Yes, three low-Class A leagues. There is the Midwest League, the South Atlantic League, and the....um.....PASS! PASS!
Midwest League commissioner George Spelius said he can envision the day -- perhaps sooner than later -- where the league adds franchises in two more states to up the league's total to 16 clubs.
Speaking at Fifth Third Ballpark before the Whitecaps embarked on their six-game road trip through Beloit and Burlington, Spelius said the league is receptive to the idea of putting a team in Lake County, Ohio, while also gaining a franchise such as the Columbus Catfish of the South Atlantic League, which was recently sold.
If the Midwest League should add those two clubs, it would jump from 14 to 16 teams.
Spelius said the ultimate decision would rest on the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, but he thinks the NAPBL would go along with a Midwest League expansion if minor league baseball as a whole was improved by the changes.
"If the national association wanted a 16-team league, they've got to say it's in the best interests of Minor League Baseball," Spelius said.
"We've checked into being a 16-team league right now or in the future."
Spelius thinks the Midwest League, one of three low-Class A league in the country, fits with 16 teams. He said the Lake County franchise, located about 25 miles east of Cleveland and currently a member of the South Atlantic League, is a fit with Midwest League geography.
Okay, aside from that, nothing that has not been brought up before.
The same is true for the Lexington club, which was recently sold and will relocate in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Whoa! Lexington is not the team that has been sold. Lexington started in 2001 and is currently third in the SAL in attendance (averaging 4,941 per game so far this season). In the last three seasons, the Legends have drawn 385, 506 (2007); 376,702 (2006); and 388,710 (2005).
Call me a crazy insomniac, but you would have to be a crazy insomniac to move from the incredible ballpark in Lexington, the home of Ashley Judd's favorite college basketball team, to...anywhere. I can state before Roudha that this will not happen.
The Columbus franchise has had the following attendance numbers since 2005:
2005: 62,547 (avg. 1,009)
2006: 66,516 (avg. 1,039)
2007: 71,809 (avg. 1,041)
2008 [through 44 games]: 44,642 (avg. 1,015)
All four of those numbers are last in the SAL.
The Midwest League has eyed the Lake County franchise for years.
"We've always liked them to be a Midwest League team if a 16th team could be found," Spelius said. "If we found a 16th team, I think Lake County would be in."
If the Midwest League grows to 16 teams, Spelius said it would be broken into two eight-team divisions.
This is interesting. I've thought that a 4-4-4-4 split might work out a little better. I'll develop these options in that one post I mentioned a while ago.
While Lake County and the Lexington franchises seem ideal to Spelius, he wouldn't be disappointed if those teams didn't join. The Midwest League still would have options, though he declined to say specifically what those options are.
"There are a lot of teams out there," he said.
There are 16 in the SAL. That's a lot.
Now this next thing has me thinking that I'm asleep right now.
Spelius also addressed the rumor that the Midwest League might lose a team. There have been rumors that Kane County is looking to become associated with Triple-A, a likelihood that Spelius quickly dismisses.
WHAT? Kane County to Triple-A? I've heard the Dayton to Triple-A and Fort Wayne to Double-A or Triple-A rumors. Those were as unrealistic as the Kane County to Triple-A one that is brought up here.
Do you realize what it would take to jump up a level -- or in this case -- three levels? It's not like a team can just decide, 'Hey! We're going to join the PCL or the International League next year. Thanks for the memories, Midwest League!"
A franchise already in one of those leagues would have to fold. It isn't like there will be an odd number of teams in those leagues. Also, it is highly unlikely...very unlikely....virtually impossible that any major league team would have two Triple-A affiliates.
Albuquerque lost a Triple-A team to Portland in 2001, but got a team back when the Calgary Cannons left Canada for the 2003 season.
Then, there are the financial, stadium, and various implications that I know are out there but am a little foggy on at this time.
The last team that jumped a level was Round Rock. They went from the Texas League to the PCL. Here is how that happened. The owners of Round Rock bought the Edmonton Trappers. They moved the Round Rock team to Corpus Christi. Then, they moved the Trappers to Round Rock. Corpus Christi took Round Rock's spot in the Texas League. Round Rock took Edmonton's spot in the PCL.
The following scenario is purely hypothetical and overly simplistic because it does not take into account financial, stadium, and various other implications. For something similar to happen with Kane County, the Cougars would have to buy a Triple-A team...say...the Omaha Royals. The Cougar owners would move Kane County to Dubuque, Iowa for a Midwest League franchise. The Royals would become the Kane County Cougars of the PCL.
I can think of a few teams that used to be Triple-A, but have moved down levels. The Vancouver Canadians and the Spokane Indians used to be in the PCL. Now, they are in the Northwest League.
"Not even worth blogging about," he said.
Well, why didn't you say so?
2 comments:
Thansk for providing a vopice of reason on the level jumping. People here in Fort Wayne are getting a little giddy at that idea simply b/c the park under construction is being "built to double-A standards." I dont' think anyone realizes how difficult that jump would be (especially in light of our geographic limitations).
A voice of reason? HA! I'm still not sure how well thought out that post was, but I gave it a shot on no sleep.
Thank you for the comment, Chad.
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