How Ken Schnacke and Andy Tracy felt the Columbus Clippers' 2023 MiLB season went
As the Clippers’ 2023 season wraps up at Huntington Park, Ken Schnacke admits he’s a bit disappointed.
In the middle of the final homestand of the regular season, the Clippers’ team president and general manager knows his team will finish with more losses than wins for the second time in three seasons — the team’s worst stretch since its four straight losing seasons from 2006-09.
But in the 15th season of Huntington Park, Schnacke sees a Clippers organization that is still going strong.
“Knock on wood, we’re very blessed that the fans keep coming out to see it,” Schnacke said. “Even though I’m unhappy about on the field, we’re in games most nights and I think the fans here have a good time.”
Through Tuesday, the Clippers were third in Triple-A baseball attendance behind Lehigh Valley and Indianapolis, averaging 7,829 fans per game while eclipsing 10,000 fans 13 times.
Finishing his third season as the Clippers’ manager, Andy Tracy said injury problems created a lot of movement throughout the Cleveland Guardians organization, including the promotion of pitchers Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee and Logan Allen, who he expected to play the majority of 2023 in Columbus.
“Yes, we’re developing here. But we’re supporting the major league club,” Tracy said. “We’re here to support them with injuries and backup arms and bats, and seeing how they react when they go up and down, up and down, how it can be a roller coaster at this level. And dealing with some older players that have been to the big leagues that are back down to try and get back up there.”
According to MLB.com, three of the Guardians’ top five prospects are finishing their season with the Clippers: Brayan Rocchio (No. 1), who made his major league debut in 2023, first baseman Kyle Manzardo (No. 2), who was recently acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays via trade, and outfielder George Valera (No. 5).
Each of those players, Tracy said, are making strides at a level that is much different than the other steps in the minor leagues.
“It’s not just ‘develop’ to the next level,” Tracy said. “It’s competition at this level and being able to control your emotions because it’s a business here.”
In 2023, eight Guardians players made their major league debuts: Williams, Rocchio, Bibee, Allen, Jose Tena, Tim Herrin, David Fry and Peyton Battenfield. Each of those players spent time with the Clippers this season.
Triple-A baseball has seen its fair share of changes, including installing the automatic ball-strike and challenge systems that have changed the way umpires call games.
For Tracy, the ABS system continues to be something he does not have a problem with because there is “nothing I can do about it.” It’s a system, he said, that continues to change and be perfected, but is still a smaller strike zone, which leads to more walks.
Schnacke said he sees the ABS system coming to Major League Baseball eventually, and that the addition of the technology, along with the pitch clock, is changing the game for the better.
“It’s changing the game and adding things that fans like,” Schnacke said. “I think all the sports are struggling through that − to stay current and to appeal to a younger generation and get these kids more involved and becoming fans of baseball.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ken Schnacke, Andy Tracy reflect on Columbus Clippers' 2023 season
