PCL Travel: Cashman Field -- Las Vegas, NV

Our visit to Las Vegas the last four days brought something very unusual: a rainout.

It was only the eighth time since Cashman Field opened, in 1983, that a game was postponed due to rain. What's most fascinating to me is that they don't have an infield tarp at this ballpark. Actually, fascinating is an understatement. I'm amazed, flabbergasted, astonished, mesmerized by this factoid.

PCL Travel: Cheney Stadium -- Tacoma, WA

The oldest ballpark in the Pacific Coast League is Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. It was built in 1960 when minor league baseball returned to Tacoma for the first time in 55 years. It's undergone renovations in 1992, 1998, 1999 and 2011. Yet it still retains some of its unique history.

For example, the light towers are originals from old Seals Stadium in San Francisco. Bigger bonus: the light towers actually still work. Without getting out a tape measure, I want to say the lights are the lowest in the PCL.

2015 Isotopes Opening Night Notes

SETTING THE STAGE//GAME 1

The Albuquerque Isotopes raise the curtain on the 2015 season tonight with the opener of a four-game series against Reno and the start of a season-opening, eight-home homestand that brings Tacoma to town on Monday ... the Isotopes begin the season at home for the second time in the last three years, and sixth time overall in 13 years … the Topes are 9-3 on Opening Night … they’ve never faced Reno in a season or home opener … last year’s lid-lifter in Tacoma was postponed due to rain, the only time that’s happened in Isotopes history, and completed the following day in a doubleheader … Reno won the season series last year, 9-7, including winning five of eight at The Lab.

ALBUQUERQUE BASEBALL HISTORY

The 2015 season is the first for the Isotopes as an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies … it’s the 13^th season for the Isotopes, after six years with the Florida Marlins (2003-08) and six years with the LA Dodgers (2009-2014) … counting the 29 years of the Albuquerque Dukes (1972-2000), this is the 42^nd year of triple-A baseball in the Duke City … this is the 56^th year of affiliated minor league baseball in Albuquerque (including double-A Dodgers from 1962-71, KC Athletics from 1960-62, Cincinnati Reds 1958, NY Giants 1956) … overall, this is the 69^th year of professional baseball in Albuquerque, dating back to the 1915 team in the Class-D Rio Grande Association.

MEET THE NEW SKIPPER

Glenallen Hill becomes the sixth manager in Isotopes history (not counting Ron Hassey, who was named manager for 2005, but took a job as Mariners bench coach before the season began) … Hill managed the Rockies previous triple-A affiliate in Colorado Springs the last two seasons … now in his 11^th season as a member of the Rox organization … played 19 years of professional baseball, 13 in the majors with the Blue Jays, Indians, Cubs, Giants, Mariners, Yankees and Angels … lifetime slash line of .271/.321/.482 with 1,005 hits, 187 doubles, 21 triples, 186 home runs, 586 RBIs and 96 stolen bases … won a World Series with the Yankees in 2000. 

AFFILIATION SHIFT

The Isotopes are one of six PCL teams that switched affiliates this offseason, the highest turnover for the league since expanding in 1998. Even after the musical chairs, the Pacific and American Conferences each have five NL teams and three AL teams, so the frequency of using the designated hitter will be unchanged. The Rockies switched three affiliates: triple-A from Colorado Springs to Albuquerque; double-A from Tulsa in the Texas League to New Britain in the Eastern League; and Short-Season from Tri-City to Boise in the Northwest League.

DLR’s DEBUT

Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa starts for the Isotopes tonight, becoming the first starting pitcher to make a MLB rehab appearance on Opening Night in Isotopes history. De La Rosa was originally tabbed by Rockies manager Walt Weiss to start the Rockies home opener tomorrow at Coors Field, but a spring training groin injury sidelined him. De La Rosa last pitched in the minors in 2012, when he made seven starts at four levels as part of his return from “Tommy John” surgery. The last time he pitched in the minors, not on a rehab assignment, was four starts for triple-A Omaha in 2008, when he went 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA. DLR has 94 career starts in the minors and 104 relief appearances. In the majors, DLR has 191 starts, 62 relief outings, an 84-68 record, 4.60 ERA and 1,132.1 innings.

We've got a roster

The Colorado Rockies announced the Opening Night rosters for their four full-season minor league affiliates over the weekend. 

Here's a link to the release that our PR stud Lee VanHorn wrote about the Albuquerque Isotopes roster. It will change a lot. Last year, the Topes had 188 transaction and 60 different players. The Rockies were besieged by injuries in the major leagues last year, so their previous triple-A affiliate in Colorado Springs ended up with over 200 roster moves.

Here's a few notes about the first 25 players on the 2015 Isotopes roster:

Topes roster becoming more clear

The Rockies optioned infielder Charlie Culberson to the minor leagues and sold catcher Audry Perez to the Orioles today, so the triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes roster is becoming more clear. Cactus League games conclude Wednesday. Minor league exhibition games conclude Saturday morning.

Here's a look at the possible Isotopes roster, with the usual caveats that I'm not in Arizona watching the minor league games, this is strictly my opinion, and nothing is coming from the Rockies or Isotopes:

Catchers (2): Ryan Casteel (who can play first base) and Dustin Garneau will be the catchers, unless something drastic occurs.

Infielders (5 or 6): Ben Paulsen, Culberson, Cristhian Adames, Angelys Nina and Omar Quintanilla appear solid. The sixth spot could be Rafael Ynoa (if he doesn't make the Rockies) or Jose Rivera. Or they go with five infielders because most of the outfielders can play infield too.

Outfielders (4 or 5): Kyle Parker, Josh Vitters, Tim Wheeler, Tim Smalling and Jeremy Barfield. The last I heard, Roger Bernadina's wrist was still tender and he'd start the season back at extended spring training. If Bernadina is healthy, perhaps Barfield goes to double-A New Britain.

Starting pitchers (5): Chris Rusin, Aaron Laffey, John Lannan, Jair Jurrgens, Chad Bettis and Jon Gray are all possibilities. You never know what clauses are in the contracts of the veterans that would impact where they go. It sounds like like Eddie Butler and David Hale will be on the disabled list. Tyler Anderson and Tyler Chatwood will definitely start the season on the DL. Also keep in mind that Rockies ace Jorge De La Rosa could be making 1-2 rehab starts for the Topes early in the season.

Relief pitchers (7 or 8): Jairo Diaz, Jorge Rondon, Tommy Kahnle, Gus Schlosser, Yohan Flande, Kenny Roberts and Kraig Sitton are all strong candidates. Scott Oberg had an impressive spring and remains in big-league camp. Unless he beats out Rafael Betancourt  for the final spot in the Rockies bullpen, he's in Albuquerque. Don't sleep on Austin House, the former New Mexico Lobo either.

The biggest problem with my predictions for the pitchers is that I'm totally neglecting six minor league free agents: Leuris Gomez, Jason Gurka, Jason Lowey, Brett Marshall, Justin Miller and Jose Ortega. It's nothing personal. I'm sure a few of them will be on the Topes. I just don't know where they all fit.

Topes pitching staff taking shape

It's 13 days from the start of the Colorado Rockies season and 16 days from the start of the Albuquerque Isotopes opener. The pitching staffs for both teams are becoming more clear, although a couple interesting decisions loom.

A flurry of transactions over the last week have shaped the outlook. The Rockies, in a surprise move, released Jhoulys Chacin last weekend. Minor league free agent Buddy Bosher was also released. Cole White, a former New Mexico Lobo who I was penciling onto the Topes bullpen, decided to retire due to a shoulder injury.

The Rockies rotation now starts with Kyle Kendrick, Tyler Matzek and Jordan Lyles. Then it gets interesting. Chacin's release opens one spot. An injury to ace Jorge De La Rosa will likely start him on the disabled list and opens another spot temporarily.

Based on zero inside knowledge, I'm predicting the two spots will be filled by David Hale and Christian Bergman.

How to avoid being a douchebag while watching March Madness

The headlines says it all and I love lists. So here we go.

1. Don't complain that "my bracket is busted" on the first day, especially during the morning round of games, unless all of your Final Four picks were eliminated. Everybody probably had the same favorite advancing deep. It's a long tournament. Don't be a douche.

2. Stop complaining about how hard it is to find Tru TV. It's pretty easy actually. It's on basic cable. You have an on-screen guide. Use it. Or google it. Don't complain the games are on Tru TV. Thanks to CBS/Turner, every second of every game can be watched in its entirety. It was not always like this. It wasn't that long ago you were at the mercy of some CBS suit deciding which games to watch, and when to cut to another game. Rejoice at the world we live in. Don't be a douche.

3. If you're going to hate Duke, that's fine. But don't complain that "Duke always wins." They've actually been upset in the first round two of the last three years. They've only been to the Final Four once in the last 10 years. It's still perfectly acceptable to hate Duke. But know your facts. Don't be a douche.

4. If you're at a bar or casino, and you see a group of fans seated together who are doing the same rituals they do at home games, don't make fun of them. It's March. It's their college. It's fun. Don't be a douche.

5. If you correctly predicted a double-digit seed for an upset in the first round, you're only allowed to brag about it if you made that pick on all your brackets. If you submitted four brackets, and had that 14 seed losing in three of the four, don't take credit for your genius pick. Don't be a douche.