Baseball is a funny game.
If you fail seven out of ten times, you are an all-star.
If you hold a team to three runs or less you, are an all-star.
Does the second best record in the league ultimately lead to success? Not always.
Does having the tenth-largest city in the state ultimately lead to sellouts of home games? Not always.
These are two of many contributors that led to a string of unfortunate events affecting the Golden Baseball League’s Yuma Scorpions.
According to Yumasun.com “The Golden Baseball League announced on Wednesday that it had dissolved its affiliation agreement with the U.S. subsidiary of Golden Gloves Professional Baseball, the company that had been handling baseball operations for the Yuma Scorpions.”
Stepping in for GGPB will be Diamond Sports, who according to the Golden Baseball League’s website is the official owner of the Scorpions franchise.
To be more specific, Diamond Sports & Entertainment, (which had an agreement to let GGPB run the baseball side of the operation) will begin to take control of all the financials and management support, while trying to keep the team on the field for the remainder of the season
Obviously disappointed, League CEO David Kaval will commence legal actions against GGPB’s President Ricky Smith, and co-owner wife Romy Acevedo Smith.
“We are taking control of the baseball operations immediately to provide ongoing resources and support for the team. We will be working through legal processes to pursue GGPB and Mr. Smith to hold them accountable for their actions and obligations to our company, the Golden Baseball League, players, vendors, and all other entities that they have damaged.”
How in this day in age can a situation turn so badly? Everyone involved has the same common goal in mind.
Honestly, I cannot comment on the specifics, just the facts that were laid out, but apparently, it got so bad, that during the Scorpions road trip to play the Edmonton Capitals, the Capitals were paying the Scorpions hotel bill.
If that was not bad enough, four trades have been completed since the all-star break. Each trade was completed for cash considerations.
Kaval stated that had the league been controlling the team, those trades would never have been attempted or approved.
Unsure of what will happen, the league is obviously trying to keep this situation from getting worse, trying to keep its image, all while trying to keep a competitive team on the field amidst all the turmoil.
Devon Teeple is an author for the Business of Sports Network, which includes the Biz of Baseball, the Biz of Football, the Biz of Basketball and the Biz of Hockey. He is a former professional baseball player with the River City Rascals & Gateway Grizzlies. Devon is also available for hire or freelance opportunities.
Devon is a former student within Sports Management Worldwide’s Baseball General Manager Class. Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective and is an intern with The Football Outsiders and contributor with the Plymouth River Eels.
Currently, Devon is a Branch Manager at a financial institution in Southern Ontario Canada. He can be reached at devon@thegmsperspective.com , thegmsperspective@yahoo.com or devon@businessofsportsnetwork.com
Follow The GM’s Perspective on
Great reporting and analysis, Devon. Loved this tidbit:
Honestly, I cannot comment on the specifics, just the facts that were laid out, but apparently, it got so bad, that during the Scorpions road trip to play the Edmonton Capitals, the Capitals were paying the Scorpions hotel bill.
It’s this type of insider info that will make you a big success.
Hey Kevin,
thanks for the comment, and I appreciate the words of encouragement!
Regarding the hotel bill, and the rest of the situation, its unfortunate that it came to that point, but I think with the way the GBL is growing, they can resolve this and turn a nasty negative into a positive.