So is this new AAA franchise an Astros affiliate? http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...nt_id=592463&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou 10/24/2003 11:51 AM ET Changes for Round Rock Express By Alyson Footer / MLB.com HOUSTON -- The Houston Astros will continue their longtime partnership with Nolan Ryan and his family, but in less than two years, that will include a change of scenery. Beginning in 2005, the Round Rock Express will no longer be the Astros' Double-A affiliate, Express CEO Reid Ryan announced on Thursday. The Ryan family has purchased the Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League and will be moving that team to Round Rock as a Triple-A club. They will then move their current Texas League franchise to Corpus Christi, which will become the new Double-A affiliate of the Astros. The former Edmonton club will retain the Express name, and the Ryan family will create a new name for the Corpus Christi franchise. The Major League affiliate for the Round Rock Express will be decided at a later time. "The opportunity to know that no matter how this thing shakes out in the long run, 20 years down the road, we had the opportunity to bring baseball back to Texas," said Reid Ryan. "We're going to be the only Triple-A team in this state. ... I think that we feel really good that we're helping to grow the game that has given us so much. It means a lot to us to be able to just be in this position." The Astros had to approve the transaction but had no qualms about the Ryans moving their Double-A team to Corpus Christi. "The things that are important to us, from a player development standpoint, are the facilities, the field, the training areas," said assistant GM Tim Purpura. "If Corpus Christi is anything like Round Rock, we're assured it'll be good for our players." The stadium in Corpus Christi is smaller than the Dell Diamond in Round Rock by a few thousand seats but is still considered a first-rate minor-league ballpark. Attendance figures, on the other hand, are an ownership issue, and though the Astros would like for their prospects to play in front of big crowds, as they did in Round Rock, the turnstiles are not the main concern. "That part of it really comes down to [the Ryans'] decision," said Purpura. "We want to have a place where we have fans, but we've been spoiled in Round Rock. They're a Double-A team, but they draw like a Triple-A franchise." With the ownership and front office intact, the Astros are confident that the transition to Corpus Christi will be a smooth one. "We're statisfield the operation is going to be as good," said Purpura. "Because of the relationship between the Ryans, [Express GM] Jay Miller and us, when I send a player to Round Rock, I don't have to worry about anything. I know they're in a good environment." Reid Ryan also announced three personnel moves that will affect the franchises in both Round Rock and Corpus Christi. J.J. Gottsch, public relations director, was named president of the Corpus Cristi organziation, and former Major League pitcher Ken Schrom will join Gottsch as the club's general manager. Another former big-league pitcher, Kirk Dressendorfer, will replace Gottsch as the Express' director of public relations.
The way I heard it on a morning talk show (believe the interview was with Reid Ryan) was that RR could not announce who would be the affiliate by league rules, but that Edmonton's and New Orleans's major league affiliations ended at same time. Wink Wink.
