2020 (Part I)

Rob Manfred: The Man in Charge.

First off, I want to say, I am quickly becoming a huge fan of the new MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred -- despite the stupid clock to try to get batters & pitchers to move the game much faster, which really only saved an average of 6 minutes per game, so far (6 whole minutes). Watching him in interviews, especially his sit-down with the MLB Network -- you can see that he truly loves the game, that he is a hardcore fan, and will truly do what's best for Major League Baseball.

I loved that he quickly scoffed at the whole "let's kick the season off in Australia" routine & happy that he quickly nixed that -- which never made sense Mr. Bud Selig. Yeah... Let's kick the season off in a place that barely knows what baseball is, then those two teams (Arizona & Los Angeles Dodgers) can return home, and go back to Spring Training for a week?! It was ludicrous! No one watched, if you did it was 4 in the morning or something like that, and the Sports radio shows that are already pro-NFL had a field day blasting baseball to smithereens about it. Selig often made baseball embarrassing.

Now in the past, I used to cringe at the thought of expansion -- I still often, think that baseball should have stayed at 26 franchises. I occasionally (well, more than occasionally) miss the old division set-up of 4 divisions, and having only 4 teams move on to the playoffs -- Dynasties no longer exist (sorry Giants fans), in which the New York Yankees (1996-2001) teams under Joe Torre, was the last dynasty to have existed in baseball.

At the same time, like Manfred mentioned in some of these recent interviews about looking into expansion, he mentioned it's a growing business, and eventually that means more markets searching for teams. We live in a day & age where there are plenty of talented baseball players, more and more from over seas & more from the islands south of us.

Look who's back? Back Again... 

There has been much talk about Montreal getting a team again -- Yes, the return of the Montreal Expos. I do think it's possible, but like Manfred mentioned, they would have to have a new stadium ready for the them. Olympic Stadium is a old tomb with possibly as many cobwebs as an actual tomb, when you think about it. Hosting two exhibition games with good fan turnout is not enough, it is a great sign though. If new stadium comes into effect, which I think it could, if Montreal's mayor is that serious about bringing baseball back to Montreal -- We will likely see a team relocate there. A new expansion team could be rough to start in Montreal, but have no fear, that is why the doomed Tampa Bay Rays will be relocating there -- Yes, if not Montreal, the Rays will move, it's inevitable, Florida is no place for baseball, especially for two teams. With the Miami Marlins having a brand spanking-new stadium, the Rays are the odd man out in this scenario.

Also for those that don't know much about the telemarketing giants in Canada, Rogers Communications controls the Toronto Blue Jays, hence the Rogers Center name for the Skydome. One of the big rivals to Rogers Communications is BCE Bell Canada Enterprises, a company headquartered in Montreal -- I heard someone somewhere mentioned of the rival to Rogers, and thought it would be pretty cool to see a rivalry between the two franchises, controlled by rivals -- which could spark them to be even more competitive. If BCE Bell gets in on the action, we could see a beautiful ballpark with likely retractable dome roof (as well) in Montreal's skyline.

Glory Days: The 82' All-Star Game featured Expos - Carter, Dawson, Rogers, Raines & Oliver.

On the other side of the country, we have the Oakland Athletics and their sewer ruin of a home stadium called Oakland Coliseum. Now don't get me wrong, the fans are excellent, in fact I would go almost as far to say that the Athletics may be in the same realm as the Cardinals when it comes down to supportive team loyalty; Unfortunately, hardcore fans won't be enough. Oakland extended their leasing with the coliseum until 2020 or 2024? Something crazy like that -- even before Manfred took over, this extension is the last chance for Oakland, if they don't build a new stadium. I personally think the Athletics time in Oakland is done, I know Oakland fans will cringe to hear that, but let's face it, you are losing out to the San Francisco Giants, and them winning 3 championships in the last 5 years, simply didn't help your cause to keep the Athletics in Oakland. Oakland's General Manage Billy Beane has done everything possible to make Oakland competitive -- but your time has run out.

Enter Portland...

The new Portland team would keep the namesake of the Athletics -- Too much history for the Athletics franchise to have it's namesake to be simply brushed out. The Athletics will break their tie with the Braves franchise for most home cities, Portland will become the Athletics' fourth home. Back in 2003, when the Montreal Expos were looking to relocate, the city of Portland was approved $150 in funds for a new stadium by the Oregon State Legislature, but Washington, D.C. swooped in and the Expos became the Washington Nationals.  In 2007, the Florida Marlins at one point considered relocating to Portland, but then Miami approved of new stadium & became the Miami Marlins. On both occasions in 2003 & 2007, PGE Park, the minor league stadium in Portland would have hosted new team until new stadium was built. Apparently, the money approved can still be used -- add that to an investment group of sorts, maybe use PGE Park, and Portland would be in business. Also there is word that a site has been chosen by the mayor of Portland, which would put the new stadium next to Memorial Coliseum & the new Rose Garden, home of the NBA Portland Trailblazers. There has been many nay-sayers saying that Portland is too close to Seattle, but many counter-argue that if the two teams are in the same division, it can spark a wonderful rivalry like those in the old Pacific Coast League days.

Artwork of a Portland stadium idea.

An overview of Portland's possible stadium in the Rose Quarter area.

Some people may say -- Okay, what about their current lease with Oakland Coliseum? Well, there is the NFL's Oakland Raiders who are tenants, and that helps -- Plus whatever investment group/company wants to move Oakland to Portland could probably throw money in some sort of deal. Overall, I don't see why it's impossible for the Portland Athletics to exist.

By the way, the Portland Athletics already exist on Twitter, check out this Portland fan's Twitter Page.

There is an outside chance of Oakland relocating to San Jose, California -- but I believe the fear there, is that Oakland is suffering to battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Giants, and San Diego Padres' fan bases as is; Getting out of California, may be a safe bet.

Ooohhh... That Smell! Sewage overflow at Oakland Coliseum. 

Speaking of bets, Las Vegas has been a city spoke of for a future MLB franchise, money would be no issue for a team to be located there -- but huge concern looms for players possibly gambling there, which doesn't smell like a great scenario. Another problem would be that they would not have a concrete home crowd, Vegas is a tourist town, so basically their home fan would be a tourist, and their big crowds would be when teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers or New York Yankees were in town.

There has been talk of Charlotte getting a expansion team, but most of the people that have spoke off about it, fear it's too deep into southeast football country & may face the problems that the Florida baseball teams face -- fair-weather fan fever. So I say, how about Nashville? Also it would be great timing, with the rebirth of Country Music -- the city is jumping. I think Baseball would be exciting there -- Get some of the Country Music celebrities in there, to get that old down-home feeling that America is desperately seeking; Unfortunately, don't count on Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert sitting next to each other -- but, hey! We may see Carrie Underwood who is married to NHL Nashville Predator Mike Fisher there. Plus Nashville has been a name that has popped up in this expansion talk, so it's not crazy to think it could happen -- The huge problem would definitely be the size of their market; Out of all the locations mentioned, Nashville has smallest population (1.7 million) & their TV market would be one of the lowest of the expansion potentials mentioned.

Baseball in the Music City? Could bring a nice down-home style to the game.

Other city names in the flux are New Jersey, Mexico City or Monterrey of Mexico, San Antonio and Oklahoma City -- I believe I even heard Puerto Rico & possibly Cuba, but those are on outside due to financial aspects I believe. Vancouver could be one down the road, but it's pretty close to Seattle. OKC would be interesting, but just like San Antonio, may be too close to Texas Rangers & Houston Astros market -- they (OKC & San Antonio) would certainly be small markets. New Jersey has a huge TV market & population to support them, but would they be effected by a massive indemnity aspect that could cost them plenty of dough -- plus don't the northeast have enough teams?!

*** Anyways, that finishes Part I of 2020 ***