Bingo Blues

[Edgy MD]

Ottawa looking to move in on Binghamton turf.

http://www.ballparkdigest.com/201110314306/minor-league-baseball/news/group-seeks-ottawa-stadium-lease-for-2013-and-beyond

Not sure how that relates to the Mets' affiliation agreement. Probably will expire first anyhow. I think they're two-year agreements.

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, affiliation agreements have to be in two-year segments or multiples of two-year segments and those deals all come up at the end of even numbered years.

In this particular case, if some Ottawa-based group buys the team I presume they buy the affiliation agreement meaning the Mets AA team would move along with it if it occurs in the midst of a contract. If such a move comes as that agreement is running out the Mets would essentially be a FA at that point able to either make a new deal with the new owners or try to hook up with one of the other AA sites.

I have no idea about the state of the current Binghamton ownership situation.

[Edgy MD]

Denials. B-Mets deny it. Met-Mets deny it.

[Edgy MD]

The O-Mets may be a thing after all.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I'm Ken Gray, and that's all I gotta say.


If the Jays get the affiliation, that'd put the New Hampshire Fisher Cats up for grabs. Who's up for a road trip to Northeast Delta Dental Stadium??

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

This article suggests the Ottawa thing will happen and that the Bingo owners will subsequently purchase the Batavia Muckdogs NYP franchise and I guess, move them to Bingo for NYP play. Deals wouldn't be announced till after the season.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/sports/Stadium+needs+upgrade/6130388/story.html

[Edgy MD]

It's all very complex. If a team doesn't hold the contract on any players or staff, and it doesn't own the stadium, and its lease on the stadium is up, and its affiliation with the parent club is up, just what is it you're purchasing when you buy? A license to compete in the Eastern League?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Yeah I think so. I mean, if a new franchise joins the league then unless the league expands one city is out.

Bingo's stadium opened in 1992, I don;t know its condition but I assume its among the first wave of the modern minor league style. The only older parks in the league belong to Reading (opened 1951!!), Harrisburg (1987) and Richmond (1985).

I don't see any of the Eastern League cities particularly Met-like except maybe Bingo. They might make a better fit for Richmond than the current Giants tenant or New Britian than The Twins. Albany used to have a MFY franchise but my god, look at the place now.



Binghamton has a lease thru 2016 so I suppose they will look to put a show on there until then, and it sounds like they will get Batavia for nothin.

[Edgy MD]

I liked Bingo when I visited, just in the sense of the-town-is-dead-thank-God-we-at-least-have-a-ballclub sense. I think they would make a great indy league town. I think everybody would.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: I liked Bingo when I visited, just in the sense of the-town-is-dead-thank-God-we-at-least-have-a-ballclub sense. I think they would make a great indy league town. I think everybody would.

I've never visited the ballpark, just the city/suburbs but that's the impression I got from people.

It seems the best fit (certainly over Ottawa) for a Mets affiliate.

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy DC wrote: just what is it you're purchasing when you buy? A license to compete in the Eastern League?

Yes.

[Guest attgig]

all very confusing indeed. so, the question at the end of the day is.... where's the mets AA affiliate going to be?

[Edgy MD]

The good news, I guess, is that minor league ball is slowly returning to Canada.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: The good news, I guess, is that minor league ball is slowly returning to Canada.

I wonder if in a non-Madoff world the Mets would be considering purchasing a AA team and moving it to Binghamton. Or is there a rule against owning the AA/AAA teams?

[Edgy MD]

Toby Hyde wrote: "Ottawa Citizen says a deal is in place to move AA BMets to Ottawa. B-Mets team president says that's a lie."

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Toby Hyde wrote: "Ottawa Citizen says a deal is in place to move AA BMets to Ottawa. B-Mets team president says that's a lie."

Does that mean "The deal is almost official, but BMets want more money/sweeter pot and haven't signed off yet?"

[Frayed Knot]

Ceetar wrote: Edgy DC wrote: The good news, I guess, is that minor league ball is slowly returning to Canada. I wonder if in a non-Madoff world the Mets would be considering purchasing a AA team and moving it to Binghamton. Or is there a rule against owning the AA/AAA teams?

The only rule is that one ownership can't own more than one team in any one league.
Nolan Ryan, for instance, is (partial) owner of the Rangers and also the AAA team in Round Rock, TX, plus the AA team in Corpus Christi. When he purchased the AA franchise located in Edmonton for the purpose of moving them to the Texas League he first had to upgrade the stadium in Round Rock so it would qualify for AAA status. IOW, he had to move the Round Rock from AA Texas League to AAA Pac Coast Lg before he could take charge of the new AA team.

Most big league squads DON'T own their own minor league franchises except for those at the lowest levels where teams are generally not all that profitable for outside owners to bother. Supposedly the 'Pons looked into buying a partial stake from the Syracuse group a few years back but opted for the better facility in Buffalo instead.
The Wilpons obviously own the NYPenn Lg Cyclones. The Braves, I believe, do own most of the teams in their system (except AA) which allowed them to easily transfer their AAA team from Richmond, VA to a new joint right in suburban Atlanta a few years back.

all very confusing indeed. so, the question at the end of the day is.... where's the mets AA affiliate going to be?

The whole Maj/Min agreement system is essentially a game of musical chairs played out every two seasons. All agreements are for at least two years with some being in multiples of two although rarely more than four at any one time.
So if Bingo disappears as an Eastern League option that doesn't mean the Mets automatically go to Ottawa (particularly if Ottawa is targeting the Blue Jays) it just means they need to strike a deal with whoever else is available at that time. The Blue Jays are currently in New Hampshire (Portsmouth I assume) so that spot could be open and if someone else grabs that first then that city becomes open and the dominoes start falling all over the place.

The only real sad part about this is that Bingo was a good location for upstate NYM fans and that the NYM/Bingo agreement is one of the longer ones currently running.

[MFS62]

How about some musical chairs?
Ottawa to Binghamton, the Minnesota AA team now in New Britain to Ottawa and the current Binghamton team to New Britain?
New Britain is less than an hour's drive from where I live. I've seen the B-Mets play there several times over the years. I'd love it.
Nice ballpark with decent dimensions.

Later

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I saw my first minor league game in New Britain -- and crazy old Beehive Field!

Saw a guy fall to his death there, too, which is icky. But other that that, we enjoyed going to games there.

[dgwphotography]

A few things - We went to Binghamton right after they opened the then new stadium. I got the same vibe that Edgy got - we spent one day at the zoo in addition to a couple of games at the park. We would have had no reason to go there if it weren't for the B-Mets.

I've been going to games in New Britain for decades - Old Beehive field was interesting - the only ball park I've been in where the sun sets in center field - makes for some interesting at bats...

The Newer stadium in New Britain is almost an exact duplicate of the stadium in New Britain. The outside facade is different, but the interior design and architecture is the same. The thought of the Mets possibly moving their AA team to New Britain finally has me excited about baseball again.

When I told the Mrs. about this possibility last night, her first reaction was, "We have to get season tickets".

[Edgy MD]

Binghamtonians of 2012

Starting Pitchers
11 =#0000FF]Mark Cohoon DoB: 9/15/1987	20 =#0000FF]Darin Gorski DoB: 10/6/1987	33 =#0000FF]Colin McHugh DoB: 6/19/1987	18 =#0000FF]Gregory Peavy DoB: 7/11/1988	45 =#0000FF]Zach Wheeler DoB: 5/30/1990
Relief Pitchers
50 =#0000FF]Robert Carson DoB: 1/23/1989	34 =#0000FF]Josh Edgin DoB: 12/17/1986	44 =#0000FF]Brad Holt DoB: 10/13/1986	32 =#0000FF]Kevin Mulvey DoB: 5/26/1985	27 =#0000FF]Edgar Ramirez DoB: 11/30/1983
Relief Pitchers		Catchers		Infielders
49 =#0000FF]Armando Rodriguez DoB: 1/29/1988	15 =#0000FF]Erik Turgeon DoB: 3/25/1987	7 =#0000FF]Juan Centeno DoB: 11/16/1989	10 =#0000FF]Kai Gronauer DoB: 7/11/1988	21 =#0000FF]Eric Campbell DoB: 4/9/1987
Infielders
24 =#0000FF]Allan Dykstra DoB: 5/21/1987	9 =#0000FF]Sean Kazmar DoB: 8/5/1984	19 =#0000FF]Jefry Marte DoB: 6/21/1991	21 =#0000FF]Oswaldo Navarro DoB: 10/2/1984	8 =#0000FF]Travis Ozga DoB: 12/7/1986
Infielders	Outfielders
5 =#0000FF]Josh Rodriguez DoB: 12/18/1984	17 =#0000FF]Matt den Dekker DoB: 8/10/1987		13 =#0000FF]Juan Lagares DoB: 3/17/1989	22 =#0000FF]Pedro Zapata DoB: 10/3/1987

Inactive Players

Starting Pitchers		Infielders
=#0000FF]Brandon Moore DoB: 1/24/1986 =#408000]Restricted List	=#0000FF]Scott Moviel DoB: 5/7/1988 =#408000]Restricted List	=#0000FF]Reese Havens DoB: 10/20/1986 =#FF0000]7-Day

[Theoldmole]

The B-Mets have two pitchers named Cohoon, one Caucasian and the other African-American?

[Edgy MD]

No, Robert Carson fell through a crack there.

[Edgy MD]

Allan Dykstra, who really should be in Buffalo after the season he had last year, appears to have fractured his wrist.

That's the Bingo Blues.

[Edgy MD]

Bingo advances to 8-7 with a 6-1 win over Portland. It's their third straight win and first series win. Mark Cohoon gave up one run in seven innings, fanned three, and walked none. Jefry Marte upped his average to .405 wit a 2-4 game.

[Frayed Knot]

No Ottawa - at least not for a while.

Also notable in that article is that the Binghamton ownership is adamantly denying any and all contact with the potential Ottawa group.

[Frayed Knot]

Wheeler to the 7-day DL with (wait for it) a torn fingernail on the middle finger of his right hand.

[TransMonk]

They're calling it an "avulsion". That just sounds dirty.

[Edgy MD]

Reese Havens through 19 games: .141.

Ummm....

[Benjamin Grimm]

Did Ike Davis sneeze on him?