T-Bones Game Atmosphere?
 

Anyone ever been to a T-bones game?
I’m considering attending a game in the next month or so and wanted to hear what the atmosphere, gameplay, etc were like.

Are the T-bones an amateur team? Or minor league etc? Probably dumb questions, but I go to baseball games about once every 3 years (not much of a baseball fan as you can tell).

Independant league
Roughly equates to high-A ball if I'm not mistaken

I've never been to a game there though

what does "High - A" ball mean?

no sarcasm there...I seriously don't know. :D

just below double a level but above normal A

so what would be just before MLB.....AAA?
or vice-versa?

So do these guys ever make it to the MLB level?

Or is it just an independent league for guys who are decent, but not quite good enough to be future MLB players??

Different levels:
Major league
AAA
AA
High A
A
Short rookie

The independant leagues (not affiliated with a major league team) are normally not heavily scouted and generally, though not always would fall somewere between A and AA.

Cool thanks. Rep.

The vast majority don't make it, but there are some. Many (again there are always exceptions) are guys who have been around for a while and were cut loose by the organization they were affiliated with. Sometimes you will have a former major leaguer trying to get back to the show.

Interesting...

Now that i think about it, i remember JD Drew playing in one of these leagues like 10 years ago before he came up with the Cards.

Its independent, so you won't know anyone on either team. And its not even minor league, so there won't be any future stars. Usually these teams sign some over the hill local guy to draw a few real baseball fans (Ken Harvey last year)

They have "entertainment" between the innings, but nothing that a major league team doesn't do. The one I can recall was some guy trying to throw rubber chickens onto a grill in order to win money.


I've been twice and didn't like it very much. Its an okay ballpark I guess, small enough that you get close to action you can't at the majors (you can stand right over the bullpens, a few feet away from the guys throwing, and the bullpen guys play games with the crowd).

But the concessions weren't as cheap as everyone talked about. And the game is absolutely without consequence, so basically you go to a game and pay attention to everything EXCEPT the game. I thought it was brutally boring.

Mine was through work, so I got my free food and 2 free drinks and got the hell outta there and went to Legends.

I think the players actually sign with the team and then have a sponsor family in the area that they stay with during the season. I believe NZoner hosted a couple of T-bones guys last year.

There are a few guys who have been in the Majors, and are older just living out the dream. Others are young guys not in any organization, but looking to impress someone and get a better minor league deal.

The games are fun to go to. Lots of silly promotions, not taking the event or the game too serious. It is just a good time for all.

Was curious so I had to look it up: There are currently 15 in the majors were in the independent league.

Blatantly stoled from the Northern league website:

PITCHERS (10)--Craig Breslow, Minnesota (New Jersey, Northeast League)
Tim Byrdak, Houston (Gary, IN and Joliet, IL, Northern League)
Mark DiFelice, Milwaukee (Somerset and Camden, NJ, Atlantic League)
Chris Jakubauskas, Seattle (Lincoln, NE, American Association, Orange County, Fullerton, CA, Golden League, and Florence, KY and Ohio Valley, Frontier League)
Josh Kinney, St. Louis (River City, O’Fallon, MO, Frontier)
Edwar Ramirez, New York-AL (Pensacola, FL, Central League, and Edinburg, TX, United League)
Scott Richmond, Toronto (Edmonton, Alberta, Northern)
Max Scherzer (DL), Arizona (Fort Worth, TX, American Association)
George Sherrill, Baltimore (Evansville, IN, Frontier, Winnipeg and Sioux Falls, SD, Northern League)
Brad Ziegler, Oakland (Schaumburg, IL, Northern).

CATCHERS (2)
Chris Coste, Philadelphia (Fargo, Northern, Brainerd, MN, North Central League, Brandon, Manitoba, Prairie League)
Mike Rivera, Milwaukee (Atlantic City, NJ, Atlantic).

INFIELDERS (2) Stephen Drew, Arizona (Camden, Atlantic)
Kevin Millar, Toronto (St. Paul, MN, Northern).

OUTFIELDER (1)--*J.D. Drew, Boston (St. Paul, Northern).

if you are left handed pitcher you have a chance at the majors