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Timberjacks go north; owner courts replacement Photo by by Jim Craven Southern Oregon Timberjacks president and part-owner Fred Herrmann explains his team's plans to move to Vancouver, B.C. Herrmann has 2 1/2 weeks to land Western League club By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN As the first significant rainfall of the season pelted Miles Field Tuesday, Medford's longtime boys of summer announced they're moving out of the country. By the new millennium. Southern Oregon Timberjacks part-owner and president Fred Herrmann confirmed at a press conference that the Timberjacks plan to move to Vancouver, B.C., to play the 2000 Northwest League season. "Everything in principle is in place for the move," Herrmann said. "We have a few issues to resolve to finish the deal." Herrmann said he is close to an agreement to bring a Western League franchise to Medford to replace the Timberjacks by the 2000 season. "We have a 2 1/2-week window to get that done," said Herrmann. "The Western League is trying to work with us and actually bending our way to try to get a team here for next season. "We will have to see how it (negotiation) goes and if we can meet the window. But I'm optimistic. If we don't get it done for next season, it should happen in 2001." The Western League is an independent league -- teams aren't affiliated with major league organizations -- and the Northwest League is a short-season Class A league. There's a 2 1/2-week deadline because the Western League needs to set its schedule for the 2000 season. The biggest hurdle for a local ownership group, which Herrmann did not identify, is coming up with the $400,000 Western League franchise fee. Calls to Bob Linscheid, president of the Western League, were not returned. Barring the unforeseen, the Timberjacks will be in Canada by January to start selling themselves to a new, larger market and to drum up support for the Northwest League season, said Herrmann. He will move to Vancouver, B.C., but will maintain his home in the Rogue Valley to help Medford get another professional team. "I'll be back and forth a lot the first year," said Herrmann. "I have a commitment to the fans here, and I care about the area." He plans to be part of the ownership of both teams. Herrmann said he would like to keep the Timberjacks name in Medford for identity purposes and call the new Vancouver team the Canadians -- assuming the current Class AAA Canadians, who are moving to Sacramento, get a new nickname. Class AAA is the highest minor league level. The new Vancouver team will continue to be affiliated with the Oakland Athletics, Herrmann said. Timberjacks general manager Dan Kilgras and assistant general manager Jamie Brown will run the Vancouver club in Herrmann's absence. "Moving is part of being in baseball administration," said Kilgras, 29, Timberjacks general manager for three years. "It's a step up and a good opportunity for me and the club, going to Vancouver." The benefits of moving are financial, Herrmann said. The fan base is larger in Vancouver, and Nat Bailey stadium has 6,000 seats compared with Miles' 2,400. The Timberjacks' attendance was slightly down the last two seasons, Kilgras said. The reason could have been partly the threat of the team moving, first to Vancouver, Wash., then to Vancouver, B.C. The average attendance the past two years was 1,700. "This is the smallest market in the Northwest League," said Herrmann. "There's no question that's an issue. We have to pay the bills." The Timberjacks will maintain an office at Miles Field, Herrmann said, and the grounds crew will remain to prepare the field for the 2000 season, whether or not the Western League puts a team here. "We will continue the Timberjacks Baseball School and keep the grounds in good shape for youth teams here," said Herrmann. "That's a priority for us." The Timberjacks had talked for nearly three years about moving the Timberjacks to Vancouver, Wash. That move was undermined when the Portland Rockies announced they are moving out of Civic Stadium after the 2000 season to make way for a Class AAA franchise there. "With a Northwest League team in Salem, one in Vancouver and the Triple-A team in Portland, it would have put too many teams in the market, we felt," said Herrmann. "There were issues with a stadium in Vancouver (Wash.), but that would have been resolved, I think." Vancouver, B.C., became attractive when the Canadians decided to move to Sacramento. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.