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Archives: April 16-22, 2005

Selig doesn't rule out Marlins move if new ballpark isn't built
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig doesn't rule out a move of the Florida Marlins should the state not provide a yearly sales-tax rebate toward a new ballpark, saying there's nothing to keep the team in Miami. The statement isn't surprising in and of itself, as Selig stressed the preference would be to keep the team in Florida, but the timing certainly can't be an accident, given that funding prospects at the Florida Legislature recently stalled. Many in baseball were impressed by Las Vegas's attempts to lure the Montreal Expos, and there would probably be little opposition in baseball should owner Jeffrey Loria pull the trigger on a westward move.
    RELATED STORIES: The Marlins' toughest foe: Tallahassee; Marlins bid for ballpark thrown a curveball; House panel chief throws Marlins a familiar curve; Senate panel backs tax subsidy for Marlins ballpark; Marlins may get new lease at Dolphins Stadium; State refuses to play ball; Huizenga remarks help undercut Marlins stadium deal in Legislature; Marlins' ballpark plan gets resistance -- again; State House committee OKs tax break for new Marlins ballpark; House leader goes to bat for Marlins; Dade officials in Tallahassee to lobby for Marlins ballpark; Good news, bad news for Marlins ballpark plans; Las Vegas still willing to gamble on baseball; Miami-Dade OKs financing for $420 million Marlins ballpark; Poll finds little support for public funding of Marlins ballpark; Tentative Marlins ballpark deal announced; State open to Marlins ballpark proposal; Miami gives Marlins ballpark the nod

Sounds deal stalls, but still in play
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A $90-million plan to bring a new Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) ballpark and other development to downtown Nashville is still on, despite the passing of a city deadline to close the deal. As it stands now, a consortium of banks and other lenders would assume all the risk associated with the ballpark and development, leaving city taxpayers free and clear -- the main goal of the Bill Purcell administration. Metro will provide 16 acres of riverfront property and own the ballpark. The city will also offer standard development incentives like tax increment financing (TIF), which uses increase in property taxes to help pay off the financing. Once satisfied, Mayor Purcell will recommend the mixed-use development to Metro Council. Metro Finance Director David Manning said he hopes that can occur before summer.
    RELATED STORIES: City bobbling save on Sounds’ perfect plan; Sounds ballpark negotiations slow; Will ballpark make SoBro soar?; Sounds swing deal to get new ballpark; Sounds win city approval for new ballpark

Ballpark Visit: Greer Stadium, Nashville Sounds
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Speaking of the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League): we visit the team's current home, Greer Stadium. It's easy to see why Sounds ownership wants a new home: the ballpark, built in 1978, simply isn't up to today's ballpark standards -- it’s clear that the Sounds have squeezed just about every possible amenity they can out of Greer Stadium. The stadium is simply outdated for today’s version of Minor League Baseball, with unfriendly concourses and an undesirable location on the outskirts of Nashville. Our Dewayne Hankins reports.

Bronx Beep goes to bat for new Yankee Stadium
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion says he supports a new ballpark for the New York Yankees (not a surprising stand, as he's consistently supported a new ballpark), but of course there are a few strings attached: he wants to make sure the deal gives a little back to the surrounding neighborhood. Carrion's involvement in the ballpark will be mostly symbolic -- the deal is being negotiated by the city, the state and the team -- but he certainly can sway public opinion for or against the project.
    RELATED STORIES: Inside the deal for the new Yankee Stadium; It's back to the future for the Yankees; Lots of ideas for Yankee Stadium; Yanks 90% toward new home; Stadium games in NYC: give and take and speculation; Macomb dams Yankees; New York's sports economy; Brooklyn beep ready to play ball with the Yankees

Santa Fe Community College passes on hosting FSL team
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Gainesville's Santa Fe Community College has informed Main Street Baseball that it will not be part of a plan to bring a county-owned ballpark to Gainesville to house a Class A Florida State League team, Ballpark funding will primarily come from a one-cent increase in the hotel-motel tax by the Alachua County Commission, based on the recommendation of the Alachua Tourist Development Council. This means Main Street Baseball, which also owns the Columbus Catfish (Class A; Sally League), will need to find another site in the Gainesville area for the ballpark.

Comcast sues Orioles over television rights
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Washington Nationals suffered some collateral damage when cable giant Comcast sued the Baltimore Orioles over the founding of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network. Comcast claims he Orioles be prevented from moving their games from Comcast SportsNet to MASN at the end of the club's current television contract in 2006 without giving the network a chance to match the deal, a right Comcast says is included in the contract. In the meantime, Comcast says it will not carry MASN at all -- which means local cable fans won't have a chance to see Nationals games. Meanwhile, it looks like the Baltimore Orioles are surviving in the face of new competition: attendance was up significantly at the team's first homestand.

Governor vetoes visit to Ports' home opener
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will not throw out the first pitch when the Stockton Ports (Class A; California League) opens its new ballpark on April 28. Ports owner Tom Volpe had invited Schwarzenegger to be part of the opening festivities, but the governor's office cited other responsibilities in declining the invite. Sounds like the Ports were expecting the snub and have made alternate plans for opening festivities.

Lake Elsinore hawks The Diamond
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
After one attempt to privatize The Diamond, the home of the Lake Elsinore Storm (Class A; California League), fell through, city officials decided they will more aggressively market the ballpark to investors who could take over or operate the minor-league facility. To reach a wider market place, the agency recently approved requesting proposals from qualified investors and letting them know about the opportunity by publishing full-color advertisements or multipage inserts in three nationwide industry publications catering to the sports business community.

Diamond status: a little soft
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
After rainy weather and poor drainage led the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League) to cancel several games last fall, Richmond spent $418,000 to get the field redone during the winter. A grade difference of almost two feet in the outfield was corrected, more than 100 loads of dirt were trucked in, sand and a drying agent were blended with the existing soil, more than a mile of drainage pipe was installed and 2.3 acres of new sod was put down. The work paid off: after a day of steady rain yesterday, team officials said the new draining system worked as it should, for the most part.

Saying 'no way' to the Say Hey Kid
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A move to honor Willie Mays in Hagerstown, Md., where he made his minor-league debut catcalls and racial jeers, has been dropped after local veterans' groups objected to the renaming of Memorial Boulevard. Apparently Memorial is the only tribute to veterans in the city, and they did not want to see the street renamed Willie Mays Way. The street is a natural for renaming: it starts at Municipal Stadium, the ballpark where Mays made his pro debut and the current home of the Hagerstown Suns (Class A; Sally League).

Where are the fans in Kinston?
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Attendance is down at Kinston Indians (Class A; Carolina League) games: the team drew 2,720 on opening night and only 686 fans in the next five games. Chilly and rainy weather was a large factor in the attendance drop (last year the Indians drew 4.000-plus on opening night), but the fact remains Kinston is one of the smaller markets in long-season ball.

A major success: All East Carolina's gorgeous baseball field needs is better team
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Clark-LeClair Stadium, the new home of the East Carolina State Pirates, opened this season to wide acclaim: the $10-million ballpark features booths for TV and radio broadcasts, an expanded press box complete with wireless access and high-speed Internet and offices for the coaching staff. The stands have seating for about 3,000 people, nearly double what the old one held, with chair backs for a large portion of those. An elevated hill beyond the outfield fence allows hundreds more to enjoy the action from what has been dubbed the "Jungle."

Players like light at U-M's stadium
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Ray Fisher Stadium, the home of the University of Michigan Wolverines (who trail the Minnesota Golden Gophers by three games in the Big Ten standings), will host its first game under the lights tonight. A former Wolverine wrote a check for $375,000 for the lights - the only condition being that he remain anonymous. Half of the Big Ten's 10 baseball programs now have lights.

Baseball Notes
Posted April 22, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Lancaster Barnstormers (independent; Atlantic League) and WLPA Radio have reached an agreement to have 50 inaugural season Barnstormers games broadcast on 1490 WLPA-AM, Sporting News Radio. All 140 games will be webcast through the Barnstormers website and SportsJuice.com. The 50-game WLPA schedule includes the Barnstormers first-ever game against the Somerset Patriots on April 28 and the inaugural game at Clipper Magazine Stadium on May 11. There will be a 15-minute pre-game show for all over-the-air games and a five-minute opener for web-only broadcasts. Coverage on WLPA will begin at 6:30 for the May 11 home opener. Calling the games will be Dave Collins, who has been broadcasting minor league baseball games since 1982. Most recently, Collins was the Voice of the Bowie Baysox (Class AA; Eastern League), serving as broadcaster from 1993-2001....Brian Irizarry has been named broadcaster for the New Haven County Cutters (independent; Can-Am League). Irizarry started working behind the microphone during his college days when he provided the play-by-play for the Herkimer County (N.Y.) Community College soccer and lacrosse teams in addition to doing a weekly "Sports Update" show. The Hopewell Junction, NY native moved on to the State University of New York at Oswego and was active on the school’s radio and television channels, covering men and women’s basketball, hockey and baseball. Irizarry will be broadcasting every Cutters game over the Internet. Listeners can go to www.CuttersBaseball.com starting May 26 at 7 p.m. to catch all the action

The Marlins' toughest foe: Tallahassee
Posted April 21, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Most associated with the Florida Marlins' bid for state financing of a new ballpark assumed passage this session, but now the proposal to issue $2 million yearly in sales-tax rebates is in serious jeopardy after Florida state Senate president Tom Lee said the plan was on life support. An influential House committee chair refuses to hear the measure, and no one -- including Gov. Jeb Bush -- seems inclined to fight for the measure. The Marlins are seeking the state aid to fill in the final piece of ballpark financing, with the team and the city putting up the vast majority of funding. The issue was complicated when H. Wayne Huizenga said he would not kick the Marlins out of Dolphins Stadium in 2011 (despite earlier statements to the contrary), although he's not made that same offer directly to the team. Will the Marlins stay in Miami should state funding not be forthcoming? That's the multimillion-dollar question -- and before all is said and done you can bet Las Vegas Oscar Goodman will weigh in on the issue.
    RELATED STORIES: Marlins bid for ballpark thrown a curveball; House panel chief throws Marlins a familiar curve; Senate panel backs tax subsidy for Marlins ballpark; Marlins may get new lease at Dolphins Stadium; State refuses to play ball; Huizenga remarks help undercut Marlins stadium deal in Legislature; Marlins' ballpark plan gets resistance -- again; State House committee OKs tax break for new Marlins ballpark; House leader goes to bat for Marlins; Dade officials in Tallahassee to lobby for Marlins ballpark; Good news, bad news for Marlins ballpark plans; Las Vegas still willing to gamble on baseball; Miami-Dade OKs financing for $420 million Marlins ballpark; Poll finds little support for public funding of Marlins ballpark; Tentative Marlins ballpark deal announced; State open to Marlins ballpark proposal; Miami gives Marlins ballpark the nod

Roadrunners pay rent; city still says no
Posted April 21, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Despite coming up with a $36,200 payment to clear up back rent and unpaid fees for the use of Edinburg Baseball Stadium, the Edinburg Roadrunners (independent; Central Baseball League) are still without a home after another city agency stepped up and said the team had additional unpaid bills. The Edinburg Economic Development Corp. claims the team owes more than $16,000 on a loan to pay for the outfield scoreboard at the stadium. The team should pay $21,400 each year for seven years, but has not made a payment since October 2004. In addition, the corporation claims the team owes 10 percent of revenues from advertising the team runs on the video scoreboard. As a result, city officials say the lease for the ballpark is still revoked, leaving the league in an awkward position as it begins the season shortly, although it looks like some sort of agreement can be reached -- the team's front office is still working at the ballpark.
    RELATED STORY: Season in question after council cancels Roadrunners’ lease

New Rockford ballpark opening delayed
Posted April 21, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The opening of the new Rockford Riverhawks (independent; Frontier League) will be delayed until July by a month as the team prepares to open the season at Marinelli Park. The RiverHawks now anticipate a July opening no later than immediately following the all-star break, which begins July 12. Team officials say reasons for the delay include overruns in cost estimates, reengineering needs and a harsh and wet winter. Excavation and the installation of the sewage system are complete, but soil issues delayed some of the early stages of work. Because the water-table density on the third-base side of the stadium was substantially heavier, 50,000 additional cubic yards of additional fill had to be hauled. Other design changes include the addition of outfield seats and the elimination of berm seating.

MLB clears Sheffield for scuffling with fan
Posted April 21, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
New York Yankees outfielder Gary Sheffield won't be punished for his role in a scuffle with fans at Fenway Park last week. Bob Watson, baseball's vice president in charge of discipline, made the decision yesterday, a day after meeting with Sheffield and the rightfielder's agent at Yankee Stadium. The reasoning was simple: the fan reached into the field of play and initiated contact with Sheffield. Meanwhile, Boston police yesterday filed applications for misdemeanor criminal charges against two fans -- one who allegedly made contact with Sheffield and another who allegedly tossed a beer at him.
    RELATED STORIES: Boston seeks charges in Sheffield shuffle; Red Sox revoke season tickets to offending fan; Sox vow tough stance in wake of fan fracas: Interference may jeopardize season tickets

Man critically injured in RFK Stadium fall
Posted April 21, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A fan was critically injured after falling from the top level of RFK Stadium during Wednesday night's Nationals-Braves game. He fell from a ramp on the 500 level of the ballpark, hitting several ramps and railings during his fall before landing on the 100 level. The fan was leaning over a railing and looking at the ballpark before apparently losing his balance. Officials are investigating whether the fan was intoxicated.

Trolley bus service planned for ballpark
Posted April 21, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Fans attending Lancaster Barnstormers (independent; Atlantic League) games this season should have an easier time going to and from the ballpark as two Red Rose Transit Authority trolley buses could be available to shuttle fans from the ballpark to downtown parking garages and RRTA’s Manheim Avenue park-and-ride lot. The RRTA board of directors will take up the trolley-bus proposal tonight to establish a ballpark stop. Meanwhile, the team unveiled its concession menu, which has a huge emphasis on locally produced products, like Stoudt's beer and Kunzler and Co. franks. And, of course, whoopie pie is on the menu.

Las Vegas tattooed ladies, Elvis avoid G-word, entice pro team
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
There is no doubt Las Vegas will land a major-league sports team in the next five years: the only issue is whether it's an NBA team or a MLB team. We all remember Las Vegas Oscar Goodman crashing the baseball winter meetings -- flanked with showgirls and Elvis impersonators -- in his attempt to persuade MLB's powers-that-be about the desirability of Vegas as a home for the Montreal Expos. He failed, but we hear he did make quite an impression on many within baseball about Vegas' ability to support a team. It's pretty clear that two teams -- the Florida Marlins and the Oakland Athletics -- may be looking for new homes within the next year should new ballparks not be forthcoming, and Marlins officials have already met with Goodman. Whether Goodman can actually deliver a new ballpark is another issue: as mayor of Las Vegas, he actually has little sway outside of the city proper (remember, Las Vegas city limits end at Sahara Avenue and the more desirable part of Las Vegas -- the area surrounding the Strip -- comes under the jurisdiction of Clark County), and surely any team looking to move to Vegas would not want a ballpark to be located downtown. (Some major casino owners, including Steve Wynn, oppose bringing a MLB team to the Strip.) Major-league sports have looked down on Vegas because of the gambling issue, but with the expansion of Indian gaming across the nation and the relative lack of sports-book business on both baseball and basketball (football and horse-racing wagers account for more than half of sports-book business), some feel it's become less of an issue. Many are predicting the NBA will beat MLB to putting a team in Vegas -- with the Sacramento Kings frequently rumored as the team most likely to move -- but MLB would be the sport with the most to gain from a Vegas team: Vegas is hot and trendy right now, and MLB could always use some of that glitz to position the sport with the younger demographics.

Ballpark Visit: Louisville Slugger Field, Louisville Bats
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Louisville looms large in the history of professional baseball, and Louisville Slugger Field, the home of the Louisville Bats (Class AAA; International League), lives up to that legacy. Featuring a groundbreaking design that incorporated an old train shed into the ballpark's entry and concourse, Louisville Slugger Field combines the old and the new in a city that also combines the old and the new in an utterly charming, Southern way.

Group keeps dream of luring pro baseball to Reno area alive
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A group seeking to bring a Class AAA team to Reno, Nevada says their efforts are still on course and they expect a 2007 opening for a new ballpark. There's no question that efforts by Sierra Nevada Baseball have slowed considerably and changed in the last six months: for instance, the group is now seeking outside investors that could own the team, whereas in the past the group has insisted on owning the team. The Nevada Legislature passed a rental car tax that was implemented last April and is expected to generate $1.1 million to $1.3 million per year toward ballpark construction for 20 years. However, we've heard that Class A baseball is definitely an option and discussed by Reno officials; the car tax would totally cover the cost of a Class A ballpark and the cost of a franchise, but it would require a change in the ballpark-financing bill by the Nevada Legislature.

Charlotte ballpark campaign still alive
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) received some good news from Mecklenburg County commissioners in their quest for a new ballpark: the commissioners voted to support a study, to be paid for by Charlotte Center City Partners, on the possibility of putting a ballpark at county-owned Memorial Stadium in Elizabeth or somewhere in Charlotte's South End. Commissioners had already decided to put a park on a parcel the Knights sought for a new ballpark near downtown. Knights management has some decisions on the team's future: its lease at Knights Stadium ends at the end of 2006. (Subscription required.)
    RELATED STORIES: Helms: Knights belong in Charlotte; Knights' ballpark to be heart of neighborhood; Knights' losses mounting even before season starts; Knights' stadium bid still in swing; County benches Knights' ballpark plan; Knights take 3rd swing at uptown; Knights owners deny plans to sell team; Uptown park or Knights ballpark?; Charlotte board cool to new ballpark; Center-city baseball in Charlotte?; Project may wrap around ballpark

Ledecky announces bid to buy Nationals
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
There's another suitor for the Washington Nationals, as D.C. sports figure Jonathan Ledecky announced his interest in purchasing the team. Ledecky is a former minority investor in the NHL's Washington Capitals and the NBA's Washington Wizards. There are seven groups known to be bidding against Ledecky: the Washington Baseball Club, led by Fred Malek and Jeffrey Zients; American Baseball Capital, led by Northern Virginia businessman William Collins III; former Atlanta sports executive Stan Kasten; Tennessee developer Franklin Haney Sr.; local developer Mark Lerner; former Seattle Mariners owner Jeffrey Smulyan; and a group including Yusef Jackson, son of Jesse Jackson, and California billionaire Ron Burkle.

Players and fans think bouncing seats rock
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
I had forgotten about the bouncing seats at RFK Stadium from my stint hanging around the Redskins, but this story revived some pleasant memories. The movable field-level stands down the left-field line have enough give (they are the seats that move when the stadium converts from baseball to soccer) that fans can bounce them up and down, and those seats have proven to be so popular that fans are seeking them out. (Nationals players are also amused by the seats as well.) The speculation in this article is that the Nationals will look at adding bouncing seats to their new ballpark as well.

Season in question after council cancels Roadrunners’ lease
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Edinburg Roadrunners (independent; Central Baseball League) season is in jeopardy after the Edinburg City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to terminate the team's lease for Edinburg Baseball Stadium because the Roadrunners owe $36,200 in rent and cleaning fees. With the Central Baseball League scheduled to begin spring training in a week, the move is very disruptive to both the team and the league. Look for the Roadrunners to cough up the money: it's too late to change the league's entire schedule.

Boston seeks charges in Sheffield shuffle
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
After meeting with MLB disciplinarian Bob Watson, Gary Sheffield seems calmer about the incident last week where a fan allegedly hit his face during a game at Fenway Park, indicating he probably wouldn't seek charges against the offending fan (who suffered perhaps the ultimate penalty: he lost his season tickets to Fenway). However, Boston police filed applications for misdemeanor criminal charges against the two fans involved in the scuffle.
    RELATED STORIES: Red Sox revoke season tickets to offending fan; Sox vow tough stance in wake of fan fracas: Interference may jeopardize season tickets

Actions to save Ray Winder Field sought
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
With North Little Rock continuing to work toward a new ballpark for the Arkansas Travelers (Class AA; Texas League), the city of Little Rock is looking at what to do with venerable Ray Winder Field, the team's current home. Some are proposing to basically leave the ballpark as it is and use it for college and high-school games, as well as other events. The ballpark directly borders a freeway next to a city zoo and civic center; we're not talking about a lot of land that would be of great interest to developers. (Subscription required.)
    RELATED STORIES: Travs ballpark development moves forward; Plans for new Little Rock ballpark unveiled; New home for Arkansas Travelers?; Little Rock ballpark near river in works; Replacing Ray Winder Field wasn't in my plans

Moores didn't hire high-profile CEO to maintain status quo
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
More on the hiring of Sandy Alderson as CEO of the San Diego Padres. Alderson will receive a chunk of the team as part of his compensation, but more importantly he'll have a mandate to shake things up and push player development in the minor leagues. The team is now generating enough income at Petco Park to make some investments in an upgraded Dominican Republic facility; look for Alderson to bring back Bruce Bochy as manager as well.

As Rays whiff, front office scores
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays franchise is among the most profitable teams in baseball, booking $27.2 million in operating income in 2004, according to new financial analysis by Forbes magazine. The Rays had a higher operating income -- earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization -- than any other team in the major leagues last year except the Baltimore Orioles, according to an estimate published in the latest edition of the magazine. The Orioles, Forbes estimated, had operating income of $34 million. The Cleveland Indians matched the Rays at an estimated $27.2 million in operating income, Forbes said.

Legends to give away share of a Thoroughbred race horse
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It only seems natural that the Lexington Legends (Class A; Sally League) give away a share in a racehorse as a promotion. (As you'll recall, we also noted that the Lakewood Blue Claws are also giving away a share of a racehorse this season.) The Lexington Legends (Class A; Sally League) and Drexel Heritage Furniture announced their "Horse Industry Appreciation Day" and Racehorse Giveaway on April 30. The winner will be awarded 10 percent ownership for one year in Devine Afternoon, a two-year-old thoroughbred filly, owned by former Governor and Mrs. Brereton Jones.

Nats hats a no-no for TV reports?
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Boy, that evil liberal media. The Washington Times takes local TV personalities to task for wearing Washington Nationals caps during broadcasts leading up to the home opener. Yes, it's probably a little tacky, but it's hard to see how wearing a baseball cap could actually influence coverage -- especially when the coverage was going to be pro-Nats and picking up on the excitement surrounding the team no matter what.

Mavericks Stadium: Broadcasters' farm system
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Apparently Mavericks Stadium, the home of the High Desert Mavericks (Class A; California League), is the place to work if you want to move up the broadcasting food chain. At least four one-time Voices of the Mavs have landed higher-level baseball broadcasting jobs: Roxy Bernstein with the Florida Marlins, Matt Vasgergian with the San Diego Padres, Mike Lindskog with the Springfield Cardinals (Class AA; Texas League) and Johnny Doskow (Class AAA; Sacramento River Cats).

The 'other' Barnstormers
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The players will get most of the attention when the Lancaster Barnstormers (independent; Atlantic League) hit the field, but the people who make the team go -- the front-office staff -- are profiled in this article. It seems like there's a lot of people working for the team, but this list doesn't really include everyone involved, like the concessionaire lineup.

'Woo Woo' Wickers hit by car
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Chicago Cubs superfan Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers, a mainstay in the Wrigley Field bleachers, was struck by a car outside the ballpark Monday and was hospitalized at Illinois Masonic Hospital with a minor back injury. "Woo Woo" Wickers works washing windows in Wrigleyville. (Say that fast 10 times in a row.)

Baseball Notes
Posted April 20, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Casper Rockies (rookie; Pioneer League) announced the hiring of Josh Berndt as the new director of broadcasting with the team's new flagship station, ESPN Radio - AM 1230 - KVOC. Berndt, a native of Mesa, Arizona, comes to the Rockies after a three-year stint as the sports director for the Big Horn Radio Network in Cody, Wyoming. The upcoming 2005 season marks Berndt’s return to minor league baseball after a five-year hiatus. Previously he worked as the assistant media and broadcast director for the Valley Vipers (independent; Western League)....The Newark Bears (independent; Atlantic League) announced a partnership with Inside Essex County Productions that results in all 140 regular season games, and any playoff contests, to be broadcast live during the 2005 season. All 140 Newark Bears games will be broadcast live on the internet, beginning with the regular season opener against the Somerset Patriots on Wednesday, April 27th. In addition all Saturday and Sunday games will be aired live on WNSW-1430 AM. All broadcasts will begin with a pre-game show that will air fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled start of the game.....The Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier League) will have a new grounds crew working on Marinelli Field and at their new stadium. The RiverHawks announced the hiring of head groundskeeper Mark McCarty and assistant groundskeeper Jeremy Northrup. McCarty, 33, is a native of Saginaw, Michigan and a 2004 graduate of Michigan State University, where he majored in turf management. McCarty comes from the Winston-Salem Warthogs (Class A; Carolina League), where he was the assistant groundskeeper....

D.C. ballpark benefits may flow sooner
Posted April 19, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
As part of the selling of a new ballpark for Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams and city leaders promised to launch a a $450 million community-investment fund using tax proceeds from the new facility. The new ballpark isn't scheduled for opening until 2008 with benefits not accruing until 2011, but Williams announced money would be placed in the account three to five years earlier than planned. For the members of the Beulah Baptist Church, the acceleration is a huge deal: the Washington Interfaith Network (of which Beulah Baptist is a member) is working with the city to invest $1 billion in neighborhoods for such projects as parks, recreation centers, computer laboratories and sidewalks, and the proceeds from the ballpark is a big part of that initiative.
    RELATED STORIES: Chief complaint at Nationals' opener: long lines; Baseball capital; RFK's field may be named for military; Deal for RFK sponsor may be back on; Plan could cut D.C.'s ballpark burden; Bringing back D.C. memories in Philly; In Nationals' D.C. debut, fans shrug off snags; Williams warms up for moment on the mound; D.C. ballpark cost rises but stays below cap; Army may sponsor Nats; Slow start for RFK naming rights; Sponsor sought for RFK Stadium; Two financing deals cleared for D.C. ballpark; D.C. ballpark architect finalist sees move to modern design; Ballpark design bids cut to three; Eight bid to design Nationals' ballpark; D.C. mayor, officials to see games in Florida; 'Big boxes' part of D.C. ballpark pitch; RFK undergoes first transformations during two-sport season

Helms: Knights belong in Charlotte
Posted April 19, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
County commissioners Chairman Parks Helms wants the Charlotte Knights (Class AAA; International League) to play in Charlotte rather than Fort Mill, S.C., and will ask county board members tonight to begin negotiations over a site. County commissioners are scheduled to hear about a new report tonight that recommends possible sites for an urban minor-league ballpark, including county-owned land in Third Ward and the South End and the existing Memorial Stadium.
    RELATED STORIES: Knights' ballpark to be heart of neighborhood; Knights' losses mounting even before season starts; Knights' stadium bid still in swing; County benches Knights' ballpark plan; Knights take 3rd swing at uptown; Knights owners deny plans to sell team; Uptown park or Knights ballpark?; Charlotte board cool to new ballpark; Center-city baseball in Charlotte?; Project may wrap around ballpark

Impressed fans say park 'amazing'
Posted April 19, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Fans of the Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League) were very impressed with the team's new home, Trustmark Park, opened for play last night. A sellout crowd of 7,062 was on hand to see the return of Class AA ball to the Jackson area, and they didn't know how tight the schedule really was to complete the ballpark: M-Braves general manager Steve DeSalvo said the park looked like a construction zone at 5 p.m., with the gates opening at 5:30 p.m. Because the game was a sellout, many fans sat in the outfield berm area. More on Pearl Mayor Jimmy Foster, who has worked to improve Pearl's image;

Rain keeps fans away -- but what will happen when the sun shines on Pringles Park?
Posted April 19, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Class AA; Southern League) suffered through some bad weather during their season openers, as two rainouts, including one on opening night, cut the number of actual Pringles Park openings to five instead of the scheduled seven. Because of the bad weather, attendance was down as well. Still, there seems to be a ray of hope: the team drew 2,598 on a lovely Saturday night, and the front office really has pulled out the stops when it comes to a very solid promotional schedule. Still, you can't help but wonder if the attempt to move the franchise to Greenville in the offseason didn't turn the Jackson fans off of baseball.
    RELATED STORIES: Fresh start at Pringles Park; Arbitration looms as option for settling dispute; Jackson City Council OKs sportsplex plan; City disputes Jaxx owners' claimed loss; Free Jaxx tickets a theme this season at Pringles Park; Minor League chief visits Jaxx, Farmer; City, Diamond Jaxx delay decision on future of team; Moore to intervene; City may buy Jaxx; Greenville awarded to Cap City Bombers; Statement from West Tenn Diamond Jaxx regarding Greenville; Jackson mayor urges Jaxx to stay; Sportsplex proposal pitched in Jackson; Jackson looks at buying Diamond Jaxx

Mets miracles and Dolan devils
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How can the New York Mets let this happen? Mets games aren't televised because Cablevision (which holds the team's broadcast rights) can't come to an agreement with Time-Warner, so as a result the 2.4 million Time-Warner subscribers in New York don't see the games. The Mets are an improved team this year and feature stars like Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran; too bad city residents don't know.

Hey, Bud, please take this baseball advice to heart
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Some Arizona baseball fans share their ideas on how to improve our National Pastime. Todd McFarlane shows why he should stay with the comics and avoid running baseball when he opines all ballparks should have the same dimensions to give teams the same chance to land free agents; perhaps we should make sure every ballpark looks the same as well and make baseball even more homogenous. Other more practical suggestions: institute a salary cap and do more to prevent steroid abuse. Selig apparently is taking the last suggestion to heart: he's reportedly looking at hiring an outside investigator to look into steroid abuse.

Alderson joins Padres as CEO
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Sandy Alderson is leaving his position as MLB executive vice president in charge of baseball operations and joining the San Diego Padres as chief executive. Alderson will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Padres, which should be a familiar task for him: he previously was general counsel, general manager and president of the Oakland Athletics from 1981 through 1998.

Stars fans owe debt to Davis
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It's been 20 years since Mayor Joe Davis threw out the first pitch at Joe W. Davis Stadium, the home of the Huntsville Stars (Class AA; Southern League). At that time Huntsville was an Oakland A's affiliate, and many future major leaguers -- like Jose Canseco, Terry Steinbach, Luis Polonia, Stan Javier and Tim Belcher went on to the majors from their days as original Stars. Today the future of affiliated baseball in Huntsville is far from assured. More on the history of Davis and the Stars.

Hagerstown Suns to host National Egg Toss championships
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The Hagerstown Suns (Class A; Sally League) are hosting first-ever National Egg Toss Championships. The National Egg Toss Championships will take place on Sunday, May 1, immediately following the Suns home game versus the Kannapolis Intimidators. In addition, there's a pre-game cow milking contests featuring local dignitaries and Suns players, and hog-calling contests between innings.

Jackie died hoping MLB would see the light
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Jackie Robinson, the first black player in modern baseball, has been in the news again as MLB honored him on April 15 and he was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. In some ways baseball is finally living up to his legacy: he died disappointed in baseball for not giving black managers a chance. People tend to forget two things: that he was a great athlete (he excelled at football, track and basketball as well) and that he died under some pretty tragic circumstances at the age of 53, when diabetes and heart problems got the best of him.

Memories fade, but Ben Cheney lives on through stadium
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During the course of researching our book on Pacific Northwest baseball, we've become well-acquainted with the legacy of Ben Cheney, the man who pushed for the construction of Cheney Stadium, the home of Tacoma baseball since 1960. Cheney Stadium is currently the home of the Tacoma Rainiers (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League). Wooden grandstand seats and outfield light standards were sent to Tacoma from San Francisco where they had been in place at Seals Stadium. The wooden reserved seats in Cheney Stadium are still the original seats from Seals Stadium.

One lame bird
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The Washington Nationals unveiled their new mascot, Screech the Eagle, to some resounding hoots from the press. Now, it is kind of lame for a D.C. to use yet another eagle as a mascot -- the Washington Capitals of the NHL have Slapshot and D.C. United has Talon -- and the new mascot has some pretty large shoes to fill: Youppi (shown at left), the mascot of the former Montreal Expos, was designed by the late Muppetmaster Jim Henson. There's really only one solution: some MLB teams and many MiLB teams have multiple mascots -- the West Virginia Power (Class A; Sally League) has five -- so there's plenty of reasons why the Nationals promotions office should be working on a new mascot.

Red Sox revoke season tickets to offending fan
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The Boston Red Sox on Monday revoked the season tickets of the fan who made contact with Gary Sheffield during a play at Fenway last week and the Yankee right fielder called the move "a step in the right direction" toward making it clear to fans that they shouldn't be involved in the action on the field. Sheffield then didn't know when to stop, arguing that fans don't treat ballplayers as humans and should be prepared should ballplayers retaliate. Sheffield is not entirely blameless in this whole affair and could face some disciplinary action.
    RELATED STORY: Sox vow tough stance in wake of fan fracas: Interference may jeopardize season tickets

Helis: Gone but not forgotten
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Fans at Trenton Thunder (Class AA: Eastern League) games last week had a special treat: Helis, a Beluga whale, was swimming in plain view in the Delaware River, much to the delight of fans at Waterfront Park. The players were also mesmerized: Thunder assistant GM Brad Taylor reports some players from the Thunder and the visiting Altoona Curve were late for team meetings because they were out watching Helis.

Promotions, mascots highlight games
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Speaking of the Trenton Thunder: this article details promotions and new mascots for the eight minor-league teams in New Jersey: Trenton, New Jersey Cardinals (short season; NY-Penn League), Lakewood Blue Claws (Class A; Sally League), Newark Bears (independent; Atlantic League), Somerset Patriots (independent; Atlantic League), Atlantic City Surf (independent; Atlantic League), Camden Riversharks (independent; Atlantic League), and New Jersey Jackals (independent; Can-Am League). It looks like Lakewood is a contender for the best promotion of the year: on May 5, one fan will win a 10 percent ownership stake in a race horse. All associated expenses will be paid for a year, and the fan gets 10 percent of the horse's winnings. (Thanks to John Cerone.)

Fan $5,000 richer thanks to back-to-back Lynx' jacks
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Speaking of promotions: the Ottawa Lynx (Class AAA; International League) paid out five grand to a lucky fan as part of the Gatorade Back-to-Back Jacks $5,000 Contest. When any two Lynx players hit back-to-back homers, a lucky fans wins the five grand. Ottawa catcher Eli Whiteside and right fielder Keith Reed hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning.

SMS takes Cards as they are dealt
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For the folks at Southwest Missouri State, the arrival of the Springfield Cardinals (Class AA; Texas League) at Hammons Field wasn't necessarily good news: the Cardinals are now the primary tenant and attracting much of the sponsorships and fan interest, while season-ticket sales for SMS are down by 40 percent and the team has been forced to move some games to Price-Cutter Field because of scheduling conflicts. The university also owes $225,000 yearly in rent.

Baseball Notes
Posted April 19, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Three members of last year’s coaching staff will return to the Rockford RiverHawks (independent; Frontier League) to assist new manager Mike Young. Sam Knaack, the longest tenured member of the staff, will return along with J.D. Arndt and Jake Ciarrachi....

Inside the deal for the new Yankee Stadium
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
More on the new ballpark proposed by the New York Yankees, which would retain elements of the original Yankee Stadium while adding modern touches like wider concourses and luxury boxes. Many in New York are amazed by the deal, which seems to be sailing toward approval without any serious opposition. The Yankees are paying for the entire ballpark, while the city will pick up the costs of infrastructure improvements in the area (expanded train station, parking). One reason why this is popular: it allows the city to funnel hundreds of millions into the Bronx without directly benefiting only George Steinbrenner. It also shows how much people really dislike the current Yankee Stadium, which was rebuilt in 1973. Plus, for a team that at times has a tin ear toward public relations, officials seem to be making all the right gestures: for instance, the new ballpark will be known as Yankee Stadium, as naming rights will not be sold. The Yankees also made the deal financially attractive to the city: while the city is spending $300 million on infrastructure costs, it's actually cheaper than spending more than $400 million to upgrade Yankee Stadium to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The existing Yankee Stadium will be partially torn down, although the grandstand will be retained and converted to office space. City leaders and Yankees officials are aiming to have a memorandum of understanding completed by May 1. The new Yankee Stadium would take detailing from the current Yankee Stadium (like the trademark frieze hanging from the roof), add some elements from the original Yankee Stadium (like locating the bullpens in the outfield where they originally were located) and install the amenities expected in a modern ballpark (loads of luxury boxes, wide concourses).
    RELATED STORIES: It's back to the future for the Yankees; Lots of ideas for Yankee Stadium; Yanks 90% toward new home; Stadium games in NYC: give and take and speculation; Macomb dams Yankees; New York's sports economy; Brooklyn beep ready to play ball with the Yankees

Ballpark Visit: Victory Field, Indianapolis Indians
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Victory Field, the home of the Indianapolis Indians (Class AAA; International League), has been hailed as a classic ballpark of the minors. Who are we to argue? With a great view of the downtown Indianapolis skyline and a two-deck layout that manages to be intimate even though it can accommodate over 15,000, Victory Field is a must-visit for anyone who fancies minor-league ballparks.

Red Sox unveil four additions to Fenway Park
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Boston Red Sox detailed plans for the creation of four new seating "neighborhoods" that will be developed starting in the 2006 season. The improvements will come in phases over a three-year period. The club will renovate and re-design the existing .406 Club and Roof Level. The club will also create a "Pavilion Level," which includes the Pavilion Club Seats, the Pavilion Box Seats, the Pavilion Reserved Seats, and the EMC Club on the lower level of a renovated .406 Club. In the three-year process, the Red Sox will create room for approximately 2,500 more fans. The legal occupancy of Fenway increases next year from 36,298 to 38,805.

Dylan, Nelson set to reprise minor-league tour
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Legends Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson will reprise their successful 2004 tour of minor-league parks by going on the road again May 25 through July 12, playing at a variety of parks in Florida, the southeast, and Massachusetts before making their way to Iowa and Minnesota. All tickets are $49.50 and will be available at the ballpark ticket offices as well as Ticketmaster. In some cities, such as Memphis, season-ticket holders will have first crack at the tickets. Here's a full list of the tour.

Ryans are overwhelmed with the final results
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Sunday was opening day for Whataburger Park, the new home of the Corpus Christi Hooks (Class AA; Texas League). It's a pretty neat time for the folks at Ryan-Sanders Baseball, the owners of the Hooks: in addition to the opening of the ballpark, their other team, the Round Rock Express (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), moved up to Class AAA, and both teams became affiliates from the Houston Astros. Nolan Ryan was on hand for the opening, as was co-managing partner Don Sanders. More on the new ballpark here; fan reaction here; Astros owner Drayton McLane attends opening day in Corpus Christi.

Pearl's gem set for Monday opener
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Trustmark Park, the new home of the Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League), will open its gates today. The $25-million, 5,500-seat ballpark features a million-dollar scoreboard and video screen in left field, a freestanding cafe in right field, 22 luxury boxes (with 20 already sold and 2,500 season ticketholders committed), nine concession stands and a concourse ringing the entire ballpark. The last time Class AA baseball was played in Jackson was 1999, before the Jackson Generals moved out of town. Meanwhile, here's a profile of Tim Bennett, the man who put together the deal and arranged for the move of the Braves. The soft-spoken Bennett's a good baseball guy: in addition to his work in Pearl, he also runs the college wood-bat Cotton State League.

Chief complaint at Nationals' opener: long lines
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After the Washington Nationals completed their opening series at RFK Stadium, one thing became apparent to team management: there was an issue with lines both at the ballpark and also at the local transit station. Part of the problems will be cured with time -- since President Bush threw out the first pitch at the home opener, security was unusually tight at the ballgame -- and transit issues will be addressed by Metro. The other big complaint: pitchers say the mound at RFK is too soft. Here's a first-person account of opening day at RFK.
    RELATED STORIES: Baseball capital; RFK's field may be named for military; Deal for RFK sponsor may be back on; Plan could cut D.C.'s ballpark burden; Bringing back D.C. memories in Philly; In Nationals' D.C. debut, fans shrug off snags; Williams warms up for moment on the mound; D.C. ballpark cost rises but stays below cap; Army may sponsor Nats; Slow start for RFK naming rights; Sponsor sought for RFK Stadium; Two financing deals cleared for D.C. ballpark; D.C. ballpark architect finalist sees move to modern design; Ballpark design bids cut to three; Eight bid to design Nationals' ballpark; D.C. mayor, officials to see games in Florida; 'Big boxes' part of D.C. ballpark pitch; RFK undergoes first transformations during two-sport season

Sox vow tough stance in wake of fan fracas: Interference may jeopardize season tickets
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
If you were watching Thursday night's game between the Red Sox and the Yankees (or SportsCenter any time afterwards), you saw the incident involving a Red Sox fan interfering with Yankees right-fielder Gary Sheffield on a ball hit into the corner. Now, it seems to us that both sides were to blame: Sheffield claims he was hit (but it didn't look that way on the replays), and the fan was definitely at fault. The Red Sox say they'll crack down on unruly fans: the team is considering revoking the fan's season tickets.

Eastlake ballpark deal is not without risk
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It's one thing to be unhappy with a deal when it's first made, but it's another thing to carry a grudge years later. Eastlake (Ohio) Mayor Ted Andrzejewski is still whining about the original ballpark-financing deal for Classic Park, the home of the Lake County Captains (Class A; Sally League), even after the Captains ponied up over $4 million in naming rights (which, when you count how much the city will save interest costs, projects to a $7.7 million gain on ballpark debt). Andrzejewski, who was only expecting $3 million for naming rights, is upset with a clause that allows the Captains to reduce their lease payments if they make capital improvements to the ballpark, but the clause also gives the city new revenues on non-baseball events, which would end up being more than what the Captains are able to deduct. In addition, it turns out (as we suspected) the Captains are paying the city more in naming-rights fees than they're receiving from car dealer James Brown. So we're still trying to figure out the down side of this deal and why Andrzejewski is still bitching about it.

Parking only error at Lynx opener
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Pretty impressive start for the Ottawa Lynx (Class AAA; International League): the team drew 7,651 for its season opener, and things were so crowded around Lynx Stadium that fans were actually turned away because of a lack of parking around the ballpark. Rumors about the team moving have swirled around Lynx Stadium for a few years, but the strong showing out of the box may squelch those rumors for the time being. More on the Lynx and their future here.

Drillers draw 11,864 to season opener
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Speaking of impressive starts: the Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League) drew 11,864 for its season opener. The Drillers have embarked on a season-long celebration of 100 years of professional baseball in Tulsa, and the opening night marked the beginning of festivities. The Drillers lost the game, 9-3, to the Arkansas Travelers.

New park boosts revenues for Grasshoppers
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Management for the Greensboro Grasshoppers (Class A; Sally League) expect to triple revenues this season after moving into First Horizon Field. That sort of boost is fairly normal for teams moving into new ballparks; of course, teams usually incur much more in costs as well. The team hopes to hit $6 million in revenues and draw 420,000 fans, which would put it near the top of Sally League attendance.

It's no longer basic whites, grays
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When I was a kid, there were exactly two kinds of jerseys: whites for home and grays for the road. Today, as merchandisers play a more important role in baseball finances, MLB teams are adopting more uniform styles. Colorado, Houston and the New York Mets each will use five sets of uniforms this year, while red is the hot color for resellers: Houston, Atlanta, Boston and Cincinnati are all using red jerseys this season. (The Minnesota Twins previously had a red Sunday jersey, but dropped it when the team kept losing on Sundays.) There are now 98 jerseys in use in Major League Baseball, not counting batting-practice, spring-training jerseys and one-off promotional items.

Wilson to test new bats at Pringles Park
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The head of Wilson Team Sports from Chicago, IL will visit Pringles Park, the home of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx (Class AA; Southern League) today through Wednesday. Wilson will be testing two new, hi-tech DeMarini softball bats against two well-known bats from competitors. Softball players selected from West Tennessee will hit with the new DeMarini bats and compare them with the competition’s models. A video interview will be made of each player after each round of testing.

Thankfully, ballpark's fun in a loss
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
It doesn't sound like Joe B. Davis Stadium, the home of the Huntsville Stars (Class AA; Southern League), is in good shape: the new scoreboard still doesn't work properly and things like toilets need to be fixed. Columnist Mark McCarter claims the team actually underreported attendance by a couple of thousand, but that may be wishful thinking on his part, as he's surely heard the same talk of the Stars leaving town that we have.

New board sure to score with Avalanche fans
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Speaking of new scoreboards: the Salem Avalanche (Class A; Carolina League) installed a new scoreboard at Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. The new scoreboard features a graphics display as well, used by the team to show player mug shots and possibly video replays in the future. The team isn't saying how much it cost, through the final price tag was probably under $500,000. The Avalanche made other improvements to the ballpark as well: a new deck down the right-field line, renovated luxury suites and added a club level with bar, plasma screen TVs and tables and chairs.

Downtown KC baseball backers don their rally caps
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Boy, you've got to admire the tenacity of the Downtown Council of Kansas City in continuing to work toward a new downtown ballpark for the Kansas City Royals, even though Royals president Dan Glass says the team has not interest in moving away from Kauffman Stadium. Organization say they've working toward a new ballpark by 2014, when the Royals' lease at the Big K ends. Meanwhile, it's possible that the Big K can evolve into a "meet market," if baseball demographics hold true.

Expos make room at bottom for Devil Rays
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Now that the Montreal Expos are out of the National League, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays are now the bottom dwellers of MLB when it comes to attendance and revenues. The Trop has never taken off as a fun place to watch a baseball game.

Cats owner painting a new picture
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Dan Orlich, the owner of the expansion Edmonton Cracker Cats (independent; Northern League), is putting his time and effort into sprucing up Telus Field. The team has already repainted portions of the 10-year-old ballpark and will be making further changes as well. The team is settled in for the long haul, signing a five-year lease.

Homeland Security, MiLB team up to promote emergency awareness
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security today announced that for the third season in a row, it is joining Minor League Baseball to promote emergency preparedness. During the 2005 season, 48 teams across the nation will educate and encourage their fans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools by featuring Ready campaign information in their ballparks, beginning April 14, 2005.

Fit for a Queen (City): Congratulations Manchester, you’re on a roll
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The arrival of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Class AA; Eastern League) in downtown Manchester is a big step forward for the region, writes Steve Gilbert: Ten years ago downtown Manchester was lifeless and unsafe; today, with the arrival of a new ballpark and a new arena housing football and hockey, downtown Manchester rocks.

Renovations to Eddie Stanky Field to be unveiled Tuesday
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The University of South Alabama is unveiling a renovated Eddie Stanky Field tomorrow during a dedication ceremony. The $3.3 million project -- which includes a concrete grandstand, 1,600 chairback seats, a new backstop, new restrooms, a new press box and new club level room -- is in the final touch-up phase. Speaking of college baseball: ESPN will broadcast the first night game at Ray Fisher Stadium, the home of the Michigan Wolverines, on April 22 at 7 p.m.

Baseball Notes
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The College Baseball Foundation announced it has reached an agreement with Fox Sports Network to televise the 2005 Brooks Wallace Award this summer. The annual award banquet, honoring the nation’s top collegiate baseball player, will be held on Thursday, June 30, at 7 p.m., and will be hosted at the United Spirit Arena, on the campus of Texas Tech University. Information regarding the sale of individual tickets beginning at $35, as well as group and corporate tables to the VIP event, is available by contacting gus@collegebaseballfoundation.org or calling 806/723-8232. More at the foundation's Web site.

It's back to the future for the Yankees
Posted April 17, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The New York Yankees released some information about a proposed new ballpark near the current Yankee Stadium, as team officials and city leaders are shooting to have a memorandum of understanding completed by May 1. Three years in development, the new Yankee Stadium would take detailing from the current Yankee Stadium (like the trademark frieze hanging from the roof), add some elements from the original Yankee Stadium (like locating the bullpens in the outfield where they originally were located) and install the amenities expected in a modern ballpark (loads of luxury boxes, wide concourses). Technically, there will be separate buildings: an outer building designed to look from the outside like the original Yankee Stadium, with a great hall separating the exterior wall and the actual ballpark. It will be smaller than the current Yankee Stadium in terms of capacity (seating only 50,800 and be located north of the existing Yankee Stadium, between 161st and 164th Sts. and between Jerome and River avenues. The Yankees will fund the entire construction cost ($800 million), with the city funding infrastructure upgrades in the area. The anticipated opening: 2009. Take the breathless reporting with a grain of salt: in February it was reported the Yankees were very close to signing a letter of memorandum with the city then as well.
    RELATED STORIES: Lots of ideas for Yankee Stadium; Yanks 90% toward new home; Stadium games in NYC: give and take and speculation; Macomb dams Yankees; New York's sports economy; Brooklyn beep ready to play ball with the Yankees

Marlins bid for ballpark thrown a curveball
Posted April 18, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
No surprise: Rep. Fred Brummer (R-Apopka), who has already declared himself opposed to a new ballpark for the Florida Marlins, now says his House Finance and Tax Committee won't hear a proposal to give the team a yearly sales-tax rebate . "It's got to have something going for it for us to use working families' tax dollars, and I've seen nothing in the bill that this is a good use of tax dollars," he says. The state funding would fill a $30 million gap in ballpark financing, as the Marlins and Miami-Dade County have already committed to the majority of ballpark financing. Whether this kills state funding remains to be seen: with some key senators behind the funding bill (which also contains similar sales-tax rebates for a NASCAR museum in Daytona and arena renovations in Orlando), there's always the chance it could be resuscitated before the end of session.
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