Possible radical changes to the minor leagues.

[Quakers]

I haven't seen this posted anywhere, so...

 

According to BA, MLB is talking about closing down the Arizona and Golf Coast Leagues, moving the date of the draft, and making changes to short season ball. Read the article and post comments.

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/050812devchanges.html

[Quakers]

Another article on the subject from BA

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/news/050812lingo.html

[CubsWin]

The changes sound reasonable to me. I like the idea of creating some sort of artificial deadline for signing guys 4-6 weeks after that draft. After all, whether the deadline is set in August or May, the pressure to sign will be the same. If it is in August, the fans will get to know sooner who their teams were able to sign, and I like that. The idea of creating a combine is smart just because it is more efficient. And moving the date of the draft back just gives scouts more time to get it right. Will anyone seriously miss the Mesa Cubs?

[Quakers]

The changes sound reasonable to me. I like the idea of creating some sort of artificial deadline for signing guys 4-6 weeks after that draft. After all, whether the deadline is set in August or May, the pressure to sign will be the same. If it is in August, the fans will get to know sooner who their teams were able to sign, and I like that. The idea of creating a combine is smart just because it is more efficient. And moving the date of the draft back just gives scouts more time to get it right. Will anyone seriously miss the Mesa Cubs?

 

Would I miss the Mesa Cubs? No.

 

As a fan of short season ball, I would regret the shorter season. Currently the season fits in perfectly with most public school system's summer break. As a teacher, that has meant being able to see the opening of a season right after having finished a strenuous school year. A nice reward.

 

It will also hit the owners of the short season teams in their pocket books. Many towns have built stadiums for teams based on the revenue projections of a longer short seaon:).

 

I am not certain, but it looks like the changes would get rid of draft and follow picks.

[UK1679666180]

I have no idea why teams would be opposed to DF&Es, 18-19yo. heading to a year of JUCO against tougher comp. gives a club a better idea of a player's ceiling, there is less risk for a team in making a financial commitment than drafting and signing.

[SaorsaDaonnan]

Trying to understand the rationale before making my judgement:

 

I can see how a shorter short-season could be more economical, but what is the rationale for making them earlier as well? So that draftees and guys getting out of short-season all work together in the mandatory six-week instructional? Why would that be better than them all playing together at the end of short-season?

 

What is a drafting combine and what are the advantages/disadvantages?

 

What effect would a signing deadline have? Obviously it would force quicker decisions, but in what direction would it move things? Would it make a draftee more or less likely to sign on average? Does it seem like this would be different for players at different levels (highschool, college junior, college senior)? I assume that a player would not be able to sign with other teams (as a kind of free agent) after the deadline.

 

Thanks

[Laura]

Cubs are opposed to the change.

 

Ryan Ori in the Peoria Journal-Star[/url]"] Count the Cubs among the minority of teams apparently opposed to major changes about to hit the minor-league system.

 

Major League Baseball appears set to eliminate rookie-league teams and move the draft later in the year, among other changes designed to cut costs.

 

Baseball America reported that general managers voted 23-7 on Aug. 23 to approve the proposal and present it to the owners for a vote.

 

"We're certainly not for it, but we realize we're in the minority," said Oneri Fleita, the Cubs' director of player development.

 

The changes, which would eliminate the rookie Arizona and Gulf Coast leagues, also would include a mandatory instructional league.

 

Organizations that draft more college players, including St. Louis and Oakland, are believed to be more in support of the proposed changes.

 

Clubs that have put more resources into long-term development, such as the Cubs and Atlanta, appear to have more to lose if the changes are adopted.

 

Fleita said he would hate to lose the rookie leagues, where almost nonexistent crowds make for the perfect low-pressure atmosphere to break in international signees, players changing positions and others in the early stages of development.