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Sports
Sep. 03, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

EIGHT-YEAR ITCH: Dodgers-51s marriage on rocks

End of affiliation deal could bring Marlins' Triple-A team to Las Vegas

By TODD DEWEY
REVIEW-JOURNAL
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51s president Don Logan walks into the home dugout at Cashman Field on Tuesday, a day after the team's season finale. The game might have been the 51s' final one as a Los Angeles Dodgers' affiliate.
Photo by K.M. Cannon.

Forget about the proposed name change from the Las Vegas 51s to the Desert Dodgers or some other nickname tied to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After eight seasons, it might be time to say goodbye to the 51s altogether.

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    • The Dodgers' player development contract with the 51s will expire Sept. 30, a date that likely will mark the end of the team's affiliation with Las Vegas. There is a strong possibility the Dodgers will return their affiliate to Albuquerque, N.M., their Triple-A home from 1972 to 2000.

    If the Dodgers decide to return to Albuquerque, the Florida Marlins' affiliate could end up in Las Vegas after spending the last six seasons as the Albuquerque Isotopes.

    The earliest any of these potential moves can be negotiated is Sept. 18, when major league franchises are free to begin seeking fresh affiliations with minor league clubs.

    "We made it very clear to the Dodgers that we want them back," 51s president Don Logan said Tuesday. "But they've been unwilling to make a commitment. They've just not wanted to talk about (renewing the contract), which is probably not a very good indication.

    "I think if they were going to renew with us, they would have."

    Dodgers executives have said little on the matter. In response to multiple phone calls and e-mails, general manager Ned Colletti said via e-mail, "We are thinking it through and when we make a decision we will let everyone know."

    Dodgers director of player development De Jon Watson said Tuesday he "can't speak on anything" until Sept. 18.

    Las Vegas' proximity to Los Angeles has been a big plus for the 51s, but probably less so for the Dodgers. Cashman Field is an aging facility that does not satisfy their needs.

    Built in 1983, Cashman Field is the third-oldest Triple-A ballpark and lacks the amenities coveted by big league clubs.

    "The key thing is the facility," Logan said. "(Albuquerque has) a brand-new, state-of-the-art beautiful ballpark with hitting tunnels, video room, weight room, training facility, -- everything -- that are a lot better than what we have.

    "That said, we're a 45-minute plane flight from L.A. There are more Dodgers fans here than for any other team. It just depends on how much they value the facility."

    Albuquerque general manager John Traub said he couldn't comment about the Dodgers' possible return and wouldn't say if he planned to renew his club's contract with the Marlins.

    "We've had a great relationship with the Marlins," said Traub, a longtime friend of Logan. "(The 51s) are so handcuffed there by their stadium, as far as player development and what Major League Baseball teams look for."

    Logan said the 51s have spent close to $1 million in renovations at Cashman Field the past two years, from expanding the clubhouse and training room to adding a batting cage, weight room, new lights, a cooling system in the dugout and new video scoreboard.

    Logan said completely renovating the park would cost more than building a new one and believes nothing short of a new stadium will satisfy the Dodgers.

    "We know we need to get a state-of-the-art facility," he said. "We've had constant dialogue over the last four or five months with the (Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority) and the city, and it's certainly heated up lately."

    Logan said a new stadium, which would be part of a larger development in downtown Las Vegas, would cost close to $50 million and be funded by "a public-private partnership."

    He hopes to get a ballpark built in time for the 2011 season and said there's "better than a 50-50 chance" for that to happen.

    Before the Dodgers delayed their decision on renewing their contract with Las Vegas, the 51s had planned to change their name and color scheme.

    The Review-Journal -- which retains an option to purchase part of the team -- conducted an online nickname contest that drew more than 1,000 entries, with the most popular names being the Gamblers, Aces, Stars and Neon.

    Besides the 51s and Isotopes, there are only six other Triple-A teams with expiring player development contracts -- Buffalo (Cleveland), Columbus (Washington) and Syracuse (Toronto) of the International League and Memphis (St. Louis), New Orleans (New York Mets) and Tacoma (Seattle) of the Pacific Coast League.

    Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.

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    keith basham wrote on September 07, 2008 09:10 AM: well here's the facts. the dodgers want a new stadium built, cashman field is old, worn down, and just plain out of date. so what's the remedy? get our politicians like goodman, and ect. along with the private people, and build a new state of the art ballpark. I have been to several AAA parks, and cashman is by far the worst. the field it's self is the only thing worth saving. even the concessions are atrocious. las vegas always tries to claim the biggest, and the best. WELL lets see them prove it. if this was done a year or two ago the 51's would still be here for many years to come.


    Gil Gamesh wrote on September 05, 2008 09:35 AM: Forget Alberquerky...bring the AAA team back to Spokane!
    I'm dying watching the Rangers low-A team here, while memorial busts of past Dodgers greats ring the stadium.
    This is where Garvey, Lopes, Russell, Cey, Buckner, Valentine, Sutton, Hough, Lasorda and many more honed their skills before reaching the show. Bring 'em back!


    espnjason wrote on September 04, 2008 02:21 PM: I say its time that Las Vegas gets a MAJOR LEAGUE TEAM!!!!!

    And for the American League West.

    If the Dodgers wanna stiff Vegas well that's their business. Our only response can be our own MLB team.

    The "Downtown arena" project isn't going anywhere now that AEG has plans for an arena on the strip. Just build a MLB-caliber stadium at the downtown site and then at least something will be built.

    If there are all these billion dollar projects going up left and right in Vegas, well certainly a half billion can be spent on a new ballpark the size of Bank One.


    Vegas Vic wrote on September 03, 2008 08:01 PM: Here we go...yet another chance for Goodman to start his usual whinefest about needing a new stadium to attract a team here. What team in their right mind would come here? There's a minimal fan base as evidenced by the lackluster attendance at the college games. If the teams want a new stadium, let them pay for the construction themselves. I won't vote for ANY bond bills or use of taxpayer money to construct a stadium that will be outdated, in the minds of the team owners, within a few years. I say tell ALL the second-class ball teams to go pound sand. Who needs them?


    Fafner wrote on September 03, 2008 10:56 AM: "these teams are run by morons anyways"

    Good point. After all, we're talking about the team that signed Andruw Jones to a gazillion-dollar contract when he was coming off a season that he spent around the Mendoza Line.


    BEER wrote on September 03, 2008 10:24 AM: THEY BETTER STILL HAVE DOLLAR BEER NIGHT!!!!! THE ONLY NIGHT WORTH GOING HAHAHA


    Leo Durocher wrote on September 03, 2008 09:54 AM: It wouldn't make sense for Florida to have a AAA team in Las Vegas. When guys get called up, they have to travel 5 hours East with a 3 hour time difference. The players wouldn't be much good the next day if needed. Don't see what problem the Dodgers have with Las Vegas. We've given them many good players over the last few years, it's a quick 1 hour flight to L.A. for guys called up at the last minute, etc. Oh well, these teams are run by morons anyways, no sense talking logic here.


    Name Change wrote on September 03, 2008 09:04 AM: Why not change the name to the Circus Clowns? If 51's is not ridiculous enough.
    Aren't the juvenile names supposed to lure families of fans? Where have they been. AAA baseball is 100+ games of junk. Can you believe they put it on the radio?


    Civic works project wrote on September 03, 2008 08:56 AM: Maybe they can put a new stadium next to the new $150 million city hall. Las Vegas taxpayers are swimming in money, right? There's no more important civic responsibility than funding minor league baseball. The 51s' new owners deserve a break. They're only multimillionaires, not billionaires.


    Not A Dodger Lover wrote on September 03, 2008 08:52 AM: This is the same stunt the Dodgers pulled in Albuquerque back in the late 90's and the city told them no to a new stadium. If the team wants a new stadium they need to fund most of it.


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