Brewers interested in switching from Huntsville to Connecticut?

[battlekow]

Quote from Norwich Bulletin article:

To be clear, folks, stop wishing for the Yankees or Red Sox or Mets. They aren't coming here. Instead, expect the Brewers or Marlins or maybe the Cubs.

Further clarification from the author:

I had been told there was some mutual interest between Norwich and Milwaukee. How deep that interest is remains to be seen. It can simply be lip service from both sides.

[uwisfan]

seems strange as I thought they were staying out of Appleton/Beloit partially because they wanted their pitchers playing in the south.

[Mass Haas]

Thanks for the article, nice find.

While I'd love to have the Brewers AA affiliate only 75 miles away from yours truly (oh, heart be still), I can't see this happening unless the Brewers can somehow break their tie to Nashville through 2010. That Nashville / Huntsville combo is just too convenient and appealing.

I could definitely envision a move to an International League / Eastern League AAA/AA combo happening in tandem in 2011, even with early season weather concerns, if the facilities are up-to-snuff.

Will always have a soft spot for the Huntsville connection though (since '99), hopefully things fall right for that community and its facility, as much as a long shot as that appears.

[Madtown Bomber]

Mark me down as somebody who isn't interested in Connecticut at all. It has nothing to do with the facility or the people there but it is a place where it is just not a good place to develop talent. I have talked to a few people associated over the past couple years in the San Francisco Giants organization who have said they don't send their top prospects to Connecticut because of the weather.

 

These same people said that the people in this area are strong Yankees fans who used to support the team when they were a farm club of the Yankees but as soon as they left the interest in the Defenders has dropped with it. Just don't underestimate the weather as a factor in this decision. The Giants have skipped their top talent for the past couple seasons from going to Connecticut. They have either prematurely advanced their prospects to Fresno or kept kids in San Jose to keep them from the harsh Atlantic winds and weather. Just look at the Giants this season, regardless of your thoughts on their system, Manny Burriss, Brian Bocock, Henry Sosa, Ryan Rohlinger, Pablo Sandavol are all either to high or to low but are being held out of Connecticut. The players you see going to Connecticut are guys who have started to flame out as prospects or overachievers. You could argue the only real prospects at Connecticut is Brad Boyer and Osiris Matos.

 

I think that there are a lot of factors that go into picking site hopefully the Brewers organization does their homework just like I would hope they would do before making a decision about signing a new lease for a spring training location.

[dadofandrew]

Why does it make any difference if Huntsville is close to Nashville. WV isn't close to BC, BC to H-ville (well, not far). Even a AAA team being close to the big league club is overrated, because they will both only be home 25% of the time, when needed for a call-up.

[Mass Haas]

It's not so much for player movemnet, Al, but for the convenience of the several various roving instructors and other visitors from the front office -- I guarantee you the 70-mile distance between Huntsville and Nashville is often appreciated.

[JJHardy7]

It's not so much for player movemnet, Al, but for the convenience of the several various roving instructors and other visitors from the front office -- I guarantee you the 70-mile distance between Huntsville and Nashville is often appreciated.

 

Agreed and very good point. I guess I don't see the need to move out of Huntsville...if anything the Brewers should put their AAA in Huntsville. The stadium and facilities seem much more up to snuff from what I've seen. I know fan interest and attendance in Huntsville is low, but it is a much better facility in my opinion. Everything I've heard and seen points to the Brewers wanting to stay in the south. I do think weather is extremely important for the Brewers because they're present and future success is based on developing players. The more they play -- the better the chance of positive development.

 

I do however believe the Brewers will be leaving Nashville once their contract is up. The facility is horrible and there isn't the progress you'd want for a new stadium.