3
2012
Greener Pastures On The Horizon For Buffalo?
An article by 
The off season in some sports has, at times, adopted the moniker ‘silly season’. It’s that time of year when the dust kicks up from coast to coast, team names change, affiliations change, team locations change. While more prevalent in the minor league hockey world, the silly season affects minor league baseball as well.
This upcoming offseason may prove to be an interesting silly season, with many player development contracts expiring, giving parent club and affiliate alike the chance for greener pastures. The Mets organization is one of those parent clubs that could be in flux come September as far as where their prospects will be playing in 2013.
In November of 2011, Adam Rubin first mentioned a possible split in the marriage between Buffalo and Flushing, stating:
The New York Mets, who were booted from Norfolk, Va., after the 2006 season, may be in for the same fate in Buffalo after the 2012 campaign.
The Mets’ second two-year player-development agreement with Buffalo expires after the 2012 season. And dissatisfaction with the product the Mets are supplying has the Bisons leaning toward switching affiliations when the current agreement expires, according to industry sources.
The Mets were able to smooth things over with Buffalo and keep them as an affiliate after the original two-year agreement expired because of Terry Collins’ hiring to oversee the minors in 2010 and his popularity in Buffalo. Collins managed the Bisons when they were affiliated with the Pirates.
When the Mets were booted from Norfolk, they ended up in New Orleans in the Pacific Coast League for two years — which was undesirable for travel.
The Mets have produced records of 56-87, 76-68 and 61-82 in three seasons in Buffalo. And word is they’re not throwing around a ton of money to minor league free agents this offseason.
To add fuel to the rumor mill (silly season) fire is the wish by the Toronto Blue Jays to have their AAA affiliate closer than it is currently, which is Las Vegas, Nevada. A mere one hour and 51 minutes separates Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo and Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Blue Jays would ideally like all of their affiliates in Canada, but AAA markets in that country are slim as all that have had teams in the minor league senior circuit (Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Ottawa) have failed. The ‘next best thing’ for the Blue Jays organization would potentially be a team in Buffalo, currently the closest AAA city to Toronto.
This would leave the New York Mets in a bit of a quandary. Much like being picked last in gym class, their options would be few, or, well, one. Connecting the dots, if Toronto moved to Buffalo, then that would open up Las Vegas for the Mets. This setup would probably prove to be as bad for the Mets as their time in New Orleans. Beyond the clear disadvantage of travel time from essentially one coast to another, another factor would be that a majority of the Mets NL East competition have their affiliates in the International League (Lehigh Valley/Philadelphia, Syracuse/Washington, Gwinnett/Atlanta). The Miami Marlins are the lone NL East team currently with their AAA club in the Pacific Coast League, taking over in New Orleans when the Mets vacated for Buffalo. Granted, competition in AAA doesn’t always translate to competition at the Major League level, but if these guys progress through the various classifications playing against each other, knowing their opponent through the years may provide some sort of advantage when facing them in the ‘bigs’.
It will be an interesting few months in Mets affiliate land, that’s for sure. Of course, a few press conferences in their current markets would go a long way to stave off any speculation, but as of yet that hasn’t happened.
About the Author: Tim Burns
A Mets fan since birth, a Binghamton Mets fan since he watched them put the first shovel in the dirt in 1991 at Henry and Fayette Streets and every season since then, Tim is a vehement supporter - and at times defender - of Binghamton and his hometown team. From the days of Isringhausen, Pulsipher, and Wilson, to Reyes and Wright, all the way to present day den Dekker, Wheeler, and McHugh, he remembers when and is proud of all those that have graduated from the ballpark formerly known as Binghamton Municipal Stadium! Let's Go (B)Mets!
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Very interesting. This is the second time today I’ve heard about this. Personally I would love the Mets and Buffalo to continue this relationship for eternity. I grew up in Western NY and always wanted what we have today, a Mets/Bisons marriage! It always made so much sense to me. I do know that prior to the Mets settling in Buffalo there was talk about them possibly moving into Syracuse instead. I’m not sure how long they discussed that possibility, but that is what I was told by a Chiefs executive. Unfortunately the Nats have Syracuse locked in through 2014 having just extended their agreement. Good news is that the agreement between the Twins and Rochester expires at the end of this season as well. Maybe that would be an option for the Mets. Still in NY state and even closer to Flushing than Buffalo. That’s just worst case in my thoughts, I want the Mets to stay in beautiful Coca-Cola Field aka Pilot Field for the rest of my days! It was a dream come true the day they moved in. I can’t wait to see how it pans out!
I cant believe they sign such short-term agreements in the first place. It seems like they just got to Buffalo and already they could be moving again? They should have just stayed put in Norfolk where the weather was always good.
Leaving Norfolk was not the Mets’ choice, they were booted under the same set of circumstances being talked about in Buffalo. You’d think they would treat a city they had been affiliated with for thirty-eight years (Norfolk) better than that.
It is actually a pretty standard deal. Most affiliates not owned by the teams themselves work on 2 or 4 year deals. The Mets and Blue Jays may not be the only team with this issue.
I would love for the Mets to stay with Buffalo as well. Being from the Southern Tier/Upstate, having two Mets affiliates in the area is great in my book! Rochester would be a great option as well, and you hit upon the one rogue element in this – not sure how the relationship is there between the Twins and Red Wings. As for Syracuse, one thing I do remember about the Mets/Syracuse affiliation never coming to fruition was the scoreboard at the ballpark in Syracuse – it was subpar by any standard, and from what I remember (I have nothing to go by on this – just rumors mostly) that was a sticking point between the two organizations. Would have been great for us in Binghamton to have the AAA club just an hour north, but it wasn’t to be. Ironic part is – they are installing a new scoreboard in Syracuse this year. (again, I doubt there’s a ton of validity to that being the ONE issue that kept the Mets out of Syracuse, but it may have been contributing).
I’m going to fasion a ‘part two’ to the affiliate saga – that being Binghamton – but won’t get it done until next week sometime; there’s a lot more that goes into what’s going on here right now and it’ll take me a bit to put it all together.
Excellent post. One thing in this post that struck me as odd was learning that the Marlins have their Triple A affiliate so far away with them being a low market team. It’s even odder than when the Mets played there. I would love to see the Mets land in Rochester if they do end their relationship with Buffalo because it’s a shorter drive for me. But what is it about the Mets that will have them possibly having their fourth affiliate in less than 10 years?
Technically, Rochester is the closest AAA city to Toronto…but that doesn’t really matter.
Living in Rochester, I hear all the time that the Red Wings are unhappy with the Twins. The Twins haven’t been producing the quality players they once were and the ones they do produce don’t stay in AAA for very long. That has left the Red Wings losing a lot of games and a lot of losing seasons, which does not sit well with one of baseballs most historic franchises. (yes I know it’s AAA).
Reality, I loved when the Mets joined up with Buffalo, I’ve gotten the chance to see a lot of “future” Mets players (ie: Kirk, Duda, Tejada and Mejia) when they’ve come to town, but if the Mets moved to Rochester, I’d be very excited.
Hi guys!
Making another swing through – thanks for the responses!
I think Miami’s problem is one of geography and lack of AAA markets in Florida or they, and their AL counterpart in Tampa Bay, would have their senior minor league affiliate in the Sunshine State. New Orleans has a AAA franchise and it doesn’t appear as though they are going to sell it to be moved elsewhere, so one of the 30 MLB teams needs to affiliate with it. The last couple of times, that team has been the odd man out (much like Vegas). The Mets issue in Buffalo is prospects and name players to put butts in the seats. I imagine that was much the same issue they had in Norfolk as well. I think New Orleans was, again, a geographical issue – to far removed from the MLB market to generate an interest.
LOL – yes, ‘technically’ Rochester is closer (but only if the ferry is up and running again OR the players can flap their arms really really fast
). My question is – were the Red Wings equally as unhappy with Baltimore? They were affiliates for a very long time, so I wouldn’t think that. The Orioles, in their quest to have all of their affiliates close (they would like all of them in Maryland, but the state can only support so many minor league ballclubs for goodness sake) found the closest, available, viable AAA club and jumped at it (I’m keeping Richmond out of that equation because, apparently, their stadium wasn’t up to AAA standards). Was that the driving force in driving the Baltimore/Rochester affiliation apart? By the way – Rochester IS one of baseball’s most historic franchises in my book, even though it’s AAA. Still miss going to games at Silver – I’m sure Frontier Field is better in many ways, but I had family in Rochester (Pittsford) growing up and went to a game my first year at St. John Fisher there as well, it was a grand old park in my mind.
I don’t think the Red Wings were especially upset with the Orioles. Sadly, teams change affiliates on a regular basis. I think any AAA team is going to try to join up a team that makes them the most profitable.
AS far as the distance thing, I don’t think too many players are being moves back and forth between teams via car or any other land transportation. Odds are, players are flying from what even city they are in too the city the other team is playing at. Being an hour away driving distance to Queens doesn’t mean much when the Mets are playing on the WC. I we look at it that way, Buffalo is probably the best upstate city to be playing in because the Airport there makes more direct flights to more major markets. Rochester (despite being an international airport) usually needs a connecting flight to Chicago or another major hub to reach most places in the country (that’s why we drive to Buffalo 1/2 the time we travel).
As for the stadium, I’ve been to many games at Silver Stadium and at Frontier Field, I have to say the Frontier Field is by far a greater experience and a it’s a very nice park to see a game. The Neighborhood around Silver Stadium has really gone down hill and the park was very dated. Frontier Field has great parking, a few nice bars in the area and it has a very nice “retro” fell to it. The food is simple, but really good. There are no bad seats at the park and for about $20 a ticket, you can get seats at field level right behind home plate. Plus you get a great view of down town Rochester looking out towards the OF. Sadly, you get a great view of the Kodak building, a nice reminder one of how the great company’s of Rochester have been managed into the ground.
You’re right, Rochester is closer to Toronto! When the Mets were in New Orleans it was very weird. I enjoyed it because I was living an hour outside of Nashville and could watch the “Zephyrs” play the Sounds in the PCL. This was during the Joe Smith craze so I was psyched to see him, Scooch, Tatis, and a bunch of others come through Greer Stadium in Nashville. It just seemed weird to me since they weren’t in Norfolk anymore and bittersweet because of the 40 years the two clubs were together. Honestly, it just didn’t seem right to have the New York Mets AAA club in New Orleans. It just didn’t jive well in my mind! I love Coca-Cola/Dunn Tire/North Americare/Downtown Ballpark/Pilot Field! Although it was built to expand and attract a Major League club, I feel that hope is gone. If the Bisons want to put butts in the seats they should bring back the Earl of Bud!
There is always the possibility that the Mets (or any other team, for that matter) could buy one of the existing AAA franchises and move to an area of their choice. What better way for a ballclub to make money… own, operate and make profits from your triple A team. The Braves do it on all levels. If the Mets did buy a AAA franchise, where it would play would be up in the air. I know the territorial issue with the Yankees came to a head this past year when the Yanks requested permission from the Mets to move their Scranton franchise to Newark for 2012 only. The Mets turned it down. So the metropolitan area is out because of that fiasco. Long Island would have been perfect. How about Albany, NY? Montreal? Ottawa? Perhaps it could be to an existing AA market that’s looking to move up…. Harrisburg, PA comes to mind. Of course, existing MLB territorial rights would have to be worked out. If the Phillies would agree, Trenton would be a dynamite spot for Triple A baseball.
Truth of the matter is the Mets should do a little shuffling and make the Cyclones their AAA team so they are a short train ride from the stadium and find someplace else to fill the spot the Cyclones are vacating!
It really does make a ton of sense to have your AAA team very close to your MLB squad these days!
The Yankees will not allow a Triple A team within NYC borders. It’s not going to happen.