Stay, Blaze... stay!

Let's get a new stadium built (facing the right direction, PLEASE?!?) and then talk about a Cal Lg team. Yes CSUB needs a field, but Sam Lynn is not the answer. I lost interest in Bakersfield baseball when LA pulled their high A affiliate and moved to San Berdo in the mid 90s. A modern stadium, not a refurbished landmark, is needed.

 Come on people this was the plan all the time. Elmore was planing to move this team. Why would you not bring in an management team that has experience in putting butts in the seats, and has a good working relationship with the city of Bakersfield? This is not Elmore's first dog and pony show. 

  Condor officials tried in the winter to make an offer. Elmore didn't want anything to do with it.

  You flash enough cash in the face of Cal League President Joe Gagliardi and Elmore can do what ever he want with his team.

Gagiliardi once said he would not move the Bakersfield Franchise because of its history in the Cal League. 

  Winners: D.G. Elmore and Joe "show me the money" Gagliardi.

  Loser: Bakersfield Baseball Fans and Tim Wheeler.

  I

Santiago --

I agree with you on Elmore but I don't know how Joe Gagliardi is winning in this deal. Teams have to pay $1.5 million to join Carolina League, so Elmore actually has to ante some cash.

Gagliardi said in the late 90s that unless Bakersfield built a new stadium, it would lose the team, so I don't know how you assess that he's a winner in the deal. The Cal League loses two teams, the Carolina League isn't buying the teams. No money is exchanged between the leagues.

Gagliardi and the Cal League lose out on this deal.

Cal League loses but Gagliardi has never lost on a deal. 

Why doesn't the franchise move to another California city? Why to another league? 

Gagliardi seem to have no problem with it.

The state of minor league baseball in Bakersfield is what its always been the past few years after the departing of the Bakersfield Dodgers. Bleak at best. I really think that Bakersfield as whole  won't even notice when and if the Blaze are moved to the Carolina League. Sad? Yes, but true.

Without a new ballpark, and an affiliation with a worthwhile major league baseball franchise. People in Bakersfield just don't care about the Blaze. Lets face it, trucking up to the "Dale" just to sit out in over 100 degree weather pretty much kills the buzz right there. Not to mention the fact that you may not want to spend $600 for new windshield if you happened to find yourself arriving at the game late but thinking how lucky you were to get parking spot right up front.  I once personally witnessed a fan standing in the beer line get clocked in the melon by an arid foul ball.

Face it. Sam Lynn Ballpark is outdated, old and frankly one the worst ballparks in "pro" baseball. Despite the Blaze ownerships efforts to make some minor improvements. The ballpark is still in an overall state of distress.

The County has absolutely no interest in putting money into the ballpark or any new ballpark for that matter. The County has also destroyed any attempts in the past by private capital investors to build a new ballpark and baseball complex. Maybe to protect their own interest as proud slumlords of a worn out ballpark.

As a die hard baseball fan I am sickened by the fact that the County and Blaze ownership cannot figure out a way to  bring the City of Bakersfield a quality ballpark and keep the Blaze in Bako.

What happened to the window of opportunity to partner with the CSUB Baseball program and their new facility? Once again corporate greed or county incompetence.

In a town with already very little entertainment, the traditions and the passing of an era are slowly fading as the sun disappears behind the Sam Lynn Ballpark outfield wall.