Thread: I think that is it about time that the Twins moved out of Rochester

It is well known that the management, fans, media of Rochester, NY do not really care about the Twins and their behavior has ranged from apathetic to totally hostile the past few years.

For me this broke the camel's back. They are selling Yankees' merchandise not only at the fan shop at the stadium (I kinda get that, they will be playing some games there) but online from the Twins' affiliate official site.

I don't know how you, or the Twins' management feel, but this really p*ssed me off big time.

I think the Twins like Rochester because it has a major airport in it. I don't think they much care about what the owners do to make money in it. If it makes you feel better, when I went to a Trenton Thunder game (AA Yankee team) a few years back, they were selling Phillies merchandise and Garciaparra jerseys (used to be a Red Sox affiliate).

Are you aware of how bad Rochester's record has been the last 2 seasons? Why would they care?

They don't owe the Twins any favors, you know....

Most teams have really tried to bring their minor league teams close so that they can partner in marketing terms. However, there are no "decent" sized cities near MSP without a AAA team already. Des Moines and Omaha already have teams. Sioux Falls, Rochester, Duluth, St Cloud and Mankato aren't really big enough for your normal AAA size city.

But then I thought about the Mariners and they have their AAA team Tacoma pretty much in the same metropolitan district. Its a great way to build a regional consciousness of a team. I would put the AAA team in Bloomington, perhaps in a new stadium down by the Mall or near the river.

There really isn't a lot of stealing of ticket sales as people go to the games for different experiences. I do think the St Paul Saints would be pretty upset.

Any other ideas? Where would you put the AAA Twins.....if you could put them anywhere?

Originally Posted by cr9617

Are you aware of how bad Rochester's record has been the last 2 seasons? Why would they care?

They don't owe the Twins any favors, you know....

Last time I checked they had a contract with the Twins (and not the Yankees) and they are an affiliate and not an independent minor league club. As as an affiliate they should be respecting the hand that butter's their bread... If they were an independent league club, it would had been a different story.

Originally Posted by okobojicat

Any other ideas? Where would you put the AAA Twins.....if you could put them anywhere?

Rochester.... MN

I agree with getting out of Rochester! I cant say Ive ever been there personally, but I have talked to a few players and their wives and apparently its a dump of a city. One of the wives told me she didnt even feel safe taking a cab to watch games there. I think the organization should get them out of there if they care enough. Get them somewhere a bit warmer. Players dont hit well in cold temps and dont like playing in cold temps PERIOD!

Originally Posted by thrylos98

Rochester.... MN

I just don't think this area would support a AAA team.

They would need a better facility. It's less than 90 minutes from TField, and I would be surprised if the Twins would want that, taking away from their own attendance.

I would love to see them in this area, but doubt it could happen. Somewhere closer, for sure. Too bad Des Moines is so entrenched with the Cubs.

And I agree Thrylos. Mandelaro writes some real hack jobs over the Twins, and I sure wish they'd find somewhere else.

Well, I think Rochester is Ok, it would be nice if it was someplace closer, but I'm glad our affiliate is in the IL instead of the PCL, with it's inflated batting lines. I think back in the 70s Toledo was our affiliate for a few years, and that might be as close as we could get in the IL right now, but they are a nicer fit with Detroit.

They have to sell SWB stuff because SWB wouldn't be able to make any concession money without having a place to play (renovations)

Originally Posted by jtrinaldi

They have to sell SWB stuff because SWB wouldn't be able to make any concession money without having a place to play (renovations)

I see it selling it at the ballpark when SWB plays there. But they should be selling it at the SWB web site and not the Red Wings' web site. And I am not sure how much of a cut SWB will be getting anyways...

I read somewhere where they might align with the Manchester, NH affiliate. Personally, I would not mind this since I used to live there. Although, I'm not sure if Manchester supports their minor league team. If the AAA affiliate was moved closer to MN, they almost certainly would have to change leagues as well. I would think that they would play in the American Conference and play against Chicago (Iowa) and St. Louis's affiliate (Memphis) If the Twins were to have an affiliate in MN, could they align with the St. Paul Saints?

Originally Posted by Nicholas Mueller

If the Twins were to have an affiliate in MN, could they align with the St. Paul Saints?

That would not be realistic for several reasons:

- The Saints and the Twins are in direct competition for ticket sales
- The Saints are in an independent league and would need to join a AAA league, which would mean that a AAA league (either Pacific or International) would need to expand or lose a team

I just don't see it happening.

Originally Posted by thrylos98

That would not be realistic for several reasons:

- The Saints are in an independent league and would need to join a AAA league, which would mean that a AAA league (either Pacific or International) would need to expand or lose a team

Point taken;however, didn't the Mets disband a couple of their minor league teams? I do wonder what the Twins plan on doing after their lease ends with Rochester, NY.

Originally Posted by Nicholas Mueller

Point taken;however, didn't the Mets disband a couple of their minor league teams? I do wonder what the Twins plan on doing after their lease ends with Rochester, NY.

The Mets practically combined a couple of low level league teams by getting rid of their high level Rookie team (the equivalent of Elizabethton for the Twins) and combining it with their short season A league team in Brooklyn. The Twins cannot be without a AAA team.

The geography just doesn't add up for putting another AAA team in the center of the country. Des Moines and Omaha are already isolated from the rest of the PCL and the IL doesn't extend west of Michigan and Indianapolis. Travel costs are a huge part of the expense of maintaining a AAA team.

IF the Twins really wanted to investigate a move of their AAA team closer to Minnesota, though, there would be options. Setting aside the fact that moving to a community that doesn't already have a AAA team means a community that currently does will lose their team (and the politics of such an event), putting a team in Dayton OH might be worth considering. Their Midwest League team drew over 8,000 fans per game last year... which is better than most IL teams did. I'm not sure how Columbus would feel about sharing their state with another AAA team, but they obviously don't compete much for the same fans at this point anyway.

All of that said, I really don't have a problem with Rochester selling Yankee merchandise. Running a minor league baseball team is usually a break-even proposition, at best. The Twins haven't done Rochester any favors lately in terms of the talent (or lack thereof) they've sent there to play. The result has been abysmal attendance, which means low ticket and merchandise sales revenue. They've got an opportunity this year, because of SWB's stadium situation, to make a few extra bucks and there's absolutely no reason, in my mind, why they shouldn't do it.

The agreement between the Twins and Rochester ends after this season. I'm sure both organizations are looking at other options and they'll both make whatever decisions are in their best interests. Neither of them owe the other any more than that.

Originally Posted by thrylos98

The Mets practically combined a couple of low level league teams by getting rid of their high level Rookie team (the equivalent of Elizabethton for the Twins) and combining it with their short season A league team in Brooklyn. The Twins cannot be without a AAA team.

People in Rochester would probably tell you that the Twins haven't fielded a AAA team in at least a couple of years.

Add to this what I've heard about AA, and NB potentially hooking up with the Mets after this year, and it will be an interesting time in the minors.

Originally Posted by Jim Crikket

People in Rochester would probably tell you that the Twins haven't fielded a AAA team in at least a couple of years.

Rochester fans also complain frequently about how the star Twins,for the most part, haven't come up to rehab with them.

A lot of unhappiness there. Not sure who they'd take to make them happy. The Orioles talent dried up,and the org and community started complaining,leading to BALT leaving.