Major League Baseball in CT?
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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 20: A general view of the official baseballs taken before the game between the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners on September 20, 2009 at Safeco Field in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
The Hartford Whalers left and the New England Patriots never did move to Connecticut, so maybe sports fans know not to get their hopes up for a new major league baseball team.
Last week, on MLB.com, Peter Gammons snuck a sparkler into an analysis of baseball in Florida, suggesting officials were discussing moving the Tampa Bay Rays "to New Jersey or Southern Connecticut."
"I think Connecticut could handle a team," said Jim Battisto, a Yankees fan from Bristol. "It would be nicer, though, if Connecticut could go to Florida, where it's warm."
A Connecticut team might have a hard time selling merchandise even it could find a fitting stadium.
"I grew up going to Fenway and I love Fenway and I'll always be a Red Sox fan," said Mark Copeman, from Hartland. He did admit he'd like to have a new team to root for when it's not playing Boston.
Younger fans were more hard core. Two brothers from Middletown, Alex and Ben Gould, said nothing could make them change their allegiance to the Boston Red Sox. Alex Gould had actually heard about Gammons's report and didn't think moving the Rays would be fair to Florida.
A man wearing the interlocking NY of the Yankees on his jacket, Frank Mercede of Stamford, said, "I won't change, definitely not. I'm New York all my life. Not Connecticut."
Posted Friday, Jan 29, 2010 - 5:47 PM EST
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