In a survey of fans, the New York Mets raised the possibility of adding a designated quiet area to the stands of Citi Field. From the New York Daily News: But the one question that virtually jumped off the e-mail was: “The Mets are considering adding a designated ‘quiet’ seating section with lower volume PA […]
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Phillies add green power to Citizens Bank Park
The Philadelphia Phillies are improving the team’s green profile at Citizens Bank Park, buying Renewable Energy Credits and matching 100 percent of their electricity usage with wind and solar generation. That energy buy from Pennsylvania Electricity includes a slice from a new solar generation project under development in Lancaster County by Pennsylvania-based renewable energy supplier, […]
Wedge: Forget I said anything about the Safeco Field fences
After discussing the possibility of bringing in the fences at Safeco Field, Mariners manager Eric Wedge wants to walk back from talk about ballpark disadvantages after his team tanks at the plate. There’s a real danger in bringing up perceived deficiencies in a ballpark: if you begin talking about a new ballpark, the issues with […]
Phillie Phanatic, Phillies in court over mascot hijinks
The Philadelphia Phillies and the Phillie Phanatic are in court as a local woman claims injuries after the popular mascot tossed her into a hotel swimming pool during a wedding reception. Suzanne Peirce says she was attending her sister’s wedding at the Golden Inn on the Jersey Shore in 2010 when the Phanatic engaged in […]
Twins present spring-training wish list to Lee County
Player dorms, more seats at Hammond Stadium and infrastructure improvements are on the Minnesota Twins’ wish list for the team’s Lee County spring-training complex. Opening in 1991, Hammond Stadium and the Lee County Sports Complex are showing their age; once the complex was the state of the art for spring training but now come up […]
Ralph Nader: Too damn many ads on baseball broadcasts
Ralph Nader — whose slide from visionary to curmudgeon happened rather quickly — sent a letter to the New York Yankees complaining about the high level of advertising in team broadcasts. Nader and his charmingly misnamed League of Fans — on the verge of a Subway Series, no less — sent a letter to Randy […]
Why Peoria loves spring training: $5.2 million
Why the economics of spring training leads cities to strike deals with Major League Baseball clubs: Peoria (Az.) Sports Complex tallied $5.2 million in revenue this past spring. Peoria Stadium is the spring home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, so it’s busy virtually every day of spring training. In a report made […]
Print wars: STL, NYC newspapers spar over Santana no-hitter
Nothing more entertaining than an old-fashioned newspaper war, as St. Louis and New York City dailies fight over the legitimacy of Johan Santana’s no-hitter Friday night. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch started the kerfuffle by publishing a rather provocative headline in Saturday’s sports section, appending an asterisk to the headline (shown here). The explanation: a missed […]
Comedian Maher buys chunk of Mets
Calling it a “great investment,” comedian/political satirist Bill Maher has purchased a minority share of the New York Mets. “First of all, I think it’s a great investment,” Maher said in a statement. “People sometimes forget that there’s only one National League franchise in New York City and they’re not making anymore. I’m a Met […]
Nasty details emerge in Dodger Stadium beating hearing
It could up being an ugly sight: a judge is deciding whether to move forward with a trial against the pair accused of beating Bryan Stow in the Dodger Stadium parking lot on Opening Day 2011. You’re aware of the story: San Francisco Giants fan Stow was jumped after the Dodgers/Giants opening match in the […]
Marlins, county sparring over team contribution to new ballpark
Miami-Dade County officials are challenging some $1.7 million in expenses claimed by the Miami Marlins toward the construction of the team’s new ballpark, Marlins Park. The issue: under the 2009 agreement that established the ballpark, the team is able to deduct expenses it incurred toward construction of the new facility. Those so-called “soft costs” covered […]
Wolff meets with Knauss, has clear message: A’s not for sale
A meeting between Oakland A’s owner Lew Wolff and Clorox CEO Don Knauss reaffirmed the status quo: Wolff’s focus is on moving the team to a new San Jose ballpark. Knauss was among the Oakland business leaders who raised the possibility of buying the A’s to keep them in the city — a possibility quickly shot […]
Wedge: Let’s look at moving in Safeco Field fences
This wasn’t an issue when the Seattle Mariners won 116 games under Lou Piniella in 2001, but apparently the Safeco Field dimensions are a problem for Eric Wedge in 2012. Talk about moving in the fences came up again this week after two long drives that could have been homers at other parks ended up […]