2010 Calgary Vipers Thread

[MJM]

So it was getting nice out, and I drove by the field and saw the guys out practicing, and I started to get excited for, unfortunetly, the only professional baseball we have in Calgary.

I start doing a little research and read that the Vipers have essentially gutted their team, and traded league MVP Nelson Castro for get this..... FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS. Articles from other teams appear to be furious about the trade (especially Victoria) as its being said the Vipers traded the league MVP for cash.

Although not against the rules, how the hell does this team expect the populaton of this city to take them seriously when they trade the friggin league MVP for future considerations. God this team is a joke. I said last year I'd had enough of their bush league crap and woudn't go to half the games I did before (I previously had seasons tickets and I cut it down to just off an on on the weekends when I wanted to sit outside with some beer and watch a game). I was going to give it another shot this year, but not after reading this crap. Gutting your team and removing the team MVP doesn't seem like a good way too build a fan base, it seems like a good way to alienate the little fans you have.

[Papi34]

But they got astacio martinez! Former red sox! whatever happened to Daryl Brinkley? Whyd they get rid of him? Didnt they win the championship last year

[malcolmk14]

The problem with minor league baseball in Calgary is that they need to sell the ballpark experience, not the product on the field. They just fail to recognize this.

[Flames in 07]

how do you have a ballpark experience at foothills?

I get trading for future considerations aka cash. Recognizing that travel schedule and the mouths that team has to feed. And seeing all those empty seats I wonder how that team can be put together and work in the first place.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by Flames in 07

how do you have a ballpark experience at foothills?

I get trading for future considerations aka cash. Recognizing that travel schedule and the mouths that team has to feed. And seeing all those empty seats I wonder how that team can be put together and work in the first place.

If you have to sell your best players to stay and business, you might at not operate to begin with. You are just delaying the inevitable.

If this team doesn't play close to. .500 baseball (which could be possible this year with the way their roster turned over), there wot be 100 people in the stands by season's end.

[604flames]

My friend works with Victoria, they've been playing exhibition games in Kamloops this year with the hope the league might expand there soon.

[krazycanuck]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

The problem with minor league baseball in Calgary is that they need to sell the ballpark experience, not the product on the field. They just fail to recognize this.

BINGO! They need a Ron Bremner type guy (never thought I'd say those words) with his sort of ideas. Keep the beer cold and cheap. The hot dogs fresh and cheap. Give me something to look at between innings. Give me something to do before the game starts, or after it's over. If the team happens to be a winner, that's just icing on the delicious cake.

The Oilers own the team up here in Edmonton and it runs like a good minor league team should. I hate giving the Oilers credit for anything, but they do a great job with their (baseball) team. There is a special, or an event every single day of the week. It's almost like running a bar, if people show up to your bar on a Wednesday they know it's wing night. If they show up to a Capitals baseball game on Wednesday it's $2 hotdog night. It seems to make more sense to me.

The Vipers currently have a total of 5 promotions up on their website for the whole year. Although that is better than previous years where they came up with their promotions the week before.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by MJM

Although not against the rules, how the hell does this team expect the populaton of this city to take them seriously when they trade the friggin league MVP for future considerations.

What makes you think anyone even cares?

As noted, people go to enjoy a night out. They don't care who the players are, just as long as they are entertained by whoever wears the uniform.

[MJM]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

What makes you think anyone even cares?

As noted, people go to enjoy a night out. They don't care who the players are, just as long as they are entertained by whoever wears the uniform.

Of course they don't care what minor league has beens make up the team, but they won't be getting entertained if the vipers lose 2 of every 3 home games. This team can barely survive with a powerhouse. A garbage team to save a few dollars on salary will mark an abrupt end to their tenure in Calgary.

[valo403]

Originally Posted by MJM

Of course they don't care what minor league has beens make up the team, but they won't be getting entertained if the vipers lose 2 of every 3 home games. This team can barely survive with a powerhouse. A garbage team to save a few dollars on salary will mark an abrupt end to their tenure in Calgary.

I know that when I lived in Calgary and went to games my friends an I couldn't have cared less about the outcome of the games. We went to sit outside, drink a few beers and generally enjoy the atmosphere. If the Vipers were 0-40 it wouldn't have changed a thing, come to think of it I have no recollection of the success of the team in any of the seasons I went to games.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by MJM

If you have to sell your best players to stay and business, you might at not operate to begin with. You are just delaying the inevitable.

If this team doesn't play close to. .500 baseball (which could be possible this year with the way their roster turned over), there wot be 100 people in the stands by season's end.

maybe you are delaying the inevitable, but you don't know that. The team has had many great seasons already and really ... nobody cares. In part because that GM they had was brutal, foothills sucks and calgary is a 2 sport town.

I just think that fans aren't burdened with the reality of paying their bills with few people coming to the park to finance it. Just sounds like real life to me. Besides I didn't think it was that rare for independent teams to sell talent.

[REDVAN]

Excited to watch some "pro" ball this year, regardless of who's playing. Go Snakes!

[BOSSY]

Hey MJM... Castro is going to retire to take teaching job in Mass. - so turns out to be a pretty decent trade huh...

[Julio]

Not only that, Even Grusel didn't end up on a GBL opening day roster, and Carlos Duncan, who was heralded as a great acquisition by Peter Young in Yuma isn't on their roster.
Speaking of former Calgary GM Peter Young, who is now in Yuma, have a listen to this podcast:
http://video.onset.freedom.com/yumas...podcastmp3.mp3

[ricoFlame]

former U of C ball player and veteran, alberta native Brant Stickel makes the vipers. Good on him. Had a great year in the CCBC offensively and on the bump.

[Resolute 14]

Some idiot gave Young another job?

/insert every facepalm image ever made

[cgy2london]

in regards to the "ball park" experience i think the vipers would draw so much better if they were able to have a field downtown, that would be great

anyways, ive been a few times, cheaper than the dome/mcmahon, and when its nice out, its a great day out

[MJM]

I hope the team from Maui didn't spend all that money to fly here this weekend when all the games are going to get rained out.

[Resolute 14]

Kinda hoping tomorrow gets rained out too, as I wont be able to make the game. A couple of weekend doubleheaders would be nice though.

[ricoFlame]

I was just checking out the Capitals website and promotions...definitely much more polished and professional than what the vipers are sporting right now.