Jim Seip: November 2008 Archives

Former Expos and Mets catcher Gary Carter has been named manager of the Long Island Ducks.

"The Kid" replaces Dave LaPoint, who compiled a 143-123 record in two seasons and led the club to a pair of playoff appearances. LaPoint, however, failed to lead the Ducks to a single postseason victory -- going 0-4 in the playoffs. But more alarming were a series of behind-closed-doors events involving teammates. The Ducks appeared to be a divided team late in the season, and it appeared big egos on the roster finally became a problem. And it will be interesting to see if Carter is accepted by his players. While respected and liked by the media and fans, teammates and players around the league despised Carter during his playing days -- because of his ability to turn on the charm when the cameras turned his way. Players and teammates took to calling him Kodak Carter.

Carter first became a candidate to manage in the Atlantic League last offseason when he interviewed for the opening in Lancaster.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported Wednesday that the operator of Richmond's minor league ballpark and the Atlantic League both want to see a minor league baseball team play games at The Diamond next season.

The paper goes on to report that scenario seems unlikely.

York Revolution owner Peter Kirk, who is the chairman for Opening Day Partners, toured the facility and estimated The Diamond needed between $1 and $2 million in improvements to make it ready for next season.

The Atlanta Braves Triple-A franchise pulled out of Richmond at the end of the 2008 season, leaving the longtime affiliated market up for grabs. In a stunning move, the Atlantic League is in play for what could be the second-largest market in the league.

However, plans for placing an indy team in Richmond and building a new stadium have been complicated after the Atlantic League encountered one of its most challenging offseasons in league history. Two of the league's founding teams announced serious financial losses. League CEO Frank Boulton bailed out a failing Bridgeport franchise, buying out the biggest rival of the team he founded -- the Long Island Ducks. And the Newark Bears ceased operations, leaving the league with seven teams. Messages to Kirk and ODP President Jon Danos have not been returned.

The Richmond project and the collapse of the Bears have apparently affected the ability of the Revolution to finish some long overdue business. ODP has yet to name a manager for next year's team. Chris Hoiles wants to return and has been in negotiations with the Revolution. But he has not signed a contract. Hoiles led the Revolution to the first playoff appearance in franchise history when the Revs clinched the Freedom Division's second-half championship.