Comments on: Roster Check (UPDATE)

By: Positively Half St

Positively Half St — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 14:33:19 +0000

Rogelstad is 26, and I suppose not the least bit a prospect? Good luck to him with the Canadian team.

It would be nice to give Vermont a few more players by draft signings. Sigh. In the meantime, I guess a promotion is in the works.

By: Offense/offensive

Offense/offensive — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:16:22 +0000

What does it take to get promoted from the DSL? Who are some examples, if any, of guys that were promoted from the DSL to one of the US teams? I’m just curious because it seems like there are some guys down there that are deserving of a promotion to a team here in the States. Thanks.

By: VladiHondo

VladiHondo — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:05:19 +0000

Brian can correct me, but I think Visa issues usually prevent many (any) DSL to USA promotion mid-season.

By: Brian Oliver

Brian Oliver — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:22:12 +0000

VH - That’s the toughest obstacle to overcome in a post-9/11 environment

By: Marc

Marc — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:11:58 +0000

Post-9/11 shouldn’t have too much to do with it, really (I used to work visa issues, long ago). The real issue is that they can’t just get a regular old visa (like a tourist visa), but need to get a visa that can only be issued by DHS and not out at the embassy - that extends the time it takes, raises the bar on documentation, etc. Basically, because they’re getting paid to play baseball, they’re an “immigrant worker” and so need to fall into one of the myriad exceptions in the law that allows for it - it’s not really all that difficult, just detailed and time-consuming, so you can’t decide today to bring them up and have them in Hagerstown by Friday.

By: Offense/offensive

Offense/offensive — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:04:44 +0000

Thanks, I totally forgot about visa issues. So the earliest we could expect to see anyone that performs well in the DSL would likely be next spring (if we’re lucky- I seem to recall the front office being somewhat negligent in its visa filing for Odalis Perez, leading to a late arrival at spring training).

By: stats freak

stats freak — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:38:58 +0000

From people I’ve talked to in the business, think of the DSL as a really, really good American Legion league. Maybe two or three steps better than that, but far below even GCL. Don’t get too excited about numbers in the DSL.

By: Offense/offensive

Offense/offensive — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:39:10 +0000

I understand that stats in the DSL are inflated due to the level of competition. However, those few that really excel in the DSL should probably be given an opportunity in the States to see what they can do. Otherwise, what’s the point of the DSL?

By: VladiHondo

VladiHondo — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 01:36:50 +0000

Paul DePodesta (ass’t GM SD) called the DSL “the first cousin of the Cape Cod League, the preeminent college wood bat summer league. As in the Dominican, the players in the Cape are essentially the all-stars from around the country, and they compete against each other every day with wood bats.”

Hitting stats are usually deflated, the pitchers are so much more advanced.