The Miami Marlins have scheduled three exhibition games in early March to help break in their new home, Marlins Park. The three exhibition games are slated for March 5-7. The first-ever baseball game to be played at Marlins Park — the working name of the ballpark until naming rights can be sold — will feature […]
Archive | Major-League Baseball
Bud Selig: Commissioner for life?
Bud Selig is set to sign another two-year extension to serve as MLB commissioner, despite promises he would retire this year. Why is he sticking around? To settle some loose ends, we’re told. Not many in baseball were truly surprised when MLB owners unanimously voted to offer a two-year extension to Selig; there had been […]
Could this be the year for a new Rays ballpark?
With ownership, MLB management and local business leaders increasingly frustrated over Tropicana Field, 2012 could be the year when we see agreement on a new Tampa Bay Rays home. The new year appears to be starting on a good note for the Rays: Owner Stuart Sternberg is set to meet on Jan. 17 with St. […]
Oakland contemplates foreign investments to help fund A’s ballpark
With no redevelopment money available for a new ballpark, Oakland officials are floating a plan to use foreign investments to pay for new sporting facilities — including a new Athletics ballpark. It’s a wonky plan, to be sure. The federal EB-5 program basically allows foreign investors and their famlies to buy a green card if […]
Torre quits MLB post to pursue Dodgers
You can add Joe Torre’s name to a list of Los Angeles Dodgers suitors, as he joins Rick Caruso in one of the 16 groups seeking to buy the troubled franchise and Dodger Stadium. Formerly manager of the Dodgers. Torre had been MLB’s Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations since last February, overseeing things like […]
Baltimore announces Oriole Park improvements for 2012
Twenty years after the opening of Oriole Park at Camden Yards, the Baltimore Orioles today announced a series of enhancements dedicated to improving the fan experience at one of baseball’s best facilities. The biggest change: the center-field picnic area is being revamped. The emphasis won’t be on groups; it will shift to Oriole team history, […]
Target Field adds second LEED certification
Target Field, already LEED-certified for the green practices incorporated in its construction, has garnered a second LEED certification, this time for ongoing operations and maintenance. LEED certification is a measure of how environmentally friendly a building is; the certification from the U.S. Green Building Council is an important tool in the construction world. There are […]
Luhnow new GM in Houston
Spurned by first choice Andrew Friedman, the Houston Astros pivoted quickly and named Jeff Luhnow, VP of scouting and player development for the St. Louis Cardinals, as the team’s new general manager. Friedman, the successful GM of the Tampa Bay Rays and a Houston native, passed on the chance to take the reins under the […]
Oakland negotiating move to Mesa’s HoHoKam Park
The Oakland Athletics have entered into an exclusive negotiating period with the city of Mesa for a move to HoHoKam Park in 2015, once the Chicago Cubs shift to a new facility. The Athletics currently play spring matches at Phoenix Municipal Stadium and train at nearby Papago Park. Neither set of facilities approaches state of […]
Clearwater mulling $2.9M upgrade to Phils’ spring complex
Clearwater (Fla.) officials will decide this week whether to spend $2.9 million on upgrades to the Carpenter Complex, where the Philadelphia Phillies train each spring. The upgrades and new construction are mostly behind the scenes and for the benefit of players and coaches, not fans attending workouts. (The team works out in the complex and […]
Crane cleans Astros house; Wade, Smith let go
New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane didn’t waste any time in launching his makeover of the struggling franchise, firing team president Tal Smith and GM Ed Wade. The moves were far from unexpected: the team has struggled in recent years and Crane signalled an intent to rebuild things via the draft and a youth movement, […]
Twins to pitch for 2014 All-Star Game
The Minnesota Twins plan on pitching for the 2014 All-Star Game and will spend more than a million dollars on improvements to Target Field this offseason. The improvements will mostly be on the unglamorous side — improved WiFi, new carpeting, more photos and team displays — but they will include a new broze statue of […]
New Blue Jays look: Back to the future
The Toronto Blue Jays unveiled new logos and marks today — a look that directly echoes the team’s original look, complete with funky uniform lettering. The new look is very, very blue, complete with a stylized blue jay very similar to the original 1977 Blue Jays logo. A variation of the team’s funky, futuristic lettering […]