tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post2587767477765356084..comments2024-03-29T09:13:32.165-04:00Comments on Mack's Mets: Mets vs. Expos - Again?Mack Adehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09730548449011685243noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-13533114614595066892011-08-01T12:43:36.849-04:002011-08-01T12:43:36.849-04:00Charles: I agree with your sentiments. The Expos w...Charles: I agree with your sentiments. The Expos were done in by the strike and two ownership groups that failed to invest in the product.<br /><br />In 1990, the A's and the Royals were both in the Top 3 for overall payroll. In 1995, they were small-market teams. Montreal never spent like Oakland or KC, but like the A's and the Royals they were not the penny-pinching outfit they became after the strike.<br /><br />The club was owned by Charles Bronfman until 1991 and the family business (Seagram's) helped pay the bills. The new ownership pulled the purse strings tight after the strike and eventually sold to Jeffrey Loria, who I am sure that there is already a special little corner in hell reserved for. Loria eventually finagled his way into control of the Marlins when Bud Selig decided that Washington DC deserved a third shot at supporting a baseball team more than Montreal deserved a competent ownership group.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the Expos had never captured Montreal's fancy the way that the Canadiens still do, and after the strike there was a lot of bitterness toward MLB. Olympic Stadium remained a terrible place to play. Ownership made it clear that it was unwilling or unable to put a quality product on the field. The results were predictable: fans stayed away.<br /><br />Montreal can still work as an MLB town, but only with an ownership group willing to do the dirty work to get a new stadium built. I suspect that Selig would be more than happy to threaten Oakland, Kansas City or Tampa with relocation the same way he once threatened Montreal.Jack Flynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16809904649660393420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-12294729728694617222011-07-30T19:02:17.527-04:002011-07-30T19:02:17.527-04:00Unfortunately, after 1994 when they had an amazing...Unfortunately, after 1994 when they had an amazing team that possibly lost a chance at a championship, they kind of were that team that seemed to unload every year at the deadline. If a new york team doesnt draw a crowd during a losing season, why would the Expos? They would still be in Montreal had they competed regularly, however when you trade away Larry Walker, Pedro Martinez, Moises Alou, and many others like them, instead of trying to lock these players in long term, your fan base is going to think it's a pointless waste of time. Twice, the Marlins won championships and then had a firesale the following season, and then they use not having their own stadium as the reason. Released documents that they didnt want the public to see, showed they were profiting mightily while not keeping their best players, all while crying poverty in order to get a public funded new stadium. Funny that their owner used to own the expos until MLB, took it over. He was able to do in Miami what Montreal was too smart to fall for. I kind of think that most anywhere, if you give the public a great product or at least hope of future success, would be able to sustain an MLB franchise. If you put the Phillies or the Yankee roster in Mississippi, chances are they'll come out and pay 5 bucks for a hotdog, 9 bucks for a beer, and even more for a seat.Charleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03520446193510393380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-592615130369356022.post-40191554279140787542011-07-30T15:29:47.427-04:002011-07-30T15:29:47.427-04:00Montreal was a special town for me as a Brooklyn D...Montreal was a special town for me as a Brooklyn Dodger fan... it will always be "my" AAA franchise.Mack Adehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09730548449011685243noreply@blogger.com