MiLB Ready To Agree To Significant Reduction In Teams

[cephasjames]

Sources: MiLB Ready To Agree To Significant Reduction In Teams

When Major League Baseball proposed to Minor League Baseball last year its plan to cut the minor leagues from 160 teams to 120 affiliated teams in negotiations for a new Professional Baseball Agreement, such a proposal was greeted by many MiLB teams as unthinkable... MiLB has now agreed to find ways to come to agreement on almost all of MLB’s public demands.

The article seems to indicate that COVID-19 has played a part in pushing MiLB to this decision. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out.

[Buster Cherry]

Keep the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

[hillm2ca]

I was saddened to see that MiLB had agreed to a proposal they fought vigorously against ever since it was originally proposed by MLB. Ultimately, I think that this will hurt the sport, and I would not be surprised if fans of affected teams write off the game (at least Major League Baseball) forever. Meanwhile, I wonder what backdoor agreement finally swayed MiLB to give in here.

As had been said by others, minor league baseball teams are community hubs and attract fans who, in many cases, are priced out of being able to take themselves and their family to see major league teams. The opportunity to witness live baseball is a more effective way to attract young fans than trying to do so through television and video games.

While some teams slated for elimination will not disappear entirely - apparently maintaining some affiliation with Major League Baseball - others will not be financially sustainable.

I sometimes wonder if Rob Manfred even likes baseball, given his previous attempts of trying to change this and that, and ruining the sport in the process. What an ambassador for the game

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by hillm2ca

I sometimes wonder if Rob Manfred even likes baseball, given his previous attempts of trying to change this and that, and ruining the sport in the process. What an ambassador for the game

Reminder : Manfred works at the behest of the billionaire owners

[cephasjames]

Originally Posted by hillm2ca

I wonder what backdoor agreement finally swayed MiLB to give in here.

According to this Detroit Free Press article COVID-19 seems to be a major catalyst in changing MiLB's mind.

The National Association lobbied Congress as it fought MLB’s plan. But the new coronavirus pandemic changed the dynamic and sapped minor league teams of revenue and willingness to fight. Some teams have trimmed expenses with layoffs and furloughs.

[hillm2ca]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

According to this Detroit Free Press article COVID-19 seems to be a major catalyst in changing MiLB's mind.

I figured that was involved, but I was also wondering if MLB was perhaps offering to provide any financial relief and assistance to minor league teams if MiLB agreed to the elimination of teams.

Tough times for sure.

[PocketsAintFull]

120 teams is still a lot, imo. I do wonder if this might help Independent ball in some way, albeit undesigned.

[GeoWar]

I see the Independent Leagues growing and getting stronger .... This really helps the smaller market teams putting more talent available and not being able to be kept in minors by large market teams .... I think the number of minor players effected in the Yankees organization was around 140 .....

[sprague]

I have never understood why there is 88 levels of minor leagues to start with. what that tells me is that the system in HS and College is not properly developing players.
Take hockey, by 18 players are ready to step into the NHL directly, many need just a year of two of minor league hockey or another year in junior. Of course what happens is by 16 Canadians enter junior (basically regional like semi pro leagues) and are playing against the best competition. Same is happening in Europe where the top 14-18 year olds play against each other only. They develop by playing the best they can play.


Yet US HS bb for example is all about playing "locally" and as such a good hitter rarely faces a good pitcher, and vice versa. The development curve is very slow. But look back to the 1920's or 30's...good teenagers at 15 or 16 were already playing guys in their 20's if they were good enough. They found outlets in the system to allow to compete at the level they were good enough for.


Thus things below A ball should be dropped entirely, and refocus the entire way things are done below that...how can you start getting development to the point where an 18 or 19 year old player can get drafted and move right into AA ball in some cases...it is more a development issue of players 14-18, then really an issue of developing 19-23.

[Antonin]

Originally Posted by hillm2ca

...As had been said by others, minor league baseball teams are community hubs and attract fans who, in many cases, are priced out of being able to take themselves and their family to see major league teams. The opportunity to witness live baseball is a more effective way to attract young fans than trying to do so through television and video games...

As I've said before, the Lake County Captains, a single-A affiliate of Cleveland's major league team, are a fun, affordable option for people in the Cleveland area who want to see professional baseball in a family-friendly environment. The stadium is very nice, and the staff are incredibly helpful.

I hope the Captains will continue to exist.

[ohiodevil]

Originally Posted by Antonin

As I've said before, the Lake County Captains, a single-A affiliate of Cleveland's major league team, are a fun, affordable option for people in the Cleveland area who want to see professional baseball in a family-friendly environment. The stadium is very nice, and the staff are incredibly helpful.

I hope the Captains will continue to exist.

I think you are going to see the Short-A and Adv-Rookie leagues affected by this. I read somewhere that the teams that use their spring training sites for their Rookie teams will be fine, but the App, Pioneer, Northwest and NY-Penn all could fold and only some of those teams surviving as affiliates but will be promoted into one of the Single-A leagues.

Plus teams like the Indians like to have their affiliates close, so with the Captains being the closest affiliate and with a newer ballpark, they should be fine.

[cephasjames]

Yeah, short-season leagues would be gone, according to MLB's proposal, along with some teams from other levels.

Here's a list, according to Baseball America:
*Some non-short season teams subject to change.

Double-A
Binghamton Rumble Ponies
Chattanooga Lookouts
Erie SeaWolves
Jackson Generals

High Class A
Lancaster JetHawks
Daytona Tortugas
Florida Fire Frogs
Frederick Keys

Low Class A
Beloit Snappers
Burlington Bees
Clinton LumberKings
Lexington Legends
Hagerstown Suns
West Virginia Power

Short-Season A
Auburn Doubledays
Batavia Muckdogs
Connecticut Tigers
Lowell Spinners
Mahoning Valley Scrappers
Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
State College Spikes
Staten Island Yankees
Tri-City Dust Devils
Vermont Lake Monsters
Williamsport Crosscutters

Rookie
Billings Mustangs
Bluefield Blue Jays
Bristol Pirates
Burlington Royals
Danville Braves
Elizabethton Twins
Grand Junction Rockies
Great Falls Voyagers
Greeneville Reds
Idaho Falls Chukars
Johnson City Cardinals
Kingsport Mets
Missoula Osprey
Ogden Raptors
Orem Owlz
Princeton Rays
Rocky Mountain Vibes

[CONN CHRIS]

As much as I have loved the Connecticut Tigers, they deserve to go after re-branding themselves as the Sea Unicorns complete with colors befitting a My Little Pony toy advertisement. If you want to name a baseball team after a Narwhale, fine - call it the Narwhales. Why Saturday-morning-cartoon it up?

Ugg, good riddance to bad marketing decisions.

[mgom27]

Good no Triple-A Teams gone yet.

[BMW]

Originally Posted by CONN CHRIS

As much as I have loved the Connecticut Tigers, they deserve to go after re-branding themselves as the Sea Unicorns complete with colors befitting a My Little Pony toy advertisement. If you want to name a baseball team after a Narwhale, fine - call it the Narwhales. Why Saturday-morning-cartoon it up?

Ugg, good riddance to bad marketing decisions.

I feel you, but most of these teams struggle to stay afloat. If you can drive real merchandise sales because someone's kid wants a Sea Unicorn hat, that can make a difference. I'm still reeling from the Montgomery Biscuits.

The world is too small now with too many easy-to-get entertainment options. The number of people going to minor league games who have an interest in the home team winning is very small. The number of people going because they want to see the kids the big club will be getting is probably a decent percentage. But for affiliated ball, I'd be shocked if less than 50% of the crowd was there purely for a night out. In indy ball, it's more like 90%.

They have to market themselves as pure entertainment because their competition is other pure entertainment.

[Robby The Z]

https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/05/19/mi...l-is-in-crisis

Some of the disaffiliated teams might become wooden-bat college summer leagues, and others could be part of a "Dream League" of players recently cut loose from pro baseball.

But like so many other small businesses, a lot of minor league franchises really struggling with the finances of the pandemic.

[actionjackson]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

Reminder : Manfred works at the behest of the billionaire owners

Who will spend less to make more, no matter who they hurt. Remember this the next time there's a squawking between owners and players. Remember how much players take the fall for these chumps. Not saying at all that most of the major leaguers don't make more money than I'll ever see in my lifetime. The owners will always win the PR battle though. The skirmishes will always be the fault of the players. Funny how that works.

[dkgo]

Because fans have no loyalty to players. They are just as happy rooting for whoever is in the uniform.

[Reed]

Originally Posted by dkgo

Because fans have no loyalty to players. They are just as happy rooting for whoever is in the uniform.

Yes, when I was a kid I thought players were loyal to the team and I felt very loyal to the players and team. Now since I realize the players and owners are just after the money, I feel nothing for either. All I hear about is revenue or salary or holding out or cheating in one form or another. I pretty much stopped watching all pro sports about 5 years ago.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by Reed

All I hear about is revenue or salary or holding out or cheating in one form or another.

You should consider getting your information from different sources.

Yes, that's a part of sports.
But it's certainly not all of it.