With the 2014 independent professional baseball season about to start this week with the Atlantic League, we decided to take a preview of the independent baseball landscape for 2014 off-season and into 2015. Here are the things to keep an eye on for each league (with much more to come), in alphabetical order (current league first):
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
The AA will have El Paso (“dark” this year) move to Joplin. This is the big 2015 news. If the Can-Am League decides to go back out as its own league in 2015, instead of being a division of the AA this year, then we will announce it.
Before the news of Newark’s leaving the Can-Am League, the Can-Am announced the extra innings rule changes. Should this help speed up long games, and if it gets adopted by other leagues in 2015, then we will post it on this site.
ATLANTIC LEAGUE
Much has been talked about the Atlantic League’s expansion ideas in Texas, Virginia and possibly even Massachusetts. As the league as announces formal expansion teams for 2015 then we will announce them here.
Additionally, the league’s new President (Rick White) has some solid ideas for growing the presence of the league especially with technology. Centralizing merchandise and ticket sales is a smart move along with his other stated ideas.
The Somerset Patriots announced their new online TV channel, so hopefully their programming will expand beyond just Patriots/Atlantic League content and go into other areas of professional baseball. Their off-season capabilities are tremendous as they can reach a huge national audience if they play their cards right, especially after the first year’s “hiccups” (for any new venture) get fixed. 2015 can be a unique year for the Atlantic League.
CAN-AM LEAGUE
Depending on how everything plays out, the Can-Am League could become a standalone league again in 2015 with the addition of Ottawa. Whether it will be a 5-team circuit playing inter-league games against a 13-team circuit of the American Association (with El Paso moving to Joplin and beginning play in 2015), or whether a 6th team will surface, is still TBA. The expansion of Ottawa will give the Can-Am its 3rd Canadian team and can increase independent baseball’s presence toward establishing a viable Canadian league (or at least major division) in 2016 or later.
FREEDOM LEAGUE
Much is still TBA regarding the Freedom League (based in Arizona). Should improvements in marketing, news syndication, expansion and other strategies happen then we will report it. Nothing specific is on the horizon for 2015 as they need to focus most of their efforts on having a successful 2014.
FRONTIER LEAGUE
The Frontier League will run the same circuit of 14 teams (13 member teams + the Greys) for 2014. 2015 seems interesting as many markets have been mentioned as possibilities for the FL. These include suburban Milwaukee, West Virginia, and others. Should the expansion happen then we will report it on this site.
PACIFIC ASSOCIATION
The league announced the addition of Pittsburg recently to join the new Sonoma Stompers. Bob Young also is taking over the ownership of the Vallejo Admirals. How this affects the PA for 2015 is still TBA. Like the Freedom League, most of the efforts have to be focused on cementing a strong circuit in 2014. If they can do that, then the national attention they can generate (e.g. Bill Lee’s appearances) can boost awareness within California and re-establish the West Coast as a viable region for independent baseball. They have to overcome the failures of the previous attempts at independent baseball in California; and if they can then the population density will give them some good opportunities to grow in 2015.
PECOS LEAGUE
Andrew’s league is the only one which expanded this year, because the American Association’s “absorbing” the remaining 4 Can-Am teams (plus the loss of El Paso) isn’t truly an expansion. The Pecos League added Bisbee and Douglas (both in Arizona). Whether he can expand, shore up stadium improvements, increase attendance in his core markets, or moves teams is still TBA.
What the Pecos League has done right so far is get a documentary series filmed. Whether it will make air is always subject to the whims of TV executives, but there are some signs that it might make national television (cable). If so, then we will announce it on this site. Andrew also is leading independent baseball in terms of leveraging all of his websites (domains & subdomains) to boost some baseball equipment businesses. This is a smart move and one which other leagues should learn how to adopt (promoting anything relevant). He already ranks well in Google for phrases not related to the Pecos League, but leveraging his efforts on the PL websites; and this effort has translated to sales through the search engines.
Should he expand this process, or use his websites in other innovative manners, then this will be reported. Most teams are sitting on a “gold mine” of untapped possibility with their respective web properties. Andrew’s leveraging it reduces his need to hit a “home run” in his teams and takes some of the financial pressure off to address his fixed costs in each market. Should he find additional ways to leverage the properties to give players more exposure and/or financial compensation then those will be reported as well.
UNITED LEAGUE
The 4-team circuit may expand next year if it has a successful 2014 campaign. Whether it absorbs other markets, takes over previous markets or creates new ones are still TBA. Of interest is that some of the new methods mentioned on this site – to expand the reach of independent baseball to baseball fans around the country – may get implemented in the ULB this season and into the off-season/2015 pre-season.
Should some of these methods take place then they will be posted on this site as they could have impact on other independent baseball teams in other leagues as well as in affiliated baseball. Each may be a small “gain”, but they could serve as a catalyst to change
OTHER LEAGUES:
FEDERATION OF AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL
Dan has made some news already about various markets in which he is interested (e.g. The Hamptons on Long Island). He also has some interesting thoughts about a “tiered” set of teams as well as end-of-year tournaments. Obviously the FAPB has to get established and announce legitimate markets. Dan is already starting to make efforts to use technology to boost awareness, so as they have formal announcements (e.g. signed leases, unique promotions, innovative marketing strategies, etc.) then those will be announced.
IBL
The IBL is still TBA as to whether it is a professional league, with so little known about its leadership, the teams or the players. The markets are small, so much is still to be determined as to the operations and what will make it “professional” such as reporting stats on Pointstreak, adhering to basic rules, legitimate news syndication, a minimum standard level of talent, offering good entertainment for its fans, etc.
NORTHERN LEAGUE
Still TBA. If it comes to fruition then the league’s news will be announced on this site.
HAWAII LEAGUE
Robert Young, the new owner of the Vallejo Admirals, announced in March the possibility of bringing back the 2 Hawaii teams (Maui and Hilo) as part of a new Hawaii/Pacific Rim independent league. Should this happen then it will be announced here.
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I think that your TBAs are really TBDs. One cannot announce anything until it has been fully determined. In indy ball, of course, “fully” does not always mean what it says. More often than not it is wishful dreaming. So I do not think you have to pay much attention to any indy league, until they PUSH themselves upon you. That seems to be the Atlantic League’s method, which truly irks me to no end with their wishful promises. But when they really have something to present, THEN it is quite believable. At the snail’s pace that they grow by, they are inordinately cautious.
You made no mention of the so-called AL minor league. Is that dead again? I am sure I am part of a strong minority hoping to see professional ball back in or near Atlantic City and Sussex County NJ. The infusion of Mike Trout fever alone should make something new happen in Millville or Vineland, without it making any disturbance to Camden. Somebody should be established in Dover DE by now. What a gold mine missed that is!
Thanks for the comments as always. I agree that TBA should be “TBD”, so that’s why they will be posted with confirmation only once press conferences and/or other official statements from the various leagues are made. As for the AL’s minor league that is still up in the air. Should something like that happen then it will be posted as last year’s internet “hype” for the Diamond League (and other lower-level leagues like the Northern and the AWBL) all proved to be “duds” for 2014. Whether they come back, in their original form or new format, or if they ultimately are dead issues is still up in the air.
Agreed that Atlantic City is a hot topic of proposed activity for independent baseball once again. I have seen a lot of mentions in forums and in phone conversations over recent months which indicate that at least it is on the radar screen to be brought back. How that will manifest is unknown. Sussex County/Skylands Park, on the other hand, is a complete unknown. That is partially due to the economics of the situation, although it would be great to see pro baseball back there soon.
The Atlantic League is the most interesting in terms of incorporating technology and how it affects the experience for the casual fan. Centralizing online ticket sales and merchandise sales is one way, but the Patriots online network is very interesting in terms of what it has the POTENTIAL to be. We will find out if they one day can make the network almost as valuable as the team and operations. Rick has some interesting ideas, so as they come to fruition then they will be posted on the site.
Let’s be sure to note again what a ridiculous schedule has been devised for the Pecos “League” this year. It is highly imbalanced and favoritistic toward the teams owned by the commissioner. He may have a great deal of fun with the web sites, but he has no knowledge of scheduling software, and has set up some God awful trips for some of those teams, especially for the Douglas team. Join that team and you better LOVE some difficult bus rides. Some teams are not even scheduled to play teams WITHIN their division! But the two new ones in AZ play each other 23 times in a 72 game slate! WEIRD!
I suggest again that extra inning games finish the way they do it in Japan. Accept ties after 11 or 12 innings of regular games, and after 9 innings of the short 7-inning double header sort. Most of the fans will be gone by then, especially with beer sales cut off early, and unless it is a playoff game, the result isn’t going to greatly matter. Japan believes in saving face with these, and so should regular baseball. It clearly shows that both sides tried, even with errors and the like.
AND it helps a manager managed his pitching staff! What a concept, eh? When he/she knows that a game WILL end at a certain point, then he can plan ahead for the next games, without totally disrupting rotations. In indy ball there is too much activate/inactivate transactions to cover this situation, and I think it gets a little absurd. Japan does it right! Plus the field security and police know when the venue is totally wrapping up, and they also can get on with their business. Save electricity for the lights and all KINDS of upsides! Come on America…get yourself smart again!
The silly CanAm idea could still run on for many innings…and what for?