Catching up with...

the Midwest League.

One story and two papers. Possible Midwest League Expansion.

Jeff Johnson of the Cedar Rapids Gazette had this back on June 28. Click on the link if only for the most awesomest picture of League President George Spelius.

That old expansion thing has come up again in the Midwest League.

Increasing the number of teams from 14 to 16 has long been talked about but never been acted upon. Midwest League President George Spelius was in Cedar Rapids last week to watch the Kernels play the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and mentioned the possibility of expansion again.

"There's always speculation about us going from 14 teams to 16 teams," Spelius said. "One of those would probably we Lake County, which is east of Cleveland."

The extra teams would come from the 16-team South Atlantic League, the only other low-Class A loop in affiliated baseball. Spelius said Lake County in Eastlake, Ohio, has long wanted to be in the MWL because of travel.

Steve Batterson of the QC Times adds this:

“They can’t tell us we have to do it or even who the possibilities are. We just have to wait and see what they propose and go from there,’’ Spelius said.

The most likely moves would involve a South Atlantic League team located in Eastlake, Ohio, and a team in that Class A league that is relocating from Columbus, Ga., to Bowling Green, Ky.

The possibility of some sort of change was discussed at recent league meetings that took place in conjunction with the Midwest League All-Star Game, and Spelius said a shift could occur as early as next season or could take place in 2010.

“We’ve been thinking that this could happen since 2002 when Lake County opened up in Ohio, but we’ve been patiently waiting to see what proposal will be put forth by the National Association,’’ Spelius said.

The 'They' in this case is the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues.