tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post2383896777785616417..comments2024-03-28T17:57:21.603-04:00Comments on Mack's Mets: Mike's Mets - The Red-Headed StepchildMack Adehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730548449011685243noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-28844119612842840922020-05-30T13:15:36.501-04:002020-05-30T13:15:36.501-04:00The minor leagues have been in blood virtually my ...The minor leagues have been in blood virtually my whole life. As someone from the New Haven area myself I used to see the West Haven Yankees, as well as the Ravens, and I took many a trip to Beehive Stadium in New Britain to see games. When I lived in Virginia I saw the Lynchburg Mets and the Tidewater Tides, mostly when Lynchburg came north to Alexandria or Tidewater traveled to Richmond. I stood about 10 feet from 18 year old Dwight Gooden warming up for a game against Alexandria and last summer I traveled to Kingsport and Columbia (2nd time for both cities) to watch minor leaguers in action. It is a relatively low cost evening out and the people in both places seemed to really enjoy themselves. In Kingsport the players were just outside the clubhouse mingling with fans and you could see they were just kids but they were human to the fans and fans develop attachments to these players over the years. I saw the names of the Kingsport players who made the majors and the list is impressive and I'm sure those New York players had fans in Kingsport, Tennessee. Now Kingsport is no more. Nor is Binghamton where I also take occasional excursions. MLB is making a "penny wise but pound foolish" decision because fan bases are made in the minors. If the Appalachian League ceases to exist, will they support those major league affiliates by buying cable TV packages to include their favorite team or merchandise from that team, or even watch that affiliate play in the playoffs? No to all. MLB owners disgust me.holmernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-10120179666210682762020-05-30T13:10:13.485-04:002020-05-30T13:10:13.485-04:00Mike,
Thanks for another great post and the shout...Mike,<br /><br />Thanks for another great post and the shout out. John From Albanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03757707663955650787noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-58501434674882071262020-05-30T13:05:41.462-04:002020-05-30T13:05:41.462-04:00Good point. On the other hand, the NBA rosters are...Good point. On the other hand, the NBA rosters are smaller, and most players don't need the kind of development even really good prospects need. If the Mets are ever going to be more consistently successful, they're going to need to be more successful in player development. Both for home-grown, cheap players, and for making trades.<br /><br />That was a hell of a commute. You're a far better man than I am for being willing to make that drive every day.Mike Steffanoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08573922415294713184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-59370134415926195382020-05-30T12:51:55.731-04:002020-05-30T12:51:55.731-04:00Mike, great article.
As a counterpoint, the NBA h...Mike, great article.<br /><br />As a counterpoint, the NBA has a very limited farm system.<br /><br />I would prefer the teams' states to ante up some $$ to further support their minor league teams financially, since the owners are so incredibly focused on dollars and cents.<br /><br />I worked in Bridgeport for 4 years in the 1990s and lived in Nassau County in Long Island. A heck of a long drive. I went to one game in New Haven, which was great, but then had a 100 mile drive home.<br /><br />Of course, after I left Bridgeport, they added a park and a team.Tom Brennanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01032383157195393857noreply@blogger.com