Recent
Visits |
Al Lang Field, Tampa Bay
Rays
St.
Pete's Al Lang Field has been in the news a lot
lately, but for the wrong reasons: the Tampa Bay
Rays will train there one last time in 2008 before
shifting spring operations to Charlotte County in
2009, and the old ballpark is slated to be torn
down to make way for a new waterfront home of the
Rays. Now, Al Lang Field isn't the same venue it
was in the 1940s and 1950s when it was a landmark
in spring training, but it's still a great place
to catch a spring-training game. We hope the Rays
catch the spirit of the original Al Lang in their
designs for a new ballpark, For the rest of us, a
trip to Al Lang Field will be a mandatory event in
Spring Training 2008.
Trustmark Park, Mississippi
Braves
There's
nothing wrong with Trustmark Park, the home of the
Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League).
The wraparound concourse, luxury
boxes, big scoreboard and varied concessions are
all standard issue for a new minor-league ballpark
these days. So why aren't we more excited about
the two-year-old ballpark? Because there's nothing
unique about it: except for a few Southern menu
items at the concessions, there's nothing to link
the ballpark to its surroundings. At a Mississippi
Braves game, you could be watching a game anywhere
-- and going local is one of the great joys of the
minor leagues. Dustin Mattison reports.
Alliance Bank Stadium,
Syracuse Chiefs
The
biggest news at Alliance Bank Stadium, the home of
the Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International
League): the current artificial turf will be
replaced by real grass. That's good news for
Syracuse baseball fans in terms of aesthetics, as
well as players who need to field on an old,
sometimes unpredictable surface. Otherwise,
Alliance Bank Stadium is a perfectly serviceable
ballpark: the Chiefs front office does things the
old-fashioned way (i.e., not much in terms of
between-innings shenanigans), but the ballpark is
a comfortable place to watch a game, and the food
is pretty good. Steve Kapsinow reports.
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The
Fine Print |
Obligatory legal information:
This site is copyright 1998-2007 Kevin Reichard/August
Publications. All rights
reserved. My wife is a lawyer, so she will come and chop off
your hand in a legal fashion if you rip off this site
in any form. All logos are the property of their respective
owners. |
Broadcasts |
Virtually every MiLB team now streams broadcasts over the
Internet, which makes it easy to follow your favorite team when
you're on the road. In addition, you can catch MLB game broadcasts at
MLB.com or via XM Radio.
More
on Internet radio and TV broadcasts here! |
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Archives: July 29-Aug.
4, 2007
Ballpark
negotiations over; now to sell it
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The
fate of the potential remodeling of
Ed Smith Stadium
for future use by the Cincinnati Reds as a
spring-training venue will depend on the results
of a referendum this fall. Voters will be asked to
extend and expand an existing property tax used to
pay off bonds for the original construction of
Ed Smith Stadium.
For an average $250,000 home, property taxes will
go from the present $20 a year dedicated to the
ballpark (a tax that will end next season when the
bonds are paid off) to around $26. Going for
property-tax hikes in a Florida community is
always a dicey affair, of course, and there's some
doubt whether local citizens really care enough
about spring training to ante up their
contribution to the cost of the spring-training
complex, which would be expanded in this scenario.
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Reds official sizes up Sarasota;
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Reds spring ballpark plan hinges on 3 votes;
Significantly scaled-back plan is weighed for
Reds' spring home;
Why Sarasota may spurn baseball;
What is spring training worth to Vero Beach?;
Reds: We're interested in Vero Beach;
New Reds spring-complex deal on life support;
Delaying puts Reds spring complex in jeopardy;
Task force confident in Reds ballpark deal;
Finance plan for Reds spring-training facility in
place -- maybe;
Looking at a Plan B for new Reds spring complex;
Sarasota looking to cut spring-training complex
cost;
Fair officials respond with new spring-training
plan;
New Reds training facility in some doubt;
Florida finalizes five spring-training grants;
Pirates to get 30-year lease, lights at McKechnie
Field;
Florida makes preliminary decision on state
spring-training grants;
Bush signs bill funding spring-training complexes;
Reds sign 30-year lease to train in Sarasota;
Sarasota, county OK Reds ballpark pact;
Deal for new Reds spring-training facility close;
Sarasota ballpark hopes for home run;
Sarasota sends ballpark pacts to state;
Sarasota County agrees to tax increase to fund new
Reds spring facility;
County tees up for baseball hearing;
Sarasota ballpark plan stirs resistance;
Now the real hard part begins on new Reds ballpark;
For new Reds ballpark, cash crisis on deck;
Reds swing and miss;
New Reds' spring-training ballpark still $16M
short;
Price for new Reds training facility: $54 million
to $62 million;
Spring training ballpark, tourism compete for
Sarasota bed tax revenue;
Plan for a new Reds spring-training complex in
Sarasota move forward;
Details emerge on Sarasota County, city plan for
stadium, event center, ballfields;
Sarasota eyes ambitious plan to convert arena site
to keep Reds;
Reds, Pirates team up to seek better facilities
Twins to play
tonight at Metrodome
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The
Minnesota Twins will go on with a regularly
scheduled series this weekend against the
Cleveland Indians at the
Metrodome.
Twins officials were looking at moving the series
after the I-35W bridge near the
Metrodome
collapsed Wednesday, but after consulting
with local and state leaders decided to play on.
"The Minnesota Twins and all of Major League
Baseball are shocked and saddened by the tragic
events, which took place on the I-35W bridge in
Minneapolis last night," Twins president Dave St.
Peter said in a statement. "Our thoughts and
prayers are with the individuals and families who
are impacted by this horrific situation.
"Since the moments following last evening's tragedy, the
Twins organization has been in regular contact
with public safety officials," St. Peter
continued. "Those discussions led to the decision
to play last night's game and the postponement of
today's game versus the Royals. Following
additional consultation with various agencies
including the Minneapolis Police Department and
the Department of Public Safety, the Twins have
been encouraged to proceed with the series against
the Indians as scheduled."
Fans coming from the north will be inconvenienced
the most, obviously, but there are alternate
routes to downtown Minneapolis that seem to be
working well. On a personal note, thanks to all
the readers who expressed concern about our staff;
we weren't involved, but several of us pass under
that bridge daily.
Ballpark Visit: Alliance
Bank Stadium / Syracuse Chiefs
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The
biggest news at Alliance Bank Stadium, the home of
the Syracuse Chiefs (Class AAA; International
League): the current artificial turf will be
replaced by real grass. That's good news for
Syracuse baseball fans in terms of aesthetics, as
well as players who need to field on an old,
sometimes unpredictable surface. Otherwise,
Alliance Bank Stadium is a perfectly serviceable
ballpark: the Chiefs front office does things the
old-fashioned way (i.e., not much in terms of
between-innings shenanigans), but the ballpark is
a comfortable place to watch a game, and the food
is pretty good. Steve Kapsinow reports.
Worker dies
after ballpark elevator accident
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One
of two Aramark workers injured Saturday in an
elevator accident at
Citizens Bank
Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, has
died after being removed from life support,
Philadelphia police said yesterday. Police
withheld the victim's identity. The second worker,
a brother of the victim, remained in an
undisclosed hospital, police said. The accident
occurred about 9 a.m. when one of the workers
drove a four-wheeled vehicle into an elevator
shaft and plunged 30 feet before landing on the
elevator car, police said. The accident is under
investigation.
Oaks pulling
fans at 55-year high pace
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The
Visalia Oaks (High Class A; California League) are
on pace for their highest attendance figures in 55
years. Through 61 home games at Recreation Park
this season, the Oaks have drawn 72,779 fans for
an average of 1,193 per game. Oaks officials
anticipate surpassing 82,000 by season's end --
which would be the club's highest attendance since
the 1952 Visalia Cubs drew 83,399. The franchise
single-season attendance record is 104,311 set by
the 1947 Visalia Cubs. The Oaks' attendance this
season is an increase of 34 percent from last
year.
Report:
Fishers' ballpark hits taxpayers for $1.3m
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Manchester
taxpayers have already paid nearly $1.3 million
for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA;
Eastern League) downtown ballpark, despite
promises that new riverfront housing and retail
developments would cover every cent, a new report
says. The report, authored by the city's new
finance officer, Bill Sanders, says the city has
dipped into tax coffers each of the past three
years to cover shortfalls on the $27.5 million
stadium. Another shortfall of $70,000 is expected
this year. Mayor Frank Guinta was scrambling last
night to confirm the report's findings. Two former
Finance Department officials, Kevin Clougherty and
Randy Sherman, have called the data into question,
he said. The issue is the level of area
development needed to pay for the ballpark; the
Fisher Cats aren't being accused of anything.
Rosenblatt fans
try to draft Costner
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An
Omaha group lobbying to keep
Rosenblatt Stadium
is looking to add some star power to its roster:
Kevin Costner. Jason Smith, an organizer for the
Save Rosenblatt campaign, said his group has asked
Costner to appear in a commercial that would
promote keeping the College World Series at
Rosenblatt Stadium.
They hope to have an answer from Costner in about
a week, Smith said. Save Rosenblatt has collected
about 9,000 signatures from people who want to
keep the CWS at
Rosenblatt Stadium, Smith said. City leaders
and the NCAA are considering moving the tournament
to a new downtown ballpark to be shared with the
Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League).
RELATED STORIES:
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suggestions;
Royals president says two baseball facilities can
work;
Petition drive aims to save Rosenblatt;
Could Indy someday be host for CWS?;
New Omaha ballpark could feature other pastimes;
Coaches reminisce as talk turns to proposed
downtown ballpark;
Plan B: Fix up Rosenblatt;
Omaha wants at least 10-year CWS extension before
ballpark work;
Mayor: NCAA shows interest in new Omaha ballpark;
Omaha floats new ballpark for CWS, O-Royals
Take me out
with the crowd
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Attendance
at Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League) at
new
Dickey-Stephens Ballpark is at 305, 693 and
counting with 13 home dates remaining, an increase
of 83 percent from this time last season, when the
Travs had drawn 166, 755 fans in 53 dates at
Ray Winder Field.
"I think it's exceeded our expectations, you would
have to say," said Travs GM Pete Laven said. "I
mean, after having such a consistent attendance
for so many years and then relating that back to
the market, you figured we’d have an increase but
you just didn’t know exactly how much. We were
thinking we could average 4,500. That’s a nice
jump. That gives us 325,000 fans for the year, the
all-time record. But to be averaging over 5,500,
you'd have to say it's exceeded it so far."
NBC price tag
pleases counci
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Rich
Baseball is selling the National Baseball Congress
(which includes NBC's merchandise, tournament
format, participant lists and a 10-year noncompete
provision) to the city of Wichita for $1 million,
a price city officials are thrilled with. We're
not entirely sure city officials should be
thrilled with that price: given that the event
doesn't generate a lot of its own income (most
ducats are given away, and crowds have steadily
declined over the years, reportedly at 80,000 or
so in past summers), we're at a loss to see how
that's a good deal for the city. And the city had
the upper hand in negotiations with Rich Baseball,
though officials apparently didn't realize it:
without the presence of the Wichita Wranglers
(Class AA; Texas League), it would have been
extremely difficult and expensive for Rich
Baseball to run the tourney. With all the changes
in summer-collegiate baseball over the last
decade, we have to admit we're not optimistic
about the future of the NBC. Rich Baseball
officials have told us the tourney is profitable,
but it may not be with a million-dollar nut.
There was a Web
site unveiling Thursday for Wichita Thunder
Baseball...
Posted Aug. 3, 2007 (feedback)
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There
was a Web site unveiling Thursday for Wichita
Thunder Baseball, listing snappy suite package
names and ticket prices and announcing a
name-the-team contest. The only problem? The team
doesn't exist. A committee has recommended the
City Council approve the start of negotiations
with an investor's group linked to the independent
American Association, but that approval, while
expected, wouldn't happen until Tuesday, and note
that it marks the beginning of negotiations with
Horn Chen's group. The classier approach would
have been more low-key, announcing the possibility
of the deal and asking for email addresses for
future information.
RELATED STORIES:
Wichita to choose American Association bid;
Northern League, American Association to court
investors for Wichita team;
NBC deal in the works;
Wichita to court baseball leagues;
Ballpark bids under estimates;
New for 2008: The Northwest Arkansas Naturals;
Officials dig baseball;
Springdale ballpark construction budget approved;
Springdale City
Council approves ballpark design;
Springdale commission approves new ballpark;
Wranglers GM has new challenges;
City hires consultant to assist on Lawrence-Dumont
lease;
Wranglers owner says team was Wichita's third
baseball option;
Council looks at ballpark design;
Commissioners begin planning improvements around
ballpark site;
Wranglers' move big hit with Royals owner Glass;
League approval slow but expected for move of
Wranglers;
Springdale approves Wranglers lease;
Texas League executives scrutinize proposed
Springdale lease;
Springdale officials present Wranglers lease to
public;
Rich Baseball, Springdale reach agreement on move
of Wranglers;
City told only voters decide ballpark's user;
Springdale aldermen to hear United League pitch
for ballpark;
What's new in Wichita?;
Wranglers president says move is nearly official;
Wranglers agreement down to one item;
City negotiating terms with Wranglers;
Springdale awaits word on getting Wichita's team;
Wichita expects to negotiate for Wranglers;
Wranglers to move in 2008
Sale of Mezona
Inn saddens Chicago Cubs fans
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The
guest ledger at the Best Western Mezona Inn would
impress any baseball fan. In past years, its rooms
were occupied by such Chicago Cubs luminaries as
Mark Grace, Andre Dawson and Carlos Zambrano.
And while most of the big-name players own their
own Valley condos now, the non-descript, 1970s-era
property still serves as the team's minor-league
motel. The property, located just two miles from
HoHoKam Park, was
sold recently to Mesa Hotels LLC, a group of
California investors. The Dobson Ranch Inn, which
has many of the same owners and is also closely
associated with the Cubs,
is up for sale, too. The outgoing owners said
it was time to exit the business because many were
aging and some had died, with their interests now
owned by trusts. The sale is hitting many Mezona
guests -- who literally turn the motel into their
Arizona clubhouse each spring -- hard. They say it
marks the end of an era and fear the familial vibe
that makes the motel unique will be lost.
Former Red Sox
great Doerr says farewell to Fenway
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Hall
of Famer Bobby Doerr bid farewell to
Fenway Park on
Thursday. Saying he might not be up to another
cross-country trip to the ballpark where played
his entire career, the 89-year-old second baseman
was saluted before the Boston Red Sox beat
Baltimore 7-4. "Old baseball players never die, we
just fade away," Doerr said, echoing Gen. Douglas
MacArthur's speech to Congress. Dubbed by Ted
Williams the "silent captain of the Red Sox,"
Doerr said he'll never miss watching a game, even
if not in person. To help him stay in touch from
his home in Illahe, Ore., the Red Sox presented
him with a television set for the second "Bobby
Doerr Day" -- exactly 60 years after the first.
Hawaii Winter
Baseball won't play at Murakami Stadium
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Hawaii
Winter Baseball announced that it will play all of
its 2007 schedule at Hans L'Orange Park in
Waipahu, save for 12 games on Neighbor Islands,
because of the apparent unavailability of Les
Murakami Stadium during the fall. The offseason
developmental league that features U.S. minor
leaguers and up-and-coming players in Japan's pro
league was revived last year after running from
1993 to 1997. Murakami Stadium had been always
used in previous seasons. The league cited in a
press release that it would not be able to use
Murakami because of "stadium renovations likely to
take place" in the fall. The UH stadium is
scheduled to have its turf replaced before the
start of the 2008 season.
Baseball Notes
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The
front office of the Trenton Thunder (Class
AA; Eastern League) announced they defeated the
front office of the Reading Phillies (Class
AA; Eastern League) by a 10-4 final score in the
annual Trenton/Reading softball game at First
Energy Stadium on Monday afternoon. The
Thunder jumped out early in the contest and never
looked back. Trenton plated four runs in the top
of the first inning off of Reading’s crafty
veteran groundskeeper Dan "Dirt" Douglas
(0-1). Trenton Assistant General Manager Greg
Coleman drove in five runs, and Stadium
Operations Director Ryan Crammer had four
hits to pace the Thunder front office. Director of
Food and Beverages Kevin O’Byrne (1-0)
pitched out of late trouble to secure the victory.
The victory for the Thunder front office was its
fourth straight since the inception of the yearly
contest in 2004. The Thunder front office clearly
took its cues from their players, which has led
the Northern Division of the Eastern League since
early April. The Thunder continued its mastery
over Reading this season with their players on the
field and in the front office. Trenton has won six
of 10 meetings against Reading this season.
Trenton will look to run its win streak over
Reading to five straight in the annual softball
game during the 2008 season....The Goldklang
Group announced the activation of a 2008
ballpark campaign designed to spotlight the
tremendous dedication of Professional Baseball
Scouts and recognize them for their invaluable
contributions to the game of baseball. They have
created a Scouts Hall of Fame (SHOF)
campaign across all of the teams associated with
the Group; Charleston RiverDogs (Low Class
A; Sally League), Hudson Valley Renegades
(short season; NY-Penn League), Fort Myers
Miracle (High Class A; Florida State League),
St. Paul Saints (independent; American
Association), Brockton Rox (independent;
Can-Am Association) and Sioux Falls Canaries
(independent; American Association). There
will be a ceremony and established dedication area
at each ballpark honoring deserving scouts each
year throughout the league schedule.
Nats ballpark
to have extensive seating for wheelchairs
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The
new $611-million ballpark for the
Washington Nationals will have wheelchair seating
in nearly every section and will fully comply with
the Americans With Disabilities Act, team
President Stan Kasten said yesterday. Kasten said
the seating will be in place by the time the
41,000-seat ballpark opens in Southeast Washington
in the spring. He made the announcement at a news
conference attended by disabled people and
officials from the Justice Department and
Paralyzed Veterans of America, a nonprofit group
that advocates for veterans with spinal cord
injuries.
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Ballpark brings hope but no guarantee;
Nationals
ballpark 'on time, on budget' for 2008 opening;
Future
distinctly on rise for Nationals;
District not over park cap;
New Nats ballpark to feature cherry blossoms
beyond left-field fence;
As ballpark rises, battles over land continue;
For Nats' home, a rapid ascent;
Nats ballpark cost tops cap, council members say;
Nats owners to pay $20 million for ballpark
upgrades;
With new Nats ballpark, name of the game is money;
D.C. Council approves ballpark parking garages;
The D.C. ballpark parking debate;
Severe penalties await city if parking garages
aren't provided, Gandhi warns;
Ballpark garages proposal rejected;
Fenty promotes aboveground parking to end fight
over new Nats ballpark;
New Nats ballpark construction on schedule for
2008 opening;
Cropp pushes for decision on parking at DC
ballpark;
Mayor proposes lifting cap for DC ballpark parking;
DC ballpark to be first LEED-certified ballpark in
country;
Legislation would revive condo and garage
development at new DC ballpark;
New focus at D.C. ballpark: parking;
D.C. parking issue threatens budget;
Development plan near new Nats ballpark falls flat;
Garage plan at new D.C. ballpark at risk
Metro halts
funds to Sounds
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Nashville
Metro government has withheld $250,000 in
maintenance funds from the Nashville Sounds (Class
AAA; Pacific Coast League), a move that the team's
general manager says is "mean-spirited" and might
force the team to move home games to road games,
preventing the team from playing out the
season at
Greer Stadium.
Glenn Yaeger said Metro lawyers notified him
Tuesday that they were withholding the funds. The
annual payment was part of a new lease agreement
from 2002 designed to help offset the team's costs
at the aging ballpark. Metro Finance Director
David Manning said the city was simply protecting
its interests under the lease. The Sounds pay the
city rent based on how much money the team
generates. And the latest financial documents the
team submitted show that the Sounds may owe the
city rent, he said.
RELATED STORIES:
Could Sounds leave Nashville?;
Sounds GM Yaeger criticizes Struever Bros. as
"wrong partner";
Struever,
Sounds now have until 4 p.m. tomorrow to seal ballpark deal;
Struever, Sounds
now have until 4 p.m. tomorrow to seal ballpark deal;
Struever would build Sounds ballpark;
Sounds, Struever keep swinging for a ballpark solution;
Nashville ballpark plan may be losing its luster;
Metro concerned about progress of Nashville
ballpark deal;
Sounds must make
decisions regarding downtown ballpark;
Struever says Sounds ballpark will be built;
Amid ballpark questions, plan for two hotels
unveiled;
Sounds delay ballpark opening until 2009;
Ballpark financing lag worries Sounds;
Sounds fail to file lease legislation;
Council approves lease extension for Nashville
ballpark development;
Sounds unveil ballpark plans;
Metro agrees to deadline extension on Sounds
project;
Sounds' project
team huddles to nail down a deal;
Sounds get jump-start on ticket sales for new
ballpark;
Sounds ballpark developer needs to score soon;
Ballpark financing not set as deadline approaches;
Struever mulling ballpark-area changes in
Nashville;
Sounds unveil ballpark plans;
PCL president applauds Nashville ballpark deal;
Yaeger calls stadium plan flexible and
fan-friendly;
Sounds settle on 2008 opening date for new
ballpark;
Ballpark opening date up in air, Sounds say;
Nashville Metro Council approves new Sounds
ballpark;
Company says Sounds deal sets stage for Frank
project;
Sounds send commitment letter to Council;
Caucus continues pressure for minorities' role in
stadium;
Nashville Council Black Caucus wants more minority
work on ballpark;
Sounds are rounding third;
Sounds remain at bargaining table;
Nashville Sounds one vote away from new ballpark;
Council should give Nashville ballpark their
support;
Sounds woo minority business owners for ballpark
project;
Sounds ballpark vote delayed;
Museum, dining wanted at new Sounds ballpark;
Sounds move ahead with ballpark design;
Sounds weak;
Sounds ballpark proposal passes first test on
Council;
Opposition to Nashville ballpark gears up on
council;
Many good questions raised over Sounds deal;
Chamber of Commerce backs Sounds ballpark plan;
Downtown merchants rally for Sounds;
Board seeks information on Sounds ballpark deal;
Neighbors of Nashville ballpark expect project to
spark development;
Sounds, Nashville sign agreement for new ballpark;
Sides close on Sounds ballpark plan;
Sounds ballpark plan nearly triples in size;
New Sounds ballpark proposal in doubt;
Nashville ballpark bill may have to wait until
fall;
Sounds deal stalls, but still in play;
City bobbling save on Sounds’ perfect plan;
Sounds ballpark negotiations slow;
Will ballpark make SoBro soar?;
Sounds swing deal to get new ballpark;
Sounds win city approval for new ballpark
In memoriam: Butch Fisher
Posted Aug. 2, 2007 (feedback)
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The
young umpire was having trouble focusing on
pitches on this hot night in some town in the
original South Coast League. There had already
been a few discussions about balls and strikes and
things seemed to be getting a bit tense. Here came
another pitch. The ump yelled, "Ball." The pitcher
glared in again. The catcher got out of his
stance, stepped out and fired the ball back to the
mound as hard as he could. "Throw a [bleeping]
strike," he growled at the pitcher. As he went
behind the plate again, the catcher added this
codicil that only the young ump could hear.
"That's the last time I am saving your butt
tonight," he said. "You need to get better in a
hurry." Butch Fisher, the umpire in question here,
got a lot better. When he passed away Wednesday in
St. Paul after a battle with cancer at age 69, he
left behind a legacy of 37 sterling years working
in baseball as an umpire and a supervisor. Dave
Wright remembers Butch Fisher.
YES Network on
the block; Yankees to follow?
Posted Aug. 2, 2007 (feedback)
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Fortune
Magazine is reporting that he New York Yankees'
cable network, the YES Network, is for sale. And
some baseball insiders and Yankees limited
partners are wondering whether the team itself
might be next. The highest-rated regional sports
network in the country and the cable home of the
Yankees and the NBA New Jersey Nets, YES is
jointly owned by the Yankees, investment bank
Goldman Sachs & Co. (Charts, Fortune 500) , and
former Nets owner Ray Chambers. Goldman and
Chambers would like to cash out, YES and Yankees
insiders say, and one source says to expect a deal
by summer's end. Some possible bidders:
Cablevision, Comcast, News Corp./Fox and Verizon.
If it's true and if rumors about George
Steinbrenner's failing health are true (he was
conspicuous by his absence at the trade deadline),
then you could see a situation where the Yankees
are in play -- but we're guessing it won't come
until the
new Yankee Stadium opens in 2009. This
article was submitted by a reader. To submit an
item for potential posting on Ballpark Digest,
drop us a note.
County breaks
ground on downtown ballpark
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Huntington
Park, the future home of the Columbus Clippers
(Class AAA; International League), is several
hundred shovelfuls of dirt closer to getting built
this morning. Franklin County's Politicians this
morning gave the usual proud speeches at a
groundbreaking. Then they invited fans, who'd come
to the Arena District to watch a bit of history
and help dig, undeterred by the 90-degree weather.
Huntington
Park, slated to open for the 2009 baseball
season, will sit along Nationwide Boulevard at
Neil Avenue and almost directly across from
Nationwide Arena. The 8-acre ballpark will replace
Cooper Stadium,
rebuilt for the team in 1977.
Lack of
attendance costing Cracker-Cats some of their nine
lives
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Northern
League Commissioner Clark Griffith was on hand at
Telus Field, the home of the Edmonton
Cracker-Cats, last night to discuss business with
owner Dan Orlich amidst reports Orlich is thinking
about throwing in the towel on his team, which has
struggled to attract fans and generate revenue.
Griffith says the team will be around for years to
come, but let's face it: the current
configuration of the Northern League pleases no
one, and with both Edmonton and Calgary struggling
(neither team is averaging more than 2,200 fans a
game), a contraction or realignment makes business
sense. Losing out on Wichita won't help the
league's struggle any, either.
Charlotte
ballpark renovations discussed
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A
meeting Wednesday discussed the $27.2 million in
renovations planned for Charlotte Sports Park to
make it the new spring home of the Tampa Bay Devil
Rays. Facilities director Andrew Baker detailed
the improvements planned for the ballpark. They
include new, individual seats with chair backs, a
press box, luxury suites, a general admission area
and a 40,000-square-foot clubhouse. The new
stadium will hold 6,927 fans -- 5,188 in fixed
seats and 1,739 in general admission. Construction
is expected to be completed in January 2009.
Rat-a-kaplooey!
City tries to ensure ballpark work won't scatter
rodents
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Workers
in Winston-Salem are taking a preemptive strike
against rats in the city's sewer system by
attempting to poison them and then flush them out.
Apparently the lot planned as the future home of
the Winston-Salem Warthogs (High Class A; Carolina
League) is thick with rats, and the goal is to
kill them before ballpark construction starts and
forces the vermin into surrounding neighborhoods.
Cub fans aim to
buy team
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As
if. Chicago-based organization led by passionate
baseball fans announced Wednesday that it has
requested the application materials necessary to
begin the process of a fan purchase of the Chicago
Cubs. The group, 4 Fans Sake, is advocating a
community-based ownership model similar to the one
that the NFL's Green Bay Packers has thrived under
since the 1920s. Under the community-based
ownership model, Cubs fans would have a voice in
the way the team is operated. The fans would fund
the purchase of the team through a stock offering,
and would acquire voting rights in the selection
and control of the team's governing board of
directors.
RELATED STORIES:
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owners don't want Cuban, Colangelo;
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Roster of Cubs bidders expands
BoSox won't
commit to '08 Japan trip
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While
Players Association lawyer Gene Orza told the
Associated Press last night that the Red Sox were
a "logical choice" to open next season in Tokyo
because of Daisuke Matsuzaka, it still appears
unlikely they will be one of two teams playing in
the Tokyo Dome. No decisions have been made, but
while the Sox' marketing arm has some interest in
playing in Japan, the baseball operations side --
and owner John W. Henry -- still have serious
reservations about making the journey, citing
concerns about player fatigue and other potential
disruptions. Spokesman John Blake said the club is
still waiting to see a draft of the 2008 schedule
before any decisions are made. Oakland's front
office has expressed the most willingness to make
the journey; it's now more likely another West
Coast team would be involved.
Twins postpone groundbreaking,
game in wake of bridge disaster
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The
Minnesota Twins are postponing the groundbreaking for
their new
downtown Minneapolis ballpark originally
scheduled for today, as well as the team's
noon matinee at the Metrodome
against the Kansas City Royals. The I-35W bridge
over the Mississippi River collapsed around 6:05
p.m. last night -- the height of rush hour -- closing
a main artery to the Metrodome and downtown
Minneapolis. At this point there are four reported fatalities (though it's
pretty certain more will be reported as there are
20 people missing), and undoubtedly some of the people injured
(79 total, according to state officials) were
on their way to the Twins game last night. The Twins
decided against canceling last night's game, with
officials saying they would have made the problem
worse by sending the 20,000 or so fans at the game
back into traffic.
Crystal Lake
bats around ballpark
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Crystal
Lake (Ill.) Planning and Zoning commissioners
tabled late Wednesday night a decision on whether
they would support a McHenry County College
proposal to build a minor league ballpark for an
independent Frontier League team (among other
things) on land in the Crystal Lake watershed.
Testimony on the proposal lasted more then four
hours and frequently pitted residents’ passions
against scientific findings. The public hearing
was the first chance for area residents to
publicly make known their opinions on the project.
Normally folks object to a ballpark because of
traffic and noise concerns, but the issue here is
the effect the development would have on the
Crystal Lake watershed.
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Frontier League gets OK;
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Plans for minor league team 'moving in right
direction'
Ballpark Notes
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The
Gateway Grizzlies (independent; Frontier
League) welcomed their one-millionth fan to
GCS Ballpark
Wednesday evening. Kristina Lynn from Highland, IL
was greeted with confetti, balloons, and doves as
she walked through the gates. "I’m excited and
overjoyed," said Lynn. "Never in a million years
would I have expected to be the millionth fan."
With Wednesday evening’s crowd of 5,448, the
Grizzlies have drawn 1,004,388 fans for their
history. That total includes the previous five
seasons at
GCS
Ballpark as well as the inaugural season at
Sauget Field....The Tulsa Drillers (Class
AA; Texas League) will induct owner Went
Hubbard and pitcher Kenny Rogers into
the Drillers/Crown Bristow Wall of Fame during
pre-game ceremonies Friday night. The special
ceremonies will begin at 6:45 p.m. and will
precede the Drillers game with Springfield.
Hubbard purchased the Drillers franchise from the
Texas Rangers in December 1986. He was responsible
for the expansion and the numerous renovations to
Drillers Stadium. He helped to transform the
stadium from a 8,000 seat all-purpose stadium with
an artificial surface playing field into a
two-tier baseball-only facility with a grass
field....StubHub announced a five-year deal
Wednesday night making it the official source of
secondary tickets for Major League Baseball.
The agreement puts StubHub in charge of secondary
ticket sales at MLB.com and for individual team
sites. Financial terms were not disclosed.
This week's podcast:
History, irrationality and high drama in Wichita
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Kevin
Reichard and Dave Wright discuss the hot topics in
the baseball and ballpark worlds in the weekly
Ballpark Digest podcast. This week's topics:
the nine lives of Tiger Stadium; the irrational
competition between the Yankees and the Mets when
it comes to ballparks; attendance rises on the MLB
level; visit to Joannes Stadium; and the drama
behind the competition for Wichita. To directly
subscribe to the feed using Firefox or Internet
Explorer,
go to this page and click on the "Subscribe Now"
button. You
can listen directly to the podcast
via this link
(it's a standard MP3 file), or
you can subscribe
via iTunes, Feedburner or your personalized Google
home
page. (We're finding out from the stats that
subscribing via Google is proving to be a very
popular option.)
Comments are welcome.
Yankees, MLB
unveil 2008 All-Star logo
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Major
League Baseball, the New York Yankees and the City
of New York unveiled the official logo of the 79th
Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which will be
played on Tuesday, July 15, 2008, during the final
season at
Yankee Stadium. The official logo of the 2008
All-Star Game is traditional and simple in nature,
symbolic of the Yankee franchise, and incorporates
the club's signature pinstripes and the
architectural element of the famed Yankee Stadium
façade. The colors of the 2008 Midsummer Classic
will reflect the club's navy and white. In
addition, Walter Iooss, Jr. has been named the
official artist of the 2008 All-Star Game. The New
York-based Iooss will capture the essence of
All-Star Summer in New York City and at Yankee
Stadium through his pictorial essays. Iooss, whose
shots have appeared on the cover of Sports
Illustrated more than 300 times, has covered
baseball for decades, including the 61st home run
hit by Roger Maris in 1961.
Ballpark Visit: Joannes
Stadium / Green Bay Bullfrogs
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Mark
Twain once remarked, "Clothes make the man." While
this statement is often true when it comes to
ballparks, such is not the case at Joannes
Stadium. Through no fault of their own, the Green
Bay Bullfrogs' home field has little outside
beauty connected to it. There are no trees
swirling behind an outfield fence. There is no
pictorial skyline to ponder. Finding beauty here
requires one to look deeply.
Jeff Royle, the man who brought baseball back to
Green Bay this summer in the form of a Northwoods
League team after a long absence, seems to
understand all this. He couldn't do much to the
outside façade of the ballpark. So, he and his
staff went to work on the inner sanctum, spending
$250,000 for a series of necessary items. The
result is a pleasant place to watch a game where
fans can get close to the action. Dave Wright
reports.
Midwest
commish: Consider realigning Low Class A
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Low
Class A Midwest League Commissioner George Spelius
said the problems of the low-Class A South
Atlantic League --which is spread from south
Georgia to New Jersey -- is having with travel are
not something the Midwest League should
also have to endure. Instead of breaking the Sally
League into two leagues as some in MiLB have
proposed, Spelius said his ideal solution would be
for either one or both the Lake County Captains or
the Lexington Legends be absorbed into the Midwest
League. That would help balance the Midwest League
into truer East/West divisions. In the long run,
those additions would limit travel in the league
as teams would play more games in their own
division. There's a lot of buzz these days about
other realignments as well, but talk like this
pops up annually -- and it's bound to always be an
issue when you have the Pacific Coast League
stretching from Tacoma to Nashville.
Attendance through July: see
how your team is doing
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Minor League Baseball is in the
midst of one of its best seasons ever, and
yesterday teams closed the books on July figures.
We've compiled a list of attendance by team for
the year to date and
arranged it by average. Some teams have seen sharp rises, including the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
Yankees (Class AAA; International League), the
Staten Island Yankees (short season; NY-Penn
League) and the Idaho
Falls Chukars (rookie; Pioneer League).
Madison to
erect statue in honor of millionth fan
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Lots
of teams are marking milestones in attendance this
season, but the Madison Mallards (summer
collegiate; Northwoods League) may have the
ultimate honor for their millionth fan (who should
pass through the
Warner Park turnstiles early next week): the
team will erect a statue in the likeness of the
lucky fan and unveil it at the start of the 2008
season. We see a lot of attendance promotions
showering lucky fans with gifts (and massaging
sponsors), but this is the first we've seen that
actually honors the fan. In other attendance news,
the Harrisburg Senators (Class AA; Eastern League)
topped the five-million-fan mark Tuesday night at
Commerce Bank Park. All fans in attendance at the
game were eligible to win a major prize package.
George Young of Middletown was selected at the end
of the game as the five millionth fan and he won a
$2,250 prize package, which included 2008 box
season tickets with parking. Also, the Tennessee
Smokies (Class AA; Southern League) announced that
Smokies Park will welcome the 2,000,000th fan
through the turnstiles for baseball games. With
this season’s current attendance, the Smokies are
just 2,755 fans away from eclipsing this
historical milestone. The Smokies are currently
averaging 3,992 fans per game in 2007. In other
attendance news, the Jacksonville Suns (Class AA;
Southern League) have surpassed the 300,000 mark
in attendance this season, marking the fifth
consecutive year the team has reached that mark.
Through 54 openings this season, the Suns have
drawn 311,079 fans to the
Baseball Grounds,
averaging 5,761 per game. That puts the Suns at
the top of the Southern League and are on pace to
lead the circuit in attendance. The Suns'
attendance numbers have been the best in the
Southern League since the
Baseball Grounds
opened in 2003.
Where are they
now: Max Soriano
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Max
Soriano never lost his love for baseball. A big
league team slipped away from him once, but his
affection for a game that made him both Seattle
hero and villain hasn't wavered. The dapper
Soriano and his deceased older brother Dewey were
majority owners of the Mariners predecessors, the
Seattle Pilots -- lauded for bringing the 1969
expansion franchise to the city and hung in effigy
when they declared bankruptcy after one season and
sold everything to Milwaukee.
New pitch
likely for ballpark
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The
days could be numbered for Vacaville's Travis
Credit Union Park, but a small group that includes
a local assistant principal is not giving up just
yet. Ed Santopadre, Vacaville High School
assistant principal and former head football
coach, said a group is taking shape and discussing
what could be done to save the embattled facility,
which was once home to the Solano Thunderbirds
(summer collegiate; CCCL) and the venue for a host
of community events. Apparently the idea from the
independent Golden Baseball League to dismantle
and move the ballpark didn't gain much traction.
In memoriam:
Larry Shank
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Larry
Shank, 56, the public address announcer at Baum
Stadium for the University of Arkansas baseball
team, died Saturday morning of cancer at his home
in Springdale. Shank not only announced but sang
and entertained between innings. Recalling Shank's
renditions at Baum Stadium of the national anthem
and seventh-inning sing-a-longs of "Take Me Out To
The Ballgame" and between innings announcements
and patter.
More from NWATimes.
Tech group asks
government to order MLB, others to revise
copyright warnings
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A
trade group that includes Google, Microsoft and
other high-tech companies asked federal regulators
to order changes in copyright warnings. Copyright
statements that appear at the start of most DVDs
and pro sports events and movies broadcast on TV
go too far and discourage legal use of the
content, the Computer and Communications Industry
Association said in a statement. The complaint
filed with the Federal Trade Commission protests
statements used by Major League Baseball, among
others. The complaint asks the FTC to order the
companies to stop using current copyright language
and launch a marketing campaign to inform
consumers of their rights under fair use laws.
Wichita to choose American
Association bid
Posted July 31, 2007 (feedback)
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A
six-member committee will recommend that the
Wichita City Council negotiate to put an
independent American Association franchise in
Lawrence-Dumont Stadium for the 2008 season, two
city council members said Monday. Council members
Paul Gray and Jeff Longwell, both of whom serve on
the committee, said the ownership group of Horn
Chen, the owner of the Wichita Thunder hockey
team, and four local investors had the best
proposal of three submitted. The committee will
make its recommendation to the council on Aug. 7,
but the council will receive the information on
Thursday so it has time to review it. Gray and
Longwell expect that decision to lead to final
negotiations with the American Association's
ownership group. Gray said the choice quickly
became obvious, which is why the committee decided
sooner than expected. The city had requested any
team bidding would also run the National Baseball
Congress. It's a key win for the American
Association and a big loss for the Northern
League, which saw Wichita as a key component in
league expansion. For the American Association,
landing Wichita means the league will have a key
bridge between the northern and southern teams,
especially if they can add a team in Topeka.
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Springdale ballpark construction budget approved;
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Council approves ballpark design;
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Springdale aldermen to hear United League pitch
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Wichita expects to negotiate for Wranglers;
Wranglers to move in 2008
Harwell: I can save Tiger
Stadium
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Legendary
sportscaster Ernie Harwell met Monday with Detroit
Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and unveiled a
redevelopment plan that he believes can save Tiger
Stadium from the wrecking ball. Harwell and his
longtime friend and attorney, S. Gary Spicer, told
the mayor that within a 24-hour period they
received commitments they believe will total
$300,000 -- enough to pay the ballpark's $25,000
monthly maintenance bill for one year. Spicer said
he and Harwell plan to meet with Wall Street
financiers over the next 10 days in an attempt to
cobble together the $15 million to $20 million
they think their plan will cost. It includes
preserving 10,000 seats for a ballpark, lofts,
stores and music and sports museums. Meanwhile,
city officials said they still are moving forward
to raze Tiger Stadium, as the council decided
Friday. But if the Harwell team, or any other
developer, comes up with the money to carry out a
redevelopment plan, the city can delay the
demolition, they said. A new Navin Field would be
a great place for high-school and college games,
perhaps minor-league baseball or even a
summer-collegiate team.
Some locals want to see the ballpark saved.
Tiger
Stadium is a prominent member of our Endangered
Ballparks listings.
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Is it the final out for Tiger Stadium?
Minor-league baseball long
way from Hollywood
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Why,
yes it is, especially when you're talking about a
Brooklyn Cyclones (short season; NY-Penn League)
game at KeySpan
Park. Behind the glitzy ballparks and the fan
promotions are players who work for little money
(a maximum of $1,100 a month, plus $20 per diem
meal money) and front-office staffs who aren't
paid much better. Short-season ball is a good test
of these young ballplayers; while those from the
summer-collegiate leagues are used to the grind of
daily play, those out of college or high school
may not be used to the schedule. Still, there are
a lot of people in baseball who are in it for the
love of the game.
Gibson gets lost in the
chase
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Yesterday
we demoaned the fact Barry Bonds' pursuit of the
career home-run crown overshadowed the induction
of Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken Jr. in the National
Baseball Hall of Fame. Bonds has also overshadowed
one of the all-time greats: Josh Gibson. We'll
never know how many career home runs came from
Gibson's bat: record-keeping in the Negro Leagues
was spotty at best. Many -- including Bonds --
believe Gibson has a claim on the single-season
home-run record with 84, and . Now, home-run
distances and fishing accomplishments tend to
expand over time, so .
Basic training
Posted July 31, 2007 (feedback)
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We
have to admit to a certain level of amusement when
fans write in and tell us they're attending a Gulf
Coast League game and ask for advice on where to
sit and what to do. GCL games are for the players,
not the fans: they're played during the day at a
spring-training complex field with few amenities
(the only shade is reserved for the players, and
if there's seating, it's a small set of
bleachers). The games start at noon, and unless
you know your GCL rosters inside and out, there's
no chance to know who's at bat and who's pitching.
It doesn't sound the players are thrilled with the
setup, either, so there's a tremendous incentive
to do well and move up to the next level of ball,
probably with a short-season team.
Here's a look at how Peoria Sports Complex is used
year-round, including some rookie ball.
Selig at Dodger
Stadium to direct security
Posted July 31, 2007 (feedback)
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Baseball
Commissioner Bud Selig will be in attendance today
when Barry Bonds and San Francisco begin a
three-game series at
Dodger Stadium.
Bonds, who probably won't be in the lineup today,
is one home run away from matching Hank Aaron's
all-time record of 755. The league might have been
distancing itself from Bonds, but officials are
taking steps to reduce the negative environment if
the 43-year-old slugger ties or breaks Aaron's
record on the road. On the Giants' last road trip
to Chicago and Milwaukee, league officials
directed ballpark security to confiscate signs
with references to steroid use or cheating.
Dodgers surpass
3.5-million mark in ticket sales for 2007 season
Posted July 31, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they have
surpassed the 3.5-million mark in ticket sales for
the 2007 season and by doing so, the club beat
last year's record, which was the fastest they
have hit that mark since 1992. The Dodgers are the
only Southern California team to have reached 3.5
million fans in a single season. This will mark
the third consecutive season in which the Dodgers
will draw 3.5 million fans to
Dodger Stadium
and the fifth time overall. During the 2006
season, the Dodgers attracted 3,758,545 fans, the
highest total in the National League and their
largest single-season total ever, surpassing the
previous record set in 1982, when they drew
3,608,881 patrons. The Dodgers were one of only
two teams last season to draw more than 3.5
million fans during the course of the season,
trailing only the Yankees.
Baseball done right at Texas
League park
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Here's
a look at Dr Pepper Ballpark, home of the Frisco
Roughriders (Class AA; Texas League). It's a
modern ballpark, complete with fan-friendly
amenities like a swimming pool, picnic areas and
the usual minor-league promotions.
In memoriam: Bill Robinson
Posted July 31, 2007 (feedback)
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Bill
Robinson, the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league
hitting coordinator, died Sunday while visiting
the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast
League). He was 64. "What a great man he was, a
friend to everybody in baseball," said Great Lakes
Loons (Low Class A; Midwest League) manager Lance
Parrish. "I can't tell you how much he meant to
the guys in this organization. It's very sad, very
devastating news."
Q&A with Ed Nottle
Posted July 31, 2007 (feedback)
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So
there we were at spring training, watching a
minor-league game at a playing field in the Hi
Corbett complex in Tucson, when we overhead a
conversation from an adjoining field where some
Rockies prospects were taking batting practice.
The subject: Singing Ed Nottle. Now,
ballplayers will chat about the oddest things, but
we figured that if Ed Nottle was notorious enough
to be the subject of chatter on a spring-training
diamond his fame must surely have spread
throughout the world of baseball. So here's an
interview with the legendary Nottle, now the
skipper of the Sioux City Explorers (independent;
American Association). We especially love when Ed
Nottle talked about Ed Nottle in the third person.
New use sought for Municipal
Stadium
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ilf
the Salinas City Council approves replacing
Municipal Stadium at the Salinas Sports Complex
with a new community football and soccer field
could debut in time for the 2009 school year.
Three weeks ago, the complex went before a city
subcommittee with a $4 million proposal to replace
the stadium with a field that doubles as a soccer
and football field. The city built the existing
stadium in 1949. Despite several renovations over
the years, conditions at the facility slowly
deteriorated, and 10 years ago the wooden
grandstands were torn down, he said. The last
baseball team to use the facilities, the Salinas
Packers (summer collegiate; California Collegiate
League), went out of business this summer.
Metro, District and
Nationals talking possible 'ballpark fare'
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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Concern
about game-night gridlock on the roads surrounding
the new Washington Nationals ballpark is leading
D.C., transit and team leaders to consider a
special "ballpark fare" for those fans who ride
Metro to the ballpark. The average weeknight game
at the 41,000-seat South Capitol Street ballpark,
slated to open in April 2008, is projected to draw
roughly 27,000 fans. Of those, 49 percent would
arrive by transit, 40 percent by car and 8.5
percent on a bicycle or by foot. Neither side
would release details of talks between Metro and
the Nationals -- including what entity or
government would absorb the cost. Some see the new
ballpark as the salvation of the neighborhood,
but it may be tough for some to survive until the
2008 opening.
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Signing off on the last beam;
Top price for ducats at new Nats ballpark: $400;
Nationals' transition extends off field;
National crisis: Capital franchise in turmoil;
Ballpark brings hope but no guarantee;
Nationals
ballpark 'on time, on budget' for 2008 opening;
Future
distinctly on rise for Nationals;
District not over park cap;
New Nats ballpark to feature cherry blossoms
beyond left-field fence;
As ballpark rises, battles over land continue;
For Nats' home, a rapid ascent;
Nats ballpark cost tops cap, council members say;
Nats owners to pay $20 million for ballpark
upgrades;
With new Nats ballpark, name of the game is money;
D.C. Council approves ballpark parking garages;
The D.C. ballpark parking debate;
Severe penalties await city if parking garages
aren't provided, Gandhi warns;
Ballpark garages proposal rejected;
Fenty promotes aboveground parking to end fight
over new Nats ballpark;
New Nats ballpark construction on schedule for
2008 opening;
Cropp pushes for decision on parking at DC
ballpark;
Mayor proposes lifting cap for DC ballpark parking;
DC ballpark to be first LEED-certified ballpark in
country;
Legislation would revive condo and garage
development at new DC ballpark;
New focus at D.C. ballpark: parking;
D.C. parking issue threatens budget;
Development plan near new Nats ballpark falls flat;
Garage plan at new D.C. ballpark at risk
Today's video:
Let Ballpark Digest be your guide!
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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Allow
us a little self-indulgence here as we unveil our
own commercial, which makes its first broadcast
appearance later this week on ESPNU. The script is
from Plan B. Branding, and it was shot at historic
Franklin Rogers Park,
home of the Mankato MoonDogs (summer collegiate;
Northwoods League). Keep the videos coming in:
We've been really
pleased with the response to our call for videos:
we've already heard from several teams and
vendors, so we'll continue bringing them to you.
If you want to share your videos with the baseball
community, drop us a line at
editors@augustpublications.com. UPDATED:
We've been asked by a few teams whether we're
making this available for in-ballpark use. We are.
Just drop us a note at
editors@augustpublications.com.
Ballpark bliss, while it
lasts
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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When
it's inevitable a team is moving, we normally
receive a slew of emails bemoaning the move. We
haven't received a single note from the Tuscon
Sidewinders (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) fans
complaining about the team's future move to Reno.
Perhaps that's the problem: the team never really
cultivated enough of a passionate following to
warrant a PCL team. Maybe it's the ballpark --
Tucson Electric Park
isn't the most inviting of venues for locals and
is more suitable as a spring-training facility --
and maybe it's the nature of the Tucson market.
(We'd be interested to see how a team would fare
at Hi Corbett Park, which is more centrally
located.) Here's a look at some Sidewinders fans
bemoaning the fate of their team. Speaking of
Reno:
SK Baseball postponed an Aug. 1 review before the
Reno City Planning Commission of its site
plans for a minor league stadium but will unveil
the plans for the downtown Freight House or the
Grand Sierra Resort sites on Aug. 15. HOK Sport is
designing the facility.
RELATED STORIES:
PCL approves Sidewinders sale; Reno gets site;
Reno officials want 8-acre site near Evans Avenue
for ballpark;
Reno City Council to consider plan to build new
ballpark;
It's all over but the blaming;
Sidewinders sold; expected to be in Reno in '09;
Announcement on Reno's Triple-A team delayed;
Washoe County approves PCL ballpark;
Reno is closer to Triple-A baseball;
Guinn OKs bonds for marina;
State tourism panel aids Sparks marina project;
Sparks Council OKs proposal for 92 acres of marina
project;
Officials still hold hope for Triple-A franchise
in Reno;
Sparks still in hunt for Triple-A team
The Cubs' billion-dollar
question
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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We
received some mocking email months ago when we
suggested the bidding for the Chicago Cubs,
Wrigley Field and
a chunk of local cable sports network Comcast
SportsNet would easily reach a billion dollars.
Turns out others have come around to our thinking:
"I think $1 billion is the starting point," said
sports industry consultant Marc Ganis, president
of Chicago-based Sportscorp Ltd. Valuation of
sports franchises rarely make economic sense when
it comes to traditional metrics, and the
intangibles in this deal -- the Cubbies and
Wrigley Field are
among baseball's crown jewels -- bump up the
price. (In fact, we don't think the Cubs have come
close to fully monetizing
Wrigley Field.)
It should be an interesting process. With Tribune
Co. selling the assets, the ability of MLB to
absolutely appoint
a new owner may be limited: yes, they will need to
sign off on the owner, but they can't make the
Tribune Co. take less than what the high bidder
offered.
RELATED STORIES:
Cubs draw more than a dozen 'credible' bidders;
Stodgy baseball
owners don't want Cuban, Colangelo;
Cuban applies to buy Cubs;
Roster of Cubs bidders expands
The Ballpark will stand
forever in our memories
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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Jerry
Green, a retired columnist
for the Detroit News, shares his favorite Tiger
Stadium memories. He saw a lot of sporting events
at the Corner: in addition to being the home of
the Tigers, the stadium also housed the NFL's
Detroit Tigers for many years. It's still not
clear what will happen to the ballpark: while the
City Council did authorize demolition of Tiger
Stadium, it didn't transfer ownership from the
city and presumably will monitor any redevelopment
proposals. Currently the playing field and a part
of the grandstand are slated to be left intact,
though that may make the land parcel far less
desirable for a big developer.
Tiger
Stadium is a prominent member of our Endangered
Ballparks listings.
RELATED STORIES:
Tiger Stadium to be torn down;
Tiger Stadium demolition plan close to vote;
Wreck the old park; praise the new one;
Detroit City Council delays action on Tiger
Stadium demolition;
City: Revisit Tiger Stadium plans;
Today's video: The final days of Tiger Stadium;
Tiger Stadium plan hits a snag;
Tiger Stadium's fate divisive;
Tiger Stadium: Up for auction?;
Tiger Stadium outta here by '08;
Time running out for Tiger Stadium;
Dave Wright: Time to let Tiger Stadium go;
Razing memories of 95-year-old Tiger
Stadium before demolition work begins;
Final farewell planned for Tiger Stadium;
Old house is hard to forget;
Once a baseball cathedral, Tiger Stadium now sits
in disrepair;
Memories of Tiger Stadium;
Tiger Stadium demolition delayed;
Progress is in the ballpark;
Developers didn't stand a chance with Tiger
Stadium;
Artifacts from Tiger Stadium to be auctioned off
under city plan;
Tiger Stadium to be razed: condos, retail to be
built on historic site;
Detroit should sell Tiger Stadium as is;
Historical marker at Tiger Stadium stolen;
Tiger Stadium would make fine vacation destination;
8 innings of words get us no closer to a Tiger
Stadium fix;
Documentary makes case for saving Tiger Stadium;
Plenty of options for Tiger Stadium;
Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick wants Tiger Stadium razed;
Hope fades for Tiger Stadium;
Detroit ignores calls to save Tiger Stadium;
Save Tiger Stadium as scaled-down ballpark;
City should tear down Tiger Stadium;
Is it the final out for Tiger Stadium?
Will Vero hear crack of bats
-- or of hearts being broken?
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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We
were asked by the local newspaper our opinion on
the chance of Vero Beach landing another
spring-training team once the Los Angeles Dodgers
decamp for Arizona. Our answer was simple:
"Whoever is talking to Vero Beach is doing so to
have a backup plan should their primary plan fall
through. I just don't see another team moving to
Dodgertown,
especially in its present condition, and if they
do, it won't be their first choice." We'll stick
by that assessment. Some Vero Beach officials say
they're in "serious" negotiations to land a team.
Truth is, the Dodgers and Vero Beach haven't done
a very good job in maintaining
Dodgertown or
Holman Stadium,
and things some oldtimers find quaint may not be
seen in such a charming way by others.
RELATED STORIES:
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Significantly scaled-back plan is weighed for
Reds' spring home;
Why Sarasota may spurn baseball;
What is spring training worth to Vero Beach?;
Reds: We're interested in Vero Beach;
New Reds spring-complex deal on life support;
Delaying puts Reds spring complex in jeopardy;
Task force confident in Reds ballpark deal;
Finance plan for Reds spring-training facility in
place -- maybe;
Looking at a Plan B for new Reds spring complex;
Sarasota looking to cut spring-training complex
cost;
Fair officials respond with new spring-training
plan;
New Reds training facility in some doubt;
Florida finalizes five spring-training grants;
Pirates to get 30-year lease, lights at McKechnie
Field;
Florida makes preliminary decision on state
spring-training grants;
Bush signs bill funding spring-training complexes;
Reds sign 30-year lease to train in Sarasota;
Sarasota, county OK Reds ballpark pact;
Deal for new Reds spring-training facility close;
Sarasota ballpark hopes for home run;
Sarasota sends ballpark pacts to state;
Sarasota County agrees to tax increase to fund new
Reds spring facility;
County tees up for baseball hearing;
Sarasota ballpark plan stirs resistance;
Now the real hard part begins on new Reds ballpark;
For new Reds ballpark, cash crisis on deck;
Reds swing and miss;
New Reds' spring-training ballpark still $16M
short;
Price for new Reds training facility: $54 million
to $62 million;
Spring training ballpark, tourism compete for
Sarasota bed tax revenue;
Plan for a new Reds spring-training complex in
Sarasota move forward;
Details emerge on Sarasota County, city plan for
stadium, event center, ballfields;
Sarasota eyes ambitious plan to convert arena site
to keep Reds;
Reds, Pirates team up to seek better facilities
Hall of trust
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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In
many ways it was a disappointing weekend for
baseball fans. Yesterday Tony Gwynn and Cal Ripken
Jr. -- two of the classiest guys ever to take the
field -- were inducted into the National Baseball
Hall of Fame. They exemplify everything to love
about baseball: they played their entire careers
with a single team, they were accessible to the
press and to fans, and after they left the majors
they stayed in the game (Gwynn as a coach at San
Diego State University,
Ripken as a minor-league operator). On the flip
side, you had CNN cutting in every time Barry
Bonds went to the plate, as he remains one short
in his quest to overtake Hank Aaron as home-run
king. The contrast couldn't have been clearer.
This editorial from USA Today is spot-on in
explaining the contrast: Gwynn and Ripken earned
the respect of baseball fans; Bonds has not. More
from the
San Diego Union-Tribune,
the
New York Times
and
SI.com.
IronPigs fans line up to see
ballpark's progress
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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Even
before they built it, Lehigh Valley IronPigs
(Class AAA; International League) fans came.
Dozens of dedicated fans of the region's newest
professional baseball team, the IronPigs, caught
their first up-close glimpse of the club's
in-progress Coca-Cola Park today when the team
held its inaugural open house. There was no ball
field to speak of -- that won't go in until
August, at the earliest, says IronPigs General
Manager Kurt Landes -- just mud, construction
materials and four Port-A-Johns near second base.
But at least three-quarters of the ballpark's
wraparound stands were far enough along that fans
could sense what the finished product will look
like.
The stadium chase
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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Not
everything is a competition, which is why this
article is so flawed. The premise here is that the
New York Yankees are trailing the New York Mets in
a "stadium chase" because construction of
Citi Field
is on schedule and construction of the
new Yankee
Stadium has apparently slipped. (That's based
on an anonymous source saying his particular part
of the construction -- installation of the
trademark facade -- is three months behind.) The
two ballparks are slated to open in April 2009,
which gives crews plenty of time to catch up. It's
a false race.
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Boro buzzes with talk of new Mets ballpark;
Mets break ground on new ballpark;
New Mets ballpark to be called CitiField;
Yankees, Mets bond sales set, both teams rated
junk;
Bronx group goes to court vs. new Yankee Stadium;
New York City receives IRS approval on ballpark
bonds;
New York Agency approves ballpark financing for
Yankees, Mets;
MTA pressed to create shortcut to Shea;
Is Steinbrenner house, which Ruth built, poor?;
NY City Council easily passes Yankees, Mets
ballpark bonding bills;
Squeeze play on Mets ballpark;
Mets: Forget about naming new park after Jackie
Robinson;
New Mets ballpark deal is stalled;
Squeeze play on the Mets;
Strike one for new Mets ballpark;
Mets park's name will fetch millions;
Mets unveil plans for new ballpark;
Yankees, Mets closer to new ballparks;
City goes to bat for Yankees, Mets ballparks;
State agency approves plans for Yankees, Mets
ballparks;
Ebbets' echoes in Queens;
At Mets' park, you'll think you're
in...Pittsburgh?;
State agency approves plans for Yankees, Mets
ballparks;
Mets to go old school in new park
Was new ballpark the answer
in Battle Creek?
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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Would
a new ballpark have saved affiliated baseball in
Battle Creek? Probably not. Battle Creek is part
of a larger market that includes Kalamazoo, and
there's some debate among the baseball people we
know whether it's a good pro market. The Battle
Creek Bombers (summer collegiate; Northwoods
League) are a good fit for that market and have
had some limited success, but the locals need to
quit worrying about the loss of affiliated ball
and embrace what's there. The Southwest Michigan
Devil Rays (Low Class A; Midwest League), of
course, moved to Midland, Mich.,
and became the Great Lakes Loons; we'll be
hitting the Dow Diamond next Monday.
Ballpark Notes
Posted July 30, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Peoria Chiefs (Low Class A; Midwest League)
announced that the team set a franchise record for
average attendance in the month of July, as 57,769
fans attended 12 home games for an average of
4,814 per game. Despite having the least amount of
July home games on the schedule over the last five
seasons at
O'Brien Field, the Chiefs drew eight
crowds over 4,000 and five over 5,000. The Chiefs
have welcomed 196,577 fans overall this season and
will surpass the 200,000 mark during the August
7-10 homestand, marking the earliest in the season
the team has ever exceeded 200,000 fans.
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