Suns become a Marlins affiliate - Still AA for now

[blizz01]

From The Times-Union


The Jacksonville Suns are expected to announce Thursday that they have reached a two-year agreement with the Florida Marlins to serve as that team’s Double-A affiliate.

The Suns will replace Southern League member Carolina as the Marlins’ Double-A affiliate.

The Suns had served as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate for the past eight seasons. But with the Dodgers moving their spring-training facility from Vero Beach to Glendale, Ariz., the Suns were looking for an affiliation with a team in Florida and one that had spring training in the state.

“I’m thrilled to death to have the Marlins as our affiliate,” Suns president and general manager Peter Bragan Jr. said Wednesday after his meeting with Marlins officials in Miami. “The Marlins have an excellent organization and have a lot of young, promising ballplayers that will be playing in Jacksonville the next couple of years. I know the fans in Jacksonville will come out and see some of these future major-league ballplayers.”

[thelakelander]

Cool, I've been a huge Marlins fan since 1993.  I guess I'll be going to more Suns games now to check out team's young talent.

[soxfan]

That is definitely great news.. The Marlins have one of the best farm systems in baseball... There will be some good ball playing to go see..

[Coolyfett]

Interesting...Hopefully there wont be too many changes in the color scheme. Does this mean new uniforms? I am so happy they didn't affiliate with the Braves, that would have really pissed me off as a baseball fan. Although I support the Braves, id hate for the Suns to change their name to the Jacksonville Braves. That would suck. The suns have only changed their name once, in 84-91 when they were the Expos, but other than that they have been the Suns since 1962. They should stay being the Suns.

Championships 1968, 1996, 2001, 2005

[Jason]

Would their name have to change?  Doesn't seem like it should.

This sounds like a good move.  There are certainly more Marlins fans around here than Dodger fans.  I wonder if this could also open the doors for a few Marlin home games to be played here?

[Doctor_K]

Would their name have to change?  Doesn't seem like it should.

This sounds like a good move.  There are certainly more Marlins fans around here than Dodger fans.  I wonder if this could also open the doors for a few Marlin home games to be played here?

Sadly, the Baseball Grounds would probably be able to handle the average home attendance figures currently being seen in Miami. 

However, being a huge Marlins fan myself, I'm also very excited at this development.  It'll make the Suns games much more enjoyable - and they were already good times to start with.

I don't think the team name would have to change?  Haven't they been the Suns through their different affiliations with multiple Major League teams?

[RiversideGator]

Maybe they should move the Marlins to Jacksonville and the Suns to Miami.   

[copperfiend]

I don't see a name change happening. I am glad the Suns were able to be affiliated with the Dodgers. There were some pretty good players that came through on their way to LA.

[Charleston native]

Maybe they should move the Marlins to Jacksonville and the Suns to Miami.   

Heh, I was thinking the same thing.

[Jason]

Would their name have to change?  Doesn't seem like it should.

This sounds like a good move.  There are certainly more Marlins fans around here than Dodger fans.  I wonder if this could also open the doors for a few Marlin home games to be played here?

Sadly, the Baseball Grounds would probably be able to handle the average home attendance figures currently being seen in Miami. 

However, being a huge Marlins fan myself, I'm also very excited at this development.  It'll make the Suns games much more enjoyable - and they were already good times to start with.

I don't think the team name would have to change?  Haven't they been the Suns through their different affiliations with multiple Major League teams?

I don't see why a few games couldn't be played here then.  Hell, it may be a big money maker for the Marlins.  Somebody else suggested the Marlins should have multiple home fields.  The baseball grounds are up to class AAA specs, so what else would have to be done?

[Doctor_K]

I don't see why a few games couldn't be played here then.  Hell, it may be a big money maker for the Marlins.  Somebody else suggested the Marlins should have multiple home fields.  The baseball grounds are up to class AAA specs, so what else would have to be done?

Now there's an interesting prospect - a Major League team with multiple home fields.  Would make for great times.  If the Marlins were retaining their "Florida" monicker, it would be cool to dream about.  However, since they've torn down the Orange Bowl and are erecting Marlins Stadium (or whatever it's going to be called) on the site, the Marlins will be Miami Marlins for the 2011 season hence, and ties to the entire state will be severed in the name.

Still and all, it's fun to dream!

[jagsfan32092]

I am very excited about this.  I've been a Marlins fan since 2000 when I lived in the Miami area.  I went to game 5 of the 2003 World Series, something that I'll never forget. 

I will most definitely take in a few more Suns games this year because of the new affiliation.  It will be interesting to see how many nights the Suns can outdraw the Marlins in attendance. 

[Coolyfett]

Another good thing is Jax my get the occasional Marlins Vs Suns game during Spring training. Or even a Rays vs Marlins game during Spring training. Those games would do well especially on a weekend date.

I went to the Suns Vs Dodgers game in 2006, the year after the Suns won the Southern Pennant, that game was packed out! And Dodgers brought like 7 or 8 big name starters, plus the Suns won. It wasn't the craziness that Micheal Jordan brought in 1994, but was pretty close to it.

[urbanlibertarian]

I believe the Suns have had the highest attendance in the Southern League since the Baseball Grounds opened.  Wouldn't it be cool if the Suns attendance exceeded Marlins attendance.

[Coolyfett]

I believe the Suns have had the highest attendance in the Southern League since the Baseball Grounds opened.  Wouldn't it be cool if the Suns attendance exceeded Marlins attendance.

Thats correct They have lead in attendance, by a wide margin I think behind the Suns is Birmingham with like 100,000 less tickets sold.