What Is MLB Going To Do With The Expos?

[WizardOfAz]

http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/sports/1058012008327120.xml?oregonian?spb

 

[az240zz]

Well break them up and let us take a chance on the Vladimr G.

Az240z

 

[AZCB34]

This is a black mark for MLB and I hope now is the time cities say no to being held hostage for providing public monies for stadiums. It has gotten ridiculous and I am hoping that MLB keep shaving to help along the Expos franchise.

I voted for the Cards Stadium largely because virtually all the monies were going to come from the bed/car tax thus it is mostly coming from tourists.

I want MLB to have to try and fold up the Expos and then attempt to fold up another team and face the wrath of that etams fans etc. Baseball must learn they actually don;t hold the power but the fans and cities do. It should be a honor for a team to move into a city not a honor for the city to get the team.

As for the Expos...every team would love Vlad so the odds are stacked against the Dbacks in getting him. Thus the best thing for all concerned is to simply keep the Expos living on.

 

[WizardOfAz]

If by chance, very small at this point, they somehow move the team to Portland, OR, does MLB then have to realign the NL again?

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by WizardOfAz
If by chance, very small at this point, they somehow move the team to Portland, OR, does MLB then have to realign the NL again?

Yes they would...which would mean the Dbacks or Rockies would have to move?

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by AZCB34
Yes they would...which would mean the Dbacks or Rockies would have to move?

I guess one would have to move to the NL Central and then the Pirates would move to the NL East to replace the newly departed Expos.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by WizardOfAz
I guess one would have to move to the NL Central and then the Pirates would move to the NL East to replace the newly departed Expos.

I was just going to post the same thing and the problem is, the Dbacks would have to move IF you believe the Owners/Commish jealousy argument against the Dbacks.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by AZCB34
I was just going to post the same thing and the problem is, the Dbacks would have to move IF you believe the Owners/Commish jealousy argument against the Dbacks.

I guess from a geographic stand-point the Rockies would make sense, but given that they've been around longer, I wonder if they would get veto power. Kind of like calling "shot - gun" so you can get the front seat.

 

[Dback Jon]

I would think the Rockies would want to move - after all, the NL Central is an easier division.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Dback Jon
I would think the Rockies would want to move - after all, the NL Central is an easier division.

Maybe so but given they would be moving INSTEAD of Jerry/Dbacks, they may fight it tooth and nail. If it goes to a vote orsomething, Jerry loses (I buy into the other teams jealousy argument). The Rockies make more sense geographically for sure...especially when you consider the time difference during the baseball season...same reason the Rangers are always complaining about being in the West.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by Dback Jon
I would think the Rockies would want to move - after all, the NL Central is an easier division.

Why would they make a decision based on that....things could certainly change in a few years.

 

[FORKTUNG]

I dont think Portland can support a MLB team

Look for No. Virginia to get 'em.

 

[PDXChris]

If they got rid of the Expos they would have to get rid of another team since then there would be a uneven number of teams and immpossible to make a schedual since baseball teams play almost everyday and on 95% of the days everyteam plays. With 1 less team that could not happen. So either they get sold and moved somewhere else or another team leaves with them. This is why they always talked about 2 teams leaving and always brought 2 teams in together. Get rid of the Expos and the and the D-Rays and move the Brewers back to AL since no body cares about them anyway.

 

[AZCB34]

Maybe they will be referred to as the San Juan Expos:

http://www.sportingnews.com/baseball/articles/20030715/483167.html

Expos could make San Juan home in '04

July 15, 2003 Print it


CHICAGO -- The Montreal Expos could play their entire home schedule in Puerto Rico next season under a plan being considered by major-league baseball.

To raise revenue, the commissioner's office moved 22 of the team's 81 home games this season to Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. Baseball still hasn't come up with a permanent solution for the Expos, who were bought by the other 29 teams before the 2002 season.

While baseball's goal is to have a decision by September, the sport's top officials say they don't feel bound by any deadline.

"Puerto Rico has made a proposal to play all 81 home games in Puerto Rico, and it has not been rejected," Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said before the All-Star Game on Tuesday night.

Northern Virginia; Portland, Ore.; and Washington, D.C., are all trying to land the Expos on a permanent basis, but baseball owners want to have a complete financing plan for a new ballpark in place before making a decision.

DuPuy said no particular plan was a front-runner at this point, either for a long-term solution or for 2004.

"They could play 81 games in any one of a number of locations," he said.

Montreal players have complained of their constant travel this season. They were 32-18 on May 25 and then went 8-14 on a trip that ended June 19. They entered the All-Star break 49-45, four games behind Florida, the NL wild-card leader.

"It's been very hard," said second baseman Jose Vidro, the NL starter in the All-Star Game. "Me being Puerto Rican, I would love it to be in Puerto Rico, but to tell you the truth, I don't care where we play next season as long as we play 81 games in the same place."

Players' approval was necessary for baseball to move the 22 home games, and it may be more difficult for management to gain consent for two different home sites next year. Gene Orza, the No. 2 official of the players association, declined comment.

The Expos are averaging 12,206 for home games, the lowest in the major leagues. They are averaging 11,133 in Montreal and 14,216 in Puerto Rico, where they have played 16 games.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by FORKTUNG
I dont think Portland can support a MLB team

Look for No. Virginia to get 'em.

Where would they play?

 

[schillingfan]

They entered the All-Star break 49-45, four games behind Florida, the NL wild-card leader.

Phillies get no respect. Urgh.

I guess Dusty Baker must have been under the same impression since the Marlins had 3 players on the all-star team - while the Phillies, D-Backs, and Astros, the next three teams in the standing had one.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by schillingfan
Phillies get no respect. Urgh.

Must be that "east coast" media bias!

 

[FORKTUNG]

Originally posted by WizardOfAz
Where would they play?

Have to get a new stadium.

I still think contraction is the way to go. MLB owning a team is such a joke but if they can hold out till the CBA expires maybe they can get rid of one of the Florida teams too.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by FORKTUNG
I still think contraction is the way to go. MLB owning a team is such a joke but if they can hold out till the CBA expires maybe they can get rid of one of the Florida teams too.

Haven't seen a word on that subject since MLB got their hat handed to them after they tried to "eliminate" the Twins.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by FORKTUNG
Have to get a new stadium.

Not going to be easy in Northern Virginia:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2003/0718/1582489.html