Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Richmond Avalanche?
In this morning's Richmond Times-Dispatch, there was an article saying that Richmond, Virginia, could get an A baseball team, saying that geography would dictate this, as the AA Eastern and Southern leagues are too far away. The article said that the Braves own the rights until they let go probably next month, if the stadium in Gwinnett County will be ready. Earlier this year, the Atlanta Braves announced that they would be moving the Richmond Braves to Gwinnett County, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. In particular, they said that Richmond could be part of the Carolina League, which is a High-A league.
I checked Wikipedia for anything that may be going on among High-A teams. Nothing is going on, except for a comment on the Salem Avalanche, which is really a Roanoke, Virginia area ball team. The Fenway Sports Group, affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, bought the Salem Avalanche recently, and is likely to become a Boston affiliate in 2009. So what might happen is when deal time comes at the end of the season, both the Red Sox and the Avalanche will declare free agency, and will make a deal with each other to have the Avalanche become a Red Sox farm. This will force the Houston Astros to make an agreement with the Lancaster JetHawks in California, the present Boston High-A affiliate. After the Avalanche becomes a Red Sox team, I am guessing that the Red Sox will move the team to Richmond. The Richmond Avalanche. It doesn't seem appropriate for this mostly flat city, unless by avalanche is meant the series of misevents that have been occurring while Doug Wilder has been the mayor, one of which is the Braves leaving town.
I don't think this would be good for Richmond. (Roanoke would not like it either.) There are many people around here who would not go out to see a High-A team play, but would rather see the Spiders, Rams, or even a high school team play. It would make the city or its people the owner of the team, something that isn't true today. But I think the city deserves better. I think Richmond should hold out for an AAA team, even if it means no ball here for a year or two. As I said earlier, I imagine the New York Mets don't like having an AAA affiliate so far away in New Orleans, and maybe the Zephyrs could be moved to Richmond, which would require another International League or Pacific Coast League team to change leagues; Nashville or Indianapolis, perhaps. Or maybe something else could happen. But please, Richmond. Don't settle for High-A. And for gosh sakes, build a new stadium so an AAA team will want to come here.
PS. Corrected on 2008 July 3. The Portland Sea dogs are AA. I meant the High-A affiliate of the Red Sox, which is the Lancaster JetHawks.
I checked Wikipedia for anything that may be going on among High-A teams. Nothing is going on, except for a comment on the Salem Avalanche, which is really a Roanoke, Virginia area ball team. The Fenway Sports Group, affiliated with the Boston Red Sox, bought the Salem Avalanche recently, and is likely to become a Boston affiliate in 2009. So what might happen is when deal time comes at the end of the season, both the Red Sox and the Avalanche will declare free agency, and will make a deal with each other to have the Avalanche become a Red Sox farm. This will force the Houston Astros to make an agreement with the Lancaster JetHawks in California, the present Boston High-A affiliate. After the Avalanche becomes a Red Sox team, I am guessing that the Red Sox will move the team to Richmond. The Richmond Avalanche. It doesn't seem appropriate for this mostly flat city, unless by avalanche is meant the series of misevents that have been occurring while Doug Wilder has been the mayor, one of which is the Braves leaving town.
I don't think this would be good for Richmond. (Roanoke would not like it either.) There are many people around here who would not go out to see a High-A team play, but would rather see the Spiders, Rams, or even a high school team play. It would make the city or its people the owner of the team, something that isn't true today. But I think the city deserves better. I think Richmond should hold out for an AAA team, even if it means no ball here for a year or two. As I said earlier, I imagine the New York Mets don't like having an AAA affiliate so far away in New Orleans, and maybe the Zephyrs could be moved to Richmond, which would require another International League or Pacific Coast League team to change leagues; Nashville or Indianapolis, perhaps. Or maybe something else could happen. But please, Richmond. Don't settle for High-A. And for gosh sakes, build a new stadium so an AAA team will want to come here.
PS. Corrected on 2008 July 3. The Portland Sea dogs are AA. I meant the High-A affiliate of the Red Sox, which is the Lancaster JetHawks.
