Growing up, September 1st meant that every team would add players to their active 25-man rosters. Typically, the local teams would add a few players at first, a couple recognizable names, guys who had been on the AAA shuttle all season. Eventually, the roster would jump to 38 or so. For years managers complained that the games in September were nothing like the games the other five months of the season and that teams fighting for a playoff spot were battling numbers.
Because my formative baseball years were bereft of first division teams on both sides of town, our managers never complained about facing 13-man bullpens on a daily basis, rather they welcomed the infusion of youth. It allowed them to over-manage on a daily basis. Teams that never thought about the stolen base as a weapon now wanted to employ a designated runner at every instance.
A decade or so ago, there was a movement to keep the expanded roster at 49, but managers would be forced to nominate a pool of 25 or so for every given game, something akin to the NFL’s gameday roster.
Because of injuries and underperformance, most teams bring up younger, inexperienced players long before the September1, expansion date. The Marlins, Nationals and A’s have been bringing up young players for the past month or so. We’ll never know if it’s part of a ‘grand, youth movement or if it’s born of necessity.
As I’ve become more familiar with minor league baseball and teams’ thinking, I’ve become a little less excited about the guys coming up in September. However, as teams like the Cubs are fighting for their postseason lives, it’s interesting to see how they’ll use these extra players.
Some in the local media have raised questions about the Cubs decision to release certain veteran players and claiming they are developing others for ’25 and beyond. While the White Sox have purged their system of excess, veteran baggage, I’m surprised they haven’t brought up more young position players-unless they haven’t developed the way they should.
Teams now can only add one pitcher and one position player to their 26-man rosters. For the teams out of the race, the addition to the roster is either an audition or a reward for meritorious service.
Before this season I don’t think I had ever heard the argument against promoting top prospects (pre 9/1) fearing that they might be adversely impacted by joining a toxic situation. I’m referring specifically to the 2024 White Sox and guys like Colson Montgomery. The 22-year-old shortstop’s decline has been rather disappointing and there was some concern that getting time with this particular team, could only set back his career even further.
Interestingly the team that keeps coming up in conjunction with these Sox, are the 1962, expansion New York Mets. Probably the most famous member of that team, Ed Kranepool, made his ML debut that season on 9/22. He only got 6 at-bats that season and followed it up with only 86 games the following year (and a .206 average). However, he wasn’t hindered by the experience as he played only 16 more seasons with the Mets. Mind you, he never put up great numbers, but he had a successful career.
For those of us that follow the minor leagues a little more closely, for whatever reason, recent history shows us that some guys aren’t ready. Most need more seasoning and coaching, but many are forced into active duty by circumstances beyond their control.
Somebody far smarter than I am, can figure out which of the September call-ups had the best runs. I’ll bet that most go on to careers with other organizations, for better or worse.
I am going to channel the memory of Carmelo Martinez, and hope he doesn’t come back to bite the Cubs in their collective arses.
