July 24, 2008
Report: W.Va. Power may lose affiliation to Wisconsin city for next season
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Speculation continues that the West Virginia Power minor league baseball team may lose the Milwaukee Brewers as an affiliate after this season.
In a story published today in the Appleton (Wis.) Post-Crescent, it's suggested the Class A Midwest League Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are not negotiating a new contract with the Seattle Mariners in hopes of landing a tie to the nearby Brewers.
Minor league teams are not supposed to negotiate with affiliates other than their own until a Major League Baseball-imposed window that begins Sept. 16 and runs through Sept. 30.
"We're seeing how this season goes,'' the paper quotes Rattlers president Rob Zerjav. "There are different factors this time going into this decision.''
The Power, according to the newspaper, "would seem to be a good fit'' for Appleton.
"It would also make sense for the Rattlers, who could increase their fan base radius by tapping into the heightened interest in Brewers baseball.''
"If the Brewers are looking at Appleton, I'd understand,'' Palisades Baseball executive vice president Andy Milovich told the Gazette. "I don't think the stadium there is as good as ours, but I'm sure there's pressure from the local media and politicians to move [the Brewers] there.''
Milovich said the Brewers haven't made a pitch to stay with the Power, but he's confident a minor league team will be at Appalachian Power Park next season.
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The Bob Evans was closed long before Brickstreet moved in. You may recall it closed because there was not enough business.
No one wanted the Brewers four years ago and looked at the product on the field. With an attractive park a new affiliate will be here to play ball in '09. People will whine because that is what you all do here but then the next problem for you to whine about will pop up and you will let us fans enjoy baseball at the APP!
The deeds are done - including the shutting down of a Bob Evans franchise, beside the Town Center Mall for Brickstreet, and the former Workers' Comp (unhealthy) building that became a cash cow for Al Summers at tax payers expense!
So now bring on the sally league dregs by some other name where we can get drunk enough to not worry about those line drives in the head!
Play ball! Dum de dum - dum, dum, dum!
I can see the Brewers putting their low A level affliate close to home. In the big picture, not sure why. I doubt the Cubs will put their prospects in Charleston, my guess it would be the Mariners, Rockies, Athletics or the Diamondbacks.
I don't see the Pirates because the gentleman that owns the Pirates Low A affliate, the Hickory Crawdads, has a minority ownership in the Pirates. Also, the Reds own a part of their Low A affliate, the Dayton Dragons.