Sarasota

Derek Byrd Although they had a down year in 2014, the Chicago Cubs finished strong. While out of playoff contention, they reached into their farm system and brought up guys like Javy Baez, Jorge Soler, and Kyle Hendricks who experienced some great success early on in their MLB careers. Those three intend to be a big part of the Cubs future. Baez, age 22, displayed good pop in his bat for a middle infielder. Jorge Soler, 23, displayed good range in the outfield as well as the ability to hit for power and average. Hendricks, age 25, showed he can win close ball games and give valuable innings when needed every fifth day.

These aren’t the only youngsters on the ball club. The Cubs have 24 year old Starlin Castro who has been with the team for sometime now and has proven the ability to hit, field, and run. Anthony Rizzo, the 25 year old first baseman has displayed pop in his bat hitting 32 home runs last year.

While the Cubs have a good nucleus of young players who should only get better in time, the real prize is still currently playing in AAA but should be on the major league roster shortly after the season starts. I’m talking about third baseman Kris Bryant. Bryant, just 23 years of age has absolutely torn the cover off the ball in the minors. The 2nd overall selection in the 2013 MLB Draft, Bryant hit .325 with 43 home runs and 110 RBIs between AA and AAA last season. Although he plays third base, the Cubs may want to fit him in the outfield.

Even the coaching staff has received a youth injection. The Cubs hired Joe Maddon, formerly the manager of the Tampa Bay Ray’s this off season. Now Maddon is 61 and does not seem to be a youth injection, but former Red Sox GM and now Cubs President Theo Epstein has brought on two familiar face to the coaching staff. Epstein hired former Red Sox OF Manny Ramirez as a hitting consultant and IF Kevin Youkilis as a scouting and player development consultant. Both are recently removed from their playing careers and figure to be some of the youngest coaches that were former players in the league.

It might be another growing pains year for the Cubs but don’t be surprised if they make a late run for the playoffs this year. If not this year, next year could certainly be the year the Cubs make some noise in the NL Central.

There, on every wall of every minor league locker room, where rosters and travel schedules are pinned, one can find the sign-up sheets for what are known as “player appearances.” They usually consist of things like speaking engagements at local schools, autograph sessions at grocery stores, local meet-and-greets with the team mascot at some random car dealership, etc. Although the venues vary, but the payment—which can be as little as a gift card at the lowest minor league levels—only changes with a promotion. In High-A ball, you’ll earn anywhere from $50 to $100 a pop, which all depends on whether you have to give a speech or not. All appearances are offered at a first-come, first-served basis—and there are usually only three spaces for signatures—which are often are scheduled during a player’s only time for rest or on one of the few days off a player will receive over the course of the seven-month season.

Even though there are slim pickings for opportunities for appearances, you can count on the sheet being covered in names within minutes of its posting. Money is so tight in the minors, getting your name on that list is a godsend.

It’s not the best experience playing as a minor leaguer. Many players don’t like to talk about their experience as a minor league ball player. The travel conditions include long bus rides whereas if you were at the major league level you would have a short first class flight. You find yourself constantly on the road..and for a while.

They are just like other working Americans, they have families, mortgages to pay, bills to weep over. Yea, you may have baseball, the dream, the game, the joy, the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd. But is it truly worth the financial strain that you feel for trying to chase your dream of making it to a big league team and payday. You fly over all in a fantasy land where money has no value. How dare you talk of such trivialities in the face of all you have, you acquisitive minor-league swine. Take your player appearance sign-up sheet and shove it!

Minor League Baseball is not for everyone, but if you love baseball enough and have dreams of the big leagues, you push yourself. Unfortunately, not everyone makes it. There are only 30 big league teams, and each team has 3 or 4 minor league squads. The odds don’t play in the favor of every minor leaguer.

Chicago Cubs: How Young Can They Be?

An Inside Look into the Harsh Conditions of Minor League Baseball