Big news coming
Big news coming
This week or next there are major announcements expected regarding the future of the NoL. Things are likely to be very different next year.
The problems in Joliet, Schaumburg and Zion are all a part of the story.
The problems in Joliet, Schaumburg and Zion are all a part of the story.
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id say yes on the ...
windy city plus league
Well I'll assume the big news is what was reported here locally in Rockford earlier this week regarding KC, Gary, fargo, and Winnipeg leaving to join the Americian Association. it was reported that as of Wednesday night none of the 4 remaining teams have contaced the Frontier league. It'll be an interesting off season I guess.
http://www.rrstar.com/sports/pros/x1389 ... defections
ROCKFORD Four baseball teams defected Wednesday from the Northern League to the American Association, leaving the Rockford RiverHawks and three others wondering about their futures.
RiverHawks general manager Josh Olerud said he and his staff have been kept in the dark about all the recent changes, but he is confident his team will play ball next season.
We really havent gotten much information. The Northern League advisory board is still trying to figure it all out, and weve kind of been kept in the dark all along, Olerud said Thursday. There are rumblings about what could happen, and weve heard rumors, but we just dont know right now.
Next season, though, we are playing baseball no matter what.
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Kansas City T-Bones, Gary SouthShore RailCats and Winnipeg Goldeyes chose to join the American Association next season. The Northern League teams remaining are Rockford, the Joliet JackHammers, Schaumburg Flyers and Lake County Fielders.
According to a story posted Thursday on the Joliet Herald-News website, the JackHammers are having problems of their own. The city of Joliet is owed $216,000 in rent going back to the 2009 season for the JackHammers use of Silver Cross Field, and the team is searching for new ownership.
When reached by phone, Northern League commissioner Clark Griffith would not divulge the leagues plans, but he did say it will operate next season, and plans to build the league are continuing.
There are some options on the table, and were going to get this worked out. We will continue to operate a strong league, and we are going to work this out in a positive way, Griffith said. We cant discuss the details yet because other people are involved, but we will be back.
There have been rumors that the Northern League could fold, but Griffith dispelled those immediately.
No way, the fourth-year league commissioner said. Were working on additional teams that could come in, and were going to stay strong.
The RiverHawks were a part of the Frontier League until last season, and some of the reports around the independent baseball world had the Frontier League and the Northern League merging next year. Griffith would not comment on that possibility, and Olerud said, that would not be an easy solution.
The leagues have different rules for salary, roster, veteran and age requirements, and would have to agree on how to even the playing field before they could merge.
A more viable option is bringing new teams into the Northern League. The 2011 schedule was expected to be released in seven to 10 days, but that has been put on hold.
I was saddened, and somewhat surprised when the four teams left, Griffith said. But well find a way to get this done. Were close.
Olerud and Griffith said there would be an official announcement on which direction the league, and the RiverHawks, are going sometime next week.
ROCKFORD Four baseball teams defected Wednesday from the Northern League to the American Association, leaving the Rockford RiverHawks and three others wondering about their futures.
RiverHawks general manager Josh Olerud said he and his staff have been kept in the dark about all the recent changes, but he is confident his team will play ball next season.
We really havent gotten much information. The Northern League advisory board is still trying to figure it all out, and weve kind of been kept in the dark all along, Olerud said Thursday. There are rumblings about what could happen, and weve heard rumors, but we just dont know right now.
Next season, though, we are playing baseball no matter what.
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Kansas City T-Bones, Gary SouthShore RailCats and Winnipeg Goldeyes chose to join the American Association next season. The Northern League teams remaining are Rockford, the Joliet JackHammers, Schaumburg Flyers and Lake County Fielders.
According to a story posted Thursday on the Joliet Herald-News website, the JackHammers are having problems of their own. The city of Joliet is owed $216,000 in rent going back to the 2009 season for the JackHammers use of Silver Cross Field, and the team is searching for new ownership.
When reached by phone, Northern League commissioner Clark Griffith would not divulge the leagues plans, but he did say it will operate next season, and plans to build the league are continuing.
There are some options on the table, and were going to get this worked out. We will continue to operate a strong league, and we are going to work this out in a positive way, Griffith said. We cant discuss the details yet because other people are involved, but we will be back.
There have been rumors that the Northern League could fold, but Griffith dispelled those immediately.
No way, the fourth-year league commissioner said. Were working on additional teams that could come in, and were going to stay strong.
The RiverHawks were a part of the Frontier League until last season, and some of the reports around the independent baseball world had the Frontier League and the Northern League merging next year. Griffith would not comment on that possibility, and Olerud said, that would not be an easy solution.
The leagues have different rules for salary, roster, veteran and age requirements, and would have to agree on how to even the playing field before they could merge.
A more viable option is bringing new teams into the Northern League. The 2011 schedule was expected to be released in seven to 10 days, but that has been put on hold.
I was saddened, and somewhat surprised when the four teams left, Griffith said. But well find a way to get this done. Were close.
Olerud and Griffith said there would be an official announcement on which direction the league, and the RiverHawks, are going sometime next week.
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