On Thursday, the Oakland Athletics, as expected, signed a two-year Player Development Contract (PDC) with the Vermont Lake Monsters. For the previous 10 years, Oakland had fielded a Short Season A team with Vancouver of the Northwest League. Vermont, previously, had a 17 year relationship with the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals.
On Tuesday, the Nationals left Vermont and affiliated with the Auburn Doubledays. The Nationals stated that there was a desire to bring their minor league teams within closer proximity and lessen the amount of travel for its scouts. However true those reasons may be, the team was also dismayed at the unsafe and substandard conditions of the facilities at Vermont's home field, Centennial Field.
Centennial Field, which is owned by the University of Vermont and rented to team owner, Ray Pecor, Jr., is presently undergoing an engineering study to determine what modifications can be made to the stadium. According to Mr. Pecor, he believes that Major League Baseball will ultimately force him to move his team to a better facility.
Last season, the Connecticut Defenders in Norwich, CT lost its AA Eastern League team to Richmond, Virginia. The NYPL then relocated the Oneonta Tigers to Norwich. While Oneonta, a member of the NYPL for 44 years, would have Damaschke Field available for an affiliated team, its low attendence (23,521 in 2009), unfavorable local demographics, and economic slow down, would not seem to be favorable for a return of a NYPL team.
For now, the A's are willingly or unwillingly in Burlington with Ray Pecor Jr.'s Vermont Lake Monsters. We'll see where the future will lead .....
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