689 replies to this topic

[Russ]

I thought that as well until I read this article.

http://www.bizofbase...rials&Itemid=39

Where do you think they should move to?


DC was really the last major market without a team and that was a fiasco in itself. I think if there was a viable market that the Expos could've gone to instead it would've. DC was the only option.

There's really two questions there:

1) Where should they move?
2) Where is a move feasible?

They should move to Connecticut or New Jersey, but that wouldn't be allowed.

I could see them moving to Charlotte or Portland.

[Oriole85]

There's really two questions there:

1) Where should they move?
2) Where is a move feasible?

They should move to Connecticut or New Jersey, but that wouldn't be allowed.

I could see them moving to Charlotte or Portland.

Do you think either of those two cities could support a baseball team? Would Tampa Bay be able to get out of it's contract? I know they've supported other major sports but baseball is a different animal. They'd need to expand their minor league park immediately. They'd have to get 20k STH minimum and multi-year deals on premium seats.

[Russ]

Do you think either of those two cities could support a baseball team? Would Tampa Bay be able to get out of it's contract? I know they've supported other major sports but baseball is a different animal. They'd need to expand their minor league park immediately. They'd have to get 20k STH minimum and multi-year deals on premium seats.

Short answer, I think both cities could support baseball and I don't think minor league park expansion or ticket sales are big obstacles.

As far as the lease, I don't know, but there is always a lot of legal maneuvering when these things happen. I just can't see the Rays being in Tampa 20 more years. If things continue, I could see a potential contraction/new franchise scenario.

[Oriole85]

Short answer, I think both cities could support baseball and I don't think minor league park expansion or ticket sales are big obstacles.

As far as the lease, I don't know, but there is always a lot of legal maneuvering when these things happen. I just can't see the Rays being in Tampa 20 more years. If things continue, I could see a potential contraction/new franchise scenario.

Contraction is off-the-table, they already tried that and it failed. And remember of course, you need TWO franchises, they aren't going to operate with an odd number. The MLBPA would NEVER go for it. Not to mention with media deals and leases, that's a lot of lawsuits. Moving is MUCH more likely. Btw, I think I know where you are going with the contract then start again thing... the teams would get an expansion draft? I don't see it.

The cities would also have to commit to new stadiums, that's probably a bigger obstacle than anything I mention. You saw how difficult it was in DC for a time.

BTW, Sacramento said they wanted in on the MLB business since they are likely losing the Kings, I doubt anything happens there.

FYI, here are the top ten cities, Brown names(from 2008)... Charlotte/Portland/Northern NJ are at the top of the list.

http://www.bizofbase...rials&Itemid=39

[BSLChrisStoner]

The Hardball Times: American Top 40
http://www.hardballt...merican-top-40/

[DJ MC]

As long as the New York region is off the table, MLB might want to consider going back into Canada.

You can't tell me that a waterfront ball park in Vancouver wouldn't be a fantastic home for a team. And before Seattle complains, it's 150 miles away; that's 50% further than Philadelphia to either Baltimore or New York. And it has a metro population about the size of Pittsburgh--bigger than Portland, San Antonio, Sacramento, Charlotte, etc.

Both the A's and Rays should seriously consider that kind of move.

[Oriole85]

As long as the New York region is off the table, MLB might want to consider going back into Canada.

You can't tell me that a waterfront ball park in Vancouver wouldn't be a fantastic home for a team. And before Seattle complains, it's 150 miles away; that's 50% further than Philadelphia to either Baltimore or New York. And it has a metro population about the size of Pittsburgh--bigger than Portland, San Antonio, Sacramento, Charlotte, etc.

Both the A's and Rays should seriously consider that kind of move.

It would be good to have a "west coast" Canadian team. Why would this work though when the Grizzlies there didn't?

[DJ MC]

It would be good to have a "west coast" Canadian team. Why would this work though when the Grizzlies there didn't?

The Grizzlies were a crappy team that tripped out of the gate and that the NBA didn't want to support for long after the expansion (for the same reason all the NHL teams moved out of Canada at the same time: a seriously weak Canadian dollar). Plus, they were going head-to-head with the Canucks.

A baseball team would be a different story, in season, in ballpark, and (if not an expansion club) in ability.

[BSLChrisStoner]

DRaysBay: The Rays Tank: This Stretch Run Is Going To Be Nuts
http://www.draysbay....oing-to-be-nuts

[BSLChrisStoner]

DRaysBay: Series Preview: Yankees at Rays
http://www.draysbay....yankees-at-rays

[BSLChrisStoner]

Baseball Analytics: Pena loses distance during Tampa Homecoming
http://www.baseballa...homecoming.html

[BSLChrisStoner]

DRaysBay: Matt Moore's struggles with Consistency
http://www.draysbay....ith-consistency

[BSLChrisStoner]

FanGraphs: Upton Now Differently Confounding
http://www.fangraphs...ly-confounding/

[BSLChrisStoner]

Yahoo: Rays in hot water after getting swept by O's
http://sports.yahoo....es-on-deck.html

[Oriole85]

CBS Sports: No deficit seems too big for Rays (except this one is starting to)

http://www.cbssports...is-starting-to)

This was the game some Rays had labeled as "must-win," even though losing it only dropped them four games behind the Orioles with 19 games to play. They're actually closer to a playoff spot than they were after 143 games a year ago (they trailed the Red Sox by 5 1/2 games then), but they still had six head-to-head meetings remaining (and they would go on to win five of them).

Sure it's possible. They know it better than anyone.

But they were hoping not to count on it happening again.

[Oriole85]

ESPN: Let's bring baseball back to Montreal

http://espn.go.com/m...-bring-mlb-back

[SBTarheel]

Not that it bothers me considering, but they're done. Seeing Cobb and Molina going at it in the dugout last night sealed the deal for me. Surprising to see a team led by Maddon just collapse like this.

[SportsGuy]

Not that it bothers me considering, but they're done. Seeing Cobb and Molina going at it in the dugout last night sealed the deal for me. Surprising to see a team led by Maddon just collapse like this.

Yea, its a little surprising but look at that lineup...Not good!

[Oriole85]

Not that it bothers me considering, but they're done. Seeing Cobb and Molina going at it in the dugout last night sealed the deal for me. Surprising to see a team led by Maddon just collapse like this.

Still would like to see Boston put that final nail on the coffin and win the rest of this series!

[RShack]

Not that it bothers me considering, but they're done. Seeing Cobb and Molina going at it in the dugout last night sealed the deal for me. Surprising to see a team led by Maddon just collapse like this.

Really.

I want the O's to beat them, but there's nothing about TB to hate... except maybe their lame fanbase... I want them to finish behind the O's, but I don't want them to fall apart or have anything terrible happen to them...