Friday the 13th type news as both...

the Norwich Bulletin and New London Day are weighing in on-line re: the Richmond Times-Dispatch article of today below:

JOHN O'CONNOR TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Published: February 13, 2009

A Richmond group hopes to buy a franchise that belongs to the Class AA Eastern League, the Connecticut Defenders, and move it to Richmond, according to sources familiar with the situation.

Bryan Bostic said the goal of Richmond Baseball Club LC, the organization he chairs, is to purchase a franchise by early April. Minor League Baseball rules prohibit Bostic from discussing the league or the franchise, he said. Bostic earlier this week confirmed that Richmond Baseball Club LC has made formal application to Minor League Baseball to acquire a specific team.

"I'm not allowed to say any level, any team, any city, any affiliation," Bostic said. "That day, we believe, is coming."

The franchise is expected to sell to Bostic and his partners next month for about $15 million. The Connecticut franchise has been affiliated with the San Francisco Giants since 2003 and will be affiliated with the Giants through 2010.

If Minor League Baseball approves the deal, sources say, Bostic's group is expected to operate the franchise in its present home in Norwich, Conn., this season. Then it will move to Richmond in 2010.

The executive vice president of Minor League Baseball, Tim Purpura, consistently has chosen not to identify franchises that may be relocating to Richmond. This week, he said, "We still look at [Richmond] as a very viable place for minor-league baseball and we hope to have a franchise there in the near future."

The Richmond Braves, who left for Gwinnett, Ga., after last season, were Atlanta's Class AAA franchise. There are no Class AAA franchises in the International League for sale.

"The superstars go straight from Double-A to the majors," Bostic said this week. "The Triple-A, taking nothing away from it, is more oriented toward the [physically rehabilitating] list, and a player ready and waiting if necessary. But Double-A, the [future] superstars, that's where they're playing."

Neither Lou DiBella, the Connecticut Defenders' president/managing partner, nor Charlie Dowd, the franchise's general manager, could be reached for comment. The Eastern League president, Joe McEacharn, chose not to comment.

Richmond's Class AA team would play at The Diamond in 2010 and 2011. The 2012 season would bring a shift to a new ballpark, according to Bostic's plan. He advocates a Shockoe Bottom ballpark, part of the proposed $363 million Shockoe Center.

The departure of the R-Braves, owned by the Atlanta Braves, "I view as a silver lining, and so does Minor League Baseball, ultimately," Bostic said. "Because the best minor-league baseball [franchises] are owned and managed locally. They engage the community in a way that outside ownership just cannot deliver.

"That's why we're doing this. We're doing this because local ownership can drive extremely successful baseball teams. We have world-class operators that are part of our team. I can't go into who they are, but I can tell you that you will be thrilled when those names are announced."

Bostic's group includes 10 to 15 "committed investors," he said. Asked if it was the eventual goal of Richmond Baseball Club LC to bring Class AAA baseball back to Richmond, Bostic responded, "Our goal is to bring affordable, family entertainment to the Richmond region as quickly as possible."

Joe Perez of the Bulletin has written a long piece as well that is on-line.