More on Dodgers/Las Vegas
First of all, let me set the record straight on one thing: when I first referenced this on this blog a couple of days ago, I credited the Las Vegas Review-Journal for the story in which Las Vegas 51s owner Don Logan said he felt the Dodgers were looking to move their Triple-A affiliation elsewhere. It was actually the Las Vegas Sun that had the story, a reporter named Ron Kantowski in Wednesday's edition, so I apologize to him and his paper for the error. ... Now, after looking into this myself, I'm finally starting to get some information, albeit in dribs and drabs. Turns out, though, that Don Logan ISN'T just trying to light a fire under the Dodgers to get them to hurry up with an inevitable renewal of their player-development contract with his club. Turns out, that renewal isn't inevitable at all, and the Dodgers ARE at least open to the possibility of moving, and Mr. Logan is correct in his assessment that this is based on his club having a subpar facility. At any rate, the Dodgers won't make a decision until AFTER Sept. 15, when a couple of clubs are expected to announce new affiliation agreements. Once the Dodgers see what other Triple-A markets are available -- the Marlins are expected to vacate Albuquerque, and there is a possibility the Giants are leaving Fresno for Tucson -- they will make a decision. The club also is believed to be looking to move its Double-A affiliation out of Jacksonville, Fla., strictly for proximity reasons. But the problem with that is that there are no Double-A teams west of El Paso, Texas.
By the way, here's the link to that story in the Sun.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/sep/03/51s-may-end-month-orphans/
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About Inside the Dodgers
Tony Jackson has covered the Dodgers for
the Daily News since 2004 and has covered Major League Baseball on a
regular basis since 1995. He previously covered the Colorado Rockies
and Cincinnati Reds. He is a native of Springdale, Ark., and a graduate
of the University of Arkansas.
As a Dodger fan in Albuquerque, I would love to see the Dodgers back here. I understand the proximity of Las Vegas is ideal. The Dodgers have given Las Vegas and I think nearby communities plenty of opportunities to build a high-class facility. Since that is not likely to happen soon, we have a great facility here. (In addition to the two Vegas papers, the Albuquerque Journal has done two articles on this possible move).
The bottom line is that the Albuquerque Isotopes also have an eye on getting the Dodgers here. They have been dragging their feet on renewing with the Florida Marlins, even though the two have had a terrific relationship.
The Suns were in El Paso prior to Jacksonville but is that market now open?
The El Paso franchise moved to another city (Springfield, Mo?) many years ago. El Paso now has a franchise in an independent baseball league.
The Dodger situation in Jacksonville is different than Vegas. They do have a brand-new facility in the Florida city. Distance is the only issue.
I'm not sure which Texas League teams are available this year. The problem is that there are only eight teams, and certain cities have a geographical lock with the parent club (Corpus Christi with Houston; Frisco with Texas)... So if the Dodgers have to stay in the iL, they might as well re-up with Jacksonville.
Yeah, I was wrong about El Paso. It's Midland that is the farthest west of all Double-A teams. And the Dodgers do have a pretty good relationship with the ownership in Jacksonville. My guess is the re-sign a two-year deal there (these are always done in two- and four-year increments) and then survey the landscape after 2010. But the tea leaves suggest they're going to Abq for Triple-A