Fans have responded to the call from the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) for a possible new team name for 2011, coinciding with the team’s move to a new ballpark, with over 400 different suggestions. The submitted new names outnumber the votes from folks wanting to see the franchise retain the Royals moniker. […]
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Could we see casualty of affiliate dance in Cal League? Dodgers eying Rancho
Though nothing’s been officially announced — and won’t be until the end of the regular season — word is that the Los Angeles Dodgers are negotiating a purchase of a chunk of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High Class A; California League) and will switch affiliation to the team. It’s become trendy for major-league teams for […]
First PCL schedules released; still no word on Portland destination
The first Pacific Coast League schedules are being released, and they all show the same thing: Portland. But we know the Beavers won’t be playing at PGE Park next season, so the name is just a placeholder, as no decision has been made about the future of the team. But with some increased ballpark talk […]
Round Rock expected to shift affiliation to Rangers
With Nolan Ryan now an owner of the Texas Rangers, it’s widely expected that the Texas Triple-A affiliation will shift to the Round Rock Express from the Oklahoma City RedHawks. Technically, MLB and MiLB teams cannot be discussing affiliation shifts until the end of the year. And we’re not suggesting that anything formal has been […]
O-Royals no more?
A new ballpark may not be the only change for the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) next season, as the team is soliciting suggestions for a new team name. Beginning Saturday, August 21, fans will aid in the team’s ultimate decision on a name by being able to submit their ideas in […]
Tides, BaySox, Keys re-up with O’s through 2014
The three eastern teams controlled by Ken Young extended their player-development deals with the Baltimore Orioles through 2014. The Norfolk Tides (Class AAA; International League), the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) and the Bowie BaySox (Class AA; Eastern League) all extended their existing player-development deals. “We are extremely excited to continue our partnership […]
Padres pitch one-sided lease to Escondido
No wonder the San Diego Padres are in a hurry to have Escondido (Cal.) officials approve a lease for a new Portland Beavers ballpark quickly: the deal proposed is totally one-sided in favor of the Padres. The city would borrow $45 million (at a total cost potentially of $90 million) for the new ballpark and […]
Pols: Let’s not fix up PNC Field — or sell team to Mandalay, either
If Mandalay Baseball and the New York Yankees want to see improvements to PNC Field, they’ll need to fund them, according to several Lackawanna County Commissioners, who don’t want to see the pair exercise an option to buy the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Yes, it’s an inconsistent stand, but the rhetoric is certainly placing the future of […]
Escondido: Show us some money, Padres
Despite a series of meetings between Escondido (Cal.) officials and reps from the San Diego Padres, the two sides failed to reach a Memorandum of Understanding to negotiate a new-ballpark plan for the Portland Beavers, as some Escondido officials question the wisdom of laying off city workers and then spending $90 million on a new […]
Escondido in, San Marcos out of Bevos ballpark mix
Cal State San Marcos is out of the running to land Portland Beavers after numbers didn’t work out for new ballpark; instead, the San Diego Padres have approached the city of Escondido to totally fund a new $45 million ballpark. Cal State San Marcos is out of the running to land Portland Beavers after numbers […]
Portland Beavers to…Lake Elsinore?
Under a plan currently under consideration, the Portland Beavers would be sold to the San Diego Padres, with the team splitting its games next season between Petco Park and The Diamond, the home of the Pods’ Cal League affiliate, before a new San Marcos ballpark opens. The Beavers will be homeless at the end […]
Portland Bevos 2011 options: None of them good
As baseball reached the half-way point of the season, the short-term situation for the Portland Beavers is still undetermined. Sure, there are a few short-term options out there, but a long-term solution is proving to be elusive, to say the least. We also throw out one potential long-term solution to the Bevos’ issues. For those […]
Yakima Bears pitch new ballpark
After months and months of deliberation and study, the Yakima Bears are proposing a new $23-million ballpark on a former Boise Cascade storage site and city landfill. All of the funding would come from the team and state economic-development funds. After months and months of deliberation and study, the Yakima Bears (short season; Northwest League) […]