Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Further thoughts on the Braves Leaving
The Braves are leaving Richmond, Virginia and relocating in Gwinnett County, Georgia, close to the parent team in Atlanta. Next year is the last season. The problem is that Richmond could not agree on a stadium. In my opinion, Richmond is a hotbed for offers to bring minor league teams here, but no one is going to want a city with a stadium that another team had to leave because of its condition. So the first thing Richmond needs to do is to build another stadium. It's either that or no ball team in Richmond.
But given that, it should be easy for Richmond to get another team. Richmond will be the fourth largest city in the US without a major or AAA minor league team, behind Riverside, California, Orlando, and Jacksonville. But Richmond should not degrade or underrate itself. The population of Richmond is over a million. It is big enough for an AAA team so it should go for one. The Richmond media reports that is impossible. But I don't think so. There are some possibilities out there.
First of all, let's rule out the commonly mentioned possibles. Washington, DC and Baltimore are nearly impossible to get as the parent. This is because of the five-way trade two years ago. This was caused by the Ottawa Lynx being bought out by a Philadelphia group and made a farm team of the Phillies. That caused a five-way swap: the Phillies got the Lynx which was with the Orioles which got the Tides which was with the Mets which got the New Orleans Zephyrs which was with the Nationals which got the Columbus Clippers which were the Yankees which wound up with the former Philadelphia farm team, the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, which renamed itself the Yankees. The Orioles and Nationals both got better deals on this. So do you expect these teams to give their clubs up for Richmond?
It's the Mets that got shafted. They tried to get the Barons but wound up with New Orleans which Washington didn't want. This is where the possibility lies. Would the Mets be willing to relocate the Zephyrs in Richmond? It is interesting that the move would make Richmond a free agent, even without a team. The Richmond Times-Dispatch refers to the International League. Why not the Pacific Coast League? One PCL parent is close by - New York. I think Richmond officials should start talking with the Mets, and Soon. For if we wait, the Zephyrs may be hunting around for another parent and may latch onto the Devil Rays. That would free up the Durham Bulls which will wind up with the Mets. If that happens, kiss AAA in Richmond good-bye. There is no way that the Mets will give up a team in Durham for one in Richmond.
But given that, it should be easy for Richmond to get another team. Richmond will be the fourth largest city in the US without a major or AAA minor league team, behind Riverside, California, Orlando, and Jacksonville. But Richmond should not degrade or underrate itself. The population of Richmond is over a million. It is big enough for an AAA team so it should go for one. The Richmond media reports that is impossible. But I don't think so. There are some possibilities out there.
First of all, let's rule out the commonly mentioned possibles. Washington, DC and Baltimore are nearly impossible to get as the parent. This is because of the five-way trade two years ago. This was caused by the Ottawa Lynx being bought out by a Philadelphia group and made a farm team of the Phillies. That caused a five-way swap: the Phillies got the Lynx which was with the Orioles which got the Tides which was with the Mets which got the New Orleans Zephyrs which was with the Nationals which got the Columbus Clippers which were the Yankees which wound up with the former Philadelphia farm team, the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Red Barons, which renamed itself the Yankees. The Orioles and Nationals both got better deals on this. So do you expect these teams to give their clubs up for Richmond?
It's the Mets that got shafted. They tried to get the Barons but wound up with New Orleans which Washington didn't want. This is where the possibility lies. Would the Mets be willing to relocate the Zephyrs in Richmond? It is interesting that the move would make Richmond a free agent, even without a team. The Richmond Times-Dispatch refers to the International League. Why not the Pacific Coast League? One PCL parent is close by - New York. I think Richmond officials should start talking with the Mets, and Soon. For if we wait, the Zephyrs may be hunting around for another parent and may latch onto the Devil Rays. That would free up the Durham Bulls which will wind up with the Mets. If that happens, kiss AAA in Richmond good-bye. There is no way that the Mets will give up a team in Durham for one in Richmond.
