Do New Yorkers eat red beans and rice?

Earlier this morning it was announced that starting in 2007, the New York Mets will begin a new player development agreement with the New Orleans Zephrys as their top farm clubs, making the Mets their fourth different parent club in their 13-year existence (Brewers, Astros, Nationals, and Mets).

Hey, the Bricktown Showdown might work

Since the American Association’s dissolvement into the Pacific Coast League and the International League in 1998, Minor League Baseball has tried everything in its power to have a Triple-A World Series, which the Memphis Redbirds were a part of back in 2000 when they faced the Indianapolis Indians in Las Vegas.

Of course, as you know, Las Vegas is not a baseball town at all. I remember back in 2001 and 2002, the baseball brains at ESPN had a home-run derby style show that was at Cashman Field in Las Vegas and it was sparsely attended like the Triple-A World Series that had been held there.

Which was the reason why the good people at Minor League Baseball decided not to have it in 2005, which was the best thing for Triple-A baseball and the fans.

In 2006, Minor League decided to have a free-for-all, winner-take-all single game between the champions of the International League and the Pacific Coast League and revive the Triple-A World Series.

But this time, it would not be held in Sin City.

The people at Minor League Baseball decided that if this Triple-A World Series was going to work, it would have to be held in a solid minor-league market.

Called Oklahoma City.

Three factors that I think played into the minors’ decision to have the series in Oklahoma City was that first of all, the state of Oklahoma has two highly regarded college baseball programs in Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and when the two schools have their annual showdown at Bricktown Ballpark, they draw well over 10-13,000 to the ballpark for the game every April.

Secondly, the state of Oklahoma has churned out greats like Mickey Mantle, whom the street that the ballpark is on is named after, Johnny Bench, and Warren Spahn, who won 20 games in 13 different seasons.

And lastly, the Bricktown ballpark is an excellent ballpark and the district that the ballpark is in has been a part of Oklahoma City’s revitialized Downtown district like Autozone Park.

But over 9 or 10,000 are there at the ballpark tonight in Oklahoma City, so that should be enough to bring this Showdown back to OKC for another year, don’t you think? 

Forgot to report this, folks

Because of Indianapolis’ win over Louisville and Toledo’s loss to Columbus, the Tribe and Mud Hens will play a one-game playoff to determine the final playoff spot in the International League tonight at Fifth Third Field in Toledo.

Nashville will open their run for a second PCL championship and the third for a Tennessee team in the PCL since the PCL realigned in 1998 when they host the Round Rock Express in Nashville Wednesday night and the Salt Lake Bees and Tucson Sidewinders will open their series on Thursday night in Salt Lake.