Clearwater (Fla.) officials will decide this week whether to spend $2.9 million on upgrades to the Carpenter Complex, where the Philadelphia Phillies train each spring. The upgrades and new construction are mostly behind the scenes and for the benefit of players and coaches, not fans attending workouts. (The team works out in the complex and […]
Archive | Features
Twins to pitch for 2014 All-Star Game
The Minnesota Twins plan on pitching for the 2014 All-Star Game and will spend more than a million dollars on improvements to Target Field this offseason. The improvements will mostly be on the unglamorous side — improved WiFi, new carpeting, more photos and team displays — but they will include a new broze statue of […]
Mets prep new look for 50th-anniversary season
The New York Mets are preparing a slew of changes to mark their 50th anniversary season, including redesigned uniforms, a commemorative logo and a return of Banner Day. The new patch — shown above — incorporates the basic elements of the original blue and orange skyline logo, which was introduced 50 years ago, with gold […]
Mariners install electric-car charging stations at Safeco Field
Well, this isn’t something you see every day: the Seattle Mariners are installing four electric vehicle charging stations available for public use at Safeco Field. The four Blink Pedestal Charging Stations are located on the plaza next to the Safeco Field parking garage. The stations are part of The EV Project, which will install approximately […]
Royals on verge of selling Kauffman Stadium naming rights?
The Kansas City Royals are on the verge of selling naming rights to Kauffman Stadium, according to a local TV station, with an announcement coming as soon as today. UPDATED! When an agreement was reached in 2006 with local municipalities to renovate Kauffman Stadium and next-door Arrowhead Stadium, the Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs […]
Frozen Fenway returns in 2012
The Boston Red Sox are bringing back a hockey rink to Fenway Park this winter, featuring community skates and college and high-school hockey games. Two hockey doubleheaders are scheduled for Jan. 7 and 14; the early games will be high-school matches with Hockey East college games slated for the 6 p.m. nightcap. The Jan. 7 […]
November big month for Marlins
It’s shaping up to be a big month for the Florida Marlins, as the team has announced some ballpark news and scheduled an event to unveil new unis and switch to the Miami Marlins. At the ballpark yesterday, the team unveiled an official address — 501 Marlins Way — as well as three new streets […]
It’s official: Mets altering outfield fences for 2012
The scuttlebutt was true: the New York Mets are bringing in the fences at Citi Field for the 2012 season, as well as making some other changes for the team’s 50th-anniversary season. The fences will be moved in as much as 12 feet in some spots, with the height of the home-run line lowered to […]
With MLB realignment, it looks like the Astros
With MLB Commissioner Bud Selig saying he wants realignment by 2013 and Jim Crane negotiating a price break on his purchase of the team, it’s all but certain the Houston Astros are moving to the American League West. Selig made his comments about realignment during his annual World Series press conference, held before Game Four. […]
Marlins unveil premium area at new ballpark
The Florida Marlins (for now) announced a premium-seating area at the new Marlins ballpark, The Clevelander, featuring poolside seating, select table service and entertainment next to the Marlins bullpen. The Clevelander is a recently renovated South Beach hotel/entertainment complex. The ballpark area will feature dancers and DJs live from the pool area of the original […]
Bud’s retirement plan: Back to college in Madison
Curious about what Bud Selig has planned after retirement? He’s already set up plans to teach and write in Madison, Wis., conveniently near Ballpark Digest World HQ. The first pitcher of beer on the Terrace is on us, Bud. Selig is a UW graduate, attending the school the same time as Oakland A’s owner Lew […]
Measuring the 2011 financial winners and losers in MLB
How well did MLB teams spend their money this season? Here’s a look at how well or how poorly teams did with their payrolls this season in an attempt to translate dollars into wins — and why the Houston Astros, even with a low payroll, overpaid their players this season. With the 2011 season completed, […]
Final days for Marlins at Sun Life Stadium
We’re guessing there will be very few tears shed on Wednesday when the Florida Marlins play their last game at Sun Life Stadium, one of the last multiuse venues in Major League Baseball. As a football stadium, the former Joe Robbie Stadium isn’t all that great; the NFL demanded a slew of improvements a few […]