If the Toronto Blue Jays are to keep training in the Tampa Bay area, it will take a strong effort by Pinellas County to provide upgraded facilities — and a few potential plans are emerging, even if the Jays don’t bite. The Toronto Blue Jays front office has been openly seeking a new spring-training home […]
Archive | Major-League Baseball
Veggie Happy: 26 MLB ballparks offer vegetarian options
When we launched this site, very few MLB teams offered any sort of vegetarian option. This season, roaming vendors are offering vegetarian franks to Mariners fans at Safeco Field, and 26 ballparks offered vegetarian hot dogs and more. That information comes from the advocacy group Veggie Happy, which tracks vegetarian offers at MLB ballpark. At […]
Chase Field pitched as temporary ASU gridiron; D-Backs skeptical
Arizona State University officials want to play home football games at Chase Field while Sun Devil Stadium is being renovated, but Arizona Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall is skeptical. The Sun Devil Stadium renovation is scheduled for 2015, so the Sun Devils athletic department needs to find a temporary home for football. While the logical replacement […]
MLB (temporarily) returning to Montreal?
The Toronto Blue Jays are negotiating to play exhibition games in Montreal in the future, bringing Major League Baseball back to Olympic Stadium, the former home of the Montreal Expos. Many MLB teams schedule a pair of exhibition games after spring training and before the regular season, and a two-game series of this nature is […]
Bonds marker removed from AT&T Park; what’s the deal?
The San Francisco Giants aren’t talking about what happened, but a marker commemorating Barry Bonds’ 756th career home run has been quietly removed from AT&T Park. The AT&T Park marker, shown above in a 2009 photo, has been removed, with some evidence (like adhesive marks) of the marker still remaining. It’s a little odd for […]
MLB to review security procedures at ballparks
Though the recent bombings at the Boston Marathon aren’t a factor in calling the gathering, MLB officials will meet this week to address possible changes in ballpark security procedures. The meeting has been scheduled for weeks, but it will receive some extra attention after three were killed and dozens injured when two bombs were planted […]
Florida approves $50 million in aid for new Astros, Blue Jays spring-training complex
The Florida Legislature approved $50 million in incentives for the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays to build a new spring-training complex in Palm Beach Gardens. The $36 million in new spending includes $3.3 million in payments for Florida cities and counties wishing to keep spring-training teams in Florida. The state had previously set up […]
Cubs, Chicago agree on Wrigley Field updates
The Chicago Cubs and the city of Chicago reached an agreement on a series of Wrigley Field upgrades that will add signage and more night to the historic ballpark, as well as a new parking ramp to placate locals. The agreement, which had been in the works for weeks, will allow the Cubs to add […]
Kendrick pooh-poohs Dodger Blue in Chase Field suite
Arizona Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick asked fans to remove their Los Angeles Dodgers gear while occupying a high-profile suite behind home plate at Chase Field, saying it violated ballpark guidelines. No, we’ve never heard of an MLB team prohibiting fans from wearing their team colors after spending thousands of dollars for seats. But the Diamondbacks […]
MLB launches task force to address paucity of minorities in baseball
Recognizing that it may take more than just fixing up some inner-city baseball fields to attract minorities to the sport, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig appointed a task force to address the lack of diversity in professional baseball. There are plenty of areas where folks other than white men are underrepresented: there’s certainly a shortage of […]
Selig to San Jose mayor: Sorry, no time to meet
MLB Commissioner Bud Selig won’t meet with San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed about a new Oakland A’s ballpark, saying that intermediaries could address Reed’s concerns. Reed made a lot of noise on April 2 about wanting to meet directly with Selig, warning that he may launch a legal effort to bring in the A’s if […]
Cubs, Chicago close to Wrigley Field accord
The Chicago Cubs and the city of Chicago are close to finalizing a $500-million Wrigley Field renovation plan that preserves views for local rooftop owners, adds more video signage and includes a new 300-capacity parking garage. The deal, expected to be finalized for an announcement at Monday’s season opener, gives the Cubs the right to […]
Could parking ramp clinch Wrigley Field renovation plan?
Wrigleyville leaders are suggesting the Chicago Cubs could break a political logjam by adding a new parking ramp to a Wrigley Field renovation plan, as city and team official continues discussing the issue. Alderman Tom Tunney, who represents Wrigleyville, says adding a new, large parking ramp at Clark and Grace (north of Wrigley Field) would […]