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Mets Relocate AAA Club to New Orleans


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NEW YORK -- The Mets announced Thursday that their Triple-A affiliate would move from Norfolk, Va., to New Orleans for the 2007 season, ending a 38-year partnership.

Adam Wogan, the Mets' director of Minor League operations, said the team reached agreement on a two-year Player Development Contract with the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Pacific Coast League. Baseball's governing bodies require that affiliation agreements last for two or four years.

 

"We are excited to relocate our top Minor League operation to New Orleans to become a part of the rebirth and renaissance of one of America's great cities," said Mets COO Jeff Wilpon. "We expect to take an active role in the community -- on and off the field. We thank the fans of the Virginia Beach area for their support for the past 38 years."

 

The Mets and Tides have had a working relationship since 1969, the second longest in baseball, according to Baseball America. According to the Virginian Pilot, the Tides decided earlier this month not to renew their agreement with the Mets, blaming a series of miscommunications between the organizations.

 

The Orioles, who have used Ottawa as their Triple-A affiliate for the past four years, appear to be the front-runner to align with Norfolk. Tides president Ken Young is part of an ownership group that recently bought three Maryland-based Orioles affiliates, Baseball America reported. Earlier Thursday, the Yankees announced an agreement with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.), and the Nationals took the Yankees' place in Columbus, Ohio.

 

Mets officials tried in vain to keep Norfolk, even having David Wright make a telephone call to Young on Wednesday night, according to the New York Daily News. Wright grew up in Norfolk as a Tides fan.

 

New Orleans is not the best option for the Mets, considering it plays in the PCL. Norfolk is in the International League, which plays most of its games on the East Coast. The Zephyrs are the PCL's easternmost team.

 

According to the Pilot, Tides officials were upset that Mets general manager Omar Minaya and Tony Bernazard, special assistant to the general manager, did not visit Norfolk this season.

 

But the Pilot quoted Young as saying: "It aggravated us, but not to the point that we couldn't do business with them."

 

Apparently, though, the Orioles offered a better package.

 

The Tides finished the season 57-84, good for third place in the IL South Division.

 

The Mets also will be looking for a new Class A affiliate after Hagerstown (Md.) announced an agreement with the Nationals. The Suns, who play in the South Atlantic League, had been a Mets affiliate for two seasons.

 

This sucks! What the fuck is a Zephyr?

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What a horrible move. They left Norfolk knowing the would get Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but King George swooped in and took it away from them. Also the incentive package the Yankees offered was much better. The Mets package just plained sucked, plus the Yankees are going to put money into the stadium and season ticket holders get first dibbs at New York Yankees tickets plus it is better for the area. Wilpon and Minaya really fucked up, decided to treat Norfolk like shit and then get shit on then did not put enough into the SWB deal and now they are over a thousand miles away. :doh:

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What a horrible move. They left Norfolk knowing the would get Scranton/Wilkes-Barre but King George swooped in and took it away from them. Also the incentive package the Yankees offered was much better. The Mets package just plained sucked, plus the Yankees are going to put money into the stadium and season ticket holders get first dibbs at New York Yankees tickets plus it is better for the area. Wilpon and Minaya really fucked up, decided to treat Norfolk like shit and then get shit on then did not put enough into the SWB deal and now they are over a thousand miles away. :doh:

 

I'm just pissed off that we're in the Pacific Coast League... our hitters numbers will be inflated and our pitchers ERA's will balloon... at least the International league is more balenced.

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I'm just pissed off that we're in the Pacific Coast League... our hitters numbers will be inflated and our pitchers ERA's will balloon... at least the International league is more balenced.

Yeah the PCL is like the IHL as the IL is to the AHL. Time for the merger. The AHL is doing well with it.

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