Pay a visit to The Baseball Continuum to read the favorite baseball memories of some of your favorite baseball writers, analysts, and bloggers, including MLBTR's own Tim Dierkes. Then, have a look at a few brief notes from around the game:
- Sixteen-year-old international prospect Obispo Aybar is actually a nineteen-year-old who took on the identity of his younger brother, writes Ben Badler of Baseball America. Previously viewed as a top shortstop prospect, Aybar — real name, Cecilio Aybar — will now be ineligible to sign until April of next year after receiving a one-year ban from MLB. The Dominican had been expected to draw a million-dollar signing bonus, even amidst questions on his age.
- The Marlins are looking at quite a difficult roster crunch over the next four to six weeks, explains Juan C. Rodriguez of the Sun Sentinel. As Rodriguez writes, eleven players currently on the DL will begin to be cleared over that time, creating difficult 40-man roster decisions. In particular, at least four players figure to return from the 60-day DL in relatively short order: starters Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez, along with first basemen Logan Morrison and Casey Kotchman. While the team can create one slot by putting Chris Valaika on the 60-day DL, Rodriguez says Miami will need to expose at least three other players to waivers (barring a trade).
- Larry Beinfest, Marlins president of baseball operations, had an interesting reaction on the team's roster issues. Beinfest told reporters, including Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald: "I don't even know who is here anymore. It's been a bad run." He says the team is "just trying to [survive]" the rash of injuries. As to whether calling up youngsters like outfielder Marcell Ozuna and infielder Derek Dietrich could be a negative in the long run, Beinfest said: "I don't know if it messes up the plan. You've got to do what you've got to do."
