OT: All-Purpose Expos Return Speculation Topic -- Part Deux

[Pompeius Magnus]

FWIW, the MLB office has been very consistent and straightforward about how they'd like to have a team in Montreal, especially since Manfred took over. There's been very little ambiguity, at least not in the way pro sports leagues generally do their double speech about that stuff. I really believe the city would be in front of the line if a concrete plan is put forward by Bronfman and co. Getting all of the moving private/gouvernement/city pieces together remains a giant issue though and I just don't know if there's a way to make it work, as you absolutely need to get all three on board to even get it to first base.

 

[the]

https://www.tvasports.ca/2023/10/03/rays--la-pire-foule-en-series-en-plus-de-100-ans

Maybe The MLB should reconsider the split-season plan with Montreal.

 

[HuGort]

1994 killed MLB for me.

Losing pennant on final game of season 3 years in a row sunk me back. 1979-81.

 

[Scriptor]

Losing pennant on final game of season 3 years in a row sunk me back. 1979-81.

The sad part is that Montreal was one of the winningest teams for a long stretch back then, but there was always one just a bit better.In a system like today's playoffs for MLB, Montreal would have been a regular playoff performer back then.

What hurt more was the lockout in '94 and the subsequent firesale(s).

 

[BLONG7]

Losing pennant on final game of season 3 years in a row sunk me back. 1979-81.

I was in high school during these years...............oh man the heartbreak myself and some friends had during these 3 years..........
We always seem to lose out to the team, that went on to win the World Series also...............heartbreak.

 

[LeHab]

https://www.tvasports.ca/2023/10/03/rays--la-pire-foule-en-series-en-plus-de-100-ans

Maybe The MLB should reconsider the split-season plan with Montreal.

Rays are getting a new ballpark. Pretty sure split town idea is now off the table.

A first look at St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium deal

The final outline includes the city and county’s fiscal contribution to the redevelopment.

www.tampabay.com

 

[Runner77]

 

[Scriptor]

Rays are getting a new ballpark. Pretty sure split town idea is now off the table.

A first look at St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay Rays’ stadium deal

The final outline includes the city and county’s fiscal contribution to the redevelopment.

www.tampabay.com

Those often near empty new ballparks with the permanent roof really don't age well...

 

[Player 61]

Tom Brady Wearing His Drafted Expos Jersey Helps alot! Expansion is coming. Tom Brady reps Montreal Expos sending fans into a frenzy: 'Bring back the Expos!' Click the Redlink! Nice That Tom Brady Respects Montreal that much for drafting him! Coulda been Gary Carter's Replacement!

 

[HuGort]

Guy on 690 other day, says expansion fees goes north of 2 billion alone. Then need new stadium. Can't see anybody around here willing to put up that kind of cash.

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

Guy on 690 other day, says expansion fees goes north of 2 billion alone. Then need new stadium. Can't see anybody around here willing to put up that kind of cash.

The Expos and Nordiques are painful reminders of bad management and poor long-term thinking. They will never be resuscitated, given the current political context. The money isn't there and the younger generations rather have their bike paths. That said, even grandiose infrastructure projects such as the REM for the East End were grossly mishandled. Don't get me started with healthcare and education. Had the politicians, at the time, invested a few sums to save both franchises, we wouldn't have this discussion possibly. Unfortunately, even local investors back then divested themselves and there wasn't anyone with that kind of cash to sell to. We now cherish the memories of what we had and took for granted.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Guy on 690 other day, says expansion fees goes north of 2 billion alone. Then need new stadium. Can't see anybody around here willing to put up that kind of cash.

Montreal is an international hub for AI development, so that might happen quicker than we think.

 

[Runner77]

Guy on 690 other day, says expansion fees goes north of 2 billion alone. Then need new stadium. Can't see anybody around here willing to put up that kind of cash.

Jeremy Filosa said as much in his tweet from Oct. 2nd, which was posted in the prior page of this thread. Beats a generic, nameless guy on 690.

Montreal is an international hub for AI development, so that might happen quicker than we think.

Nice. Maybe we get a franchise in an AI Pro league.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

Jeremy Filosa said as much in his tweet from Oct. 2nd, which was posted in the prior page of this thread. Beats a generic, nameless guy on 690.



Nice. Maybe we get a franchise in an AI Pro league.

What I meant is we might have future billionaires who will want to buy a team.

 

[LaP]

The sad part is that Montreal was one of the winningest teams for a long stretch back then, but there was always one just a bit better.In a system like today's playoffs for MLB, Montreal would have been a regular playoff performer back then.
What hurt more was the lockout in '94 and the subsequent firesale(s).

Expos would do very well in the current system. Here's the position they finished in the NL from mid 80ies to mid 90ies before selling Pedro :

1985 : 5th in NL
1986 : 7th in NL
1987 : 3rd in NL
1988 : 8th in NL
1989 : 7th in NL
1990 : 5th in NL
1991 : 11th in NL
1992 : 4th in NL
1993 : 4th in NL
1994 : 1st in NL
1995 : 12th in NL
1996 : 4th in NL

Yes there was less teams back then and it was easier to finish top 6 but the playoffs system totally sucked i mean there was always one rich team ahead of you and it was almost impossible to make the playoffs unless you were a top 6-8 team in payroll.

The current system is not perfect. I think MLB should add two teams and make it a 16 teams playoffs system instead of 12. The current system in the NHL is very good. Hard to make the playoffs but still easy enough that non rich teams can make it. But even if the current mlb system is not perfect it's vastly more favorable to non rich teams than it was back in the 80ies and 90ies. Back then it sucked a lot.

 

[HuGort]

Jeremy Filosa said as much in his tweet from Oct. 2nd, which was posted in the prior page of this thread. Beats a generic, nameless guy on 690.



Nice. Maybe we get a franchise in an AI Pro league.

It was a guy I'm not familiar with, Lalonde I think.

Buy yeah, callers were calling in afterwards saying that kind of money could solve a lot more pressing problems

 

[salbutera]

Expos would do very well in the current system. Here's the position they finished in the NL from mid 80ies to mid 90ies before selling Pedro :

1985 : 5th in NL
1986 : 7th in NL
1987 : 3rd in NL
1988 : 8th in NL
1989 : 7th in NL
1990 : 5th in NL
1991 : 11th in NL
1992 : 4th in NL
1993 : 4th in NL
1994 : 1st in NL
1995 : 12th in NL
1996 : 4th in NL

Yes there was less teams back then and it was easier to finish top 6 but the playoffs system totally sucked i mean there was always one rich team ahead of you and it was almost impossible to make the playoffs unless you were a top 6-8 team in payroll.

The current system is not perfect. I think MLB should add two teams and make it a 16 teams playoffs system instead of 12. The current system in the NHL is very good. Hard to make the playoffs but still easy enough that non rich teams can make it. But even if the current mlb system is not perfect it's vastly more favorable to non rich teams than it was back in the 80ies and 90ies. Back then it sucked a lot.

Team payroll was never an issue till local cable TV contracts awarded to US teams in early 90s began to explode. Expos throughout their history had amongst the highest payroll and many times $ left unused because UFAs wanted nothing to do with Mtl or players refused to waive their contracts via trade

From Reggie Jackson to Nolan Ryan to Kirk Gibson to Eddie Murray to Mark Langston in 1989

Expos desperately needed that left handed thumper in the middle of that lineup from 79-84 and couldn’t convince one to sign w Mtl

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

Team payroll was never an issue till local cable TV contracts awarded to US teams in early 90s began to explode. Expos throughout their history had amongst the highest payroll and many times $ left unused because UFAs wanted nothing to do with Mtl or players refused to waive their contracts via trade

From Reggie Jackson to Nolan Ryan to Kirk Gibson to Eddie Murray to Mark Langston in 1989

Expos desperately needed that left handed thumper in the middle of that lineup from 79-84 and couldn’t convince one to sign w Mtl

Classic Montreal, even NHL UFAs refuse to come here.

Expos would do very well in the current system. Here's the position they finished in the NL from mid 80ies to mid 90ies before selling Pedro :

1985 : 5th in NL
1986 : 7th in NL
1987 : 3rd in NL
1988 : 8th in NL
1989 : 7th in NL
1990 : 5th in NL
1991 : 11th in NL
1992 : 4th in NL
1993 : 4th in NL
1994 : 1st in NL
1995 : 12th in NL
1996 : 4th in NL

Yes there was less teams back then and it was easier to finish top 6 but the playoffs system totally sucked i mean there was always one rich team ahead of you and it was almost impossible to make the playoffs unless you were a top 6-8 team in payroll.

The current system is not perfect. I think MLB should add two teams and make it a 16 teams playoffs system instead of 12. The current system in the NHL is very good. Hard to make the playoffs but still easy enough that non rich teams can make it. But even if the current mlb system is not perfect it's vastly more favorable to non rich teams than it was back in the 80ies and 90ies. Back then it sucked a lot.

Vegas is probably their premium destination. I would think they would like to go to Puerto Rico, given many players are born there. Montreal is last on the list.

 

[Runner77]

It was a guy I'm not familiar with, Lalonde I think.

Buy yeah, callers were calling in afterwards saying that kind of money could solve a lot more pressing problems

If it’s Ray Lalonde, he knows his stuff.

 

[HuGort]

If it’s Ray Lalonde, he knows his stuff.

I can't remember now. I don't know if it was him or 690 crew saying expansion fees, new stadium and field a team would run between 3.5-4 billion.

 

[Habaneros]

I can't remember now. I don't know if it was him or 690 crew saying expansion fees, new stadium and field a team would run between 3.5-4 billion.

A billion dollars is not what it used to be....
Ottawa Senators just sold for near 1 billion usd.....(1.2 billion dollars canadian)

These sports franchises now are different animals....Gambling ....hockey arenas with casinos in them....high end sports bars etc...

Baseball parks with 3 4-5 bars /clubs /and fun zones for kids...(look at Blue Jays)...all of a sudden going to the ball park just isn't all about the ball game itself ...

Baseball in this day and age no doubt can work in Montreal....(new ball park with bars /clubs/gambling etc etc....)

 

[tazsub3]

The sad part is that Montreal was one of the winningest teams for a long stretch back then, but there was always one just a bit better.In a system like today's playoffs for MLB, Montreal would have been a regular playoff performer back then.

What hurt more was the lockout in '94 and the subsequent firesale(s).

They were one of the poorest yet one of the best ran . Was a talent pipeline for all mlb .

When I watch that shit show in toronto , removing an ace dealing after 47 pitches , I think the whole country would welcome back the expos hahahaha even toronto

 

[Kimota]

The Expos and Nordiques are painful reminders of bad management and poor long-term thinking. They will never be resuscitated, given the current political context. The money isn't there and the younger generations rather have their bike paths. That said, even grandiose infrastructure projects such as the REM for the East End were grossly mishandled. Don't get me started with healthcare and education. Had the politicians, at the time, invested a few sums to save both franchises, we wouldn't have this discussion possibly. Unfortunately, even local investors back then divested themselves and there wasn't anyone with that kind of cash to sell to. We now cherish the memories of what we had and took for granted.

The goverment did approach the Nordiques to buy a part of it and manage it. But the owners of the time were egocentric(Aubut) and selfish and didn't care. The least they could have done is wait a little.

 

[BargainBinSpecial]

The goverment did approach the Nordiques to buy a part of it and manage it. But the owners of the time were egocentric(Aubut) and selfish and didn't care. The least they could have done is wait a little.

The government made an offer that Aubut found ridiculous. Instead, the money went to bigger priorities, such as Quebec independence.

 

[salbutera]

They were one of the poorest yet one of the best ran . Was a talent pipeline for all mlb .

When I watch that shit show in toronto , removing an ace dealing after 47 pitches , I think the whole country would welcome back the expos hahahaha even toronto

From its inception through the 1980s the Expos were not “one of the poorest”, they in fact maintained top tier payroll.

Only happened in the 90s after US local cable TV revenue skyrocketed, which is why Bronfman sold the team as he saw it coming & knew Mtl has zero chance of competing w such incoming revenue stream, since Blue Jays had exclusive media rights in Canada from Belleville heading West, and of course the all important Southern Ontario horseshoe.

As for talent in pipeline, when Reggie Jackson refused to sign in Mtl as UFA in 1977, despite red carpet treatment, Bronfman quickly realized they needed a new strategy and started rewarding scouts & coaches through minor leagues with performance bonuses for finding & developing talent - something that remarkably never happened in MLB before that point