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Archives: Oct. 2-8, 2005

South Coast League announces 2007 launch
Posted October 7, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The South Coast League of Professional Baseball announced its plans to start a new independent professional baseball league for the 2007 season in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
    "The opportunity to bring professional baseball and affordable family entertainment to many of the municipalities that have either lost their professional club or have not had the opportunity to have their own professional franchise is both exciting and rewarding," said South Coast League Chief Executive Officer Jamie Toole, who comes to the post from the GM position with the Salem Avalanche (Class A; Carolina League).
    Joining Toole, SCL CEO, in the league office is Chief Operating Officer Chris Allen.
    The South Coast League will field eight clubs that will play a 120-game schedule beginning play in May 2007. The league will draw players primarily from junior and four-year colleges, while also looking at major and minor league free agents.
    Following a similar model to other independent professional leagues, the South Coast League office will own and operate all franchises during the infant stages of the league, eventually finding local ownership in each market.

Ballpark Visit: Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees
Posted October 7, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
If you seek the ultimate sense of baseball history and enjoy being around passionate and remarkably knowledgeable fans, Yankee Stadium should top your list of essential ballpark visits. Yankee Stadium and the cast of characters that come with it will provide you with a unique New York experience. Obviously, the die-hard baseball fan will drink in every facet of the visit (possibly literally), but the experience will be equally entertaining for the novice and casual observer, as well.

Comfortable amidst the frenzy at Yankee Stadium
Posted October 7, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Speaking of Yankee Stadium: here's a look at the House That Ruth Built as the Yankees prepare to host playoff games. Despite the cramped clubhouses and lack of amenities for players, Yankee Stadium is still a draw for players: visiting players love the experience of facing the Yankees on such hallowed ground, while the team uses the historic ballpark as a recruiting tool. Fans can be intimidating, but they're among the most smartest and passionate in the world.

Minnesota special session may not include Twins ballpark
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Minnesota legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Pawlenty met yesterday to discuss the parameters of a special session, and the consensus seems to be that approval of a new sales tax for a Minnesota Twins ballparks may be off the table. The one issue lawmakers agree upon is approval of state funding for a new University of Minnesota football stadium, and though the sense that the ballpark proposal -- which calls for Hennepin County enacting a 0.15 percent sales tax to partially fund a downtown ballpark -- would end up being approved, there's enough opposition from lawmakers to drag out the process and extend a session past three or four days. Nothing is written in stone at this point, however (and let's be realistic: Pawlenty may not have the backbone to call a session, even for something as uniformly popular as the Gophers stadium), and talks about the session's agenda will continue. More from the St. Paul Pioneer Press. (Registration required.)
    RELATED STORIES: Twins: Ballpark costs to rise $30 million if approval is delayed; Stadium proposals jostle for support in Minnesota; Minnesota governor to jump-start Twins ballpark discussions with legislative leaders; Key legislator backs special session to address Minnesota stadium issues; Twins ballpark may slip this year; Minneapolis Greens hope ballpark issue helps them in primary; Legislative session to decide fate of Twins ballpark back on track; Will special session be called to pass Twins ballpark legislations? Odds seem to be dropping; State needs fall special session; Twins ballpark stall raises costs; State approval for Twins ballpark may wait until fall; 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; Minneapolis Council panel delays ballpark vote; Big fans of a Twins move; Minneapolis may stand against ballpark plan; Twins ballpark passage predicted by legislative leaders; Hennepin County takes first step toward new Twins ballpark; Few want to pay for Twins ballpark; Hennepin County delays vote on Twins ballpark funding; Hennepin County to vote today on Twins ballpark funding; Minnesota Twins, Hennepin County reach agreement on ballpark funding; Twins back Minneapolis ballpark location; What's up with a Twins ballpark?; House GOP, DFL leaders clash over stadiums; Politicos bury Twins in ballpark hierarchy; Gov. Pawlenty talks of stadium plans; Minnesota drops the ball on ballpark plan; Ballpark tax plan is calling for a first

Tampa Bay's new boss: 'Baseball junkie' with business savvy
Posted October 7, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Stuart Sternberg officially took over as principal owner of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays yesterday and vowed to bring new life to a franchise that never turned the corner in terms of winning on the field and drawing fans off. (One of the first things Sternberg announced was free parking at ballgames next season.) Vince Naimoli is officially out; his reign was marked by really stupid moves (like trying to charge the high-school band playing the National Anthem admissions fees) and confrontations with community leaders. One thing to worry about: Sternberg will not hire a general manager, instead preferring to have senior management make important decisions jointly. The Devil Rays are totally clearing house: in addition to buying out the contracts of Naimoli and manager Lou Piniella, GM Chuck LaMar, assistant GM Scott Proefrock, player personnel director Cam Bonifay and pro scout Rudy Santin were also dismissed.

Minor league says Lee's Summit contending for franchise
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The independent Frontier League is softening on its commitment to placing a team in Lee's Summit, Mo., and a new 3,500-seat ballpark in the proposed City Walk and The Village retail and entertainment center in Lee's Summit. (The group breaking away from the Northern League might be wise to check out Kansas City as a potential market. They would also do well to monitor ballpark development in Topeka.) Instead, Frontier League officials say they may look at Independence for a new ballpark.

Smulyan gets points in DC ownership fight
Posted October 7, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Whether it's true or not, former Seattle Mariners owner Jeff Smulyan has put himself as the leading candidate to land the Washington Nationals after launching a p.r. offensive last week. There are a few issues here: D.C. political leaders are quite adamant about wanting local owners, and the Indianapolis-based Smulyan is anything but. He's also using corporate money from his publicly traded company, Emmis Communications, to fund the purchase, and many shareholders are upset he's playing so fast and loose with hundreds of millions of company dollars.
     RELATED STORIES: Is Smulyan group frontrunner to land Nationals?

Future of Nassau County ballpark to be decided in December
Posted October 7, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Nassau County officials say they'll decide on one of the redevelopment plans for Nassau Coliseum by the beginning of December. New York Islanders owner Charles Wang has one proposal before the county, but it's a bid by a group including the New York Mets that's received the most attention, calling for a renovation of the Coliseum and the construction of a new minor-league ballpark on the property. More from Arena Digest.
    RELATED STORIES: Mets proposing new minor-league ballpark in Nassau County

Residents point out KC stadium benefits
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In the third of six public hearings designed to let citizens comment on the future of Kauffman Stadium and Arrowhead Stadium, local residents said they liked having the Truman Sports Complex in a suburban setting but didn't want to see tax dollars used to upgrade the facilities. The leases with the Kansas City Royals and the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs calls for both facilities to be maintained as state-of-the-art buildings, and Jackson County officials are working on a budget to renovate both to meet those terms.

SE DC development in limbo as official plans to resign
Posted October 7, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Andrew Altman, chief executive of the Anacostia Waterfront Corp., a quasi-public development entity, said this week that he will leave the organization he helped create as city planning director and led for the past 10 months. He will depart in three weeks for a private-sector job in New York. The organization has been working on development surrounding a new ballpark for the Washington Nationals. The important thing to note here is that this won't directly impact planning and construction of the ballpark itself.

Daktronics to install world's largest HD LED display at Dolphins Stadium
Posted October 7, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Daktronics (Brookings, S.D.) announced it has been awarded a contract to design and build the world's largest high definition (HD) light emitting diode (LED) display for Dolphins Stadium in Miami. Daktronics has been chosen by Dolphins Stadium to provide two large ProStar video displays, each with true, physical pixel resolution exceeding the 720p high-definition television standard of 720 pixel by 1,280 pixel resolution. The largest of the two displays will be the largest of its kind in the world. The project is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2006 baseball season.

Price Cutter Park draws interest
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Price Cutter Park, the former home of the Springfield-Ozark Mountain Ducks (independent; Central League), may be sold by owner Horn Chen to the Council of Churches of the Ozarks Foundation. The ballpark sat unoccupied after the Ducks left town following the 2004 season. But this summer saw renewed activity there, as former Ducks General Manager Brad Eldridge has volunteered to organize various youth, high school, college and community baseball games and tournaments. Apparently Chen might have other plans for the ballpark, so things could change in the next few months.

Baseball Notes
Posted October 7, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Joe Block won't be returning to the Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League) as play-by-play announcer next season, as the team declined to pick up the option on his contract. Block has been with the team since it moved to the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. He hopes to secure a job in baseball broadcasting for next season; given his experience (he was also a fill-in broadcaster for Montreal Expos games), he should find a job with some team....The Pittsburgh Pirates are setting up interviews with Ken Macha and Jim Tracy about their open managerial position....

Erie SeaWolves to Detroit?
Posted October 6, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Detroit Tigers management has been talking with Mandalay Baseball Properties about moving the Erie SeaWolves (Class AA; Eastern League) to a new ballpark in Dearborn or Taylor. The move isn't a slam-dunk: first, funding for a new ballpark would need to be arranged (and as both the independent Northern and Frontier Leagues have discovered, there's not a pile of ballpark money sitting around in Detroit's suburbs) and fit within Mandalay's business plan calling for associated development as part of a ballpark, and secondly the Eastern League would need to approve the shift -- and with many league owners already feeling the league is stretched out too far to Akron, another shift west may not go over that well. Tigers president and GM Dave Dombrowski declined to comment further on any possible shift.

York ballpark vote delayed
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The York (Pa.) City Council delayed a decision on a proposed new $26-million ballpark for an independent Atlantic League game, as a group of councilmembers sought to move the issue to committee. The issue must now wait for an Oct. 18 meeting, which should not negatively impact the construction schedule. The ballpark plans requires the city to acquire and demolish 27 properties, including row houses, businesses and a church. Funding comes from a $12 million state grant, with local businesses and Keystone Baseball (which would own the team and manage the facility) providing the rest.
    RELATED STORIES: York ballpark design to honor Brooks Robinson; York ballpark decision on the way; Creating a ballpark wish list in York; York homes' cost tops estimate; York hires ballpark consultant; York mayor wants more revenue from new ballpark; Plans to address York ballpark impact; Ballpark questions fielded in York; $8 million bond approved for York ballpark; Property takeovers for York ballpark debated; Mayor says York ballpark plan is grand slam; Ballpark could be key for York; York ballpark planning goes extra innings; The race is on for York baseball

'Stadium' session on agenda for today
Posted October 6, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty will meet today with the political leaders in the Minnesota Legislature and discuss the parameters of a potential special session. Pawlenty wants to see a two-day session to approve state funding of a new University of Minnesota football stadium and a new Hennepin County sales tax to fund a Minnesota Twins ballpark, but legislative rules may stretch the session out to three or four days, There's considerable support for funding of a new Gophers stadium, less support for a Twins ballpark measure; most of the opposition, however, seems to lie in dissatisfaction with the entire notion of calling a special session to deal with business left unfinished from the last session. (Requires registration.)
    RELATED STORIES: Twins: Ballpark costs to rise $30 million if approval is delayed; Stadium proposals jostle for support in Minnesota; Minnesota governor to jump-start Twins ballpark discussions with legislative leaders; Key legislator backs special session to address Minnesota stadium issues; Twins ballpark may slip this year; Minneapolis Greens hope ballpark issue helps them in primary; Legislative session to decide fate of Twins ballpark back on track; Will special session be called to pass Twins ballpark legislations? Odds seem to be dropping; State needs fall special session; Twins ballpark stall raises costs; State approval for Twins ballpark may wait until fall; 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; Minneapolis Council panel delays ballpark vote; Big fans of a Twins move; Minneapolis may stand against ballpark plan; Twins ballpark passage predicted by legislative leaders; Hennepin County takes first step toward new Twins ballpark; Few want to pay for Twins ballpark; Hennepin County delays vote on Twins ballpark funding; Hennepin County to vote today on Twins ballpark funding; Minnesota Twins, Hennepin County reach agreement on ballpark funding; Twins back Minneapolis ballpark location; What's up with a Twins ballpark?; House GOP, DFL leaders clash over stadiums; Politicos bury Twins in ballpark hierarchy; Gov. Pawlenty talks of stadium plans; Minnesota drops the ball on ballpark plan; Ballpark tax plan is calling for a first

Veeck, Saints aim high
Posted October 6, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here's one of the best overviews of why the St. Paul Saints and three other teams left the independent Northern League. Mike Veeck says the move comes not because the Northern League was expanding too far afield, it's that the Northern League was just adding teams and not working toward a grand alliance of independent teams both in North America and overseas. Veeck and Saints co-owner Mike Veeck do have a grand vision for the future of indy ball that calls both for league play and interleague play; whether the economics of the game allows for this remains to be seen.
    RELATED STORIES: Sioux City leaves Northern League, joins three other defectors; NL seeks Twin Cities team; Saints to leave Northern League

Cracker Jack Stadium to host first-round WBC games
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Cracker Jack Stadium will be a busy place in March: in addition to hosting Atlanta Braves spring-training workouts and games, the Disney complex will also host a first round of the World Baseball Classic. Games among the Group Four team -- Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Italy and Australia -- will be played there between March 3 and March 11. This might be one of the most intriguing set of teams: both Venezuela and the Dominican Republic have sent plenty of stars -- like Johan Santana -- into pro baseball. Not everyone is still behind the WBC: several players are still hesitant to participate, and Cuba has not yet officially agreed to field a team.

D.C. landowners must yield to ballpark
Posted October 6, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
District of Columbia officials say they'll begin eminent-domain proceedings to acquire the land needed for a new Washington Nationals ballpark. Less than half of the 23 landowners failed to respond to letters from District officials outlining offers for their land. Opposition to the land acquisition lies in two forms: one set of opponents say the valuation of the land is too low, while another set say they'll challenge eminent-domain proceedings in court despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this year that strongly upheld the practice. Construction of the new ballpark should begin March. Meanwhile, the sale of the Nats may be held up until November: White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf is representing Major League Baseball in negotiations with the D.C. Council on the new-ballpark lease, and he's not spending time negotiating when his team is in the playoffs.
    RELATED STORIES: MLB sets price tag of $450 million for Nats; As ballpark clock ticks, D.C. officials bicker; D.C. lease progress is slow; MLB is thinking locally for Nats; Nats sale could come quickly now that lease is done; MLB likely to pick Nats owner soon; MLB owners eager to sell Nationals, soon; Nationals' sale mixes sports, politics; D.C. ballpark architect has towering test; Judge dismisses suit against D.C. ballpark; Cropp still talking private financing for D.C. ballpark; D.C. Council members push bid of Nats suitor Ledecky; Nationals at RFK Stadium is summer's hottest ticket; Problems at RFK typical of District; Washington's team is political football; Issues continue to build at RFK; Plans to build ballpark in D.C. receive a boost from Supreme Court; Businesses resist as D.C. collects on ballpark fee; D.C. ballpark deal calls for union workers; Is D.C. private financing finally dead? Finalists for Nats ownership due soon; Private ballpark funding lacking in D.C.; Gandhi defends ballpark figures; Ballpark financing plan goes to D.C. Council

Ballpark's condition forced Cardinals sale
Posted October 6, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Poor conditions at Skylands Park forced the sale of the New Jersey Cardinals (short season; NY-Penn League), according to team owner Barry Gordon. Last season the team received a waiver because Skylands Park did not meet minimum minor-league standards, as officials cited poor lighting, no padding on concrete along the fence and poor footing on the warning track. Gordon says Millennium Sports Management, owners of the ballpark, ignored requests to fix the facility. Gordon also says he lost interest in baseball, prompting the sale of the team to the ownership of the Altoona Curve (Class AA; Eastern League), which plans to move the team to a new ballpark on the Penn State campus.
    RELATED STORIES: Cardinals' staff packing, looking for other jobs; New Jersey Cardinals flying the next for State College

Roadrunners, Edinburg make first bankruptcy court showing
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Edinburg Baseball Club LLC, the legal entity for the Edinburg Roadrunners, was given permission Wednesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to pay its employees and continue to send state sales tax money to Austin. The Roadrunners apparently have given up efforts to play in Edinburg next season, as the city and the new independent United League came to a ballpark lease agreement. (Speaking of the United Baseball League: reportedly league officials are also looking at placing teams in Alexandria and Laredo.)
    RELATED STORIES: Roadrunners seek bankruptcy protection; Lawsuit keeps ’Runners on life support; United Sports seeks privately financed ballpark in Amarillo; Amarillo nixes ballpark feasibility study; Baseball is back in Amarillo; Ex-Dillas' owners seek new Amarillo team; Amarillo needs thorough ballpark study; Plan to study new Amarillo ballpark a good idea; Amarillo plans to study new ballpark; Pierce, Bryant announce new indy league

Carbray/Grizzlies lawsuit comes to end
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Its ownership of the Fresno Grizzlies (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) already nearing an end, the Fresno Diamond Group closed another chapter on its turbulent tenure. The group, which in August agreed to sell the team, had its year-long lawsuit against former president John Carbray dismissed without payment of any money, the group announced Tuesday. Carbray, who led the initial effort to bring Triple-A baseball to Fresno in 1998 but was stripped of his day-to-day powers as president in 2003, was being sued for breach of contract.

His Frontier Field pals will always miss Dave Frisch
Posted October 6, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Dave Frisch was a regular at Rochester Red Wings (Class AAA; International league), sitting in Section 109. He was killed Sept. 27, when a van ran into his chair as he was crossing Broad Street at South Avenue. A stroke left him partially paralyzed and in need of a motorized chair, but that didn't stop him from taking the bus line to games (always leaving a little early to beat the rush) and making friends with other regulars in his section.

RailCats budget first rent $150,000 for Steel Yard
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The Gary-SouthShore RailCats are paying rent for the first time at the $45 million US Steel Yard: $150,000 for this season. Rent in previous years was waived when the city missed a contractual deadline to have the ballpark opened for the start of the 2002 season. Some political leaders in Gary refuse to attend games because they think the rent is far too low.

Why don't MJC, Nuts share a new field?
Posted October 6, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The question here is why Modesto Junior College and the Modesto Nuts (Class A; California League) share a ballpark. The junior college will soon be building a new ballpark, and the Nuts' lease at John Thurman Field, which is regarded by most baseball folks and local fans as substandard, expires at the end of the 2006 season. So why isn't there more concern about a future facility? The Nuts and the college say they're willing to look at a new facility, but the initiative must come from then -- as history shows us, Modesto city officials have no inclination toward supporting baseball.

Baseball big-league business in Mesa
Posted October 6, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Arizona Fall League is attracting fans to Mesa's HoHoKam Park, but the league is merely one component of the local baseball economy. the Fall League, Men's Senior Baseball League World Series and National Adult Baseball League tournament draw sparse crowds to HoHoKam Park, but attendees and participants do rent hotel rooms and eat out at restaurants, making a positive impact on the economy.

Baseball Notes
Posted October 6, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Rick Valdez is the new director of operations for the Beloit Snappers (Class A: Midwest League). He spent the last four seasons on the Snappers grounds crew....Jim Leyland is the new manager of the Detroit Tigers, replacing Alan Trammell.....Ken Macha is out as manager of the Oakland A's after he and the team could not agree on a new contract....Steve Swisher is out as manager of the Reading Phillies (Class AA; Eastern League)....28-year-old Jon Daniels is the new GM of the Texas Rangers....The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks (independent; Northern League) signed manager Doug Simunic through the 2008 season, while pitching coach Steve Montgomery and player personnel consultant Jeff Bittiger were signed through 2007....

Sioux City leaves Northern League, joins three other defectors; NL seeks Twin Cities team
Posted October 5, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Sioux City Explorers announced the team will be leaving the independent Northern League effective immediately, joining St. Paul, Sioux Falls and Lincoln in an exodus to a still unnamed independent league. Representatives from the Northern League met via conference call on Oct. 4 to firm up support among the remaining members, but you can expect one other current Northern League team to seriously consider a shift to the new league, and leaders from some communities currently hosting Northern League teams have inquired about the new league. Look for the new league to have a name by the end of the week or the beginning of next week.
    Meanwhile, the Northern League is looking to place a new team in the Twin Cities to replace the St. Paul Saints and is scouting for possible venues. One big problem: there really are no venues in the Twin Cities capable of supporting professional baseball past the Metrodome and Midway Stadium, the current home of the Saints. The Saints had offered limited interleague play between the new league and the Northern League to alleviate schedule and travel issues, according to Saints co-owner Marv Goldklang, but so far the Northern League has declined the offer.
    RELATED STORIES: Saints to leave Northern League

Lend downtown KC ballpark boosters an ear at ‘listening tour’
Posted October 5, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Despite overwhelming public opposition to a new downtown ballpark for the Kansas City Royals, proponents are going public with what they say are compelling reasons for a new park. It's increasingly looking like whatever improvements made to the Truman Sports Complex will overwhelmingly benefit the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, leaving the Royals behind.
    RELATED STORIES: Kansas City negotiator fired after comments; KC stadium finance tilts toward Chiefs

Erie County approves $4 million in Jerry Uht improvements
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The Erie County Council approved $4 million in improvements to help renovate the Jerry Uht Park, the home of the Erie SeaWolves (Class AA; Eastern League), in an attempt to keep Mandalay Baseball Properties from moving the team to the Springfield, Mass. area or to lure another team to Erie should the SeaWolves be moved. Mandalay is currently negotiating a lease for Jerry Uht Park.

New San Diego Ballpark Village deal rejected
Posted October 5, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Downtown San Diego redevelopment officials rejected new terms to an affordable-housing agreement yesterday for the $1.4 billion Ballpark Village, to be built by the real-estate-development arm of San Diego Padres owner John Moores, JMI. A week ahead of a crucial City Council vote, the developers of the beleaguered project received a tongue-lashing before the dismissal. The original deal called for 100,000 square feet -- or 3 percent of the total 3.2 million-square-foot project total -- to be set aside for condominiums with restricted prices for moderate-income families. A Sept. 20 change in the plans eliminated the affordable housing, with JMI instead giving money to a local nonprofit to build low-income housing elsewhere in the city.
    RELATED STORIES: Reject Ballpark Village, downtown group advises; Council urged to reject change in San Diego Ballpark Village master plan; San Diego Ballpark Village proposal takes surprising turn; Padres eager to break ground on Ballpark Village

Wolff on the hunt for more A's fans, new ballpark
Posted October 5, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Now that the regular season for the Oakland A's is over, managing partner Lew Wolff says he'll be focused on building attendance for 2006 and moving forward with plans for a new ballpark. The problems with the team and McAfee Coliseum were made abundantly clear late in the season: with the club still in the pennant race, a crowd of less than 16,000 showed up for a crucial home game. In fact, the team had its worst attendance since 2001.
    RELATED STORIES: Oakland ballpark village plan designed to win allies, public funds; Wolff's vision of ballpark raises questions; Wolff unveils plans for 35,000-seat ballpark near Coliseum; A's owner to offer specific ballpark plan to keep team in Oakland; Have A's settled on new ballpark site?; Smallball suits Lew Wolff just fine; A's think small with stadium plans; Fremont politicians make a pitch for A's; A's say Coliseum lot isn't feasible; Athletics announce committee to plan new Oakland ballpark; Another San Jose site eyed for baseball; The time has come for new A's ballpark; No specifics on new Oakland ballpark, but plans in the works; San Jose quits discussions on cannery; Wolff about to take over; Going to bat for A's is big opportunity for San Jose mayor; Wolff: A's ballpark already in works; Deal near for San Jose cannery site; For A's, way to San Jose paved with uncertainty; San Jose baseball crusader makes his pitch; A's sale could happen quickly; Sale of A's to heighten San Jose intrigue; BART to the ballpark, what a vision; Another San Jose pitch for baseball; San Jose mayor makes his pitch; Q&A with A's new owner Lew Wolff

Melaleuca buys naming rights to McDermott Field, enables renovation
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Melaleuca, an eastern Idaho company specializing in wellness products, is donating $600,000 to a group seeking to renovate McDermott Field, the home of the Idaho Falls Chukars (rookie; Pioneer League). The donation will result in a renovation of the facility; Melaleuca will also receive naming rights to the ballpark, now known as Melaleuca Field. A fundraising drive yielded $1.6 million, more than the original $1.3 million figure.

Wahconah Park spat renewed
Posted October 5, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Pittsfield Dukes (summer collegiate; NECBL) owner Dan Duquette wants to return to Wahconah Park next season, but for some reason the city is sitting on the team's application to return.  Under the one-year licensing agreement for last season, Duquette paid an initial $10,000 for the team to play at Wahconah Park and an additional $300 for each game. City officials have no idea why an agreement isn't done -- there doesn't seem to be any disagreements between the two sides. The Dukes drew 32,452 fans to 21 home dates at Wahconah Park, an average of 1,545 fans per game.

Cardinals' staff packing, looking for other jobs
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The staff of the New Jersey Cardinals (short season; NY-Penn League) was closing down the team offices and looking for new jobs after being told the team was moving to State College, Pa., to a new ballpark on the Penn State campus. They're in limbo: the new owners will need to shut down operations and lay off people, and of course there's the chance some of the current Cardinals employees will be asked to move to State College. Plus, don't be surprised if the independent Can-Am League takes a serious look at Skylands Park. Local businesses are disappointed with the move, saying it will negatively impact their bottom lines.
    RELATED STORIES: New Jersey Cardinals flying the next for State College

Relocated Fenway development draws praise
Posted October 5, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A local developer has altered plans for a mixed-used development next to Fenway Park, which could result in a two new 900-car parking ramps built over the Massachusetts Turnpike. The Boston Red Sox have been working with local developers on projects in the area in an effort to protect the views of Boston from Fenway Park, and this proposal would place a seven-story building over the turnpike with no impact on ballpark views.

New Jersey Cardinals flying the nest for State College
Posted October 4, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The New Jersey Cardinals (short season; NY-Penn League) have been sold and will be moved to a new ballpark in State College, Penn., for the 2006 season. The Cardinals set a NY-Penn League attendance in their first year of existence and still reported strong numbers, but strained relations between the team and the owners of Skylands Park (Millennium Sports) led to the sale. The team will play at a new ballpark under construction at Penn State University and be owned by the ownership of the Altoona Curve (Class AA; Eastern League). Don't be surprised if the Can-Am League is already considering placing a team at Skylands Park. More from the State College daily.

Texas group roaring for Indians stock
Posted October 4, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
A San Antonio-based hedge fund is openly soliciting shares of Indianapolis Indians (Class AAA; International League) stock, leading some industry observers to wondering whether it's launching a hostile takeover of the team. Officials from the The Lion Fund LP say while they aren't looking to take majority control of the franchise, they're willing to pay a substantial premium over the Indians' last buyback offer of $9,200 per share, and even more for large blocks of stock.

Mets proposing new minor-league ballpark in Nassau County
Posted October 4, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The New York Mets are proposing a redevelopment of the Nassau Coliseum area and including a new minor-league ballpark in the mix. The proposal calls for a renovation of the Coliseum, home to the NHL's New York Islanders, as well as adding over four million square feet of mixed retail, housing and commercial development. A new ballpark would be built on the southwest end of the property. The Mets already own and operate the wildly popular Brooklyn Cyclones (short season; NY-Penn League).

Q&A: Mark Attanasio
Posted October 4, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
New Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio sits down with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel to discuss next season. The team is looking at several improvements to Miller Park next season, including the addition of race-track-style LED displays, the conversion of some suites to public spaces, and the addition of a picnic area that could lead to the fences being moved in 10 feet or so. Also, look for the old logo pictured to the right to come back in some form next season.

Perfect time for McClatchy to sell
Posted October 4, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Are the Pittsburgh Pirates on the market? This article strongly hints that Kevin McClatchy and Ogden Nutting are already looking to sell the team. Local fans would love to see a Mark Cuban come in and spend some money, but it will take more than a few high-buck free agents to turn the franchise around: it will take someone like a Dave Dombrowski to come in and upgrade the front office and the farm system.

ValleyCats set attendance record
Posted October 4, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Despite a losing record, Tri-City ValleyCats (short season; NY-Penn League) fans came out to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in record numbers in 2005. The 2004 regular season saw 106,374 fans in 37 openings, for an average of 2,875. This season, the club drew 116,674 fans in only 35 openings for an average of 3,334, representing a nightly average increase of 16 percent (459 fans) per game. The increase in average was the highest in the New York-Penn League in 2005.
    "Every game was truly special. It’s a tribute to the fans of the area that came out to 'The Joe' night after night," said ValleyCats Vice President/General Manager R.C. Reuteman. "We focused on entertaining the fans, and they responded in a big way."

Lexington area a possible location for Valley Baseball expansion
Posted October 4, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Lexington, Va. is being considered as a possible home for a summer collegiate Valley League team, but the lack of a suitable venue may slow things down. The ballpark at VMI may end up being suitable. if Lexington was added to the league, then Warrenton would follow as the 12th team in the league, creating three divisions of four teams instead of the two five-team divisions existing now.

Dogs want seats to be 'special'
Posted October 4, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
More on the announcement by the Portland Sea Dogs (Class AA; Eastern League) to expand Hadlock Field for the 2006 season. The U.S. Cellular Pavilion will add 390 seats above the Sea Dogs bullpen in right-field. Similar to the "Monster Seats" of the Boston Red Sox, seating at the U.S. Cellular Pavilion will be pub-style, where fans can sit or stand at counter tops without blocking the view of anyone behind them.  The addition will bring Hadlock's capacity up to 7,365, making it the fourth-largest ballpark in the 12-team Eastern League. Last year the Sea Dogs set a franchise record with an average attendance of 6,290, including 29 sellouts of 6,975 fans.

M's Lincoln plans to stay the course
Posted October 4, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Is Safeco Field so good it doesn't matter what the Seattle Mariners do on the field? Perhaps. The team suffered through a second consecutive 90-loss season, but it didn't impact the box office: the Mariners drew 2.72 million fans, fourth in the American League and the majors' 12th-highest total. Now, in the Mariners' defense, the team has a fairly high payroll -- $92 million -- and was a major player in the free-agent market, bringing in Adrian Beltre and Richie Sexson. Mariners management says they'll continue to improve the product on the field, which will probably be enough for most fans. The future of Bill Bavasi seems to be in some doubt, though he's highly regarded within the industry and would bounce back should the Mariners make a change.

Baseball Notes
Posted October 4, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Three managers left their MLB teams at the end of the season. Jim Tracy and the Los Angeles Dodgers announced they had parted ways. This season was his only losing season during his five-year tenure; look for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Devil Rays to talk with him. Alan Trammell is out as manager of the Detroit Tigers; the team started strong but ended up slumping at the end of the season. And crusty Jack McKeon might have left his last post, as the Florida Marlins look for a new skipper; Joe Giraldi's name has already been thrown out there.

Sea Dogs announce expansion plans for Hadlock Field
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Portland Sea Dogs (Class AA; Eastern League) announced plans today to expand Hadlock Field for the 2006 season. The U.S. Cellular Pavilion will add 390 seats above the Sea Dogs bullpen in right-field. The construction will be completed in time for the Sea Dogs home opener for the 2006 season on April 13. Similar to the “Monster Seats” of the Boston Red Sox, seating at the U.S. Cellular Pavilion will be pub-style, where fans can sit or stand at counter tops without blocking the view of anyone behind them. The U.S. Cellular Pavilion will have its own entrance, concession stand, and restrooms. The seats will be the only seats at Hadlock Field giving fans a chance to catch a home run ball. Tickets for the U.S. Cellular Pavilion will be priced at the Box Seat level: Adult tickets will cost $8, while children and senior tickets are available for $7.

Two worlds: Sox ballpark an alien in challenged neighborhood
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
With the Chicago White Sox making the playoffs for the first time in many years, there will be much attention paid to US Cellular Field, the team's home on the South Side. The White Sox stepped on some toes when the Cell was built, but since then team officials have worked to repair relations with the community: Players and team employees built playgrounds, planted landscaping, donated thousands of dollars worth of gifts for holidays back to school celebrations, and spent $120,000 a year on a public housing Little League. The area surrounding US Cell isn't the best, but community activists are addressing those issues.

Sternberg brings chance for image overhaul
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The change came quietly: Vince Naimoli and Lou Piniella have already agreed to a buyout of their contracts with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and owner Stuart Sternberg is on the verge of taking over. There's a lot of young talent with the D-Rays: perhaps it will take a manager more like Eric Wedge to move the team to the next level.
    RELATED STORIES: Naimoli, LaMar departures imminent

Final games at Busch home run for hoteliers
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Hotels near Busch Stadium, the home of the St. Louis Cardinals, are jammed the next two weeks as fans, MLB and media reserved blocks of rooms for the playoffs and potentially the World Series. The Cards are already a huge draw, and many fans made a pilgrimage to the old cookie-cutter stadium one last time before it's imploded in November. The Cards are certainly a favorite to reach the World Series; you can also expect the big national baseball story to be the Cardinals playing their last days at Busch Stadium.

'Very special' end to Nationals' first season
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
All in all, the first season of the Washington Nationals was an overwhelming success: the team drew  2,731,993 fans to RFK Stadium and the team finished with an 81-81 mark. There's a pretty good chance the team will draw as well next season: a new owner should be in place, the team should be competitive again, and you can bet the Nats will make some more improvements to RFK Stadium. A new owner would be smart to bring back Jim Bowden and Frank Robinson, at least for one more year.

Playing catch-up in Potomac
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Washington Post discovers minor-league baseball with a long look at the Potomac Nationals (Class A; Carolina League), a Washington Nationals farm team. Art Silber, the team's owner, has a pretty distinct presence with the team: he takes batting practice when he wants, and on Saturday nights he dons a uniform and takes the field as first-base coach.

Entertainment pitch is a hit at the ballpark
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Here's a too-short article on the annual Minor League Baseball Promotional Seminar, held this year at AutoZone Park, the home of the Memphis Redbirds (Class AAA: Pacific Coast League). Nothing too revolutionary for most readers of this site: Yes, minor-league baseball is entertainment, and it's a good thing to offer all-you-can-eat steamed crabs. (Requires registration.)

Patriots' owner proud of team's consistent impact in community
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
The Somerset Patriots won the Atlantic League crown last night, but owner Steven Kalafer was just as eager to discuss how the Patriots have impacted the community. The Atlantic League had a very successful season: attendance was up with the addition of the Lancaster Barnstormers, and the level of play was pretty decent as well.

Kansas City negotiator fired after comments
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
There was some serious fallout when a Jackson County negotiator and lawyer told the Kansas City Star there is a strong possibility voters may be asked next year to consider $300 million or more to overhaul Arrowhead Stadium and just $40 million or so for repairs to Kauffman Stadium, the home of the Kansas City Royals. The rationale: the future of the Royals is unsettled, while the Chiefs are in Kansas City to stay. The spokesman was fired, and his law firm is in danger of losing a contract to negotiate leases with the teams. (Requires registration.)
    RELATED STORIES: KC stadium finance tilts toward Chiefs

Usher ends 68-season career with Reds but will stay with Bengals
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Howard Purcell has been an usher for the Cincinnati Reds since 1937, first at Crosley Field, then Riverfront Stadium and finally at Great America Ball Park. He's finally retiring at the age of 83. When he started, he was paid 15 cents an hour; today he receives about $8. He's not entirely leaving the sports arena: he'll finish out the season at Paul Brown Stadium, helping fans of the Cincinnati Bengals.

Panel finds flaws in San Diego Ballpark Village
Posted October 3, 2005 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss)
Another hit for the $1.4 billion Ballpark Village project next to San Diego's Petco Park: In the first formal evaluation for the city of a deal between developers and community groups, the staff of the Centre City Development Corp. found major problems. The issue: the original deal called for affordable housing, but changes announced two weeks ago eliminates affordable housing from the project and instead calls for a local nonprofit to develop low-income apartments elsewhere in the city. City officials are not pleased with the substitution.
    RELATED STORIES: Reject Ballpark Village, downtown group advises; Council urged to reject change in San Diego Ballpark Village master plan; San Diego Ballpark Village proposal takes surprising turn; Padres eager to break ground on Ballpark Village