Cubs agree to two-year deal with the Tennessee Smokies

[Omar]

The first thought that came to my mind was "Poor DJaxxfan"

[Chris]

The first thought that came to my mind was "Poor DJaxxfan"

 

Thanks. If the Jaxx couldn't keep their affiliation contract with the Cubs the move to Tennessee was what I was hoping for. There's no guarantee that the Jaxx will be in west Tennessee after the 2008 season. Whether the team stays or goes will be decided by the people that decide whether or not to support the team. Worst case scenario for me as a fan would be to totally lose the opportunity to be able to see the guys in the Minor League system. I still will get to see the AA guys when they visit Jackson (which will be really awkward) and there is a good chance that the relationship between the Cubs and Smokies will be a relationship that lasts for many years. It hurts to see this happen, but it could've been much worse.

[bradbury]

Well...this stinks. The only thing I like about this is that the Jaxx and 'Backs names will rhyme.

[the splendid splinter]

The Blue Jays had an affiliation with the Smokies/Knoxville until 3 yrs ago and I wonder if Tim Wilken had anything to do with this?

[davecubsfan]

The Blue Jays had an affiliation with the Smokies/Knoxville until 3 yrs ago and I wonder if Tim Wilken had anything to do with this?

 

The Jays affiliation ended 4 years ago, and then we were the Cardinals for 2 years (they bought a Texas League team and moved them to Missouri) and we've had the Diamondbacks for 2 years as well. I think the decision to part was mutual between Tenneseee and Toronto. Toronto wanted their AA prospects closer to Toronto. I think the Smokies would have loved to have stayed with the Cardinals (not me though :( ), but they moved to Missouri.

[Hosak8]

The Blue Jays had an affiliation with the Smokies/Knoxville until 3 yrs ago and I wonder if Tim Wilken had anything to do with this?

 

The Jays affiliation ended 4 years ago, and then we were the Cardinals for 2 years (they bought a Texas League team and moved them to Missouri) and we've had the Diamondbacks for 2 years as well. I think the decision to part was mutual between Tenneseee and Toronto. Toronto wanted their AA prospects closer to Toronto. I think the Smokies would have loved to have stayed with the Cardinals (not me though :( ), but they moved to Missouri.

 

And that Jays affiliation was a LOOONG one. We got to see some great players come through Knoxville- Delgado, McGriff, Halladay, George Bell, and many many others. I didn't feel that amy of the last 4 years showed us much in terms of prospects passing through. Haren was pretty good, as was Molina, and who knew that Uggla would be the player he has this year? But, for the most part, I haven't been impressed with our last two affiliations.

[davecubsfan]

The Blue Jays had an affiliation with the Smokies/Knoxville until 3 yrs ago and I wonder if Tim Wilken had anything to do with this?

 

The Jays affiliation ended 4 years ago, and then we were the Cardinals for 2 years (they bought a Texas League team and moved them to Missouri) and we've had the Diamondbacks for 2 years as well. I think the decision to part was mutual between Tenneseee and Toronto. Toronto wanted their AA prospects closer to Toronto. I think the Smokies would have loved to have stayed with the Cardinals (not me though :( ), but they moved to Missouri.

 

And that Jays affiliation was a LOOONG one. We got to see some great players come through Knoxville- Delgado, McGriff, Halladay, George Bell, and many many others. I didn't feel that amy of the last 4 years showed us much in terms of prospects passing through. Haren was pretty good, as was Molina, and who knew that Uggla would be the player he has this year? But, for the most part, I haven't been impressed with our last two affiliations.

 

I loved the Jays simply due to the relationship and still am a fan even today. Admittedly, I didn't go to ANY games during the Cardinal years. I wouldn't give them a dime of my money. I went to see quite a few games with the Diamondbacks affiliation and got to see Uggs, Miguel Montero, Drew, and some of the other players.

[the splendid splinter]

Dustin Nippert too!