Midwest League president pitches plan for expansion

Font Size:

By Steve Batterson | Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:30 AM CDT | () comments

Pat O’Conner’s next pitch might be a little more difficult than convincing operators of 160 minor-league baseball teams to donate to flood-relief efforts.

During a visit to the Quad-Cities on Monday, the president of Minor League Baseball said he continues to work toward reaching an agreement that would realign the 30 franchises that are part of baseball’s two low-Class A leagues.

One proposal O’Conner has put on the table for discussion would expand the Midwest League from 14 to 16 teams. The proposal would add an existing South Atlantic League franchise in Lake County, Ohio, and a franchise that is relocating from Columbus, Ga., to Bowling Green, Ky., to the current group of teams.

Midwest League teams would then be split into either four four-team divisions or two eight-team divisions.

The proposal addresses concerns of major-league executives worried about excessive travel in the South Atlantic League, which fields teams from Georgia to New Jersey to Ohio and Kentucky.

O’Conner said he appreciates those sentiments.

“Extended travel time takes away from development time,’’ he said. “Major league teams want their minor-league players to spend time working on their game between the white lines and not spend whole days riding on buses.”

That has been an issue in the South Atlantic League, and some Midwest League operators have expressed concerns about additional travel time and expenses as well if the league were to expand.

“There isn’t a perfect solution and with 30 teams, it is hard to come up with one because one league will always have at least 16 teams and the other will have at least 14,” O’Conner said.

“The geography of where we are now and where we are going has led to us to discussions. We’re looking for something workable to a ease a situation that has evolved over time as markets have changed. We’re looking for something that makes business sense.”

O’Conner has asked presidents of both leagues to submit responses by the end of the season in hopes of being able to paint an accurate picture to major league clubs when Player Development Contract talks begin after the end of the season.

“We’re getting to the start of a new two-year window, and we want to be able to tell them this is what the league will look like in 2009 and in 2010. Then, they can make their plans accordingly,” O’Conner said.

If both leagues agree to a change — something O’Conner cannot force — he would like it to be implemented for 2009 although he admits 2010 might be more realistic.

O’Conner discussed the proposal during a visit to the Quad-Cities with his organization’s executive vice president, Tim Purpura, and its senior vice president of business operations, John Cook, to present a $25,000 contribution from Minor League Baseball Charities to the Unsinkable Spirit Fund.

The donation equals others O’Conner is presenting at games in Cedar Rapids, Burlington and Des Moines during his trip to assist in flood-relief efforts in those communities.

“It breaks your heart to see what we’ve seen,” said O’Conner, who concludes his trip today in Des Moines. “The TV pictures don’t do it justice. It’s not one house or two. It’s not even a block or two. It’s half of a city. We’re happy to be able to help just a little.”

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com.