Yanks drop Trenton, Charleston, Staten Island affiliates

terrynever

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bsj

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This sucks.

I live 20 min from Somerset and as a Boston native, I always used to enjoy going to those games because it was an independent team I could support that didnt compete with my other interests

No more
 

Rwillh11

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Damn, I hope Trenton gets a team from someone else. I've enjoyed going to see the Thunder play, even if I root against them - and Trenton needs anything to draw people to come in and spend some money.
 

brs3

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The SI Yankees were under-utilized. It's a shame this won't be continued, and also a surprise since the Brooklyn Cyclones appear headed to being promoted as an affiliate. The Cyclones did such a better job with promotions(which I guess makes it not a surprise), but the SI stadium offers an amazing view of Manhattan.
 

terrynever

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Every big league team has to get down to four affiliates so we can expect similar announcements soon from other franchises, including Boston. Then we will see a few independent professional teams renewed, or relocated. Pawtucket is in the market for one and several things in its favor — ballpark, recent history, etc. Same for Trenton.

From the NJ.com article linked above:

The restructuring of the Yankees' minor-league affiliates would be part of a massive restructuring across baseball as each major-league team trims their list of affiliates to just four.
 

McBride11

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As a CHS resident that lives 500 yards from the ballpark this is too bad. It is a quaint little stadium (built 1997). I particularly enjoy the Friday nite fireworks from my balcony.
Hope the team can continue with all the realignments,.
 

terrynever

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This sucks...effectively ends our experience as a host family for Somerset players. I too enjoyed fireworks from my deck...being a stone's throw from the ballpark.
What changes? I thought the Yankees just moved their Trenton franchise to Somerset.
 

mauf

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Am I right in thinking that MLB's goal here is not only to reduce player development expenses, but to push all but the most elite high-school prospects to attend college? Seems like that would be the likely long-run result of drastically reducing the number of Rookie and Low-A clubs. And it would mean that relatively few players would reach free agency before age 29 or 30 (assuming that most college prospects still need at least a year or two of minor-league seasoning).
 

terrynever

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Am I right in thinking that MLB's goal here is not only to reduce player development expenses, but to push all but the most elite high-school prospects to attend college? Seems like that would be the likely long-run result of drastically reducing the number of Rookie and Low-A clubs. And it would mean that relatively few players would reach free agency before age 29 or 30 (assuming that most college prospects still need at least a year or two of minor-league seasoning).
Seems logical to me, Mauf. MLB trying to copy the player development scheme that the NFL uses to great effect.
 

OCST

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The Staten Island and Brooklyn stadiums were built at the same time, in 2001. It was a complex deal, brokered by Giuliani, who convinced each of the Yankees and Mets to drop objections to the other having a minor league team in exclusive territory, and a commitment to large capital expenditures to get them built at the same time- the city paid for construction and leased them to the teams on a sweetheart deal.

https://www.espn.com/minorlbb/news/2001/0625/1218524.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/12/magazine/the-house-that-rudy-built.html
I have to wonder what will happen to the Yankees' waiver of objection to the Mets maintaining a minor league affiliate in exclusive MLB territory.

These are both very nice parks, well above standard for Single A short season parks, and as mentioned the Staten Island park has a stunning view of Manhattan and is steps from the SI Ferry. It would be a shame to leave it empty.
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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Somerset is a great park. Sucks about Trenton, though I wonder if someone else will come in. So far it has been Detroit, Boston and NY.
 

terrynever

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Somerset is a great park. Sucks about Trenton, though I wonder if someone else will come in. So far it has been Detroit, Boston and NY.
Pawtucket is in the same boat as Trenton, hoping to land a team from the Independent Atlantic League.

Depending on COVID-19, we don’t even know if there will be a minor league season next year.
 

jon abbey

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The Charleston team is owned by Bill Murray and was a pretty fun time. Kinda disappointing
He owns it as part of the Goldklang Group according to Wikipedia, and interestingly they also own the Hudson Valley Renegades, who are essentially replacing Charleston for the Yankees (Tampa is switching to low A, Hudson Valley is high A).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Goldklang_Group
 

NJ_Sox_Fan

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Interesting email I just received:

Major League Baseball in conjunction with MLB's partner, Prep Baseball Report (PBR), has announced the formation of the new MLB Draft League to complete MLB's 21st Century vision for minor league player development. Set to launch in 2021, the MLB-affiliated league will be anchored in NJ by the top-rated Trenton Thunder organization, and will be recognized as the Premier League in the country focused on baseball's top prospects eligible to be drafted by MLB Clubs each summer.

"We are thrilled to share with our fans and sponsor partners the exciting news that your Trenton Thunder will be a founding member of the new MLB Draft League for the 2021 season and continue to bring family fun to ARM & HAMMER Park," said Thunder GM/COO Jeff Hurley. "We are dedicated to delivering our Power of Fun brand to our fans as the Thunder Entertainment Experience they have enjoyed for the last 27 years, featuring the antics of our beloved mascot Boomer having a blast in the crowd. Fans will continue to enjoy our World Famous Bat Dogs retrieving bats, with Dash making his debut this summer. The new MLB Draft League will showcase the best prospects in baseball eligible for the MLB draft. Thunder fans will get to know these players as they begin their path as future stars of Major League Baseball."

"For legions of Trenton Thunder fans, the development of a new league showcasing up and coming talent will be a real thrill. Major League Baseball's success is built on a thriving minor league system, and for 27 years Thunder supporters have visited our Capital City, warmly welcoming new players and proudly cheering others on to the big leagues. Mercer County has made wise investments into the ballpark - benefitting both the fans and players - and the new Trenton Thunder team will be developed in a first-class facility. This news is a win for everyone - The Thunder, Mercer County, the City of Trenton, and especially baseball fans, and we look forward to a great season."
-- Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes

"This is great news for the Thunder and proves the resiliency of the city of Trenton and Mercer County. The Thunder has a rich history as a winning franchise which provides family entertainment at an affordable price in a great location for baseball fans throughout the region. Trenton's rich industrial heritage proved Trenton Makes, the World Takes. This tradition continues with the creation of the MLB Draft League as The Thunder Makes, MLB Takes."
-- Greater Trenton Chief Executive Officer George Sowa

The Trenton Thunder, presented by NJM Insurance Group, continues its award-winning Entertainment Experience as the action packed summer place to be and will be joined by the Williamsport Crosscutters, Mahoning Valley Scrappers, State College Spikes and West Virginia Black Bears, also all MLB-affiliated teams, as hand-selected founding members of the MLB Draft League. MLB is in advanced negotiations with more teams to be announced in the coming weeks.

The MLB Draft will be simulcasted in a closed-circuit telecast live from ARM & HAMMER Park as part of MLB All-Star Week in mid-July. The MLB Draft League's rosters are filled with draft-eligible players who will have a unique opportunity to showcase their abilities and gain exposure to other MLB clubs and crowds of Thunder fans each year.

The MLB Draft League will feature an exciting jammed packed 68-game regular season, scheduled to run from late May to mid-August with an annual All-Star Break centered around the MLB Draft and featuring our Thunder players. Players will receive unprecedented visibility to MLB scouts through in-person observation and state-of-the-art scouting technology, as well as instruction from former MLB players on the Thunder staff. Our professional baseball coaching staff will develop the skills of Thunder players, with the dream of one day adding their names to the nearly 400 Thunder players who have made it to the Big Leagues.