Brewers Low A Affiliate to move to Wisconsin?
by Jordan M on Jul 16, 2008 2:08 PM CDT
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PrintThe Brewers contract with their low Class A affiliate, the West Virginia Power, ends after the current season.
Though the Brewers seem to be content with the Power, there might be a better option for both the Brewers and their fans: the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, whose player development contract with the Mariners ends after this year as well.
Are the Milwaukee Brewers pulling the plug on the West Virginia Power?
The low Class A player development contract between Milwaukee and West Virginia ends in September.
However, Milwaukee baseball officials still haven't sat down with Power executives to discuss the organizations' future together.
....
Rumor has it, the Brewers want to move their Class A franchise to nearby Appleton, Wis. That would end the affiliation between the Seattle Mariners and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
From the Charleston Daily Mail.
The Timber Rattlers haven't been too happy with the Mariners lately. Most top-tier prospects have skipped the low-A stop in the Mariner chain, and the T-Rats have suffered through two very bad seasons, record-wise.
The main roadblock seems to be the cold-weather issue. One of the reasons the Brewers left Beloit was that they didn't want their pitchers in the cold weather of early April. However, from what I've heard, Beloit's stadium is sub-par and they didn't draw particularly well. The T-Rats don't have those issues. Fox Cities Stadium is new and in prime condition, and attendance is good considering how terrible the T-Rats teams have been the past two years.
via wisconsin.timberrattlers.milb.com
via wisconsin.timberrattlers.milb.com
The second picture doesn't even show the entire seating section, there is more seating down each line.
It would be awesome to see the Brewers move up here. I think the benefits are pretty obvious for both sides:
- The Brewers get a near-by place for rehab assignments and scouting
- The Brewers get to grow the fan base and merchandise network up here, where few people are aware of their existence among the constant barrage of Packers coverage
- The T-Rats get a quality organization who sends them good players
- The T-Rats get an attendance boost from people like me who would actually go to/care about their games, as well as general people who become more interested
- Finally, the T-Rats get the allure of having a potential rehabbing player come visit for a game
By no means is this a done deal, in fact, teams cannot even negotiate until after the year without violating tampering rules. But I can only hope a deal is struck- if so, BCB will gain a few reporters up here in Appleton who can bring pictures, video, and scouting reports to all of the rest who never get to see any good low A players because they're in West Virginia.
Here's the Brewerfan.net thread on the issue.
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I used to work at the stadium
And it would absolutely explode if the Brewers ended up moving there. I’ve talked to quite a few fans about it (I worked the team store) and they were all really positive about seeing the Mariners prospects, sure, but when we started talking about seeing the Brewers prospects, boy, I bet they will sell out a few games if that happens.
There are a lot of really passionate people around the area about Brewers baseball that will care. Plus, the T-Rats are a great organization that, yes, would provide an excellent rehab location (imagine the Wisconsin fans for a rehab assignment, of say, Braun or Fielder? Not that they’re ever going to be injured… knock on wood)
If he's the Prince, then I'm the King.
I just think...
Look at how many families come out to the game and enjoy themselves, it’s a great atmosphere and they do an awesome job. Imagine if you add in the element that these are the future Brewers! Families there nowadays are usually younger kids who avoid going down to Miller because “good seats” are $32/person when they’re $8 or $5 at the T-Rats, but if you add in the future Brewers, you’re looking at getting families with older kids and just people interested in the Brewers back to that stadium.
Plus, Brewers farm teams are pretty darn competitive.
If he's the Prince, then I'm the King.
What does Madison have to do to get a minor league team?
The Mallards just don’t do it for me (aside from the duck pond.)
god, the Mallards suck
I swore off any games below AAA after seeing them “play”
by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 16, 2008 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions
yeah, if you go to Warner for any reason other than to go to the Duck Blind and drink yourself retarded, you’re making a mistake.
Oh, come on
There’s a lot of lameness, but the games are a pretty good time. Here’s my review: http://nohuddleoffense.blogspot.com/2008/06/stadium-tour-rolls-on-throughmadison-wi.html
http://nohuddleoffense.blogspot.com
by No Huddle Offense on Jul 16, 2008 11:29 PM CDT up reply actions
This would be very cool
I did a few trips down to Beloit to see the Brewers/Snappers stadium was ok(ok is me being polite)
I have never been to a game in Appleton but from what I have heard going back to the Foxes they have been a hot bed for minor league ball. If low A was up there I would wander up from Oconomowoc to see a couple of games.
Its all about the Bullpen this season that is the key.
Good move
I think this would be great. The Timber Rattlers could really use a shot in the arm, and it would benefit the Crew, too. When I was 12, I got to see a Rattlers-Mariners exhibition. Well it rained so they turned it into a HR Derby (During the Griffey, A-Rod, Buhner, Martinez years). Imagine sending Prince, Braun and Hart up to Appleton for a derby once a year or so.
BTW, where are the Appleton folks from?? (I grew up in Greenville)
http://nohuddleoffense.blogspot.com
by No Huddle Offense on Jul 16, 2008 11:31 PM CDT reply actions
North side of town
That’s where I’m from. I was at one of the Mariners vs. T-Rats games, too, except it was an actual exhibition and Seattle either sucked or let the T-Rats win. I’m not sure. I saw Edgar Martinez and Jon Olerud, but that was about it. Apparently everyone else was too cool for it.
If he's the Prince, then I'm the King.
Neenah here. Went to my first T-Rats game last night (a surprising win). The stadium is tremendous. Words cannot express how cool it would be to see Brewer draft picks filtering their way through Appleton, not to mention the occasional rehab assignment.
One of the columnists for the Post Crescent wrote about this a few months back. Hopefully, it can get done. It just makes too much sense. If they did, I’d consider some sort of season ticket package.
Kimberly/Darboy
... and any potential home run derby would not be complete without Branyan.
And neck size to baby eating ratio.
I agree that this move would be good for the T-Rats and Appleton. I was sorry to see the Beloit thing die off—at the time, it was nice to be able to see Brewers prospects now and then near home (I live close to Grand Rapids, another Midwest League town).
The Tigers did a similar thing a few years ago, when they affiliated with the Grand Rapids team. There is an awful lot of buzz generated around here when Tiger players do rehab assignments: Kenny Rogers last year, Magglio Ordonez earlier this week, ...
It's called "playing the percentages."
It would be neat
Imagine drafting someone like Braun, and being able to watch him play in Appleton, years before seeing him in Milwaukee.
"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"
My dad was going to take me to see A-Rod when he made a brief pit stop in Appleton, but we didn't end up going
Too bad, that would have been a good story.
BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"
I've got an A-Rod bobblehead
With him clad in his Appleton Foxes uniform. Neat stuff.
If he's the Prince, then I'm the King.
If I were Bud Selig
I’d have a Morganna bobblehead day.
"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"
I live in Appleton
and I hate watching the T-Rats right now; they’re god-awful and the fact that I don’t have interest in any of the players doesn’t exactly help. I used to live 2 blocks from Goodland Field where the Foxes played, and saw quite a few of A-Rod’s games there. My neighbor’s grandson was the batboy for the team at the time and apparently A-Rod was a mentor to the kid. Cool stuff.
Now, my apartment is a 5-minute drive from Fox Cities Stadium and you can bet I’d be there all the time if the Brewers put a farm team there. I’d heard this rumored before, but the reason I heard for them not wanting to move was that West Virginia played a longer season. Still, this would be a huge boost for an already popular destination.
But then I’d have to buy a new camera to get postable pictures…
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