The IL's going to look different next season....

[ckg68]

let's see if you can follow along(and yes,I know the News' Mike Harrington covered this on Sunday):

*Baltimore is ending their relationship with Ottawa....who will inherit Philadelphia for next season until their new place in Allentown,Penn. is ready. After that,the IL will no longer be international.

*That leaves the Red Barons without an big league team....for now. But they might inherit...the Yankees? Possible. Columbus announced that it'll end their 28-year affiliation with the Yanks. Mandalay Sports Entertainment(who operate the Staten Island Yankees)is rumored to become the new owners in Scranton and it could make sense to put the Yanks top players in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

*But,lo wait! The Mets ended their relationship with Norfolk after nearly 4 decades. So they're looking for a new dance partner...and it may be Columbus. Their GM,however,says he's not keen on signing any team for longer than 2 years-because both Cincinnati and Cleveland's affiliation deals end in 2008. (If someone changes,I'd bet that Cincy would be Columbus' top team,simply because it's in Reds country).

*As for Norfolk...either Baltimore or Washington will put their team into there;the Nats are pulling up stakes in New Orleans(quite understandably).

[The REAL Sabres]

*But,lo wait! The Mets ended their relationship with Norfolk after nearly 4 decades. So they're looking for a new dance partner...and it may be Columbus. Their GM,however,says he's not keen on signing any team for longer than 2 years-because both Cincinnati and Cleveland's affiliation deals end in 2008. (If someone changes,I'd bet that Cincy would be Columbus' top team,simply because it's in Reds country).We'd be a Mets affiliate?!?! Dear God, NO!!!!

I hope you're right about Columbus/Cincinnati. But Cincinnati really needs to stop changing affilations so often.

[ckg68]

Does anyone HONESTLY think Buffalo would trade in Cleveland for someone else,considering that the relationship between the two teams is strong? I think the Mets will sign with Columbus,and stay with them for a while.

Also: Louisville's been Cincy's top affiliate since 2000.

[Snarf]

It would not be Buffalo giving up the Tribe, but the Tribe leaving Buffalo for Columbus. I was in Cleveland over the weekend and John Farrell said the Indians would look at Columbus in '08 because they like the idea of having as many of their farm clubs in Ohio as possible. But he added that the Indians were very happy with Buffalo.

I have no idea why Norfolk would choose the O's over the Nats. The O's have the worst farm club around and the leave a lot of their top prospects in Bowie, then bring them right to the big leagues, skipping Triple A.

I don't agree with you ckg about the Mets stay in Columbus being a long one. I think one of the Ohio teams will end up in Columbus. I just hope it is the Reds and not the Tribe. And to be honest, it is no great thing having the Mets as your parent club, it is not like they put a winning team on the field in Triple A year in year out like the Indians do. That team in Norfolk this year was one of the worst teams I have ever seen in Triple A, even though it it had many former big league players.

[Snarf]

The Nats signed with the Clippers for two years, leaving Norfolk open to Baltimore and meaning the Mets will have to head down to New Orleans in the PCL.

[ckg68]

The Nats signed with the Clippers for two years, leaving Norfolk open to Baltimore and meaning the Mets will have to head down to New Orleans in the PCL.

Looks like the Nats are aping their I-95 neighbors in Baltimore;in addition to putting their Triple A team in C-Bus,they've also got a new class A affiliate in the Hagerstown(Md.)Suns of the South Atlantic League. Combine this with their double A team in Harrisburg and class A(advanced) Potomac Nationals(in the Virginia suburbs,and a Nationals fan won't have to go too far afield to follow the team's future. Same could be said for a Cleveland fan;Kinston is the only team not within a drivable distance.

[The REAL Sabres]

It's official, Orioles prospects are out of the division.
http://www.norfolktides.com/news/?id=11150

Dammit! ... but I guess since their place was taken by the Yankees, it might be a lateral trade-off.

[ckg68]

And the NY Penn League's just as topsy turvy,too:

*St. Louis moved their affiliation to Batavia,because....

*Philly moved their new class A players to Williamsport(which is not a new market to them;they had a Double A team years ago),and as a result....

*Pittsburgh replaced St. Louis as the parent club of State College.