Is the Affiliation Dance about to begin?

[Thrylos]

An interesting fact about Ft Wayne: that metro area has half a million people. Way more than a typical single A host city and much closer to lots of AA and AAA host cities. (matter of fact, as far as city sizes go, Ft Wayne has more people than Rochester, NY) That is why the attendance.

[jtrinaldi]

Not to mention Fort Wayne's ballpark is one of the best in all the Minors

[East Coast Twin]

Twins official are expected to visit Cedar Rapids today.

 

“We were not disappointed at all about anything with the Angels,” Kernels President Gary Keoppel said Sunday . . . "We determined as a club that this was a good time for us to try and get a Midwest affiliate.

 

http://thegazette.com/2012/09/16/kernels-say-no-ill-will-toward-angels-twins-brass-expected-in-town-monday/

[Jim Crikket]

Twins official are expected to visit Cedar Rapids today.

 

“We were not disappointed at all about anything with the Angels,” Kernels President Gary Keoppel said Sunday . . . "We determined as a club that this was a good time for us to try and get a Midwest affiliate.

 

http://thegazette.com/2012/09/16/kernels-say-no-ill-will-toward-angels-twins-brass-expected-in-town-monday/

 

Yep. Smith, Rantz and Steil are expected. They'll tour the facilities this afternoon and meet with the Board tonight. If everyone on both sides like what they see and hear, this could move pretty quickly.

[jtrinaldi]

Astros in Fort wayne today

[Jim Crikket]

Astros in Fort wayne today

 

That would be a HUGE 'get' for the Astros if they can pull it off.

[nowheresville]

The River Bandits apparently want some assurances that they'll get some MLB Rehab assignments from their next affiliate.

 

http://qctimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/midwest-league/mlb-clubs-already-showing-interest-in-q-c/article_e3246052-005c-11e2-becc-001a4bcf887a.html

 

That would seem to make the Twins an unlikely fit, since they like to send everyone down to Fort Myers.The only players they ever seemed to send to Beloit were the guys who were already in the organizational dog house (ie JJ Hardy, Alexi Castilla). I'm sure much of that was facilities, but I don't know if they were any better at it during their previous time in QC.

[Jim Crikket]

I'm not sure why the Twins send their players to Ft. Myers to rehab, but I think it's more than just the facilities in Beloit because I recall the folks in Rochester expressing dissatisfaction with the Twins for not sending enough guys out east to rehab, as well. I'm sure their staff and training facilities in Ft. Myers are better and most of the bus trips in the Florida State League are under 2 hours long. For us in Cedar Rapids, I just don't think that's a big deal probably because CR hasn't had a nearby affiliate in the 35 years I've been going to games. In fact, you mentioned Alexi Casilla getting a rehab stint with Beloit, but he actually requested that the Twins let him do his rehab with Beloit because they were playing in Cedar Rapids when he was scheduled to rehab and coming back here for a few games was actually a homecoming for him. He played for the Kernels when he was in the Angels organization. Casilla is the only MLB player I can recall ever watching play on a rehab assignment in CR.

 

Best of luck to the QC folks getting assurances on MLB rehab assignments. It's not going to happen for the River Bandits unless they sign on with another Midwestern team. If the Cubs go to Kane County and the Cardinals leave QC, that leaves the Twins and Royals. I can't see the Twins promising the QC any kind of rehab quota and the Royals have their AAA team right up the road in Omaha, so good luck getting Royals players showing up any more frequently than the Cardinals have.

 

I believe that if you're relying on your MLB affiliate to send you rehab players in order to prop up your attendance, you're not doing your job as a minor league front office. Those should be "frosting on the cake" when and if they happen. Maybe having a 1 hour direct flight between Minneapolis and Cedar Rapids will make a 1-2 game rehab thing more likely here, but I'm not counting on it.

[nowheresville]

Interesting - I knew that all of Alexi's rehab games were played in Cedar Rapids, but I never knew that he'd requested them. A very classy touch on his part.

 

The Cubs and Brewers are probably the best at sending their prospects to the Midwest League. They both seem to send players down to the Midwest League for a game or two, and then up to their AAA clubs for a final tune up. I think the only rehab in Beloit this year was when Shawn Marcum pitched for the visiting TRats in late August. It seems like the Twins might have sent one or two other guys down during their first couple years in Beloit, although I can't remember who else at this point.

[joeboo_22]

I don't know if a parent club needs to send rehab to the low A team. But I think it would be a good move to maybe send a rehab player or 2 to each of your affiliates if possible. I know some would not want to go to Low A but some might.

[Jim Crikket]

Interesting - I knew that all of Alexi's rehab games were played in Cedar Rapids, but I never knew that he'd requested them. A very classy touch on his part.

 

He not only requested to be sent to CR for his rehab, but my understanding is that he spent the time staying at the home of the family that served as the "house parents" he lived with when he played for the Kernels.

[jtrinaldi]

I'm not sure why the Twins send their players to Ft. Myers to rehab, but I think it's more than just the facilities in Beloit because I recall the folks in Rochester expressing dissatisfaction with the Twins for not sending enough guys out east to rehab, as well. I'm sure their staff and training facilities in Ft. Myers are better and most of the bus trips in the Florida State League are under 2 hours long. For us in Cedar Rapids, I just don't think that's a big deal probably because CR hasn't had a nearby affiliate in the 35 years I've been going to games. In fact, you mentioned Alexi Casilla getting a rehab stint with Beloit, but he actually requested that the Twins let him do his rehab with Beloit because they were playing in Cedar Rapids when he was scheduled to rehab and coming back here for a few games was actually a homecoming for him. He played for the Kernels when he was in the Angels organization. Casilla is the only MLB player I can recall ever watching play on a rehab assignment in CR.

 

Best of luck to the QC folks getting assurances on MLB rehab assignments. It's not going to happen for the River Bandits unless they sign on with another Midwestern team. If the Cubs go to Kane County and the Cardinals leave QC, that leaves the Twins and Royals. I can't see the Twins promising the QC any kind of rehab quota and the Royals have their AAA team right up the road in Omaha, so good luck getting Royals players showing up any more frequently than the Cardinals have.

 

I believe that if you're relying on your MLB affiliate to send you rehab players in order to prop up your attendance, you're not doing your job as a minor league front office. Those should be "frosting on the cake" when and if they happen. Maybe having a 1 hour direct flight between Minneapolis and Cedar Rapids will make a 1-2 game rehab thing more likely here, but I'm not counting on it.

Brewers send every rehabber through Appleton (always on a home stand) and Shaun Marcum made a start in Betroit.

[Jim Crikket]

Brewers send every rehabber through Appleton (always on a home stand) and Shaun Marcum made a start in Betroit.

 

I can understand that being the case with the Brewers. Their AAA team is in Tennessee, AA in Alabama, High A in Florida. None of them use their Spring Training facility in AZ. But when you look at the nine MLB teams still without affiliations, I don't see any that you'd expect to see sending their rebab players to the Quad Cities. The Cardinals, Twins and Royals would seem to be the teams most likely to do so, yet none have a history of doing so.

[MWLFan]

I saw Carlos Silva pitch for Beliot one year, but other then that and a JJ Hardy sighting. Not much else. Hardy played in Beliot also as a Minor Leaguer with the Brewers.

[Jim Crikket]

More speculation. Going to be a fun week.

 

http://www.kgymradio.com/Sprinkling-The-Infield/10336305

[Thrylos]

More speculation. Going to be a fun week.

 

http://www.kgymradio.com/Sprinkling-The-Infield/10336305

 

 

They got San Diego and LAA going from Fort Wayne to Beloit to Burlington. Talking about ups and downs

[Jim Crikket]

Twins and CR have agreed to a deal. Press conference will be Wednesday.

 

I'm told KC is going to Lexington, Ft Wayne was hoping to land the Cardinals but St. Louis wouldn't even talk to them, so Ft Wayne is expected to stick with the Padres.

[Seth Stohs]

Broken by the great Jim Crikket!!! Nice work!!

[Jim Crikket]

My wife texted me and asked if I was doing the Happy Dance. I said yes, and it isn't pretty... good thing nobody can see!

[snepp]

Excellent news.

[minn55441]

Thanks for the info Jim. We appreciate all of the info you have provided in the last few weeks.

[Jim Crikket]

Thanks for the info Jim. We appreciate all of the info you have provided in the last few weeks.

 

You're welcome. Then again, some in the local media apparently think I'm just makin' stuff up, so I guess you'll all just have to decide what you believe.

 

It's been an anxious, but enjoyable, period of time... one I hope I don't have to go through again for at least several years. I do know that I'm already looking forward to next season.

[jtrinaldi]

Thanks for the info Jim. We appreciate all of the info you have provided in the last few weeks.

 

You're welcome. Then again, some in the local media apparently think I'm just makin' stuff up, so I guess you'll all just have to decide what you believe.

 

It's been an anxious, but enjoyable, period of time... one I hope I don't have to go through again for at least several years. I do know that I'm already looking forward to next season.

Lexington is nowhere near being done for the royals, After FW is done, Lexington becomes the top location.

[nowheresville]

You're welcome. Then again, some in the local media apparently think I'm just makin' stuff up, so I guess you'll all just have to decide what you believe.

 

Yeah, but they also think you are a "Twin Cities Blogger" so they only care about the "facts" when its clear they're getting schooled.

[Jim Crikket]

You're welcome. Then again, some in the local media apparently think I'm just makin' stuff up, so I guess you'll all just have to decide what you believe.

 

Yeah, but they also think you are a "Twin Cities Blogger" so they only care about the "facts" when its clear they're getting schooled.

 

In fairness, as a blogger I have an easier time of things than the traditional media. While I'm sure I don't have as many sources as they do, I do have sources both in Minnesota and in Cedar Rapids. In addition, while news media generally needs to get two sources on the record to run a story, I don't. In this case, I needed one source I had a high degree of confidence in, either in Minnesota or Cedar Rapids. That's why I don't consider this any more than it is... a very good bit of news for Twins fans in Iowa.

[TwinsFanInPhilly]

Thanks for the info Jim. We appreciate all of the info you have provided in the last few weeks.

 

I agree witht his sentiment completely. And I am so looking forward to first hand reporting on the progress of Buxton, J. O. Kepler, Polanco, Harrison, Goodrum, Hicks, Walker, Duffey, et al. Should be a fun bunch to watch.

[jtrinaldi]

Thanks for the info Jim. We appreciate all of the info you have provided in the last few weeks.

 

I agree witht his sentiment completely. And I am so looking forward to first hand reporting on the progress of Buxton, J. O. Kepler, Polanco, Harrison, Goodrum, Hicks, Walker, Duffey, et al. Should be a fun bunch to watch.

Harrison is not likely going to be in class A to start the season, he has lots of work to do with his glove. They also may hold Buxton in Ex.ST as well. The Twins are stingy with their HS'ers and young latin talent.

[Jim Crikket]

One nice thing about the new CBA and the accelerated signing date is that a guy like Buxton got more PAs with a wood bat this summer than he might have in previous years if the signing process had been stretched out. It seems to me that whether he starts the season in A ball or stays down south a month or two might depend on what the Twins do with the outfielders that finished the year in Beloit.

[Jim Crikket]

Ballparkdigest.com reporting a press release is expected soon confirming that Ft. Wayne is renewing with the Padres.

[Jim Crikket]

Dominos continuing to fall. Peoria and the Cardinals have made it official. Four years. (Hat tip to MWLTraveler's tweet, which brought this to my attention).

 

http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120918&content_id=38612194&vkey=pr_t443&fext=.jsp&sid=t443