International League notebook: Lynx may be headed to Allentown, Pa.

7/24/2005
BY JOHN WAGNER
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

Let's take a moment and clean out the notebook to prepare for the Mud Hens' push for a Governors' Cup playoff berth.

  • The IL's days in Ottawa may be numbered. The city of Allentown, Pa., is pushing for state funding for a new baseball park, and it's probable that the tenant for that new park will be the Ottawa Lynx.

    Ottawa has averaged roughly 2,300 fans per game this season, almost half as many fans as the next-lowest IL team. The average attendance for the rest of the league is roughly 6,800 fans per contest.

    The Ottawa Sun reported that Lynx owner Ray Pecor said he loses between $700,000 to $1 million per year on the club.

    The prospective deal would have Pecor sell the Lynx to a group headed by Craig Stein and Joseph Finley, who would move the team to the ballpark near Allentown in time for the 2008 season.

    This "Lehigh Valley" team is being watched closely by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre franchise.

    The proposed team is roughly one hour away from the Red Barons' home in Moosic, Pa., and would cut into the Red Barons' fan base. What's more, the Lehigh Valley team would be closer to Philadelphia, and as a result would be a threat to steal the Red Barons' affiliation agreement with the Phillies.

  • Erie's days with a Double-A team may be numbered. Mandalay Baseball Properties, the owners of the Erie SeaWolves, Detroit's Double-A franchise, are talking with officials in Holyoke, Mass., about moving their franchise to a new 6,500-seat stadium in Holyoke.

    While Erie's Jerry Uht Park is only 10 years old, it lacks modern amenities such as luxury suites and a new scoreboard.

    The park also is located in a section of Erie that isn't close enough to businesses and restaurants to suit Mandalay.

    Meanwhile Holyoke is placing its proposed ballpark in the center of a $110 million complex that includes offices, a hotel, homes, and apartments.

  • Larry Parrish managed his 500th Mud Hen game Wednesday. Parrish first managed in Toledo when he took over for Joe Sparks in early May of 1994, posting a 56-62 record that

    season.

    After managing in Double-A Jacksonville (1996) and in Detroit (1998-99) he returned as Hens manager in 2003 and has managed here ever since.

    Parrish has a 248-253 record with the Mud Hens. His career managing record, which also includes two years at Short Season Niagara Falls, N.Y., is 452-458 and includes titles in Jacksonville and in Niagara Falls in 1993.

    Contact John Wagner at: jwagner@theblade.com or 419-724-6481.