For those downstate who ignore the far reaches of New York State, the Buffalo Bisons and Cleveland Indians have gone their separate ways. Why should you care you ask, after all, most Met fans live in general NYC, North Jersey and Long Island areas, several hours away.  Well, because Buffalo hopes to reach a deal to be the AAA team for the Toronto Blue Jays, something also mentioned by the Jays GM to the AP.  That, would free up the Syracuse Sky Chiefs, who last season had made remarks indicated an interest to become part of the Mets family.

While nothing officialy has been said from the Mets camp, the above scenerio would benefit all involved. Buffalo and Toronto are a mere 90 minutes apart.  Syracuse a simple four, five hour drive (or hour flight) from Shea, which would be significantly closer than New Orleans. The Sky Chiefs are also an International League team, bringing the Mets prospects back to a league played on the East Coast, making emergency call ups a bit quicker during their away games.

The only real loser in all this, would probably be the Zephyrs. I understand the Mets have worked hard down there to become part of the community, give back, etc, but as a Met fan I have to root for this all to work out. Aside from the selfish reason (the Sky Chiefs would play my hometown Red Wings), it would place our top minor league players and rehabbing major leaguers a day trip away, making player exchanges or in house scouting a much simpler task. Need to send a pitching coach to see if your reliever really is ready? Done. Castillo’s blows out both knees during warmups? Aregenis Reyes can be in Flushing by midgame. The only real downside for the Mets would be a loss of access to good gumbo, and David Wright would have to cancel his Mardis Gras plans.