The real problem with the Sox minor leagues

[Thunder]

Worcester Shire Saucers

[mvp 78]

I’m still going with the Worcester Spags

[Bellhorn04]

Worcester Shire Saucers

 

Or Shire Horses

[notin]

Or Shire Horses

 

Ok, Tolkien...

[notin]

I’m still going with the Worcester Spags

 

I like Worcester Polar Bears better for two reasons.

 

1. The obvious tie-in with Polar Soda

2. When I was a kid, my dad often took me to the Worcester Museum of Science (now called the EcoTarium) where one of the most popular exhibits was the polar bear tank with underwater viewing....

[Thunder]

In related news, I just found out that the new AA affiliate of the Angels is called the Rocket City Trash Pandas

[notin]

In related news, I just found out that the new AA affiliate of the Angels is called the Rocket City Trash Pandas

 

I am now a fan. Are their jerseys available online?

[notin]

I am now a fan. Are their jerseys available online?

 

To answer my own question. They are, and the mascot is a raccoon. What a great way to name a team after a raccoon...

[Thunder]

To answer my own question. They are, and the mascot is a raccoon. What a great way to name a team after a raccoon...

 

I'm seriously debating buying some merch

[notin]

I'm seriously debating buying some merch

 

 

Do you have any Norwich Sea Unicorns merch?

[Thunder]

Do you have any Norwich Sea Unicorns merch?

 

Back when we had the Norwich Navigators (now the Richmond Flying Squirrels) I had a hat and went to a couple games. They were AA though, so games were a little more fun than with a short season A club as they are now.

 

I do have a Hartford Yard Goats hat and shirt. Those games are incredibly fun. I'm personal friends with the on-field host.

[notin]

Back when we had the Norwich Navigators (now the Richmond Flying Squirrels) I had a hat and went to a couple games. They were AA though, so games were a little more fun than with a short season A club as they are now.

 

I do have a Hartford Yard Goats hat and shirt. Those games are incredibly fun. I'm personal friends with the on-field host.

 

I just like the fact that these teams got very creative with their names, opting for their current monikers over Norwich Narwhals and Rocket City Raccoons. You never see MLB teams do that. And that's why we don't have the Detroit Man-Eaters or the Minnesota Meiosis...

[illinoisredsox]

Lowell looks like it will be no more, as MLB appears poised to eliminate rookie and short season ball (along with several low A, high A and even some AA teams).

 

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/sources-milb-ready-to-agree-to-significant-reduction-in-teams/

 

The list was proposed in November:

 

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/all-42-teams-reportedly-up-for-elimination-in-mlbs-minor-league-reduction-proposal/

 

Some great nicknames in there.

[Thunder]

I just like the fact that these teams got very creative with their names, opting for their current monikers over Norwich Narwhals and Rocket City Raccoons. You never see MLB teams do that. And that's why we don't have the Detroit Man-Eaters or the Minnesota Meiosis...

 

My attempt at every team:

Seattle Sea Captains

Los Angeles St. Peters

Oakland Jumbo Elephants

Texas Rancheros

Houston Moonmen

 

Minnesota Meiosis (I'll give you credit for that)

Detroit Hungry Beasts

Kansas City Throne Usurpers

Cleveland Native Americans (touchy subject)

Chicago Tighty Whiteys

 

Boston Bloody Socks (in honor of Schilling)

New York Heroes

Toronto Flying Geese

Baltimore Orioles (nothing wrong with it)

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (the original was so much better)

 

New York Urbanites

Philadelphia Jingle Bells

Atlanta Choppin' Tomahawks

Miami Deep Sea Fishermen

Washington Nitwits (shoutout to the government)

 

Milwaukee Bar Hoppers

Chicago Growling Grizzlies

St. Louis Redbirds

Pittsburgh River Ruffians

Cincinnati Chili Macs

 

Arizona Sidewinders

Colorado Mighty Mountainmen

San Diego Absent Fathers

San Francisco Large Hombres

Los Angeles Avid Avoiders

[Bellhorn04]

Cleveland Native Americans (touchy subject)

Atlanta Choppin' Tomahawks

 

I wasn't expecting that second one after the first one LOL

[Thunder]

I wasn't expecting that second one after the first one LOL

 

Well part of it is you can't really do much with Guardians without it clearly being racist. In my book, Choppin' Tomahawks is the same as Braves since it's their logo and they do the Tomahawk Chop after basically every hit

[notin]

My attempt at every team:

Seattle Sea Captains

Los Angeles St. Peters

Oakland Jumbo Elephants

Texas Rancheros

Houston Moonmen

 

Minnesota Meiosis (I'll give you credit for that)

Detroit Hungry Beasts

Kansas City Throne Usurpers

Cleveland Native Americans (touchy subject)

Chicago Tighty Whiteys

 

Boston Bloody Socks (in honor of Schilling)

New York Heroes

Toronto Flying Geese

Baltimore Orioles (nothing wrong with it)

Tampa Bay Devil Rays (the original was so much better)

 

New York Urbanites

Philadelphia Jingle Bells

Atlanta Choppin' Tomahawks

Miami Deep Sea Fishermen

Washington Nitwits (shoutout to the government)

 

Milwaukee Bar Hoppers

Chicago Growling Grizzlies

St. Louis Redbirds

Pittsburgh River Ruffians

Cincinnati Chili Macs

 

Arizona Sidewinders

Colorado Mighty Mountainmen

San Diego Absent Fathers

San Francisco Large Hombres

Los Angeles Avid Avoiders

 

 

Technically I think the San Diego team moniker refers to a priest or chaplain. Or, given the old logo, possibly a monk.

 

There is no way you remember Steve Garvey (former Padre first baseman who had a scandal with some illegitimate children with multiple mothers. These events lead to a popular bumper sticker that read “Steve Garvey is not my Padre”).

 

 

 

 

 

Why do I remember s*** like this?

[notin]

Also for the record, “Pittsburgh River Ruffians” EXACTLY captures the spirit that leads to team names like “Trash Pandas”.

 

Maximum points awarded there...

[Thunder]

Technically I think the San Diego team moniker refers to a priest or chaplain. Or, given the old logo, possibly a monk.

 

There is no way you remember Steve Garvey (former Padre first baseman who had a scandal with some illegitimate children with multiple mothers. These events lead to a popular bumper sticker that read “Steve Garvey is not my Padre”).

 

 

 

 

 

Why do I remember s*** like this?

 

I am aware of that for the Padres. I couldn't think of anything for that so I went with Absent Fathers. Hope it's okay to make a joke lol

[Kimmi]

Technically I think the San Diego team moniker refers to a priest or chaplain. Or, given the old logo, possibly a monk.

 

There is no way you remember Steve Garvey (former Padre first baseman who had a scandal with some illegitimate children with multiple mothers. These events lead to a popular bumper sticker that read “Steve Garvey is not my Padre”).

 

 

Why do I remember s*** like this?

 

Like my brother in law used to refer to himself every time he whupped us in Trivial Pursuit, you're a walking encyclopedia of useless information.

[Thunder]

Also for the record, “Pittsburgh River Ruffians” EXACTLY captures the spirit that leads to team names like “Trash Pandas”.

 

Maximum points awarded there...

 

Thank you thank you. I knew with a name like Pirates I had to do something good.

 

For Milwaukee, I had Hoppers initially, then Beer Hoppers, so it just fed right into Bar Hoppers. I'm proud of that one. My favorite though is the Seattle Sea Captains

[notin]

I am aware of that for the Padres. I couldn't think of anything for that so I went with Absent Fathers. Hope it's okay to make a joke lol

 

Oh it’s ok.

 

It’s just an odd joke because Garvey made it work 35 years ago...

[notin]

Thank you thank you. I knew with a name like Pirates I had to do something good.

 

For Milwaukee, I had Hoppers initially, then Beer Hoppers, so it just fed right into Bar Hoppers. I'm proud of that one. My favorite though is the Seattle Sea Captains

 

Or Seattle Albatross Couriers...

[mvp 78]

Oh it’s ok.

 

It’s just an odd joke because Garvey made it work 35 years ago...

 

I remember a cartoon in Sport Magazine that had Garvey running to home plate with a bunch of kids cheering for him.

 

I never learned the actual story, just understood what it was inferring.

[Bellhorn04]

I remember a cartoon in Sport Magazine that had Garvey running to home plate with a bunch of kids cheering for him.

 

I never learned the actual story, just understood what it was inferring.

 

Implying, that is. (Runs for cover.)

[mvp 78]

Implying, that is. (Runs for cover.)

 

I deserve it.

[Northern Star]

Been a while since I checked out minor league team names. I just looked at the listings to pick out some bad ones.

 

Winston-Salem Dash

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (shouldn't it be Kannon? Come on, guys)

Great Falls Voyagers

Akron RubberDucks - maybe the worst of them all, and I'm not even 1/4 of the way through the listings.

Rocket City Trash Pandas - that's what we all do. Worst contract ever.

Stockton Ports - as in a physical port? Or the wine? Either is dumb.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals - yeah, OK, I get the reference, but Unnaturals would be cooler.

West Virginia Power - they probably get a ton of calls from people disputing their utility bill.

Rocky Mountain Vibes

Amarillo Sod Poodles - not even gonna check if that's a real thing.

[Northern Star]

The real problem with the Sox minor league system is the lack of really cool team names.

 

The Sox have 6 minor league affiliates, and 3 of them are called the Red Sox. How imaginative! Whose the farm system director - George Foreman?

 

Cardinals are pretty lame as well.

 

Memphis Redbirds (AAA) Roster

Springfield Cardinals (AA) Roster

Palm Beach Cardinals (A Adv.) Roster

Peoria Chiefs (A) Roster

State College Spikes (SS) Roster

Johnson City Cardinals ® Roster

DSL Cardinals Blue ® Roster

DSL Cardinals Red ® Roster

GCL Cardinals ® Roster

[Thunder]

Been a while since I checked out minor league team names. I just looked at the listings to pick out some bad ones.

 

Winston-Salem Dash

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (shouldn't it be Kannon? Come on, guys)

Great Falls Voyagers

Akron RubberDucks - maybe the worst of them all, and I'm not even 1/4 of the way through the listings.

Rocket City Trash Pandas - that's what we all do. Worst contract ever.

Stockton Ports - as in a physical port? Or the wine? Either is dumb.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals - yeah, OK, I get the reference, but Unnaturals would be cooler.

West Virginia Power - they probably get a ton of calls from people disputing their utility bill.

Rocky Mountain Vibes

Amarillo Sod Poodles - not even gonna check if that's a real thing.

 

How about some of your favorites?

[notin]

Cardinals are pretty lame as well.

 

Memphis Redbirds (AAA) Roster

Springfield Cardinals (AA) Roster

Palm Beach Cardinals (A Adv.) Roster

Peoria Chiefs (A) Roster

State College Spikes (SS) Roster

Johnson City Cardinals ® Roster

DSL Cardinals Blue ® Roster

DSL Cardinals Red ® Roster

GCL Cardinals ® Roster

 

Are you knocking the best team name ever - the Rocket City Trash Pandas!?!?