Kinston Indians to Cease Operations in 2012

When I woke up yesterday, that was the first thing that I heard. This situation, of course, might have a direct impact on our organization. And to be honest, I am not knowledgeable enough about the decision to really comment. I do know however that Kinston has a rich baseball history and the city certainly has benefited from the operation of the Indians franchise.

I have always enjoyed minor league baseball, and actually prefer going to these games instead of major league games for various reasons. Old minor league ball parks hold a special place in my heart and Kinston is surely one of them. The game of baseball was the same back in the day, but the meaning was different in my opinion. The rich history in places like Kinston will always be remembered. You can't take away fans' experiences. That's the most important thing.

It's unfortunate but these things happen. Minor league parks change affiliates all the time. It's all business. If it's not working out at the current time then something has to change. All in all, Kinston is losing a great thing for its city. I know the direct economic impact and social interaction that will be lost. I know many are saying, "What will the Marlins do now?" Truth is we are not going to change what we do here with this organization because of what is happening with Kinston. We are continuously growing each day and we'll be very fortunate to reach what the Indians have become in the Kinston market. We are very saddened by the events that have unfolded and Buddy and I have friends that work with the Indians. We are going to keep up our same marketing efforts and offer a great, family fun atmosphere.

As stated in the previous post, a good friend of mine, Ben Jones has assumed the General Manager position this year. I certainly wish him the best of luck again and if anyone can handle such responsibility, it's him. He'll put together a fantastic year for the fans, whether it's their last year or not. We all do the same thing...we think of new ways to entertain the fans while fielding a competitive team. He'll have my support and I'll have his. Simple as that.