Archives: April 23-29, 2006

Senate throws curve at Twins ballpark proposal
Posted April 28, 2006
Sen. Steve Kelley surprised many in the Senate Tax Committee by abandoning his previous sponsorship of a 0.15 percent sales tax (excluding food, clothes and medicine) to help pay for a new $522 million Minnesota Twins ballpark in downtown Minneapolis’s Warehouse District; instead, the gubernatorial hopeful proposed a 0.5 percent sales tax across the entire seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul area to pay for the Twins ballpark (complete with a retractable roof) and a new stadium in Anoka County for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. More from AP.

MiLB, umpires reach settlement
Posted April 28, 2006
Representatives of Minor League Baseball and the Association of Minor League Umpires (AMLU) reached tentative agreement on a new six-year deal that will end this season’s umpire strike. After two full days of mediation in Cincinnati, federal mediator Lou Manchise made a recommendation that proved acceptable to both sides.
    The AMLU bargaining committee agreed to unanimously recommend the deal for a membership ratification vote, the results of which should be known on Monday, May 1. If the agreement is ratified, the strikers will be returned to work on or before May 8. Specifics of the deal will not be released by Minor League Baseball or the AMLU until after the ratification process has been completed.

In memoriam: Steve Howe
Posted April 28, 2006
Former major-league pitcher Steve Howe, whose tenure in baseball was marked by tremendous highs and repeated substance-abuse problems, died at the age of 48 when his pick-up truck rolled over in Coachella, California.
    The left-handed closer was the Los Angeles Dodgers first-round pick in the 1979 draft. In his first season out of the University of Michigan, Howe set a then-record for the Dodgers recording 17 saves en route to winning Rookie of the Year honors. In 1981, Howe helped the Dodgers to win the World Series. In 12 seasons at the Major League level with the Dodgers, Twins, Rangers and Yankees, Howe compiled a career record of 47-41 while saving 91 games.
    After his Major League career ended in 1996, Howe came to the Sioux Falls Canaries (independent; Northern League) in 1997. In 12 relief appearances that season, Howe was 1-1 with a 1.98 ERA and one save. Howe held opponents to a paltry .170 batting average while pitching for the Canaries.

City of Richmond, Braves down to last few swings
Posted April 28, 2006
More on the public debate over a new ballpark for the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League). The city’s plan for a ballpark at the former Fulton Gas Works seems to have atrophied, the team’s current home is crumbling, and Braves management seems paralyzed while the parent corporation is sold. The issue is whether Liberty Media will end up shedding the Braves’ minor-league franchises — the R-Braves, the Mississippi Braves (Class AA; Southern League) and the Rome Braves (Class A; Sally League) — since they fall outside of the media firm’s core business.

Las Vegas ballpark talk put on hold again
Posted April 28, 2006
Las Vegas city and county officials on Wednesday announced the formation of a task force to study whether Las Vegas needs a new arena, a move that would seem to kill any plans to build a new ballpark for the Las Vegas 51s (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) as a replacement for 23-year-old Cashman Field. Don Logan of the 51s has been advocating a ballpark for the 51s that could be expanded should a MLB team move to Sin City, but that apparently has gone by the wayside. Of course, if a new arena is built, that would free up some pretty valuable land where Thomas & Mack Center now sits…land that would be perfect for a Mandalay-style mixed-use development with a ballpark in the center.

Richmonders hear Nashville ballpark plan
Posted April 28, 2006
For a group of Richmond, Va., city planners, listening to Glenn Yaeger talk about his efforts to build a new downtown ballpark for the Nashville Sounds (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) must have been deja vu, as it was similar to efforts to bring a new ballpark for the Richmond Braves (Class AAA; International League) to that city’s Shockoe Bottom area. One important fact: in Nashville, it was Yeager who personally willed this ballpark into being, not city officials. There’s no one in the Braves front office pushing for a new ballpark, and no one is unlikely to do so until something changes with the team’s uncertain ownership future.

R-Braves struggling on field and aren’t drawing fans either
Posted April 28, 2006
Speaking of the Richmond Braves: the team is struggling on the field and isn’t drawing fans to home games at The Diamond. The public has a good sense of who really wants to business in their town, and the seeming apathy from the team’s front office on the whole ballpark issues seems to have dampened interest in the R-Braves. Yes, Mayor Doug Wilder botched the whole new-ballpark situation on so, so many levels, but ultimately the team is responsible for its own public image.

Tax district could help fund Marlins ballpark
Posted April 28, 2006
City of Hialeah and Miami-Dade County officials are exploring using property taxes generated on industrial and office park development proposed for western Hialeah to help raise funds for a Florida Marlins ballpark that could be built in the area. Officials say it’s too soon to say how much money could be raised by creating a tax increment financing district in which a portion of property taxes on new development could be designated for a ballpark. The Marlins have until May 15 to tell San Antonio officials if they want to pursue a new ballpark in that Texas city; the deadline seems to have stirred officials in Florida to act — which was precisely the point.

Failing bid for Marlins teaches Wolff a lesson
Posted April 28, 2006
When it comes to courting professional sports franchises, County Judge Nelson Wolff says he’s ready to explore new possibilities — and try a new approach — now that talks with Major League Baseball’s Florida Marlins appear to have flamed out. Wolff acknowledged Thursday that lines of communication with the Marlins have gone dead since his decision two weeks ago to give the club a May 15 deadline to commit to San Antonio. Signaling his dissatisfaction with the course of discussions with the Marlins and with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints last fall, Wolff said he now favors a harder tack in future talks with teams considering relocation.

Fox dumps familiar Braves broadcast team
Posted April 28, 2006
Fox Cable Networks, which reached an agreement to buy Turner South in February, will take over the network on Monday — and will immediately replace the familiar Turner South broadcast team of Skip Caray, Pete Van Wieren, Don Sutton, Joe Simpson and Chip Caray. Caray, Van Wieren, Sutton, Simpson and Caray will continue to call the games that are televised nationally on TBS, as well all the games on the Braves Radio Network, for the remainder of this season. Seventy Braves games are on TBS this season and next season, but the number will be reduced to 45 starting in 2008.

Mallards talk of fancier digs
Posted April 28, 2006
We’ve mentioned this plan in passing here, but the Wisconsin State Journal has more details on a proposal by the Madison Mallards (summer collegiate; Northwoods League) to complete overhaul Warner Park by literally turning it on its ear. A preliminary design concept reorients the ballpark 180 degrees, putting a dramatic entrance to the ballpark, main grandstand and home plate where center field is now, general manager Vern Stenman said. The change means fans in the third-base bleachers — almost a third of the current seating — wouldn’t have to squint into the setting sun anymore. The concept also brings better seats with armrests and backs, adds more concessions and rest rooms, improves sight lines and even lowers the field below ground to create a bowl effect. Older bleachers in Warner Park are ending their life expectancy and must be replaced anyway; Stenman says the Mallards will pay for the renovation, which could be completed for the 2008 season.

Northern, Northwoods Leagues both looking at Battle Creek
Posted April 28, 2006
More on the potential of the Northwoods League expanding to Battle Creek and Green Bay. Northwoods League President Dick Radatz Jr. says this expansion is on his league’s radar, though he’s not ready to commit to anything yet. Only one team in Michigan doesn’t make any logistical sense for the league, so you can bet Radatz has another location in mind for the long term. The question is why the independent Northern League is interested in Battle Creek, unless efforts to bring a team to Holland, Mich., have died: Holland is less than 80 miles from Battle Creek, and Commissioner Jim Weigel didn’t actually sound all that enthusiastic about Battle Creek in any case.

And the Nats’ owners are….
Posted April 28, 2006
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig is likely to pick a new owner for the Washington Nationals within a few days and the team probably will change hands in June, the sport’s No. 2 official said Thursday. Bob DuPuy, baseball’s chief operating officer, said Selig intends to have major league owners vote on the sale when they meet May 17-18 in New York. DuPuy also said a ceremonial groundbreaking for the Nationals’ new ballpark is likely to take place May 4. More from the Washington Post.

Black fans at the ballpark becoming thing of the past
Posted April 28, 2006
The Chicago Defender asks why there aren’t more Black fans at ballparks. Some of it is economic — most marketing to minority communities basically involves ticket discounts, and that’s all — but the larger issue may be the lack of Black players and managers in the major leagues. The Cubs have a high-profile Black manager (Dusty Baker), a legitimate Black star (Derrick Lee) and several Blacks on the team, but the grandstands at Wrigley Field are filled almost exclusively with whites. One more reason: many Black youths find the game boring compared to basketball.

State grant brings York ballpark nearer
Posted April 28, 2006
York’s plans for a ballpark in the city’s Arch Street neighborhood took a major leap forward this week with another $1.5 million boost from the state. Construction is expected to begin by July or August on the nearly $30-million, 5,200-seat baseball park in northern York. With an optimistic construction schedule and favorable weather, the park could open by early in the 2007 independent Atlantic League baseball season. Gov. Ed Rendell has committed another $1.5 million in state funds for the York ballpark, making the state’s total commitment $13.5 million. The other half of the ballpark costs would come from the sale of the ballpark naming rights and the 20 skyboxes, and later, from ticket sales and concessions at the park.

Major leagues might play exhibitions in Hawaii
Posted April 28, 2006 (feedback) (submit story) (discuss
A promoter has asked the Aloha Stadium Authority to consider hosting a pair of exhibition major-league baseball games between the Seattle Mariners and Cleveland Indians at Aloha Stadium in 2007. The Indiana-based promoter, Carl C. Taylor, proposed games for March 27 and 28. The Stadium Authority has requested more information on the promoter’s agreement with the two teams before taking it under consideration. Bart Swain, director of media relations for the Cleveland Indians, yesterday confirmed Honolulu is "under consideration" for hosting the team’s exhibition games in 2007.

Plymouth River Eels covering the bases
Posted April 28, 2006
Ownership of the Plymouth River Eels are close to final approval for a new ballpark. Their proposed three-phase project includes a sports facility, a ballpark and a banquet/convention hall on on 28.1 acres of land behind Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club in Colony Place off Exit 7. After getting a unanimous standing ovation from the board of selectmen, the River Eels will meet with the planning board and the zoning board of appeals within the next few weeks. Though nothing is finalized, it’s widely assumed the River Eels will join the independent Can-Am Association; there have been talks between River Eels management and the management of the Brockton Rox about coexisting in the same area.

United League Baseball owners relocate to Edinburg
Posted April 28, 2006
The Edinburg Coyotes and United League Baseball (ULB) announced today that ULB Chief Operating Officer Byron Pierce, ULB Executive General Manager for Operations Mike Babcock and ULB Executive General Manager for Sales and Marketing Craig Brasfield, have relocated to Edinburg, Texas to assist the Coyotes front office in their preparations for opening day. The ULB front office will be in Edinburg for the next 30 days. The ULB has moved a portion of its day to day operations to assist the Coyotes in sales and marketing, ticketing and media relations. A recent court decision threw a cloud over the ULB’s efforts to launch in Edinburg next month.

Brace for the inevitable
Posted April 28, 2006
Shame on the New York Yankees for wanting a replacement for Yankee Stadium, writes Alex Belth. Shame on fans wanting a better, more comfortable place to watch a baseball game. Shame on George Steinbrenner to want to enhance the ballpark experience. If Yankee Stadium were still the original 1923 ballpark we might be more passionate about its renovation, but let’s be real: it’s really a 1970s-era basic ballpark. Plus, Belth reveals he’s from another planet when he writes this: "Yankee Stadium is the grandest of all the old-time great parks." No, Alex, it’s not — not even close.

Clippers’ new home should have real baseball feel
Posted April 28, 2006
Columnist Bob Hunter says the new Arena District home of the Columbus Clippers (Class AAA; International League) should have character, which for him means a miniature version of Wrigley Field or Fenway Park. In other words, he’s asking for an overt retro design, which (thankfully) has been on the wane in recent ballpark designs. Hell, the current home of the Clippers has authentic "character"; maybe they should just rebuild it downtown. More on the political situation surrounding ballpark financing.

Losing seasons, empty seats
Posted April 28, 2006
More on the attendance woes facing the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Now Peter Angelos can’t blame his team’s performance on the Washington Nationals — no one is going to games at RFK Stadium, either — and the problems can be traced to two factors: a mediocre on-field product (eight consecutive losing seasons) and years of inertia finally catching up to the franchise. The Orioles coasted for years on the strength of Oriole Park, but no great ballpark can bring out the fans forever. The Orioles have averaged 25,915 for 13 home games this season. Though crowds are always smaller in April, that’s a drop-off of about 3,000 a game from the beginning of last season.

Clothes make the team
Posted April 28, 2006
The talk is that the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (Class AAA; International League) may undergo an identity change for next season when they will probably lose their Philadelphia Phillies affiliation. The call here is for the team to keep its current uniforms and color scheme, as well as the Red Barons name: it derives from the old Eastern League teams, the Scranton Red Sox and the Wilkes-Barre Barons.

Small fire breaks out in new Busch Stadium
Posted April 28, 2006
A small fire broke out in an unfinished area of new Busch Stadium in the eighth inning Thursday as the St. Louis Cardinals were playing the Washington Nationals. The fire, whose source was unknown, was quickly extinguished by the St. Louis Fire Department, which is on the scene for all Cardinals home games. Joe Abernathy, vice president of stadium operations, said a cardboard box containing construction material burned.

New era for Bluefish begins tonight
Posted April 28, 2006
There are new owners, new players, a new manager, a new pitching coach, new foods at the concession stands as well as new scoreboard and ballpark improvements. But the Bridgeport Bluefish (independent Atlantic League) hopes all the changes for this 2006 season will lead to improvements on the bottom line. A new local ownership group can’t hurt: Bluefish president and CEO Mary-Jane Foster and co-chairman Jack McGregor brought in a group of ten new partial owners — many with local ties.

Riverfront master plan: Extending a park over the river
Posted April 28, 2006
Hargreaves Associates offered a breathtaking view of what might become a centerpiece for Baton Rouge’s 325-acre riverfront: an elevated park on piles jutting 100 feet out into the Mississippi River. Among other riverfront possibilities floated by Hargreaves are a Class AAA ballpark just south of the I-10 bridge. There’s been some renewed talk of Baton Rouge in minor-league baseball circles, but a Triple-A ballpark may be a little too ambitious.

Thrown bat lands Durham’s Young a suspension
Posted April 28, 2006
Top Tampa Devil Rays Bay prospect and Durham Bulls (Class AAA; International League) standout Delmon Young was suspended indefinitely by the International League on Thursday, a day after throwing a bat that hit a replacement umpire in the chest. Young, 20, brother of Detroit star Dmitri Young, was ejected in the first inning following a called third strike in the Bulls’ game at Pawtucket. When Young took his time leaving the batter’s box, the umpire tossed him. Young then flipped his bat underhand, and it sailed end over end, striking the umpire.

Softball great doesn’t know how to lose
Posted April 28, 2006
This is the farewell tour for softball legend Eddie "The King" Feigner, a true legend. The legendary King and His Court are the world’s greatest four-man softball team and comedy act. Think Harlem Globetrotters, only the King and His Court are, if you can believe this, more successful. The format is simple: Eddie and three of his cohorts take on all comers. His fastball is still pretty sharp, as is the act. Feigner has open dates on his farewell tour; check out his website for more details.

College builds field of dreams
Posted April 28, 2006
John L. Harvey Field debuts today in Carson City as the home of Western Nevada Community College. Only about 100 stadium-style seats are in place as construction continues. Fans are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets and set them up on concrete steps until permanent seating is installed behind home plate. No one is complaining about that or the campus home-opener coming 45 games into the season.

No, seriously, we want a baseball team
Posted April 28, 2006
Another call from the student newspaper at the University of Wisconsin for a school baseball team. Wisconsin is the only school in the Big Ten not to field a baseball team; it was dropped decades ago over financial concerns with Title IX — an unfair move, as some say the hoarding of scholarships by other athletic programs at the U (i.e., take a look at where the current AD came from) is keeping the school from fielding baseball.