Major League Baseball is talking expansion, with plans to add two new teams, one in the American League and one in the National. MLB hasn't expanded since the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays began play back in 1998. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred declared that no new teams would take to the field until stadium issues were resolved in both Oakland and Tampa Bay. Since Oakland will be moving to Las Vegas (a sad turn of events), and Tampa Bay is finalizing a deal for a new stadium with the City of St. Petersburg (do I care?), expansion is now a go. For years, people have been talking about Montreal getting a team in the National League and Portland in the American, but now that expansion is a reality, many other cities are in the mix. But don't look for these new teams next year. It will be a long process, as I can tell you from personal experience, following the Colorado Rockies entrance into baseball back in 1993. It was a very exciting time for fans here in Denver. I would take photographs of Coors Field under construction every weekend, in eager anticipation of Opening Day at that ballpark, seen under construction back in 1994 in the photograph above. These days, with the high ticket prices, poor team play, clueless owner, and other assorted complaints, I have reached the conclusion that I prefer minor league baseball instead. Is there any chance we can get the AAA Denver Bears back? I thought not. What a pity.
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