How well did MLB teams spend their money this season? Here’s a look at how well or how poorly teams did with their payrolls this season in an attempt to translate dollars into wins — and why the Houston Astros, even with a low payroll, overpaid their players this season. With the 2011 season completed, […]
Archive | Major-League Baseball
Oakland player plan depends on new ballpark
It will be an interesting offseason for the Oakland Athletics, as the fate of a new ballpark will determine whether the team goes into rebuilding mode or brings back established players to spiff up the franchise for a sale. The backstory, for those living in a cave the last few baseball years. Like many fans […]
Is Nats, Brevard County marriage over?
The Washington Nationals are clearly on the prowl for a new spring-training home, as it becomes more and more apparent that Brevard County isn’t going to do a lot to keep the team at Space Coast Stadium. We’ve documented meetings with Nats officials and reps from various municipalities — Osceola County, Fort Myers, Winter Haven, […]
Citizens Bank Park lands NHL’s Winter Classic
Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, will have a different role in January when it hosts the NHL’s Winter Classic game between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers, as well as other events. The Winter Classic is slated for Monday, Jan. 2, at 1 p.m. ET. “The Rangers-Flyers rivalry is one of […]
Your 2011 home-run champion: Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
After losing the home-run crown to Yankee Stadium last season, Rangers Ballpark in Arlington is poised to claim the title of most home-run-friendly facility in the majors, with 228 blasts clearing the fences this season. The Texas Rangers have wrapped up their home schedule, so these numbers are final: 228 home runs for the season, […]
Final days for Marlins at Sun Life Stadium
We’re guessing there will be very few tears shed on Wednesday when the Florida Marlins play their last game at Sun Life Stadium, one of the last multiuse venues in Major League Baseball. As a football stadium, the former Joe Robbie Stadium isn’t all that great; the NFL demanded a slew of improvements a few […]
Want to buy a chunk of Wrigley Field? Dream on
The Chicago Tribune’s Phil Rosenthal says one way to raise funds for a Wrigley Field renovation is selling shares to the public. There are two huge reasons why this will never happen: Major League Baseball would never allow it and the public doesn’t have $200 million sitting around to benefit the Tom Ricketts family. In […]
MLB to bankruptcy judge: Force McCourt to sell Dodgers, or we’ll do it later
In a bankruptcy-court filing, Major League Baseball has asked the Delaware judge overseeing matters to force Frank McCourt to sell the Los Angeles Dodgers and related assets — or else MLB will seize the team post-bankruptcy. “Mr. McCourt cannot hide the Dodgers in bankruptcy forever,” the filing read. The Los Angeles Times reported on the […]
Fine wine at the ballpark? Yes, please
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 […]
Mets considering offseason changes to Citi Field
Apparently chicks still dig the long ball, so the New York Mets are looking at lowering and moving in the fences at Citi Field for the 2012 season. Citi Field was designed to be a pitcher-friendly venue: it was the hardest MLB venue to hit a home run in 2009 and 2010 and is third-hardest […]
Improvements pitched for Safeco Field area
Downtown Seattle could be better integrated with Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners, while the ballpark area could see many improvements, under an ambitious redevelopment plan under consideration. The Stadium District Concept Plan begins with a basic premise — that a lot of folks are attending Mariners, Seattle Seahawks (NFL) and Seattle Sounders (MLS) […]
High-end hotel pitched for Yankee Stadium area
With parking ramps not generating nearly the amount of revenue anticipated by city officials, the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp. is soliciting developers to pitch a plan for a high-end hotel next to Yankee Stadium. When the new Yankee Stadium was being designed, city officials converted some park land to parking ramps. The result was […]
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 […]