Meant to post this in the article:

Affiliation agreements must be signed by September 30. If there are still teams unmatched with major league affiliates by that date, Bud Selig will assign affiliations.

-- MWE

On the Blue Rocks front, there isn't a ground swell of Red Sox fans int he area, at least that I have seen. And compared to the Royals, very few legitimate prospects actually have made it to Wilmington under Boston. We got used to seeing a Johnny Damon, Jon Lieber, Mike Sweeney, David DeJesus, Ken Harvey et al spend the summer in Wilmo - not so with Boston (aside from Anibal Sanchez and Jacoby Ellsbury).

The Rocks did make the playoffs this season, but folks around here are used to winning the penant, not just making the playoffs. I wonder how the relationship between the Rocks and Red Sox is behind the scenes.

I read somewhere that the Phillies AAA affiliation will move from Scranton to Ottawa for next season, but that Ottawa will relocate to Allentown in 2008.

That still on track?

According to the earlier thread when we discussed this, the Mets have been in Tidewater since 1969, which would give them a relationship lasting 37 years, not 28.

According to the earlier thread when we discussed this, the Mets have been in Tidewater since 1969, which would give them a relationship lasting 37 years, not 28.

That's a typo - it should have read 38, not 28.

I read somewhere that the Phillies AAA affiliation will move from Scranton to Ottawa for next season, but that Ottawa will relocate to Allentown in 2008.

That still on track?

Yes. It's not only on track, but a done deal.

-- MWE

The Royals have signed an agreement with the Burlington, NC Indians and plan to field 7 minor league teams next year, rather than 6.

It seems like they're not all that wild about keeping High Desert because of its park effects and might prefer going back to the Carolina League. I wouldn't be surprised if they re-affiliate with Wilmington. Not really sure why the two split in the first place.

The Royals have signed an agreement with the Burlington, NC Indians and plan to field 7 minor league teams next year, rather than 6.

Actually, they bought the franchise from the Indians. All of the Appy League franchises are owned by the major league affiliate.

It seems like they're not all that wild about keeping High Desert because of its park effects and might prefer going back to the Carolina League.

High Desert is the red-headed stepchild of the Cal League - teams come in, sign two-year affiliate deals, then leave for the next opportunity because they can't handle the park effects. Adalanto is, from all accounts, a beautiful place, the ballpark is fairly new and nice, and the people in charge do a good job - but teams don't want their prospects, especially their pitchers, there. Since their inception in 1991, the Mavs have been with the Padres, the Marlins, the Orioles, the Diamondbacks, the Brewers, and the Royals, and only the Diamondbacks and Brewers stayed for more than two years.

-- MWE

Where is High Desert? Southern CA?

Where is High Desert?

Adalanto, California. Due east of Lancaster, northeast of LA.

-- MWE

Thanks for the link, Mike. I found it. Man, it looks desolate. Is the park effect from the altitude and/or the air? The hitter's background? The walls aren't real deep, but it's not shaped like Asheville or anything like that.

Any guesses as to where the AAA Mets wind up?

Any guesses as to where the AAA Mets wind up?

The remaining 29 major league clubs?

Any guesses as to where the AAA Mets wind up?

(Conveniently ignoring levski, the Desert Snark)

I'm still pining for the fjords...err...Brooklyn, I mean.

Any guesses as to where the AAA Mets wind up?

50-50 between Columbus and New Orleans, at this point.

-- MWE

If I had to guess today:

Orioles to Norfolk
Nationals to Columbus
Mets to New Orleans

We'll know by the 30th.

-- MWE

Is the park effect from the altitude and/or the air?

Probably both. It's not called High Desert without reason.

-- MWE

Adalanto is, from all accounts, a beautiful place

You've obviously never been to Adelanto.

Perhaps Adalanto and Adelanto are two different places.

For a geographic reference point for Adelanto, you should give Victorville (San Bernardino County) rather than Lancaster (Los Angeles County). The map I'm looking at gives an elevation for Adelanto 2877 feet. George Air Force Base is in Adelanto, and it's quite close to Victorville (and thus to I-15, the main road from Southern California to Las Vegas). As for local population: Victorville, Hesperia, and Apple Valley have all been growing quite rapidly, so there would be a pretty substantial population within 10-15 miles of the ballpark. Of course, if they commute to jobs in the L.A. basin, then getting back home early enough in the evening to go to a game may not be easy.

But yes, this is the Mojave Desert - for which the emblematic plant life is the Joshua tree. They shoot enough movies in the Mojave that you've probably seen a Joshua tree, on screen if nowhere else. (There's also plenty of sagebrush and creasote bush, but that's not so distinctive in appearance.)

The Nationals have announced a two-year agreement with the SAL's Hagerstown Suns, formerly a Mets affiliate. Washington had been affiliated with Savannah.

Link.

There was an article in the WSJ today about affiliation switching (although it may require registration).

Columbus is going to become the Nats' AAA affiliate:

Link

The Royals have ditched High Desert and have signed with Wilmington in the Carolina League.

You've obviously never been to Adelanto.

No, and I can't spell it, either :)

Columbus is going to become the Nats' AAA affiliate

This makes it all but certain that the Mets will be in New Orleans next year.

-- MWE

There was an article in the WSJ today about affiliation switching (although it may require registration).

No, it requires a (paid) subscription.

-- MWE

oops, that's what i meant. i have a sub so i can never tell if an article is free or not (a lot of times they make first-run articles with general popular interest like this one free for a day or two).

This makes it all but certain that the Mets will be in New Orleans next year.

I can't imagine the Mets are very happy about that.

I can't imagine the Mets are very happy about that.

No, but stuff happens. And it will likely only be for two years. And who knows what's going to happen in Richmond.

-- MWE

Blue Rocks announcement

To follow up to Alex Gordon's #1 Fan, here is a link to the story. I am slightly impressed that Moore, Taylor, Piccollo and Dan Glass all made the trip.

In that News Journal story, a fan added this comment:

I'll be the first to welcome back Kansas City, and it won't detract from my willingness to support some of the special teams in MLB, like the Red Sox, the Cubs, the Cards and the Orioles.

Sorry, but I can only think of the Orioles as "special" in a Dana Carvey "Church Lady" way. Or "special" as in "challenged."

I'll be the first to welcome back Kansas City, and it won't detract from my willingness to support some of the special teams in MLB, like the Red Sox, the Cubs, the Cards and the Orioles.

What, no Yankees or Mets? :) And the Cubs are special, too? :)

-- MWE

New article in the NY Daily News - link posted in the header.

-- MWE

Any idea where the mets A team goes since they wont be in hagerstown now?

Damn, if only Ryan Zimmerman had called Norfolk on behalf of the Nationals...

Any idea where the mets A team goes since they wont be in hagerstown now?

Available options for the Mets are Columbus (GA), Kannapolis, Savannah, and West Virginia in the SAL, and Clinton, Lansing, and the new Great Lakes franchise in the Midwest. I'd bet on one of the SAL openings.

-- MWE

The linked article on Hagerstown said the Mets had already switched to Savannah.

Boston's high-A options are limited, especially since the FSL has no openings (only three franchises, Brevard County, Daytona and Ft. Myers, are not owned by the ML affiliate, and all three have affiliations set).

Cal: High Desert, Inland Empire (good chance that they'll renew with the Mariners), Lancaster (likely to re-up with the Diamondbacks), Visalia
Carolina: Frederick (will probably re-up with the Orioles) Myrtle Beach (ditto the Braves), Potomac (ditto the Nationals)

None of those are particularly appetizing. The Red Sox could well be the next temporary tenant for High Desert, or could snag Visalia with the Rays going to Adelanto.

-- MWE

The linked article on Hagerstown said the Mets had already switched to Savannah.

Oh man i was hoping west virginia seeing i moved to charleston

Cubs move from West Tenn to Smokies.

-- MWE

The linked article on Hagerstown said the Mets had already switched to Savannah

I was wondering where u saw this because i cant find that anywhere

From the linked article in the header on San Antonio's situation:

"They have been told that the Mariners don't have any interest in winning at Double-A," said a source close to the situation who did not want to be identified. "They're just interested in developing players."

The problem for Missions' ownership is that the other two teams available - the Padres and the Diamondbacks - have similar development approaches to that of the Mariners. Neither team's AA affiliate has had much success over the past few years.

-- MWE

The linked article on Hagerstown said the Mets had already switched to Savannah.

Not just yet.

This article suggests that it's between the Devil Rays and the Mets - and also that the Brewers have expressed interest in returning to West Virginia, which surprises me; I thought they'd be going after the affiliation with the new Great Lakes franchise in the Midwest League.

-- MWE

BA on the latest affiliation shuffles. They also note that the Nationals have re-upped with Harrisburg (which I knew) and Potomac (which I didn't, but which was expected).

-- MWE

Im still hoping the brewers move and the mets get west virginia. Would be really nice living 5 mins away from my favorite teams minor league affliate.

Cal League shuffle. According to this report, the Dodgers will turn over their Vero Beach franchise (which they own) to the Devil Rays and take over the Inland Empire affiliation from the Mariners, leaving Seattle and the D'backs to duke it out over Visalia and Lancaster.

-- MWE

Any informed speculation how the remaining spots in the NY-Penn League will shake out?

The problem for Missions' ownership is that the other two teams available - the Padres and the Diamondbacks - have similar development approaches to that of the Mariners. Neither team's AA affiliate has had much success over the past few years.

-- MWE

But the way the D'Backs are shaping up, their big league club will soon be replacing veterans with young position players who seem to be set for a long time. The quick promotion of college players through the minors will begin to slow down and should have a trickle down effect to Double A. I still think Padres are a better fit...how can you not have Padres in the Missions?

Any informed speculation how the remaining spots in the NY-Penn League will shake out?

There's this. For those who don't want to read the article, I offer Kyle Sadlowski's quote:

"The fans are great here and the park is beautiful," Spikes pitcher Kyle Sadlowski said. "It's a shame that we have to leave."

Sadlowski was asked to clarify his statement.

"It's a shame the Cardinals are moving out of here and the Pirates are coming in," Sadlowski said.

-- MWE

Mike,

I believe the Pirates' affiliation with State College is now a done deal. In fact, I think it has been unofficially a deal for a long time. That leaves the Cardinals to Batavia, Jamestown, Williamsport or Vermont.

"unofficially a deal" - you mean ever since they've had the same owners as Altoona?

Zephyrs and Mets sign a deal.

Syracuse pines for the good old days:

So, if one was to think that Syracuse management blundered a few months ago by renewing its vows with the Blue Jays, if one was to think that the Yankees might have returned to our precincts like so many pinstriped prodigal sons if the SkyChiefs hadn't jumped so quickly back into those Toronto arms . . .

"One could think that, but one would be wrong," (Syracuse GM John) Simone declared. "The Yankees' coming here wouldn't have happened. There was no way they were coming anywhere near here. Not to Rochester. Not to Buffalo. Not to Syracuse. Not to any of us. If they didn't have this thing going with Scranton, they never would have left Columbus."

Options for West Tenn:

Grady Fuson, a special assistant to the General Manager with the Padres, said the organization is interested in the Jaxx, but only as a second choice. Their first choice is San Antonio.

"Our No. 1 goal is to get into the Texas League," Fuson said.

That's been clear since the day that the Padres severed their relationship with Mobile.

I believe the Pirates' affiliation with State College is now a done deal. In fact, I think it has been unofficially a deal for a long time.

It's been rumored for a long time (since the day the franchise was moved), but it was never a done deal. The Cardinals worked very, very hard to convince Altoona Baseball to stay with them. Ultimately, though, I think the fact that the Cardinals, unlike the Pirates, tend to move their high draft picks up to full-season ball quickly worked against them as much as the pre-existing relationship.

-- MWE

I linked a new article in the header about the Mets' relationship with Norfolk. It's a good read, especially for the quotes from Tides' owner Ken Young.

-- MWE

Dbacks AA team may end up in San Antonio

Scroll down:

Farm futures
The Diamondbacks are zeroing in on signing an affiliation agreement with a new Double-A team after severing ties with the Tennessee Smokies after just two seasons, and they appear close to striking a deal with the San Antonio Missions.

A.J. Hinch, Arizona's director of player development, also has met with representatives from Double-A clubs in Mobile, Ala., and West Tennessee and said Saturday that a deal will be reached before the end of this week.

The San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners also covet San Antonio, in part because of its proximity, but Arizona may have the inside track, especially if it affiliates itself with the Class A Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino, Calif.

The Elmore Sports Group owns both the Missions and 66ers, in addition to a handful of other minor league teams. Hinch said there remains a 50-50 chance the Diamondbacks extend their affiliation agreement with Lancaster (Calif.).

The San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners also covet San Antonio, in part because of its proximity, but Arizona may have the inside track, especially if it affiliates itself with the Class A Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino, Calif.

Everything coming out of San Bernardino suggests that the Dodgers are going to take over the affiliation with the 66ers, provided that they can work an equitable sale of their Vero Beach franchise to the Devil Rays.

-- MWE

Spikes make it official, signing a PDC with the Pirates. The article also notes that Williamsport, the former Bucco affiliate in the NY-P, will make an announcement of its new affiliation tomorrow, and that the Phillies are now a logical candidate there.

-- MWE

I linked a new article in the header about the Mets' relationship with Norfolk. It's a good read, especially for the quotes from Tides' owner Ken Young.

Ugly, huh? Of course, now they have a delicate little balancing act on their hands. I'm sure that -- if this representation of the relationship is even moderately accurate -- the Mets don't want to have a really bad reputation in how they deal with AAA affiliates. If nothing else, it would make potential future partners wary of dealing with them. OTOH, they probably have very little incentive to build a long-term relationship with New Orleans, if they have an eye on Syracuse in two years time.

I suppose the right game plan is: be professional, be better than you were with Norfolk (at least from all appearances), and in no way make promises to New Orleans you don't intend to keep. The last thing the Mets need is a black eye from screwing around with a city that's been through Katrina . . . .

Any rumors as to who might replace the Blue Jays in Pulaski, VA (appy lg)?

Any rumors as to who might replace the Blue Jays in Pulaski, VA (appy lg)?

As I said in the other thread, none yet. The longer it takes for a team to surface (and I'd guess the Nats are still a possibility), the more likely it is that Pulaski will be a co-op team next year.

-- MWE

"Our No. 1 goal is to get into the Texas League," Fuson said.

Why is the Texas League so attractive I wonder? Any chance the Texas League expands? Their attendance seems to be skyrocketing. Wichita is losing a team to Springdale, ARK, any chance a different AA franchise moves to Wichita and moves into the Texas League? I assume another franchise would have to make a move into the league as well. El Paso again? Jackson, MS again? Fort Worth, TX?

Why is the Texas League so attractive I wonder?

In San Diego's case, it's a lot closer to home, which makes it easier (and cheaper) to send prospects and rehabbing players back and forth. For example - the Padres didn't send a single player to Mobile to rehab this season, but Mike Cameron, Dave Roberts, Rob Bowen, Ryan Klesko, Doug Brocail, and Woody Williams all made appearances at Lake Elsinore. Many teams prefer to use their system progressively for rehab assignments, spreading the wealth around at bit while giving the home folks - and the prospects - a chance to see a major league player up close.

Any chance the Texas League expands?

It's not beyond the realm of possibility, and I suppose it could happen. West Tenn and Connecticut are on somewhat shaky ground, and it might be possible for Carolina to realign with the Eastern League, or Bowie with the Southern League. But I think it's highly unlikely; teams are already trying to cut travel costs now, and except for the two teams mentioned above, I don't see anyone having any particular problems in their current locations.

Jackson, MS again?

The Braves (there they are again) own the franchise in Pearl, which is a suburb of Jackson, and I would consider it unlikely in the extreme that they will move that franchise to the Texas League.

-- MWE

Norfolk signs a four-year deal with the Orioles. Interesting.

Williamsport signs PDC with Phillies. No surprise here.

-- MWE

Any word on where the mets A team is going. Im guessing its savannah.

Any word on where the mets A team is going.

Not yet. I checked the Sand Gnats' Web site and the Savannah papers, and nothing has been reported. The other current openings in low-A are Clinton (MWL, Rangers), Great Lakes (MWL, formerly SW Michigan, Devil Rays), Columbus GA (SAL, Dodgers), and West Virginia (SAL, Brewers). Great Lakes is a hot ticket, with a brand-new ballpark in Midland as a selling point.

Affilation arrangements have to be finalized by Saturday. Teams without an affliation arrangement after Saturday (in the full-season leagues, that is) will be assigned an affilate prior to October 7.

-- MWE

Ballpark Watch has an announcement up about the final Low-A affiliations. The Rays are in Columbus now so assuming the Vero Beach deal goes through the Rays are well on the way to having all their full season affiliates very close. Hopefully all the issues with Durham will be cleared before the PDC expires (after 2008) and they can keep everyone intact.

Ballpark Watch has an announcement up about the final Low-A affiliations.

Site I forget to check, drat it. Thanks Jim.

Dodgers get Great Lakes.
Brewers back to WV
Rays to Columbus
Mets to Savannah
Rangers back to Clinton after fighting hard for Midland.

The same article also notes that the Rays will have a "future high Class A team in Port Charlotte" - but doesn't specify when.

-- MWE

Remaining openings and ML teams:

AA: San Antonio, Mobile, West Tenn
Advanced A: Inland Empire, High Desert, Lancaster, Visalia
SS-A: Batavia, Jamestown, Vermont, Vancouver
Rookie: Pulaski

Bowie, Frederick, and Delmarva haven't announced their affiliations yet, but all three will re-up with the Orioles. Kannapolis has reupped with the White Sox through 2010.

AA will likely shake out with Arizona getting San Antonio, San Diego West Tenn, and Seattle Mobile (one more DH team for the Southern League)

The Red Sox aren't going to like it, but they'll probably wind up with High Desert. Inland Empire will probably go to the Dodgers, with the Devil Rays purchasing Vero Beach and moving to Port Charlotte as noted above. Seattle has the inside track on Visalia, and Arizona will likely return to Lancaster.

Vancouver will almost certainly renew with Oakland, if they haven't already. I think that Jamestown will probably resign with the Marlins. The Cardinals and Nationals are both trying to grab Vermont; the loser gets Batavia.

Pulaski keeps smelling like a co-op team, which will not look good for MLB, given how hard they begged Pulaski to come back into the league a few years ago when MLB needed another team in the Appy.

-- MWE

Cardinals to Batavia.

-- MWE

Padres end up in San Antonio

Dbacks will be in Mobile or West Tenn, and most likely back in Lancaster.

Rays going to Vero Beach

The Dodgers will return to the California League next season and will no longer field a minor league team at Dodgertown.

They have reached an agreement under which the Tampa Bay Devil Rays will move one of their Class-A teams to Vero Beach, Fla., a source said Wednesday. The Dodgers will shift that team to the California League, restoring a minor league affiliate to their home state for the first time in seven years.

When the Port Charlotte complex is ready in 2009 the Rays will move the minor league team over there to coincide with the move of their spring training site.

This is great news for us of course since we'll get to watch McGee, Davis, and Walker next year though unfortunately the team will be in the east division and probably will only play one series at each bay area team.

OurSportsCentral.com this afternoon wrote:

MOBILE, AL - The Mobile BayBears and Arizona Diamondbacks have announced a two-year Player Development Contract, sending Arizona's Double-A players into BayBears uniforms starting in 2007. Arizona is just the second parent club the BayBears have had since joining the Southern League in 1997.

Vermont and Nationals renew. That's now the longest-running NY-P affiliation.

Cal League status. Visalia, High Desert, and Lancaster need affiliates; Arizona, Seattle, and Boston need a high Class A team.

The Dodgers could sign up with Inland Empire (San Bernardino), High Desert (Adelanto), Lancaster or Visalia.

LA is 99% certain to go to Inland Empire.

-- MWE

Make that 100% certain; should have read all of the Visalia Times-Delta article which includes this statement:

The Devil Rays' migration back to Florida was stirred up after the Los Angeles Dodgers decided to return to the California League after a six-year absence. The Dodgers signed a two-year agreement with Inland Empire Thursday.

-- MWE

Courtesy of shoewizard, who posted this on THE Dbacks board...

Diamondbacks end affiliation
BY GIDEON RUBIN, Staff Writer



The JetHawks' six-year relationship with the Arizona Diamondbacks is over.
Arizona has agreed to terms with the Visalia Oaks on a player development contract, a Diamondbacks official told the Daily News on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the deal.

The JetHawks are among two remaining unsigned advanced Class-A affiliates that have until Saturday to reach a deal with the Seattle Mariners or the Boston Red Sox before the National Association would arrange affiliations at its own discretion. High Desert of Adelanto is the other.

The JetHawks were Mariners affiliates in the first five years of the franchise (1996-2000).

Shoewizard also points out that Visalia is another homer heaven...

Wichita move to Springdale a done deal for 2008.

-- MWE

Let's say the Red Sox sign with Lancaster. Then Red Sox prospects will suddenly look like mini-babe ruths. Kevin will show up to tell us how they all will become hall of famers...

Of course, Kevin will conveniently forget how he claimed all of AZ's prospects were overrated because they played in Lancaster. Consistency has never been Kevin's strong suit...

Dodgers to IE details. The article also includes the cite about the D'backs going to Visalia.

-- MWE

Let's say the Red Sox sign with Lancaster. Then Red Sox prospects will suddenly look like mini-babe ruths. Kevin will show up to tell us how they all will become hall of famers...

That'd be true of High Desert, as well.

-- MWE

Lancaster really pumps up the power numbers of left handed hitters.

The Sox officially have paired up with Lancaster.

Why the Mariners left San Antonio.

-- MWE

Sox to Lancaster announcement. Leaving High Desert for the Mariners, obviously.

-- MWE

Lancaster is also high elevation - probably somwhere near 2500 feet. Biggest difference between it and High Desert is that Lancaster/Palmdale has a lot more population than Victorville/Hesperia; both areas are growing. I'm guessing that Inland Empire is closer to 1000 feet elevation and an even bigger population in the general neighborhood. All three places would get pretty hot in the summer; the smog would be worse in Inland Empire.

BTW, do not mess with the police in Adelanto.

BTW, do not mess with the police in Adelanto.

Do we speak from experience here, LAWoBH?

-- MWE

Professional experience; I used to have a clerical job in a law office that did work on police brutality cases. There was a whole collection of cases involving the Adelanto PD; my boss and some of the plaintiffs had a few television appearances in connection with this.

The timing is about right, but I don't actually recall if what I just referenced in post 85 was connected to this:

In September 1997, two former officers from the Adelanto Police Department, San Bernardino County, California, were jailed for two years on federal charges, after pleading guilty to beating a suspect during questioning and forcing another man to lick blood off the floor in 1994

http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/sports/148963

Dbacks renew deal with Tucson Sidewinders

Dbacks renew deal with Tucson Sidewinders

This was pretty much a foregone conclusion back at the beginning of September, but both sides wanted to wait until Tucson made it through the postseason.

Rangers renew low-A affiliation with Clinton.

Catfish and Devil Rays confirm linkup.

-- MWE