The Citizen’s “maybe Ottawa?” story about the Jays severing ties with the Syracuse Chiefs is a real headshaker over the state of the newspaper game.
The story buried the fact — pointed out, thankfully, by Miles Wolff — that the Jays would need to sink millions into buying and relocating a Triple-A team. They don’t own the Chiefs. The Jays are like Coca-Cola, supplying a restaurant with soft drinks (i.e., the players). People in Syracuse have decided they like Pepsi instead.
As well, there’s a major game of minor-league musical chairs waiting to break out after this season. That should have been mentioned. It wasn’t.
Buffalo and Rochester are among the 17 Triple-A clubs whose PDC (player development contract) is set to expire after this season. Buffalo is currently with Cleveland and the Indians really have a jones to have their team in Columbus, which is also coming available. The Jays will have cheaper options that are more conveniently located.
It is a scoop to most of the capital’s newspaper readers that the Jays and Syracuse are on the outs after 31 years. It’s not bad work by any individual; it’s bad editorial practices. Why, then, the urge to cry conspiracy or wonder why the Citizen ran with this now when Miles Wolff is well on his way to getting our new ballclub up and running?
It was reported as far back as October that Syracuse wanted to bring in the New York Mets. Jays blogs such as The Tao of Stieb and Drunk Jays Fansthat would not be unknown to a hardcore fan (speaking from experience as a copy ed., a lot of newspaper deskers are serious baseball geeks) linked to it. Why wasn’t it reported then?
Let’s be clear. I’m not calling shenanigans on Ottawa’s paper of record or anyone down at City Hall. It just seems like a curious time to stuff readers full of notions about the Jays coming here.
The Can-Am team should let this roll like water off a duck’s back, but it could have done without it.
We really are just that close. Please give a listen to Miles Wolff’s interview from CFRA this morning.
More later.
It’s later….
Steve Madeley: It’s intriguing!
Miles Wolff: Well, we think, we think if the fans give us a shot they’ll like it, it’ll be fun.
SM: So when will we know?
MW: Oh we’ve got the team.
SM: I understand that, but when do we know that the City and you have signed the sublease and that all of the t’s are all crossed and the i’s are dotted?
MW: Hopefully….. today. I mean, we… I mean it’s down to… it’s actually down to dotting i’s, t’s, “how do we word this”?
SM: This is done as far as you’re concerned….
MW: It’s done. I’ve actually got a meeting this morning to… let’s put everything together so there are you know, we’re, there are no questions at all. But, everybody seems to be on the same page.
SM: Welcome to town!
[edit]
SM: So this is actually happening. A lot of us thought, oh, this is all talk. You’re saying “no”, this is a go.
MW: We’ve got our office up and operating. We’ve been renewing season tickets. We’re in good shape.
I’ll have to make this quick for today, lots of non-baseball stuff going on. I did want to share a couple of things that I think are important - especially in this seemingly endless gap where we wait for things to become official. Ottawa baseball fans, and those who just want to see things succeed at Coventry Road should take great comfort, encouragement and optimism from Mr. Wolff’s continuing presence in the NCR - he remains absolutely committed to the cause. Secondly, even though Independent Leagues may have gained a reputation as being “gimmicky”, Mr. Wolff is committed to winning here. Expect things to be fun, but the team won’t field a veteran just for the value of his name recognition; the expectation is for Ottawa to be competitive, right out of the gate. Everyone will be expected to produce results. By contrast, we just need to show up.
Working the Google on my Internet machine reveals some glowing report about the Nashua Pride’s new GM, Chris Hall.
It’s important to keep in mind that the GM has a ton of sway in whether an indy team takes off, since he not only has more control over player recruitment, but has to find players who will be happy to be there and be fan-friendly.
Here’s hoping we can get that person in place in Ottawa, in good time.
(By the way, how’s this for irony: Pete Laforest, the catcher from Gatineau, was signed last week — by the Phillies, who assigned him to Lehigh Valley.)
If the recent warm weather and receding snowbanks weren’t enough to get your mind on baseball, consider this bit of good news: Season ticket and flex pack holders from 2007 will be receiving calls in the very near future - calls are meant to start going out from the Stadium this weekend. This marks the first of many what I’m dubbing “No Excuses” events - now is the first time supporters of baseball here in the National Capital Region (NCR) get to step up to the plate.
Who will be the first to get Can-AM Ottawa tickets?!
Even though we live north of the 49th, most of us not living under a piece of granite (blogger: get it? Granite? At least I try…) know that the New Hampshire Primary was held yesterday. How many will remember (or care, for that matter) who won come November?
Nashua looks to figure into our summer Syracuse-Cooperstown-Vermont road trip - although the girls aren’t completely in love with the agenda (i.e. Chiefs-Baseball Hall of Fame-Lake Monsters/cycling). Having said that, Bekah is convinced that the Nashua Pride logo is actually one of the “My Little Pony” ponies.
Go figure.
Moving on. Interesting to note that the Pride play in a state with roughly 1.25M people - a total population not much larger than the National Capital Region. Nashua finished last in attendance in the Can-AM league (blogger: Hey. Someone has to finish on the bottom, right?) with an average of 1,553 fans over the 52 home games. Still, the numbers are disappointing for a team that went on to become league Champions last year. Some of you may recall that back in September there was talk that Nashua’s team might actually end up in Ottawa. Baseball in Nashua faces stiff competition from the N.H. Fisher Cats (playing in Manchester - a scant 18 miles to the north) and the Lowell Spinners (playing in Massachussetts, 30 odd miles to the south).
2007 marked Nashua’s second season in the Can-AM League; like the Surf, the Pride roots are in Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Nashua plays out at Holman Stadium. It seats just over 4,300 people after some recent upgrades which included luxury boxes. In 1946, the then Nashua Dodgers (Class B affiliate for the Brooklyn Dodgers) broke the color barrier when they accepted two players, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe, who had been refused by the only other team in the Dodger organization that wasn’t in a segregated state, Danville, Illinois. A history of which to be proud, quite definitely.
Famous alumni include Curtis Pride, Dante Bichette, Jeff Juden and current pitcher, Rich Garces.
Sorry about the recent absence, but there hasn’t been much of any substance to report on the team itself, and I’ve been way too busy to put together anything on Ottawa’s third opponent this year, the Nashua Pride (it’s coming). I can mention two things - first (and as posted over on the UOLB), Josh Teuscher will be back in 2008, another great acquisition for Mr. Wolff. Second - while Mike Kusiewicz is indeed the Director of Player Operations for the new Ottawa franchise, he will still be pitching come May.
That’s going to have to do it for today - hopefully there will be news of a little more substance later this week.
With well over 1100 entries into the “Name the Team” contest, all that remains is for the winning name to be chosen.No easy task with suggestions like the Ottawa Eh’s, the Ottawa Tax Dodgers and Ottawa Fusion!Ottawa ’s Can-AM baseball team will be officially named in the very near future.
Please direct any questions concerning this release to Carl Kiiffner by reply email.
2008 will mark the inaugural season for Ottawa ’s CAN-AM baseball team. Ottawa the league’s second Canadian team, will host 47 home dates, welcoming teams from Atlantic City , Nashua , Quebec City, Brockton , Sussex , Worcester and New Jersey
LE TOUR EST JOUÉ!
Avec au-delà de 1100 entrées pour le concours “Nommez l’équipe”, il ne reste plus qu’à décider du nom vainqueur. La tâche s’annonce ardue, avec des suggestions telles le Eh’s d’Ottawa, les Tax Dodgers d’Ottawa, et les Fusions d’Ottawa! La nouvelle équipe de baseball Can-AM d’Ottawa sera bientôt officiellement baptisée.
Veuillez s’il-vous-plaît vous adresser à Carl Kiiffner par courriel pour toute question concernant ce communiqué.
2008 marquera la saison inaugurale pour l’équipe de baseball Can-AM d’Ottawa. Ottawa, la deuxième franchise canadienne dans la ligue, sera l’hôte de 47 parties locales, accueillant les équipes d’Atlantic City, Nashua, Québec, Brockton, Sussex, Worcester et New Jersey.
With temps at a balmy -23C here in Ottawa, we can permit ourselves to dream a little about May. Following the Jackals, Ottawa’s next opponent is the Atlantic City Surf. For those of you who want to go on an early season “roadie”, Ottawa will be in Atlantic City for their home opener on May 26, the first of a three game series.
2008 marks only the second season that the Surf have played in the Can-AM League; prior to ‘07 Atlantic City spent nine seasons in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Making their home in the 5500 seat Bernie Robbins Stadium, the Surf drew 105,149 fans in 2007, putting them just ahead of Sussex for sixth spot. Attendance over the 50 home dates averaged out at just over 2,100 a game. The team closed out 2007 with a loss to the North Shore Spirit in the first round of the playoffs.
Like the Jackals, it appears that they’ve got webcasts of their games, but no TV arrangement in place. They’ve also got stiff competition for the entertainment dollars of tourists, but you would think that the 40,000 (or so) citizens of Atlantic City proper aren’t likely spending a great deal of their leisure time at the casinos. In the sports arena, it appears that their only other competitor is the Atlantic City Diablos, a lower tier professional soccer team.
Couple of other items of note: Director of Operations for the Surf is none other than Hoffman Wolff, too bad Ottawa wasn’t up and running in time to snag him. AC has hit the ground running - their 2008 Promotions schedule has already been posted (even though it’s mis-labelled as “2007″). Interesting promotion that the Ottawa franchise should consider stealing adopting: every Sunday game is designated “Church Bulletin night” and fans with their church bulletins get $2 off on the cost of a ticket. Alumni of note: Jim Crowell (who had a very brief stay here in Ottawa last year) and Ruben Sierra (who spent no time in Ottawa, but a long time in the majors).
And what post would be complete without a little Youtube? If nothing else, a glance at the signage on the outfield wall gives an idea of the corporate support for Atlantic City. The quality of the play-by-play is very good - it’s not Vin Scully, but still…
hat matter) who won come November?
. Following the Jackals, Ottawa’s next opponent is the 