There is going to be a big shuffle in PCL Triple-A affiliations this year. We’ve already heard that the A’s and Sacramento are parting ways. Now comes a report from KUSA’s Andy McDonnell that the Rockies are going to end their 21-year affiliation with Colorado Springs in favor of pairing up with the Albuquerque Isotopes, which are currently a Dodgers affiliate.
Where that leaves the Dodgers I have no idea. They could go to Colorado Springs. UPDATE: My bad, the Dodgers are going to Oklahoma city. Or, possibly, the Astros could, though there have been many rumors and reports that they will usurp the Rangers in Round Rock, Texas, given that Round Rock is owned by Nolan Ryan and his son Reid, both of whom are now with the Astros. Really, it’s a musical chairs situation, as everyone’s two-year affiliation agreement comes to an end this month, encouraging all of the movement.
As for the Rockies, it will be weird for the team which plays at the highest elevation in the majors to lose a high-elevation minor league affiliate. But at the same time it’s not like that was helping them develop players all that well. One also wonders if having a Triple-A team so close to the big club serves to harm attendance for one team or the other. Many Indians fans here in Ohio seem to think that the Indians having multiple affiliates within a two-hour drive of Progressive Field does the Indians no favors. I’d be curious to see the numbers for this.
