baseball in Washington/Expos relocation thread

[yellowbismark]

will they keep the name Expos or will the team readopt the Senators name, or change it something different altogether?

who will be going to watch this team? This is a city that lost baseball twice, I can't imagine the DC area is going to flock to crappy (for MLB standards) RFK stadium to watch the second worst team in the NL. Do most people in Virginia and DC follow the Orioles? I doubt they will go. Can anyone who knows the DC area comment on what might happen with this team?

If MLB insists on moving the Expos, I think it would've been a better idea to move them to Las Vegas, Caesars are already promising a privately financed stadium and are a fast growing city with no professional sports, a solid corporate base (mostly casinos) to buy season tickets.

[ProfZodiac]

Call me when it's official.

[JJ Mindset]

DC Eyes Waterfront Baseball Stadium (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39981-2004Sep21.html)
M Street site for ballpark (http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20040922-121943-6165r.htm)
Owners reportedly want Expos in DC (http://msnbc.msn.com/id/6067931/)
Washington chooses a stadium site for Expos (http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/09/21/sports0055EDT0017.DTL)

[JohnnyCash]

DC is too fluid to draw too many home town fans for basically anyone except the Redskins. All sports teams in the area have been terrible for ages and can't secure a fan base.

Are DC area people O's fans. they used to be, but Peter Angelos has been such a pain in the ass for them for so long that most of them have given up their O's fan status and are waiting for DC to get a team.

If they do get a team, i'd imagine that there would be enough interest and ticket sales for the team to make enough money to start buying better players. They'd also draw a lot of curiosity seekers, and fans from other teams (cubs, cards, dodgers, giants etc.).

I myself am an O's fan, but they've been putting out such an inferior product for 7 years, that i'd be interested in seeing a DC team. If anything it'd force the O's front office to field a better team to attract DC area fans

[SportBoy333]

I dont think there are that many Orioles fans in Virginia as people think there are. The state of Maryland itself has like what 4 or 5 million people ? Dont forget Delaware too. So that coupled with all the people in Washington DC and Northern Virginia I think there is enough base for 2 teams.

[Premium Hamatachi redded]

expos and drays should just relegate to aaa.

[JohnnyCash]

Call me when it's official.

Its official

[ProfZodiac]

Yes. Yes it is.

I wonder if they keep the name Expos.

[JohnnyCash]

Yes. Yes it is.

I wonder if they keep the name Expos.

Apparently the Rangers still own the rights to the name Senators, so they'd have to work a deal with them to get that name back. Listening to the sports talk shows in DC this morning, it seems like they'll try to go back to senators or come up with a new name. I've heard the name grey's tossed around because that's what htey were long before the senators. I'd doubt that would happen as it could be seen as a reference to the confederacy.

[Canadian_Supporter]

Sad day for Montreal fans.

I will never again, watch a MLB game on TV or in person, and I will never again support MLB.


"Founding father Gerry Snyder feels city government let Expos down"

MONTREAL (CP) - Ask a dozen Montreal Expos fans why the team is on the verge of departure after 36 years of existence, and you'll get a dozen different answers.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/shownews.jsp?content=m092867A

"Cash-strapped Expos let a team of stars slip away in past decade"

MONTREAL (CP) - An oft-used phrase about the lowly Montreal Expos is that they have let an all-star team slip away since their so-called "fire sales" began in 1994.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/shownews.jsp?content=m092827A

[Canadian_Supporter]

Vote for the best all time Expos team...
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=905

I went with

1st base: Andres Galarraga
2nd base: Jose Vidro
Shortstop: Hubie Brooks
3rd base: Tim Wallach
Catcher: Gary Cater
Left Field: Tim Raines
Centre Field: Andre Dawson
Right Field: Vladimir Guerrero
Strating Pitcher: Dennis Martinez
Closing Pitcher: John Wetteland
Manager: Felipe Alou
Home Stadium: Jerry Park

:(

[ProfZodiac]

Blame it on the strike. Expos probably would have won the World Series if not for that work stoppage.

[Canadian_Supporter]

Yeah the strike still hurts....

Since then they haven't been able to keep owners. They have been playing in the worst stadium in the league and the fans just stopped showing up. Can you really blame them for not showing up for a lame duck franchise that MLB kept on saying it would move? I can't....

[PSU92]

The Senators, Grays or Monuments (I hope its not Monuments) will draw big crowds whenever the Mets or Phillies are in town (with a good chunk of the crowd rooting for those teams).

I am not sure how well they will do otherwise.

[JohnnyCash]

The Senators, Grays or Monuments (I hope its not Monuments) will draw big crowds whenever the Mets or Phillies are in town (with a good chunk of the crowd rooting for those teams).

I am not sure how well they will do otherwise.

They'll draw the first year or two just because of the novelty. no one expects them to be a big contender their first year. 'd also expect larger crowds for cards, cubs giants and dodgers games too. DC is full of transplanted people.

[PSU92]

They'll draw the first year or two just because of the novelty. no one expects them to be a big contender their first year. 'd also expect larger crowds for cards, cubs giants and dodgers games too. DC is full of transplanted people.

Yes but, NY & Philly are close enough for visiting fans to travel.

I've seen the buses from Long Island @ the MCI Center when the Islanders are in town. I am sure that its the same for other East Coast teams.

[KDdidit]

Anybody expect them to "succeed" in DC? I know succeed is a relative term but what's different this time as opposed to the first two times there was a team in DC?

[Glenwood Lane United]

Vote for the best all time Expos team...
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=905

I went with

1st base: Andres Galarraga
2nd base: Jose Vidro
Shortstop: Hubie Brooks
3rd base: Tim Wallach
Catcher: Gary Cater
Left Field: Tim Raines
Centre Field: Andre Dawson
Right Field: Vladimir Guerrero
Strating Pitcher: Dennis Martinez
Closing Pitcher: John Wetteland
Manager: Felipe Alou
Home Stadium: Jerry Park

:(

For first, I went with Perez. Didn' play there long, but he was the master of the clutch hit.

Starter I went with Pedro, closer I went with Reardon.

RF was a real strong position, Ellis Valentine wasn't even nominated, and he was a damn good player until he got beaned.

[riverplate]

Blame it on the strike. Expos probably would have won the World Series if not for that work stoppage.

They'd have probably met Buck's Boys. The dynasty could have begun two years earlier.

Interesting to think that if the Yanks were there in '94 and won, how would things have shaken out later. No Joe maybe?

[riverplate]

CASHMAN DENIES HE'S D.C. BOUND from the New York Post:

September 30, 2004 -- Yankees GM Brian Cashman yesterday quickly dismissed a rumor he could be the Expos' next GM.

Next season, the Montreal franchise is moving to Washington, D.C., where Cashman went to college at Catholic University. The Expos have a GM opening with Omar Minaya's departure to the Mets, and there have been rampant reports that Cashman's life as Yankees GM is less than ideal.

However, Cashman's contract runs through the end of next year. The rumor that the Expos covet Cashman was published on ESPN.com yesterday.

"No, I wouldn't be so bold to assume I'd be a candidate for anything," Cashman said. "Plus, I have a job." On what will happen beyond that time frame, Cashman said, "It would be inappropriate to speculate."