Geographically speaking, the Albuquerque Isotopes were part of a major relocation project Friday.
The ‘Topes went to bed Thursday night as members of the Pacific Coast League’s Pacific Southern Division. They awoke as members of the directionally confusing Professional Development League. Albuquerque will compete in the East Division of the Triple-A West.
Simple, right?
According to a sweeping overhaul of baseball’s minor leagues announced Friday, the Isotopes will be part of the 10-team Triple-A West drawn up to be travel-friendlier than was the former 16-team PCL alignment. Albuquerque lands in a division with the El Paso Chihuahuas, Oklahoma City Dodgers, Round Rock Express and Sugar Land Skeeters.
That affiliation, however, wasn’t with the Dodgers but with the then-Florida Marlins.
At spring training in 2006, Traub, then as now the Isotopes general manager (he since has added the title of vice president), ran into Lasorda in Vero Beach, Fla. With the Isotopes planning to host the 2007 Triple-A All-Star Game, Traub wanted Lasorda to bring his larger-than-his-midsection personality and countless funny stories to be the keynote speaker at the All-Star Game luncheon. Traub sweetened the offer by making Lasorda the first inductee to the Albuquerque Pro Baseball Hall of Fame, which is a franchise project.
“He committed to doing it, we exchanged phone numbers and we talked a few times,” Traub said Friday. Soon, Lasorda visited Isotopes Park, at the same site he used to manage the Dukes at what was the Albuquerque Sports Stadium. Or we should say, the same footprint, but made by much, much nicer footwear.
Yes, or so it says here.
With no room for argument, the brutal toll exacted by the COVID-19 pandemic ranks as the No. 1 New Mexico sports story of 2020. How could it be otherwise?
Certainly, though, there could be debate as to where, when and how that impact was most severely felt.
The Isotopes’ lost season is my choice. Here’s why:
First, I would not argue against opinions that the COVID-prompted erasure of high school sports – spring and fall – cut more deeply, affected more people and stirred more controversy than the void at Isotopes Park. But, as always, I cede that territory to Journal high school beat writer James Yodice.
And, oddly enough, the (cough) Albuquerque Isotopes.
On Monday, Patrick, who hosts a popular national radio show that airs in the Albuquerque market, was talking with longtime “The Simpsons” voice actor Hank Azaria.
And during their 10-minute chat, the conversation turned briefly to the Isotopes.
“Who does Homer (Simpson) root for?” Patrick asked Azaria. “He’s in the Midwest, he’s probably a Chiefs fan, wouldn’t he be?”
“The local minor league team is the Springfield Isotopes,” Azaria answered, adding, “I think there’s actually a real team named the Isotopes.”
Back to you, Dan.
D’oh!
For a state that already – and understandably – has more than a simmering frustration stemming from the constant mixing up of the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State by national broadcast media, Patrick’s comment was merely the latest reason for an all-too-familiar shake of our collective heads.
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