Moscoso pulled from RedHawks start
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
With Texas already running low on pitching depth, Tommy Hunter’s early departure from Wednesday night’s game with Florida forced the Rangers to at least prepare to have to call in reinforcements.
Because of that, Thursday’s scheduled starter for the RedHawks, Guillermo Moscoso, was pulled from the lineup to keep him fresh for a possible call-up today.
Rangers starters Rich Harden and Derek Holland are already on the disabled list.
Texas’ starting pitching woes also have altered the plans for RedHawks pitcher Brandon McCarthy. McCarthy, on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation, was scheduled to return to the bullpen soon.,
Instead, he will be moved into the rotation upon his return.
RedHawks jersey auction a success
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
The Oklahoma RedHawks and the Limbs for Life Foundation teamed up on a pair of fundraisers Saturday, raising enough money to provide assistance to 19 amputees both in Oklahoma and the Dominican Republic.
The foundation’s annula 5K run, the Bricktown Blaze, had 747 participants. The previous high for the event was 556 runners in 2008. The proceeds from the race, which ended inside AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, will be enough to provide prosthetic limbs to six Oklahomans in the next year. In the event’s seven years, it has raised enough money to help 47 state amputees.
The second fundraiser began with Saturday night’s RedHawks game against Albuquerque. The RedHawks’ jerseys, featuring Dominican flags as the sleeves, were auctioned off to benefit the Limbs for Life Foundation’s Dominican outreach project.
Infielder Chris Davis’ jersey raised the most, going for $310. The auction, the third for the foundation, will help provide prosthetic limbs to 13 amputees. The auctions have combined to raise enough money to help 41 amputees in the Dominican.
Looking ahead at possible affiliation moves
BY RYAN ABER
raber@opubco.com
It’s no secret that this could well be the last year for the Texas Rangers to have their Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City.
The Rangers-Oklahoma City connection has been a long and productive one for both sides, as the teams have been tied together since 1983. Only three Major League teams–Kansas City, Boston and the Chicago Cubs–have been tied with a single Triple-A city longer. Kansas City-Omaha started in 1969, Boston-Pawtucket in 1970 and the Chicago Cubs-Des Moines in 1981.
But it seems likely that the Rangers-Oklahoma City connection will come to an end once this season if over. Texas appears to have its eye on Round Rock, which is slightly closer to Arlington than Oklahoma City but much closer in connection. Rangers president Nolan Ryan, who will soon become the part-owner of the team, is also part of the ownership group of the Round Rock Express. Ryan’s sons, Reid and Reese, are executives with the Express.
So what will happen to Oklahoma City if the RedHawks and the Rangers do part ways? The city is virtually assured of hosting a Triple-A team here next year, although whichever team moves its affiliate here might be a short-term solution.
Player Development Contracts (PDCs) are signed in either two- or four-year increments with the contracts expiring at the end of even-numbered years.
This year, 19 PDCs across the Pacific Coast and International leagues expire:
New York Mets-Buffalo
Chicago White Sox-Charlotte
Baltimore-Norfolk
Boston-Pawtucket
Minnesota-Rochester
Washington-Syracuse
Los Angeles Dodgers-Albuquerque
Colorado-Colorado Springs
Toronto-Las Vegas
San Francisco-Fresno
Milwaukee-Nashville
Florida-New Orleans
Texas-Oklahoma City
Kansas City-Omaha
San Diego-Portland
Arizona-Reno
Houston-Round Rock
Oakland-Sacramento
Seattle-Tacoma
Three teams (Tampa Bay-Durham, New York Yankees-Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Anaheim-Salt Lake) have already extended their PDCs to 2014.
While a Houston-for-Texas swap seems the most logical choice, there are several other scenarios. The Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers have also been rumored to be interested in Oklahoma City as a possible Triple-A affiliate.
But look for any PDC after this year to be a two-year deal. The reason? The Cardinals.
St. Louis’ PDC with Memphis expires after the 2012 season and there have been indications the partnership between those cities, which began in 1998, could end. The team has had financial difficulties of late and last year, a new venue-management firm was brought in to manage the Redbirds and AutoZone Park. There have been talks, but no movement, on a sale of that franchise. St. Louis and Oklahoma City would be a good match if the Cardinals decide to leave Memphis. The Cardinals have long been one of the favorite teams of Oklahomans, especially in radio’s glory days with the signal strength of KMOX. Six Oklahoma radio stations are already Cardinals affiliates. That’s two more than the state has Texas Rangers radio affiliates.
