Epilogue
Posted by Carl on May 8, 2008
I wanted to come back to write one final post over here. I truly appreciate all the comments and want to thank everybody for them, and for dropping by over the life of the blog. It’s not been easy walking away from the blog, but certainly if someone wants to carry on with one, it’s not that hard. Time consuming, but not that hard. In the meantime, I believe that Neate will carry on with his coverage of the team and the Facebook groups will likely pick up their activity as well. MSM coverage looks promising so far - with the Citizen and CTV Ottawa showing a great deal of support for the team. Unfortunately, the news yesterday was not all that positive:
Rapidz fire GM CharretteDismissal by new owners ends ‘dream job’
The Ottawa Citizen; with files from The Ottawa Citizen Staff Thursday, May 08, 2008
The team name suggests “strong and forceful movement” and the new owners of the Ottawa Rapidz have wasted little time in dusting the franchise’s first general manager.
With the countdown to Opening Day of the 2008 CanAm League season at 16 days and new team ownership only 10 days old, the Rapidz have fired Don Charrette.
The move came late Tuesday, one day after the resignation of Charrette’s wife, Lorraine. She had worked for 15 years with the former Ottawa Lynx Triple-A club owned by Howard Darwin and, later, Ray Pecor. That team moved to Pennsylvania after the 2007 International League season.
Charrette, a 56-year-old former Little League coach, was one of the first hires for the CanAm franchise in January.
At the time, he called it a “dream job,” and he stuck by that assessment yesterday.
“It was a dream come true,” Charrette said. “When Miles (Wolff, the league commissioner), Lorraine and I were doing it, things were wonderful. We had a great team here.
Charrette had just returned to his office Tuesday afternoon after wiring money to a prospective player in South America when he was approached by Rapidz owners Rick Anderson and Rob Hall.
“I never saw it coming,” Charrette said yesterday. “Our family is devastated. I am devastated. I have no idea what my next move is. No idea.”
The Rapidz are to hold a free-agent tryout camp today at their home stadium on Coventry Road. The best of that crop is expected to begin an abbreviated spring training with players under contracts on Saturday morning.
The Rapidz have an exhibition game against a city all-star team next week and home-and-away exhibitions with the independent league’s Quebec Capitales one week later before opening the regular season May 22 with a four-game series against the New Jersey Jackals.
“Don made a strong contribution to getting things going here,” said Anderson, president and CEO of Zip.ca and Rapidz Sports and Entertainment, which bought the baseball franchise from the CanAm League. “We are grateful and respectful for what he has done.
“Baseball has a rebuilding job to do here and things have to be done to do that. Don did a helluva job the last three or four months to get things going.”
The GM’s position was never meant to have any connection with the baseball side of the operation, Anderson said. Charrette had been hired to set up the business side, and Anderson said another person with a business background would be hired to replace him in that role.
Wolff was in Ottawa before leaving on Sunday. He said he was unaware of problems between the new owners and Charrette, who had been hired by Wolff.
“The new ownership has their own ways of doing things,” Wolff said. “For myself, Don Charrette was the right kind of general manager. He did a good job for me. He wanted to become involved in baseball full-time and this was his chance.
“But new ownership will make changes anywhere, and it’s like a player being released. That player is never happy. The new owners have a vision for what they want this to become and they have a plan. The business side of things is where their expertise lies, and I will continue to consult them on the baseball side until Opening Day.”
Yesterday, the Rapidz announced the signing of 27-year-old infielder Juan Carlos Infante.
Losing both Don and Lorraine will certainly sting - I feel sick about this, as I’m sure do many of you.
See you at the UOLB.
May 8, 2008 at 6:36 am
Strike two!!
(zip.ca not doing a great job so far of getting their diehards on board…
First the logo which they messed up, now the GM that they fire saying he did a great
job… I can`t wait for the season to begin and leave this mumbojumbo behind us).
May 8, 2008 at 8:45 am
It would be nice if the new owners would make one move that is generally regarded as positive. As I said before, these new owners scare me because they show all the signs of ruining what could be our last chance at professional baseball.
May 8, 2008 at 8:52 am
“The GM’s position was never meant to have any connection with the baseball side of the operation, Anderson said. Charrette had been hired to set up the business side, and Anderson said another person with a business background would be hired to replace him in that role.” - Rick Andreson
Since when does a GM have nothing to do with the baseball side of the operation????? I guess this is just another example of how much these guys know about running a baseball team.
Doesn’t give me much faith that’s for sure.
May 8, 2008 at 9:21 am
Well, the new owners can do what they want and feel the GM should be a business person, which Don is not as far as I know. They obviously want their own people in there and not waiting to make changes quickly. This does not mean Don did not do as good a job as he could. They just feel someone else is more suited. It also does not mean there were problems between him and new ownership.
This will have little to no impact on the Rapidz, the baseball team, as opposed to the Rapidz, the business. It’s not the kind of thing I would call a strike on. Only the timing two weeks before the start of the season is surprising to me as is hearing of Lorraine’s resignation.
May 8, 2008 at 9:43 am
I do feel for don and hope he lands some where.As with the new owners overall they have allready done a good job.
May 8, 2008 at 10:32 am
Larry
Some postive things.
1)There will be flat screen tv’splaces all around the park.
2)They plan on brining in top flight cooks to work at the conncesseion stands.
3)The resturant will be open which is good news.
THe list goes on and on.
May 8, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I am disgusted about this. With new owners come change, however, Don’s love for baseball and his involvement over the years was a perfect fit for him being GM. Why not have two GMs or let him fulfill the position for the first season and then make a decision. Don’t fire him.
I was on the fence for renewing season tickets but after reading this, I’m not going to a single game. I may even cancel my subscription with Zip.ca. I truly think the Zip people will do wonders for baseball in Ottawa, but this has left a very very very sour taste in my mouth.
May 8, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Jayme,
I’m not trying to drag this on but none of those things really impress me:
1) flat screen tvs
The stadium currently has ‘regular’ tvs near some of the concession stands. If the new owners actually mean they are adding more tvs so that we can watch the game from any concession line, then that’s a mild positive. I doubt that’s what they’ll do. Instead expect to see the existing tvs replaced and maybe a couple more added.
Also, unless someone is broadcasting the Rapids game, what will these tvs be showing? I guess the Jays, which is fine but not something to brag about.
2) top flight cooks in concession stands
I don’t know about other people, but I’m not going to a ballgame for a gourmet food experience. Most people want the usual ‘ballpark fare’ such as hot dogs, burgers, pizza, popcorn, etc. None of that takes a ‘top flight cook.’ Trying to provide ‘top flight food’ conficts with the ‘give it to me fast since I want to get back before the next inning starts’ mentality of the average fan. I believe it would be much better to have good quality normal fare than waste time developing a menu of fancier food.
3) restaurant open
I would have been surprised if the restaurant wasn’t open (at least some of the time), but the quality there has not been good for the last few years (and the selection has sucked e.g. no kids menu?). This is a place where they could improve the quality and selection, but I don’t think it will ever be a major draw.
The vast majority of times we’ve gone to the restaurant in the past 15 years was during the cold weather days at the beginning of the season (especially with the Lynx 6pm night games then). That doesn’t really apply anymore. If it’s nice out, then I want to be in the stands.
Basically I’m looking for some actual evidence that the new owners have a clue as to what they are doing. I haven’t seen it yet. Getting rid of your GM at this point in time without having a replacement ready is a bad sign.
Opening day is not far away, and I expect to be going to some of the training camp days (assuming they are still going to be open to the public), so I’ll get a bit more of a feel for whether there are any real changes happening at the ballpark.
May 8, 2008 at 1:48 pm
1)As i understand the cooks are not there to make gourmet food.There aslo going to be offering a more healthy choice.Less deep fried foods for exzample.
2)As for the tvs i am sure there will be useing the in house cameras to air the game son the tvs.
3)As for the resturant it could be a very big draw pre and post game.
These owners run the most successful dvd online rental company in canada.
May 8, 2008 at 3:12 pm
> Roger: Since when does a GM have nothing to do with the baseball side of the operation?
I agree with that. I thought the GM was one making decisions (at least in part) of which players to get, at least at the major league level, not the minors. Of course, GM is a title that could mean managing anything. I’m not going to argue about a title.
> The resturant will be open
The restaurant was closed?
I agree with Larry about the variety of food and not having a kid’s menu the few times I was up there. Not to mention only chicken fingers after the game.
> Sparky:
> I am disgusted about this.
> I’m not going to a single game.
Wow. Not sure what to say.
This is a business decision. It’s too bad someone lost their job and I hope Don will find other work soon. Most of us know how hard it can be.
But using the fact that the GM is fired for not going to games, that’s a lame excuse.
You go to games for a) diversion, entertainment, like going to the movies, b) because you are a fan. Not because of who the GM is. I’ve yet to hear someone say they go to Blue Jays games because JP Riccardi is the GM. I’ve also never heard of someone going to an Expos game because Felipe Alou or Frank Robinson was the manager.
If that’s the attitude of people in Ottawa, the Rapidz are not going to be here long.
May 8, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I sent this to the club this afternoon (to Mr. Anderson with cc pretty much every contact name listed on their website).
I know some people will say that we should not complain since we should just be happy that there will be baseball in Ottawa, but I disagree. I think fans have a right to express their concerns, if this team is to succeed here, it’ll have to team up with the community.
—————–
Hello Mr. Anderson,
It is with regret that I am writing to let you know that I, as a fan, am extremely disappointed by the direction the club is taking since you became owner.
The name and logo change was a move that was almost (I’m writing almost but I have yet to hear of one person who thought Rapidz is a name that rocks…
universally criticized and still, you went ahead. That was Strike 1 to me, but I was more than willing to give you guys a chance thinking that well, a 0-1 count is not that bad.
Now, I learn Don Charette was fired yesterday, just two weeks before opening day and less than three months after being hired by Miles Wolff. Ottawa’s baseball fans (because there IS such a thing as Ottawa baseball fans!) had already took notice of Don’s very good work. Don, along with Miles, were able in just three months to convince everyone in Ottawa they actually had reasons to be optimistic about baseball future in Ottawa. Given what the Lynx experienced over the last few years, it’s an accomplishment that is simply outstanding.
I really don’t understand, normally, having new local owners should just really good news. If these moves give any indications on the direction you will take this club, then I can’t express how pessimistic I am on the future of this club.
In just one week, I can tell you a lot of damage has been done.
BUT it’s not too late to show fans you are serious about making this a success. Here’s what you got to do:
1) Reinstate the original name (I don’t care much about the logo (although the original one was WAY cooler), just get rid of the Z, it is actually pathetic). Just admit you made an error in judgement, that shouldn’t be too hard, it just requires a little bit of modesty.
2) Hire back Don. Not only has he done a good job, but firing the GM so shortly before the start of the season and so shortly after he was hired is a sure sign of “amateurisme”.
3) Try to convince Lorraine to come back (I don’t know her but for all her involvement with the Lynx for so many years and with two different owners, I can’t help but think that if there is a problem between her and you, it’s not her who is the problem, it’s you.)
4) Show the fans you listen to them; make this an adventure the whole community can be part of.
Thanks very much for reading my letter. Please rest assured that it is in a very constructive spirit that I am writing this.
—————–
May 8, 2008 at 3:53 pm
After the issues I had with Bostwick and company having Don for a GM was a breath of fresh air. His love and committment to baseball is quite apparent and I don’t even know him all that well.
If you read the end of my post Pierre L., you will have noted that I do believe that Zip will do wonders for baseball.
However, this being the first season and just coming in with not alot of time before the first game to do such a drastic change is a bit unnecessary. Atleast let the season get going. It’s my choice whether or not to attend a game(s) for whatever reason I choose. Some people didn’t go to Lynx games because of parking…well to me the parking is an issue but it’s also a lame exuse too.
Ticking off what little existing fan base there is whether it be the firing, the logo, the name change, the this and the that is not a way to draw people to the stadium.
May 8, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Way to go André!
May 8, 2008 at 5:45 pm
well, it’s the privilege of the owner to do what it wants with a venture that cost him 750,000$
if one doesn’t agree withe owner’s moves, there is 2 things to do: 1) buy yourself the company and do your own moves or 2) don’t buy their products anymore
for me, it is often that we see new ownership put their own people in place, it is natural
for the GM job in Can-Am or affiliated teams, it is not a matter of choice of players, that is more the matter of the coach or the parent-club, the GM is more for all the business unrelated to what is going on with the baseball performance on the field, it is not like NHL or MLB
so yes, you need business management experience to be a GM in baseball
anyway, at first I ticked when I heard of the 2 Charette being hired at first because of the personal relation between them but afterward, I realized they had abilities that justify their hirings, specially for Lorraine who had done so much in the same role with the Lynx, Don had interesting background in marketing of a baseball team with the Lynx and in baseball operations with the promotions of Canadians baseball players to get scholarship in american college baseball but it would be a new challenge for him to be a GM of a Can-Am and he’d still have to prove if you could match with that challenge in a high management position but he had my benefit of the doubt, unfortunetaly, he didn’t had the chance, to me, it was too soon to evaluate his performance (although I heard rumors that the management of the whole business operations of the team was starting to be too much for him but I’m in no position to confirm ot deny that), it is unfortunate for him that the new owners didn’t let him his chance to prove that he was the man of the situation but like I said, in the end of the day, the owners are the one who are risking their money, so it’s their privilege to do good or bad moves to preserve or make riskier their investment
the new owners still have my benefit of the doubt, it will all come to me how pleasant is the experience for me at the ballpark to determine if I will be a long term fan of the team, I love so much baseball that it would have to be real bad for me to not support the team
May 8, 2008 at 5:54 pm
> do believe that Zip will do wonders for baseball
Well, I believe that too. At least I hope so. But the success of the Rapidz will ultimately fall on us, the fans. You can choose to go to games or not. That is your choice and I respect that. I go because I’m a big baseball fan and enjoy the entertainment.
I don’t see this firing as ticking off the fan base and doing much ado about little. Certainly not something to send an email to Mr. Anderson.
Drastic change? Maybe. Unnecessary? Not according to Mr. Anderson who feels this change to benefit the organization. Again, it was a BUSINESS decision. Don may be a big baseball fan but he was not what the new ownership wanted or needed business-wise. I’m a big fan too but I don’t pretend that I could fill the GM’s job except in my dreams. Unfortunately, there may be other such decisions.
May 8, 2008 at 6:12 pm
Sparkydt
I do agree that don was a very nice change from bostwick and company.As for ticking off so called little fab base.I am not sure if it is that little.I have been to many forums and sites and it has been along time since there has been this much interest in baseball around here.Some like the first logo some did not some like the new one some do not.You can’t keep everyone happy all the time.
Andre
I do agree with some of what your saying.I think fans should have a say what the logo etc should look like.However i do not think fans should have any say in staff in your letter you may have crossed the line a bit.As for alot of damage beeing done in a week i really am not sure if thats true at all.Telling mr anderson he is the probleam and not laruane again thats crossing the line.Who know what went on you just can’t assume it was andersons fault.There is a way to write a letter that will be taken serious and the letter you wrote with all due respect will not be.
May 8, 2008 at 6:47 pm
I think the situation is really more wait and see right now. I think the owners got it right with a unilingual name (although the z may be awkward in French) although I do agree the old logo looked better and adding a z to it would have been fine by me. Also when it come to the baseball operations we should not lose sight that the actual baseball job appears to be done by Ed Nottle and Mike Kusiewitz.
Some of the early positives I have noticed from the new ownership is they have adapted the fundraising program from $5 dollars a ticket to either $2 or $3 I will be doing it with my church group. Also let’s be honest the “baseball food” sucked last year lest we forget that for a young fan who likely won’t know any of the players the hot dog may be the most important part of the baseball experience. I already have my season tickets and at the very least I encourage everyone to go to at least one game.
It is unfortunate that both Don and Lorraine have moved on but that is the nature of the Sports Industry. Sometimes a change will do an organization good.
May 8, 2008 at 7:16 pm
I would like to know why noone..or very few…likes new name being spelled with a ‘z’.
A Can-Am team will likely increase the fan base but only time will tell. I myself, prefer Triple-A, and was going to go to some games mainly to give it a chance and see friends I have made over the 13 years I have regularly gone to Lynx games. The main reason for giving ind. ball a chance was because I knew the team had a very capable person running the business side of things…someone with a sincere love for baseball. Who knows what the product will be on the field, who knows if attendance will be sufficient. Even though I’m extremely ticked because of recent events, I’m happy the team has owners who are enthusiastic, I just think they went about some things all wrong. I wish the team, old fans and new much success.
Perhaps if things change with the team, I may reconsider for this season. If not, perhaps I’ll reconsider if they are still here a couple of years from now.
May 8, 2008 at 7:34 pm
good or bad moves are always tough and subjective to call in beginning, it is only in the long that we’ll see if the moves will be good or bad and the one calling the shot is the one at risk, that is the owner or the people paid to take decision
was the move drastic or not? there is different philosophies on how to take charge of a new operation, some think like George Gillet with the Montreal Canadians that you first work with the people in place to have them as allies and use all their informal knowledge acquired in the business, others think it is too painful, too costly in money and in time to change the culture with the individuals in charge, so they think sometime it is less costly to cut the head and install a new one that shares the same organizational culture, values and way of doing business and that don’t tell that the cut head was no good, it could be very competent but it no more of a good fit
it’s like raising kids, there are different ways and all ways have their good and bad and sometimes works and sometimes it doesn’t work
also, we are dealing with human beings, there is no telling whether you will work well or not with somebody even if everybody is competent, my neighboor could have been a good neighbor and partyer with the previous owner of my house but it doesn’t mean I will enjoy him as well, different personalities don’t create always good relationship
I agree with ICEDOGS, it is hard to comment from the outside, we didn’t know all that went on in the inside, there could have been or haven’t been personal issues but that is none of our business for us outside and we’re in no position to judge nor do we that ability
anyway, all of this will be unknown to the new fan base to built in order for the franchise to be successful in the long run and therefore, it is irrelevant to the eventual fan base (the Lynx fan base in the end was too small to make the franchise to succeed, it will have to be increased)
it will matter only in a post-mortem if proven that thoses moves created the failure of the franchise but we’re not there yet and if we get there, it is the owners that will have lost whatever investment and profit they weren’t able to recover (and Ottawa’s baseball lovers will suffer another heartbreak but they won’t lose any money, it will just cost them more in time and in money to see profesionnal baseball in person), it is the owners prerogative to live and die with the decisions they are comfortable with, so far, they were able to build quite a succesfull business with Zip, so they have more relevant business experience than most of us, they probably already took those kind of decisions and it seemesd that their judgement was good since they were able to achieve great success, I maintain my confidence with them even though I have a lot of sympathy toward the 2 Charette and I feel very much for them but such is business
May 8, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Wow What is going on.A team has been sold . That means the owners get to bring there own staff. The team was owned by the league .They wanted local ownership, they got it .Why do you fans think that you knowing nothing on what is happening.Yet tell tht new owners what to do who should be G.M. what logo to use . I am sure that anyone would make changes .They bought the team to promote there other companys and when they try all they hear is whinning. Why not talk about the players and the roster.All we get is this drama about the logo and the G.M. and I will not go the games if they don’t change the logo. What a bunch of crap . Come see the the games and if you don’t like it than complain . Give them a chance and stop this strike one they changed the logo strike two they changed the G.M. The game has not started and you have the new owners in the whole . STOP THE DRAMA WATCH AND LISTEN GIVE THE PLAYERS THE COACHES AND THE FRONT OFFICE A BREAK I KNOW IT’S NEW BUT Please give them a chance, You do not know who is the replacenent but still complaints ,sounds like my wife.
May 8, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I feel bad for the GM that he was released. But come on. These owners reportedly spent 3/4 of a million dollars to purchase the team. Does this not give them the right to change the last letter in the team name? Does it not give them the right to change the Logo & colours of the team? Does it not give them the right to hire their own personnel. Of course it does.
To stay away from the games because of the recent changes is not fair. Lets give them a chance. If we are true baseball fans we will.
My only real complaint right now is that I would like to see a better & more active team web site with considerable more information on players etc.
It was reported that Mr. Wolfe was anxious to find local owners. They arrived sooner than expected apparantly. I am anxious to support the team & support the new owners until they give me a real reason to turn my back on them.
Sorry to see this blog is being terminated. Hope something surfaces to replace it.
May 9, 2008 at 6:28 am
also, there is no good ways or good moments to fire an employee, I think the better the sooner to avoid built-up tension and avoid more time for the employee on dwelling on fear of losing his job, maybe it’s really better to avoid such long conflict that would affect negatively the organization
May 9, 2008 at 8:24 am
Yes, buying the team gives you the right to do whatever you want. But that’s the point. They’re doing whatever they want, and simply not listening to their fans. It’s clear to me that the Ottawa Rapidz is “their” team, and not “our” team. I can’t speak for everyone, but I know that I am not going to spend my money watching their team. I would have loved to watch our team, and see us all get behind it as a city. But they took our team away from us, without really telling us why, and what they want to give us in return.
The name Rapids was chosen through an open city-wide contest. We got to be involved as a community in our team. We were asked for our input, and we responded. But with the writing of one cheque, Anderson and Hall stole that sense of community from us. Anderson claims that “Rapidz” was a compromise, because he would have chosen Voyageurs or Nationals. I ask, who was the compromise with? Since when do owners compromise with fans, or businesses with customers? We are the ones buying the product, and we should get what we want, not them. If Anderson doesn’t like mustard on his hot dogs, does he have the “right” to stop selling it at his ballpark? Of course, but should I be happy that he compromised by offering ketchup and mayonaise? For those of you who keep saying he has the right to do whatever he wants as owner, come on! Stop being so complacent. This is YOUR team! Back it up! Build it up! Don’t let them break it down for you! If they want three thousand fans a game paying $10 each, then they better be ready to sell us something WE want, not something THEY want!
May 9, 2008 at 9:24 am
To confirm what Pimor wrote, yes that’s the fact. The GM has very little to do with baseball in Independant leagues. At the most, he has to get visas for players.
The logo and name won,t change much your apprrciation of the game. Look at the Capitales logo or the Brockton Rox. Is that enough to bring fans to the game? Still, they’re the 2 most succesfull teams in the league attendance wise.
Wait and see, you’ll like it. And by the way, I think Ottawa is going to have a very good team right from the start.
May 9, 2008 at 9:54 am
I think another point to bring up is the fact that Lorraine Charrette, a long time employee of the Ottawa Lynx has also resigned. Lorraine was with the Lynx for as long as I can remember, I believe 15 years. Through all the ups and downs with the Lynx, between changing ownerships, dwindling crowds, through all the good times and bad, Lorraine stuck around because of her love for the team and the people she met and cared about. In her time there she built long standing relationships with many of the season ticket holders and staff. To lose someone like her is an indication of how things are changing. Her knowledge of the team and stadium is a horrbile thing to lose. We will all miss Lorraine greatly and wish her the best on her future endeavors. I sincerely hope that the new ownership isn’t her reason for leaving. Kind of scares me.
May 9, 2008 at 10:41 am
I would like to know if the new owners are going to still honor the name the team contest - season tix for the winner and a free ticket to everyone who submitted a name. It will be interesting to see…I know I haven’t seen my free ticket. Does anyone know?? Or has anyone heard??
May 9, 2008 at 10:53 am
Anthony
Not all fans want the same thing.I know there were a good number of fans that did not like the ottawa rapids name at all.What is key to note is anderson or hall did not pick the rapidz name.It was a staff member of the rapids that came up with the idea.I do think fans should get some say in certain areas.THe amount of money there pumping into this team they should have the final say for the most part.
May 9, 2008 at 11:00 am
Mr. Wolfe made no secret over the fact he wanted local ownership for this team. So I don’t see what the problem is. If all these negative comments are the general consensus of the Ottawa & area baseball fan, then this franchise has no hope for success.
I don’t think the original naming of this team was as open & unbiased as we have been led to believe. New owners bring much more to the team than the league and Mr. Wolfe would have been able to accomplish. Mr. Wolfe has even publicly stated this.
These new owners have probably made mistakes & will probably make more in the future. However, in my opinion, they haven’t done a thing that warrants someone to say they will no longer support the team.
May 9, 2008 at 11:38 am
In fact, I am of the school that believes that not attending games and not buying merchandise is a way of supporting “the team,” in its broadest definition, while putting pressure on management. Doing so is a way of forcing team ownership and management, and to an extent the players themselves, to improve the product they are offering.
For those of you who believe that unconditional fan support is the way to succeed in pro sports, I point to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Yes, they run a successful business. But man, do they have miserable fans. I wish this not upon Ottawa baseball.
May 9, 2008 at 12:39 pm
Not attending the game is a poor way of showing support. The team will fold and we will never have baseball again under the pretense that “Ottawa has no interest in Baseball”.
I was the one calling “strike one” and “strike two”, but I will be at the game regardless. Love the game, Love the city. Combining both is paradise, regardless of the name or GM. If you feel strongly enough about the name/logo or gm issue… Start a petition! get a website going about it! Write to the owners, all their email addresses are on the Rapidz website. Make t-Shirts with the old logos and wear them to to game. Get a petition going at the ballpark…
If you care about the game, and the city… We will see you at the ballpark.
Not being there means you do not care.
The old saying is “the absent ones are always wrong”.
May 9, 2008 at 1:42 pm
FDR_cubs…. I completely agree. There is no reason the team itself should not be supported. Think of the poor guys who have to play to a crowd of 500. Athletes feed of a crowds energy and these guys have nothing to do with the back office issues. I am certainly not pleased with the first impression these owners have made and I truly hope they are not another bunch of Gliebermans, but it is no reason to punish the team as a whole.
May 9, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Really too bad for both Don and Lorraine, but an owner can do what he wants. The real question lies, why do this with so little time before the season?
And - do they really expect to succeed?
May 9, 2008 at 4:44 pm
true, the GM has little to do with the baseball operations itself in independant and affiliated baseball, it all goes to the manager to evaluate players, to recruit and fire, it is only at the major level that the job is split between the GM and the manager
Anthony is right in one way, it is not the team of the owners we are going to buy, we are going to buy it only if we want it to be our team
but for me, the name, logo and GM issues does not affect my intention to support the team, yes I didn’t like these changes but I accept them, they don’t outweigh the pleasure I will have to go see games
to me, as long as we see good baseball (even chances the team won’t be competitive this year but if the players give their heart out, it will be ok for me), the price is lower, we will have healthy foods in the concessions, the parking under the hotel beside the stadium will be available, to me, it all good news to maintain my support and the new owners still have my benefit of the doubt, also we will be able to print from home our own ticket and avoid to do the line to buy ticket at the stadium and the new owner wants to know if you didn’t like your experience at the stadium
I still feel sorry for the Charette, it still think it is odd that Don Charette says he didn’t see it coming, and his firing happens one day after the resignation of Lorraine, maybe the reason of the resignation of Lorraine was enough serious that the new owners didn’t want to work with Don in case that he would became vengeful because of Lorraine situation, hard to tell, it is only speculation and our concern should be only to the product we will have on the field and our experience at the stadium
I heard that the new owner were putting a lot of pressure inside the organization to make things happen, so probably it means they care a lot to make sure the team is a long term success so it may means that they would not allow inefficiencies to go on and not tolerate complacency, we’ll see, anyway they are the one who invested and risk their money, it is their prerogative to decide the product they want to offer to us and it is our prerogative to decide whether or not we will buy it
but so far, I feel more confident the more we talk about the whole thing
May 9, 2008 at 4:49 pm
I totally respect you guys for being die-hard fans, but you gotta agree that die-hards don’t keep the game alive. If they did, the Lynx wouldn’t have left. The Rapidz have to appeal to a broader audience, and they’re not going to do that by ignoring discontent. A surprising number of fans, websites, and newspapers have complained about the name and logo. And there’s absolutely no response from the team. How can a broader audience get behind an organization that doesn’t care to listen to it? The name/logo isn’t important in and of themselves. But what has transpired over them is very telling of the relationship this organization will end up building with its fans.
I’ll probably go to a few games. Probably not as many as some of you. But, I would have gone to more. I love this game, and I love this city, despite suggestions that I don’t because I have enough pride in both to demand better. Anderson and Hall paid for the team, and so they’re entitled to run it as they wish. I work for my money, and so I’m entitled to demand quality products when I pay for them. I’ve never been motivated by fear, and so if the argument is that I should go to games out of fear of losing the team, then forget it. How is a crowd supposed to get excited about not wanting to lose a team? Please, enough of the fear argument. We should demand a team that thrives, not one that just survives. That’s what the broader audience wants. This team ain’t gonna sell many tickets by telling average Ottawans that they have to take it, or else lose it.
May 9, 2008 at 5:00 pm
with all the respect to the Charette, maybe if the Charette didn’t it see it coming may means they weren’t the people to be there
maybe they were putting resistance to the projects of the new owners, by not rallying to the the projects of the owner, they were unaware that they were coming to be part of the problem instead part of the solution
but it is only speculation, when there is a building conflict that won’t be resolved quickly maybe it’s better for both the organiszation and the employee to split the quickest possible
I heard that the manager Nottle came to a Gatineau Olympiques game to do the promotion of the Rapides at the time, he saw there was a lot of interest from the french fans, as a matter of fact, more than half of the crowd at Lynx game when they were 10,000 attending were french and the region in Quebec that went to see more the Expos were from Gatineau area beside Montreal area of course and there is lot of baseball played by youngster in Gatineau are and it is one of the place where there is more baseball played by youngster in the province of Quebec, Nottle saw the french had great interest and decided on its own that he would invite french youngster teams to play at the Ottawa Stadium against Ottawa youngster teams, Don didn’t appreciated it and maybe it open a can of worms, who knows? but I don’t know how the story changed but it came to me through a lot of ear to mouth so the story may have changed on the way but it is only to show that we are not in a position to make any judgement and we shouldn’t try to speculate
on a fan, we must just evaluate our experience to the stadium
Lorraine also has been there for so long and she was there in the years where the Lynx had a difficulties to get fans support, maybe it was time to bring new people with new ideas that don’t think that it is impossible to get more support regardless of the good work she’s done through the years
of course, we are attached to the Charette and it affected our image of a family organization but we must go beyond that
May 9, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Anthony for your information the Lynx left precisely BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH DIE HARD FANS. Give your head a shake!!
May 9, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Primor if the French fans are so great why were the Expos drawing flies to their games instead of fans.
May 9, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Pimor - For someone who keeps saying that we shouldn’t speculate, you are sure quick to pass along a whole bunch of rumors to everyone reading this blog. I would say it’s a safer bet for all to avoid speculating on what happened with the Charrettes.
May 9, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Dave, any good organization only has a small percentage of Die-hards, or “Ultras” as they call them in Europe. You need more than a small percentage of such fans to support a franchise. You don’t need to be a Die-hard to be a fan. People do have lives outside of sports. Give your head a shake.
May 9, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Jasmine makes a very good point. There is no need to be spreading rumours as none of us know the circumstances behind the departure of the Charrette’s .
May 10, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Excellent point Sarob and Jasmine…stop spreading rumours and wasting time speculating. I’m not one bit happy about it but what is done is done.
May 10, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Just went to the Rapidz website (May 10 - 1:08 p.m.) to check the Front office page. They’ve finally removed Don’s name but Lorraine’s is still there. Can noone update a website properly? Roster is entirely linked but all the links are dead. Promotions links don’t work. Plus they are still advertising Meet the GM on Monday’s and make reference to Don.
I will not be purchasing tickets to see games but will definitely be checking the website but not if it remains in this state!
May 10, 2008 at 12:39 pm
to Anthony: I don’t think that the change of name, logo and GM will have any sort of impact on the eventual fan base to be built since they are pretty unaware of what is going on right now and therefore have no negative reaction to it at this point, the only ones talking about it are baseball fans already won to the cause of the new team but they aren’t enough at this point (maybe a couple of those baseball fans won’t support the team because of recent events but it won’t make a difference on whether the franchise succeed or not because to succeed it will need to gain support among fans who have only a mild interest to baseball and have no knowledge or have indifference to the recent events)
to Dave: right now both the french fans and the english fans aren’t so much to support the franchise, I just wanted to point out that when the crowd was more than 10,000 at Lynx Stadium, french fans were more than 50% of the crowd then to my surprise when I was informed of that, at first, I thought that in the Capital Region, since english speaking people are 75% of the population, the french support would be just icing on the cake but with these stats, it suggest that the french base would more important than their actual proportion of the population in the long-term success of the team, of course, we will have to see if the french support of the Lynx in the beginning was related to the fact the Lynx were a farm team of the Montreal Expos, a Quebec team, those fans got turned off by the 94 strike in MLB and the repeated fire-sale of the Expos and we will have to see if they will support or not the new team, if they come back, it is easy to not turn off the french fans, they just have to be able to order in french at the concessions and have a couple of french reference in the stadium and that’s about it, but personaly I don’t mind it very much and I don’t care if the support will come more in proportion from french or english fans, as long as they are enough together to support the team to maintain it
to Jasmine and Sarob: at first, this blog presented the Charette so much as undeserved victims and it was a scandal, so there was already some sort of interpretation without having any facts, I think it was to the benefit of the blog to maybe present another side of the story but like I said (unless some wants to maintain their conviction that it was unjustified firing and don’t want to hear anything about another possibility), I just had far away indication that came to me through a lot of mouth to ears from a lot of individuals, so yes, I’m in no position to say if the facts are right or not even if sometimes there is no smoke without a fire, but you are right, let’s stop analyzing that thing in a way or another and let’s move on, that said, I still have a lot of sympathy for the Charette who had been hired by Wolff and to what they are going through (deserved or indeserved, it doesn’t matter, those kind of events is not uncommon in business takeover even if it remains personal dramas for the ones put aside), they surely contributed a lot to Ottawa baseball but now a new page will have to be turned and let’s move on and long live to the Ottawa Rapidz!
May 11, 2008 at 10:30 am
I’m with most of you, having a silly name won’t keep me away (my favorite team was named after a world’s fair, remember). Most of the things they’ll do will probably be a good attempt at growing the entertainment product. The logo change will only keep me from buying merchandise, which I like to do. I think it was a mistake, when you look around the minors, professional branding, cool logos and hip merchandise is the norm. I don’t know whether “Rapids” was my first choice, but with the water splash, it was a concept, identity and very well done. I think if they didn’t like it, they should have flat out renamed it to one they did and gone with it. Now they’re so committed to selling this “Z” concept, it will seem pretty flaky if they go and change the name next year. But that’s only my opinion. We’ll see.
But no, you cannot keep me from the ballpark. Successful business people succeed PRECISELY BECAUSE they do make mistakes. That’s how you learn what works, you’re not afraid to fail. I worry a little about spur of the moment firings, but as you say, that’s speculation, we don’t know the facts. Anyone who throws a million bucks at a “lost cause” so I can sit and watch a ball game has got to be given a chance, full kudos to them. Might just be crazy enough to work.
It takes a couple guys who LOVE baseball to own a team so the few of us who LOVE baseball can convince the nation who used to LOVE baseball to love it again.
When the Rapidz are rallying, will they play a buzzzzzzzzing sound over the P.A.?
May 11, 2008 at 10:58 am
Um…flat screen TVs? That is the stupidest thing I’ve heard. Do you know how often that stadium has been broken into?!?
How about a new scoreboard instead…
I do not have a good feeling about this at all… not at all.
May 11, 2008 at 8:02 pm
I think I came across as way more negative than I intended. My problem was that it seemed to me that the new owners weren’t listening to what little fans they do have, and that this would be reflective of how much they would listen to potential fans. As far as the logo/name thing, I could care less. My only anger over it was that they never responded to the negative reaction to it, and I thought that this was a bit arrogant. No press-conference, no mention of it on their website. If they don’t care about their loyal fan base, then how can they expect to build loyalty among others?
As far as the high-tech stuff, I agree completely. Nobody asked for e-tickets and flat-screen TVs, this hardly makes the ballpark experience more fun. If they really had an ear to baseball, especially independent baseball, then they would try to sell the history of the game, and the back-to-basics sports entertainment. The smell of pretzels and hot dogs, cracker-jacks, and seventh-inning-strech sing-alongs–I think this is the sort of thing that would appeal to a lot of people in this town. Hopefully they line the walls of Ottawa Stadium with some old photos, like they’ve done in Quebec.
On a positive note. I like the idea of promoting the team in the Byward market today. I was in the market but didn’t see it, but hopefully the event attracted some attention, and hopefully it went well.
I wish the team well, and I’ll even catch a game or two. But again, I was really close to buying season tickets before the new ownership.
It’s too bad this blog is ending. I just caught onto it, and I think it’s great. If anybody starts a new one, then please leave a link here or something. Thanks Carl for a great website, for the month or so that enjoyed it, anyway.
May 11, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Lorraine Charrette - she still appears to be employed according to the web site - Don’s name has been removed …wonder why??
http://ottawarapidz.com/gen-front-office.asp
JDK
May 11, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Johndee Who cares. Why are you looking to start something that no one cares about .Wow her name is still on the web-site, look at all the other web sites there is mistakes in all of them some have not been updated in weeks.Let it go its last weeks news.
May 12, 2008 at 12:04 pm
King,
You may dismiss it as a simple mistake, but it’s not unreasonable to see it as yet another sign of problems the new owners are having. It would have been so simple to get the web site properly updated (i.e. when they removed Don’s name they should also have removed Lorraine’s), but someone messed up. As people have reported, they can’t seem to get the web site in a reasonable state (e.g. bad links, lack of information about training camp, etc).
I’ve been to the stadium twice so far to watch some of training camp, and there’s an awful lot of work left to do there. There’s a free exhibition game on Weds at 7pm (against some team of city all-stars). Expect to see many more Lynx signs hanging around at the stadium than Rapids signs (I’d be pleasantly surprised if they get the scoreboard updated by then).
Another area where they seem to be falling down is advertising. Just around the time the new owners bought the team, there were ads in the Sun (and maybe the Citizen) providing basic info including the schedule. After the new owners changed the name, the ads ran for a few more days with the old name, and now I haven’t seen anything for a while. Since both Ottawa papers gave good coverage to the open tryout day, it would have been natural to try to keep the team name and schedule in front of people by putting ads in the paper (at least some days).
Basically the new owners seem to be making a lot of rookie mistakes. As a baseball fan my biggest concern is that these mistakes will snowball and the team will fail after a year or two. We don’t need another Rider/Renegades fiasco.
May 12, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Given the short time to put a team together, and I’m not talking just the players, but also the front office and game day personnel, not to mention a change of owners and name, I think the Rapidz are doing a great job and the best they can considering the circumstances.
I can tell you that game day personnel is all set. Expect to see things on Sunday you did not see with the Lynx. Sure, I expect to still see some signs referring to the Lynx, but so what? The team was bought by Misters Anderson and Hall just a few short weeks ago and I don’t expect 100% of minor things like Lynx signs to be changed.
Things are getting ready. Last week, the restaurant windows were being cleaned. Saturday, auditions were being held for a PA announcer. Work was being done on the stadium. I have no doubt it will be ready to host games.
As for the web site, I do agree there could be more and up to date. My understanding is that it is managed by a third party so it’s not all the Rapidz’ fault. The newspaper ads after the name change using the old logo were likely just because the Rapids had already paid for the advertisement. You’ll likely see new ads real soon.
> Nobody asked for e-tickets and flat-screen TVs
The TVs are just being replaced. They were due. Why make a big fuss about this? I’m not picking on you Anthony. E-tickets is a good idea as most sports teams do this, have been for years. Just another option. If you still want to buy at the box office, fine. Nobody asked us but the owners decided to put new equipment. They also decided to change all the employees computers with the latest. Trust me, these guys are serious and in for the long run.
I don’t see all this as rookie mistakes and snowballing. Simply lots to think about in a very short time and setting priorities.
May 12, 2008 at 4:47 pm
Larry Williams I think you do not undestand Indy baseball.This is the bush leagues, it is a second chance for the players.The idea is family fun, not worry about the new owners. You said it, they are rookies but who cares .It seems that you have a great deal of time to go to the park and look for problems or something negative never saying any word about the players. The players are the show not the owners.This is not the Toronto Blue Jays it is the Durham Bulls another Miles Wolfe team.If you are a real baseball fan you will talk about baseball and talk about the players and tell us how they look the rest can go to the editorial page of the paper not the sports section.
May 12, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Mr King - Did you have a bad day or did someone bite you when you woke. Take a “Happy Pill” or maybe a Molson or 2. But man lighten up before you have a stroke
JDK
May 12, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Maybe Mr King needs a girlfriend -man what a bitter person!!! As JDK stated “Lighten up” Opening day is in 10 days. I will see everyone at the park!! Even Grumpy King I hope. I would be please to shake your hand sir .. as long as you do not smack across the side of my head LOL
May 12, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Three quick points:
1.
> This is the bush leagues
Seriously, how is that supposed to get anybody excited about watching baseball? Yippie, we have a bush league team!!! You can be an independent baseball team and not be bush league. It is possible. Check out the Winnipeg Goldeyes if you haven’t already. They run the team like it’s the Toronto Blue Jays, and it works–more than 7,000 fans a game think so anyway. Come to think of it, I don’t even think the Jays get that many. This team ain’t gonna make it until everyone, including the owners, drops the “we’re a bush league team so we don’t expect much” attitude. That means taking down the Lynx signs. Come on folks, we’re talking about a couple hours of labour here. Same thing with the website. Top headline can’t still be about the first game being in a month when opening night is a few days away.
2.
Pierre L … you’re right about the e-tickets. Creating convenience is always a good thing. I spoke out of turn. On this point, Anderson and Hall should get full credit.
3.
I’m spending way too much time thinking about baseball in Ottawa. I wish I never found this blog. Now I’m glad it’s closing.
May 13, 2008 at 3:12 am
To keep the discussion going, you may wanna try this Can-am league forum: http://canamfan.yuku.com/ It won’t replace this great blog but will give an opportuty to mention you appreciation of the game and everything.
May 13, 2008 at 6:52 am
Hi! Gang!
We can’t go on forever on this topic of the Charrette leaving the organization
even them are probably over going through it, their own son Mark is one of the players invited at the current training camp of the Rapidz
I propose to you this discussion site to continue to discuss any Rapidz or baseball related subject:
http://www.encorebaseballmontreal.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=General_en
hope to see you there
May 13, 2008 at 8:53 am
King,
As I said at the end of my last comment: “As a baseball fan my biggest concern is that these mistakes will snowball and the team will fail after a year or two. We don’t need another Riders/Renegades fiasco.”
I expect that everyone wants a stable, successful team, and one of the primary factors in that is the actions of the owners. This is probably our last chance at having pro ball in Ottawa (even if you think it’s just a bush league…).
There’s two camps of people here. One camp is cutting the new owners a lot of slack by saying things like “it’s their money so they can do what they want”, “they just bought the team a few weeks ago so of course there’s still lots to be done”, etc. The other camp is more critical of the new owners, basically saying “what have you done that is going to make this team successful”.
Both viewpoints can be defended (at least until we’re midway through the season and we see how things are really turning out). I openly admit I’m in the second camp since I’ve seen too many bad owners in other sports to want to see them here.
May 19, 2008 at 12:36 pm
There is a new Rapidz Blog at http://www.ottawarapidz.blogspot.com
May 20, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Larry
I know for a fact there are other leagues interested in ottawa.I hope the can-am league works here as i think its the best fit.
May 20, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I can’t imagine any other professional league coming in here if the Can-Am team doesn’t work out. Also, the city would probably say “two strikes and you’re out” anyways (and hello big box stores for the current ballpark site). Please provide more details.
May 21, 2008 at 9:46 am
The NY-Penn league I believe may have been interested. It’s a Class-A short season league which starts in mid-June with a 76-game schedule. The Vermont Lake Monsters (formally Expos) are in that league as are the Brooklyn Cyclones and Auburn Doubledays affiliated with the Jays.
May 22, 2008 at 11:31 am
Personally I don’t believe any affiliated league wants to deal the border issues of having a team in Canada. The NY-Penn league would be a good fit geographically and schedule-wise, and there are teams that may be available e.g. Batavia, but I just don’t see the league allowing any team to move to Canada when there are cities in the States that want teams.