“Where winning matters”
Posted by Carl on January 19, 2008
Came across this interesting publication (c/o the Can-AM League’s website) a few days ago - The Independent Minor Leagues - Where winning matters. Last year’s Philadelphia Phillies were rated the most Independent friendly team - an honor that not all phans were particularly happy with. It would seem that an Indy League player is somewhat of a second class baseball citizen in the minds of many MLB fans. Notable FLPs from 2007 who spent some time in the Indy leagues included Gary Burnham, Brian Mazone, and Kane Davis among others.
I will probably find myself in the minority, but I’m not terribly concerned about the quality of baseball that we’ll have here in 2008. I attribute my laissez-faire attitude to three factors. First off, as most readers of the UOLB know, I’m not a terribly sophisticated baseball fan. I’m at the Stadium for the experience - hotdogs, warm summer nights, “take me out with the crowd I don’t care if I ever get back” fun. Secondly, after our near-miss here, I’m grateful that we have pro-baseball at all - believe me, you’ll hear nary a discouraging word around this here blog as it concerns the team. Too many people worked too hard and risked too much to have the fruits of their labor complained about.
And finally, I think people can learn to adjust their expectations and will appreciate the game that’s in front of them. Having watched enough Little League and winter practice, I know I can. I still marvel at how good some of the 10 and 11 year old kids are with the ball.
I do appreciate that the Can-AM League isn’t Little League, and that a certain skill level is expected, if not demanded. But i’ll leave those worries for the GM and team management. I expect that I’ll be busy enough, scarfing down a ‘dog, chasing after the kids, or just relaxing in my own reserved seat, watching the fireworks light up the night sky.
“Well, we think, we think if the fans give us a shot they’ll like it, it’ll be fun.”
[Miles Wolff, Madeley in the Morning, January 17]
January 20, 2008 at 12:55 pm
yeah, absolutely. The level of play will still be quite high, don’t worry about that. Likely between Single-A and Double-A I’d say.
January 20, 2008 at 1:42 pm
The ball will be A1. Over the past 15 years I’ve seen many AAA players here with Indy experience and they weren’t the least bit out of place.
And I agree with Carl, hangin out at the ballpark beats hell out of anything else.
8 million + went to Indy games last season, isn’t that a good indicator?
January 21, 2008 at 1:26 am
It appears as though AAA is beginning to be a tough sell. For a time, ballparks had to be 10,000+, requiring large markets. These cities are “ALMOST ready for primetime” and I believe there’s a bit of an apathy towards “minor” leagues. These cities want BIG LEAGUE teams and seems to turn their back on being a rehab/development/has been/never will be town. (I don’t hold that view.) However, I’ve often heard it said that even without the constant roster moves and the whole raison d’etre being to stock the big club and NOT to win, that double-A was better ball than AAA. They claim that the young players on the rise are there in AA, while the older (perhaps better mentally, not physically) career minor-leaguers toil in AAA. The smaller towns know they’ll never be “big-league” and are happy to support their AA club. Meanwhile, the Richmonds, Syracuses, Portland and Tacomas struggle. Now half the “Pacific Coast League” is sprinkled across the Southeast & west. Some places like Calgary and Edmonton got hosed, as now those big stadiums required 15 years ago have now given way to smaller, cozier venues in smaller cities like the 8,000 seater being built in Allentown and proposed in Richmond. As boring as I find soccer, it’s too bad that “AAA” couldn’t somehow operate like a “Division 2″ in these “almost big league towns” whereby Promotion to the bigs was possible and every once in a while, the Yankees come to town…….
Long story short, I think we’re going to enjoy Can-Am, it’s just what we need…
January 21, 2008 at 10:08 am
#3 - AAA franchise values have never been higher, minor league attendance (including independent leagues ) is at record levels. There are always a few markets that buck the trend but minor league ball and AAA is healthier than ever.
Now, minor league ball in Canada…that’s a different story. Hopefully Ottawa will join Winnipeg and Quebec City as Canadian cities that enthusiastically support independent ball.
January 21, 2008 at 10:23 am
Not so fast, breaking news here.
In a strange about face, the Ottawa Citizen is now supporting the Blow Jays’ Triple A team to move to Ottawa, in effect trying to circuitously kill Indie Ball before it even had a chance.
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/editorials/story.html?id=48b19585-98dd-4d3d-b598-0bfe7be99b60
January 21, 2008 at 10:43 am
AAA ball… Been there, done that! Won’t work here will all the player movements and guys who “just don’t want to be here”. Gimme indy ball anyday… (Hate to admit it, but it was more fun to go to the Capitales’ games in Quebec city than the AAA Lynx).
January 21, 2008 at 12:29 pm
After 15 seasons of AAA in this city The Citizen still doesn’t understand the fundamentals of this situation. ( Even though Mr. Wolff explained it to one of their reporters last week )
The Jays DON’T OWN A AAA FRANCHISE! I REPEAT..!!! In order for the Jays to locate their AAA affiliate here - admittedly it is moving away from Syracuse - one of the 30 franchise owners would have to relocate their franchise here and reach an agreement with the Jays. The most the Jays could do is influence that decision.
The Jays are not a valued affiliate either because they fielded losing teams in 22 of the past 30 seasons in Syracuse. Any AAA franchise owner would be aware of that. That’s what you get for being cheap, competing at the AAA level requires investing in top quality AAAA players, who command good salaries. I don’t see Buffalo moving to Ottawa, the only hope would be New Orleans relocating here…
BUT I REPEAT, IT’S NOT UP TO THE JAYS, THEY DON’T OWN A AAA FRANCHISE!!!
January 21, 2008 at 5:18 pm
the difference is academic
the Jays may not move the franchise in Syracuse but it still can move it’s affiliation to another AAA franchise located somewhere else and willing to move to Ottawa
the bottom line is that it remains an improbable move with the recent failure of the Lynx
January 21, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I’ll stand by my comments that AAA is the hardest sell among the classifications. Yep, franchise values are higher than ever. A franchise is great leverage for getting new stadiums built, but like the NHL (another minor league), expenses are high and many cities are undersupported, the teams lose money. It’s not operations, but the eventual sale of the franchise where you profit…..