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OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
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Bobcat87 Offline
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Post: #21
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(11-17-2020 08:20 AM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  
(11-16-2020 10:16 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  Love the minors, Majors were talking about contraction even before COVID hit. The epidemic certainly makes the situation for the minors worse, as they rely more heavily upon gate receipts (butts in seats) than the Big clubs do.

Have seen some talk about another “possibly” lost season (2021). I’m a bit concerned that as of this date, we still have no 2021 schedule for our PCL team.

Sugar Land was just announced as the Astros' new AAA affiliate. Seems like there could be more of a shakeup coming in Texas.

The Skeeters, a little surprised by the move (though it does keep ‘em closer to the Big Club). You happen to know who’ll be picking up Round Rock? Maybe the Rangers come back from Tenn.
(This post was last modified: 11-17-2020 10:15 AM by Bobcat87.)
11-17-2020 10:12 AM
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Pounce FTW Offline
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Post: #22
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(11-17-2020 10:12 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  The Skeeters, a little surprised by the move (though it does keep ‘em closer to the Big Club). You happen to know who’ll be picking up Round Rock? Maybe the Rangers come back from Tenn.

I haven't seen any info on Round Rock. The impression that I'm getting from all of these articles is that the clubs getting dropped may have suspected it, but generally don't know it's actually happening until around the time the announcement is made. Which has to be...frustrating, especially for these teams high on the ladder.

I had been kind of assuming the Nolan Ryan connection would help ensure Round Rock lands in a good spot, but who knows...
11-17-2020 06:59 PM
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McLeansvilleAppFan Offline
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Post: #23
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(11-11-2020 04:38 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  
(11-11-2020 11:14 AM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  For any of you keeping up with the changes coming to Minor League Baseball, I have a few questions:

1. Is there a good central location to keep up with the current state of things? I know we got the NYT "list" of teams last year that are supposed to make the cut, but since then it seems like there have just been a few bits of info here and there (and I don't think the list has necessarily held up). I pretty much depend on the news feed on my phone to let me know if anything interesting happens.

2. Anything interesting taking shape in your neck of the woods? I just moved to North Jersey and found out soon after that the Somerset Patriots are moving from unaffiliated to AA for the Yankees, which will be nice if we get a season next year.

3. If you're a MiLB fan, what's your take on the changes? I'm overall undecided, as growing up in a small South Georgia town meant the minors were a huge part of my childhood, and I hate to see communities lose that. However, I actually kind of like the increase in MLB involvement over the past couple of decades, as I can see big benefits to a farm system that has a lot of continuity organizationally and geographically. So...maybe this is overall for the best.

Anyway, just some random questions.

1. I follow Ballpark Digest and Minor League Baseball on twitter. Those are the two best sources regarding the affiliate changes. Ballpark Digest in particular has been busy covering the recent changes.

2. Not much change here in Central NC so far. Only change has been is that Burlington is moving to collegiate wood bat along with the rest of the Appy League. Very disappointing, I have been wanting to go to a game for a while. At least they aren't getting contracted entirely.

3. I understand and support the idea of Minor League Baseball getting more regional with regards to affiliation. However, MLB is going about this the wrong way. Gutting the Minors is going to increase alienation to the sport. What the MLB is doing is attempting to get a death grip on the entirety of baseball that is played in the US. This is just another factor in Rob Manfred's attempts to make the majors more corporate. IMO, this will accomplish nothing but further turn people away from the game.
I sometimes hit the Grasshoppers and sometimes hit Burlington, or at least did in the before time. Burlington was cheaper tickets, cheaper refreshments and free parking compared to Greensboro. Also an older stadium that was moved from Danville. Some history there.

I'll miss that as an option for pro ball but will take in something they offer at some point in the future. With High Point in the Atlantic I am not sure about the CPL and HiToms continuing to exist. This is a lot of baseball in the Triad area with 5 teams within a short drive and Durham, Danville, Kannapolis just down the road.
11-18-2020 12:54 PM
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Bobcat87 Offline
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Post: #24
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(11-18-2020 12:54 PM)McLeansvilleAppFan Wrote:  
(11-11-2020 04:38 PM)seaking4steel Wrote:  
(11-11-2020 11:14 AM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  For any of you keeping up with the changes coming to Minor League Baseball, I have a few questions:

1. Is there a good central location to keep up with the current state of things? I know we got the NYT "list" of teams last year that are supposed to make the cut, but since then it seems like there have just been a few bits of info here and there (and I don't think the list has necessarily held up). I pretty much depend on the news feed on my phone to let me know if anything interesting happens.

2. Anything interesting taking shape in your neck of the woods? I just moved to North Jersey and found out soon after that the Somerset Patriots are moving from unaffiliated to AA for the Yankees, which will be nice if we get a season next year.

3. If you're a MiLB fan, what's your take on the changes? I'm overall undecided, as growing up in a small South Georgia town meant the minors were a huge part of my childhood, and I hate to see communities lose that. However, I actually kind of like the increase in MLB involvement over the past couple of decades, as I can see big benefits to a farm system that has a lot of continuity organizationally and geographically. So...maybe this is overall for the best.

Anyway, just some random questions.

1. I follow Ballpark Digest and Minor League Baseball on twitter. Those are the two best sources regarding the affiliate changes. Ballpark Digest in particular has been busy covering the recent changes.

2. Not much change here in Central NC so far. Only change has been is that Burlington is moving to collegiate wood bat along with the rest of the Appy League. Very disappointing, I have been wanting to go to a game for a while. At least they aren't getting contracted entirely.

3. I understand and support the idea of Minor League Baseball getting more regional with regards to affiliation. However, MLB is going about this the wrong way. Gutting the Minors is going to increase alienation to the sport. What the MLB is doing is attempting to get a death grip on the entirety of baseball that is played in the US. This is just another factor in Rob Manfred's attempts to make the majors more corporate. IMO, this will accomplish nothing but further turn people away from the game.
I sometimes hit the Grasshoppers and sometimes hit Burlington, or at least did in the before time. Burlington was cheaper tickets, cheaper refreshments and free parking compared to Greensboro. Also an older stadium that was moved from Danville. Some history there.

I'll miss that as an option for pro ball but will take in something they offer at some point in the future. With High Point in the Atlantic I am not sure about the CPL and HiToms continuing to exist. This is a lot of baseball in the Triad area with 5 teams within a short drive and Durham, Danville, Kannapolis just down the road.

. . . and how about those Woodpeckers . . .
11-18-2020 11:51 PM
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CajunFan3406 Offline
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Post: #25
OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(11-17-2020 10:12 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  
(11-17-2020 08:20 AM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  
(11-16-2020 10:16 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  Love the minors, Majors were talking about contraction even before COVID hit. The epidemic certainly makes the situation for the minors worse, as they rely more heavily upon gate receipts (butts in seats) than the Big clubs do.

Have seen some talk about another “possibly” lost season (2021). I’m a bit concerned that as of this date, we still have no 2021 schedule for our PCL team.

Sugar Land was just announced as the Astros' new AAA affiliate. Seems like there could be more of a shakeup coming in Texas.

The Skeeters, a little surprised by the move (though it does keep ‘em closer to the Big Club). You happen to know who’ll be picking up Round Rock? Maybe the Rangers come back from Tenn.


Same. And talk about keeping your Triple A affiliate close, try the same metro. I thought Round Rock was pretty good for an affiliate, drive instead of fly for assignment, same state, decent market, different market for purposes of regional engagement in the team.
11-19-2020 07:00 AM
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Pounce FTW Offline
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Post: #26
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(11-19-2020 07:00 AM)CajunFan3406 Wrote:  Same. And talk about keeping your Triple A affiliate close, try the same metro. I thought Round Rock was pretty good for an affiliate, drive instead of fly for assignment, same state, decent market, different market for purposes of regional engagement in the team.

Yeah, while I lived in Atlanta, it always felt like Gwinnett was too close to ever have their own identity, which is I assume why they finally changed the name away from the Braves. I guess it works, though; I think Seattle has had Tacoma as an affiliate for 20-something years.

EDIT: I did see one or two sources speculating that Round Rock will revive their Rangers affiliation. Which would keep the dominos tumbling...surely Nashville will stay AAA...
(This post was last modified: 11-19-2020 08:05 AM by Pounce FTW.)
11-19-2020 08:00 AM
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McLeansvilleAppFan Offline
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Post: #27
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
In this mornings Greensboro newspaper I assume. It may be behind a paywall but I pulled it off the internet before I grabbed the paper in the driveway. Yes I still get a print edition and I am not a member of AARP.

https://greensboro.com/sports/greensboro...e-trending
12-10-2020 06:07 AM
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Yosef Himself Offline
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Post: #28
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(12-10-2020 06:07 AM)McLeansvilleAppFan Wrote:  In this mornings Greensboro newspaper I assume. It may be behind a paywall but I pulled it off the internet before I grabbed the paper in the driveway. Yes I still get a print edition and I am not a member of AARP.

https://greensboro.com/sports/greensboro...e-trending

MLB has announced all their MiLB affiliations now. For us NC folks there was some shifting. The LowA teams have been bumped up to A+ and the A+ teams shuffled to LowA

A+ Teams:
Asheville
Hickory
Greensboro
Winston Salem
Wilmington (Staying A+)
Greenville (Worst Carolina)
Rome (GA)
Myrtle Beach (Worst Carolina)


LowA teams:
Kannapolis
Fayateville
Down East (Kinston)
Carolina (Zebulon)
(This post was last modified: 12-10-2020 08:09 AM by Yosef Himself.)
12-10-2020 07:54 AM
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Usajags Offline
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Post: #29
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
The Braves have also announced their 4 minor league affiliates.

Gwinnett Stripers- Triple A
Mississippi Braves- Double A
Rome Braves- moves from low A to high A
Augusta Greenjackets- Low A(new affiliation)
12-10-2020 08:02 AM
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Usajags Offline
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Post: #30
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
Article from al.com about the Alabama teams and the Southern League. Looks like the Southern League is going from 10 to 8 teams.


https://www.al.com/news/2020/12/alabama-...iates.html
12-10-2020 09:29 AM
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OsageJ Offline
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Post: #31
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
I live about 2 hours from Jackson TN. The Southern League lost the Jackson Generals. I have been to several games there. They have struggled with attendance for a long time. I didn't expect them to make it. I usually go to 3 or 4 games a year to see the Memphis Red birds. Looking forward to seeing some games next year.
12-10-2020 10:07 AM
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Pounce FTW Offline
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Post: #32
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
And so the pieces have fallen. My biggest reactions from the regions where I live currently or did in the recent past:

1. Augusta picks up a Braves affiliation. That should be great for them.
2. Trenton goes from AA for the Yankees to part of the new MLB "Draft League" that's on its way. I've seen positive spin out of NJ, but there's no way they can really be pleased with how that shook out. Unless, I suppose, MLB does an amazing job marketing the new league's prospects in the buildup to the draft.
12-10-2020 10:47 AM
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McLeansvilleAppFan Offline
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Post: #33
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(12-10-2020 07:54 AM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  
(12-10-2020 06:07 AM)McLeansvilleAppFan Wrote:  In this mornings Greensboro newspaper I assume. It may be behind a paywall but I pulled it off the internet before I grabbed the paper in the driveway. Yes I still get a print edition and I am not a member of AARP.

https://greensboro.com/sports/greensboro...e-trending

MLB has announced all their MiLB affiliations now. For us NC folks there was some shifting. The LowA teams have been bumped up to A+ and the A+ teams shuffled to LowA

A+ Teams:
Asheville
Hickory
Greensboro
Winston Salem
Wilmington (Staying A+)
Greenville (Worst Carolina)
Rome (GA)
Myrtle Beach (Worst Carolina)


LowA teams:
Kannapolis
Fayateville
Down East (Kinston)
Carolina (Zebulon)

It always bothered me that Greensboro was the third biggest city in the state and had Low-A ball while Durham had AAA. Greensboro at least should have been on par with W-S and AA would not have bothered me. Though for the longest time Greensboro was playing in a dump. An historical dump, but a dump nevertheless. Now A&T plays college ball in the old stadium and it has not improved in appearance the last time I saw App play A&T there a couple years ago.

The Greensboro vs W-S games will make for a nice intra-metro area rivalry. Back for the short time Greensboro and W-S both had ice hockey in the same league the games were a bit better attended and therefore just more fun with more energy in the stands.

I am glad Kannapolis is keeping a team since they have a brand new stadium. My first teaching job was in Kannapolis and I lived in a shotgun mill shack in what would have been walking distance to the new stadium. That was decades ago when the mill was still operating.
12-10-2020 10:47 AM
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Yosef Himself Offline
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Post: #34
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
Man, I hope the Carolina Thunderbirds (Winston Salem hockey team) survives COVID. They won the FHL championship last year and bring in a hell of a crowd. Now if Asheville can get back on board with a team.


Asheville, Greensboro, Hickory and Greenville moving up to join Winston Salem is fantastic news for me. I live in AVL and go to at least one or two games per series and usually make 15 or so a year. I grew up going to Spirit/Warthog games. Stoked they'll be coming west.
12-10-2020 10:52 AM
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McLeansvilleAppFan Offline
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RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(12-10-2020 10:52 AM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  Man, I hope the Carolina Thunderbirds (Winston Salem hockey team) survives COVID. They won the FHL championship last year and bring in a hell of a crowd. Now if Asheville can get back on board with a team.


Asheville, Greensboro, Hickory and Greenville moving up to join Winston Salem is fantastic news for me. I live in AVL and go to at least one or two games per series and usually make 15 or so a year. I grew up going to Spirit/Warthog games. Stoked they'll be coming west.
T-bird games are fun and in the perfect size arena for what they are. I think the T-birds will survive as long as the FDHL survives. The league seems OK but like any minor league without ties to a major league they have a lot of flux.

I am more worried about the indoor football team in Greensboro. They do well in the league competitive wise but all of those indoor football leagues seem to survive by the skin or their teeth.

I don't get to many of the minor league games but it is nice to have them there when I do have the spare $ and time and try and take in one or two games a year and a bit more baseball since I have more time in the summer.

The MLB is going to connect more with the Atlantic League than they already do. The Atlantic will still be independent of the majors but that might help High Point keep their team. Their attendance was not great, though not terrible. Having three teams all in the high-A or AA range within about a 30 minute drive of each other plus the Hi-Toms and now Burlington with wood-bat summer college leagues can't be easy.
12-11-2020 09:57 AM
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Usajags Offline
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Post: #36
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
Need to get the SPHL and the FPHL to play some inter league games. There is some overlap of the footprint. Might be good for both leagues this season.
12-11-2020 10:09 AM
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Yosef Himself Offline
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Post: #37
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(12-11-2020 10:09 AM)Usajags Wrote:  Need to get the SPHL and the FPHL to play some inter league games. There is some overlap of the footprint. Might be good for both leagues this season.

Yes it would. NC has an SPHL team and most of that league is close enough it seems the T-Birds would want in. Heck, the league is even ran out of NC. But Winston has done well with the FHL/FPHL so I guess they want to be good partners back. But inter-league play would be fun from a fan perspective.
12-11-2020 10:43 AM
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Post: #38
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
very excited about Augusta now being a Braves affiliate.
12-11-2020 10:46 AM
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Post: #39
RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(12-11-2020 10:43 AM)Yosef Himself Wrote:  
(12-11-2020 10:09 AM)Usajags Wrote:  Need to get the SPHL and the FPHL to play some inter league games. There is some overlap of the footprint. Might be good for both leagues this season.

Yes it would. NC has an SPHL team and most of that league is close enough it seems the T-Birds would want in. Heck, the league is even ran out of NC. But Winston has done well with the FHL/FPHL so I guess they want to be good partners back. But inter-league play would be fun from a fan perspective.

Another thing international soccer has right. Got two teams that want to play, even in different leagues, just have a “friendly” match and get it done. SPHL is run out of Huntsville, maybe we should get these guys to a table somewhere. Both leagues are running about half strength this season.
12-11-2020 11:58 AM
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RE: OT: MiLB realignment/contraction
(12-11-2020 10:46 AM)NCeagle Wrote:  very excited about Augusta now being a Braves affiliate.

I wasn’t aware Augusta had a new stadium, went to the old one about 5 years ago, might have been the most fun I ever had at a minor league game, and it was rained out after the 5th inning or so.

I only got yelled at once to get off the field...... 04-cheers
12-11-2020 12:00 PM
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