OKC Redhawks will have a new Triple A Affiliate next year

[Tydude]

NewsOK: Oklahoma City RedHawks will be Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City RedHawks will be Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate | News OK

[KenRagsdale]

NewsOK: Oklahoma City RedHawks will be Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City RedHawks will be Los Angeles Dodgers' Triple-A affiliate | News OK

This is a HUGE deal!

[shawnw]

This is GREAT news. I think.

[rlewis]

I have to chuckle a little bit hearing this news. The Astros stirred up things last year by saying they were going to move their minor league team to the Woodlands, and now they are the ones getting the boot. Turnabout is fair play as they say.

The Dodgers are still a very popular baseball team throughout the nation even though they haven't been to the World Series in decades. We may be able to lure a decent amount of out-of-towners to attend the games.

[dcsooner]

Great! Great! News!

[Easy180]

Maybe Clayton Kershaw will get demoted!

[zookeeper]

Great news!

[KenRagsdale]

For those not familiar with baseball history, please consider the following when assessing the recent move by The Official Site of The Los Angeles Dodgers | dodgers.com: Homepage to assign their AAA farm team to Oklahoma City. The New York Yankees, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers are MLB's "royalty". Please review:

Dodgers Timeline | dodgers.com: History

Los Angeles Dodgers - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The on-field talent will be better, the organization better and the fan enjoyment better.

[KenRagsdale]

I want to hear from Prunepicker.

[Pete]

The Dodgers are a first-class operation.

Great news for OKC.

[OKCretro]

That's very good news, glad Mandalay is selling. Went to 1 game when they were the owners. Too much of a circus atmosphere.

[GoOKC1991]

Great news!!!!! As Pete said, the Dodgers are a great organization. You couldn't ask for a better situation for baseball in OKC.

To anyone who had hopes of moving the RedHawks out for soccer at the Brick, that will for sure NOT happen now and it's great to be able to say that

[bluedogok]

A much better organization with a lot of money to be affiliated with. This should be a real good thing for the Redhawks.

[bradh]

sad because I'm a giant Stros fan, but happy it's going to an organization like the Dodgers.

Don't be so sure about seeing better talent. With the Dodgers trying to be like the Yankees now, you won't see good talent at the AAA level like you've seen in the two years the Astros have had the club.

[KenRagsdale]

sad because I'm a giant Stros fan, but happy it's going to an organization like the Dodgers.

Don't be so sure about seeing better talent. With the Dodgers trying to be like the Yankees now, you won't see good talent at the AAA level like you've seen in the two years the Astros have had the club.

I have a different take on the situation.

True, the Astros have a lot of high-quality talent in their farm system, as do the Dodgers. Also true, the Dodgers may go the way of the Yankees and trade their talent for veterans, in hopes of winning a pennant. But whether the on-field talent we'll be seeing at "the Brick" ever wears Dodger Blue, or makes the MLB roster with another club, can't be known. What can be known is we'll be seeing 1st Class baseball talent, in a 1st Class farm system from a 1st Class MLB organization.

[Laramie]

This is a HUGE deal!

A very huge deal!

Why would you abandon Albuquerque for Oklahoma City?

These cities are competitively matched; Albuquerque's proximity to Los Angeles you think would be a plus. The thin air is one of the factors cited in the Dodgers organization's pursuit of Oklahoma City.

Factors & Figures:

Elevation: Albuquerque 5,500 ft. Oklahoma City 1,201 ft
Per Capita Income: Albuquerque $39,088 Oklahoma City $36,797
Fortune 500 Companies: Oklahoma City -2 - Albuquerque -0-

Pacific Coast League air travel distance from Los Angeles:

Air distance from Los Angeles to:

+Plus 664 miles to Albuquerque vs. 1,181 miles to Oklahoma City

OKC Will Rogers World Airport: In 2012 over 3.68 million passengers passed through Will Rogers World Airport, up 3.4% over 2011.

Albuquerque International: in 2013 welcome over 5,065 million passengers. Their airport handles about as much traffic as Will Rogers World & Tulsa International combined. You know the magnet for air traffic that restricts OKC is Dallas and for Tulsa it is Kansas City.

Albuquerque averages 15 daily flights to Los Angeles; six are non stop.
Oklahoma City averages 11 daily flights to Los Angeles; three are non stop.

Profile:

____
Albuquerque, New Mexico - VS - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Why? What interests would an OKC RedHawks vs. L. A. Dodgers exhibition game in OKC would bring?

Population: Oklahoma City >

+PlusOklahoma City Population 610,613	+PlusMetropolitan Area 1,319,677	Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark	13,066 (9,000 currently)
Albuquerque Population 556,495	Metropolitan Area 902,797	Isotopes Park	13,279 (11,154 fixed seats)

Facilities: Albuquerque vs Oklahoma City (Even)

Oklahoma City Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark: Opened, April 1998 - $34 million - 2014 Avg-Attendance-6,005.


Albuquerque Isotopes Park: Opened, April 2003 - $25 million - +Plus 2014 Avg-Attendance-7,935.

Oklahoma City RedHawks AAA baseball has picked us interest in the last few years. Good marketing group that knows the city. Bring in the Dodgers AAA minor league affiliate, you will probably see more popularity with development players than with the Houston Astros & Texas Rangers' organizations.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[PWitty]

Obviously all rankings are open to interpretation, but Bleacher Report ranked the Astros as having the 2nd best farm system post-draft. The Dodgers have solid talent as well, coming in at 8th on the list, but like pahdz said if they start trading that talent for proven MLB-ready players then they'll slide a bit lower.

Ranking All 30 MLB Farm Systems

No matter how you look at it, the talent on the field won't really be an improvement. But being linked to an LA franchise who is currently having success at the major league level, is well run, and is obviously willing to spend money, is extremely exciting.

[theparkman81]

This is great, even though I am a fan of the Cardinals, this is good, the Dodgers is a great team.

[Laramie]

It is our hope that this affiliation with the L.A. Dodgers comes through. Aren't we tired of the Astros talking about the Woodlands and the Rangers' preparation for Round Rock and Frisco? This has made for an unstable situation about the future of AAA baseball in our city.

Although some of us posters have made suggestions about the Bricktown Ballpark being used for other events besides baseball; it had more to do with making this a multiuse facility in the event that we were to lose AAA baseball. Let's support AAA baseball so that we keep a long-term commitment with the Dodgers should this go through.

Oklahoma City does need to look at the feasibility of building a riverfront stadium tailored for soccer and American football with a minimum permanent seating capacity of 25,000. This would allow us the option to bring in MLS, host the state high school football championships along with numerous events & attractions.

___

We would have two stadiums in the downtown areas; one that is baseball specific and the other soccer & American football specific.

Baseball stadiums which are retrofitted for soccer & American football have terrible sightlines and gives you that old 'Frankenstein' stadium look.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[bluedogok]

The rate at which the Dodgers bring in high dollar free agents tends to leave some prospects in the minors longer. Sure some will be lost through trades but the Dodgers have almost always had a great farm system and invests heavily in that system, they will almost always have prospects at the ready even if they trade some off. Even the McCourt's didn't screw up the farm system as bad as Hank and Hal Steinbrenner did after their father relinquished control due to his health.

Houston is coming out of the mess of a farm system they created after their World Series runs in the early 2000's, the Rangers seem to be in the middle of going through that now. I have no doubt if Ryan is given some power he will help the Astro's get better but they have been a notoriously cheap franchise after not winning the World Series with Biggio, Berkman, Bagwell and company. Maybe the new ownership will correct that.

The Texas link is nice because they are close but as constant management and ownership changes down there seem to have both teams in limbo I am not sad to see them go. Let them concentrate their teams in Texas and consolidate ownership of them. If Ryan-owned Round Rock moves to the Astros do the San Antonio Missions (Padres AA) move up to AAA to become the Rangers affiliate? Do they keep Frisco (Texas) and Corpus Christi (Houston) as the AA affiliates?

I'm not even getting into the mess that the Rockies have become.....

[Laramie]

Good Combination!



"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[KenRagsdale]

A very huge deal!

Why would you abandon Albuquerque for Oklahoma City?

These cities are competitively matched; Albuquerque's proximity to Los Angeles you think would be a plus. The thin is one of the factors cited in the Dodgers organization's pursuit of Oklahoma City.

Factors & Figures:

Elevation: Albuquerque 5,500 ft. Oklahoma City 1,201 ft
Per Capita Income: Albuquerque $39,088 Oklahoma City $36,797
Fortune 500 Companies: Oklahoma City -2 - Albuquerque -0-

Pacific Coast League air travel distance from Los Angeles:

Air distance from Los Angeles to:

+Plus 664 miles to Albuquerque vs. 1,181 miles to Oklahoma City

OKC Will Rogers World Airport: In 2012 over 3.68 million passengers passed through Will Rogers World Airport, up 3.4% over 2011.

Albuquerque International: in 2013 welcome over 5,065 million passengers. Their airport handles about as much traffic as Will Rogers World & Tulsa International combined. You know the magnet for air traffic that restricts OKC is Dallas and for Tulsa it is Kansas City.

Albuquerque averages 15 daily flights to Los Angeles; six are non stop.
Oklahoma City averages 11 daily flights to Los Angeles; three are non stop.

Profile:

____
Albuquerque, New Mexico - VS - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Why? What interests would an OKC RedHawks vs. L. A. Dodgers exhibition game in OKC would bring?

Population: Oklahoma City >

+PlusOklahoma City Population 610,613	+PlusMetropolitan Area 1,319,677	Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark	13,066 (9,000 currently)
Albuquerque Population 556,495	Metropolitan Area 902,797	Isotopes Park	13,279 (11,154 fixed seats)

Facilities: Albuquerque vs Oklahoma City (Even)

Oklahoma City Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark: Opened, April 1998 - $34 million - 2014 Avg-Attendance-6,005.


Albuquerque Isotopes Park: Opened, April 2003 - $25 million - +Plus 2014 Avg-Attendance-7,935.

Oklahoma City RedHawks AAA baseball has picked us interest in the last few years. Good marketing group that knows the city. Bring in the Dodgers AAA minor league affiliate, you will probably see more popularity with development players than with the Houston Astros & Texas Rangers' organizations.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

Escellent research. Laramie. You've earned admission to the next departmental faculty party. Keep it up, and you'll be allowed into the next Faculty Senate meeting.

[KenRagsdale]

And if you believe it, brothers and sister, say amen.

[KenRagsdale]

The rate at which the Dodgers bring in high dollar free agents tends to leave some prospects in the minors longer. Sure some will be lost through trades but the Dodgers have almost always had a great farm system and invests heavily in that system, they will almost always have prospects at the ready even if they trade some off. Even the McCourt's didn't screw up the farm system as bad as Hank and Hal Steinbrenner did after their father relinquished control due to his health.

Houston is coming out of the mess of a farm system they created after their World Series runs in the early 2000's, the Rangers seem to be in the middle of going through that now. I have no doubt if Ryan is given some power he will help the Astro's get better but they have been a notoriously cheap franchise after not winning the World Series with Biggio, Berkman, Bagwell and company. Maybe the new ownership will correct that.

The Texas link is nice because they are close but as constant management and ownership changes down there seem to have both teams in limbo I am not sad to see them go. Let them concentrate their teams in Texas and consolidate ownership of them. If Ryan-owned Round Rock moves to the Astros do the San Antonio Missions (Padres AA) move up to AAA to become the Rangers affiliate? Do they keep Frisco (Texas) and Corpus Christi (Houston) as the AA affiliates?

I'm not even getting into the mess that the Rockies have become.....

And if you believe it, brothers and sister, say amen.

[shawnw]

Interesting that there maybe days in April where in the same evening we'll have "Beat LA" chants in the arena and "Go LA" (kind of) chants in the ballpark...