With players set to report to MLB ballparks on July 1 for a second round of spring training, local team officials are working to implement plans to both whip players into game shape while keeping them safe from COVID-19. (more…)
Archive | Major-League Baseball
Angels unveil ambitious development plan–but no ballpark decision
With an extensive development plan for the 153-acre Angel Stadium site, Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno and his investors manage to thrill with their ambitions—but punts on a decision whether to keep Angel Stadium or build a new ballpark. (more…)
Rethinking ballpark branding in #BLM times
We saw two high-profile ballpark changes in the past week, as the Minnesota Twins took down a statue of former team owner Calvin Griffith at Target Field, while the University of Cincinnati will remove Marge Schott’s name from the school’s ballpark. (more…)
Lee County prepping City of Palms Park demolition plan
Fort Myers’ City of Palms Park, the former Boston Red Sox spring-training home and current home of the Florida SouthWestern State College baseball team, is set to be demolished in the second half of 2021 under a plan prepped by Lee County. (more…)
MLBPA: We’re set to launch 2020 MLB season
With the players association signing off on a July 1 reporting date and agreement on operating protocols, the 2020 MLB season is a go, with a 60-game season beginning the weekend July 23-24. (more…)
Ballpark Digest Broadcaster Chat for June 23, 2020
Jesse Goldberg-Strassler, Mick Gillispie and Kevin Reichard discuss the deal to bring baseball back, whether new extra-innings rules are good or bad, and why a pulling a Houdini is one of the most entertaining feats in the sport in this week’s Ballpark Digest Broadcaster Chat. (more…)
2020 season to launch under MLB’s terms
After players rejected the latest MLB offer, owners voted unanimously to move forward with a 2020 MLB season under the terms of the March 26 agreement with the MLBPA, with Commissioner Rob Manfred still to announce the specifics of play. In an announcement, MLB said certain benefits put forward in the previous offer were now […]
Negotiations for 2020 MLB season down to the wire
With the risk to players rising after a slew of COVID-19 positives in training camps, MLB is under the gun to come up with a plan to reassure players on the safety of a 2020 MLB season—even though there’s a decent chance that season will not be completed. (more…)
Oakland shifts course, looks to sell Coliseum site to Athletics
With city revenues impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the city of Oakland is now looking to sell its half share of the Oakland Coliseum site to the Oakland Athletics after opposing such a sale when initiated by the team and Alameda County. (more…)
Still to be determined: Where Blue Jays play in 2020
Should there be a 2020 MLB season–something that’s still very much up in the air–it remains to be seen whether the Toronto Blue Jays will play out of their Dunedin spring-training complex or share Tropicana Field with the Tampa Bay Rays. (more…)
Training complexes closed down after COVID-19 outbreaks
MLB has ordered all spring facilities closed down after several players in both Florida and Arizona complexes tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, with teams shifting player training to home ballparks. (more…)
Players, owners inch closer to 2020 MLB season after MLBPA counterproposal
We have a counterproposal from the MLB Players Association to the terms presented yesterday by Commissioner Rob Manfred, calling for a 70-game season with full prorated salaries, uniform sponsor patches and expanded playoffs in 2020 and 2021. (more…)
New MLB offer: Full prorated salaries, 60-game season
Commissioner Rob Manfred generated a whole lot of buzz yesterday by proclaiming MLB and MLBPA had an agreement to agree on a 2020 MLB season return, but his proposal for a 60-game season with full prorated salaries didn’t seem to generate too much enthusiasm from players. (more…)