Wirz: Atlantic League launches Independent League season
Posted April 28, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The new Independent Baseball season launches Friday when the Atlantic League, which traditionally is the first to open and the last to finish, begins its ninth year. The other six leagues start between May 8 (Northern League) and June 1 (Golden League). The Atlantic League plays a different role from the other leagues, not only with a longer schedule (126 games per team this season) but also concentrating largely on loading up on players with more higher level experience.

MiLB, umpires reach settlement
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Representatives of Minor League Baseball and the Association of Minor League Umpires (AMLU) reached tentative agreement on a new six-year deal that will end this season's umpire strike. After two full days of mediation in Cincinnati, federal ediator Lou Manchise made a recommendation that proved acceptable to both sides.
    The AMLU bargaining committee agreed to unanimously recommend the deal for a membership ratification vote, the results of which should be known on Monday, May 1. If the agreement is ratified, the strikers will be returned to work on or before May 8. Specifics of the deal will not be released by Minor League Baseball or the AMLU until after the ratification process has been completed.

In memoriam: Steve Howe
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Former major-league pitcher Steve Howe, whose tenure in baseball was marked by tremendous highs and repeated substance-abuse problems, died at the age of 48 when his pick-up truck rolled over in Coachella, California.
    The left-handed closer was the Los Angeles Dodgers first-round pick in the 1979 draft. In his first season out of the University of Michigan, Howe set a then-record for the Dodgers recording 17 saves en route to winning Rookie of the Year honors. In 1981, Howe helped the Dodgers to win the World Series. In 12 seasons at the Major League level with the Dodgers, Twins, Rangers and Yankees, Howe compiled a career record of 47-41 while saving 91 games.
    After his Major League career ended in 1996, Howe came to the Sioux Falls Canaries (independent; Northern League) in 1997. In 12 relief appearances that season, Howe was 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA and one save. Howe held opponents to a paltry .170 batting average while pitching for the Canaries.

City of Richmond, Braves down to last few swings
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More on the public debate over a new ballpark for the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League). The city's plan for a ballpark at the former Fulton Gas Works seems to have atrophied, the team's current home is crumbling, and Braves management seems paralyzed while the parent corporation is sold. The issue is whether Liberty Media will end up shedding the Braves' minor-league franchises -- the R-Braves, the Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League) and the Rome Braves (Class A; Sally League) -- since they fall outside of the media firm's core business.
    RELATED STORIES: Richmond talks about new ballpark -- without the R-Braves; What do the Braves mean to Richmond?; R-Braves cite new ballpark proposals; Richmond Braves say concerns go unanswered; Communications breakdown in Richmond; Wilder: Braves balking on downtown ballpark; Wilder worries about silence from Braves; Developer joins ballpark initiative; Fans hail R-Braves' decision to stay in Richmond; Braves to stay in Richmond, Wilder says; Minor attractions in Richmond: Part Three; R-Braves give Richmond ultimatum: new ballpark or we're history; Minor attractions in Richmond; Richmond ballpark search hits rock bottom; New site for Richmond Braves ballpark causes debate; Ballpark project for Richmond's Shockoe Bottom seems dead; Atlanta Braves may be up for sale; News expected in Richmond ballpark situation; Shockoe committee report won’t include ballpark; Developers threaten historic slave-trade site; Richmond hires man who led N.H. projects; Richmond ballpark gets gets financial backer; Phone isn’t ringing for owner of The Diamond; Richmond Braves back to The Diamond?; Wilder speaks out on proposed Richmond ballpark; Braves again make pitch for ballpark; Richmond putting a squeeze play on Braves?; City says 'show me the money' for arts center and ballpark; Richmond ballpark plan has makings of solid transaction; Richmond ballpark plan strikes out on site, economics, financing; Wilder quits role in Richmond group; Threat not part of deal for Richmond ballpark; Braves getting outside pitches; Braves or bust?; Drains a strain on Richmond ballpark plan?; Wilder: Stadium proposal lacks details; Richmond ballpark questions remain; Richmond Braves assume role as developer; New ballpark plan for Shockoe Bottom; Proposed ballpark may rescue flood-damaged Richmond area; Global ballpark bid asks much from D.C.; Protests drowned out at rally for Shockoe Bottom ballpark; The Boulevard blues

Las Vegas ballpark talk put on hold again
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Las Vegas city and county officials on Wednesday announced the formation of a task force to study whether Las Vegas needs a new arena, a move that would seem to kill any plans to build a new ballpark for the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) as a replacement for 23-year-old Cashman Field. Don Logan of the 51s has been advocating a ballpark for the 51s that could be expanded should a MLB team move to Sin City, but that apparently has gone by the wayside. Of course, if a new arena is built, that would free up some pretty valuable land where Thomas & Mack Center now sits...land that would be perfect for a Mandalay-style mixed-use development with a ballpark in the center.

Richmonders hear Nashville ballpark plan
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For a group of Richmond, Va., city planners, listening to Glenn Yaeger talk about his efforts to build a new downtown ballpark for the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) must have been deja vu, as it was similar to efforts to bring a new ballpark for the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League) to that city's Shockoe Bottom area. One important fact: in Nashville, it was Yeager who personally willed this ballpark into being, not city officials. There's no one in the Braves front office pushing for a new ballpark, and no one is unlikely to do so until something changes with the team's uncertain ownership future.

R-Braves struggling on field and aren't drawing fans either
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Speaking of the Richmond Braves: the team is struggling on the field and isn't drawing fans to home games at The Diamond. The public has a good sense of who really wants to business in their town, and the seeming apathy from the team's front office on the whole ballpark issues seems to have dampened interest in the R-Braves. Yes, Mayor Doug Wilder botched the whole new-ballpark situation on so, so many levels, but ultimately the team is responsible for its own public image.

Tax district could help fund Marlins ballpark
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City of Hialeah and Miami-Dade County officials are exploring using property taxes generated on industrial and office park development proposed for western Hialeah to help raise funds for a Florida Marlins ballpark that could be built in the area. Officials say it's too soon to say how much money could be raised by creating a tax increment financing district in which a portion of property taxes on new development could be designated for a ballpark. The Marlins have until May 15 to tell San Antonio officials if they want to pursue a new ballpark in that Texas city; the deadline seems to have stirred officials in Florida to act -- which was precisely the point.
    RELATED STORIES: New funding plan proposed for Marlins ballpark in Hialeah; Development OK'd for potential Marlins ballpark site in Hialeah; Hopes fade in pursuit of Marlins; Marlins have until May 15 to decide about San Antonio move; Wolff plans to give Marlins a deadline; Loria wants Marlins' fate decided soon; House-hunting for Marlins on hold, for now; Willis, ballpark deal key issues for Marlins; Is Texas big enough for three MLB teams?; San Antonio makes first pitch to Marlins owner; Loria: Marlins seriously talking with San Antonio; Will Florida Marlins jump into San Antonio's net?; San Antonio officials get an invite Nolan Ryan backs San Antonio Marlins idea; City and county forming teams to lure Marlins; San Antonio bid for Marlins on hold; Wolff reveals site possibilities for San Antonio ballpark; Plan would provide $200 million toward new Marlins ballpark; Spurs looking to be part of ownership if San Antonio lures Marlins; San Antonio to Marlins: Include locals; Marlins move may spur border battle; Wolff makes ballpark pitch to Marlins; San Antonio under 'serious consideration' for Marlins relocation; Marlins front office meets with Homestead officials; Marlins to Oklahoma City?; Half-cent hike in Miami-Dade might help fund a Marlins ballpark; Owner laughs off idea of his track as Marlins ballpark site; Marlins, FAU to discuss stadium options; Norfolk session pleases Marlins; Possibility of Marlins ballpark deal called remote

Failing bid for Marlins teaches Wolff a lesson
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When it comes to courting professional sports franchises, County Judge Nelson Wolff says he's ready to explore new possibilities -- and try a new approach -- now that talks with Major League Baseball's Florida Marlins appear to have flamed out. Wolff acknowledged Thursday that lines of communication with the Marlins have gone dead since his decision two weeks ago to give the club a May 15 deadline to commit to San Antonio. Signaling his dissatisfaction with the course of discussions with the Marlins and with the NFL's New Orleans Saints last fall, Wolff said he now favors a harder tack in future talks with teams considering relocation.

Fox dumps familiar Braves broadcast team
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Fox Cable Networks, which reached an agreement to buy Turner South in February, will take over the network on Monday -- and will immediately replace the familiar Turner South broadcast team of Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren, Don Sutton, Joe Simpson and Chip Caray. Caray, Van Wieren, Sutton, Simpson and Caray will continue to call the games that are televised nationally on TBS, as well all the games on the Braves Radio Network, for the remainder of this season. Seventy Braves games are on TBS this season and next season, but the number will be reduced to 45 starting in 2008.

Mallards talk of fancier digs
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We've mentioned this plan in passing here, but the Wisconsin State Journal has more details on a proposal by the Madison Mallards (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) to complete overhaul Warner Park by literally turning it on its ear. A preliminary design concept reorients the ballpark 180 degrees, putting a dramatic entrance to the ballpark, main grandstand and home plate where center field is now, general manager Vern Stenman said. The change means fans in the third-base bleachers -- almost a third of the current seating -- wouldn't have to squint into the setting sun anymore. The concept also brings better seats with armrests and backs, adds more concessions and rest rooms, improves sight lines and even lowers the field below ground to create a bowl effect. Older bleachers in Warner Park are ending their life expectancy and must be replaced anyway; Stenman says the Mallards will pay for the renovation, which could be completed for the 2008 season.
    RELATED STORIES: Mallards announce improvements to Warner Park

Northern, Northwoods Leagues both looking at Battle Creek
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More on the potential of the Northwoods League expanding to Battle Creek and Green Bay. Northwoods League President Dick Radatz Jr. says this expansion is on his league's radar, though he's not ready to commit to anything yet. Only one team in Michigan doesn't make any logistical sense for the league, so you can bet Radatz has another location in mind for the long term. The question is why the independent Northern League is interested in Battle Creek, unless efforts to bring a team to Holland, Mich., have died: Holland is less than 80 miles from Battle Creek, and Commissioner Jim Weigel didn't actually sound all that enthusiastic about Battle Creek in any case.
    RELATED STORIES: Northwoods League eyes Green Bay, Battle Creek

And the Nats' owners are....
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Baseball commissioner Bud Selig is likely to pick a new owner for the Washington Nationals within a few days and the team probably will change hands in June, the sport's No. 2 official said Thursday. Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said Selig intends to have major league owners vote on the sale when they meet May 17-18 in New York. DuPuy also said a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Nationals' new ballpark is likely to take place May 4. More from the Washington Post.
    RELATED STORIES: Impending Nats sale arouses speculation; Bob DuPuy pays a visit to the Lerner family; Smulyan promises African-American president for Nats Lerner adds two more to group bidding for Nats; Hey, MLB: Nats need an owner now; New Nats owner might find cracks in the foundation

Black fans at the ballpark becoming thing of the past
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The Chicago Defender asks why there aren't more Black fans at ballparks. Some of it is economic -- most marketing to minority communities basically involves ticket discounts, and that's all -- but the larger issue may be the lack of Black players and managers in the major leagues. The Cubs have a high-profile Black manager (Dusty Baker), a legitimate Black star (Derrick Lee) and several Blacks on the team, but the grandstands at Wrigley Field are filled almost exclusively with whites. One more reason: many Black youths find the game boring compared to basketball.

State grant brings York ballpark nearer
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York’s plans for a ballpark in the city’s Arch Street neighborhood took a major leap forward this week with another $1.5 million boost from the state. Construction is expected to begin by July or August on the nearly $30-million, 5,200-seat baseball park in northern York. With an optimistic construction schedule and favorable weather, the park could open by early in the 2007 independent Atlantic League baseball season. Gov. Ed Rendell has committed another $1.5 million in state funds for the York ballpark, making the state’s total commitment $13.5 million. The other half of the ballpark costs would come from the sale of the ballpark naming rights and the 20 skyboxes, and later, from ticket sales and concessions at the park.
    RELATED STORIES: Review unlikely to derail York ballpark; Preservation voice needed on York ballpark project?; Sharing the history behind York's ballpark site; Lease deal set for York ballpark; York board questions ballpark payments; Ill-timed epiphany on York ballpark; Bottom of the 18th for York ballpark; Brenner goes to bat for York ballpark; York ballpark on life support?

Major leagues might play exhibitions in Hawaii
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A promoter has asked the Aloha Stadium Authority to consider hosting a pair of exhibition major-league baseball games between the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians at Aloha Stadium in 2007. The Indiana-based promoter, Carl C. Taylor, proposed games for March 27 and 28. The Stadium Authority has requested more information on the promoter's agreement with the two teams before taking it under consideration. Bart Swain, director of media relations for the Cleveland Indians, yesterday confirmed Honolulu is "under consideration" for hosting the team's exhibition games in 2007.

Plymouth River Eels covering the bases
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Ownership of the Plymouth River Eels are close to final approval for a new ballpark. Their proposed three-phase project includes a sports facility, a ballpark and a banquet/convention hall on on 28.1 acres of land behind Wal-Mart and Sam's Club in Colony Place off Exit 7. After getting a unanimous standing ovation from the board of selectmen, the River Eels will meet with the planning board and the zoning board of appeals within the next few weeks. Though nothing is finalized, it's widely assumed the River Eels will join the independent Can-Am Association; there have been talks between River Eels management and the management of the Brockton Rox about coexisting in the same area.
    RELATED STORIES: Eels get first hit

United League Baseball owners relocate to Edinburg
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The Edinburg Coyotes and United League Baseball (ULB) announced today that ULB Chief Operating Officer Byron Pierce, ULB Executive General Manager for Operations Mike Babcock and ULB Executive General Manager for Sales and Marketing Craig Brasfield, have relocated to Edinburg, Texas to assist the Coyotes front office in their preparations for opening day. The ULB front office will be in Edinburg for the next 30 days. The ULB has moved a portion of its day to day operations to assist the Coyotes in sales and marketing, ticketing and media relations. A recent court decision threw a cloud over the ULB's efforts to launch in Edinburg next month.
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Brace for the inevitable
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Shame on the New York Yankees for wanting a replacement for Yankee Stadium, writes Alex Belth. Shame on fans wanting a better, more comfortable place to watch a baseball game. Shame on George Steinbrenner to want to enhance the ballpark experience. If Yankee Stadium were still the original 1923 ballpark we might be more passionate about its renovation, but let's be real: it's really a 1970s-era basic ballpark. Plus, Belth reveals he's from another planet when he writes this: "Yankee Stadium is the grandest of all the old-time great parks." No, Alex, it's not -- not even close.
    RELATED STORIES: 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

Clippers' new home should have real baseball feel
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Columnist Bob Hunter says the new Arena District home of the Columbus Clippers (Class AAA; International League) should have character, which for him means a miniature version of Wrigley Field or Fenway Park. In other words, he's asking for an overt retro design, which (thankfully) has been on the wane in recent ballpark designs. Hell, the current home of the Clippers has authentic "character"; maybe they should just rebuild it downtown. More on the political situation surrounding ballpark financing.
    RELATED STORIES: Nationwide to oversee Clippers’ stadium construction

Losing seasons, empty seats
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More on the attendance woes facing the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Now Peter Angelos can't blame his team's performance on the Washington Nationals -- no one is going to games at RFK Stadium, either -- and the problems can be traced to two factors: a mediocre on-field product (eight consecutive losing seasons) and years of inertia finally catching up to the franchise. The Orioles coasted for years on the strength of Oriole Park, but no great ballpark can bring out the fans forever. The Orioles have averaged 25,915 for 13 home games this season. Though crowds are always smaller in April, that's a drop-off of about 3,000 a game from the beginning of last season.
    RELATED STORIES: Following another losing season, Orioles' ticket sales lag

Clothes make the team
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The talk is that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (Class AAA; International League) may undergo an identity change for next season when they will probably lose their Philadelphia Phillies affiliation. The call here is for the team to keep its current uniforms and color scheme, as well as the Red Barons name: it derives from the old Eastern League teams, the Scranton Red Sox and the Wilkes-Barre Barons.

Small fire breaks out in new Busch Stadium
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A small fire broke out in an unfinished area of new Busch Stadium in the eighth inning Thursday as the St. Louis Cardinals were playing the Washington Nationals. The fire, whose source was unknown, was quickly extinguished by the St. Louis Fire Department, which is on the scene for all Cardinals home games. Joe Abernathy, vice president of stadium operations, said a cardboard box containing construction material burned.
    RELATED STORY: Arch-itecture; Not everyone raving about the new Busch; Busch foul poles will be replaced; Backward, march; New Busch Stadium has its own quirks; Fans revel in new Cardinals ballpark; Ready or not....; Ballpark Visit: Busch Stadium, St. Louis Cardinals

New era for Bluefish begins tonight
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There are new owners, new players, a new manager, a new pitching coach, new foods at the concession stands as well as new scoreboard and ballpark improvements. But the Bridgeport Bluefish (independent Atlantic League) hopes all the changes for this 2006 season will lead to improvements on the bottom line. A new local ownership group can't hurt: Bluefish president and CEO Mary-Jane Foster and co-chairman Jack McGregor brought in a group of ten new partial owners -- many with local ties.

Riverfront master plan: Extending a park over the river
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Hargreaves Associates offered a breathtaking view of what might become a centerpiece for Baton Rouge's 325-acre riverfront: an elevated park on piles jutting 100 feet out into the Mississippi River. Among other riverfront possibilities floated by Hargreaves are a Class AAA ballpark just south of the I-10 bridge. There's been some renewed talk of Baton Rouge in minor-league baseball circles, but a Triple-A ballpark may be a little too ambitious.

Thrown bat lands Durham's Young a suspension
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Top Tampa Devil Rays Bay prospect and Durham Bulls (Class AAA; International League) standout Delmon Young was suspended indefinitely by the International League on Thursday, a day after throwing a bat that hit a replacement umpire in the chest. Young, 20, brother of Detroit star Dmitri Young, was ejected in the first inning following a called third strike in the Bulls' game at Pawtucket. When Young took his time leaving the batter's box, the umpire tossed him. Young then flipped his bat underhand, and it sailed end over end, striking the umpire.

Softball great doesn't know how to lose
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This is the farewell tour for softball legend Eddie "The King" Feigner, a true legend. The legendary King and His Court are the world's greatest four-man softball team and comedy act. Think Harlem Globetrotters, only the King and His Court are, if you can believe this, more successful. The format is simple: Eddie and three of his cohorts take on all comers. His fastball is still pretty sharp, as is the act. Feigner has open dates on his farewell tour; check out his website for more details.

College builds field of dreams
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John L. Harvey Field debuts today in Carson City as the home of Western Nevada Community College. Only about 100 stadium-style seats are in place as construction continues. Fans are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets and set them up on concrete steps until permanent seating is installed behind home plate. No one is complaining about that or the campus home-opener coming 45 games into the season.

No, seriously, we want a baseball team
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Another call from the student newspaper at the University of Wisconsin for a school baseball team. Wisconsin is the only school in the Big Ten not to field a baseball team; it was dropped decades ago over financial concerns with Title IX -- an unfair move, as some say the hoarding of scholarships by other athletic programs at the U (i.e., take a look at where the current AD came from) is keeping the school from fielding baseball.

Ballpark Notes
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The Alexandria Aces (independent; United League Baseball) announced former player Ricky VanAsselberg as their new field manager today after Dan Shwam, who had been announced as manager in February, resigned due to health concerns. VanAsselberg had been hired as Shwam’s coach and will assume managerial duties immediately. He played three seasons with the Aces in 1996 and 1998-99. A resident of Gardner, Louisiana, VanAsselberg graduated from Oak Hill High School in Hineston, Louisiana, and was a two-time small-college all-America at Baptist Christian College in Shreveport, Louisiana....The AHL's Syracuse Crunch, along with the Syracuse SkyChiefs (Class AAA; International League) announced a special ticket offer to their fans. Any Syracuse SkyChiefs fan that brings their ticket stub from the SkyChiefs Saturday, April 29 or Sunday, April 30 games against Durham to the Crunch Box Office will receive a full priced ticket for only $12 (up to a $5 savings) to the Crunch’s Sunday, April 30 (Game Six -- ticket C) against the Manitoba Moose....The 2nd Annual National Egg Toss Championships are scheduled to take place this Sunday, April 30th, at Hagerstown's Municipal Stadium. The event, which will take place immediately following the Hagerstown Suns (Class A; Sally League) 1:35 p.m. home game vs. the Delmarva Shorebirds....Jim Stabile is the new interim general manager of the Nashua Pride (independent; Can-Am Association), while Chris Hall expands his current player-acquisition duties to become director of baseball operations. Stabile, nephew of Nashua Pride owner John Stabile, has been working in a senior management sales and marketing position for The Stabile Companies since 2003. He replaces Marty Wheeler, who resigned to move back to Mobile to be near family....

NY City Council easily passes Yankees, Mets ballpark bonding bills
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It wasn't close: the New York City Council overwhelmingly passed measures approving millions in tax-exempt bonding for the New York Yankees and the New York Mets to build new ballparks in the Bronx and Flushing, respectively. The council voted 48 to 1 for the Mets plan, and 46 to 3 for the Yankees. The financing plan calls for the Yankees to use $866 million in tax-exempt bonds while the Mets will use $574 million in tax-exempt bonds. Both teams agreed to donate tickets and money back to local communities: the Mets ended up donating $500,000 to community groups and Little League teams in Queens. It also requires the Mets to earmark at least 25 percent of construction jobs to Queens firms, 25 percent of jobs to Queens residents and 25 percent of contracts going to women and minority firms and workers. The Yankees earlier had agreed to launch a $1-million apprentice program to train people for construction jobs and other skills, with at least 25 percent of the participants coming from the Bronx. In addition, the city intends to spend millions to create new parks, since the plan will erase two existing parks. More from Newsday, the New York Daily News and AP. In related news, plans to build a Metro-North Railroad station at the new Yankee Stadium proceeded after the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board dug into an old pot of money and found $40 million. The money is left over from $645 million that was set aside for the extension of the N subway line to La Guardia. Meanwhile, the New York Mets affirming plans to honor Jackie Robinson at the new ballpark but reaffirmed a decision to seek a corporate naming-rights deal.
    RELATED STORIES: 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

Minnesota House approves Twins ballpark; next up is Senate
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
In a vote that was not nearly as close or contentious as many observers expected, the Minnesota House approved a measure allowing Hennepin County to enact a 0.15 percent sales tax (excluding food, clothes and medicine) to help pay for a new $522 million Minnesota Twins ballpark in downtown Minneapolis's Warehouse District in time for the 2010 season. The final vote was 76-55. Much tighter (66-64) was a proposed amendment forcing the tax to a countywide referendum, although many nay votes were pure political posturing from the Minneapolis delegation and probably would have been reversed if the amendment had a real chance of succeeding. Also defeated: a proposal to have the state fund a retractable roof. One significant change: the original agreement called for the Twins to repay the county 18 percent of the gross proceeds should Carl Pohlad sell the team, with that percentage declining yearly; the clause is there to prevent Pohlad from a windfall profit. The House changed the language so that the 18 percent stays intact yearly. A Senate tax committee could deliberate the ballpark bill as soon as today; passage in the Senate is expected to be smooth. More from the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press. In theory, the new ballpark will allow the Twins to raise payroll.
    RELATED STORIES: Ways and Means Committee passes Twins ballpark legislation; Twins ballpark passes key committee, moves on to full House; Twins put on heat in ballpark pitch; Hennepin County Board OKs Twins ballpark plan; Will new Twins ballpark go green?; Hearings this week could determine fate of new Twins ballpark; Sviggum says Twins bill will get fair shake; Hennepin County board OKs revised Twins ballpark plan; Politics, tax tangle Twins' quest for new park; Senate panel OKs Twins ballpark plan; Twins ballpark initiative resuming; Supporters say Twins ballpark bill has enough votes to pass; Twins ballpark proposal picking up steam in Minnesota Legislature; Twins laying off threats, for now; It's back! Twins ballpark issue still with us; Twins are hearing dreaded 'C' word again; Twins ballpark lunch ends on glum note; Twins make pitch in court to leave Dome; Small-market Twins might be on verge of being overrun economically; Expect a plan but no ballpark; Pawlenty steps in for Twins ballpark; Twins ballpark financing deal unlikely to be renewed; Minnesota House GOP opposes special session for Twins ballpark; Bonoff won despite supporting ballpark; Hennepin County gives go-ahead for study related to Twins ballpark; Don't leave Twins special session up in air; Selig seeks action on Twins ballpark; Twins to Las Vegas? Looks like a long shot; Twins could be hot commodity; Metrodome board questions Twins' motives in court case; Reggie Jackson: I'll buy the Twins; Stadiums a political juggling act for Pawlenty; Selig keeps close tabs on Twins ballpark situation; Twins sue to get out of Metrodome lease; MLB officials, Pawlenty discuss Twins ballpark; Minnesota stadium special session looks doomed; Minnesota special session may not include Twins ballpark; Twins: Ballpark costs to rise $30 million if approval is delayed; Stadium proposals jostle for support in Minnesota; Twins ballpark may slip this year; Will special session be called to pass Twins ballpark legislations? Odds seem to be dropping; Best-kept secret about the Minnesota ballpark; Possible Twins site has new life; Roof or no? The debate rages in Minnesota; Ballpark deal: Pohlad must share; Hennepin County takes first step toward new Twins ballpark; Few want to pay for Twins ballpark; Minnesota Twins, Hennepin County reach agreement on ballpark funding; Twins back Minneapolis ballpark location; What's up with a Twins ballpark?; Ballpark tax plan is calling for a first

Spring-training facilities bill passes Florida House
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Florida House passed a bill to provide state funding to five communities hosting spring training by a surprising 117-0 margin, sending a strong message to Gov. Jeb Bush about the proposal's widespread support. The measure would provide money to refurbish teams existing facilities or build new facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Winter Haven, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Bradenton. New facilities are expected in Winter Haven, Sarasota and Fort Lauderdale for the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles, respectively. In fact, the Orioles broke their silence on the issue and spoke out in support of the bill. To quality for the state funding -- which totals up to $75 million in tax rebates, or $15 million per municipality for 30 years -- a team must sign a long-term lease to stay in Florida. Should all five teams do so, it would doom any attempt by the Los Angeles Dodgers to move to Arizona: MLB virtually requires teams to move in tandem between the Cactus League and Grapefruit League for scheduling purposes, and this bill could wrap up every Grapefruit League team to a long-term contract. More from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Cincinnati Post, which quotes Reds officials as saying they're totally committed to Sarasota.
    RELATED STORIES: County money just part of Indians spring site's need; Goodyear's Cactus League radar is pointed directly at Dodgers; Polk County commits $23 million to sports facilities, including new Indians spring complex; Goodyear inviting Dodgers to move; Dodgers confirm contact from Glendale regarding Cactus League shift; Cardwell says spring-training attendance remains consistent in Florida; Florida lawmakers approve spring-training facilities bill; FAU considering a deal with Indians for spring-training complex; Goodyear chooses site to build spring-training complex; Moving away from tradition; Baseball complex proponents envision many pluses for Casa Grande; Tradition and economics in Florida; Plan for a new Reds spring-training complex in Sarasota move forward; Mum's the word in spring-training facility bidding war; Indians signal they may consider Winter Haven contract; Dodgertown is a little less blue; State should spring for aid to teams; Glendale says it will be talking to teams about spring-training site; Details emerge on Sarasota County, city plan for stadium, event center, ballfields; Sarasota eyes ambitious plan to convert arena site to keep Reds; Cactus League may grow as cities plan new parks; Three-city race for new Arizona spring-training ballpark?; Apopka making its pitch for Indians spring training; Reds, Pirates team up to seek better facilities; Lee County game for third team; Spring-training facility not in city's best interests; Baseball, stadium would benefit city; Cleveland Indians scout training site in Cape Coral

New funding plan proposed for Marlins ballpark in Hialeah
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Hialeah city leaders, who recently won clearance to build an industrial park on 1,100 acres of land that had been off-limits to large-scale development, are discussing a plan with Miami-Dade County that would devote property taxes from the industrial park to building a new ballpark for the Florida Marlins. Hialeah Mayor Julio Robaina says he expects developer Armando Codina to donate part of the land to the city, which would then give it to the Marlins, who have been trying for years to find money to build a new stadium with a retractable roof. But even with lots of public help, the team was still about $100 million short of the stadium's $400 million price tag -- and that's where the property-tax plan would come in.
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I-Cubs offer $7 million for Swing, with strings attached; Krause rejects offer
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
In a letter sent late Tuesday, Michael Gartner, president of Raccoon Baseball Inc., the owner of the Iowa Cubs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), set forth terms that will be included in a letter of intent to buy the Swing of the Quad Cities (Class A; Midwest League) for $7 million. The letter went to the city and to Kevin Krause, president of 7th Inning Stretch, the owner of the Swing. Of the $7 million, Krause said only $2.5 million would go to the team’s owners. The rest would go to the city to pay most of the Swing’s share of a $14-million stadium renovation completed in 2004. Krause questioned that aspect of the offer, calling Gartner’s letter a "press release" meant for public consumption but not a particularly serious offer for the Swing. Basically, RBI is offering to take the ballpark debt for John O'Donnell Stadium off the city's hands in exchange for much lower rent ($16,500 versus the the Swing's current yearly rent of $102,684) and total control of the facility. More from the Quad Cities Times.
    RELATED STORIES: Swing, city spar over finances

I-Cubs' new party deck great for an inning . . . or 9
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Speaking of the Iowa Cubs: Renovations at Principal Park, the home of the Iowa Cubs (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), seem to have caught on with those Des Moines party animals. The $6.8 million renovation added a party deck down the right-field line and a new scoreboard; still to come are fountains in the right-field corner, improvements to the Cub Club restaurant and left-field skyboxes, and new lighting systems for the field. We'll be down in the next few months to document the changes.

Impending Nats sale arouses speculation
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Washington, D.C., is already a hotbed of gossip and speculation, and with the impending sale of the Washington Nationals to a local ownership group has tongues wagging about who will end up with the team. Some local media outlets are reporting a deal is already done, with only the announcement left, but that doesn't seem true: if a deal were truly done, MLB would be moving forward with it ASAP. Basically, there are two groups left in the running: a group headed by the family of Bethesda-based developer Theodore N. Lerner and one led by Washington business executives Fred Malek and Jeffrey Zients.
    RELATED STORIES: Bob DuPuy pays a visit to the Lerner family; Smulyan promises African-American president for Nats Lerner adds two more to group bidding for Nats; Hey, MLB: Nats need an owner now; New Nats owner might find cracks in the foundation

Nationals ballpark project bond ratings low
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Three Wall Street bond rating agencies gave the Washington Nationals new ballpark low investment-grade ratings yesterday, saying the $535 million in revenue bonds have narrow coverage from a business tax that will pay for most of the project. The rating agencies -- Fitch, Standard & Poor's and Moody's -- agreed in most of their assessments. They said the business tax is the only reliable stream of income. The rest of the debt service will be paid by a utilities tax, a stadium concessions tax and rent from the Washington Nationals, all of which could fluctuate, the agencies said. The project essentially received a BBB rating; D.C. officials said they will purchase insurance that will allow the bonds to be sold at an AAA-plus rating.

Nats play to empty seats at RFK
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It's much easier to get a good seat at RFK Stadium this season, as the D.C. sporting community seems to have lost interest in the Washington Nationals. The last few crowds have been under 20,000 -- the smallest crowds since the Expos moved to Washington -- and the team doesn't seem to be doing a lot on the field to inspire fans. Truth be told, it wasn't hard to find good seats at RFK Stadium at the end of last season, but because season-ticket sales were so strong the weakness didn't show up in the attendance figures.

Mavericks pitch new ballpark to Columbia
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Mid-Missouri Mavericks (independent; Frontier League) owners Gary and Brad Wendt have revised their proposal for a new ballpark if the city grants them a 40-year lease of American Legion Park. The Wendts say they'll invest $10 million in the project, which calls for a 3,000-seat ballpark with artificial turf on the field, which they believe would increase venue dates from 60 to 500. The Mavericks would use 150 of those 500 dates, and the American Legion Baseball League would use 50 dates. That would leave 300 community access dates. Wendt said the ballpark could have 800 parking spots, dining facilities, offices, lodgings, retail and entertainment venues, and a new headquarters for the American Legion. Initial reaction from city council members was very positive.

Mallards announce improvements to Warner Park
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The Madison Mallards (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) announced several new ballpark improvements at Warner Park. The major announcement of the night is the construction of the new Great Dane Rooftop building in the Great Dane Duck Blind. Construction has started on a new 30 foot by 70 foot concession building in the Great Dane Duck Blind featuring restrooms, a full kitchen and 250 seats on the rooftop of the building. The new building doubles the number of restrooms and concessions to improve the fan experience at the ballpark. Construction is on schedule to be completed for opening day on June 1, 2006. The new Great Dane Duck Blind Rooftop building will serve both the general public and the fans in the Great Dane Duck Blind.
    In addition to the new and improved Great Dane Duck Blind the Mallards have also added the Snack Shack, a new concession stand behind the first base bleachers. The new first-base concession stand will feature an array of specialty foods, such as panini sandwiches, hand-scooped custard, slush puppies, fresh squeezed lemonade, and other culinary delights. More from the Capital Times.

Braves talks are strictly business
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
We spent some time at Turner Field yesterday, and the buzz is about Liberty Media buying the Atlanta Braves and its associated minor-league franchises from Time Warner. If all works out as planned, both companies will hit corporate America's version of a home run: Time Warner will trade away the Braves without having to pay taxes on the exchange, and Colorado-based Liberty Media will shed a large stake in Time Warner stock -- and also avoid taxes. In fact, it's a deal that's potentially so advantageous to both companies that other bidders for the Braves (including Falcons owner Arthur Blank) could have a tough time beating it. That is the picture that emerges from the closed-door negotiations between the two companies, according to two people familiar with the talks who shed light on details of a transaction that could be valued at $2.3 billion to $2.5 billion. An official announcement could come as early as next week.
    RELATED STORIES: Progress is made on Braves sale; Blank breaks off negotiations to buy Braves; Blank gains on Braves purchase

Terry Park centennial celebration this weekend
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
This weekend the city of Fort Myers and Lee County are holding a centennial celebration for Terry Park, the longtime spring-training site for the likes of the Philadelphia Athletics and Kansas City Royals. The celebration begins Friday with a dedication ceremony for the new grandstand at the main ballpark and includes a parade and a Fort Myers Miracle (Class A; Florida State League) game at Hammond Stadium. Here's the Lee County web site with all the details.

The neighborhood that the ballpark built
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
You know, when opponents are bashing ballparks for being bad public investments, they don't ever mention San Diego. But Petco Park has been a powerful stimulus for private investment in the city, as seen in this article. So far, the ballpark area has attracted $1.4 billion of new investment. Formerly an area of light industrial buildings and warehouses, the Ballpark District was among the last neighborhoods to benefit from a wave of condo and loft development in the downtown area. Nearly 4,000 new rentals and condominiums are now under construction, and another 7,500 are planned, according to the Centre City Development Corporation, a nonprofit corporation created by the city for downtown redevelopment.

New for 2006: GCS Ballpark
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The Gateway Grizzlies (independent; Frontier League), the Village of Sauget and GCS Federal Credit Union announced that the $6.6-million home of the Grizzlies will now be known as GCS Ballpark. The ballpark had been known until now as GMC Stadium. As part of the naming rights package, the name GCS will be positioned prominently on the stadium's highway marquee as well as the main stadium entrance. The name GCS Ballpark will be used in marketing and promotion of the Gateway Grizzlies. More from the Belleville News-Democrat.

Barons' owners Logans throw a celebration party at the Met
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The new owner of the Birmingham Barons (Class AA; Southern League), Don Logan, and his family threw an Easter Sunday afternoon party at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium to celebrate Don's return from New York and to a celebrate a new season -- in more than one way -- for the Birmingham Barons.

Hawaii Winter Baseball League returning
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The Hawaii Winter Baseball League returns after an eight-year hiatus with four Oahu teams each playing 40 games in October and November, sources told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The league shut down after the 1997 season because of finances, but Hawaii Winter Baseball kept its Honolulu office open in hopes of reviving the league in the future. HWBL also remained a force in promoting local baseball with clinics and appearances featuring Cal Ripken and Dusty Baker, among others. A key component of the league's revival is financial support from Japanese baseball.

Diamond district in New York region
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Here's your annual look at the minor-league teams in the greater Connecticut/New York/New Jersey region. That's a lot when you include both independent and affiliated teams (although they didn't bother covering summer collegiate), and we're not going to list all the teams here.

Baseball season is under way in Lansing, in stadiums and ... on stage?
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Not quite sure what the headline is about, but here's an in-depth look at what happens at a Lansing Lugnuts (Class A; Midwest League) game at Oldsmobile Park during a recent homestand. The angle here is that the onfield activity isn't as important as what goes on between innings and in the stands; for many kids, that's certainly the case.

Steinbrenner donates $1 million to UNC's Boshamer Stadium
Posted April 27, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The University of North Carolina announced Tuesday that Yankees owner George Steinbrenner has pledged $1 million to the fund-raising campaign to renovate Boshamer Stadium. Steinbrenner's daughter, Jenny, and her husband, Stephen Swindal, both graduated from UNC. Steinbrenner's pledge will put his name on the courtyard at the entrance to Boshamer Stadium, where UNC has played its home baseball games since 1972. The courtyard will be named the Steinbrenner Family Courtyard. Steinbrenner's donation brings the total amount pledged for the project to $6.5 million.

Capital campaign for Middle Tennessee ballpark tops $3 million
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Middle Tennessee has topped the $3 million mark in its capital campaign toward the completion of a new state-of-the-art baseball stadium that is targeted for completion in the spring of 2008. Murfreesboro resident George Hagglund, a 30-year Air Force veteran, recently donated $10,000 to the project, which is being tabbed "Batter Up," and his donation helped enable the campaign to top the $3 million mark following gifts from former Blue Raider baseball players, coaches, fans, as well as business and community leaders.

Ways and Means Committee passes Twins ballpark legislation
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Minnesota House Ways and Means Committee passed a bill authorizing Hennepin County to issue a 0.15 percent sales tax (exempting food, clothing and medicine) to help pay for a new Minnesota Twins ballpark in downtown Minneapolis's Warehouse District. It was another significant hurdle for the proposal, and the big issue really wasn't the concept of a tax, but rather the imposition of a tax that is not subject to a countywide referendum. Attempts to amend the bill to require a referendum failed once again. The final vote was 18-16, but that's a misleading tally: some Hennepin County and fiscal conservatives shifted their votes around to "no" after it was clear the measure would pass in order to provide themselves some political cover (though, as we've seen in recent special elections, being a ballpark proponent has not hurt any elected officials). The committee did make one change to the bill, imposing a 3 percent amusements tax; the Twins spoke out against the measure but did not declare it a deal breaker. Next for the bill: a hearing in the full House, perhaps as early as this week. More from the Star Tribune and the Pioneer Press. AP reports on how public sentiment -- at least those taking the time to contact their legislators -- is running in favor of the ballpark proposal. Laura Billings whines some more about the ballpark proposal.
    RELATED STORIES: Twins ballpark passes key committee, moves on to full House; Twins put on heat in ballpark pitch; Hennepin County Board OKs Twins ballpark plan; Will new Twins ballpark go green?; Hearings this week could determine fate of new Twins ballpark; Sviggum says Twins bill will get fair shake; Hennepin County board OKs revised Twins ballpark plan; Politics, tax tangle Twins' quest for new park; Senate panel OKs Twins ballpark plan; Twins ballpark initiative resuming; Supporters say Twins ballpark bill has enough votes to pass; Twins ballpark proposal picking up steam in Minnesota Legislature; Twins laying off threats, for now; It's back! Twins ballpark issue still with us; Twins are hearing dreaded 'C' word again; Twins ballpark lunch ends on glum note; Twins make pitch in court to leave Dome; Small-market Twins might be on verge of being overrun economically; Expect a plan but no ballpark; Pawlenty steps in for Twins ballpark; Twins ballpark financing deal unlikely to be renewed; Minnesota House GOP opposes special session for Twins ballpark; Bonoff won despite supporting ballpark; Hennepin County gives go-ahead for study related to Twins ballpark; Don't leave Twins special session up in air; Selig seeks action on Twins ballpark; Twins to Las Vegas? Looks like a long shot; Twins could be hot commodity; Metrodome board questions Twins' motives in court case; Reggie Jackson: I'll buy the Twins; Stadiums a political juggling act for Pawlenty; Selig keeps close tabs on Twins ballpark situation; Twins sue to get out of Metrodome lease; MLB officials, Pawlenty discuss Twins ballpark; Minnesota stadium special session looks doomed; Minnesota special session may not include Twins ballpark; Twins: Ballpark costs to rise $30 million if approval is delayed; Stadium proposals jostle for support in Minnesota; Twins ballpark may slip this year; Will special session be called to pass Twins ballpark legislations? Odds seem to be dropping; Best-kept secret about the Minnesota ballpark; Possible Twins site has new life; Roof or no? The debate rages in Minnesota; Ballpark deal: Pohlad must share; Hennepin County takes first step toward new Twins ballpark; Few want to pay for Twins ballpark; Minnesota Twins, Hennepin County reach agreement on ballpark funding; Twins back Minneapolis ballpark location; What's up with a Twins ballpark?; Ballpark tax plan is calling for a first

Arkansas's Screen Monster: One of baseball's great home-run alleys
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Boston has Fenway and The Green Monster. In Little Rock they have Freeway and The Screen Monster. "Freeway," as in the Wilbur Mills Freeway or I-630. Is it reachable? Yes, but only by a pitch hit extremely hard at the right angle. Every baseball season at least ten home runs make their way over the Screen Monster and onto I-630, and every one of them is crushed like road kill. This is the last season the Texas League's Arkansas Travelers will spend at venerable Ray Winder Field, the team's home since 1932. Phil Elson, the voice of the Travs, shares his memories of the Screen Monster.

Roadrunners continue fight with Edinburg
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Exactly which team, if any, will be playing in Edinburg Baseball Stadium this season remains undecided, as the running legal battle between the Edinburg Roadrunners (independent; American Association) and the city continued in court Monday. In January Judge Noe Gonzalez ruled that the city legally broke its lease with the Roadrunners. But with the case under appeal, the team wants an injunction to allow them to play in the ballpark this season. Not that the team actually wants to play in the ballpark this summer (in fact, even if the Roadrunners win, they won't actually field a team; they'll just bring in the Coastal Bend Aviators to play some games there): they just don't want the Edinburg Coyotes (independent; United League Baseball) to play there. This case really is more about 2007 than it is for 2006.
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House moves bill to help keep spring-training sites in Florida
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Florida House is set to vote on the bill providing state funding to five communities hosting spring training after it remained intact following debate Monday. The measure (would provide money to refurbish teams existing facilities or build new facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Winter Haven, St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Bradenton. There's much concern in Florida about the state losing two teams to Arizona, where three communities are openly working to poach existing Grapefruit League franchises. The Los Angeles Dodgers are said to be seriously considering a move out west; the issue would be which team joins them. This bill would seem to ensure the Reds and Pirates would stay in Florida (which seems a foregone conclusion); Polk County is working on a new Winter Haven base for the Indians, which leaves the Orioles and possibly the Houston Astros as wild cards.
    RELATED STORIES: County money just part of Indians spring site's need; Goodyear's Cactus League radar is pointed directly at Dodgers; Polk County commits $23 million to sports facilities, including new Indians spring complex; Goodyear inviting Dodgers to move; Dodgers confirm contact from Glendale regarding Cactus League shift; Cardwell says spring-training attendance remains consistent in Florida; Florida lawmakers approve spring-training facilities bill; FAU considering a deal with Indians for spring-training complex; Goodyear chooses site to build spring-training complex; Moving away from tradition; Baseball complex proponents envision many pluses for Casa Grande; Tradition and economics in Florida; Plan for a new Reds spring-training complex in Sarasota move forward; Mum's the word in spring-training facility bidding war; Indians signal they may consider Winter Haven contract; Dodgertown is a little less blue; State should spring for aid to teams; Glendale says it will be talking to teams about spring-training site; Details emerge on Sarasota County, city plan for stadium, event center, ballfields; Sarasota eyes ambitious plan to convert arena site to keep Reds; Cactus League may grow as cities plan new parks; Three-city race for new Arizona spring-training ballpark?; Apopka making its pitch for Indians spring training; Reds, Pirates team up to seek better facilities; Lee County game for third team; Spring-training facility not in city's best interests; Baseball, stadium would benefit city; Cleveland Indians scout training site in Cape Coral

Plaque must move to new park
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The issue for the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League) will be deciding what to move from Ray Winder Field to the team's new ballpark in North Little Rock next season. Take, for example, a small 5x11 1/2-inch plaque for Jim Elder and Jim Bailey in the press box. Elder and Bailey were former broadcasters for the Travs; Elder also spent many years as a minor-league umpire.
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Doolittle helped Travs catch back on in Little Rock
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
With the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League) moving out of Ray Winder Field after the end of the season, there's been a lot of looking back at the great moments at the venerable old ballpark. Here's a look at Marland "Duke" Doolittle, who caught for the Little Rock Travelers from 1943-1952, making him the longest-tenured catcher to play at what was then known as Travelers Field. But Doolittle did more than hang around. He was part of the 1951 team that might have saved baseball -- temporarily -- for Little Rock. Little Rock hadn’t won a pennant or finished better than third since 1944, and attendance fell from 153,812 in 1949 to 82,742 in 1950. But in 1951, Doolittle and a group of unheralded players won 93 games, the third-best mark in team history, and attendance rebounded to 225,780, a record that stood until 1987.

Bob DuPuy pays a visit to the Lerner family
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
MLB President Bob DuPuy met in Washington yesterday with the family of Ted Lerner and several of its investors as the league prepares to select the Lerners or another investment group to own the Nationals. Today, the Lerners' top competition to purchase the Nationals, Fred Malek and Jeffrey Zients, are flying to Milwaukee to introduce several of their new investors to Commissioner Bud Selig before Selig selects a new owner. Baseball insiders say the discussions have focused on the Lerner and Malek groups, though Jeff Smulyan continues to push his bid for the club. The Nats could use a little p.r. boost: the team drew only 19,264 last night to RFK Stadium, the smallest crowd since the Expos moved from Montreal.
    RELATED STORIES: Smulyan promises African-American president for Nats Lerner adds two more to group bidding for Nats; Hey, MLB: Nats need an owner now; New Nats owner might find cracks in the foundation

Controversy swirls as construction airs out Sox
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here's the downside of all the construction going on at Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox: Wind patterns in the 94-year-old baseball temple are being affected by construction in the neighborhood, and it just might turn a David Ortiz bleacher blast into a warning-track catch. Though wind tests show Fenway Park being less of a home-run hitters' park because of existing renovations, the issue will be the impact of Trilogy, a $200 million Fenway Ventures development that will include 12-, 15-, and 17-story towers linked by 10-story mid-rise buildings. Experts say the development will increase the turbulence in the air above Fenway Park.

A city getting it right
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
More on West End Field, the new home of the Greenville Drive (Class A; Sally League). The opening of the new ballpark is especially poignant for State columnist Ron Morris: the Drive was formerly the Capital City Bombers, and the ownership offered $10 million toward a new Columbia ballpark. City politics and fighting with USC led to the team moving to Greenville: today Greenville has a splendid new ballpark (we'll be there tonight), and Columbia has the Blowfish playing at the old ballpark.

Concessionaires team up to strike out drunken driving
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MLB took the unusual step of requesting teams not serve 32-ounce beers in an effort to cut down on alcohol abuse at ballparks. Other concessionaires are addressing the issue as well: Through designated-driver programs, server education aimed at responsible alcohol service, strict rules governing alcohol service and smaller drink sizes, concessionaires say they are working to put the brakes on excessive drinking by ballpark attendees.

Loggers’ popularity spurs upgrades to ballpark
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The La Crosse Loggers (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) have been one of the biggest and least-known successes in baseball, drawing 3,111 fans a night to Copeland Park. The success of the team is leading management to make some upgrades to the ballpark: A second log cabin, a two-tier deck in left field and a second scoreboard -- about $50,000 in improvements overall -- are in the works. The Loggers are hosting the NWL All-Star Game this year; it should be a hot ticket.

Arch-itecture
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Now that the new Busch Stadium is open and the St. Louis Cardinals are drawing well, there's a perverse kind of nostalgia popping up in Redbird Nation: nostalgia for the old Busch Stadium. Lord knows the old Busch wasn't a great place for a ballgame -- much of the seating was ill-suited to baseball, it was hard to get around, and there weren't many amenities -- but fans are now thinking back fondly on the colonnade of arches that made the old ballpark distinct. The Cardinals could have done themselves a great service by sticking a similar colonnade at the top of the new Busch Stadium; as it stands now the ballpark is limp retro.
    RELATED STORY: Not everyone raving about the new Busch; Busch foul poles will be replaced; Backward, march; New Busch Stadium has its own quirks; Fans revel in new Cardinals ballpark; Ready or not....; Ballpark Visit: Busch Stadium, St. Louis Cardinals

Minor-league Yankees owe city over half a million
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Staten Island Yankees (short season; NY-Penn League) owe the city more than half a million dollars for electricity, water and sewer payments on their ballpark, plus late fees on bills that have piled up over the years, according to an audit by City Comptroller William Thompson. The terms require the team to pay annual base rent of at least $100,000 if their attendance hits 125,000 people. The amount goes up to a maximum $510,000 if attendance exceeds 245,000 people. If attendance is at or below 125,000, the team pays utilities and other expenses but no rent. The city has a similar arrangement with the Mets affiliate, the Brooklyn Cyclones. The team has reported attendance below that mark every year since 2001, the audit says. The audit found "weaknesses" in the team's attendance counting and reporting methods. For example, on some game days auditors found that tickets were not counted at each of the ballpark's turnstiles.

Empty seats fair game?
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
MLB is cracking down on folks who buy cheap seats to the game and then head down to the more expensive seats later on. The Dodgers, Twins and White Sox don't allow you to move between sections, even late in the game, and the Red Sox patrol the high-priced sections of Fenway Park pretty aggressively; the worry is that drunken fans in the cheap seats will move down and then attack someone. Really, the issue is the fan who pays $70 for a good but not great seat and then is offended when a cheap seater moves into some prime real estate; it's called pricing integrity, fans.

Sioux Falls to open training camp at midnight
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Party down in Sioux Falls. The Sioux Falls Canaries (independent; American Association) will hold a Midnight Madness Practice this Saturday night to open the team’s 2006 camp. The festivities will begin at 9:30 p.m. and feature live entertainment leading up to the Canaries taking the field at midnight for the team’s first official practice of the 2006 season. Admission to the Canaries Midnight Madness Practice is free of charge. Local rock ‘n roll band Wumpus and belly-dancing group Whispering Sands will perform on the field prior to the practice. Fans are encouraged to bring their baseball gloves, as there will also be an opportunity to play catch on the field. One lucky fan will win the opportunity to take batting practice with the team.

Garr, Lucas named to Braves Hall of Fame
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Long-time Atlanta Braves player and scout Ralph Garr and former general manager Bill Lucas will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame on Friday, August 11, 2006, at the eighth annual Braves Hall of Fame luncheon and induction ceremony. They will join Braves Hall of Famers Hank Aaron, Bill Bartholomay, Lew Burdette, Skip Caray, Del Crandall, Tommy Holmes, Ernie Johnson, Herman Long, Eddie Mathews, Dale Murphy, Kid Nichols, Phil Niekro, Johnny Sain, Paul Snyder, Warren Spahn, Ted Turner, and Pete Van Wieren. The Braves will also honor Bruce Sutter who spent the last four seasons of his playing career with the Atlanta Braves from 1985-88, and will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer.

Brockton Rox prepare to offer contract to Roger Clemens
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
This headline-grabbing gimmick was fairly predictable. The Brockton Rox (independent; Can-Am Association) Brockton President Jim Lucas announced that the Rox will make an offer to Clemens to join their team when their season begins Thursday, May 25 versus the New Haven Cutters. "Everybody knows Clemens is coming back and it makes sense for him to play for us," Lucas said. "A future Hall of Famer deserves an Opening Day start and of all the teams going after him, we are the only ones who can offer that."

Medlar Field coming alive on campus
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
More on Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, the future home of the State College Spikes (short season; NY-Penn League) and the Penn State baseball team. The folks in State College are getting pretty excited about the new ballpark, as well they should. Some in the baseball world are looking to see how things develop here: it's always an uneasy balancing act when a pro teams plays in a college facility, but in this case the Spikes seem to have the perfect situation controlling the ballpark.
    RELATED STORIES: Spikes officials guide first tour of Medlar Field

Campus baseball's timeline debated
Posted April 25, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Well, if you want to get technical about it. University of the Pacific athletic director Lynn King picked up a microphone and called the grand opening of Klein Family Field the first baseball game on campus in 60 years, but Kenton Dean begs to differ. Dean played baseball at Pacific from 1958-61. He remembers playing several games in 1958 and perhaps a few in 1959 on the Stockton College baseball field, which was located near where Spanos Center now sits. The slight disagreement doesn't alter the fact that everyone seems pretty happy with Klein Family Field.

Field of dreams may be history
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Peter Kerasotis laments the possible move of the Los Angeles Dodgers' spring-training facilities to Arizona. Yes, such a move makes infinite sense for the Dodgers: it will put the team closer to its Los Angeles fan base, and the Dodgers don't draw especially well in Vero Beach and Holman Stadium. But Dodgertown remains so close to the idealized version of spring training fostered for so many years by baseball fans, and if Dodgertown is shut down, a little piece of baseball's storied past leaves us.
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Spikes officials guide first tour of Medlar Field
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The future home of the State College Spikes (short season; NY-Penn League) and the Penn State baseball team is nearing completion, and two members of the Spikes' brass can be excused for letting their imaginations take over Saturday morning. Chuck Greenberg and Rick Janac were the tour guides for local media to provide the first glimpse of the interior of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, the baseball stadium under construction across the street from Beaver Stadium on the Penn State campus.

Smulyan promises African-American president for Nats
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Indianapolis media executive Jeffrey Smulyan said yesterday that he will name an African American as president of the Washington Nationals if Major League Baseball picks his investor group to own the team. It's happened only once in MLB history: The first African American president of a Major League Baseball team was Ulice Payne Jr., who left the presidency of the Milwaukee Brewers in November 2003 after 14 months in the job. A source in the Smulyan group said a leading candidate to be its team president is former U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Eric H. Holder Jr., who is an investor in the Smulyan group. The disclosure from the Smulyan group comes as Commissioner of Baseball Bud Selig and MLB President Bob DuPuy prepare to meet this week with representatives of two groups who are considered to be front-runners to buy the team: the family of Bethesda-based real estate developer Ted Lerner, and a group led by Washington business executives Fred Malek and Jeffrey Zients. Both groups have significant African-American presence in their ownership groups; both MLB and D.C. political officials say African-American involvement is a priority.
    RELATED STORIES: Lerner adds two more to group bidding for Nats; Hey, MLB: Nats need an owner now; New Nats owner might find cracks in the foundation

Debate over RFK fences continues
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Apparently the fences at RFK Stadium, the home of the Washington Nationals, are just fine for Alfonso Soriano: he hit three home runs Friday night and homered four times in his first 17 at-bats at RFK. Rightfielder Jose Guillen, on the other hand, entered last night's game with three homers in 263 at-bats at RFK Stadium. The difference between the two: Guillen's power is to the alleys (he absolutely crushed one Saturday night that bounced at the base of the outfield wall), and Soriano's is down the line.
    RELATED STORIES: Robinson tired of RFK Stadium talk

An imperfect plan, but one to approve: Build it
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The right-leaning editorialists at the St. Paul Pioneer Press surprisingly comes out in favor of a funding plan for a new Minnesota Twins ballpark that calls for a 0.15 percent sales tax (excluding food, clothing and medicine) to partially pay for a downtown Minneapolis Warehouse District ballpark. It's surprising because a) the Pioneer Press has consistently called for a Twins ballpark to be located in downtown St. Paul and b) the editorialists tend not to be fans of increased or new taxes. The money quote: "But sports teams can bring us together. Building a ballpark does not mean we ignore other needs. This is a good deal for Minneapolis and Hennepin County and a steal for those living outside Hennepin County. It's an imperfect political solution to a 10-year-old problem." More from AP and Nick Coleman.
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Not everyone raving about the new Busch
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It's not surprising a Chicago columnist would take a few shots at the new Busch Stadium, but for the most part Paul Sullivan is correct in his assessment of the new ballpark. Heck, we said most of the same things weeks ago, so we definitely concur. Yes, it's an improvement over the old Busch Stadium -- but then again, almost anything would have been an improvement on the old Busch Stadium. The Cardinals had to meet minimal expectations, and they met them minimally.
    RELATED STORY: Busch foul poles will be replaced; Backward, march; New Busch Stadium has its own quirks; Fans revel in new Cardinals ballpark; Ready or not....; Ballpark Visit: Busch Stadium, St. Louis Cardinals

Public usually picks up tab to build ballpark
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
More on the proposed ballpark in Springdale, Ark. Regular readers know taxpayers in that community will be asked in July to extend an existing sales tax to pay for a $25 million ballpark. How long shoppers would pay the tax depends on the cost of the stadium construction and land, which has not been determined yet. Complete plans should be ready by the end of May. The big news lately -- and again, nothing that's new to readers of this site -- is that an affiliated team has expressed strong interest in the market. We were first to identify the team as the Wichita Wranglers (Class AA; Texas League). Interestingly, this started out as a modest project geared for an independent league.
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Fremont aims for big leagues
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
As the only one of the Bay Area's four largest cities without a major league sports team, Fremont hopes the Oakland Athletics are rounding third base and heading toward home in their direction. A lot of A's loyalists and Oakland residents are hoping their city -- home to the venerable American League team since 1968 -- will come through with a clutch ballpark hit in the bottom of the ninth and hold on for a win. Fremont has a slew of advantages for the A's ownership: it's close to Oakland and moves the team closer to San Jose without infringing on the territorial rights of the San Francisco Giants.
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Nashville to offer Richmond leaders lessons on ballparks
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Richmond will get a primer on ballpark development and other issues this week in Nashville, Tenn. About 100 community leaders are headed to Music City on Thursday to take part in an annual field trip organized by the Greater Richmond Chamber. Chamber President James Dunn said Nashville was picked last November for this year's InterCity visit for reasons unrelated to its downtown ballpark initiative. However, he said, the city's progress could help guide Richmond's debate over a future home for the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League).
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Out of the ballpark in Detroit
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Tonight is the premiere of "Stranded at the Corner," a documentary on Tiger Stadium and how the city of Detroit has let this venerable old ballpark -- which opened the same day as Fenway Park -- deteriorate. City officials don't seem too eager to see the old ballpark be renovated (their preferred action has been to tear it down in favor of big-box retail); many suspect the powerful Ilitch family, which owns the Tigers, would rather see the old ballpark go. If Mike Ilitch came out and said Tiger Stadium should be saved, the facility's future would be assured. More on our Endangered Ballparks page.
    RELATED STORIES: 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?

Swinging for the fences
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
More on the independent Golden Baseball League and the progress it's making on the business side. The league's sponsorships (which includes cash and in-kind sponsorships) totaled $4 million last year. League officials said they hope to top that this season. The league's premier sponsor is Safeway, the grocery giant that is in the second year of a three-year, $1 million deal. Among the new sponsors that have deals with the league this season include sporting goods makers Easton Sports Inc. and Spalding; Farmland Foods Inc., a nationwide meat supplier; and Wallstreet.com, the U.S. subsidiary of Sportingbet PLC, a $2.7 billion gambling company based in London. Meanwhile Golden Baseball League CEO David Kaval is in discussions with the owner of a baseball stadium in Vacaville to bring a team there in 2007, a deal that would locate the first Golden Baseball team in the Bay Area. A Vacaville team would join St. George, Utah as new areas for next season.

Brewers, Miller sought home run for new ballpark sponsorship pact
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Milwaukee Brewers knew the importance of signing the club's largest corporate sponsor, Miller Brewing Co., to a new expanded marketing agreement at Miller Park and what it could mean to the Brewers overall sponsorship efforts. The Brewers and Milwaukee-based Miller announced the new marketing deal in early April, which replaces one that expired after the 2005 season. It continues Miller's status as the exclusive malt beverage for the team. The exclusivity extends into radio and television advertising, in-stadium signage, promotions and spring training.

McCall to step aside in Frisco
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA; Texas League) President Mike McCall will step aside following the completion of the 2006 season, leaving Scott Sonju and Brent Stehlik in charge of the franchise. McCall was brought in by the RoughRiders' owners, Mandalay Sports Entertainment, to build the club from the ground up and has achieved significant results, including a top-10 attendance ranking in all of minor league baseball in each of the club's first three seasons. Sonju will assume the President/GM title with Stehlik serving as COO.

Condos and retail planned near Dayton ballpark
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Sandy Mendelson is moving ahead with a project that would reshape the area around Fifth Third Field, the home of the Dayton Dragons (Class A; Midwest League). Mendelson, owner of Mendelson's Liquidation Outlet in downtown Dayton, is working with local designers and developers to redevelop 1 million square feet of space bordering the ballpark. The plan, which may surpass the $20 million mark, consists of converting three adjacent properties into a mix of restaurants, bars, condos and upscale apartments. The Dragons are arguably the most successful team in minor-league baseball, with a multiyear string of sellouts that would make any other team operator happy.

A conciliator caught off base
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Another victim of the bruising battle over a new Washington Nationals arena last winter: Linda Cropp, the D.C. Council chairperson running for mayor. During 26 years in elected office, Cropp, 58, has developed a reputation as a consensus-builder who usually shuns public confrontation and grandstanding in favor of dialogue and compromise. Now, however, the long ballpark controversy has threatened that reputation just as her mayoral campaign heats up and the Nationals' second season begins. What Cropp says was a search for an acceptable middle ground is seen by some as waffling on the issue; her actions didn't please extremists on both ends of the spectrum.

Mientkiewicz agrees to send World Series ball to Hall
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here is what should have been done in the first place. A year and a half after Keith Foulke fielded Edgar Renteria's grounder and threw to Doug Mientkiewicz for the out that gave the Boston Red Sox their first World Series championship since 1918, the dispute over ownership of the baseball has been resolved. Through an agreement reached by Mientkiewicz, the Red Sox, the players union and Major League Baseball, the baseball is going to the Hall of Fame.
    RELATED STORIES: The final word on the last ball

Don't dismiss power of sports in governor's race
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Gov. Ed Rendell has made spending on sports facilities a powerful tool for publicity as he seeks reelection: besides trying to broker an arena deal in Pittsburgh, he also arranged state funding for new ballparks in Allentown, Lancaster and York. (We also hear there may be another affiliated team looking at a move to Pennsylvania.) He's running for reelection against former Steelers legend Lynn Swann; Rendell may have all the policy stuff down pat, but Swann has the aura. It will be an interesting race.

D-Backs must make it fun
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Attendance continues to slump at Arizona Diamondbacks games at Chase Field, and there appears to be two factors at play here: the team isn't very good again this season, and D-Backs games are subdued affairs, to say the least. The team says it's aware of the problem and taking some steps to address it, including the installation of a new sound system. The team is doing well in the television ratings, so people obviously care about the Diamondbacks.

Dominican Republic needs new ballpark to host World Baseball Classic games
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The possibility for the Dominican Republic to host games in the 2009 World Baseball Classic depends on its ability to ready a ballpark to meet the requirements of Major League Baseball and to raise the interest of local promoters to take on the building of such establishment. To date, none of the conditions exist. Puerto Rico has shown its interest in hosting games in 2009, taking into account that the international get together left US$ 20 million in benefits in that island during this year’s meet. Nicaragua, Colombia and Ecuador  have made formal requests to be included in the next edition.

Hunt for brews deserves boos at ballpark
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Emily Minor is like most baseball fans: she wants to drink a cool brew at the ballpark while watching a game. Thing is, the Florida Marlins and the management of Dolphin Stadium make that virtually impossible for fans sitting in the spendy outfield club level. They might as well have been alone: no vendors came to take their food orders (a promised service of club level seats), and not one concession stand open in the entire outfield club level. Marlins officials say the fault lies with the Dolphins; the Dolphins aren't talking.

Key meeting for Baton Rouge riverfront master plan Wednesday
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
For Baton Rouge's 325-acre riverfront master plan, the fact-finding and public input phases are launched. Now comes the concrete part. Hargreaves Associates will lead a 6:30 p.m. Wednesday meeting at the Louisiana Art and Science Museum in which the consultants will present three preliminary design concepts. Some possibilities for a planned DeSoto Park inside the levee: an amphitheater venue for concerts, a new main library or a a minor-league ballpark.

Work to find more uses for baseball park
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
With the Richmond Roosters (independent; Frontier League) not playing at McBride Stadium this year, local residents are starting to debate the future of the facility. Since it's unlikely the Frontier League will place another team there, the future of the ballpark probably lies in some sort of summer collegiate team or tournaments. Some of the other ideas being thrown out there, like enticing the Cincinnati Reds to play an exhibition game at McBride, probably won't happen.

Ballpark Notes
Posted April 24, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Justin Frederickson will be the voice of the new St. Joe Blacksnakes (independent; American Association). Frederickson can be heard by webcast for all 96 regular season games as well as all post-season Blacksnakes games via the team's website, stjoeblacksnakes.com. Frederickson comes to St. Joe after announcing for the Lynchburg Hillcats (Class A; Carolina League) last season. The Sunnyvale, CA native recently broadcast Longwood University Women’s Basketball in their second year of Division I competition. Since graduating from UCLA, Justin has also spent three seasons broadcasting Wisconsin Woodchucks (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) baseball....Home Hardware Stores Limited and the Toronto Blue Jays announced the highlights of a three-year partnership that will see Home Hardware secure its position as the team's official home improvement retailer and introduce Beauti-Tone as the Blue Jays' official paint brand. The two organizations, who have worked together for more than a decade, signed a one-year deal in 2005 to make Home Hardware the team's exclusive home improvement retail partner. This new agreement extends that relationship for three years.