Hi Reddit, I'm Jonah Keri. AMA.

[u/jonahkeri]

Howdy hey!

My name is Jonah Keri, I'm a baseball writer for Grantland and author of the book, "Up, Up, & Away", a really fun (and occasionally autobiographical) look at the history of the Montreal Expos, told via ~130 interviews with ex-players (Pedro Martinez! Andre Dawson! Tim Raines! Rusty Staub!), managers, owners, and many more.

The book comes out today and is available at bookstores near you, online (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307361357/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0307361357&linkCode=as2&tag=jonahkericom-20), as an e-book (https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/up-up-and-away/id707326028?mt=11), and in various other places.

Though baseball is my vocation, I'm also a native Montrealer with strong opinions about everything from bagels to standing desks. So go nuts. I'm excited to chat.

[u/azmanz]

Would you be in heaven if the Rays moved to Montreal?

[u/jonahkeri → u/azmanz]

Not at all. I would never wish for a city and its fans to lose their team. It'd be great if baseball comes back to Montreal one day. If it does, I hope it's via expansion.

[u/[deleted] → u/jonahkeri]

Wouldn't they have to add another one too? Where do you think it would be?

[u/thernkworks → u/[deleted]]

Portland!

[u/[deleted] → u/thernkworks]

Portland just voted to get rid of their AAA team to make room for an MLS team, probably doesn't look too good to prospective owners

[u/thernkworks → u/[deleted]]

Not a great sign, but it's not like Portlanders love soccer and hate baseball. The city just sided with a major league team over a minor league team. We were on the short list when the expos were moving and would probably still have a chance if there was an expansion.

[u/SonofSonofSpock → u/thernkworks]

I thought they already had a soccer team.

[u/thernkworks → u/SonofSonofSpock]

I might be off on the specifics since I don't follow soccer, but there was basically a minor league soccer team that disbanded once the MLS team came to town.

[u/LinuxLinus → u/thernkworks]

This is basically right. Portland had a moderately-supported A-league team that had the same name as the MLS team.

I don't think minor league success has ever figured much into MLB expansion plans. Though I agree that Portland isn't ready yet.

[u/illegal_deagle → u/[deleted]]

It would be cool for Brooklyn to get another team.

[u/ThrowTheHeat → u/illegal_deagle]

It just seems unlikely. Yankees and Mets culture is so massive here in NY. I don't see a new team pulling any fans.

It's hard enough for a second team to grab fans in a city. A third? I don't see it happening. Especially in the same market as one of the biggest teams in any American sport.

[u/[deleted] → u/ThrowTheHeat]

I think a lot of people in Queens and Brooklyn would throw the Mets overboard for a Brooklyn team. Also, Brooklyn has a profound sense of self as a place, and a lot of people still pine over the Dodgers despite not even being born when they moved.

[u/LinuxLinus → u/ThrowTheHeat]

The real market for a third NY area team is probably northern NJ.

[u/Iam_a_Jew → u/LinuxLinus]

IDK about that. It's pretty strongly Yankees from what I've seen from visiting. Would the new team really be able to gain enough support, especially if they're an expansion team that won't many/any stars.

[u/gambalore → u/ThrowTheHeat]

I think a third NY/NJ team would do quite well, which is why the Mets and Yankees would never allow it in the first place. They have territorial rights to the area.

[u/[deleted] → u/illegal_deagle]

it would never happen, all the Dodgers fans already became Mets fans.

[u/Randy_Moss_84 → u/[deleted]]

They would go back. My grandpa and his friends (from Brooklyn) are still Brooklyn Dodgers fans first and foremost, but they became Mets fans. They would instantly go back to supporting Brooklyn.

[u/[deleted] → u/Randy_Moss_84]

The younger generations wouldn't though, and after 20 years all the old school Brooklyn fans will likely be dead

[u/OldOrder → u/[deleted]]

Nashville