Richmond, Va. --
In the early 1960s, Sam Cooke wrote and sang, "A Change is Gonna Come."
In 2011, a change needs to come to the Richmond Flying Squirrels.
The Washington Nationals' Double-A farm team in Harrisburg needs to move to Richmond and become the Flying Squirrels.
The San Francisco Giants' Double-A team, currently playing in Richmond as the Flying Squirrels, needs to fly to Harrisburg.
This can happen because both affiliations end after this season.
It should happen because Washington needs a stronger presence in Richmond.
And Richmond baseball fans, bereft of a team to care deeply about since the abdication of the Atlanta Braves, need a reason to be seriously interested in the Nationals.
Will it happen?
"We can't talk about affiliations," Nationals President Stan Kasten said earlier this summer.
Kasten will admit Richmond has the potential to be an important market for the Nationals. And Kasten knows Richmond. He was the president of the Atlanta Braves from 1986-2003.
None of that means the deal will get done. And there's one drawback.
This makes perfect sense.
When was the last time something that made perfect sense got done?
This switch is in the best interest of baseball.
The Nationals lack identity in Harrisburg. They are in the territory of the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles.
There are no major-league teams between Richmond and Washington.
The Atlanta Braves became the favorite team of many Richmonders because it was possible to watch former R-Braves perform in Atlanta via WTBS, then the superstation.
If the Nationals donned the Flying Squirrels uniforms, fans could watch future stars such as Bryce Harper play here.
When/if Harper lands in Washington, Richmonders still could follow him. Nationals games are available almost every night on the MASN network.
And when Stephen Strasburg isn't pitching, there are more than a few empty seats at Nationals Park.
If former Richmond players were on the field for the Nationals, more Richmond fans would make the drive to Washington, even when Strasburg isn't pitching.
Please don't misunderstand. We mean no disrespect to the current Flying Squirrels or the San Francisco organization.
But San Francisco is a continent away. Giants games rarely are seen on the East Coast. It's hard to get excited about Giants prospects when they'll never be seen again -- more or less -- once they leave Richmond.
And there is one other consideration. Building a multimillion-dollar stadium to replace The Diamond will not be an easy sell.
Getting area localities, which often give new meaning to the phrase "contentious relationship," together on a stadium will be more palatable if the major-league affiliate is nearby and has a long-term commitment to Richmond.
Showing posts with label Stan Kasten. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stan Kasten. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Giants want to stay with Richmond; Squirrels make no commitment
Richmond, Va. --
The San Francisco Giants want to extend the player-development contract with the Richmond Double-A franchise, but the Flying Squirrels aren't prepared to commit at this time.
Those positions were established yesterday, when William H. Neukom, the Giants' chief executive officer, met at The Diamond with Lou DiBella, the Flying Squirrels' president and managing general partner. The player-development contract linking the Giants and the Squirrels expires at the end of this season.
"It is a long way from Richmond to [Triple-A] Fresno, [Class A] San Jose and San Francisco," Neukom said, speaking of other Giants' farm clubs. "But the most important thing to us is that we have an affiliation with a well-managed franchise in a community that -- if we play good baseball, and if we become a part of that community -- will support us.
"We will always keep our eyes open for locations, but I think it is fair to say that we think both the community of Richmond and the management and ownership of the franchise have been positive for us."
The Giants' preference would be to remain affiliated with the Richmond franchise, Neukom said. "We're not down to short strokes yet," he added, speaking of additional discussions that will take place.
DiBella said the talks he had with Neukom yesterday involved "How are we doing by you, and how are you doing by us?" He categorized the meeting as "very positive and productive. I think the Giants are very happy with what's happening here."
Washington Nationals President Stan Kasten visited The Diamond on Monday, and the Nationals' player-development contract with their Double-A affiliate, Harrisburg, also ends this season.
"I wouldn't handicap anything at all right now," DiBella said. The Giants since 2003 have been the parent club for the franchise that relocated from Connecticut to Richmond last September.
"There is an affection, and a degree of loyalty," DiBella said. "But you ultimately have to look at your business model and what's best for your success in your market. We're going to consider everything in due course."
The San Francisco Giants want to extend the player-development contract with the Richmond Double-A franchise, but the Flying Squirrels aren't prepared to commit at this time.
Those positions were established yesterday, when William H. Neukom, the Giants' chief executive officer, met at The Diamond with Lou DiBella, the Flying Squirrels' president and managing general partner. The player-development contract linking the Giants and the Squirrels expires at the end of this season.
"It is a long way from Richmond to [Triple-A] Fresno, [Class A] San Jose and San Francisco," Neukom said, speaking of other Giants' farm clubs. "But the most important thing to us is that we have an affiliation with a well-managed franchise in a community that -- if we play good baseball, and if we become a part of that community -- will support us.
"We will always keep our eyes open for locations, but I think it is fair to say that we think both the community of Richmond and the management and ownership of the franchise have been positive for us."
The Giants' preference would be to remain affiliated with the Richmond franchise, Neukom said. "We're not down to short strokes yet," he added, speaking of additional discussions that will take place.
DiBella said the talks he had with Neukom yesterday involved "How are we doing by you, and how are you doing by us?" He categorized the meeting as "very positive and productive. I think the Giants are very happy with what's happening here."
Washington Nationals President Stan Kasten visited The Diamond on Monday, and the Nationals' player-development contract with their Double-A affiliate, Harrisburg, also ends this season.
"I wouldn't handicap anything at all right now," DiBella said. The Giants since 2003 have been the parent club for the franchise that relocated from Connecticut to Richmond last September.
"There is an affection, and a degree of loyalty," DiBella said. "But you ultimately have to look at your business model and what's best for your success in your market. We're going to consider everything in due course."
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Stan Kasten vs Gwinnett County and USOC chief offers surprising resignation
in 1988 Stan Kasten, president of the Atlanta Braves, said Friday that he is "in serious discussions" to move the baseball team from downtown to an open-air stadium in Gwinnett County, perhaps as early as the 1991 season. The Braves have a lease to play in the Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium until the end of 1990, and Mr. Kasten said Friday that it is unlikely that the baseball organization will renew its lease with the stadium.
Instead, Mr. Kasten said he is seeking to move in 1989 that if the Georgia Dome is built, there is little chance the baseball team will stay in downtown Atlanta. "If the dome is reality, then the Braves are outta here," Mr. Kasten said. Jim Scherr resigned as the chief executive officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee today, an awkwardly timed move that comes with the federation attempting to shore up its finances while bidding to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago.
Scherr will be replaced on an interim basis by Stephanie Streeter, a member of the USOC board of directors. Streeter described the move as a way to bring a different "set of skills" to the top of the USOC's salaried staff.
During a 25-minute teleconference with reporters, neither she nor USOC chairman Larry Probst did anything to debunk the notion that Scherr was eased out after more than six years on the job, the first two on an interim basis.
"It was mutually decided upon by both parties," Probst said, as he and Streeter declined three times to say whose idea it was.
Scherr was not on the conference call and did not return messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment.
The power shift started to emerge at the USOC board meeting Tuesday, the same day Scherr announced the USOC must trim up to 15 percent of its staff as a way of paring $7.1 million from its 2009 budget.
Streeter, who has been on the board for 4½ years, said she had the tools to deal with some of the new challenges facing the USOC -- the economy, a changing media climate and a more difficult sponsorship atmosphere.
Scherr will leave more than six years after taking over at the USOC, where he helped the federation streamline a bulky governing structure and regain a reputation that was sullied in the wake of the Salt Lake City Olympics bid scandal.
He oversaw a period of growth and success at the USOC that included significant decreases in administrative costs and a doubling in direct contributions to athletes. Meanwhile, the U.S. team succeeded in the Olympics, most recently winning a games-high 110 medals in Beijing in a year in which most people thought the hosts would beat the United States. It has been, by almost every measure, the most successful six-year period in the federation's history.
"Jim brought a lot of stability to the movement over the past few years," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "He had what I'd call an even-keeled perspective in addressing issues and he kept the interest of the athletes at the forefront of his decision making."
The timing of the move did raise questions.
The USOC is moving into the final stages of helping with the bid to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago. The SportAccord, an international gathering of sports dignitaries, including those from the International Olympic Committee, is set for later this month in Denver with all four finalists scheduled to present their pitches for the games. In early April, the IOC makes its bid visit to Chicago -- the most important meeting before the games are awarded in October.
One of the USOC's biggest challenges over the past few years has been to establish a sense of continuity in its organization, so international types will feel more comfortable with leaders of the richest and largest Olympic federation in the world.
Scherr was, of course, a key part of that leadership team, but he'll soon be leaving. By contrast, the USOC recently rewrote its bylaws to keep Peter Ueberroth on in an honorary capacity after his term as chairman ended last year.
Streeter said continuity is important, but stressed the equal importance of "making changes to address the needs of the organization for the future." She said her board membership sine 2004 offers a level of continuity, as does Sherr's agreeing to be assist the transition to her leadership. "I don't see a huge impact on the bid or the USOC," she said.
Instead, Mr. Kasten said he is seeking to move in 1989 that if the Georgia Dome is built, there is little chance the baseball team will stay in downtown Atlanta. "If the dome is reality, then the Braves are outta here," Mr. Kasten said. Jim Scherr resigned as the chief executive officer of the U.S. Olympic Committee today, an awkwardly timed move that comes with the federation attempting to shore up its finances while bidding to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago.
Scherr will be replaced on an interim basis by Stephanie Streeter, a member of the USOC board of directors. Streeter described the move as a way to bring a different "set of skills" to the top of the USOC's salaried staff.
During a 25-minute teleconference with reporters, neither she nor USOC chairman Larry Probst did anything to debunk the notion that Scherr was eased out after more than six years on the job, the first two on an interim basis.
"It was mutually decided upon by both parties," Probst said, as he and Streeter declined three times to say whose idea it was.
Scherr was not on the conference call and did not return messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment.
The power shift started to emerge at the USOC board meeting Tuesday, the same day Scherr announced the USOC must trim up to 15 percent of its staff as a way of paring $7.1 million from its 2009 budget.
Streeter, who has been on the board for 4½ years, said she had the tools to deal with some of the new challenges facing the USOC -- the economy, a changing media climate and a more difficult sponsorship atmosphere.
Scherr will leave more than six years after taking over at the USOC, where he helped the federation streamline a bulky governing structure and regain a reputation that was sullied in the wake of the Salt Lake City Olympics bid scandal.
He oversaw a period of growth and success at the USOC that included significant decreases in administrative costs and a doubling in direct contributions to athletes. Meanwhile, the U.S. team succeeded in the Olympics, most recently winning a games-high 110 medals in Beijing in a year in which most people thought the hosts would beat the United States. It has been, by almost every measure, the most successful six-year period in the federation's history.
"Jim brought a lot of stability to the movement over the past few years," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "He had what I'd call an even-keeled perspective in addressing issues and he kept the interest of the athletes at the forefront of his decision making."
The timing of the move did raise questions.
The USOC is moving into the final stages of helping with the bid to bring the 2016 Olympics to Chicago. The SportAccord, an international gathering of sports dignitaries, including those from the International Olympic Committee, is set for later this month in Denver with all four finalists scheduled to present their pitches for the games. In early April, the IOC makes its bid visit to Chicago -- the most important meeting before the games are awarded in October.
One of the USOC's biggest challenges over the past few years has been to establish a sense of continuity in its organization, so international types will feel more comfortable with leaders of the richest and largest Olympic federation in the world.
Scherr was, of course, a key part of that leadership team, but he'll soon be leaving. By contrast, the USOC recently rewrote its bylaws to keep Peter Ueberroth on in an honorary capacity after his term as chairman ended last year.
Streeter said continuity is important, but stressed the equal importance of "making changes to address the needs of the organization for the future." She said her board membership sine 2004 offers a level of continuity, as does Sherr's agreeing to be assist the transition to her leadership. "I don't see a huge impact on the bid or the USOC," she said.
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