MLB Floats Idea of Eliminating 42 Minor League Teams

[NomarsFool]

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-floats-proposal-that-would-eliminate-42-minor-league-teams/
Lowell Spinners are on the list. They have been mentioned as becoming part of the new "Dream League" which seems just like another independent league, more or less.

I think there are some good ideas in the proposal, like trying to make the affiliations more stable, and more geographically compact. For example, I think it makes a lot more sense for the Red Sox to have minor league affiliates in Worcester, Manchester, and Lowell than to have a minor league affiliate in Trenton, NJ (like they used to have). But, I'm puzzled by the elimination of teams. It's being talked about as a cost cutting move, but I would think these minor league teams are profitable businesses. Moving them to independent leagues I think would be the end of most of them. I go to Lowell every summer - it's a great entertainment value - but I've never been to the Brocton Rox. To me, the affiliation with a major league club seems like a big deal.

 

[stepson_and_toe]

For example, I think it makes a lot more sense for the Red Sox to have minor league affiliates in Worcester, Manchester, and Lowell than to have a minor league affiliate in Trenton, NJ (like they used to have).

Manchester?

 

[keninten]

Manchester?

New Hampshire

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Portland?

Lengthy discussion on this topic on the MLB Board

 

[Ale Xander]

Woostah?

 

[santadevil]

Portland?

Lengthy discussion on this topic on the MLB Board

Ya, this thread already exists
https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/m-l-b-said-to-be-pushing-for-major-overhaul-of-minor-leagues-eliminate-up-to-40-teams.28605/

 

[Earthbound64]

Contraction, you say?

Just move one of the teams to Washington D.C. and wait a bit.

 

[stepson_and_toe]

Portland?

Lengthy discussion on this topic on the MLB Board

I don't recall seeing anything about moving the Red Sox Double-A franchise from Portland, ME, to replace the Blue Jays' Double-A one (and I did a search of the thread you alluded to and did not find any mention of Manchester). There is talk about tightening up the spread of franchises but in the case of those two clubs, Portland is only a little over 50 air miles farther from Toronto than Manchester. It would be a bit more convenient to Boston, though. Since I live about 3/4-ths of a mile from the stadium, I'd love to see the Sea Dogs move there.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

I wouldn’t hold your breath on that. The Sea Dogs are hugely popular in Portland.

 

[stepson_and_toe]

I wouldn’t hold your breath on that. The Sea Dogs are hugely popular in Portland.

This all started because NormarsFool said, "For example, I think it makes a lot more sense for the Red Sox to have minor league affiliates in Worcester, Manchester, and Lowell than to have a minor league affiliate in Trenton, NJ (like they used to have)," in the first entry in this thread. For some strange reason, I thought that quoting NormarsFool (as above) and following it up with "Manchester?" would be sufficient to inquire how Manchester became or was to become a Red Sox franchise.

 

[absintheofmalaise]

Continue this discussion in the thread in MLB please.