Mayflies & Big Flies: Rooting for Laundry
Mayflies & Big Flies is our home here on DSB for all things Harrisburg Senators. If you want to see anything in this weekly post, please drop us a line at EditorsDSB@gmail.com.
Banking on 300,000
Two weeks ago, we examined the surge in attendance so far this season and noted that if the bump typically associated with warmer summer months holds true, the Senators could actually break their single-season record and even top 300,000 spectators for the year. Every week in this post, we'll begin following where the Senators stand in hopefully this record-breaking season.
Through 34 home games (and with 37 left to play) as of June 20th, the Senators are 45.9% of the way towards the magic 300,000 number.
Rooting for Laundry
The Senators have been affiliated with the Expos/Nationals for the last 20 years...is that about to change? Unfortunately, change seems inevitable in the near future for the Senators.
In a column from Saturday's Patriot-News, Geoff Morrow examined the very real possibility that the Nationals would look to move their Double-A operations after this season to Richmond in an effort to expand their fanbase in southern Virginia.
I've looked at the landscape of expiring Player Development Contracts (PDC) and here's my take on the options moving forward:
The Long Shots
Birmingham Barons (White Sox) - Even though the Barons have been affiliated with the White Sox and are a mainstay in Alabama since 1986, this option is intriguing because of the father-son relationship of the Reinsdorfs in both ownership groups. Birmingham would have to do a lot wrong to lose the Barons even if nepotism becomes a factor in the decision.
Carolina Mudcats (Reds) - I've been to Five County Stadium and although it's relatively close to Raleigh, it still feels like it’s out in the middle of nowhere. Attendance figures and distance away from Cincinnati are roughly the same as they would be for Harrisburg, so the Reds wouldn't be really gaining anything by this lateral move. Also, can the mix of Nittany Lion Country and Pittsburgh Yinzers in the midstate really support a team affiliated with Ohio?
Bowie Baysox (Orioles) - The only reason Bowie made the final cut on this list is geographically we are just a short drive up I-83 from Baltimore and the Orioles' brass may want to extend their potential fanbase farther north into Central PA. However, even with the middling attendance figures, I can't see the Orioles' organization cutting ties with a team they've been affiliated with since their inception in 1993.
Filling Out the Field
Binghamton Mets (Mets) - Perpetually in the bottom half of the Eastern League for attendance over the last 17 seasons, Binghamton appears to be a team that is ripe for a change of scenery. Their home park of NYSEG Stadium has been in use since 1992 and isn't helping draw and retain a steady customer base. With the animosity between the Mets and Phillies, the Harrisburg ballclub would need to be pretty concerned to agree with this affiliation and risk upsetting potential fans.
Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) - Sure, Harrisburg is over twice the distance from Detroit than Erie, but Erie is currently dead last in the Eastern League for attendance per game (around 2,400) and they may need to generate more clicks on the turnstiles to justify their standing in the Tigers' organization. Much like Binghamton, Erie has also been in the bottom half of the EL's attendance figures since joining the league in 1999.
The Dark Horses
Las Vegas 51s (Blue Jays AAA) - After years of Dodgers and Padres affiliation, Las Vegas welcomed Toronto to a two-year deal after they severed ties with Syracuse following the 2008 season. Toronto must have been pretty desperate since this doesn’t seem geographically logical to anyone. Even with the upgrades to Metro Bank Park, I have a hard time picturing Harrisburg as an AAA-level facility. But Las Vegas only drew 4,752 fans per game last year, so we're not that far off and Toronto might be willing to overlook that fact in exchange for the closer proximity.
Staying in Harrisburg – If Washington is dead set on adding Richmond into the Nationals' fold they could potentially add them as their AAA team replacing the expiring contract of Syracuse while maintaining Harrisburg as their Double-A affiliate.
The Favorites
Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) – If the Nationals come to an agreement with Richmond as their Double-A team, the easy route for Harrisburg would be to hook up with the Giants in a literal swap of affiliations. It seems crazy to me to have a West Coast major league team with an East Coast minor league team, but the Giants have been seemingly happy with this arrangement for the last seven seasons.
Staying in Harrisburg - Another option is Washington could sign another 2-year deal with Harrisburg while the Nationals use that time to plan a move with other possibilities. However if Lerner really wants Richmond under the Nats’ umbrella, now may be the best time as the stars are aligning for a move after this season.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Banking on 300,000Two weeks ago, we examined the surge in attendance so far this season and noted that if the bump typically associated with warmer summer months holds true, the Senators could actually break their single-season record and even top 300,000 spectators for the year. Every week in this post, we'll begin following where the Senators stand in hopefully this record-breaking season.
Through 34 home games (and with 37 left to play) as of June 20th, the Senators are 45.9% of the way towards the magic 300,000 number.
Rooting for Laundry
The Senators have been affiliated with the Expos/Nationals for the last 20 years...is that about to change? Unfortunately, change seems inevitable in the near future for the Senators.
In a column from Saturday's Patriot-News, Geoff Morrow examined the very real possibility that the Nationals would look to move their Double-A operations after this season to Richmond in an effort to expand their fanbase in southern Virginia.
The Senators’ player development contract with the parent Washington Nationals expires at the end of the season.If this becomes a reality, where would Harrisburg turn? What dominoes could fall next if Richmond becomes the new Double-A home of the Nationals?
And while Harrisburg has been the Class AA affiliate of the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals since 1991, that deal might end soon.
Now that Richmond fields a team in the Eastern League, it’s a solid possibility the Nationals will choose to align themselves with the Flying Squirrels beginning in 2011.
Nationals president Stan Kasten served in the same capacity with the Atlanta Braves when their Class AAA affiliate was stationed in Richmond, and it’s no secret the Nats would welcome the opportunity to spread their wings through southern Virginia.
Richmond’s player development contract with the San Francisco Giants also ends after this season, so it make sense.
I've looked at the landscape of expiring Player Development Contracts (PDC) and here's my take on the options moving forward:
The Long Shots
Birmingham Barons (White Sox) - Even though the Barons have been affiliated with the White Sox and are a mainstay in Alabama since 1986, this option is intriguing because of the father-son relationship of the Reinsdorfs in both ownership groups. Birmingham would have to do a lot wrong to lose the Barons even if nepotism becomes a factor in the decision.
Carolina Mudcats (Reds) - I've been to Five County Stadium and although it's relatively close to Raleigh, it still feels like it’s out in the middle of nowhere. Attendance figures and distance away from Cincinnati are roughly the same as they would be for Harrisburg, so the Reds wouldn't be really gaining anything by this lateral move. Also, can the mix of Nittany Lion Country and Pittsburgh Yinzers in the midstate really support a team affiliated with Ohio?
Bowie Baysox (Orioles) - The only reason Bowie made the final cut on this list is geographically we are just a short drive up I-83 from Baltimore and the Orioles' brass may want to extend their potential fanbase farther north into Central PA. However, even with the middling attendance figures, I can't see the Orioles' organization cutting ties with a team they've been affiliated with since their inception in 1993.
Filling Out the Field
Binghamton Mets (Mets) - Perpetually in the bottom half of the Eastern League for attendance over the last 17 seasons, Binghamton appears to be a team that is ripe for a change of scenery. Their home park of NYSEG Stadium has been in use since 1992 and isn't helping draw and retain a steady customer base. With the animosity between the Mets and Phillies, the Harrisburg ballclub would need to be pretty concerned to agree with this affiliation and risk upsetting potential fans.
Erie SeaWolves (Tigers) - Sure, Harrisburg is over twice the distance from Detroit than Erie, but Erie is currently dead last in the Eastern League for attendance per game (around 2,400) and they may need to generate more clicks on the turnstiles to justify their standing in the Tigers' organization. Much like Binghamton, Erie has also been in the bottom half of the EL's attendance figures since joining the league in 1999.
The Dark Horses
Las Vegas 51s (Blue Jays AAA) - After years of Dodgers and Padres affiliation, Las Vegas welcomed Toronto to a two-year deal after they severed ties with Syracuse following the 2008 season. Toronto must have been pretty desperate since this doesn’t seem geographically logical to anyone. Even with the upgrades to Metro Bank Park, I have a hard time picturing Harrisburg as an AAA-level facility. But Las Vegas only drew 4,752 fans per game last year, so we're not that far off and Toronto might be willing to overlook that fact in exchange for the closer proximity.
Staying in Harrisburg – If Washington is dead set on adding Richmond into the Nationals' fold they could potentially add them as their AAA team replacing the expiring contract of Syracuse while maintaining Harrisburg as their Double-A affiliate.
The Favorites
Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) – If the Nationals come to an agreement with Richmond as their Double-A team, the easy route for Harrisburg would be to hook up with the Giants in a literal swap of affiliations. It seems crazy to me to have a West Coast major league team with an East Coast minor league team, but the Giants have been seemingly happy with this arrangement for the last seven seasons.
Staying in Harrisburg - Another option is Washington could sign another 2-year deal with Harrisburg while the Nationals use that time to plan a move with other possibilities. However if Lerner really wants Richmond under the Nats’ umbrella, now may be the best time as the stars are aligning for a move after this season.
Thanks for coming and suckling Daddy's Sugar Ball...
Posted by Max Power at 6/22/2010 10:00 AM 
Categories: Mayflies and Big Flies
Tags: Carolina Mudcats Richmond Flying Squirrels Stan Kasten Washington Nationals Erie SeaWolves Geoff Morrow Eastern League Bowie Baysox Birmingham Barons Binghamton Mets Las Vegas 51s Harrisburg Senators
Categories: Mayflies and Big Flies
Tags: Carolina Mudcats Richmond Flying Squirrels Stan Kasten Washington Nationals Erie SeaWolves Geoff Morrow Eastern League Bowie Baysox Birmingham Barons Binghamton Mets Las Vegas 51s Harrisburg Senators
Are the Indianapolis Indians up at the end of this season? I know that Harrisburg is not a AAA market but it would be pretty cool to move the Pirates' development further east. Probably something they don't need to do with Altoona just up the road.
Reply to this
Bearcat - -
The Indianapolis PDC with the Pirates runs through the 2012 season. Even still, they draw extremely well (last year their attendance was 549,552 fans/8,202 per game) and Harrisburg can't compete with that...especially when you are looking at moving them up to the Triple-A level.
God, you are such a Yinzer asshole.
~ Max
Reply to this
/hangs Yinzer head in shame
Reply to this
Just read you article and couple of things don't make sense. First the B-Mets and the NY Mets have renewed their agreements along with the Birmingham Barons and the White Sox so those options are out.Second the whole Triple A thing is not even an option a Triple A team would have to move to Richmond and they would have to sell the AA Richmond team first same goes for Harrisburg and I don't see that happening at either place. I disagree with your opion of the Reds I think Harrisburg would welcome them with open arms as they would with any team that decides to align with the Senators. My choices are in order.
1) Cincinnati Reds
2) Baltimore Orioles ( I don't see that happening unless Peter Angelos comes up with some crazy idea)
3) Detroit Tigers
Of course I would welcome the Nationals back also but from what I read they seem like they are heading to Richmond.Who knows we will see at seasons end.
Reply to this
First, thanks for reading and your comment...we really appreciate it.
Secondly, thanks for the clarification on Binghamton and Birmingham. The information I found wasn't apparently updated with their corresponding renewal agreements.
My comment about the Reds was meant as more tongue-in-cheek concerning the support we'd give an Ohio-based franchise. But I still don't see an advantage for them making the switch since the distance and attendance is the same.
And just like you, I would gladly welcome the Nats back. After watching Bernadina, Desmond, Storen, et al come through Harrisburg on the way to Washington, it would be nice to continue the rooting interest at the parent club level.
Reply to this
On the filling out the field. Yeah, as a Phillies fan for the majors, if the Senators would ever align with the Mets, that would seriously make me reconsider switching allegiances to a different team (Reading Phillies). I am in no way a Mets fan, and could not bring myself to ever root for anything Met affiliated.
And honestly, unless there is good things really coming up for the Nats, I think its time for a change in affiliations for the Senators, not to mention if there is a new affiliation, maybe the Senators can go back to wearing something more original than they have right now in terms of uniforms (which isn't bad, but I prefer teams to have their own identity, rather than copying what their parent club has.)
Reply to this
Also to add, I might be off on this, but I think it has been over 10 years since the last time any franchise had their affiliations switch up (and I'm including teams that move, but keep their affiliation, like Connecticut and Richmond with the Giants, and New Haven and New Hampshire with the Blue Jays)
Reply to this