Evening News Briefing
Written by Dan Fischer on November 19, 2019
Batavia Muckdogs’ fans holding their breath today over the future of their team.
The Muckdogs are on a list of 42 minor league baseball teams across the country proposed to lose their major league affiliations.
Baseball says it’s a business decision. The farm club system is just too costly to maintain.
This afternoon, Minor League Baseball Senior Market Director Jeff Lantz tells WBTA News the chopping of Batavia and the other 41 teams remains only a proposal. The contract between baseball and the minor leagues does not expire until next September, insuring that baseball will be played this summer at Dwyer stadium. Beyond that, Lantz told us, remains the subject of negotiation.
Also this afternoon, Batavia City Manager Martin Moore says he was briefed on the situation last week by officials of the Muckdogs and the NYP League. Moore admits there is little the city can do to influence Baseball’s decision.
The 20-hour police stand-off on Liberty Street ended peacefully this morning.
Ast Batavia Police Chief Todd Crossett
BPD Investigator Kevin Czora successfully convinced a man who had barricaded himself inside a home at 209 Liberty to surrender.
Assistant Police Chief Todd Crossett described Czora’s contribution to the incident:
PHOTO Courtesy: The Batavian / Jim Burns
The unidentified man was armed with a sword and a pellet gun and had taken several shots at police who had cordoned off the area.
Police said that at one point during the standoff the man attempted to stab K-9 Frankie, the police dog of the sheriff’s office, but the dog was not injured.
Buffalo Bishop Richard Malone is revealing details of his brief meeting with Pope Francis. The pair spoke last week while Malone joined other religious leaders on a trip to the Vatican. Malone says he believes the Pontiff understands the difficulties he’s been facing. Malone has been criticized for his handling of the clergy sex-abuse scandal in the diocese. There have been calls for Malone to resign, but he says he’s not planning to do that.
