Indians sever ties with Buffalo

The end of an era, a very successful collaboration between a major league and Triple-A club. It's very nearly a done deal now, and it will be completely done when the Indians or Bisons formally affiliate with another partner.

"In a statement released by the team, the Indians said MLB will inform them on Sept. 15 of available locations for their Triple-A affiliate and that the club will have a 14-day window to negotiate a new deal."

This has been considered an unofficial done deal for some time. We should see an announcement that the Columbus Clippers are severing ties with the Nationals in the next week or so, followed by an announcement affiliating the Clippers with the Indians toward the end of the month.

10 months ago Jay Comment 25 comments 0 recs |

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It’s weird, I remember when the Indians were affiliated with the Charlotte Knights, so it’s not like it’s been THAT long that the Bisons have been the Tribe’s AAA affiliate, but this still feels somewhat sad to me. On the plus side, it’d be nice to poach some of the Columbus fanbase that’s ripe for the picking.

Despite all of my best intentions, I have not, in fact, grown up to be a debaser.

by zempf on Sep 2, 2008 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Charlotte was only for two years, 93-94. I recall the years in Colorado Springs more, but not sure how long that was. I do know it was just before Charlotte though.

by talonk on Sep 2, 2008 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Looks like it was 88-92 from the Cube

by talonk on Sep 2, 2008 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I remember Colorado Springs growing up as a kid.

Living in C-bus, I’m quite excited about this news.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Sep 2, 2008 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just moved to the Springs, it would have been awesome if the Tribe’s AAA team was still here.

Il faut d'abord durer.

by CU Adam on Sep 2, 2008 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

As someone trying to move back to Columbus from New Jersey, I show it as a sign for me. I think Columbus has a great chance of being the flagship affiliate. How many teams can brag having their top 2 minor leagues in the same state? Also I would like to add this is a wonderful chance of winning back the state with Indians fans. As a former resident of Columbus for 3 years, Columbus is dominated by Reds fans. Let’s take it back.

Baseball fans are junkies, and their heroin is the statistic. - Robert S. Wieder

by jerseywahoo on Sep 2, 2008 7:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

As a current resident of columbus, i feel like the city is dominated by ohio state fans that don’t really care that much about baseball. Hopefully, that will change; but i can see what you’re saying about there being more reds fans in comparison.

¡Free Chan Perry!

by TheVanillaGorilla on Sep 2, 2008 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was in Columbus at a bar on a Saturday last year while wearing a 1920 replica Tribe hat and some drunk guy tried to pick a fight with me by making fun the “Cornhuskers.” He was disappointed when I explained that I was wearing a hat of a professional sports organization and not some collegiate football team.

by PatBordersHelmet on Sep 2, 2008 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

(insert derogatory Ohio State fan joke)

/ducks

by APV on Sep 2, 2008 8:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, I hope it’s not TOO popular. When Toledo built a new stadium back in 99 (?) it took 2-3 years before you could buy a ticket.

by Toxicadam on Sep 2, 2008 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Houston is the current team that has its top 2 in the same state.

Baltimore’s AAA is in the next state but the next 4 down are all in MD.

by palcal on Sep 2, 2008 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Phillies have the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Reading Phillies, both in Pennsylvania. I’m happy for you Ohioans, but I’m also interested in how all the fallout affects which teams comes to replace the Richmond Braves.

by FredOx on Sep 3, 2008 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Moving the AAA team to Columbus will give the Tribe all 3 Minor League teams in Ohio. AAA Columbus, AA Akron, and A Lake County (Eastlake). That will put all of Tribe baseball within a 2 1/2 hour drive! As a Tribe fan what more could you ask for? (not counting a Pennant and World Series!)

by mlsekeres on Sep 5, 2008 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not sure what you mean by “all three.”

There are more than three minor league teams in Ohio — Toledo is with the Tigers, Dayton is with the Reds, Mahoning Valley is with the Indians.

This does put four of our top five affiliates in Ohio — Columbus and Akron, then Kinston NC, then Lake County and Mahoning Valley.

by Jay on Sep 5, 2008 11:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s always amazed me that neither Ohio team has ever had a AAA affiliate in Columbus. At least not in my lifetime and I go back to when the Columbus Jets were a Pirates farm team, the Indians AAA was in Portland, and the Reds were in San Diego.

Columbus was historically a Reds town because Powell Crosley owned a TV station there and, of course, showed his team. But that’s long gone and it should be up for grabs.

by SuddenSam on Sep 2, 2008 10:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yep, the Indians pretty much have to move to Columbus now – they’re leaving a great situation in Buffalo, with the only real problem being the early-season weather, which isn’t a problem in Columbus. Obviously the new stadium helps matters, but really it’s about grabbing a larger piece of the Columbus market.

by Ryan on Sep 3, 2008 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Atlanta is moving their AAA team of over 40 years (Richmond) to suburban Atlanta.
Richmond is looking for a AA or A team to replace it.

Castrovince wrote that Toronto make take the Indians place in Buffalo.

by palcal on Sep 2, 2008 10:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Taking a week old listing in BA and updating, here are the PDCs ending after 2008:

Buffalo (CLE); Columbus (WASH); Syracuse (TOR); Albuquerque (FLA); Las Vegas (LA); Memphis (SL); Portland (SD); Tacoma (SEA), New Orleans (NYM)

Indians to Columbus, Mets to Syracuse and Toronto to Buffalo all have been rumored.

Can’t see the Dodgers, Padres or Mariners wanting to leave the West Coast. Would leave the Cardinals, Marlins and Nationals for Memphis, New Orleans and Albuquerque. Seems the Cardinals would stay in Memphis, leaving the Marlins and Nationals for the last two.

BA also notes two franchises will be moving from the California League to the Carolina League in 2010. One has been announced as Bakersfield, other is expected to be High Desert. Richmond may get one of those slots if they don’t get a AA team. Braves need to release the territory before anything happens.

by IndyDave on Sep 2, 2008 11:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There’s a bit of consternation locally about the Braves’ refusal to release the territory, which they’re doing as a hedge against the Gwinnett County stadium not being ready for 2009. Of course, there’s more anger toward the Doug Wilder administration for bungling a new stadium, and some hurt feelings about getting “only” an Eastern or Carolina League team to replace the AAA franchise. In a way, I kind of hope it’s a Carolina League franchise, just so I can watch the K-Tribe.

by FredOx on Sep 3, 2008 8:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand it’s a bragging-rights thing, but I personally would rather go to games at the Double-A and High-A levels — and I do.

by Jay on Sep 3, 2008 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

my only gripe with the columbus clippers is the association with derek ’mr clutch" jeter and the rest of the overrated yankees from their days as a yankees farm club

by c9kay32 on Sep 2, 2008 11:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

first time poster, long-time lurker….I live outside of ATL now, but was in western New York in the late 80’s and most of the ’90’s. The Rich family has done a great job with that franchise, and as Ryan says, it was a great situation for the Indians. Pilot Field was actually one of the first “new” stadiums, and was a great place to see a ballgame when I lived there. Columbus will be great for the Indians, but the Rich family deserves an LGT salute for running a model franchise for a long time.

by kennesawmountainwahoo on Sep 3, 2008 9:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Saaaa-LUTE!

"A good body with a dull brain is as cheap as life itself."

by Fiddlesticks on Sep 4, 2008 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good shout-out for Pilot field, the prototype for Camden Yards, the Jake, etc. It was designed to hold an additional deck if Buffalo ever got an expansion team, as if the MLB owners would ever do such a thing.

I was traveling in Canada back in the 90s when an expansion was pending and remember reading a piece in the Globe and Mail about how the Blue Jays strongly supported an AL expansion team for Buffalo. They wanted the rivalry. Now it looks like it will be a AAA relationship.

by SuddenSam on Sep 4, 2008 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There was a lot of talk back then about MLB in Buffalo. Nothing like wings & Genny Cream Ale at the Anchor Bar and on to the Bisons game. Good times. Dunn Tire Field? Like the Jake turning into the Prog. Oh well.

by kennesawmountainwahoo on Sep 5, 2008 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs