MLB Off-Topic

[DrJones]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

As much as it pains me to say it, I don't think we'll ever see another Canadian team. Even if the loonie was on par with the American dollar and... things... were more normal between the two countries, I can't see it. Putting a team back in Montreal would require someone with extremely deep pockets. (Outside of Alberta, even Canadian NHL arenas are almost entirely funded with private money.) Vancouver has more money, but is kind of a garbage baseball market - pretty much nobody (except me) cares unless the Blue Jays are in the playoffs, and the idea of watching baseball games in BC Place (where Edgar Martinez infamously wrecked his knee in a 1993 Spring Training game) is gross.

NOTE: Because of TV, there are many, many more Blue Jays fans than Mariners fans here (lot of Seahawks fans, however), even though most Vancouverites are apathetic towards the Raptors and openly despise the Leafs.

[DrJones]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I think one problem MLB faces is that there are fewer "slam dunk" expansion cities available compared to the NBA and NHL, and pro baseball requires a greater fan commitment than either of those leagues.

Biggest US markets without a team (for the purpose of this exercise, I'm counting Tampa/Orlando, San Antonio/Austin, Charlotte/Raleigh, Cleveland/Columbus, Nashville/Memphis, and the SF Bay area as single markets):

NFL (32): San Diego, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Portland
NBA (30): Seattle, San Diego, Las Vegas, St. Louis, Kansas City, Pittsburgh
NHL (32): Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, San Diego, Portland, San Antonio
MLB (30): Charlotte, Salt Lake City, Portland, San Antonio, Indianapolis, Nashville

[Madden08PCgmr]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Eddie DeBartolo was floated as a potential buyer for the Rays. Wouldn't be a bit surprised if he moved them to the Bay Area.

I'm sure the Giants want it all to themselves, but they could easily support another team. Over 9 million people in the metro area. Not to mention the corporate giants in the area.

Thats a far better opportunity than any other US city can offer.

[DrJones]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Eddie DeBartolo was floated as a potential buyer for the Rays. Wouldn't be a bit surprised if he moved them to the Bay Area.

I'm sure the Giants want it all to themselves, but they could easily support another team. Over 9 million people in the metro area. Not to mention the corporate giants in the area.

Thats a far better opportunity than any other US city can offer.

The A's wanted to move to San Jose and the Giants killed it in one of the biggest dick moves in baseball history. (The A's gifted the Giants the territorial rights to San Jose to help save the Giants from moving to Tampa in the early 90s). Is Manfred willing to go to war against the Giants and the 5th richest owner in MLB (who's considerably wealthier than DeBartolo)?

https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/san-jose-asks-mlb-remove-giants-territorial-rights-bay-area-expansion/

[zello144]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The Orlando Rays. Orlando has money to fund a stadium. MLB can still say they're committed to central Florida. Maybe they can fill the stadium.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

The Orlando Rays. Orlando has money to fund a stadium. MLB can still say they're committed to central Florida. Maybe they can fill the stadium.

The Marlins and Rays have both done poorly attendance wise, I get why they want to have more teams in areas like that, but it just doesn't work. You're almost banking on half the stadium capacity at these games being traveling fans from other cities, which isn't happening as often.

I think the NBA is the only sport where they don't have a struggling Florida team (attendance/fan wise).


Take the Rays out if the equation, the league has 8 West teams (6 Pacific timezone teams, 2 mountain timezone teams), 8 central teams, 14 East teams.

If the league does expand one day, I think they should do it based on timezones (8 divisions of 4 or 4 divisions of 8), and since the Pacific and central times are already evened out, it'll probably be better if their 2 expansion teams come in the east, but it also means the Rays if they relocate should also stay in the east.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Florida only needs one team, and it needs to play 20 games in Jacksonville, 20 games in Tampa, 20 games in Miami and 20 games in Orlando. They should be called the Florida Marlins. The Tampa Bay Rays should move to Charlotte or Montreal.

[Majingir]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Florida only needs one team, and it needs to play 20 games in Jacksonville, 20 games in Tampa, 20 games in Miami and 20 games in Orlando. They should be called the Florida Marlins. The Tampa Bay Rays should move to Charlotte or Montreal.

I don't think we ever will/should see a "touring team" in pro sports unless its a drastic situation like the NO/OKC Hornets, or the 2020/21 Toronto Buffalo Dunedin Los Angeles Blue Jays of Anaheim and so on.

Especially for baseball where you need to have an MLB sized ballpark which only exists in current or former MLB locations. Not like basketball or hockey where its in an arena and you can use other facilities, or even minor league ones are decent sized.

The Marlins should just rebrand back to the Florida Marlins once the Rays move and represent all of Florida. Would that impact TV deals in any way (if there were regional restrictions which had Rays region vs Marlins region) where only 1 team means the entire state can now get the Marlins games? Really emphasize them being "Florida's Team".

Imo the Rays leaving would probably just have Rays fans more likely to be Marlins (or other teams fans) than give up baseball altogether, while gaining a fan base wherever the Rays move.

[steelerfan]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Florida only needs one team, and it needs to play 20 games in Jacksonville, 20 games in Tampa, 20 games in Miami and 20 games in Orlando. They should be called the Florida Marlins. The Tampa Bay Rays should move to Charlotte or Montreal.

I'm not sure that one team having 4 stadiums is the best idea.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't think we ever will/should see a "touring team" in pro sports unless its a drastic situation like the NO/OKC Hornets, or the 2020/21 Toronto Buffalo Dunedin Los Angeles Blue Jays of Anaheim and so on.

Especially for baseball where you need to have an MLB sized ballpark which only exists in current or former MLB locations. Not like basketball or hockey where its in an arena and you can use other facilities, or even minor league ones are decent sized.

The Marlins should just rebrand back to the Florida Marlins once the Rays move and represent all of Florida. Would that impact TV deals in any way (if there were regional restrictions which had Rays region vs Marlins region) where only 1 team means the entire state can now get the Marlins games? Really emphasize them being "Florida's Team".

Imo the Rays leaving would probably just have Rays fans more likely to be Marlins (or other teams fans) than give up baseball altogether, while gaining a fan base wherever the Rays move.

Jacksonville and Orlando would only need a 15000 seat stadium. In Miami they are set and the Trop it seems will eventually be ready too. Youre only looking at twenty games in those home cities, so ownership could charge a premium for all seats and most likely sell out all 81 home games. The current way is not going to work for Tampa or Miami, and tho the Marlins have won it all before, it did nothing to make Miami a baseball town. Same with Tampa, won a couple pennants but Tampa is not capable of selling out a 40,000 seat stadium consistently over a 81 game schedule. One Florida team is all the supply the demand needs in the Sunshine State. They need to start thinking outside the box or the only MLB ball they will eventually have will be spring training baseball.

[zello144]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Ozzie's big mouth kinda ruined the Marlins attendance. Ownership of both teams has also been cheap and refused to spend to win. The Rays need to dig into their pockets and build a stadium actually in Tampa. They need new ownership for that to ever happen.

[Picci]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

One of many steps still required but one hurdle completed today. Steve Cohen is still fixing in getting a casino too. Got to pay these FAs some way


$8B Citi Field casino and park proposal gets zoning approval from NYC Council

https://www.6sqft.com/8b-citi-field-casino-and-park-proposal-gets-zoning-approval-from-nyc-council/

Spoiler

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If any of you guys want to do fantasy this year, our OSNQ league which was previously ran by our beloved late buddy Mo (cpatt20) has several openings. See the league thread on the main baseball forum.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Astros have unveiled their new City Connect uniforms, and they're a huge upgrade over the Space City look (it seems the original CC uniforms were only for a 3-year cycle, so I assume the new ones are also a 3-year cycle)

Spoiler

It's a nice combination of the early-mid 90s branding with the 80s/current color scheme.

[DrJones]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

If this is true, it's even more evidence of the ineptitude in Toronto's front office. It's one thing if you're sticking to your guns, ie "paying Vladdy anything more than 300-350M is ridiculous", so be it! But if you're willing to give him 530 million but not 580, that's truly bizarre. 530M is already an insane overpay! An extra 50M over 12-15 years is a drop in the bucket to Rogers. Either pay him what he wants, or resign yourself to him leaving and deal with the fallout. Why quibble like this?