PAGE A6, KEIZERTIMES, NOVEMBER 29, 2019
OUT,
continued from Page A1
the team since the inaugural
1997 season.
For more than 20 years,
Volcanoes fans have gotten
the opportunity to watch
the future stars of
the San Francisco
organization. In fact,
11 former Volcanoes
players have helped the
Giants win multiple World
Series titles (2010, 2012 and
2014).
But an even bigger problem
for the Volcanoes losing that
partnership with the Giants,
other than the loss of market
value, is that in order for the
Volcanoes to keep operations
running, they would have to
foot the bill for players and
coaches' contracts.
As it stands now, minor
league coaches and players are
on the payroll of their team's
major league affi liate. Major
league teams also select and
assign personnel to fi ll up all of
their minor league rosters.
However, it is up minor
league teams to provide all
other operations, including fi eld
maintenance and travel, plus
jerseys and equipment. This
working arrangement between
both sides, which is outlined
by the Professional Baseball
Agreement, concludes after the
2020 season.
Considering the Volcanoes
attracted just over 80,000
fans in 2019 — which was a
12 percent increase from the
previous season — and that
it cost just $10 to get in the
door, it would be diffi cult to
keep the organization running
independently without the help
of a major league affi liate.
“It would be crushing to
lose roughly a quarter of our
membership. It would be taking
away something that effects
the quality of life in those
cities,” said Jeff Lantz, the senior
director of communications
with Minor League Baseball.
Lantz said there have been
examples
of
independent
leagues having success in places
like St. Paul, Minnesota and
Sugar Land, Texas. But Lantz
also believes that independent
squads can only fi nd success and
support in bigger cities.
“Independent baseball is
successful in so few cities. Yes,
you have examples in St. Paul
and Sugar Land, but those cities
are much bigger than Keizer,”
Lantz said. “Having players paid
by MLB teams is much more
sustainable. I don't see how
the independent model would
work.”
Losing the Volcanoes would
do a lot more then leave a
litany of bummed out
baseball
fans
in Keizer and
Salem. Local businesses and
charities would take a hit as
well.
“In Salem-Keizer alone, the
elimination of the Volcanoes
would take away tens of
thousands of dollars in charitable
donations that we provide to
local non-profi ts. We would
lose out on the opportunity to
be able to support our beloved
military community here in the
Salem-Keizer (area). We would
no longer be able to recognize
and highlight the hundreds of
military families here for what
they do every day,” Walker said.
“It would also severely hurt
business on a local level in our
community, as well as dozens
of other cities throughout the
nation.”
According to The New York
Times, the reason that the MLB
is looking to reorganize the
current system to make the
minor leagues more effi cient
and improve on conditions and
facilities.
With their proposed plan,
the MLB hopes to limit the
number of rounds to the
league's draft — currently there
are 40 — and eventually form a
“Dream League,” which would
provide undrafted players an
opportunity to break into
the pros. The league would
be operated by the MLB at a
minimal cost — even
though the average
salary of a minor
league player is $7,000.
It was reasoning
regarding the conditions
and facilities that left
Walker especially “perplexed.”
Volcanoes Stadium was
built in 1997 to the standards
set by Major League Baseball,
according to Walker. The plans
were submitted and approved
by the MLB and the stadium has
undergone several renovations
and upgrades over the last 22
years, including the addition of
three new buildings.
Another main concern of the
MLB was the travel. But Walker
claims that the Volcanoes had
the fewest miles traveled in the
Northwest League.
“This proposal from Major
League Baseball is not just
an attack on Minor League
Baseball, but a threat to the
livelihood of communities
like ours,” Walker said. “The
Volcanoes are ready to fi ght
for baseball to remain in this
community as well as the other
41 communities that the MLB
plans to steal teams from.”
Fortunately for the Volcanoes,
and the 41 other teams who's
collective futures hang in the
balance, there is support coming
from Washington D.C.
U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader
(D-Ore.), as well as 105
members of the U.S House of
Representatives, sent a letter
asking MLB commissioner
Rob Manfred to reconsider the
proposal.
“The abandonment of
minor league clubs by Major
League
Baseball
would
devastate our communities,
their bond purchasers, and
other stakeholders affected by
the potential loss of these clubs,”
the letter said. “We want you
to fully understand the impact
this could have not only on the
communities we represent, but
also on the long-term support
that Congress has always
afforded our national pastime
on a wide variety of legislative
initiatives.”
On Thursday, Nov. 21,
Schrader went on his Twitter
account to express his support
for the Volcanoes.
“I was proud to represent
@SKVolcanoes
in
the
Congressional Baseball Game
and am proud to represent
them at home in Oregon.
Millions of people visit minor
league baseball games every year
and they are vital parts of our
communities,” said Schrader in
a post that included a picture of
him wearing a Volcanoes jersey
at Nationals Park.
Lantz also stated that it's
important for people to know
that both sides are just beginning
the negotiation process and that
the 2020 season isn't in danger.
“We don't want anyone to
panic. We still have a long way
to go. We want to know what
the MLB's concerns are and
how we can fi x them,” Lantz
said. “You fi ght with your
family members sometimes, but
you don't kick them out of the
family.”
Fans interested in supporting
the Volcanoes organization can
go to saveourvolcanoes.com to
sign a petition.
KEIZERTIMES/Lauren Murphy
Vesta Kerns, who also goes by Beth, celebrated her 100th birthday with friends and family
on Monday, Nov. 25 at Avamere Court.
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WorshipDirectory
These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051
KEIZER CLEAR LAKE
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
a member of Open Door
Churches of Salem-Keizer
(Nursery & Sunday School for Children)
452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404
8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm
REV. ALYSSA BAKER, Lead Pastor
Services are Sunday at 10 am
7920 Wheatland Rd N • 503-393-2402 • www.kclumc.org
John Knox Presbyterian Church
JOIN US FOR
SUNDAY WORSHIP
4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM
503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com
4505 River Road N, Keizer • 503-393-4507
www.FLCkeizer.org
Sunday School - 9:00 am
Worship Service -10:00 am
Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor
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Nursery Care Available
www.JohnKnoxPresKeizer.org
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Faith Lutheran Church , ELCA
Pastor Linda Matz Easterling
Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor
Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m.
Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m.
www.KeizerChristian.org
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