Author Topic: Cal League Contraction (Read 7472 times)

Nate Colbert · « **on:** December 08, 2014, 08:48:34 pm »

Idea has again resurfaced. Current problems with the Bakersfield and High Desert franchises (and/or their stadiums) has the President of Milb wondering whether it's time to reduce the Cal League by two teams and add a corresponding number to the Carolina League (or FSL). Given the logistical problems, if it happens (and it probably won't) it ain't gonna be anytime soon.

Duman · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2014, 07:27:52 pm »

There is plenty of movement in the Sally & Carolina leagues to have some open stadiums. I would like to see the Astros with a full season affiliate east of the Mississippi again.

Reuben · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2014, 05:52:55 pm »

Quote from: Duman on December 09, 2014, 07:27:52 pm

There is plenty of movement in the Sally & Carolina leagues to have some open stadiums. I would like to see the Astros with a full season affiliate east of the Mississippi again.

Me too.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2015, 03:38:40 am »

Quote from: Reuben on December 10, 2014, 05:52:55 pm

Me too.

3

Nate in IA · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2015, 10:15:23 am »

Quote from: Reuben on December 10, 2014, 05:52:55 pm

Me too.

While they are technically not east of the Mississippi, the River Bandits are practically ON the Mississippi...

juliogotay · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2015, 10:48:40 am »

Quote from: Nate in IA on March 25, 2015, 10:15:23 am

While they are technically not east of the Mississippi, the River Bandits are practically ON the Mississippi...

And occasionally IN the Mississippi. http://mwltraveler.com/2013/04/22/flood-surrounds-modern-woodmen-park-sinks-plans-for-ferris-wheel/

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2016, 11:19:43 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on December 08, 2014, 08:48:34 pm

Current problems with the Bakersfield and High Desert franchises (and/or their stadiums)...

The stadium situations, particularly as regards the latter (which is the Rangers' affiliate), rather than improving seems to be devolving. The city of Adelanto, which is in financial straits and is responsible for many of the stadium operating costs, has instituted eviction proceedings against the High Desert Mavericks. Lawsuits are flying of course and the situation is ugly enough that contingency plans involving the Mavericks playing all their games on the road apparently are being discussed.

The Bakersfield situation with its 75-year old stadium remains unresolved as well.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2016, 04:15:12 pm »

Link (via Astros County)

Jim Crane was in Fayetteville, NC yesterday looking at the viability of putting a minor league team in that city. A new stadium (if it were built) wouldn't be ready until 2018.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2016, 09:18:19 pm »

Baseball American jumps on the Crane story and discusses a scenario where Bakersfield and High Desert would be contracted in the Cal League while Fayetteville and Kinston would be added in the Carolina League.

Still many, many moving parts but starting to look more realistic.

Link

Duman · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2016, 02:55:49 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on April 28, 2016, 09:18:19 pm

Baseball American jumps on the Crane story and discusses a scenario where Bakersfield and High Desert would be contracted in the Cal League while Fayetteville and Kinston would be added in the Carolina League.

Still many, many moving parts but starting to look more realistic.

Link

Keith Law had an interesting response:

Quote

Great concept but Carolina League owners have resisted expansion for fear it'll hurt their franchise values

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2016, 03:18:09 pm »

Quote from: Duman on April 29, 2016, 02:55:49 pm

Keith Law had an interesting response:

Great concept but Carolina League owners have resisted expansion for fear it'll hurt their franchise values.

Some further give and take between Law and Josh Leventhal (formerly of BA) on the matter:

Josh Leventhal ‏@joshlev44 17 hours ago
@keithlaw Except major league teams want this to happen. They've long been tired of sending two teams to the Cal League, esp those markets.

keithlaw ‏@keithlaw 17 hours ago
@joshlev44 Absolutely. The problem is not unsolvable, just requires some more money to change hands.

austro · « **Reply #11 on:** April 29, 2016, 06:36:26 pm »

Maybe one of the clubs will have an ownership change that will offer the opportunity to blackmail them into changing leagues.

VirtualBob · « **Reply #12 on:** April 29, 2016, 08:28:39 pm »

Quote from: austro on April 29, 2016, 06:36:26 pm

Maybe one of the clubs will have an ownership change that will offer the opportunity to blackmail them into changing leagues.

Who would stoop so low?

Duman · « **Reply #13 on:** May 03, 2016, 07:08:37 am »

Rangers are in for the move. Have reached an agreement with Kinston

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #14 on:** August 03, 2016, 05:09:38 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on April 26, 2016, 04:15:12 pm

Link (via Astros County)

Jim Crane was in Fayetteville, NC yesterday looking at the viability of putting a minor league team in that city. A new stadium (if it were built) wouldn't be ready until 2018.

Article on BA today says that a memorandum of understanding between the Astros and the city of Fayetteville is "between 85 and 90% complete".

Link

VirtualBob · « **Reply #15 on:** August 03, 2016, 06:56:27 pm »

Quote from: Nate Colbert on August 03, 2016, 05:09:38 pm

Article on BA today says that a memorandum of understanding between the Astros and the city of Fayetteville is "between 85 and 90% complete".

Link

I so want this to happen!

bubba · « **Reply #16 on:** August 04, 2016, 04:13:33 pm »

Because what happens in Lancaster, stays in "Las Lancaster".

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #17 on:** August 14, 2016, 03:49:45 pm »

Trying to decipher this blog post today from Tracy Ringolsby but seems to be further confirmation of Cal League contraction and Carolina League expansion. With the Astros and Rangers Carolina-bound via moving into Fayetteville and Kinston, respectively, and the elimination of the Bakersfield and High Desert franchises out west, the Rockies would replace the Astros in Lancaster. Colorado is currently affiliated with Modesto, and they in turn would be replaced there by the Mariners. Seattle is currently hooked up with the soon-to-be-nonexistent Bakersfield team.

The usual musical chairs regarding changes in affiliation agreements, complicated further here with league expanson/contraction.

Knoxbanedoodle · « **Reply #18 on:** August 15, 2016, 11:41:08 am »

It makes sense that the Rockies would gravitate toward Lancaster. I wonder, have they emphasized offensively-skewed ballparks throughout the minors?

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #19 on:** August 15, 2016, 01:42:31 pm »

Quote from: Knoxbanedoodle on August 15, 2016, 11:41:08 am

It makes sense that the Rockies would gravitate toward Lancaster. I wonder, have they emphasized offensively-skewed ballparks throughout the minors?

They don't seem to shy away from those types of ballparks. For over 20 years their PCL team was located in Colorado Springs. Now their AAA team is in Albuquerque. Both are launching pads. Of course proximity to Denver for ease of travel to call up and scout players was presumably the overriding factor in either case.

Looking at some of their lower minor league affiliates you see Grand Junction (Pioneer League) and Boise (Northwest League). Also parks which are more hitter-friendly. Again geographical proximity may have been the main factor but at the same time in those decisions they don't seem to fear for their young pitchers' psyches either.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #20 on:** August 18, 2016, 03:58:52 pm »

Fayetteville city council approves MOU with Astros in 10-0 vote.

Duman · « **Reply #21 on:** August 22, 2016, 08:10:59 am »

Yet another source saying it is going to happen.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #22 on:** August 22, 2016, 12:43:00 pm »

And Milb makes the official announcement eliminating the Bakersfield and High Desert franchises and adding two new teams in the Carolina League. As expected, Kinston (to be owned by the Rangers) is to be one of those new teams. As far as the 2nd team, the announcement simply notes that "several locations are under consideration for the second Carolina League club, with Fayetteville, North Carolina having made steady progress toward a stadium...".

With the Astros and the city of Fayetteville having an MOU in place but not yet a binding agreement (such an agreement is currently being worked on), thus the announcement doesn't explicitly designate Fayetteville as the 2nd team.

Nate Colbert · « **Reply #23 on:** November 17, 2016, 04:07:09 pm »

The Astros press release today says that the new "Buies Creek Astros" team in the Carolina League will play their first two years at the Campbell University stadium which is located in Buies Creek, NC. That town is located about 35 miles away from Fayetteville.

No mention is made in the PR about the stadium in Fayetteville. Press reports out of there say the city council is scheduled to vote on the lease agreement with the Astros week after next.

Reuben · « **Reply #24 on:** November 18, 2016, 09:04:33 pm »

Cool. I hope to make it to some games next year. Never been to Buies Creek but it's about an hour's drive from us - closer than Fayetteville.

astrosfan76 · « **Reply #25 on:** December 09, 2016, 08:05:58 am »

Quote

Fayetteville is one step closer to having professional baseball after a City Council committee Thursday night accepted two stadium agreements that are scheduled to be signed with fanfare next week.

Club is scheduled to pay installments of $250,000 the first five years, then increase after that over the course of the 30-year lease. The two documents that were agreed upon (the lease and office space) will be officially recognized at a special session on Tuesday.

http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/fayetteville-s-baseball-committee-accepts-two-stadium-related-documents/article_066f4b05-0b59-5d97-8aa7-a619d25a9635.html