went through a lot and had a really rough month of June. My curveball wasn't working and I was leaving my fastball up." [In June, he went 0-3 in 5 starts with a 9.15 ERA. He lowered his ERA to 3.41 in July.]

Head Games: "Yeah, my confidence was down. I had to push through it and I did get back on track. But that was the biggest and hardest part to get through. I was figuring it out. I worked on the little things, mentally and physically.""

Trouble With The Curve: "It was more like I got it in my head that I couldn't throw it. If it was called a ball, I would think to myself that I didn't want to throw it again, just because I didn't want to throw a ball again. I had to learn to just trust it."

2011 Lessons: "After that season, I knew I needed to work on better fastball command and the changeup. I went into the off-season with that in mind and that's what I worked on all winter."

Three-Pitches Strong: 'At this point, I have confidence in all my pitches. I have the three: fastball, curveball, and changeup. I think they're all pretty solid. I'm comfortable throwing them in any count."

...Fourth Offering: "I've added a cutter-type-slider. I started throwing it toward the end of last season. I just really wanted a fourth pitch to go to."

Forward Motion: "Well, the overall goal is to make the big league team out of Spring Training. But when I'm there, I just want to watch the veterans. I want to learn more from them, on the field and off the field about how to be a better pitcher. I'm going to be a student of the game."

You can follow Taijuan Walker @tai_walker

How Twitter Changed Minor League Baseball

In the dusty bus leagues there's games with countless empty seats, kids paying more attention to the between-inning entertainment, and players whose names no one is sure of. And they will never know a lot of them.

The social media powerhouse that is Twitter has dramatically changed that.

Mid-level and low-level prospects might have struggled in years past to get noticed, lucky enough to get attention if they were part of a major league trade. In that case, their name suddenly had meaning by relationship to a far more important player. But while top prospects have become richer and more famous before they've played a lick of big league baseball, those less valuable guys have upped their status as well. Perhaps they didn't get the same bonus as the top guy in their organization, but his name, through Twitter, is often just as recognizable. Fans are now invested in the kid playing for the Class-A team and when he might be promoted. Prospects are already famous due in large part to Twitter.

The exclusive arena of fame has had it's gates blown open. Celebrities and sports figures have embraced a more open access to their lives, thoughts, and careers. The sense that we are us and they are them is no longer the same. There's tremendous value in that, but also a downside. The access gives fans the illusion that they're talking to friends. It's given writers, particularly start-ups, a relaxed attitude toward the players they cover. Twitter blurs the lines of the profession.

But for minor league players and teams, there's a broader base to reach and that's good for baseball.

Minor League Baseball saw an increase in attendance a few years back, but while it hasn't suffered as much as feared, it's still taken a hit. For all the promotional tie-ins and fireworks nights, people aren't always that interested in seeing a team they aren't emotionally invested in. If a team is near that is affiliated with their favorite major league team, it's surely more attractive. But that's not always the case. Minor league teams are often located in areas nowhere near the big club.

Enter Twitter.

The connection that Twitter gives fans to players they can't always watch (MILB.TV has certainly helped in that department) is of huge value to minor league affiliates and their parent clubs. This isn't a business piece, no predictions on a numbers increase, but it's possible it will have a far reach. Fans talking casually with a prospect are going to tune in for his major league debut. How much could a minor league team's popularity increase if fans know all the guys on the roster and are socializing with them?

Minor league teams benefit. By getting a following on Twitter, they increase fan connection and possibly their attendance. It's a wonder major league teams aren't embracing social media more. With baseball fans pouring out their passions for baseball on Twitter, they want to know everything all the time. And they want to feel appreciated enough to attend a game that's gonna cost them. The minor leagues give the baseball fan a chance to be part of their team without shelling out too much cash. Twitter gives them a closer relationship with that team and the players whose names they know as well as the big guys.

Young players must be cautious. There's a risk in that wall coming down. But major league teams are paying attention to that. Warnings have been handed out and there has been stories of players needing to be told to hold back a bit. Teams must protect their players. Journalists must not forget they aren't fans and be careful about their level of interaction.

But the bus leagues, still dusty, are looking a lot brighter with the emergence of a social tool that gives them a chance to shine.