What’s the perfect drink to wash down that Cracker Jack and hot dog at the ballpark? A glass of fine wine, of course. We’re being a little facetious, of course; beer is our beverage of choice. But beer’s not the only adult beverage now being served at most MLB facilities, as AP did an article […]
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2012 MLB schedule released; no realignment or playoff expansion
Major League Baseball released a 2012 schedule this morning, with no changes in the division or league lineups, no expansion of wild cards in the playoffs and a regular season beginning with a Miami Marlins game on April 4. Yes, that’s right: the Miami Marlins (nee the Florida Marlins) will open the 2012 MLB season […]
New Marlins ballpark under budget, 80 percent completed
Work proceeds on the new Florida Marlins ballpark slated to open for the 2012 season: construction is 80 percent completed and so far under budget, according to team president David Samson. Samson led media on a tour of the $515-million facility today, and it certainly looked like a facility under construction: almost all the seats […]
MLB, Royals unveil 2012 All-Star Game logo
The Kansas City Royals and Major League Baseball unveiled the logo for the 2012 All-Star Game, to be held July 10 at Kauffman Stadium. The official logo uses the Royals’ crown logo and colors of blues and metallic golds are incorporated into a theme of a family crest, accompanied by flags, and the type appears […]
Busch Stadium is falling down
A piece of decorative soffit on Busch Stadium fell down this morning, causing St. Louis Cardinals officials to close down some sidewalks around the ballpark. The immediate impact will be slight: the Cards are in Milwaukee and will on the road until August 9. The metal fell off the west side of the ballpark and […]
St. Pete mayor: There’s nothing wrong with the Trop
The simmering debate over the worthiness of Tropicana Field as the home of the Tampa Bay Rays continues, as broadcaster John Kruk and manager Joe Maddon all take shots at the place, with St. Pete Mayor Bill Foster declaring it fit for MLB. The latest incidents: a bank of lights went out Monday night, causing […]
Remembering Winter Haven’s spring-training heritage
Though it’s unlikely spring training will ever return to Winter Haven in central Florida, the city can look back on a several MLB teams training in the city. Here’s a look at the history of spring training in Winter Haven. The News Chief laid out the history of spring baseball in Winter Haven, which began […]
Development arrives at Target Field area
One of the lures for state funding of Target Field was the potential for development in the North Loop area of downtown Minneapolis. While Target Field has certainly revitalized the downtown bar scene, it’s now potentially fueling tens of millions in additional real-estate investment. Hines Interests had options on land surrounding the home of the […]
Giants’ cable partner on lookout for World Championship Baby
Interesting promotion from CSN Bay Area: the cable home of the San Francisco Giants is counting down to the birth of a local baby born exactly nine months after the team won the 2010 World Series on Nov. 1 at 7:45 p.m. It’s a pretty clever contest: the cable outfit is asking Bay Area moms-to-be […]
Roberts meeting the Mets in heaven
Ruth Roberts, who in the course of a long songwriting career wrote several popular baseball songs, including “Meet the Mets” as part of a contest for a New York Mets anthem in 1961, passed away last Thursday. She was 84. Roberts was a songwriter for a living; she wrote other songs that was recorded by […]
Collmenter enjoying success with D-Backs
Rookie pitcher Josh Collmenter has made quite the splash with the Arizona Diamondbacks this season, compiling a 2.09 ERA over several starts and relief appearances. His is a great story, rising from small-town Homer to college and eventually to the majors. He’s starting today for the D-Backs in Comerica Park against the Detroit Tigers. Quite […]
MLB eyes realignment for 2012
Major League Baseball is examining several different realignment options for the 2012 season, including a move to two 15-team leagues and the potential elimination of divisions as a method for determining playoff teams. The options, first reported in USA Today and ESPN.com, could be something as simple as one team moving from the National League […]
Gammons rips Wrigley Field, defends Ricketts
Usually Peter Gammons is the smartest guy in the room when it comes to baseball, but comments he made about Wrigley Field being a “dump” and Cubs owner Tom Ricketts not knowing the true renovation price of the ballpark are ridiculous — and are generating lots of heat in the Windy City. Gammons, now an […]