I've been fascinated by Diamond Baseball Holdings' growing grip on Minor League Baseball, which is up to 33 teams either in its portfolio or going through the sales approval process, including the Birmingham Barons and Winston-Salem Dash. My two big questions have been:
- Are they good for affiliates now?
- Will they be good for Minor League Baseball later?
The answer to the first question seems like an easy "yes." In this instance, Baseball America's Josh Norris wrote a story this past week about how DBH is able to lure much bigger promotions to minor league ballparks, whether it's because it has the money, connections, or the ability to absorb risk if it doesn't quite work out.
For years, the Fresno Grizzlies have tried to bring top country acts to Chukchansi Park. For years, they have struck out. Whatever the reason, the Grizzlies couldn’t convince top-tier country acts to perform at their stadium.
Now, the Grizzlies have friends in high places.
Last November, the Grizzlies were sold to Diamond Baseball Holdings, becoming the 26th minor league team acquired by the company. And with that, Fresno’s trouble landing top country acts disappeared. This October, Thomas Rhett, a singer with 20 No. 1 songs on the Billboard Country Airplay charts, will play Chukchansi Park as part of DBH’s Music on the Diamond series.
As for the second question, there's no way of knowing, or squaring up DBH's very positive, enthusiastic entry with the fact that private equity usually isn't interested in playing the long game. For the time being, whether it's buying stadium upgrades in bulk or expanding the kinds of offerings ballparks and cities can host, the first impressions are hard to argue against.
Gwinnett 6, Charlotte 4
- Zach DeLoach went 0-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Oscar Colás, 1-for-3 with a homer, walk and strikeout.
- Adam Hackenberg was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Dominic Fletdcher, 1-for-4 with a K.
- Prelander Berroa helped blow a 4-1 lead in the ninth: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 23 of 35 pitches for strikes.
Pensacola 6, Birmingham 4
- Terrell Tatum went 0-for-2 with three walks and a stolen base.
- Brooks Baldwin was 2-for-4 with a walk.
- Edgar Quero went 1-for-5.
- So did Tim Elko, who struck out twice.
- Jacob Burke was 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Drew Thorpe suffered his first rough outing as a White Sox prospect: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 0 K, 22 of 34 pitches for strikes.
Winston-Salem 5, Asheville 4 (10 innings)
- Samuel Zavala went 0-for-4 with a walk.
- Jacob Gonzalez, 0-for-5.
- Calvin Harris broke out: 2-for-3 with his first homer and two walks.
- Wes Kath walked twice and struck out twice.
- Riley Gowens dealt: 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K, 62 of 93 pitches for strikes.
Kannapolis 5, Delmarva 0
- Rikuu Nishida went 1-for-3 with two walks, but was caught stealing.
- Eddie Park went 2-for-4 with a double, walk and strikeout.
- Ronny Hernandez was 2-for-4.
