The Dodger organization feels the thin air of Albuquerque (elevation over 5,000 feet) makes it difficult to accurately assess their prospects. Story in today's Daily Oklahoman.

The MWC Conference holds a dubious statistic: The home team has the highest winning percentage than any other NonBCS or BCS conference. The timing of pass plays and the kicking game go out of whack on a MWC home field.

Just one of many reasons I am so glad Tulsa is out of MWC.

When were they ever IN the MWC? (Half joking of course, I know what you mean).

I wouldn't just say what Tallgrass said, but also for Tulsa just the time zone differences just is an absolute killer. Great move for them when they went to CUSA and now in the AAC.

The AAA team in OKC is currently a Houston Astros affiliate. Does Houston make the ABQ team their AAA? or do they put their AAA team somewhere new? The Tulsa AA team is a Rockies affiliate but they average enough fans to warrant being AAA so maybe they go after them? I can't imagine OKC would host both AAA teams.

Here is an outside the box idea, make Monterrey Sultanes the Astros AAA team. They have the highest attendance of any minor league team and aren't that far from Houston.

(08-23-2014 06:02 PM)msu_bears Wrote:  The AAA team in OKC is currently a Houston Astros affiliate. Does Houston make the ABQ team their AAA? or do they put their AAA team somewhere new? The Tulsa AA team is a Rockies affiliate but they average enough fans to warrant being AAA so maybe they go after them? I can't imagine OKC would host both AAA teams.

Here is an outside the box idea, make Monterrey Sultanes the Astros AAA team. They have the highest attendance of any minor league team and aren't that far from Houston.

Cartel violence? main reason it won't happen anytime soon but someday, yes.

The Padres wanted to move their AAA team closer to San Diego (Escondido IIRC) so perhaps there's an opening there.

Just for reference, here's the Pacific Coast League:

American North - Omaha, Iowa, Oklahoma City, Colorado Springs
American South - Round Rock (TX), Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans
Pacific North - Sacramento, Reno, Tacoma, Fresno
Pacific South - El Paso, Albuquerque, Salt Lake, Las Vegas

In this case the team is not relocating, but the Dodgers will affiliate with OKC when they acquire the team there. The Rockies may wind up with ABQ as they may not renew the affiliation agreement with Colorado Springs. Fresno, Sacramento, and Nashville may change parent clubs as well.

If I recall correctly, all minor league affiliation deals with major league parent clubs expire after two years... so if an extension isn't signed before that two-year deal expires, the minor league organizations are "free agents", so to speak, like baseball players themselves after their initial contracts expire. It's almost like musical chairs, MLB clubs try to come to terms with the more desirable minor league organizations and not be left with a bad org. The team I follow, for instance, the Cincinnati Reds, were the last to work out a deal a couple years ago with their High-A affiliate, and they wound up with the last girl left at the dance, the Bakersfield Blaze, widely considered one of the worst, if not THE worst, organization in minor league baseball.

I don't believe the Dodgers would be technically relocating the ABQ team to OKC, but rather working behind the scenes to come up with an agreement with OKC, who's probably interested themselves in upgrading their major league parent to the Dodgers.

A few points:

1: Some teams like to extend affiliations for more than two years, some even extend the agreements long term mostly because they like the organization they're working with.

2: Most minor-league teams are independently owned and operated by local owners, rather than by MLB teams themselves(The Braves are the exception, with one exception). The major league club provides the players* and coaching staff, while the local ownership runs the day-to-day operations, sometimes also providing the general manager.

3: What does this have to do with College Realignment?

*Most of them, some players are contracted to play for the affiliate, not the Major Leage club.

(08-23-2014 06:02 PM)msu_bears Wrote:  The AAA team in OKC is currently a Houston Astros affiliate. Does Houston make the ABQ team their AAA? or do they put their AAA team somewhere new? The Tulsa AA team is a Rockies affiliate but they average enough fans to warrant being AAA so maybe they go after them? I can't imagine OKC would host both AAA teams.

The Astros owner would like to purchase an existing team and relocate it to The Woodlands or Conroe, if he can get a stadium built.

(08-23-2014 11:09 PM)Rube Dali Wrote:  A few points:

1: Some teams like to extend affiliations for more than two years, some even extend the agreements long term mostly because they like the organization they're working with.

2: Most minor-league teams are independently owned and operated by local owners, rather than by MLB teams themselves(The Braves are the exception, with one exception). The major league club provides the players* and coaching staff, while the local ownership runs the day-to-day operations, sometimes also providing the general manager.

3: What does this have to do with College Realignment?

*Most of them, some players are contracted to play for the affiliate, not the Major Leage club.

Cardinals also own most of their affiliates. Cardinals own their AAA, AA, High A, and 3 Rookie Teams

The team's been in Albuquerque since 2003, affiliated with the Dodgers since 2009, and they just now are deciding that the air's too thin?

Where were they in 2002, Springfield? (someone will get this)

Springfield Cardinals were the El Paso Diablos.

None of us in Central Arkansas were very happy losing our Cardinals affiliation, Travs are now with the Los Angeles Angels of California Angels, Los Angeles.

Here's a dead giveaway, look up the Albuquerque baseball team's mascot if you don't know it already.

(08-24-2014 01:29 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Springfield Cardinals were the El Paso Diablos.

None of us in Central Arkansas were very happy losing our Cardinals affiliation, Travs are now with the Los Angeles Angels of California Angels, Los Angeles.

The Springfield Cardinals began play in the 2005 season. Prior to the 2005 season, the St. Louis Cardinals Class AA affiliate was the Tennessee Smokies located near Sevierville, Tennessee.

(08-24-2014 06:51 PM)msu_bears Wrote:  

(08-24-2014 01:29 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Springfield Cardinals were the El Paso Diablos.

None of us in Central Arkansas were very happy losing our Cardinals affiliation, Travs are now with the Los Angeles Angels of California Angels, Los Angeles.

The Springfield Cardinals began play in the 2005 season. Prior to the 2005 season, the St. Louis Cardinals Class AA affiliate was the Tennessee Smokies located near Sevierville, Tennessee.

The Cardinals franchise came from El Paso. The cardinals affiliation came from TN. The Cardinals pulled their affiliation after 2000 because Ray Winder Field was dump (at the time third oldest pro ball park). Travs were a Cardinals affiliate 1966 to 2000. Hope was they'd come back when Dickey-Stephens opened instead they bought Springfield.


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If only Albuquerque were located in a higher elevation when the Dodgers established it's AAA team there, this could have been foreseen by someone with a shrewd eye to the future. Alas, who possibly could have foreseen this so the Dodgers are stuck?

Seems like the Rockies should sign up Albuquerque. That way they can more accurately assess their how their talent will play at home

(08-25-2014 09:48 AM)adcorbett Wrote:  Seems like the Rockies should sign up Albuquerque. That way they can more accurately assess their how their talent will play at home

Why sign up Albuquerque when they already have Colorado Springs, which is also at high altitude?


If this is really a huge issue, it does call into question whether both Colorado Springs and Albuquerque are viable AAA cities.


Perhaps one (Albuquerque) would have to drop to the AA Texas League, as a Rockies affiliate?

(08-24-2014 01:23 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  Where were they in 2002, Springfield? (someone will get this)

I got it. Everybody else: