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As previously mentioned on MetsBlog, there is increased buzz from Syracuse that suggests the Mets will move their Triple-A affiliate from New Orleans to Syracuse at the end of the next season.
According to Syracuse’s ABC Affiliate, WSYR, Syracuse Chiefs management, in an increased effort to lure a new team, have begun the transition from Astro Turf to natural grass.
The Chiefs, who’s contract with the Blue Jays is up at the end of next season, will also alter the dimensions of Alliance Bank Stadium, which reportedly will be very similar to the Mets new ballpark, Citi Field.
…frankly i’d love the Mets to move from nola to syracuse…their triple-a affiliate would be back in the International League where they belong…also for selfish reasons as i would get to see them play the new phillies triple-a affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs…
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Not a big surprise as there was talk at the time that NoLa was a short term solution given the short notice Norfolk gave NY, and what was then available. That’s why the Mets signed only a 2 year deal (the deals are either 2 years or 4 years). But of course Syracuse was the Yankees AAA team in the 70s and earlier.
Yea..soon after they signed with NoLa there was talk that it would be a one year thing, and Syracuse came up then as a possible replacement.
This makes more sense. The earlier postings on this made it sound like they were moving for 2008 season.
I know, leave Shea up, and let them play there!
syracuse will be a lot more convenient and easier to shuttle players back and forth, the mets have had some problems this year with not being able to get guys from AAA fast enough.
The Iron Pigs?? That’s almost as funny as the Sand Gnats.
sweet
We should buy the Newark Bears- how cool would it be to take the PATH to see our future stars. Besides- Rickey thinks Rickey could get another shot playing there. Rickey is still in shape. Rickey could be WS MVP if Willie would just put Rickey in.
I think there’s also the fact that the PCL is a bad pitchers league, right? Intl league is more akin to big league ball, right? Plus, the proximity…good move.
The Majors is a good pitchers league? LOL, well certainly better than the PCL, so I know what you’re saying. ;)
Well it’d be sad for the Mets to bail out on NOLA so quickly, though I’m sure in the musical chairs world of minor league ball, some other team would quickly replace them. We don’t live in the pony express days anymore, but there would be a reduction in time travel and expense on the future Mets-AAA shuttle. Maybe that’ll convince Ricky Ledee to un-retire.
It might make sense sue to the proximity to Queens, but they are going to hate playing in 50 degree weather in April. I’m sure the pitchers aren’t very happy about the move.
Well, look at it positively. it will prepare them for playing in Queens in october!
I live in the Richmond area and would go to see the Tides as they played the Braves’ AAA affiliate here. It was great getting to see Wright et al up close for less than $10 a ticket. It was real disappointing when the Mets left the International League. It’d be great to get them back so I can go to the park and root against the home team here in Richmond again.
As an upstate NY Mets fan, I was heart-broken when the Tides left for New Orleans. Having the Tides visit Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse were must-see games! Now I’ll probably have to step up and get season tix for the home team in Alliance Bank Park. It is awesome that they’re switching to grass also – that turf was worse than the indoor/outdoor carpet on my grandmother’s screened-in porch. Any thoughts on a name for the Syracuse team?
The name of the team in Syracuse is the Chiefs. For many years, they had a Native American motif, since the capital of the Iroquois Confederacy is located in the Syracuse area, on the Onondaga Nation.
In 1997, in an act of PC, and with the opening of the new stadium, they became known as the Skychiefs and had an aviation-related theme. That name never caught on, and in time for the 2007 season, they became known as the Chiefs once again, this time with a railroad theme. (The mainline of the old NYCRR runs right behind the LF fence and numerous trains pass by during the course of a game).
The Chiefs are a storied franchise in the International League. Only Rochester has had a franchise in the league for more years than Syracuse. The franchise is community owned with upwards of 4000 stockholders.
As a long time Chiefs’ fan now living out in the Desert Southwest, I am following the situation concerning the working agreement with great interest. On one hand, the Jays are my favorite AL team. Toronto is a fabulous city, and can be reached by car from Syracuse in 4 hours. On the other hand, in the 30 years the Jays have been the parent team, Syracuse has made the playoffs something like 4 times – not nearly enough. The Chiefs’ agreement with the Jays ends after the ‘08 season, as does the Big Easy’s agreement with the Mets. Should be interesting to see what develops.
I ask this question again, why do we have to go to a city with declining population base, older facility, and poor early season weather? Is it because there are no other cities with ballparks? Why did the Wilpons buy a franchise in Brooklyn and invest in a new ballpark for a single A team and do not invest for a triple A team? Is the talent in single A or triple A?
There hasn’t been all that much media “buzz” about the Mets moving here – or I’ve missed it. Hasn’t been in the local paper since last off season. Local sports talk is all about SU sports – which you can imagine how awful that is right now w/ the football team looking more like a fuzball team.
Would be great to have the Mets AAA team here – the Toronto Maple Loafs AAA team has been rather mediocre and that’s being charitable. The highlight of this year (?) was seeing the revenge of Victor Zamboni throw for the Chiefs. Alliance is a very nice Stadium, about 10-12 years old and they are replacing the hideously outdated turf with grass right now. The Chiefs attendence is good but would undoubtedly improve with a Mets connection, despite upstate NY being strong Yankee territory. Maybe between Binghamton and Syracuse that would change in time…a couple of WS wouldn’t hurt either.
Would seem to be easier to shuttle players around from AA to AAA as SYR is about 70 miles from BGM right up I-81. Would definitely make player moves between the Mets and the minors easier…
As far as 50 degree days in May here…waaaaaah…shut up and play. After about 150″ snow per year its all a matter of perspective!
This is awesome. I grew up in Syracuse and my Dad took me to Chiefs games, he still goes. I saw Steve Balboni, Carlos Delgado and many others.
The big oppourtunity here is to grow Mets Nation. Whenever I hear ” the Mets radio network” on the WFAN I’m like what are they talking about? Between Binghamton and Syracuse the “network” should have two more cities. The Yankees have been on Syr radio forever. Come on Wilpon go for upstate NY.
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