Fireflies praise Save Minor League Baseball task force formation

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The Columbia Fireflies praised this week’s formation of the congressional Save Minor League Baseball Task Force, aimed at preventing the proposed elimination of 42 minor league baseball teams.

While the Fireflies, the Class A affiliate of the New York Mets, are not on the list of teams facing elimination by Major League Baseball, the Fireflies said they are united with all MiLB teams in opposition to the contraction plan.

“With this proposal, MLB is willing to break the hearts of dozens of communities across the country,” Fireflies president John Katz said in a news release from the team. “We are going to resist this plan and are gratified that so many in Congress are willing to join with us.”

On Dec. 3, Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Ma., Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., Rep. Max Rose, D-N.Y., and Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Ind., announced the formation of the task force. At its inaugural meeting, the group heard from Minor League Baseball President Pat O’Conner and several MiLB team owners and discussed strategy, according to a congressional new release.

The MLB proposal would sever the affiliations of 42 minor league teams, a move the organization says is necessary to make the minor leagues more efficient while improving conditions and facilities. The list of targeted teams includes the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Lookouts, a Cincinnati Reds Class AA affiliate named the Southern League Organization of the Year in 2019, and the Hagerstown (Md.) Suns, a Class A Washington affiliate and a South Atlantic League foe of the Fireflies.

Two other South Atlantic League teams, the Lexington (Ky.) Legends and the West Virginia Power, are on the list, published by the New York Times on Nov. 16 and by multiple media outlets.

“Baseball is America’s pastime, and minor league teams have a major impact on small communities across our country,” Rep. McKinley said. “While we understand that MLB has concerns, the idea that doing away with 42 teams is the only solution is not reasonable. We look forward to working with MiLB and MLB to find a compromise that will preserve affiliated baseball in these cities.”

The congressional task force says it will advocate on behalf of the communities that would be harmed by contraction and closely monitor negotiations between MLB and MiLB. Its members said potential legislative action would be discussed “if and when such a remedy becomes necessary.”

Several minor league teams, including the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and the Staten Island Yankees, a contraction candidate, issued statements in support of the task force published on milb.com.

 “We appreciate the support of Rep. Lori Trahan, Rep. David McKinley and the members of the task force in standing up for Minor League Baseball and speaking out against MLB’s effort to cast off thousands of jobs, reduce affordable, family-friendly entertainment and undermine grassroots support for our great game,” Katz said.

The 42 teams, along with their affiliation, that would be affected under MLB’s current contraction plan are:

• Auburn (N.Y.) Doubledays, Washington Nationals
• Batavia (N.Y.) Muckdogs, Miami Marlins
• Billings (Mont.) Mustangs, Cincinnati Reds
• Binghampton (N.Y.) Rumble Ponies, New York Mets
• Bluefield (W.Va.) Blue Jays, Toronto Blue Jays
• Bristol (Va.) Pirates, Pittsburgh Pirates
• Burlington (Iowa) Bees, L.A. Angels
• Burlington (N.C.) Royals, Kansas City Royals
• Chattanooga (Tenn.) Lookouts, Cincinnati Reds
• Clinton (Iowa)_LumberKings, Miami Marlins
• Connecticut Tigers, Short- Detroit Tigers
• Danville (Va.) Braves, Atlanta Braves
• Daytona (Fla.) Tortugas, Cincinnati Reds
• Elizabethton (Tenn.) Twins, Minnesota Twins
• Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves, Detroit Tigers
• Florida Fire Frogs, Atlanta Braves
• Frederick (Md.) Keys, Baltimore Orioles
• Grand Junction (Colo.) Rockies, Colorado Rockies
• Great Falls (Mont.) Voyagers, Chicago White Sox
• Greeneville (Tenn.) Reds, Cincinnati Reds
• Hagerstown (Md.) Suns, Washington Nationals
• Idaho Falls Chukars, Kansas City Royals
• Jackson (Tenn.) Generals, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Johnson City (Tenn.) Cardinals, St. Louis Cardinals
• Kingsport (Tenn.) Mets, N.Y. Mets
• Lancaster (Calif.) Jethawks, Colorado Rockies
• Lexington (Ky.) Legends, Kansas City Royals
• Lowell (Mass.) Spinners, Boston Red Sox
• Mahoning Valley (Ohio) Scrappers, Cleveland Indians
• Missoula (Mont.) PaddleHeads, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Odgen (Utah) Raptors, L.A. Dodgers
• Orem (Utah) Owlz, L.A. Angels
• Princeton (W.Va.) Royals, Tampa Bay Rays
• Quad Cities (Iowa) River Bandits, Houston Astros
• Rocky Mountain (Colo.) Vibes, Milwaukee Brewers
• Salem-Keizer (Ore.) Volcanoes, San Francisco Giants
• State College (Pa.) Spikes, St. Louis Cardinals
• Staten Island (N.Y.) Yankees, N.Y. Yankees
• Tri-City (Wash.) Dust Devils, San Diego Padres
• Vermont Lake Monsters, Oakland A’s
• West Virginia Power, Seattle Mariners
• Williamsport (Pa.) Crosscutters, Philadelphia Phillies