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! |
|
Archives: May
13-19, 2007
Faithful say Reds spring-training deal still alive
Posted May 18, 2007 (feedback)
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While
a whole lot of top city officials, elected and
appointed, were declaring the Cincinnati Reds'
$54-million spring-training-facility project "on
life support," if not DOA two weeks ago, the man
heading up the effort is still swinging for the
fences. City Sports Facilities Director Pat
Calhoon was as confident as ever this week "We're
going to get this thing done," he said without
hesitation. "We've been up and down, but we're
still keeping our eye on the prize." All of the
breathless deadlines have passed or soon will, but
Calhoon said there's room for delay while city
officials wait to see what kind of raid on local
treasuries the state Legislature will make in its
June special session.
RELATED STORIES:
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
This summer's ballpark music tour: Counting Crows
Posted May 18, 2007 (feedback)
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Every summer a big-name artist arranges a tour
centering on minor-league venues, and this summer
Counting Crows is hitting the road in July, with
LIVE and Collective Soul opening. Here's the tour:
July 22, Frawley Stadium, home of the Wilmington
Blue Rocks (High Class A; Carolina League); July
24, Classic Park, Eastlake, home of the Lake
County Captains (Low Class A; Sally League); July
25, CONSOL Energy Park, home of the Washington
Wild Things (independent; Frontier League); July
27, Fifth Third Field,
home of the Dayton Dragons (Low Class A; Midwest
League); July 28, Fifth Third Ballpark, home of
the West Michigan Whitecaps (Low Class A; Midwest
League); July 31, Jerry Uht Park, home of the Erie
Seawolves (Class AA; Eastern League); August 1,
Dunn Tire Park, home of the Buffalo Bisons (Class
AAA; International League); August 3,
Louisville Slugger
Field, home of the Louisville Bats (Class AAA;
International League); August 4,
Victory Field, home
of the Indianapolis Indians (Class AAA;
International League); August 7, GCS Ballpark,
home of the Gateway Grizzlies (independent;
Frontier League); August 8, Drillers Stadium, home
of the Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League);
August 11,
Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs (Class
AAA; Pacific Coast League); August 14, Ripken
Stadium, home of the Aberdeen Ironbirds (short
season; NY-Penn League); August 15, Harry Grove
Stadium, home of the Frederick Keys (High Class A;
Carolina League); August 17, Merchantsauto.com
Stadium, home of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats
(Class AA; Eastern League); August 18, New Britain
Stadium, home of the New Britain Rock Cats (Class
AA; Eastern League); August 21, Blair County
Ballpark, home of the Altoona Curve (Class AA;
Eastern League); First Energy Park, home of the
Lakewood BlueClaws (Low Class A; Sally League);
August 24, McCoy
Stadium, home of the Pawtucket Red Sox (Class
AAA; International League); August 25, Dutchess
Stadium, home of the Hudson Valley Renegades
(short season; NY-Penn League); August 30,
Memorial
Stadium, home of the Ft. Wayne Wizards (Low
Class A; Midwest League); September 1,
Midway Stadium,
home of the St. Paul Saints (independent; American
Association); September 2,
Newman Outdoor
Field, home of the Fargo Redhawks
(independent; Northern League). Tickets are on
sale through
Ticketmaster; you can read more, including
ticket availability, at the
Counting Crows website.
Fans pack Central City Park for baseball's return
to Macon
Posted May 18, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Macon Music (independent; South Coast League) may
only be one game old, but the team may have
achieved something no other pro sports team in the
city has ever done -- turn people away from the
gate. Traffic was backed up in Central City Park
and some people didn't get a ticket until the
second inning. And by then, the crowd was standing
room only. Luther Williams Field holds about
3,500, but there were 5,033 people at the game.
The remaining teams in the new independent circuit
open their seasons tonight;
here's a preview of the Anderson Joes.
Selig: No change in playoffs
Posted May 18, 2007 (feedback)
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Commissioner
Bud Selig yesterday said baseball was not
considering an expansion of the first round from
best-of-five to best-of-seven. At times, Selig has
said baseball would consider changing the
first-round schedule to make it more difficult for
wild-card teams, who currently are home for Games
3 and 4. "We continue to talk about that," he
said. Also, owners approved baseball's new
seven-year "Extra Innings" out-of-market
television contracts with DirecTV and In Demand,
deals that guarantee the clubs an average of $80
million annually. Owners also approved the launch
of the MLB Network, which Selig said will be
available to at least 47 million homes when it
starts broadcasting on Jan. 1, 2009.
More on the MLB Network here.
Fund set up for Henniger family
Posted May 18, 2007 (feedback)
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Here's
the latest on Rai Henniger, the senior vice
president of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (Class
AAA; Pacific Coast League), who was seriously
injured in a pyrotechnic accident while setting up
for a recent Sky Sox baseball game: "His condition
is serious. He sustained major facial and head
injuries that will require many months of medical
care, restorative surgeries and therapy. He is
aware of his surroundings and able to communicate
by squeezing the hand of his family and
caretakers." His wife, Heather (Mooney), is
now living in a Denver hotel while her parents are
caring for their children. The Henniger children,
Grace, 10; Emma, 7; and Benjamin, 5, are shuttling
back and forth between Denver and Colorado Springs
to see their mother. Mom and children plan to
relocate to a small apartment in Denver for the
duration of his treatments, which could be up to
several months. The "Rai Henniger Family Fund" has
been established at Security Service Federal
Credit Union. Donations can be dropped off at any
Security Service location in Colorado Springs,
Pueblo or Denver or mailed to: The Rai Henniger
Family Fund, 1485 Kelly Johnson Boulevard,
Colorado Springs, CO 80920.
RELATED STORIES:
Injured Sky Sox personality "a treasure";
Sky Sox worker seriously hurt in accident
CBC to air limited number of Blue Jays games
Posted May 18, 2007 (feedback)
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The
CBC is expected to announce today that it is back
in the baseball business after a five-year
absence. This isn't headline news since the
network will have a huge hole in its schedule next
season after the CFL moves to TSN. A small package
of games this year -- presumably called by former
Jays voice Jim Hughson -- will get the CBC's
publicly funded foot in the door for a bigger deal
next year.
Sale of Harrisburg franchise raises questions
about Yanks
Posted May 18, 2007 (feedback)
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Harrisburg’s
ability to sell a Double-A baseball franchise for
$13.25 million has some observers asking why
Lackawanna County isn’t seeking more for the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA;
International League). "We can’t move our
franchise, which reduced the value," Lackawanna
County Commissioner Chairman Robert C. Cordaro
said Thursday. "That’s the difference." That, of
course, is wrong; the Sens signed a 29-year lease
to stay in Harrisburg. Under a purchase option
approved last month by the majority commissioners
and the Multi-Purpose Stadium Authority, SWB
Yankees LLC -- a partnership between Mandalay
Baseball Properties and the New York Yankees --
would have the right to buy the local franchise
for between $13 million and $16.4 million,
depending on how soon it looks to buy. If it
decides to buy, SWB Yankees would have to sign a
20-year lease, hence Cordaro’s reference to the
franchise not being movable.
RELATED STORIES:
Luzerne County
officials finally out of the bullpen;
County rejects Triple-A agreement;
Potential sale of SWB Yankees approved;
Luzerne County explores options on baseball deals;
Blaum wants 1986 ballpark contract honored;
Potential sale of the SWB Yankees approved;
Lackawanna
County minority commissioner wants stadium authority to pay off county;
Yanks filling seats in Moosic;
Once again, it’s all
about the Yankees;
New for 2007: PNC Field;
Work on Lackawanna County
Stadium progresses;
New for 2007: the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees;
End of Astroturf at Lackawanna County Stadium;
Here to stay, keep baseball fifty-fifty;
Red Barons will stay, Mandalay vows;
Moosic councilman presses county on amusement tax;
New grass field, fixing leaks are ballpark
priorities;
Hard-nosed Mandalay known for investments in
minor-league teams;
Will Moosic get a new ballpark?;
Yankees' Triple-A affiliate, California management
firm heading to Moosic;
Mets representatives expected to tour Lackawanna
County Stadium today;
Proposal would combine front offices of Barons and
Pens;
It's official: Yankees leaving Columbus; move to
Scranton a done deal?;
Authority will consider giving Cordaro power;
Yankees to SWB?
D-Rays finish Disney series strong
Posted May 18, 2007 (feedback)
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In
the end, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays didn't draw any
more fans to
The Ballpark
at Disney's Wide World of Sports for a midweek
series than they normally do at
Tropicana Field.
The final game of the three-game series drew 9,635
for a total of 26,917, a number that attendees say
wasn't inflated by freebies. Tampa Bay management
wasn't saying whether the team would return to the
land of the mouse for a series next year.
RELATED STORIES:
Devil Rays fail to steal home base at Disney;
D-Rays draw 8,443 to Disney World game;
Teams will have to wait and see on the Ballpark's
impact;
This time, Disney games will count
New turf, seats for Murakami Stadium
Posted May 18, 2007 (feedback)
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The
University of Hawai'i announced yesterday that the
$2 million released by Gov. Linda Lingle will be
used to replace the 13-year-old artificial turf
with a surface to be determined. The remaining
money will be used to refurbish as many seats
possible. Seams in the ballpark's turf are visible
from the upper level and a number seats from the
23-year-old ballpark are discolored and some are
loose. Hawai'i athletics director Herman Frazier
said ballpark improvements will be done in phases,
with the turf being first and the seats later.
Frazier said UH is awaiting bids from prospective
vendors. He said the preference is for FieldTurf.
The ballpark also hosts games in the Hawaii winter
league.
Ballpark Notes
Posted May 18, 2007 (feedback)
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The
York Revolution (independent; Atlantic
League), along with NEWSRADIO 910 WSBA, has
announced that long-time WSBA radio personality
Gary Sutton will join "Voice of the
Revolution" Darrell Henry for all Revolution game
broadcasts in York, as well as selected games in
Lancaster this season, beginning with the
first-ever "War of the Roses" series in Lancaster
this Friday-Sunday. In addition to hosting his
“Main Street of America” talk show every weekday
morning on WSBA, Sutton is an award-winning color
analyst for state high school athletics on the
Pennsylvania Cable Network. He has over 16 years
of experience as a radio talk-show host, all at
WSBA. Sutton has been part of the York community
for over 40 years....The Toronto Blue Jays
have reached three-year contract extensions for
the 2008, 2009 & 2010 seasons with Head Trainer
George Poulis, Assistant Trainer Dave
Abraham and Strength & Conditioning Coach
Donovan Santas....
Dodd Stadium repairs on hold as team's bills left
unpaid
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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More
than $400,000 in improvements at Thomas J. Dodd
Memorial Stadium are on hold while Norwich
officials push the Connecticut Defenders (Class
AA; Eastern League) to pay more than $200,000 in
overdue rent, utilities and other costs. The lease
requires the Defendersto pay $150,000 in rent last
year and $200,000 this year. The team paid $20,000
on overdue rent and remained current for a while
on 2007 payments, but installments have stopped
coming in, city financial officials said. Team
attorney Glenn Carberry said the issues are more
complex, and that the amount owed is lower than
$200,000 because the Defenders are paying for some
upgrades in lieu of rent.
The team isn't drawing very well, averaging
1,868 fans per game, though April and early May
are always slow months in Norwich.
Braves sale approved by owners
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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No
surprise: the sale of the Atlanta Braves and other
properties by Time Warner to Liberty Media was
unanimously approved by owners at meetings
yesterday afternoon, allowing the two sides to
culminate a purchase agreement before tax laws
changed at midnight. Liberty exchanged 68.5
million shares of Time Warner stock for the
Braves, the Leisure Arts Inc. group of craft
publications and $960 million of cash. As part of
the deal, Liberty Media agreed to keep payroll at
a $90-million level,
leave in place the current Braves management team,
led by Terry McGuirk, keep the
Turner Field
name, and divest itself of a gambling Web site. In
an official statement, Commissioner Bud Selig
welcomed the deal: "I am pleased to welcome
Liberty Media as the owner of the Atlanta Braves,"
Selig said. "I am also excited that Terry McGuirk
will remain in his role with the club, along with
John Schuerholz, Mike Plant, Derek Schiller, Bobby
Cox and others. They have made the Braves a model
of consistency. I also want to thank Turner
Broadcasting and Time Warner for their years of
successfully owning the club."
Selig also says Henry Aaron will play an expanded
role with the franchise.
One issue will be the future of the Richmond
Braves (Class AAA; International League), the
Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League) and
the Rome Braves (Low Class A; Sally League).
Many in
baseball expect Liberty Media to at least explore
a sale of the three teams once the purchase is
completed -- at least that's what many potential
buyers have been told --
but the word for now is that nothing will change.
RELATED STORIES:
Braves' ties will stay intact -- for now;
Liberty, Time Warner close to sale of Braves;
Status quo endures at The Diamond;
On Braves sale, baseball throws a change-up;
Braves' sale could bring Turner back into mix;
Malone: Liberty Media is interested on Braves
purchase;
Go local, Braves bidder pleads;
Braves talks are strictly business;
Progress is made on Braves sale;
Blank breaks off negotiations to buy Braves;
Blank gains on Braves purchase
Major League Baseball to send delegation to China
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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Major
League Baseball will send a high-level delegation
to China this month to inspect stadiums ahead of a
possible trip there for exhibition games next
year. Bob DuPuy, MLB's chief operating officer,
will head the group, which also will include San
Diego Padres chief executive officer Sandy
Alderson, Boston Red Sox president Larry Lucchino
and Pittsburgh Pirates CEO Kevin McClatchy. MLB
has discussed the possibility of playing
exhibition games in China next March. DuPuy said
it also was possible those games could be tied to
opening the regular season in Tokyo.
T-Bones ballpark owners make payment on taxes
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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Their
tax case is winding through the appeals process,
but the Kansas City T-Bones (independent; Northern
League) ballpark owners have paid $170,900 in
property taxes to state tax officials. The T-Bones
and ballpark owner Ehlert Development Corp. have
protested the $1.5-million tax amount that
Wyandotte County’s Unified Government says is owed
on the CommunityAmerica Ballpark, located in the
Village West shopping and entertainment district
in Kansas City, Kan. The owners are not required
to pay the tax bill until the valuation appeals
process is finished, but the case has taken longer
than usual to settle because of the case’s
complexity.
RELATED STORIES:
County, T-Bones in dispute over back taxes;
T-Bones refuse to pay $1.5 million tax bill
Devil Rays fail to steal home base at Disney
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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Another
crowd under 9,000 --
announced as 8,839 -- was on hand to see the Tampa
Bay Devil Rays take on the Texas Rangers at
The Ballpark
at Disney's Wide World of Sports.
The goal of the series was to market the young,
up-and-coming Devil Rays to the good folks in
Orlando, and while game broadcasts of D-Rays games
in Orlando have increased and drawn more viewers,
it's hard to say whether the series was a success
or not.
More from the New York Times.
RELATED STORIES:
D-Rays draw 8,443 to Disney World game;
Teams will have to wait and see on the Ballpark's
impact;
This time, Disney games will count
Brisk ticket sales trumpet excitement about Macon
Music opener
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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Middle
Georgians will have the chance to hear something
tonight that they haven't heard in four years at
Luther Williams Field -- the sound of a baseball
smacking leather and the crack of a bat. But
unlike when the Macon Peaches fizzled after one
season in 2003, there seems to be a strong sense
of anticipation for the brand-new Macon Music
(independent; South Coast League). GM Ric Sisler
anticipates a sellout for tonight's opener against
the Bradenton Juice. He said all of the box seats
have been sold, and the general admission tickets
were selling fast.
Milwaukee Brewers' record start stokes sales at
bars
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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Milwaukee's
patience is paying off. After 15 years of
dwindling population, iconic brewery closings and
losing baseball seasons, Milwaukee Brewers fans
finally have reason to cheer: The team leads the
National League's Central Division. Ticket sales
for the Brewers games at
Miller Park
are 25 percent ahead of last year at the box
office and the team already has five sellouts,
compared with nine for last year's entire season.
Attendance is averaging 29,369, a six-year high.
Fans are overflowing sports bars, and state
officials say the team is even drawing tourists
from nearby states. Its 25-15 record is second
only to the New York Mets in Major League
Baseball's National League after last night's
games.
Everything (almost) for sale in minor leagues
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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Gordie
Jones decries some of the marketing deals in place
in the minor leagues, particularly criticizing the
Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Class AAA; International
League) for selling a sponsorship of a rehab
assignment. Jones is right that it seems like
everything in the minors comes attached with a
sponsor, but he's a little unfair: everything
has a sponsor these days. Listen to a radio
broadcast: in addition to the advertising, you'll
hear product placement from the companies buying
naming rights to the studios. Marketing is a
pervasive force in our economy. This story was submitted by a reader. To share
a story or ballpark news, drop us a line at
editors@augustpublications.com.
Questions abound off field
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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The
independent Northern League is entering a season
filled with intrigue, as the future of the circuit
will probably depend on how well commissioner
Clark Griffith is at moving into new markets.
Saskatoon has been floated as a possibility, but
that raises a whole set of issues in terms of
travel and dealing with Canada: the Canadian swing
for a U.S. team could end up taking two weeks with
trips to Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary and Edmonton
with some reasonable travel time. Making a bid for
Wichita, too, will be important.
More on Edmonton's opener here,
Schaumburg's opener here.
Atlantic League says schedule quirk was necessary
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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Because
of a traveling team and the need to schedule the
York Revolution on the road for a month because
the team's ballpark is unfinished, the independent
Atlantic League has seen some awkward scheduling
so far this season. For instance, the Somerset
Patriots and Long Island Ducks are in the midst of
six consecutive head-to-head games split into
home-and-home, three-game series. The teams move
from Citibank Park -- where they will play a
doubleheader beginning to 6:05 Thursday night
after Wednesday's rainout -- to Commerce Bank
Ballpark for the Friday through Sunday matchups.
The homegrown talent of the IBL
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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As
the inaugural season of the Israel Baseball League
draws near, a slew of foreign players, both Jewish
and non-Jewish, will be making their way to
Israel. However, a select group of Israeli players
are welcoming the IBL as a chance to play the
sport they love professionally. Amit Kurz, Ophir
Katz, Orr Gottlieb, Dan Rothem, and Daniel
Maddy-Weitzman are among the handful of Israelis
who will take the field for the IBL. All five have
been brought up through the Israel Association of
Baseball's youth leagues. Due to the relatively
low number of Israeli baseball players, all five
have also competed against each other regularly.
Ballpark Notes
Posted May 17, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Waterloo Bucks (summer collegiate;
Northwoods League) announced today that Tim
Harwood will return as the club's radio
broadcaster in 2007. This summer will mark the
third season Harwood has covered the Bucks on the
airwaves. Over the past two winters, Harwood has
also worked for the Waterloo Black Hawks
hockey team. Last season, he covered the Hawks
Anderson Cup regular season championship, the
team's run through the Clark Cup playoffs, and the
USHL All-Star game in Waterloo....Calling games
for the St. Cloud River Bats (summer
collegiate; Northwoods League): Jim Nelson,
a junior at Southwest Minnesota State. He's an
offensive lineman on college football team, so
he'll be replaced by Joe Nelson (no
relation) when practices start....
Harrisburg Senators sold for a record $13.25
million
Posted May 16, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Harrisburg Senators (Class AA; Eastern League)
have been sold to Senators Partners, LLC, an
entity controlled by Michael Reinsdorf (shown
below), for an Eastern League-record $13.25
million. As part of the deal, Senators Partners
signed a 29-year lease for Commerce Bank Park.
Here's the word on the sale of the Senators
directly from the mayor's office: "The user fee
for use of Commerce Bank Park on City Island will
be $372,000 per year. When combined with parking
fees, naming rights revenue, admission tax and
mercantile revenues, it will net the city over
$500,000 per year. The minimum initial term of the
agreement is for 29 years, with unlimited renewal
terms of five years
each
thereafter....Closing and change of ownership on
the transaction will occur on or before September
13. Senators Partners, LLC will own and operate
the franchise....Reed said the use of the sales
proceeds would be used almost entirely to
eliminate city debt: $2,134,188 would be used to
retire the remainder of the bonds issued by the
city over 10 years ago that provided the money to
purchase the franchise; $848,532 was scheduled by
City Council as part of the city’s 2007 operating
revenue and will be paid to the city’s General
Fund; the bonds issued four years ago to finance
the city’s share of upgrading the stadium were
issued in two series, Series A-1 and A-2.
$8,815,000 will be used to wipe-out the Series A-1
bonds and the remaining proceeds, $1,202,280 will
be applied against the Series A-2 bonds." As part
of the deal, Reinsdorf's firm, IFG, will be
managing Commerce Bank Park's $18.5 million
renovation for what could be a 5 percent
fee depending on the final state funding.
RELATED STORIES:
Reinsdorf close to purchase of H-Sens;
Talks continue between Reinsdorf, city over Sens
deal;
Mayor:
Harrisburg negotiating with one firm for sale of Senators;
City still in talks to sell Senators
Braves sale expected to be approved tonight
Posted May 16, 2007 (feedback)
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The
sale of the Atlanta Braves from Time Warner to
Liberty Media is expected to be approved tonight
by MLB owners, as all sides are rushing to finish
the tax-free deal before changes in the tax
code go into effect at midnight. The specifics of
the deal: the Braves franchise and its
accompanying minor-league teams, a group of
Leisure Arts craft publications and about $1
billion in cash will go from Time Warner to
Liberty Media; in return for a huge block of Time
Warner stock long held by Liberty will go back to
Time Warner. We've already reported on some of the
conditions put by MLB officials on the deal: Terry
McGuirk will remain as president of the team (a
point particularly demanded by Commissioner Bud
Selig), and player payroll will remain at least as
high as in the past three seasons (about $80
million). The deal puts a value on the Braves at
$450 million. Liberty Media will need to hang onto
the Braves for several seasons, but we're not sure
the firm won't sell its three minor-league
franchises: the Richmond Braves (Class AAA;
International League), the Mississippi Braves
(Class AA; Southern League) and the Rome Braves
(Low Class A; Sally League).
Many in
baseball expect Liberty Media to at least explore
a sale of the three teams once the purchase is
completed -- at least that's what many potential
buyers have been told.
More on the meeting from the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution.
This story was submitted by a reader. To share
a story or ballpark news, drop us a line at
editors@augustpublications.com.
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Ballpark Visit: Holman
Stadium, Los Angeles Dodgers / Vero Beach Devil
Rays
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It's
very sad when traditions come to an end. The Los
Angeles Dodgers will spend one last spring
training at Dodgertown and Holman Stadium before
making the move to Arizona in 2009. The move was
inevitable, but give the Dodgers a little credit
for staying as long with Vero Beach's Dodgertown
as they did. Mark Cryan took in a game at Holman
Stadium this past spring and shared his thoughts
on the end of a spring-training tradition.
Whew! Dodger Dogs to stay
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What
a relief. The Los Angeles Dodgers affirmed they
were sticking with Dodger Dogs, despite
allegations from the Animal Legal Defense Fund
that Dodger Dog manufacturer Farmer John (a
division of Hormel) were made from hogs raised
under inhumane circumstances. (To their credit,
the Dodgers did seem to take the allegations
seriously and sent along a brief statement saying
they would stand by Farmer John. A Farmer John
statement said the company meets "all of the
standards for animal welfare." Which actually
isn't saying a whole lot; spend some time at a
feedlot and you'll never eat another hot dog
again.) Dodger Dogs are a staple at
Dodger Stadium.
Speaking of
Dodger Stadium
and Farmer John, the
Wall Street Journal did a piece on the
all-you-can-gorge plan offered by the team in
the right-field pavilion. They concluded the views
were bad and the eats worse. Not quite sure what
the Wall Street Journal was expecting from an
all-you-can-gorge plan at a ballpark. Part of
this story was submitted by a reader. To share a
story or ballpark news, drop us a line at
editors@augustpublications.com.
RELATED STORIES:
Dodger Dogs out at the plate?
Washoe County approves PCL ballpark
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A
Class AAA Pacific Coast League franchise for the
Reno area, on the back burner for six years, moved
to the front burner Tuesday when Washoe County
commissioners approved a pre-development and
finance agreement with SK Baseball and Nevada Land
for the design and construction of a ballpark. A
New York City father and son, Jerry and Stuart
Katzoff, and their partner, major mall owner Herb
Simon, have a preliminary agreement to buy a
Triple-A franchise and move it to Reno for the
2009 season, pending approval from the Pacific
Coast League and minor league and Major League
Baseball. The Sparks Marina site, originally
pitched as a home for the ballpark, still is a
possible location but five or six sites are under
consideration. The Katzoffs and Simon, a long-time
co-owner of the Indiana Pacers (NBA), are planning
a ballpark with 6,500 seats that would have a
total capacity of 10,000, including a combination
of sky boxes, party units, club seats, general
admission seats and family seating on grass berms.
The name of the PCL team hasn't been released, but
speculation is centering on the Tucson
Sidewinders.
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project;
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in Reno;
Sparks still in hunt for Triple-A team
Mayor: NCAA shows interest in new Omaha ballpark
Posted May 16, 2007 (feedback)
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Omaha
Mayor Mike Fahey served up a fat pitch Tuesday to
NCAA officials, letting them decide whether to
take a swing at a new $50 million downtown
ballpark as the future home for the College World
Series. Of course the NCAA officials showed
interest -- if the city wants to build a new
ballpark and throw the NCAA some more cash, who is
the NCAA to object? Fahey said he hopes the NCAA
expresses a preference either during the CWS,
which starts June 15, or during a return visit in
August. A new ballpark would also serve as the
home of the Omaha Royals (Class AAA; Pacific Coast
League) and the Creighton University baseball
team. The plan calls for an intimate 8,000- to
9,000-seat ballpark that would be expanded to
24,000 seats for the College World Series,
according to the city plan.
RELATED STORIES:
Omaha floats new ballpark for CWS, O-Royals
D-Rays draw 8,443 to Disney World game
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A
crowd of 8,443 -- smaller than anticipated -- was
on hand at
The Ballpark
at Disney's Wide World of Sports to see the
first-ever regular-season MLB game in central
Florida, as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays defeated the
Texas Rangers, 4-3, in 10 innings. The crowd was
small, and the ballpark -- the spring home of the
Atlanta Braves, which holds more than 10,000 fans
when berm seating is fully utilized -- was far
from crammed.
The St. Pete Times calls the game a monumental
mistake.
Mike Bianchi doesn't think the game was that bad,
though.
More from the Los Angeles Times,
Florida Today and
the Lakeland Ledger.
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Moss to seek changes in Marlins' name, spring
training
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The
Florida Marlins would be required to change their
name and move their spring training to Homestead
to attract the support of Miami-Dade County
Commissioner Dennis Moss for construction of a new
retractable-roof ballpark. Moss is to ask fellow
commissioners at a meeting of the Airport and
Tourism Committee tomorrow to support clauses to
change the team's name to the Miami Marlins and
require the franchise to move their March
preseason games from
Roger Dean Stadium
in Jupiter to the Homestead Sports Complex as part
of a deal for a $490 million retractable-roof
ballpark. The 6,500-seat baseball stadium in
Homestead was built in 1991 to be the
spring-training home for the Cleveland Indians,
but Hurricane Andrew thwarted those plans. The
ballpark has been used primarily by college
baseball teams.
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ballpark funding bills advance;
Regalado: CRA money shouldn't be dangled in
Marlins ballpark talks;
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County unveils
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Charlie Crist's just not batting 1.000;
Florida legislative leaders back tax help for
sports;
Governor boosts ballpark funding formula;
CRA board members: Look somewhere else for
ballpark funds;
Marlins ballpark plan only latest of projects
seeking CRA funds;
Glitzy plans often pushed with funds for renewal;
Agency head says city hasn't sought permission for
ballpark deal;
Crist backs state funding of new Marlins ballpark;
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ballpark deal in downtown Miami;
DuPuy: Progress being made on new downtown Miami
ballpark;
Dade leaders pitch 'urban' ballpark for Marlins;
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Marlins ballpark;
MLB official hopes Crist can pave way for new
Marlins ballpark;
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Marlins ballpark chances at Pompano considered a
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Pompano Park pitched as location for new Marlins
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Miami Arena owner sues to stop sale;
Buyers sue Miami Arena owner;
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Selig: Marlins need a new ballpark;
DuPuy, local officials discuss new Marlins
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DuPuy meets with Marlins officials about new
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Hialeah ballpark plan hinges on financial
feasibility;
Marlins to San Antonio: No thanks;
Hialeah mayor upbeat on prospects of new Marlins
ballpark;
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Tough times for Marlins and their fans;
Marlins players adjust to the empty seats
New for 2007: Road Ranger Stadium
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Road
Ranger LLC, a Midwest convenience-store chain, and
the Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier
League) announced the sale of naming rights to the
RiverHawks ballpark, which will be known as Road
Ranger Stadium. The naming rights agreement is for
an initial term of five years. Financial and
specific terms were not released. "We are thrilled
to welcome Road Ranger to our growing team of
commercial partners," said Kurt Carlson, team
chairman and co-owner. "This further strengthens
our ability to provide affordable family
entertainment to the region."
A's Wolff sees new ballpark as super site
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Lew
Wolff, the managing owner of the Oakland
Athletics, aims to change how ballparks are built.
The 69-year-old magnate is now focused on a bold
plan that would have a profound impact on the
Athletics with a ripple effect that would spread
throughout baseball. His goal is to build a
32,000-seat, privately financed stadium in
Fremont, Calif., as part of a 226-acre complex
that will include 2,900 townhomes, 550,000 square
feet of retail space and a hotel. And while the
individual components of the project might not be
new, they've never been put together in quite this
way.
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say;
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Athletics announce committee
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Another San Jose site eyed
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ballpark, but plans in the works;
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opportunity for San Jose mayor;
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makes his pitch;
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BART to the ballpark, what a
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Q&A with A's new owner Lew
Wolff
Dueling minor-league baseball plans could cause
trouble
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The
prospects of two independent American Association
teams in the Denver suburbs appears to be
unlikely, as plans for a Brighton ballpark -- with
a deal signed -- could interfere with plans for a
Commerce City ballpark. It would appear that the
Brighton group won the race: a year ago National
Sports Services announced plans for a Commerce
City ballpark, but nothing became of it and no
financing plan was ever submitted to the league.
Money would also be an issue: Commerce City spent
millions on a new MLS stadium and doesn't appear
to want to put public money into a ballpark.
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Commissioners back study of ballpark at The Ranch
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The
Larimer County commissioners agreed today to take
a swing at building a baseball stadium at The
Ranch, the county fairgrounds complex in Loveland.
Col. The commissioners unanimously approved a
memorandum of understanding between the county and
National Sports Services to develop plans for a
stadium that would be home to a minor-league team.
The nonbinding agreement has an eight-month
lifespan, at which time the company and county
will decide whether to continue pursuing the
ballpark idea or drop it, officials said. The
stadium would have 3,500 to 5,000 seats and could
be used for multiple types of outdoor events,
including rodeos and concerts. Securing a
minor-league franchise is likely to cost between
$1 million and $2 million, said Donald “Deke”
Karras, a potential owner from Denver.
RELATED STORIES:
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Augmented pigmentation
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Construction
on Coca-Cola
Park, the future home of the Lehigh Valley
IronPigs (Class AAA; International League), is
proceeding on schedule and on budget despite some
unexpected complications, including the need for
60,000 tons of crushed stone to replace
sub-standard fill excavated from the site that was
to be used elsewhere on the project. The bowl and
grandstand infrastructure are completed: Under
what will become the first-base stands, a concrete
tunnel connects the visitor's dugout to what will
be the visitor's locker room behind home plate.
The mason-block wall that will eventually be
padded and form the outfield fence is in place,
and in left-center field the foundations are in
place for the massive video scoreboard that will
tower over the grass berm seating area. This
story was submitted by a reader. To share a story
or ballpark news, drop us a line at
editors@augustpublications.com.
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International League approves sale of Lynx;
Lynx poised to leap after 2007
Singin' the 'Baseball Blackout Blues'
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At
the MLB owners' meetings this week, MLB officials
will ask teams to review their broadcast
territories and, where necessary, revise them.
Baseball's territorial map was drawn for the
rabbit-ears era in the 1970s. Its boundaries were
set according to the reach of over-the-air
broadcast signals, emanating from teams' flagship
stations and affiliates. Today, games are mainly
carried on regional sports networks (RSNs), which
mostly are carried on cable systems. It's a "pay"
TV distribution system that doesn't hew to the old
territorial patterns of "free" TV.
County seeks representation in baseball legal
dispute
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Luzerne
County Solicitor Jim Blaum is reviewing the
qualifications of applicants interested in legal
work on the ongoing dispute about the
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Class AAA:
International League). Luzerne County
commissioners claim a Lackawanna County agreement
that could lead to the sale of the Triple-A
baseball franchise is invalid because it ignores
Luzerne County’s ownership stake.
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Potential sale of the SWB Yankees approved;
Lackawanna
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about the Yankees;
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Work on Lackawanna County
Stadium progresses;
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Red Barons will stay, Mandalay vows;
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New grass field, fixing leaks are ballpark
priorities;
Hard-nosed Mandalay known for investments in
minor-league teams;
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firm heading to Moosic;
Mets representatives expected to tour Lackawanna
County Stadium today;
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Pens;
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Scranton a done deal?;
Authority will consider giving Cordaro power;
Yankees to SWB?
Where it's knit, knit, knit at the old ballgame
Posted May 16, 2007 (feedback)
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"Stitch
and Pitch" games, sponsored by the National
NeedleArts Association, bring knitters to Major
League Baseball games -- 23 of them this season.
The events are designed to promote knitting, but
they also have a profound effect on conversation
in the grandstands. In most of
RFK Stadium, the talk
Monday night was of the Nats finally sweeping a
series this season. But up in section 518, among
stitchers, the conversation was . . . different.
League committee to discuss Swing sale next week
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Prospective
owners of the Swing of the Quad Cities and the Low
Class A Midwest League’s five-member transfer and
expansion committee will meet next Tuesday in
suburban Chicago to discuss the proposed sale of
the Swing franchise. League president George
Spelius described the committee’s face-to-face
meeting with David Heller and Bob Herrfeldt as
"standard protocol"’ before the committee makes
its recommendation to the 14 league directors on
whether or not the sale of the club should be
approved.
Panel sees possibility on trip to Greenville
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Members
of Augusta's Downtown Stadium Exploratory
Committee visited Greenville, S.C., on Monday and
saw what effect the city's new ballpark,
West End Field,
has had on the downtown area. The committee toured
the area of Greenville where the 1-year-old
stadium is located. Members also spoke to city
officials, including Greenville Drive (Low Class
A; Sally League) owner Craig Brown and city
manager Jim Bourey. If Augusta needs a model for a
Lake Olmstead Stadium downtown replacement,
West End Field
is a perfect model: it's one of the best in the
minors.
Ticket sales boom for S.I. Yanks; now parking's a
concern
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First
the good news: Ticket sales for the Staten Island
Yankees (short season; NY-Penn League) are
surging. Now the bad: Like everybody else who does
business in St. George, the minor-league baseball
team is worried about parking. Twenty-one of the
38 games scheduled to be played at the Richmond
County Bank Ballpark are "close" to being sold
out, said Borough President James P. Molinaro, who
met recently with officials with Mandalay Baseball
Properties, the team's new owners.
Revs play before small crowd in 'home' opener
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With
a home ballpark delayed for a month while
construction goes on, the York Revolution
(independent; Atlantic League) played their "home"
opener at
Campbell's Field in Camden. When last night's
game was getting ready to start, Chris Hoiles
looked around the stadium and entertained the
thought that team officials forgot to unlock the
gates to let all the fans in. The crowd of 45
people was the smallest audience the York
Revolution manager could remember at any game in
his long career, and he even joked that the crowds
at his Little League games during his youth were
probably bigger. The evening started without a
national anthem, and casual conversations between
the few fans in attendance carried throughout the
ballpark.
Ten ways to improve Alliance Bank Stadium
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The
Syracuse newspaper lists 10 ways Alliance Bank
Stadium, the home of the Syracuse Chiefs (Class
AAA; International League), can be improved. Some
are no-brainers that have already been seriously
considered by the county and the team, including
tearing out the artificial turf and putting in
grass. Others are iffy, like changing the pants
the players wear (!). Still, the bigger point here
is that the ballpark should be overhauled to give
it more personality and a sense of history (and
there's a rich history of Syracuse baseball),
which is a good idea.
Saints believe there's room for two baseball teams
in the Twin Cities
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Despite
all the recent coverage of a new Minnesota Twins
ballpark and the inevitable buzz, the owners of
the St. Paul Saints (independent; American
Association) say they're not worried about losing
too many fans when the new outdoor ballpark opens
in 2010. Mike Veeck is absolutely right: the
Minneapolis-St. Paul is large enough for corporate
MLB baseball and lower-priced independent
baseball. (Indeed, we would have loved to been at
Midway Stadium to
chat about this with Mike, but team officials
haven't been organized well enough to issue press
credentials yet.) This article isn't purely
accurate about what's going on with a new
ballpark: we hear team officials continue to talk
with the University of Minnesota about a new
ballpark, and the possibility of waterfront
ballpark continues to be raised in political
circles by a developer.
Royle has a plan for Bullfrogs' success
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There
are two new teams in the summer-collegiate
Northwoods League this season, with Jeff Royle
buying in as the owner of the Green Bay Bullfrogs.
Royle's inspiration is the Madison Mallards
franchise, who came to
Warner Park after several Midwest League and
Northern League teams failed, and quickly caught
on as the most successful team in the league.
Royle hopes will put his team on track to draw
40,000 fans this season -- an average of a little
less than 1,200 for 34 home dates. We'd be very
surprised if he doesn't exceed that.
New players, same Outlaws
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The
Chico Outlaws (independent; Golden Baseball
League) are storming into summer, bringing along
team veterans and some fresh new faces in an
attempt to add to their winning record. But it's
not just about baseball. The Outlaws bring a full
show to home games that goes beyond the ball game,
said Rory Miller, the team's director of public
relations and media and the voice of the Outlaws.
"We describe the Outlaws as a fully contained
entertainment package that just happens to feature
a baseball game," Miller said. "We have some good,
quality professional baseball. But we surround
that with all sorts of things that families and
casual fans would enjoy."
Ballpark Notes
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The
Yuma Scorpions (independent; Golden
Baseball League) announced that manager Mike
Marshall has been named as their new
president. Marshall will continue his duties as
field manager of the Scorpions for the next two
seasons while also running the team’s day-to-day
business operations in his new role. Almost 30
years to the date of Atlanta Braves President Ted
Turner taking the field as Manager, which only
lasted for one game, Marshall is believed to be
the first professional Team President/Manager
since Connie Mack ended his onfield career with
the Philadelphia Athletics after the 1950 season.
Outlining initial plans for improving the
franchise, Marshall went on to say, “In addition
to great baseball, family entertainment, and
current promotions and events we also plan to
announce a Yuma Scorpions Baseball Academy for
youth players, a Hispanic outreach program that
will include at least two Noches de Beisbol at the
ballpark and acceptance of pesos at all Scorpion
games, a local Yuma Scorpions Board of Directors
along with local team ownership possibilities,
increased support of the Yuma Scorpions Booster
Club, facilities improvements at Desert Sun
Stadium, and much greater activity in the
community by the Scorpion’s players with the
schools, hospital, and other charitable
organizations....The Long Beach Armada
(independent; Golden Baseball League) announced
that Steven Bash is the team's new Chairman
and President. Bash, 34, was the managing partner
of the Long Beach Ice Dogs professional
hockey team. The Ice Dogs announced they would be
suspending play in Long Beach for the upcoming
hockey season. Bash is also a member of Bash
Entertainment, LLC, a sports and entertainment
company representing professional athletes with an
emphasis on the business of professional
boxing....The Pittsburgh Pirates are
joining the list of MLB teams offering paperless
ticketing via cell phone....
Twins ballpark construction begins Monday
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Things
move fast in the big city, as construction on a
new Minnesota Twins ballpark is slated to begin
next Monday, as the Twins and members of the
ballpark authority laid out a timeline for
construction at a press conference this morning.
For many in the area, the most immediate
inconvenience will be the closing of Third Avenue
south of Washington Avenue, with crews descending
on the Rapid Park site to begin tearing up
concrete and laying the prep work for the
ballpark's bowl. The new ballpark is slated to
open in 2010.
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Hennepin County Board approves ballpark sales tax;
It's official: Twins to switch broadcast rights to
KSTP-AM;
Twins to switch broadcast partner after 46 seasons;
Twins seek partners for naming rights,
sponsorships;
Twins searching for trademark ballpark design;
Hennepin County OKs spending plan for Twins
ballpark;
Naming rights options scary;
More than a ballpark in Minneapolis
Charlotte approves Knights ballpark deal
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The
Charlotte City Council voted 8-3 Monday night for
a land swap as part of Mecklenburg County's plan
to bring new parks, affordable housing and a
ballpark to uptown Charlotte. The county is
assembling various properties to build two new
parks and secure a stadium for the Charlotte
Knights (Class AAA: International League), who now
play in
Fort
Mill, S.C. To make the deal work, the county
needed agreements with Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Schools and the city, both of which own some of
the properties. The school board approved its
agreement last week. Next up: Mecklenburg County
must work out on a deal with developers on the
housing portion of the plan; the Knights are
working on a financing plan for theirs. Charlotte
attorney Jerry Reese, who is seeking to bring MLB
to Charlotte and sees the minor-league ballpark as
an impediment to his plans, remains a presence;
he's already filed suit against the school
district to contest their part of the land swap,
but it's not known if he's contemplating any other
lawsuits designed to derail the deal.
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Deal in works for uptown Charlotte ballpark
Teams will have to wait and see on the Ballpark's
impact
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As
assistant general manager of the Atlanta Braves --
who spend their springs training at Disney World
-- Frank Wren has seen as many major-league
exhibitions at
The Ballpark
at Disney's Wide World of Sports as anyone.
But even Wren doesn't know how the ballpark will
play for major-league regular-season games in mid
May, and that's an issue as the Tampa Bay Devil
Rays prepare to host the Texas Rangers there
tonight in the start of a three-game series. If
the experiences of the Orlando Rays (Class AA;
Southern League), who formerly played at
The Ballpark
at Disney's Wide World of Sports,
holds true, you can expect to see a pretty
straightforward experience -- the ball will carry
OK, but the wind will be the wild card.
More on the work involved in moving a
regular-season game to a neutral site.
More from the Orlando Sentinel.
The Devil Rays say the trip to Orlando is not a
prelude to a move.
RELATED STORIES:
This time, Disney games will count
Academic reforms for baseball may be overturned
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Emergency
legislation adopted last month by the NCAA Board
of Directors to improve college baseball's
academic record is facing opposition from member
schools who might force an override of the
reforms. Key elements in the legislation
(effective in 2008-09) require players to be
academically eligible in the fall in order to
compete in the spring and eliminates the one-time
transfer exemption. What has drawn broad criticism
from coaches is requiring scholarships to be
divided into nothing smaller than 33% and capping
the players on scholarship at 27.
Local fans anxious to see Revolution take the
field
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After
more than a decade of talk about bringing baseball
back, York has its own professional team in the
form of the York Revolution (independent; Atlantic
League). Hours before the players loaded a bus
bound for Bridgeport, Conn., for their first game,
they were giving autographs to fans in the loft of
Cobblestone's Restaurant and Sports Emporium in
York City. Most of the players have spent just a
day or two in York, but they say they've gotten a
warm reception, including honks from passing cars
as they walk through town in uniform. The
Revolution open at home on June 15.
Dodger Dogs out at the plate?
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The
Dodger Dog long has been a delicacy for many Los
Angeles baseball fans at
Dodger Stadium,
but a group of animal rights activists can't
stomach them any longer. In a letter sent Monday
to Dodgers owner Frank McCourt, the team was urged
to end its ties "with Farmer John and its cruelly
produced pork products." The plea came from
Stephen Wells, executive director of the Animal
Legal Defense Fund, a Sonoma County- based
nonprofit organization that is the lead plaintiff
in a pending lawsuit against Farmer John and
Corcpork, one of its suppliers, based in Corcoran,
Calif. Camille Johnston, a Dodgers spokeswoman,
said late Monday she couldn't comment on the
letter from the animal rights group. She said she
was told of the letter late in the day and was not
able to reach Farmer John officials.
Injured Sky Sox personality "a treasure"
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The
man behind the fun at Colorado Springs Sky Sox
(Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) games, the
enthusiastic personality who launches T-shirts
with a slingshot and shakes his booty with the
team mascot, is hurting. Rai Henniger, 47, the Sky
Sox's vice president of marketing and promotions,
was placing a commercial-grade fireworks shell in
a cylinder about 3 p.m. Saturday -- two hours
before game time -- when the mortar exploded, said
Colorado Springs Fire Lt. Julie Stone. The husband
and father of three children is in serious
condition with facial injuries at Denver Health
Medical Center. Stone said investigators were
trying to talk to the fireworks manufacturer, and
it would be at least until the end of the week
before officials know what went wrong.
RELATED STORIES:
Sky Sox worker seriously hurt in accident
South Korea's first domed stadium to be built near
Seoul by 2012
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South
Korea's first domed ballpark for baseball will be
built in a city near Seoul by 2012, the national
governing body of baseball and city officials said
Tuesday. Hyundai Engineering and Construction Co.,
one of the country's leading construction
companies, is to break ground early next year for
the stadium, while Hyundai Securities Co. will
raise funds for it. The ballpark will have a
retractable roof and natural grass. A department
store, hotel or shopping mall will be built in the
stadium to facilitate fund raising. Details of its
plan and design, such as the number of seats and
size, are to be decided later this year. The
ballpark is envisioned as the home of the defunct
Hyundai Unicorns and possible World Baseball
Classic games.
Astros offer downloadable data, video/audio at
ballpark
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It's
not the first attempt to offer downloadable data
at the ballpark -- the San Francisco Giants
offered something similar for Palm Pilot users at
AT&T Park years
ago, and soccer's Arsenal does so currently at its
stadium -- but
this is definitely something we'll see other teams
do in the future. The Houston Astros are offering
video and audio clips, game information, ticket
offers and other goodies to fans at
Minute Maid
Park, using their Bluetooth-enabled cellphones
to download the data from specially marked
Bluetooth.
Pelicans to host 2008 Carolina/Cal All-Star Game
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The
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (High Class A; Carolina
League) announced that the club will host the 2008
California League vs. Carolina League All-Star
Game. The mid-summer classic will be held June
24, 2008, at Coastal Federal Field. "On behalf of
the entire Pelicans family, we are excited to have
the opportunity to bring the All-Star Game to
Myrtle Beach," said Pelicans President and
Managing Partner Chuck Greenberg. "It’s a great
honor for any franchise and we are looking forward
to making this a once-in-a-lifetime memory and
experience for the community and all of the
participants." The format for the All-Star Game
features the best players from the Carolina League
against the top players in the California League.
'Topes to honor Dodgers, Dukes at Triple-A
All-Star Game
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The
majority of the infield that made Major League
Baseball history by staying intact for 11 years
will reunite in Albuquerque for the Triple-A
All-Star Fan Fest at the Albuquerque Convention
Center on July 7 and July 8. Los Angeles Dodgers
legends Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, and Bill Russell,
who also spent time in Albuquerque as members of
the Dukes (the Pacific Coast League predecessor to
the Isotopes), headline a long list of former
players in attendance as the Isotopes pay homage
to the great tradition of the Dukes and Dodgers.
Garvey, Cey, and Russell will join other former
Dodgers and Dukes such as outfielder Mike
Marshall, Jerry Royster, Jack Perconte, and Terry
McDermott, among others, who will all be present
at the Fan Fest signing autographs for free to the
public.
Fan Fest, presented by Lovelace Health System and the City of
Albuquerque, is part of the five days worth of
festivities surrounding the Triple-A All-Star
Fiesta. The autograph session is but one element
of Fan Fest, which is packed with activities
spread out over 50,000 square feet. Fans will be
able to peruse exhibits outlining the history of
baseball in Albuquerque as well as the history of
the Triple-A All-Star Game, while kids can take
part in a host of interactive games, including a
speed pitch, batting cage, base-stealing
challenge, and a wiffle-ball stadium made to look
like Isotopes Park. The Fan Fest will also feature
live entertainment by local musical groups as well
as a collector’s showcase where local vendors will
set-up booths displaying baseball cards,
memorabilia, and other rare collectibles.
AT&T Park's power drain
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While
we're not the biggest boosters of Barry Bonds, you've got to admit one thing:
steroids or not, he's hit a lot of homers at
AT&T Park,
where the high right-field wall and the winds coming in off the bay serve to
frustrate most left-handed sluggers. Since 2000, the San Francisco Giant has hit
151 home runs at AT&T Park and 149 on the road. And for seven seasons before
2000, Bonds played at Candlestick Park -- a cold, windy, inhospitable place that
served to dampen more homers.
Petco winds are stifling the sluggers
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Speaking
of ballparks that don't reward power hitters: Petco
Park is still a difficult place to hit a homer -- and it may be getting
worse. In spring training, General Manager Kevin Towers speculated that because
of the offseason construction of high-rise buildings in downtown San Diego,
balls might carry better at Petco Park this year.
It doesn't appear that is the case. In fact, Padres right fielder Brian Giles
reported yesterday that winds are swirling behind him in right field, resisting
drives, rather than boosting them.
Miracle to light sky with lasers
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Here's
one way to react to the drought and wildfires plaguing Florida: the Fort Myers
Miracle (High Class A; Florida State League) are replacing fireworks with a
laser light show for their May 26 and June 9 games. Southwest Florida and other
parts of the state have been plagued with a rash of brush fires for several
weeks because of dry conditions.
At Drillers Stadium, there's also baseball
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The
Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) offers free haircuts at afternoon games,
but haircuts aren't all you get during weekday afternoon games at the minor
league ballpark. There are free shoe shines, massages and blood pressure
screenings. And there's also baseball. The Drillers' approach of offering more
than baseball at their games has helped them average more than 300,000 fans per
season for the past 15 years. Tulsa was the first Texas League franchise to
surpass 300,000 fans for 10 consecutive seasons.
JackHammers' business is booming
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The
opening game for the Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League) Thursday
ushers in a season of baseball bingo, bobblehead giveaways and a circuslike
assortment of promotions that have become as customary to
Silver Cross Field as minor league
baseball itself. The promotions and corporate sponsorship team has been busy
through the offseason, lining up more than 125 business partners who put their
names on such things as Harris Bank Opening Night, which is Thursday, and the
State Farm Insurance Cinco de Junio Celebration on June 5. With baseball just
two days away, there's still plenty of time to link up with the JackHammers for
promotions this year, said Victoria Loughrey, director of corporate sales.
Webster ballpark work is halted
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Work
has been stopped on a new ballpark at Empire Park
because the project may have impinged on a
wetland. Gunther K. Buerman, a volunteer with the
Webster Yankee Stadium Corp., a nonprofit group
created to lease a portion of the park from the
town and build the ballpark, said the project was
halted after representatives of the state
Department of Environmental Conservation and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers visited the site on
May 7. The new field will be home to the Webster
Yankees (summer collegiate; NYCBL). The Webster
Yankees amateur baseball team issued a news
release Monday saying the field would not be ready
for any games this summer because of construction
delays caused by late winter weather. Home games
this season will be played at Thomas High School
in Webster, at St. John Fisher College in
Pittsford and at Monroe Community College in
Brighton.
Ballpark Notes
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The
Ottawa Lynx (Class AAA; International
League) and Rogers Television 22 are proud
to announce their broadcast schedule for the 2007
season. Twenty-five Lynx home games will air this
season, including three games in May, six games in
June, seven games in July, six in August and all
three Lynx games in September. The schedule starts
this Friday, May 18th as the Lynx host the Buffalo
Bisons at 6:00 p.m. "We are looking forward to
another terrific season of Lynx Baseball on Rogers
Television 22," said Lynx General Manager Kyle
Bostwick. "Rogers Television continues to provide
great coverage of the Lynx and all of local sports
in Ottawa, we're exciting to be working together
for our 15th Anniversary season."... Otis
Elevator Company, a unit of United
Technologies Corp., won a $5 million contract to
supply and install its environmentally friendly
and energy-efficient Gen2 elevators for
Citi Field,
the new home of the New York Mets,
scheduled to open in 2009....
Lee: No FL/NL discussions underway
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Independent
Frontier League Commissioner Bill Lee contacted us over the
weekend to announce there are no merger
discussions between his league and the independent
Northern League, despite some published reports to
the contrary late last week: "We did have
discussions as to how we can work together to show
more unity between the Leagues and how we can work
to improve the entire industry of Independent
Professional Baseball together. We discussed
possible marketing efforts and because of the
proximity of some of our clubs, the benefits of
playing exhibition games. That is all. Perhaps
this is the feeling of one of our minority owners,
but it is not the feeling of the Board of
Directors or myself.
"The Northern League and the Frontier League are the two
oldest Independent Leagues and are both great
Leagues. We both have a niche for players and
markets. I can only speak on behalf of the
Frontier League, but our clubs and Board of
Directors are very happy with where we have come.
We respect the Northern League and have a good
relationship with them." Last week Rockford
RiverHawks owner Dave Ciarrachi was quoted in the
Rockford paper about merger discussions and his
hope that they would be fruitful. Traverse City
Beach Bums co-owner
Leslye Wuerfel played down any talks of a merger,
saying there were some economic differences
(salary cap) and age issues (the maximum age in
the Frontier League is 27, and we know of at least
two Northern League owners who would be unwilling
to budge on this issue) between the two leagues.
RELATED STORIES:
Frontier, Northern League merger talks underway?
Reno
is closer to Triple-A baseball
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The
Washoe County Board of Commissioners will discuss Tuesday a recommendation to
enter into a pre-development and finance agreement with an investment group to
build a ballpark, county assistant manager John Berkich said Friday. The group
is headed by Jerry and Stuart Katzoff, a father and son from New York, and
Indiana Pacers co-owner Herb Simon; the trio say they have entered into a
purchase agreement to buy a Class AAA Pacific Coast League team. Interestingly,
this group is working independently of RED Development, which has worked for
more than a year to bring a Class AAA team to a new ballpark in Sparks as part
of a larger development, although the new group is counting on accessing
ballpark funds dedicated from the proceeds of a local rental-car tax. PCL
President Branch Rickey III declined to name the team that would possibly move,
but the Tucson Sidewinders would be the obvious contender.
RELATED STORIES:
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project;
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in Reno;
Sparks still in hunt for Triple-A team
Knights in talks on financing new ballpark
Posted May 14, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) have begun talks with
Wachovia Corp. and Bank of America Corp. for financing to cover construction
costs for a proposed $35-million ballpark and an additional $8 million in
related infrastructure improvements, team officials say. The latter amount,
under a deal proposed by the county, would be repaid through annual tax rebates
of $700,000 for 20 years. County leaders say the revamped infrastructure plan
was crafted to remove the sale of Spirit Square from the complicated land swap. Supporters
say the notion of using part of the taxes generated by the Knights' privately
funded ballpark to repay the team for infrastructure ensures additional revenue
by getting the team uptown. A study by UNC Charlotte economist John Connaughton
previously projected the Knights' ballpark would generate $1 million or more in
new tax revenue. Critics say the economic grant represents an investment of tax
dollars in the ballpark -- a funding source that supporters on the
county board vowed to avoid.
A key vote on the
complicated land swap needed to procure land for the ballpark is slated for
tonight. Meanwhile,
Charlotte
attorney Jerry Reese has gone to court to block
part of the land swap. Reese says the local
school board should have opened their part of the
land swap for bids; he's the same guy who promised
to bring Major League Baseball to Charlotte.
RELATED STORIES:
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in land swap for baseball;
County moves forward on Knights ballpark plan;
A new season for Knights, but same old battles;
More time wanted for Charlotte baseball deal;
Officials: Arts
sale not about sports;
Ballpark land swap
still in play for reshaping Charlotte;
Could new Charlotte
ballpark be delayed by lawsuit?;
Land deal for Charlotte
ballpark advances;
Diehl plans fight over Charlotte ballpark;
Mecklenburg County set for baseball deal role;
Charlotte Council seeks answers on baseball;
Uptown park for Knights makes sense;
Charlotte council gets update on baseball plan;
Chamber: poll shows overwhelming support for
Knights ballpark;
Backers urge: Make noise for Charlotte ballpark;
A slow curve in Charlotte;
Charlotte ballpark land swap seen as feasible;
Charlotte Knights select Barton Malow to oversee
ballpark construction;
Hard days for Knights;
Knights see more fans, but lag league;
Knights select Odell Associates, HOK to design new
ballpark;
Knights meet with potential architects;
Competing plans for baseball parks in Charlotte;
The big pitch for uptown baseball in Charlotte;
Charlotte turns to funding plans for ballpark;
Will Charlotte ballpark be magnet for growth?;
Third Ward residents object to new Knights
ballpark;
Uptown baseball in Charlotte may cost city $5
million;
Charlotte ballpark plan now turns to question of
real estate;
Arts package heads the agenda for city funding,
but baseball is now up to bat with a new plan;
Uptown ballpark plan has some rally-killers;
Deal in works for uptown Charlotte ballpark
This time, Disney games will count
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A
little baseball history will be written when the
Tampa Bay Devil Rays play the Texas Rangers at the
Ballpark
at Disney's Wide World of Sports this week.
Three games, scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday at 7:10 p.m., will mark the first time
regular-season Major League games are played in a
ballpark used regularly for spring training. The
9,500-seat Ballpark at Disney's Wide World of
Sports is the spring home of the Atlanta Braves.
But it is the Devil Rays, who have been struggling
on the field and at the gate, who came up with the
idea. Ticket sales for the series have been lower
than anticipated; we're not sure the wildfires
raging in Florida will help things any.
Bombers set to 'play ball' in Bennington
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Jack
Appelman, owner and president of the Bennington
Bombers (summer collegiate; New York Collegiate
Baseball League), and Karen Gross, president of
Southern Vermont College, signed an agreement that
will allow the team to play at the college.
Appelman had planned to build his own ballpark,
but the high cost of cleaning up his preferred
ballpark site put those plans on hold. By next
week, renovations overseen by James Secor of the
Bennington firm, MacDonald-Secor Associates,
should be under way at the field at Southern
Vermont College, off Monument Avenue Extension.
According to Appelman, changes are expected to
include the addition of bleachers to seat about
500, dugouts, a press box and a scoreboard. It's
currently a one-year deal.
RELATED STORIES:
Bennington ballpark stalls;
Bennington
ballpark gets positive feedback;
Bennington board to review proposal for ballpark;
Town reviews ballpark plans
Midweek Series start could leave Fox, baseball in
the cold
Posted May 14, 2007 (feedback)
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Major
League Baseball and Fox will make it official
Monday: the World Series on Fox this fall will
start on a Wednesday -- not the usual Saturday.
And for the first time, a potential Series game
will be scheduled for November. We just can't wait
to be at the new Minnesota Twins ballpark in the
first week of November 2011, watching a grizzled
Torri Hunter trying to keep his hands warm when
the temperature at gametime is a balmy 20. The
season is already too long; extending it into
November and serious football weather seems
suicidal.
Sky Sox worker seriously hurt in accident
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Colorado
Springs Sky Sox (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League)
Sky Sox Senior Vice President of Marketing and
Promotions suffered a serious accident before
Saturday's game that has him and his family
working through a very difficult time. Before the
game, the 47 year-old Henniger was setting up the
pyrotechnics for that evening’s baseball game when
a sudden accident occurred. It left Henniger with
serious injuries to his face and he was rushed to
the hospital. Henniger has been a member of the
Colorado Springs community and the Sky Sox family
for over 17 years, now serving as the team’s
on-field emcee and directing the team's
between-inning events. To send a card to Henninger
and his family, address it to Care of "The
Henniger Family," 4385 Tutt Blvd., Colorado
Springs, CO 80922.
More teams curtail beer in clubhouses
Posted May 14, 2007 (feedback)
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Four
MLB teams now decline to offer beer in visitors'
clubhouses, and more teams are expected to do so.
With 12 of the 30 MLB teams now banning beer in
the home clubhouse, there will be discussions
among the remaining teams about continuing the
practice. You won't see it totally disappear --
the Brewers will offer free beer from Miller
Brewing because it would counter the image set
forth in the naming-rights deal for Miller Park --
but after the death of Josh Hancock after driving
drunk teams are much more aware of image and
consequences.
RELATED STORIES:
Cops: Hancock drunk at time of accident;
Drinking starts in the clubhouse;
In memoriam: Josh Hancock
Some Ports followers live up to 'fanatic' title
Posted May 14, 2007 (feedback)
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In
the ever-evolving world of minor-league baseball,
they are the constants. The players change, the
managers and coaches change and even the
front-office officials change. But the superfans
remain. They are fans that attend almost every
game and follow the team religiously all season,
and the Stockton Ports (High Class A; California
League) have many of them. Their faces are as
familiar in Stockton
Ballpark as the players. Most of them have
been with the Ports since the days of Billy Hebert
Field, so they are driving a bandwagon that's
gotten pretty full the past three seasons. Patrick
Berg wears an authentic Ports jersey to every game
and listens to Zack Bayrouty's play-by-play call
via headphones during the game. He has been
attending Ports games since 1981 and the team
selected him as one of the fans to throw out a
first pitch during Memorial Day weekend in 2005.
A's have familiar blueprint for boosting
attendance
Posted May 14, 2007 (feedback)
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Thanks
to Oakland A's owner Lew Wolff, the San Francisco
Giants finally have something to worry about in
their attendance war with their cross-bay
adversary -- and they can blame themselves for
providing the inspiration. The Giants' model for
success has been as much
their downtown
ballpark as Barry Bonds. Ever since the
ballpark-by-the-bay opened in 2000, they have
joined elite baseball franchises by attracting
more than 3 million paying customers annually.
While they have played in their jewel box, the A's
have been as successful afield, but their
football-friendly ballpark,
McAfee
Coliseum, is often referred to as the
"Mausoleum." Instead of using clever sayings to
mock the Giants -- "They build ballparks; we build
champions" comes to mind -- Wolff would rather
fight them at their own game. In this case, it's a
proposed 32,000-seat ballpark in nearby Fremont.
RELATED STORIES:
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Toxic hazard
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A's tout Cisco Field in ticket mailer;
Will global warming swamp AT&T Park, new A's
ballpark?;
A's owner not sweating lack of BART at Fremont
ballpark site;
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Fremont ballpark;
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Cisco blending tech and baseball;
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More meetings with A's slated after new year;
Fremont kicks off negotiations with the A's;
A's detail Fremont
plans down to the letter;
San Jose still ponders illusory ballpark;
Transit teams try to solve Cisco Field
'challenges';
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A's plan $400 million to $500 million ballpark
village in Fremont;
New A's ballpark would boast heavy Cisco tech;
The next big thing: the San Jose A's?;
A's ready to pull trigger on new Fremont ballpark;
Oakland City Council grants A's extension;
A's could move away;
A's owner Wolff buys prospective ballpark land in
Fremont;
Fremont looking more and more like future home of
Oakland A's;
A's not ready to slide out of Oakland yet;
A's pass on longer lease for McAfee Coliseum;
Owner gives up on moving A's to San Jose;
A's to decide ballpark fate by end of season;
Fremont's attempt to lure A's running into
obstacles;
'Let's plan for A's move,' Coliseum agency told;
San Jose voters jeer ballpark plan;
Wolff wants to keep A's in Bay Area;
A's, Fremont near deal;
A's must stay, Oakland mayor candidates say;
A's close to deal for Fremont ballpark, officials
say;
Rumors trail A's search for new ballpark;
A's owner in Fremont for meetings;
Wolff says there's land for new A's ballpark in
Fremont;
A's officials confirm interest in new Fremont
ballpark;
A's take long look at Fremont ballpark site;
The San Jose A's of Fremont?;
San Jose will buy land for A's ballpark;
Will smaller mean better for the A's?;
A's committed to intimate 34,000 park in '06;
A's owner's new plan for ballpark;
Talks for new A's ballpark sputter;
Soccer stadium throws curve at San Jose baseball
plan;
A's ownership group wants to buy MLS expansion
team for San Jose;
Athletics denied 3-year Coliseum lease extension;
A's ballpark: 'Baseball Village' in the vision
stage;
Planning ahead to get A's to San Jose;
San Jose buys first parcel of land for ballpark;
Land acquisition for San Jose ballpark may cost
$100 million;
San Jose goes to bat for ballpark property;
Fremont will consider a pitch for A's;
Wolff on the hunt for more A's fans, new ballpark;
Oakland ballpark village plan designed to win
allies, public funds;
Wolff's vision of ballpark raises questions;
Wolff unveils plans for 35,000-seat ballpark near
Coliseum;
A's owner to offer specific ballpark plan to keep
team in Oakland;
Have A's settled on new ballpark site?;
Smallball suits Lew Wolff just fine;
A's think small with stadium plans;
Fremont politicians make a pitch for A's;
A's say Coliseum lot isn't feasible;
Athletics announce committee
to plan new Oakland ballpark;
Another San Jose site eyed
for baseball;
The time has come for new
A's ballpark;
No specifics on new Oakland
ballpark, but plans in the works;
San Jose quits discussions
on cannery;
Wolff about to take over;
Going to bat for A's is big
opportunity for San Jose mayor;
Wolff: A's ballpark already
in works;
Deal near for San Jose
cannery site;
For A's, way to San Jose
paved with uncertainty;
San Jose baseball crusader
makes his pitch;
A's sale could happen
quickly;
Sale of A's to heighten San
Jose intrigue;
BART to the ballpark, what a
vision;
Another San Jose pitch for
baseball;
San Jose mayor makes his
pitch;
Q&A with A's new owner Lew
Wolff
Reds score with amenities, attendance, media fees
Posted May 14, 2007 (feedback)
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The
ownership rule of Bob Castellini has not only
improved the Cincinnati Reds' on-field
performance, it's improved the financial results,
too. The Reds were the seventh-most profitable
team in Major League Baseball last year, despite
playing in one of its smaller markets. The club
netted $22.4 million in operating income last
year, according to Forbes magazine's annual
estimate of Major League Baseball teams' financial
results. That's up 22 percent from last year's $18
million figure and is just $1 million shy of the
highest level since at least 1998, Forbes said.
High cost delays Ole Miss ballpark
Posted May 14, 2007 (feedback)
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Ole
Miss' plan to kick off the 2008 baseball season in
an expanded and renovated ballpark will not become
a reality. After meeting with university
representatives and architects late last week, Ole
Miss athletic director Pete Boone said it's clear
the original timeframe for the project will not be
met. The snag came last month when Ole Miss
received bids from construction companies
interested in renovating and expanding the
ballpark. Instead of the $10 to $12 million
estimated by the Jackson-based architecture firm
Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons, construction companies
placed bids for $18 million. Boone and the
architects will spend the next few months to find
ways to drive down the cost.
Ballpark Notes
Posted May 14, 2007 (feedback)
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The
Sioux Falls Canaries (independent; American
Association) will honor their former public
address announcer, Dan Christopherson, with
a fundraiser in his memory to assist the
Megan’s Fund for Children’s Books on Thursday,
May 31. The Canaries will team up with local
businesses to create a fan-a-thon for the evening.
For each fan in attendance at the May 31 game, the
Canaries and local partners will donate money to
the Megan’s Fund for Children’s Books. With two
and a half weeks to go in fundraising efforts, the
Canaries have already raised $2.50 per fan. Local
businesses can contact the Canaries to make their
pledge. The team will accept both per fan pledges,
as well as, traditional donations.
Ballpark referendum passes in Grand Prairie
Posted May 13, 2007 (feedback)
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Voters
approved a proposition late Saturday which would
allow the city to levy a one-eighth-cent sales tax
to pay for a ballpark for an independent American
Association team that could cost $16 million. With
all precincts reporting, 54 percent of the vote
was for Proposition 2; 46 percent was against it,
according to unofficial results. The Texas Rangers
oppose the 6,000-seat ballpark, which is to be
built between Lone Star Park and Nokia Theatre,
about seven miles east of
Rangers Ballpark
in Arlington. A petition signed by more than
5,000 people opposing the proposed ballpark was
presented to the City Council this month. We're
not entirely sure the Rangers were necessarily
interested in protecting
Rangers Ballpark
in Arlington so much as a potential Class AAA
ballpark in downtown Dallas; we've reported on the
past that the owners of the Tacoma Rainiers (Class
AAA; Pacific Coast League), Schlegel Sports -- who
have deep Texas roots and some ties to the Rangers
-- have looked at a downtown Dallas ballpark. In
fact, the group has consulted about selling the
Rainiers, buying another PCL team (probably the
Tucson Sidewinders) and then setting up shop in a
new downtown Dallas ballpark, all done in
conjunction with the Rangers as part of a larger
real-estate venture. The Rangers ownership has a
history of doing this sort of thing -- witness the
Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League).
RELATED STORIES:
Minor-league ballpark debate continues in Grand
Prairie;
In Grand Prairie election,
it's what's outside that matters;
Rangers donate to anti-ballpark group;
Tax plan to fund Grand Prairie ballpark is debated;
Rangers oppose Grand Prairie ballpark;
Grand Prairie to hold "name the team" contest;
Plans for new Grand Prairie ballpark unveiled;
American Association expands to Grand Prairie
Another baseball contender in Fort Collins: the
American Association
Posted May 13, 2007 (feedback)
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We
have a third contender seeking to bring baseball
to Fort Collins, Col.: the independent American
Association in the form of National Sports
Services (NSS), who wants to bring a team to
Larimer County's fairgrounds complex -- known as
the Ranch -- by 2009. Larimer County commissioners
are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding
Tuesday with NSS that would allow both parties to
explore building a ballpark on the fairgrounds
complex. The Budweiser Events Center at the
fairgrounds already hosts CHL hockey and AFL2
arena football. At first glance, this doesn't seem
like a good fit: county officials are upfront
about wanting to host rodeo at the venue, and
apart from the ballpark that hosts the occasional
rodeo (like CONSOL Enegy Park), there's no venue
consistently holding both kinds of events, and
you'd need to have a ballpark with rock-hard
artificial turf and movable bleachers. NSS has
been working on a Commerce City ballpark as well,
but so far nothing has been submitted to league
officials.
RELATED STORIES:
Ballpark battle beginning in Fort Collins?;
Foxes still seeking location for their new 'Den'
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