Beginning in 2018, the Mets will hold ownership in the Syracuse Chiefs, who are a Triple-A team that plays in the International League. The Mets, who currently play their Triple-A ball in Las Vegas, are making a very smart business decision in their move to the fifth largest city in the state of New York. Not only is this move beneficial for the team, it is a move that will turn out to be one that fans can appreciate as well.

If you talk to Hansel Robles, TJ Rivera, or any other Met that has bounced from Triple-A to the majors and back multiple times over the past couple of years, you’ll come to find that they have logged a significant amount of flyer miles. A plane trip from Las Vegas to La Guardia Airport, just a ride down the road from Citi Field, is a flight that spans 1,944 miles, and lasts for nearly five and a half hours. Does anyone else see a logistical fallacy? It puts a significant strain on the Mets, who are left unable to call up a fresh, ready to go player from Triple-A to be an emergency fill-in.

This is what made the tenants prior to the Mets, the Toronto Blue Jays, depart the dessert. Las Vegas is arguably one of the worst places to host a minor league team, for teams that play on the east coast. Not only are players far from wherever you’re playing, their stats may be affected by the air of the dessert. It often inflates offensive statistics, and makes pitchers numbers look inflated. It is beneficial all around for these players to be in Syracuse rather than Las Vegas.

For Mets fans, seeing the Triple-A team move back across the country couldn’t be a more welcome sight. While it was nearly impossible for most Mets fans to see a Las Vegas 51s game, seeing the Chiefs play in Syracuse is a lot more realistic. Not only to see them play in Syracuse, but also to play in towns like Rochester, Scranton, Buffalo, and the Lehigh Valley. This will make it more convenient for Mets fans who are spread out across the Tri-State area to be able to see the Mets prospects play. More convenient than going to Las Vegas, anyway.

Here is to hoping that this move to Syracuse will inspire generations of new Mets fans. For many families, going to a minor league game is a lot more easier and enjoyable as opposed to seeing a major league game. Hopefully the kids see the fun in baseball, and associate it with the Mets organization, inspiring a new, young generation of Mets fans.

By bringing the Triple-A team to Syracuse, the Mets have made one of their smartest decisions in the Sandy Alderson era. By bringing the team closer, they are making players much more available, giving fans the opportunity to see the prospects that the Mets have to offer, and hopefully bringing a new generation of Mets fans into the fray. This move seems to be nothing but good news for Mets fans, and well worth the $18 Million spent to acquire the team.

11 comments on “Mets make smart move to Syracuse

  • Chris F

    Quick thing to edit: it’s “desert” not “dessert,” which playing in LV surely has not been!

  • Name

    This was a baseball decision for stability, but i’m not so sure it was a smart business decision.

    Syracuse consistently ranks among the worst in the International League for attendance. They were 2nd to last this year in the IL with an average of 4636 fans. And that’s with heavy heavy promotions.

    “Nobody has 22 fireworks shows. Nobody gives away 26 different giveaways. Nobody does dollar days, except for the Fair. Nobody does 25-cent hot dogs. ”

    http://www.syracuse.com/chiefs/index.ssf/2017/09/syracuse_chiefs_2017_attendance_jump_is_one_for_the_record_books.html

    Also, expecting incremental fans is a stretch because the Mets already play in Binghamton, which is only an hour away from Syracuse, and they visit more cities to the tri-state area (Hartford, Trenton, Reading) than Syracuse (Scranton)

    • holmer

      For player development purposes it works out very well. Being located in New York may, and I emphasize may, help build a fan base. Unlike Buffalo, which was not owned by the Wilpons, the Mets I suspect will do more to put a better product on the field even if it means signing a bunch of 4A players in order to do so.

      • Name

        Yes it will help with player development. The Mets can now pour resources into improving the ballpark for the players. Word was that Cashman Field in Vegas was a dump.

        However, looking at attendance and historical articles, i seriously doubt from a business standpoint they will be turning a profit in Syracuse, at least not in the immediate future. But i have no idea if they’re losing 1 million a year or 10 million. And since Binghamton is already close, there doesn’t seem much opportunity to “gain” new Met fans.

        How that might affect negatively is if losing money/having to spend capital on AAA will affect the MLB operations in terms of payroll.

  • Rabbit

    Geesh,two Debbie Downers! While a trade for a 2B or a Santana signing would be better, a relocation to the East Coast and out of Las Vegas has to be considered great news.

    • Chris F

      of course, its just months old. Everyone agrees its a positive move on a baseball front.

  • Jimmy P

    One thing is abundantly clear: nobody wants to be in Las Vegas. There’s not a single MLB franchise that wants any part of that sh*tshow out there. As of now, the Mets hold ownership in Syracuse but the Nationals might still play there in 2018. Yes, very odd, but the last place they want to go is Las Vegas. Because: it’s the worst.

    • Chris F

      One thing about LV is that they are building a new stadium on the west side of town. Its gonna be a posh place with all the trimmings. That wont overcome the altitude, dryness, or heat, but the field, stands, and clubhouse issues will all be in the past. My guess is that with LV a hot prospect for professional sports, there wont be an issue finding a team that wants it.

      https://www.reviewjournal.com/business/las-vegas-51s-moving-to-150m-summerlin-stadium-in-2019/

  • Herb G

    Purchasing Syracuse was a great move on many levels. Perhaps the least of these is that now The Nats will have to find another AAA partner. (Not that I am gloating.) I hear Las Vegas is available.

    Most importantly, it is a major improvement for player development. It must have been very discouraging to pitchers in LV, making good pitches and getting bombed. It is tough to work on your “stuff” in that high-altitude environment. And hitters won’t get overrated and possibly complacent, hitting a ton in the thin air.

    From a business standpoint, I disagree with those who are saying attendance will not improve. The mere fact that they are so close to Binghamton should bring many Met fans from the southern tier straight up Interstate 81 to see their favorite prospects who were promoted from AA to AAA. The same should be true in reverse, with Syracuse fans making the short trip south when their Chiefs are out of town. Proximity to NYC should also work in Syracuse favor, opening up the possibility of promotions involving the parent club.

    Seems to me this is a win-win all around.

  • Mike Walczak

    They will also play the Durham Bulls and I am thrilled about that.

  • Charlie Hangley

    In a vacuum, the smartest thing to do would be to expand the Brooklyn ballpark and make it the AAA affiliate.

    But, unfortunately, life isn’t lived in a vacuum and the Yankees would scream bloody murder over territorial rights — rightly so: the Mets did that when the Yankees wanted put a team in Newark.

    Syracuse is a wonderful solution to the problem and I’m glad to see them splurge a little.

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