MARION - Richard Nussbaum, who serves as counsel to the Midwest League, has pointed to location as being the primary reason Marion would not be a good fit to host a team .

"If a team is moved there, it would mean significantly more travel time," Nussbaum said Wednesday. "It would be a real impact on expenses with each club."

Alton lawyer John Simmons, who is also the lead investor with the baseball group, had a tentative agreement to purchase the South Bend, Ind., Silver Hawks, a Class A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Before the purchase agreement could become official, it required majority approval from the league. A three-man committee of league owners was appointed by Commissioner George Spelius to evaluate Simmons' proposal.

On Tuesday, the committee apparently recommended to the remaining 11 team owners that the league should reject the purchase proposal. Moreover, league owners took their action a step further and not only rejected Simmons, but also the notion of him or any other would-be owner moving a Midwest League franchise to Marion.

Peoria is currently the farthest south league members have to travel. If a franchise were moved to Marion, it would be an additional five hours via bus.

Nussbaum stressed that league owners had no personal ax to grind with either Simmons or Southern Illinois.

"Not at all," he said. "We have nothing against Marion. The people there have been very bold in what they have done. We didn't think it would be fair to Marion to wait until a formal request was made (by Simmons) to move the South Bend team. That's why the proposal was passed Tuesday."

Nussbaum confirmed that there was a "spirited discussion" among league owners before voting against Simmons' proposal. The attorney would not comment on how many owners were in favor of the transaction.

"After first consulting with the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (governing body of Minor League Baseball), our first decision was to proclaim that Marion was not a territory for league expansion. Our second decision was to reject the control transfer interest (purchase request by Simmons) agreement without prejudice."

The Governor's office weighed in on the announcement by saying the administration still believes baseball would be good for Southern Illinois and the state.

"We're going to keep working with Mayor Butler and everyone else who supports this project because it means new jobs and new investment for our state," Andrew Ross, spokesman for Gov. Rod Blagojevich, said.

Butler says he's "not ticked off at all" that Midwest League owners passed a resolution Tuesday against relocating a team to his city.

"I've been around long enough to know that nothing ever goes smoothly," Butler said Wednesday. "You always anticipate a bump in the road, take it in stride, and then move on. I am convinced that the Southern Illinois Baseball Group is committed to bringing minor league baseball to this area. And until I hear something to the contrary, I will continue to believe that."

Butler said he had been advised of the league's ruling by a representative with Southern Illinois Baseball Group. He said he hoped to hear from Simmons in the days ahead to learn of his next course of action.

"I remain convinced that Simmons and the Southern Illinois Baseball Group remain committed to this project - they're in it for the long haul," Butler said. "They are sophisticated enough to realize that there are certain procedures and protocol to follow. And they know that the Midwest League sets the rules. If you're going to play their game, you must abide by their rules. You must dance to their tune if you want to go to the ball."

Butler added that a loyal fan base in South Bend may have also contributed to the league's decision to reject Simmons' bid.

"Am I disappointed in what happened? Sure. Dismayed? No. I don't believe in the word, 'quit.' It's not in my vocabulary," he said. "Until you show me that we are completely and absolutely out of this, I won't say die."

john.homan@thesouthern.com

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