What lies ahead

Ben Hill doesn't just have a blog (and a really good one at that). He also covers business issues that affect minor league baseball. Can anyone think of something going on right now that might have an affect on minor league baseball?

Tough times ahead ... where does MiLB stand?
A look at how the economic crisis could effect the Minors in 2009

Las Vegas isn't a typical location for a sober-minded discourse on the state of the American economy, but, then again, we aren't living in typical times.

The Sin City was the site of last month's Baseball Winter Meetings and, not surprisingly, the morbid state of our country's economy dominated the agenda. At least it did for the hundreds of Minor League executives in attendance, who despite their reputation for irreverence and originality are still as bottom-line oriented as anyone in the business world.

Accordingly, Minor League President Pat O'Conner made the economy the focal point of his opening session speech at the Winter Meetings.

"Dealing with our environment will test our mettle and require us to plan and prepare for our future," said O'Conner. "Along with our country, our industry must be prepared to meet the economic hardship and cultural renaissance that lies ahead."

Two days after delivering that speech, O'Conner elaborated on where he feels Minor League Baseball stands heading into 2009.

"We are not recession-proof, but we are recession-resistant," he said. "When it comes to the ability to withstand hard times, we have a very high tolerance. And this is because of the grass-roots nature of the industry. Our teams strive to be the pillars of their communities."

The headings to the different sections are Finding Ways to Adapt, Raising the Bar, and the title of this classic Bob Marley tune: