The Inevitable Montreal Expos Relocation

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Former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry said he would support any stadium plan as long as the site was within walking distance of his CRACK DEALER.

― Norm MacDonald (boldbury), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

travis is that you?

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 20:17 (twenty-one years ago)

No.

― Norm MacDonald (boldbury), Wednesday, 23 June 2004 20:39 (twenty-one years ago)

four weeks pass...

ESPN says Expos players were told to expect to move to the "DC area" in 2005.

Sources familiar with the Expos-relocation process told ESPN.com on Thursday that union leaders Donald Fehr and Gene Orza met Wednesday with Montreal player representative Brian Schneider and his assistant, Brad Wilkerson.
The player reps were informed by the union that there is now an overwhelming probability that they will wind up in either Washington or Northern Virginia -- although there is still a small chance that baseball could opt for Las Vegas.

― mattbot (mattbot), Thursday, 22 July 2004 21:50 (twenty-one years ago)

two months pass...

USA Today hack Bodley says Selig has no choice, and the announcement could be soon:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/columnist/bodley/2004-09-20-bodley_x.htm

and DC commission picks an M Street site:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/nl/expos/2004-09-22-dc-stadium_x.htm

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 13:35 (twenty-one years ago)

i am so tired of hearing angelos cry foul. he has no legitimate rights to both baltimore and dc! besides, having a team in dc shouldn't hurt the big business the o's do when boston and los yanquis come to town.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Friday, 24 September 2004 12:42 (twenty-one years ago)

so tonight i left dupont circle in washington, dc at 4:55pm and arrived in my seat (without food or drink) at camden yards at 7:01pm for a 7:05 start. the game ended at 10:35pm. i arrived home in dc at 12:10am.

FUCK YOU PETER ANGELOS

-- mookieproof (mookieproo...), September 11th, 2004 1:07 AM. (mookieproof)

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 24 September 2004 14:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Beyond the distance between DC and B-more, the Expos are a NATIONAL LEAGUE team, so what is Angelos problem other than wanting to somehow get some cash out of this deal.

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Friday, 24 September 2004 14:38 (twenty-one years ago)

do the hats still say "elb"??

― You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Friday, 24 September 2004 15:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Yep, they still say "elb" (even for Canadians, it's not readily apparent that it's supposed to be a big "M").

The Bmore-DC distance isn't really relevant, although Angelos wants everyone to think that it is. Simply put, the population of the Bmore-DC area is plenty big enough to support more than one team. The Ravens and Redskins are doing fine in the NFL. And the population of that area is larger than the Bay area, which also supports multiple sports franchises in multiple sports.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 24 September 2004 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

well, the ravens/redskins comparison isn't really relevent either, in that the two teams have 16 home games to fill vs 162 between the orioles/expos. but yeah: the bay/chicago/la/ny wtf.

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 24 September 2004 16:44 (twenty-one years ago)

that leads us to big point #2, of course the o's will be able to comepete w/ reduced revenue: read moneyball!

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Friday, 24 September 2004 16:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Shit, the way they spend money, they SHOULD be forced to spend less!

― David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 24 September 2004 16:47 (twenty-one years ago)

i hope that's changing, but the money spent on marty cordova, david segui, omar daal, rick helling and mike dejean is obscene.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Friday, 24 September 2004 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

haha--they were able to get tejada this year because it's the first year they've gotten out from under ALBERT BELLE

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 24 September 2004 19:36 (twenty-one years ago)

There was a "Save Les Expos" march on Saturday which I was unable to attend, but the media up there is resigned to their fate. It's kinda sad to see kids at the game wearing Expo gear.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 27 September 2004 14:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Appears to be a done deal, les Expos are moving to DC.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1890915

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 01:07 (twenty-one years ago)

so: Senators then? NOMINATE HERE:

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 02:15 (twenty-one years ago)

It'll be something safe like the Washington Blue Skies or the Happy-Faced Rainbows, just you wait.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 02:22 (twenty-one years ago)

senators

this is really good news

― John (jdahlem), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 11:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Did I hear speculation they might move the O's to the NL to keep Washington in the AL? Angelos might want to get away from the Yanks and Boston?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 13:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Bullets.

― Leeeter van den Hoogenband (Leee), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 14:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, well, my dream of a Memphis Suns or Memphis Kings, complete with a Sun Records-style logo on the cap, was never going to happen, anyway. That would have instantly been my favorite team.

Senators, while the logical choice, does sound rather stodgy, and is associated with what was historically a loser franchise. I dread a push for some more politically-weighted name, like the Washington Freedoms or some goddamn thing.

How about the D.C. Dukes?

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 15:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Okay, I'm re-thinking some of the implications of that one now.

The Ambassadors: too awkward, and it contains the word "ass."
The Monuments: "Let's go Mons?" "Let's go 'Ments?"
The Potomacs: Hey, a team called the 'Macs could be huge!

The D.C. Potomacs!

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 15:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Dr. M, indeed that has been discussed.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/col/story/235692p-202412c.html

As for dissident Orioles owner Peter Angelos, sources have speculated that part of MLB's appeasement settlement with him would be to move Baltimore to the NL East or give Angelos the option of owning the Washington team. If the latter pans out, MLB would auction off the Orioles.

Peter Gammons said that Jerry Reinsdorf has expressed interest in having the White Sox move to the AL East (!) and Toronto going to the Central, too. JR apparently wants to guarantee the Sox never see the postseason ever again, if that's the case.

― Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

omg - toronto going to the central¿ too good to be true¡

― dysøn (dyson), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 17:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't like any of those options, although Jays-Tigers is a great natural rivalry. Reinsdorf is clearly mad.

― briania (briania), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 18:17 (twenty-one years ago)

It doesn't make any sense to realign the divisions.

― jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I think that story is probably bullshit. There would be massive fan mutiny in Chicago.

― k3rry (dymaxia), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Jim Caple on how MLB trashed the Montreal fans:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&page=caple_jim

And he's not the only writer I've seen who thinks it's even money they play one more year Up North!

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 30 September 2004 16:05 (twenty-one years ago)

and if marion barry has his way, the dc city council won't approve financing for the team, and then who knows what will happen.

― maura (maura), Thursday, 30 September 2004 16:22 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm not so sure that the location of the stadium is going to be quite the financial boom that its backers predict. while it's true that the area around the mci center has prospered since it was built (with private money by abe pollin, god bless him), the chinatown/gallery place neighborhood is practically in the middle of the city's business district and there was already a lot going on there (the shakespeare theater, etc). the anacostia waterfront is not. i don't see too many people going there for any reason but ballgames, and with suburban parents' (absurd) complaints about safety around the mci center, they're not going to be all that enthused about a park in southeast.

the district government is touting its financing plan by saying that only businesses, not individuals, will bear additional taxes to pay for the stadium. but come on, who will the costs be passed along to? it's already ridiculously expensive to live here in comparison to the services offered by the district. i really want baseball to come here, but making citizens pay for it is stupid. also, i feel bad for montréal.

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:05 (twenty-one years ago)

the washington fatcats

― Symplistic (shmuel), Saturday, 2 October 2004 09:44 (twenty-one years ago)

There are two options:

1) Embrace change and follow this new team as if it were my dear deceased Expos.

2) Remain bitter and wish plagues upon this new team in honor of my dear deceased Expos.

My dear deceased Expos also drafted and developed Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach, Scott Sanderson, Steve Rogers, Gary Carter, Warren Cromartie...

They had the good sense to trade Dan Schatzeder for Ron LeFlore in 1979, and they also had the good sense to dump LeFlore off on the White Sox after the 1980 season.

― Andy K (Andy K), Monday, 4 October 2004 12:09 (twenty-one years ago)

Quite a few Montrealers were scattered throughout the stands at Shea yesterday. No cameos by Coco Laboy, alas.

Kinda fitting that their last batter's name was Endy.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 4 October 2004 12:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Hurray, this "Swindle of the Century" allows me to post a Counterpunch rant to ILB!

http://www.counterpunch.org/zirin10022004.html

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 20:45 (twenty-one years ago)

sorry, but the dude has no idea what he's talking about.

fair use? try eminent domain.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 20:51 (twenty-one years ago)

one month passes...

motherfucker!

i can't believe linda cropp is going to kill dc baseball!

i am so pissed, but only a dc politcian could fuck up such a golden opportunity.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Saturday, 6 November 2004 22:18 (twenty-one years ago)

ah, the games.

linda cropp's proposal doesn't have the votes to pass city council and it looks like the tony williams/mlb plan does!

bienvenue, expos/nats!

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 15:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Could you summarize the current political games for us non-Beltway types?

I hear the Grays are the leading team name.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 17:44 (twenty-one years ago)

man i hope so!

― cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 17:56 (twenty-one years ago)

So do I! MLB acknowledging the Negro Leagues more than once or twice a year = A VERY GOOD THING.

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

thirded, that's better than senators and definitely better than any whackass 'original' nickname they would come up with these days

― John (jdahlem), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 20:49 (twenty-one years ago)

I think they should be the Chrysler Sebring Zima Gold Dorito's Wow Spongebobs.

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Hang on ... wait ... checking ... uh ... yep, gygax is back.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 21:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Sorry. Yes, I'm back. I ate 10 tacos next to Jeff Weaver.

He got a hair cut. His bro was there too along with another guy (didn't recognize).

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 21:47 (twenty-one years ago)

I think they should be the Chrysler Sebring Zima Gold Dorito's Wow Spongebobs.

No sorrys required ... I was just noting how that post was rather inimitably GYGAXIAN.

― MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

back to the games: cropp had pledged support for the initial dc/mlb plan. she stealthily drew up her own plan, then publicly w/drew support of the dc/mlb in favor of her own. it is now clear that she doesn't have the votes for her plan and tony williams does have the votes for his plan.

i guess the latest wrinkle is that cropp pulled some parliamentary shenanigans to delay vote on the dc/mlb plan citing some source of private finanicing. if the private financing plan is legit, i'm all for it, but i have a sneaking suspicion that it's purpose is to kill dc baseball by continually putting off an up or down vote.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Wednesday, 10 November 2004 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/041118

espn had a uni design contest. not that it matters, but i like the first and last.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Thursday, 18 November 2004 23:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Paul Lukas! Ha! Christ, I had no idea he'd been doing stuff for ESPN.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Friday, 19 November 2004 01:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 14 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Castilla on the road last year: .218 / .281 / .493
That's the slightest of upgrades for way too much. Awful signing.

Dude, you'd be surprised at the number of "SABR dudes" MLB -- and mlb.com in particular -- is employing these days to make a mint (see the late chapters of my latest book recommendation).

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 22 November 2004 15:24 (twenty-one years ago)

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=was

― maura (maura), Monday, 22 November 2004 17:00 (twenty-one years ago)

ugh...well, as i said, dc needs actual owners asap. i would guess that at this point, it's probably bowden's team for 2005, right?

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Monday, 22 November 2004 17:28 (twenty-one years ago)

now that they're called the nationals, how long before mlb moves them to the AL?

― Yanc3y (ystrickler), Monday, 22 November 2004 20:52 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm sorry to see the Green Party activist who bumrushed the podium at the naming announcement was NOT Ron Artest.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 22 November 2004 21:01 (twenty-one years ago)

D.C. really sucks at naming teams. Nationals/Capitals/Wizards???

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 22 November 2004 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Don't forget the BULLETS!

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 22 November 2004 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

And the Potomac Basin Indigenous What-The-Fuck-Evers.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 22 November 2004 21:35 (twenty-one years ago)

FOGGY BOTTOM!

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 22 November 2004 21:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked the Washington Bullets names. All of DCs other team names have sucked though (except the Redskins whose name is just beyond sucking into the realm of superhumanly awful and bizarre at the same time.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 22 November 2004 22:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I like the Redskin color scheme, though. Maybe, to save the colors & kill the embarrassment, they can change their name to the Washington Bacon Cheeseburgers.

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 22 November 2004 22:18 (twenty-one years ago)

The Washington BLTers has a nice ring.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 22 November 2004 22:19 (twenty-one years ago)

the bullets were baltimore-based first, though.

as for the skins, they should change the helmet logo back to the 60's "r" and call themselves the washington servicemarks. washington's legal population would applaud!

i like "nationals" just fine. the logo is pretty weak and i'm not wild about the proposed unis or resurrecting the "w" hat given the current political climate.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 14:29 (twenty-one years ago)

So the Nat'ls are going to play in All-Star uniforms throughout the season?

― Leeeter van den Hoogenband (Leee), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 00:50 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...

linda cropp, political genius?

― mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 21 December 2004 15:30 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe?

especially if tony williams doesn't run, she's got to be a favorite if the mlb accepts the newly amended proposal. she could then claim responsbility for holding mlb accountable to the people of dc AND bringing a team to dc.

a lot of ifs there, though.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Tuesday, 21 December 2004 16:23 (twenty-one years ago)

thirteen years pass...

tempered enthusiasm

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-baseball-new-stadium-1.4947176

― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 16 December 2018 19:46 (seven years ago)

Stephen Brunt, who I view as a pretty smart analyst, was on the Fan yesterday talking about this. (Weird to say, but I lived one street over from the Brunts as a kid; we played street hockey. Lost track of him after high school, then one day he was everywhere sports-related.) He said that for the longest time, right up till six months ago, he was certain Montreal would never get another team. He's revised that, and now he thinks it will happen.

― clemenza, Saturday, 22 December 2018 01:02 (seven years ago)

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