Brian in Boston Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I was just speaking to a former sports journalism colleague of mine who said that the word on the street is that the Carolina League and California League are involved in preliminary discussions that would see the former circuit grow by two teams, while the latter league would shut-down a pair of franchises.Apparently, given the fact that only eight Major League Baseball teams operate in what can be considered the "Far West" of the United States, a majority of MLB player development executives aren't thrilled with the fact that ten teams currently comprise the Class A Advanced California League. They've been calling for the Class A Advanced Carolina League to expand by two teams for quite some time. Under the plan currently being bandied about, the Bakersfield Blaze and High Desert Mavericks of the California League would cease operations. These two franchises have been targeted due to their attendance woes and the fact that they play in less-than-adequate facilities located in municipalities that aren't likely to build new stadia or extensively renovate the existing ballparks.Subsequently, the Carolina League would expand by two teams. The cities that have been mentioned most prominently so far are Richmond, Virginia and Fayetteville, North Carolina. That said, Carolina League officials concede that MiLB may be more inclined to view Richmond as a Double A Eastern League-calibre market. Further, it is felt that there are several markets within the Carolina League footprint that could support Class A Advanced baseball.The major issue to be determined is just how to compensate the California League for the loss of two markets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiasco! Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I'd like to see MiLB return to Spartanburg, SC. Given the recent success (PR, Attendance, etc.) with the Greenville Drive, I would think Spartanburg could support a team of their own. LinkedIn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanB06 Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Doesn't the Drive draw from Spartanburg? A team there would more than likely hurt them rather than help them. West End Field is a beautiful ballpark (saw a game there in '06), but being a Red Sox fan, I am a little biased in that respect (West End Field, in case you didn't know, is a dimensional clone of Fenway Park). Sodboy13 said: As you watch more basketball, you will learn to appreciate the difference between "defense" and "couldn't find the rim with a pair of bloodhounds and a Garmin." meet the new page, not the same as the old page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capsfan1000 Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I don't see why any MLB teams would care about where single A teas are located. I've never heard of a player being called up from single A straight to the majors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drew22 Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I don't see why any MLB teams would care about where single A teas are located. I've never heard of a player being called up from single A straight to the majors.Rehab starts.I could see them placing a team in Hilton Head. Eagles/Heels/Dawgs/Falcons/Hawks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac the Knife Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 These has "OurSportsDream" written all over it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FiddySicks Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I'm just glad to see that the Stockton Ports aren't at risk of being eliminated. On 11/19/2012 at 7:23 PM, oldschoolvikings said: She’s still half convinced “Chris Creamer” is a porn site.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herk Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 This does seem to make sense logistically. Many teams have been realigning their affiliates so they are closer together, making it easier to move up and down players. The Brewers for example have moved almost all their affiliaties (sans Helena and AZL Brewers) to the Eastern half of the United States and in fact their low A thru AAA teams are all located around the Southeastern portion of the United States. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBGKon Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 This does seem to make sense logistically. Many teams have been realigning their affiliates so they are closer together, making it easier to move up and down players. The Brewers for example have moved almost all their affiliaties (sans Helena and AZL Brewers) to the Eastern half of the United States and in fact their low A thru AAA teams are all located around the Southeastern portion of the United States.Exactly, teams like having their affiliates close to home. It also helps with branding the Major League club in local areas. The Phillies are a good example of having local affiliates:AAA - Allentown (Lehigh Valley), PA (63 miles)AA - Reading, PA (63 miles)Hi A - Clearwater, FL (1069 miles - Spring training site)Lo A - Lakewood, NJ (65 miles)Short A - Williamsport, PA (177 miles)Outside of Clearwater, all teams are within an hour or so's drive of Philadelphia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkJourney Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 I'm just glad to see that the Stockton Ports aren't at risk of being eliminated.Not with their sweet stadium. I'm glad to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OMMF Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Short A - Williamsport, PA (177 miles)all teams are within an hour or so's drive of Philadelphia.I don't know how things are in the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania but that would get you arrested every time in the State of Washington. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seadragon76 Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Eh? Uh, never mind.I was thinking... If the Carolina League wants to expand and the California League would end up contracting Bakersfield and High Desert, there are two locations wtihin the Carolina League's footprint that would be perfect: Blacksburg, Virginia and Roanoke, Virginia.These two cities are more then capable of handling a Single-A team there. Why not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herk Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 The good news for fans in Bakersfield and High Desert is that if indeed their teams fold and head East, The Independent Golden League I'm sure would be more than happy to snap up those cities as expansion teams. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rams80 Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Any news on the Midwest League pilfering a pair of Sally League markets? On 8/1/2010 at 4:01 PM, winters in buffalo said: You manage to balance agitation with just enough salient points to keep things interesting. Kind of a low-rent DG_Now. On 1/2/2011 at 9:07 PM, Sodboy13 said: Today, we are all otaku. "The city of Peoria was once the site of the largest distillery in the world and later became the site for mass production of penicillin. So it is safe to assume that present-day Peorians are descended from syphilitic boozehounds."-Stephen Colbert POTD: February 15, 2010, June 20, 2010 The Glorious Bloom State Penguins (NCFAF) 2014: 2-9, 2015: 7-5 (L Pineapple Bowl), 2016: 1-0 (NCFAB) 2014-15: 10-8, 2015-16: 14-5 (SMC Champs, L 1st Round February Frenzy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fiasco! Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 Doesn't the Drive draw from Spartanburg? A team there would more than likely hurt them rather than help them. West End Field is a beautiful ballpark (saw a game there in '06), but being a Red Sox fan, I am a little biased in that respect (West End Field, in case you didn't know, is a dimensional clone of Fenway Park). I doubt many people from Sparkle City are driving to Greenville to go to ballgames. Spartanburg and Greenville are rival cities in every sense of the word. they are about 30-45 minutes drive between downtown areas and Spartanburg has a "little brother" complex that they are trying to rid themselves of. Spartanburg is in the middle of a nice revitalization of their downtown area, and a new minor league ballpark would make quite the nice addition. They are two seperate cities in the same metropolitan areas, but residents of one rarely venture to the other. LinkedIn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMU Posted August 3, 2008 Share Posted August 3, 2008 I would have thought that Bakersfield wouldn't have had the attendance issues. Could be mostly facilities up there.I'm not at all surprised by High Desert though. I never really considered the Apple Valley as being a sports market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBGKon Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Short A - Williamsport, PA (177 miles)all teams are within an hour or so's drive of Philadelphia.I don't know how things are in the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania but that would get you arrested every time in the State of Washington.My bad, completely missed that one. That one's more like 2 hours or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBGKon Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 Any news on the Midwest League pilfering a pair of Sally League markets?I have heard that one too, but nothing on the table now. The teams under speculation were Lake County and the new Bowling Green, KY team (relocated Columbus, GA) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian in Boston Posted August 4, 2008 Author Share Posted August 4, 2008 I was thinking... If the Carolina League wants to expand and the California League would end up contracting Bakersfield and High Desert, there are two locations wtihin the Carolina League's footprint that would be perfect: Blacksburg, Virginia and Roanoke, Virginia.These two cities are more then capable of handling a Single-A team there. Why not.Because, Minor League Baseball's territorial rules allow the Carolina League's Salem Avalanche to block teams from entering either city.Salem and Roanoke border each other, so there is really no need for a separate team in the latter municipality. Further, Minor League Baseball's current territorial rules are county-based. Salem claims Roanoke County, as well as adjacent counties such as Montgomery County - the location of Blacksburg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian in Boston Posted August 4, 2008 Author Share Posted August 4, 2008 I doubt many people from Sparkle City are driving to Greenville to go to ballgames. Spartanburg and Greenville are rival cities in every sense of the word. they are about 30-45 minutes drive between downtown areas and Spartanburg has a "little brother" complex that they are trying to rid themselves of. Spartanburg is in the middle of a nice revitalization of their downtown area, and a new minor league ballpark would make quite the nice addition. They are two seperate cities in the same metropolitan areas, but residents of one rarely venture to the other.Given the competitive nature of modern minor league baseball on a pure business level, I tend to doubt that ownership of the Greenville Drive would waive their territorial right to blocking an affiliated minor-league team in Spartanburg County. Downtown to downtown you're talking a distance of 35 miles. That's too close for comfort as far as today's breed of affiliated minor league owners are concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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