Round Rock in 2019

[Nate Colbert]

If somehow you needed additional reassurance that the Astros again will tie up with RR after the current PDC with the Rangers expires:

DMN article

Lining up with a Triple-A destination for when the agreement with Round Rock is up after 2018. A really intriguing possibility is emerging: San Antonio. It would still give the Rangers an anchor in Central Texas and remain a convenient place at which to rehab or from which to recall players. To make that happen, the Rangers would likely have to align with a group willing to purchase an existing Triple-A team that would move to San Antonio. The current San Antonio club would then move to another location - perhaps Shreveport - in the Texas League. It is, for sure, a complicated scenario, but would seemingly be the most ideal for the Rangers.

San Antonio is trying to get a new baseball stadium built downtown.

[jbm]

Hooray for the eventual liberation of RR, but fuck the Rangers.  They should put a team in Waco. 

I'd miss the trips to Wolff Field and the cool airplanes in the background.

[JimR]

RR is not the same, especially now Jay Miller is gone.

Mark's (and my) '97 McCallum Knights team played Boerne at Wolff Stadium in the playoffs. that was a great experience.

[VirtualBob]

RR is not the same, especially now Jay Miller is gone.

It may not be "the same", but it is still nearby.   I think I have averaged less than a game a season under Ranger oppression (as opposed to several per month when they were part of the Astros org.)  I will be glad to see them back in the fold.

[juliogotay]

Maybe the Astros should hook up with SA rather than RR? Bigger market and should have a stronger allegiance to Houston than RR may.

[JimR]

Maybe the Astros should hook up with SA rather than RR? Bigger market and should have a stronger allegiance to Houston than RR may.

you forget the Ryan ownership.

[JimR]

It may not be "the same", but it is still nearby.   I think I have averaged less than a game a season under Ranger oppression (as opposed to several per month when they were part of the Astros org.)  I will be glad to see them back in the fold.

probably right although I doubt I'll be out there much. depends on who is on the roster.

[juliogotay]

you forget the Ryan ownership.

I did.

[Nate Colbert]

San Antonio is trying to get a new baseball stadium built downtown.

Just a further FYI to PCL/Texas League fans:

Movement continues towards that new ballpark, with the AAA team in Colorado Springs potentially moving to SA. The replacement team for the Missions in the Texas League may be Amarillo which is building a new downtown stadium.

SA Express-News article

Colorado Springs Gazette article

[Uncle Charlie]

Just a further FYI to PCL/Texas League fans:

Movement continues towards that new ballpark, with the AAA team in Colorado Springs potentially moving to SA. The replacement team for the Missions in the Texas League may be Amarillo which is building a new downtown stadium.

SA Express-News article

Colorado Springs Gazette article

It's been 11 years since I lived in Amarillo and was a season ticket holder to the Dillas. Maybe things have changed, but I cannot imagine Amarillo supporting a AA team.

[Nate Colbert]

Not that it has any bearing on the likelihood of RR reverting to the Astros in 2019, but that whole "build a new stadium in SA and have the Rangers move their AAA team there" just suffered a setback.

Plan for Triple-A baseball shelved

[juliogotay]

Good. I don't want the Rangers anywhere south of Waxahachie. This virus needs to be contained.

[ValpoCory]

It may not be "the same", but it is still nearby.   I think I have averaged less than a game a season under Ranger oppression (as opposed to several per month when they were part of the Astros org.)  I will be glad to see them back in the fold.

You are not the only one.   There is a table on Wikipedia that lists the Dell Diamond Attendance.    Attendance is down 10% as a Rangers affiliate (8,467) compared to when it was with Houston (9,381).  And that's even with all the Rangers years coming with the additional capacity they added in 2005.

Maybe that's why they keep raising parking prices in the past few years.

The problem was that they removed the "inclusive to all MLB fans" feel that the Dell Diamond had in the first 11 years to being a "You're a Rangers fan if you are an Express fan" feel ever since.   You can't look around without seeing some reference to the Rangers.  Heck, they even changed the uniform colors that were their own color to being the Rangers colors.

[Nate Colbert]

Sticking it to the Rangers, the Astros tossed this into their PR today talking about their new Carolina League team:

"In August, the Astros extended their player development contract with Triple-A Fresno through the 2018 season, after which the club is expected to return its Triple-A operation to Round Rock, whose agreement with the Rangers expires after the '18 season."

The first public acknowledgement by the Astros about the RR situation.

[jbm]

Sweet! Fuck the Rangers and selfishly, it means more AAA baseball for me.

[Nate Colbert]

Not that it has any bearing on the likelihood of RR reverting to the Astros in 2019, but that whole "build a new stadium in SA and have the Rangers move their AAA team there" just suffered a setback.

Plan for Triple-A baseball shelved

Even without a new stadium in San Antonio, the Elmore Sports Group today announced announced a series of franchise shifts to occur after the 2018 season. As expected previously, the AA team will now be located in Amarillo. The Missions will now be a AAA team. The Colorado Springs Skysox will now be a club in the short-season Pioneer League (Helena in that league will lose its team). Elmore has ownership of all the teams mentioned.

These moves are still contingent on league approval but from what I can see that seems to be but a formality at this point.

So the Rangers will still likely shift their AAA affiliation from RR to SA in 2019.

[BudGirl]

Even without a new stadium in San Antonio, the Elmore Sports Group today announced announced a series of franchise shifts to occur after the 2018 season. As expected previously, the AA team will now be located in Amarillo. The Missions will now be a AAA team. The Colorado Springs Skysox will now be a club in the short-season Pioneer League (Helena in that league will lose its team). Elmore has ownership of all the teams mentioned.

These moves are still contingent on league approval but from what I can see that seems to be but a formality at this point.

So the Rangers will still likely shift their AAA affiliation from RR to SA in 2019.

fudge!

[Reuben]

fudge!

Why is that bad?

[BudGirl]

Why is that bad?

I'm from San Antonio and root for the Missions.  I will not root for anything associated with the Rangers.

[Reuben]

I'm from San Antonio and root for the Missions.  I will not root for anything associated with the Rangers.

Ah. Didn't realize you were from there.

[Nate Colbert]

As we wait for an announcement re RR and the Astros, something totally unrelated but interesting in terms of PCL franchise shifts:

The New Orleans Baby Cakes will relocate to Wichita after the 2021 season. Huge dropoff in attendance this past year for NO (down 32%) in which they ranked last in the PCL. They've had a AAA team there since 1993 (and of course as the Zephyrs was the Astros' affiliate from 1997 when the Shrine on Airline was opened thru 2004). Wichita last had an affiliated team in 2007 when it was member of the Texas League and a Royals' farm club (franchise then moved to Northwest Arkansas). A new stadium is being built there.

https://www.nola.com/baby-cakes/2018/09/baby_cakes_moving_wichita.html

http://www.kwch.com/content/news/Sources-New-Orleans-Triple-A-team-may-be-headed-to-Wichita-492532341.html

[Nate Colbert]

Shocking news, I tells ya, absolutely shocking...

Fresno Grizzlies @FresnoGrizzlies 37 minutes ago
Breaking news this morning:  The Grizzlies and @astros have informed their league offices they will seek a new affiliation for 2019.  Our four consecutive winning seasons is a franchise record...thank you Houston!  #NeverSettle

Our next MLB affiliate will be announced soon.

[Nate Colbert]

Rangers beat writer...

Jeff Wilson  @JeffWilson_FWST 6m ago
Round Rock officially tells #Rangers that their partnership has ended. Rangers say they have started looking for a new Triple A home. Nashville is their No. 1 target.


Nashville apparently #1 target of Brewers and Nationals as well. Losers will have to settle for San Antonio or Fresno. Nashville became available when the A's hooked up with Las Vegas (who move into a new stadium next season).

[Jacksonian]

Rangers beat writer...

Jeff Wilson  @JeffWilson_FWST 6m ago
Round Rock officially tells #Rangers that their partnership has ended. Rangers say they have started looking for a new Triple A home. Nashville is their No. 1 target.


Nashville apparently #1 target of Brewers and Nationals as well. Losers will have to settle for San Antonio or Fresno. Nashville became available when the A's hooked up with Las Vegas (who move into a new stadium next season).

I can't believe the Rangers would go anywhere but San Antonio.  They would effectively be giving up the central Texas market to the Astros.

[Nate Colbert]

I can't believe the Rangers would go anywhere but San Antonio.  They would effectively be giving up the central Texas market to the Astros.

Stadium issue.

[moriartp]

Tags and others saying the agreement with RR will be announced Thursday. The Brewers are officially going to San Antonio, meaning the Rangers AAA team won't be in Texas for at least two years.

[juliogotay]

Tags and others saying the agreement with RR will be announced Thursday. The Brewers are officially going to San Antonio, meaning the Rangers AAA team won't be in Texas for at least two years.

I hope the Rangers end up in Fresno. Poetic.

[moriartp]

I hope the Rangers end up in Fresno. Poetic.

Rangers to Nashville for 4 years. Nats to Fresno, almost 3000 miles from D.C.

[juliogotay]

Rangers to Nashville for 4 years. Nats to Fresno, almost 3000 miles from D.C.

Too bad for Washington. Nashville would have made good sense for them and a much better market.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Stadium issue.

What is the issue? It is a AA facility but there will be a new stadium in a few years.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

What is the issue? It is a AA facility but there will be a new stadium in a few years.

I guess the biggest issue is the Brewers are going to play there. Many years ago, the AA team was a Brewers affiliate and since the Lone Star and Pearl breweries were still active the team name was changed from the Missions to the Brewers for that time and the next two affiliates (72-76). Otherwise they've always been the Missions.

[jbm]

What is the issue? It is a AA facility but there will be a new stadium in a few years.

Will there?  I thought they were still fighting over that. Meanwhile attendance in Fresno was around 6,200 compared to SA’s 4,900.

[Nate Colbert]

What is the issue? It is a AA facility but there will be a new stadium in a few years.

Not that it has any bearing on the likelihood of RR reverting to the Astros in 2019, but that whole "build a new stadium in SA and have the Rangers move their AAA team there" just suffered a setback.

Plan for new baseball stadium shelved

As JBM suggested, very little progress has been made in the two years since everything blew up. Among the more recent ideas being thrown out was the updating/expanding of Nelson Wolff but Elmore Sports Group is adamant on a new stadium.

[BudGirl]

I guess the biggest issue is the Brewers are going to play there. Many years ago, the AA team was a Brewers affiliate and since the Lone Star and Pearl breweries were still active the team name was changed from the Missions to the Brewers for that time and the next two affiliates (72-76). Otherwise they've always been the Missions.

I remember when they were the Dodgers.   Yeah, that was about 40 years ago or so.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/55618/how-san-antonio-missions-got-their-name

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I remember when they were the Dodgers.   Yeah, that was about 40 years ago or so.

That's right, I had forgotten that. How could you possibly remember something that was 10 years before you were born?

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

As JBM suggested, very little progress has been made in the two years since everything blew up. Among the more recent ideas being thrown out was the updating/expanding of Nelson Wolff but Elmore Sports Group is adamant on a new stadium.

Which is why there will be a new downtown stadium in a few years. They just got to figure out who is paying for it.

[BudGirl]

That's right, I had forgotten that. How could you possibly remember something that was 10 years before you were born?

I don't remember going to many games but I do vaguely remember the stadium before Wolff Stadium.  If my memory serves me right, it was pretty small.  But it is a good memory because it was with my Daddy.

[Nate Colbert]

Which is why there will be a new downtown stadium in a few years.

Apparently the Rangers didn't share your certainty.

[Jacksonian]

Apparently the Rangers didn't share your certainty.

FTR

[BudGirl]

FTR

+1

[Nate Colbert]

New unis & a 4-year PDC announced tonight.

[juliogotay]

New unis & a 4-year PDC announced tonight.

A.J. Reed may start looking for an apartment.

[geezerdonk]

Maybe a house with a long term mortgage.

[VirtualBob]

A.J. Reed may start looking for an apartment.

A BIG one!

[Nate Colbert]

Even without a new stadium in San Antonio, the Elmore Sports Group today announced announced a series of franchise shifts to occur after the 2018 season. As expected previously, the AA team will now be located in Amarillo. The Missions will now be a AAA team. The Colorado Springs Skysox will now be a club in the short-season Pioneer League (Helena in that league will lose its team). Elmore has ownership of all the teams mentioned.

The trend of ever so quirky team names in minor league baseball had already passed its sell-by date but reached it's absolute nadir with today's announcement from the Panhandle: the Padres' affiliate will be known as the "Sod Poodles". Somehow the nickname the team chose is even more cringe-inducing: the "Soddies".

[austro]

The trend of ever so quirky team names in minor league baseball had already passed its sell-by date but reached it's absolute nadir with today's announcement from the Panhandle: the Padres' affiliate will be known as the "Sod Poodles". Somehow the nickname the team chose is even more cringe-inducing: the "Soddies".

For those as clueless as I was, "sod poodle" is apparently some local term for a prairie dog.

[VirtualBob]

The trend of ever so quirky team names in minor league baseball had already passed its sell-by date but reached it's absolute nadir with today's announcement from the Panhandle: the Padres' affiliate will be known as the "Sod Poodles". Somehow the nickname the team chose is even more cringe-inducing: the "Soddies".

I am really eager to see Limey weigh in on this one.

[austro]

I am really eager to see Limey weigh in on this one.

You just know they're going to have sod-off hits.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

"The poodle bites, the poodle chews it."

[juliogotay]

For those as clueless as I was, "sod poodle" is apparently some local term for a prairie dog.

 Prairie Dog seems like a better name but I am probably old and cranky.

[Nate Colbert]

Prairie Dog seems like a better name but I am probably old and cranky.

I like that name as well but between what I suspect could be a trademark issue (there was an Abilene Prairie Dogs back in 1997 in the now-defunct TX-Louisiana League) and simply the fact that such a name lacks the weirdness factor that baseball marketing types are so in love with these days (New Orleans Baby Cakes, Rocket City Trash Pandas, Hartford Yard Goats, etc.). I like weird but some of these names come across as trying too hard.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

I like that name as well but between what I suspect could be a trademark issue (there was an Abilene Prairie Dogs back in 1997 in the now-defunct TX-Louisiana League) and simply the fact that such a name lacks the weirdness factor that baseball marketing types are so in love with these days (New Orleans Baby Cakes, Rocket City Trash Pandas, Hartford Yard Goats, etc.). I like weird but some of these names come across as trying too hard.

I like Prairie Dogs better too. I think the quirky names started slowly back in 1886 when they named the Toledo team the Mud Hens (I think Coots is a better name). The last 20 years funny names really gained a lot of momentum and It has finally reach a head.

[VirtualBob]

I like that name as well but between what I suspect could be a trademark issue (there was an Abilene Prairie Dogs back in 1997 in the now-defunct TX-Louisiana League) and simply the fact that such a name lacks the weirdness factor that baseball marketing types are so in love with these days (New Orleans Baby Cakes, Rocket City Trash Pandas, Hartford Yard Goats, etc.). I like weird but some of these names come across as trying too hard.

They are this generation’s answer to the throw-back Oakland A’s uniforms.

[Bench]

I don't remember going to many games but I do vaguely remember the stadium before Wolff Stadium.  If my memory serves me right, it was pretty small.  But it is a good memory because it was with my Daddy.

It was V.J. Keefe Memorial Stadium on the campus of St. Mary's. We used to stop at Henry's at their old location on Woodlawn and Bandera for puffy tacos before the game.