Toronto Pulling out of Syracuse???

[sds416]

Anyone here have any information on a report that the Jays taking the Chiefs and moving them to Ottawa for next season, to be replaced in Syracuse by the New Orleans Zephyers and their affiliation with the NY Mets?

This was reported today by Metsblog.com and they have sources that claim the staff in Syracuse has already been notified about the move. Anyone here have any insight?

[Chris from NY]

We'll have to wait for Jays Scout to answer on this one. He seems pretty in touch with all that stuff. There is a lot of tradition in Syracuse with the Chiefs, so it will be kind of sad to see them go, but it will be nice to have the Blue Jays minor league affiliate in Canada.

[sds416]

Here is some more from Metsblog.com...looks like this may be legit.

"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."

[PJ-34]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! not Ottawa!!! oh man I hate Ottawa. My least favourite place in all of the world. I'm gonna miss Syracuse...this is a bad day...how would you feel if you just found out your favourite baseball team is moving to a city in which you absolutely hate with all your heart!!! I hate the stupid senators and I hate everything now! at lease the Saskatoon Blades are still intact.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

How does this work? Will the team in Syracuse still be the Chiefs, just with completley different players? Or does the entire Chiefs organization move to Ottawa?

[PJ-34]

I have no idea. They Chiefs fans on the Syracuse.com boards were talking about it all year but other members were just saying it was all bull but I guess it wasn't.

[sds416]

Got some more info last night...

Apparently, MLB and the IL feel very strongly that there needs to be AAA level baseball in Canada. To this end, they have apparently put out there a rather sweetheart deal to an organization willing to put its AAA team in Canada, specifically Ottawa, where a stadium already exists.

The Blue Jays were the most logical choice apparently because their affiliation agreement was coming up for renewal, they are canadian based (which has some impact on the tax situation and some other benefits that american owners cannot get there), and they apparently don't like spending on their minor league program. So it looks like it will work like this:

1. Syracuse ownership will sign a 4 year affiliation agreement with the Mets. Whether they remain the Chiefs or undergo a name change remains to be seen at this point.

2. Toronto will be granted a new franchise in Ottawa, name to be
determined.

3. New Orleans would either operate as an independent or fold all together.

From all signs this is pretty much a done deal.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

What happens to the team formerly known as the Lynx?

[sds416]

The Lynx move and become the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, still a Phillies affiliate.

[Big_Mac]

the iron pigs? bleeeh

nice to see us get a triple-a team back in canada though. although toronto and ottawa?

[PJ-34]

My point exactly. My love for the city of Toronto drives me to hate Ottawa with all of my heart...I am so mad. I hate the senators so much they don't even deserve a capital letter. In fact everytime I write ottawa or senators I won't be using capitals.:evil

[Chris from NY]

the iron pigs? bleeeh
lthough toronto and ottawa?
Shoulda put it in Regina. :D

[PJ-34]

What no one is looking at is the fact that you'll have two AAA leagues with 15 teams each, and that just doesn't work well for the guys who make the schedules. Either one team from the IL would have to move west, or a PCL team would have to move east. So there must be more to this than meets the eye because too many teams will spoil the soup, or is this just wishful thinking. I don't know which sounds better, Syracuse or Ottawa in the PCL Eastern Division?

[sds416]

What no one is looking at is the fact that you'll have two AAA leagues with 15 teams each, and that just doesn't work well for the guys who make the schedules. Either one team from the IL would have to move west, or a PCL team would have to move east. So there must be more to this than meets the eye because too many teams will spoil the soup, or is this just wishful thinking. I don't know which sounds better, Syracuse or Ottawa in the PCL Eastern Division?

There is no problem playing an unbalanced schedule. Syracuse or Ottawa will NOT be in the PCL. Take it to the bank, they will be IL teams.

[PJ-34]

This really sucks...:ughh

[sds416]

Just heard some more today, basically that the Mets staff will be meeting with Syracuse folks during the GM meetings to put together some sort of framework, whether that is framework for negotiations or for an agreement, I am not certain.

The team will at the very least likely be undergoing a change in team colors and logo, and its not out of the realm of possibility that the name will change all together.

[skeletor]

Shoulda put it in Regina. :D

not a bad idea....however, I wonder if there is enough interest in Regina, for a AAA team ? I guess the Mets want outta New Orleans....a shame.
before katrina, saw some games there..pretty much fun...

I remember in the early 1960's, when the Chiefs were the AAA club
of Detroit...guys like Willie Horton, Jim Northrup, etc honed their
skills with the club, before getting kicked up to the show..

[PJ-34]

Well this blows, I was getting sick of their fans hating Toronto anyways, I have a whole season to deal with their stupidness and it's not gonna be easy to deal with, I even made my own signature that took me like 2 hours, is it nice?

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

They're gonna be called the Cays???

[PJ-34]

No! I just put the 2 logos together.

[Jayme]

haha Cays :dance

[Chris from NY]

not a bad idea....however, I wonder if there is enough interest in Regina, for a AAA team ?
It's a nice thought, but it's not really a possibility. They couldn't keep a AAA team in Calgary so Regina doesn't have a chance. We have a a team in Regina playing in a wood bat collegiate type league, and, unfortunately, there just isn't enough support. (I personally have some minor resentment because they named the team the Red Sox.)


They're gonna be called the Cays???
I declare, on the grounds that I've pretty much been posting on the Blue Jays board the longest, that the Blue Jays AAA affiliate will always be referred to as the Cays. :rofl: That seriously made my night!

[PJ-34]

Oh God damit you guys.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Hahaha... I just call 'em as I see 'em.

[Chris from NY]

I generally call 'em how RHP sees 'em too. Don't get me wrong, if the team's name was indeed the Cays, that would be the perfect logo for them. Maybe there's a future in logo design for you, Scout (Or maybe it should be Jem)

[PJ-34]

...All I did was join the 2 logos to try and make the two teams as "one" Cays would be a terrible name, so is the first name of Toronto's new AAA team in 09 if you catch my drift ;) if you didn't it's because they're moving to Ottawa in 09 and I hate the city of Ottawa...ya that's pretty much it.

[Jayme]

Can someone please update me on the Ottawa team?

Is there going to be a team in that city this comming season, I heard that Toronto was staying in Syracuse for one more year then comming to Ottawa.

Dont know how true it is, could someone please fill me in.

[sds416]

Can someone please update me on the Ottawa team?

Is there going to be a team in that city this comming season, I heard that Toronto was staying in Syracuse for one more year then comming to Ottawa.

Dont know how true it is, could someone please fill me in.

Toronto's last season in Syracuse will be 2008. They will have a team in Ottawa in 2009.

[Jayme]

So there is no AAA team this year in Ottawa?

[sds416]

So there is no AAA team this year in Ottawa?

Correct. That team moved and became the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs.

[mrmain18]

Which IL franchise will move to Ottawa? There's no way the New Orleans PCL franchise could move to Syracuse and leave both leagues with 15 teams.

[sds416]

Which IL franchise will move to Ottawa? There's no way the New Orleans PCL franchise could move to Syracuse and leave both leagues with 15 teams.

This will be an expansion franchise, there will no longer be an equal number of teams in both leagues. What happens to New Orleans is unknown, I am sure they would have the option of remaining a member of the PCL, playing as an independent or otherwise I would envision them folding.

[Domino81]

I'm from Syracuse, my favorite team is the Blue Jays. No one is more upset if this comes to fruition than I am. :( I ******* hate the Mets.

[hudsonharden]

Sorry Domino, it has come to fruition. Washington signed a 2-year player development contract with the Syracuse Chiefs. This leave the Blue Jays with either Buffalo or Las Vegas as an option, and with rumors that the Mets are working out a deal with Buffalo, it looks like Vegas is the place.