Here’s an interesting read out of Florida about the factors the Mets are considering about their spring home.
Do they add a second team in PSL? Who would that be?
You may have noticed all the games against the Braves, Marlins and Nationals. If the Nationals move then the schedule gets even more complicated.
It is unclear how the previously announced move to Mercury affects this decision.
I actually think it would make some sense for MLB to take control of organizing facilities for all teams Spring Training. Put those teams who are in the Eastern and Central time zones, apart from some which have long standing ties to Arizona (such as the Cubs since 1952) in Florida with the remainder in Arizona. Centralize Cactus League around Tuscon and Phoenix (which they have already done), while the Grapefruit League sites should be consolidated around the Tampa Bay and Miami areas. This would allow teams to have shorter travel distances, while maximizing the teams they play (so that, for instance, the Mets are not stuck continually playing mostly the teams in their Division in Spring Training). Should MLB decide that Florida teams should be dispersed, they should make an effort to ensure that the dispersion is as wide as possible. I can forsee a time, for instance, when the Marlins might decide to hold their Spring Training site in Havana or San Juan.
That being said, I always thought that the Dodgers had an advantage in having Vero Beach as their Spring Training site in that they did not play any teams in their Division so they were free to use the everyday players in all games. Unfortunately, aside from fans from their Brooklyn days that are disappearing, their fanbase is primarily on the West Coast so it really did make sense to move to Arizona.
lets go mets in arizona!
…i live in california.
Yeah, that’s never going to happen. The New York-Florida undeniably strong.
thats what they said about 2 new york teams in 1957 🙂