Power Pros Forum

The year is 2011, the terrible memories of the Expo's moving have started to fade. After discovering the strength of unification, the government and citizens of Montreal set forth a plan to have the MLB return to Olympic Stadium in time for the 2011 season.

However, this plan did not come without it's hitches and kinks. The most important aspect of the team's success was the public response to another team calling Montreal home. Especially after a Canadiens' NHL Stanley Cup win in the 2009-2010 season, and with the success of the NHL team it lead into the public acceptance of Montreal's 2nd take at the MLB.

Many aspects were put to light when the Montreal City Council met on November 7th, 2010. What they discussed was the renovation of the Olympic Stadium in the downtown area, and how they were going to propose a bid for another franchise after the original Montreal-based franchise moved to Washington D.C. in 2005 and became the Nationals. Despite this action, there were still fans from the previous franchise that wanted baseball to return after the 1994 strike destroyed the team's chances at a World Series and further prosperity. Therefore from that point on, the City of Montreal decided if baseball was going to return to the city it'd would be a public vote and not a government-based vote. The only way the government of Montreal was going to get involved in the decision process, was if the public interest was poor and the amounts of votes casted where not enough to discern any results.

After about a month of council meetings, and working with local media venues and newsgroups the City of Montreal had their answer after a two-week voting process at the end of November. The results were, out of the 1.6 million citizens living in the city. About 385,000 votes were cast and that barely skimmed the 375,000 vote minimum the city needed from the public to the decide the future franchise's fate.

Therefore, the said results were 55% for another franchise coming to Montreal and 38% of that 55% were in favor, but with a renovation to Olympic Stadium with a retractable roof. 17% was in favor, regardless of the state of the Olympic Stadium. 40% opposed the franchise, due to the lack of interest and dismay of trouble that the downtown area would have on game nights and gameday. But however, it was a cause for concern, due to the routine bus stops and subway stations around Olympic being shut off after the 2004 season ended. How was the city going to reroute stops to Olympic without causing havoc by tearing up the tunnels below Montreal? That was something they'd have to address and figure out before the 2012 season ended for the new franchise.

What does the city of Montreal have in store for this new and coming MLB franchise? Will there be baseball once again in the city, or will it fade and die due to lack of planning and bad timing?

Only time will tell!

So, since Olympic Stadium isn't in this game (it would be cool if it was) which stadium are you using?

Hello out there, this is Brennan Andrews. Montreal's interim GM for the franchise and liaison between the team and the league, I'll be bringing you news of the season as it progresses and also my thoughts on certain situations and occasions which require my comments or opinions and most of the news stories on the team.

Well, they did it. The City of Montreal has gotten themselves a new franchise, along with a 2nd expansion franchise going to Fresno as start-year sister teams. We're excited to help baseball return to Montreal, and hopefully it'll be something worth remembering and seeing for the citizens of the forgotten Canadian city. What happened to the Expos was a bad owner, a bad mayor and city commissioner (in 2004-05). However, with the recent elections the past six years I think we'll have a more supportive mayor and a great commissioner at the helm of this journey.

First and foremost, everyone here at the Montreal franchise would like to thank everyone in the city of Montreal for showing their support and courage to support a 2nd team in an effort to forget the Expos' troubled past. We're going to make it a priority to get this team to the World Series within the first five years of this franchise and give the citizens something to cheer about in Hockey AND Baseball!

I hate to wrap this up, but I have to go the team name selection meeting this afternoon and talk with league commissioner Bud Selig about other team related matters and issues regarding to Olympic Stadium. I know, it's sounding painful but after we take care of the paperwork and legality of the team we'll be off and running!

From the Montreal front office, and the office of the General Manager.

This is Brennan Andrews, signing off.

Good-day Montreal.


(OOC: dishnetkid, I'll be using Rogers Centre. But, I'm PRETENDING it's Olympic Stadium. )

OK. I had a feeling you were going to use Rogers Centre.

Hello There!

I've almost forgotten about you guys who were wanted on the what's how of the new Montreal franchise. We're now called the Montreal Phoenix, and our sister team is called the Fresno *snigger* *chuckle* Honeybees *laughs*

Anywho, we've gotten underway with the 2011 season and I have to tell you. We didn't start well with our first 10 games, we began with a 4-6 record with a 6-3 loss against Toronto in the season opener. With things shaping up and the team finally heading on the fast track to a win-streak, I think we actually have a chance of playoff berth in the inaugural season here in Montreal.

Oh! and also, a little thing to note:

We're in the AL East. Montreal had little success with the National League, so we decided to give the American League a shot. We got game two of a three-game series in New York tonight. I'll see you all then!

Goodnight Montreal, and GO PHOENIX!

EDIT: Dream Draft was used in making the team.

Will you play the games or sim them?

^ I'll play afew, then sim afew. Back and forth.

Also, due to a poor pitching staff, I redid the draft and now have a much better staff but the offense leaves MUCH to be desired.

We're 4-7 as of now.

I usually don't follow franchise logs but this is definitely interesting. Any chance to get a roster list? I also like the fact that the season is so far realistic with the team being 4-7. What difficulty settings and options are you using?

Mr. Andrews forgot to mention that Bud Selig was a major factor in the downfall of the Expos organization. He was indicted on racketeering charges in 2002 and ultimately settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. Die hard Expos fans would be out for blood if they knew he was in town!

One more question: did you randomly make up the name Fresno Honeybees? There is actually a newspaper called the Fresno Bee Also, Fresno is also the home of the Giant's AAA team.

Here's the roster:

Marco Scuturo SS
Hideki Matsui LF
Troy Glaus 3B
Ken Griffey Jr. RF
Ryan Howard 1B
Orlando Hudson 2B
Travis Hafner DH
Raul Casanova C
Clete Thomas CF

On the bench:

Jose Molina C
Hinske UTL
Green IF
Ryan Raburn OF
B. Harris IF

Pitching Staff:
Starters:

#1 Johan Santana
#2 Roy Oswalt
#3 Tim Wakefield (LVL 6 Knuckleball does wonders)
#4 Litsch
#5 Guthrie

In the Bullpen:
Kuroda
Wassermen
Smith
Logan
Galarraga
Gaurado


That's our fielding and pitching staff!


BTW, the Fresno team got renamed to the Gunmen due to possible copyright matters. Silly people!

Brennan Andrews

You need a new catcher.

Guthrie over Kuroda as a rotation member? Huh?

Overall, I like this team only a couple of glaring weeknesses.

Catcher
Bullpen
Centerfield

That's it really

The Phoenix have now assumed the franchise history of the former Expos. Now Washington is a stand-alone franchise.

Believe me, that DID NOT go over well for the owner of the Nationals. Sorry pal.

--- Brennan Andrews

How exactly did that work?

I'm starting a new log. Due to some unforeseen reason, the memory card with my Montreal team on it has disappeared off the face of the earth.

If I ever find it, I'll resume this log, otherwise I have a second card and I'm making a new team.


The Las Vegas Wolves.

Stay tuned!