Comments on: Ottawa Lynx sale fall-out hits the papers http://natnotes.com/2006/08/30/ottawa-lynx-sale-fall-out-hits-the-papers/ Accept no imitations! Sun, 23 Nov 2008 12:20:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Oz http://natnotes.com/2006/08/30/ottawa-lynx-sale-fall-out-hits-the-papers/#comment-76 Oz Sat, 23 Sep 2006 23:48:49 +0000 http://notesfromthenat.com/?p=158#comment-76 The problem is, geographically, the only place the C's will really fit is the Northwest League. We could <em>maybe</em> con our way into the Midwest League (though other teams would protest about the travel expenses, and we really wouldn't be taking a big step up), but there's no way we'd find a spot in the Texas League or California League, so that really leaves short-season ball or AAA. I honestly think AAA is a possibility some time down the road, but it wouldn't be with Oakland, who just love the way things are run in Sacramento, and I can't see the Rockies or D'backs wanting to go from nearby affiliates to distant cross-border options. As much as nobody goes to Colorado Springs games or Tucson games, if the big team needs an emergency arm, it's a two hour drive, not an international flight, and the big clubs do prefer that. In all honesty, the only way I could see us getting back to AAA is if Portland found themselves with a Major League team, and here's why: it would mean the current AAA team in Portland would have to move, and where the hell could they move to? There just isn't anywhere handy that could fill a AAA stadium, that doesn't already have one. Vancouver would give a Portland major league team a nearby AAA affiliate, a good-sized city with a big potential crowd (and a soon-to-be beautiful stadium), and the existing AAA team could pick any Northwest city and take our spot in the NWL - which would suck for them, but as we've seen, you can get bigger crowds in the NWL than some cities in AAA can draw. Either way, if the C's stay where is, we're going to do just fine. But if we can get up to full-season ball, I sure as hell wouldn't object to it. The problem is, geographically, the only place the C’s will really fit is the Northwest League. We could maybe con our way into the Midwest League (though other teams would protest about the travel expenses, and we really wouldn’t be taking a big step up), but there’s no way we’d find a spot in the Texas League or California League, so that really leaves short-season ball or AAA.

I honestly think AAA is a possibility some time down the road, but it wouldn’t be with Oakland, who just love the way things are run in Sacramento, and I can’t see the Rockies or D’backs wanting to go from nearby affiliates to distant cross-border options. As much as nobody goes to Colorado Springs games or Tucson games, if the big team needs an emergency arm, it’s a two hour drive, not an international flight, and the big clubs do prefer that.

In all honesty, the only way I could see us getting back to AAA is if Portland found themselves with a Major League team, and here’s why: it would mean the current AAA team in Portland would have to move, and where the hell could they move to? There just isn’t anywhere handy that could fill a AAA stadium, that doesn’t already have one.

Vancouver would give a Portland major league team a nearby AAA affiliate, a good-sized city with a big potential crowd (and a soon-to-be beautiful stadium), and the existing AAA team could pick any Northwest city and take our spot in the NWL - which would suck for them, but as we’ve seen, you can get bigger crowds in the NWL than some cities in AAA can draw.

Either way, if the C’s stay where is, we’re going to do just fine. But if we can get up to full-season ball, I sure as hell wouldn’t object to it.

]]> By: cowboy http://natnotes.com/2006/08/30/ottawa-lynx-sale-fall-out-hits-the-papers/#comment-74 cowboy Sat, 23 Sep 2006 16:43:48 +0000 http://notesfromthenat.com/?p=158#comment-74 The last AAA team leaving Canada is sad news for the sport in the North & for the city of Ottawa. Considering how many solid players have come out of Canada in the last few years (Morneau, Lowen, Bedard, & more co.), there are people who care and love the game in this country. Now, only a short-season A team has done well as an organization in Vancouver. Thanks to all the supportive fans and success of the A's minor league operation. People in Vancouver should do more to ensure the team stays for years to come & never leaves for a suburb in the middle of nowhere across the border. Ottawa's situation is terrible, really. Averaging only less than 2K fan per game is pittiful. Regardless of the level of baseball, not being able to get the support from the local busineesses and fans in the community kills any professional sports team. How did the people in Ottawa expect the Lynx to even break even & to stick around when they don't show up at the game? To be able to "upgrade" the level of baseball in Vancouver is possible. Though, getting an AAA may not be all that realistic. A newer, bigger stadium and a bigger fan-base would have to be in place before the Canadians can bid for a higher-level team. Also, Sacramento is doing great for the A's as an AAA team. The only possibilty could be the Rockies' Colorado Spring affiliation(they are not drwing many fans to games) or Dismondbacks' Tucson team, considering the geographic distance between the city & the respective teams, and fan supports. Let's just all be very happy to have a strong team in the Canadians & the studs drafted year-after-year by the A's. The last AAA team leaving Canada is sad news for the sport in the North & for the city of Ottawa. Considering how many solid players have come out of Canada in the last few years (Morneau, Lowen, Bedard, & more co.), there are people who care and love the game in this country.

Now, only a short-season A team has done well as an organization in Vancouver. Thanks to all the supportive fans and success of the A’s minor league operation. People in Vancouver should do more to ensure the team stays for years to come & never leaves for a suburb in the middle of nowhere across the border.

Ottawa’s situation is terrible, really. Averaging only less than 2K fan per game is pittiful. Regardless of the level of baseball, not being able to get the support from the local busineesses and fans in the community kills any professional sports team. How did the people in Ottawa expect the Lynx to even break even & to stick around when they don’t show up at the game?

To be able to “upgrade” the level of baseball in Vancouver is possible. Though, getting an AAA may not be all that realistic. A newer, bigger stadium and a bigger fan-base would have to be in place before the Canadians can bid for a higher-level team. Also, Sacramento is doing great for the A’s as an AAA team. The only possibilty could be the Rockies’ Colorado Spring affiliation(they are not drwing many fans to games) or Dismondbacks’ Tucson team, considering the geographic distance between the city & the respective teams, and fan supports.

Let’s just all be very happy to have a strong team in the Canadians & the studs drafted year-after-year by the A’s.

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