BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: Ballpark Digest: It’s official: Lake County and Bowling Green to Midwest League in 2010

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Ballpark Digest: It’s official: Lake County and Bowling Green to Midwest League in 2010

The first shoe drops in what is likely to be a lively off-season for the minor leagues:

there should be no surprise that the Lake County Captains and the as-yet-unnamed Bowling Green team will be moving from the South Atlantic League to the Midwest League in 2010. At the end of the day, objections from some team owners over long commutes and awkward schedules—objections heard from both leagues—were overcome under some pressure from the Cleveland Indians front office, who was strongly lobbying for the move.

Bowling Green is moving from Columbus (GA) and will retain its affiliation with the Rays.

Some other news, which I sort of expected:

It’s a certainty that Triple-A baseball won’t return to Richmond—despite being a market seemingly tailor-made for a Washington Nationals farm team—and what happens in the future is still a matter of debate; we know the Eastern League basically won the rights to the market, but Peter Kirk is pitching a new ballpark that may or may not feature an Atlantic League team.

Rumors are that the Connecticut franchise will be moving to Richmond, although I would think Harrisburg is another possibility.

Mike Emeigh Posted: September 02, 2008 at 06:47 PM | 8 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: minor leagues

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

1. Crispix Attacks Posted: September 02, 2008 at 07:09 PM (#2926152)

Probably the stadium situation makes it a good choice, but Bowling Green doesn't seem like a very good spot for either the SAL or the MWL. It's the southernmost spot in the MWL now, a long way from Peoria and Dayton. And it would have been the westernmost spot in the SAL, though not far from Lexington, Kentucky. Columbus is way the heck over on the Alabama border, but at least there are three other Georgia teams in the SAL.

2. Crispix Attacks Posted: September 02, 2008 at 07:14 PM (#2926157)

Is Richmond going to have a new ballpark? The one in Harrisburg may not be great, but it's in the middle of a pretty cool public park, and it's undergoing a major renovation/improvement, so I don't know why they would move to the dilapidated confines in Richmond.

3. Greg Schuler Posted: September 02, 2008 at 07:29 PM (#2926183)

I don't know which ballpark is worse - the Diamond (a true dump when I last visted) or Harrisburg (no worse an evening than dealing with flying insects in the middle of a river in central PA).

4. Mike Emeigh

Posted: September 02, 2008 at 07:42 PM (#2926199)

Is Richmond going to have a new ballpark?

That's what Peter Kirk's proposal is supposed to be about.

-- MWE

5. Crispix Attacks Posted: September 02, 2008 at 08:14 PM (#2926253)

This whole Ballpark Digest website is very interesting; I was unaware of it before.

Do you know what's going to happen to the Oneonta Tigers? The guy who has owned them since like 1962 finally sold this year...that level of ball might be better for Harrisburg than the Eastern League, if the Senators owners are thinking of moving.

6. Mike Emeigh

Posted: September 02, 2008 at 08:40 PM (#2926280)

Do you know what's going to happen to the Oneonta Tigers?

The terms of the sale require Miles Prentice to keep the Tigers in Oneonta through 2010. Prentice owns Huntsville and Midland as well.

One thing that likely will happen is that beer will now be sold at Damaschke Field. The previous owners refused to do it, making the Tigers the only team in organized ball with such a policy.

-- MWE

7. Devin has a deep burning passion for fuzzy socks Posted: September 02, 2008 at 08:46 PM (#2926285)

Dumb question: Which Bowling Green is it - Kentucky or Ohio?

8. catomi01 Posted: September 02, 2008 at 09:32 PM (#2926333)

Rumors are that the Connecticut franchise will be moving to Richmond, although I would think Harrisburg is another possibility.

Luckily for Richmond, the Bluefish ownership is supposed to be taking over the team in Yonkers...so unless that fell through, they won't have to deal with them. From first hand experience....that is a very good thing for the people of Richmond.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Ballpark Digest: It’s official: Lake County and Bowling Green to Midwest League in 2010

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics