Fansided

Baseball’s Silly Season is Already Well Underway

By Alan Carpenter |

In NASCAR racing, the “Silly Season” is the annual event in which drivers, owners, sponsors, crew members and more seemingly get thrown into a hat – er, helmet – and drawn out to see exactly who will be affiliated with whom during the next season of racing.

This year, we’re now seeing that same kind of scenario playing itself out in the advanced Class A minor leagues (and elsewhere) as teams and their affiliates jockey for position.  These things happen for a variety of reasons, but often because of money, geography, or team/relationship preferences.  As of this writing, that’s left the Braves – temporarily, at least – without a home for its Carolina League affiliate.

>>continuing to update this post as news is released

Lynchburg Hillcats: no longer in the family

3 weeks ago, BaseballAmerica predicted that this shuffle would begin shortly, and now it has:

  • The Sacramento River Cats (AAA Pacific Coast League) and the Oakland A’s have parted ways – the BA report indicates that Sacramento wants the Giants.  That makes sense:  they’re 90 minutes away from AT&T Park.
  • Oakland is said by the Modesto Bee to be heading to a new stadium in Nashville.  That makes less sense geographically.  The Nashville Sounds are currently the Brewers’ AAA affiliate, but it is said that Milwaukee is not likely to be moving to that new stadium (rumor has it that it’s Nashville’s choice – and Brewers aren’t happy).
    • UPDATE:  Deal signed this morning:  A’s to Nashville for AAA.  Brewers are said to be going to Fresno The Astros AAA is heading to Fresno (where the A’s were).
  • Locally to myself, the Huntsville (Alabama) Stars (Brewers) are moving to Biloxi, Mississippi next year.  That doesn’t represent a ‘steal’ from another team – it is simply a “move” as Huntsville will lose their Southern League team and have no tenant in their stadium for the first time in 30 years.
  • Dodgers:  AAA from Albuquerque to Oklahoma City (where the Astros were).
  • Rockies:  AAA from Colorado Springs to Albuquerque
  • Brewers:   AAA from Nashville to… (rumor sez) Colorado Springs
  • Here’s a Circle: Dodgers AA from Chattanooga, TN to Tulsa.  Rockies AA from Tulsa to New Britain, CT.  Twins AA from New Britain to Chattanooga.
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    • Meanwhile, in High Class A…

    (multiple industry sources, including MLBTR, which is keeping a running tally)

    Okay, So …. Where are the Braves Going?

    First, a little background:  the Hillcats… the former Hillcats… are the only affiliate that were not owned by the Atlanta Braves.  This also explains the team mascot names up and down the entire minor league system.

    In 2012, the Braves attempted to get a stadium deal for Wilmington, NC – a deal in which they would have bought the team out from Lynchburg at that time.  Voters turned down the stadium proposal and that left no options for Atlanta at that time.

    So:  where to go?  Here are the options:

    • Daytona – joining the Florida State League
    • Either Zebulon or Kinston, NC.  This effectively would be a swap of the Indians’ and Braves’ affiliates.
    • Huntsville.  Not likely, but the fans would be receptive.  The reason this isn’t likely is because of travel:  Huntsville is nowhere near the Carolina or Florida Leagues.  Frankly, it’s not even that convenient to Atlanta – though it is to low-A Rome, GA and AA Pearl, MS.  Not holding my breath on that one.
    • Texas or California.  Spots are available out there, but there’s no way this would happen for geographical reasons.
    • BaseballAmerica suggested that “the Braves have not given up on buying the team and bringing it to Wilmington”.
    My first guess:  Daytona.  It makes sense for a couple of reasons, including proximity to the (current) main Spring Training facility in Orlando.

    4PM UPDATE: that option is now off the table:  Cincinnati is taking its talents south to the beaches of Daytona.

    The North Carolina sites actually do make better sense (staying in the same league, closer to Wilmington).  I checked attendance figures to see if that would matter much in the equation:

    • Lynchburg easily had the worst attendance in the league this year: averaging 900 per game below the Mudcats (who were nearly the next-worst attended).
    • Daytona’s attendance was second in the Florida State League, but the ticket sales in this league are abysmal overall.
    • Daytona’s fans actually matched Lynchburg’s turnstile counts.

    Expect the Braves to move quickly – regardless of their choice.  The Reds, Rangers, and Mariners all need new homes.  The Daytona News/Journal is reporting that an announcement for their new tenants will come “very soon”… though “all signs point to a nickname independent of the parent club.”  That would suggest somebody other than Atlanta.  Maybe.

    We Will Know Soon

    All affiliations need to be tied up during this time – the last two weeks of September.  Teams don’t want the MLB making these decisions for them, so watch for announcements.  A flurry of new/renewed PDCs have already been signed, so expect the Braves to get theirs done… somewhere… within the next couple of days.

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