Document text
Medford strikes out on new team By KRIS HENRY The window for bringing a Western Baseball League team into Medford for the 2000 season unceremoniously closed recently for a local group headed by Southern Oregon Timberjacks owner Fred Herrmann. The Medford group opted to forego a chance at obtaining one of two WBL expansion teams for the 2000 season, vying instead for the existing Bend franchise destined for relocation. The much more cost-effective option for Herrmann's group apparently did not pan out, according to WBL President and General Manager Bob Linscheid. "Fred's group didn't successfully acquire a franchise," Linscheid said Wednesday. "Fred did put an offer in for the Bend team." While expansion franchises require a $400,000 franchise fee to be paid up front, Linscheid said the purchase price of an existing franchise is less. The Medford group's offer apparently wasn't as lucrative as the bid by Sharp Image Gaming out of Los Angeles. Linscheid said the league recently approved a purchase arrangement between the Bend franchise holder Central Oregon Professional Baseball and the California group. Terms were not disclosed on the bids extended by Sharp Image Gaming or Herrmann's group. Herrmann was out of town Wednesday and unavailable for comment. Sharp Image Gaming has not disclosed where the Bend franchise would be relocated, although Linscheid said it most likely would be in Southern California. The eight-team WBL begins its sixth season in 2000 and expansion plans for 10 teams for the 2001 season are already in place. Linscheid said he hopes Herrmann's group or any others interested in bringing WBL baseball to Medford would entertain that option. "The league is very interested in the Medford area," said Linscheid. "We've talked to several other parties about (Miles Field) in Medford and we would entertain any other possibility of bringing a franchise there. "I'm extremely interested in that market so we'll see what transpires over the next season." Deadline for applying for a 2001 expansion franchise is Nov. 1, 2000. "As far as the expansion goes, he still has time for 2001," Linscheid said of Herrmann's interest in the league. "We would encourage someone to make their decision a lot sooner than the Nov. 1 deadline." Linscheid said a Medford site would be optimal for the Western Baseball League, which currently has teams scattered throughout Arizona, California, Utah and Washington. "We're pretty bullish on the area," he said of Medford. "We think it would fit in nicely with what we already have, especially in terms of location between Tri-Cities and Chico, Calif." League officials have even gone so far as to have overhead pictures taken of Miles Field to get a full appreciation of the prospects here in Medford. Linscheid was also pleased when informed of the Miles Field Renovation Project currently under way. "That's good to know," he said. Herrmann has said repeatedly that he would make a concerted effort to get a professional baseball team back in Medford, but it's unclear whether his group has any other options in obtaining a team for the 2000 season. The Northwest League short season Class A Timberjacks are already destined for Vancouver, B.C., and Herrmann did not divulge replacement options beyond a WBL franchise when the move was officially announced in October. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.