The latest ticket updates from the Bisons have 2,800 tickets left for next Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game and 3,300 remaining for Monday night's Triple-A Home Run Derby. Tickets remain available at Bisons.com or by calling THE-HERD (843-4373). They are $15 for the derby, $25 for the game or $35 for both.
As for game rosters, the International League and Pacific Coast League have announced their first batch of changes. Injuries and sometimes personal reasons can impact the lineups, just as they will for Tuesday's MLB game in Kansas City. In this case, however, the Triple-A rosters can also be impacted if any players are called up to the major leagues.
The IL has added Durham outfielder Leslie Anderson in place of Charlotte's Greg Golson (disabled list). Anderson is batting .312 with eight homers and 34 RBIs in 71 games.
The PCL has added Memphis pitcher Brandon Dickson and Colorado Springs outfielder Matt McBride. Not attending are Memphis pitcher Barret Brown, Colorado Springs outfielder Andrew Brown and Albuquerque infielder Luis Cruz.
Dickson is just 4-8 in 15 starts but has a 3.58 ERA that's seventh in the PCL. McBride ranks sixth in the league with a .346 batting average while collecting six homers and 46 RBIs.
The one callup I'm watching for is top Pittsburgh prospect Starling Marte of Indianapolis. The reigning IL batter of the week is batting .290 overall and .333 since June 1 and seems like he's going to become a Pirate any day in the wake of Jose Tabata's demotion.
But there's scuttle all over the Internet the team doesn't want to promote and then have him get cold over the all-star break. It might make more sense to keep him in Indy, let him play on the minors' big stage in Buffalo and then let him join the Bucs' second-half run. We'll see.
---Mike Harrington
(www.twitter.com/bnharrington)
