New-ballpark dream lives on in Beloit
It’s been years in the making, but team chairman Dennis Conerton and the rest of the Beloit Snappers (Low Class A; Midwest League) braintrust continue work on a new ballpark to replace antiquated Pohlman Field. It’s been quite the struggle for the team: one promising site and funding plan fell through because of the untimely […]
Capitals owners: NAL is nice, but we really want PCL ball
The Edmonton Capitals are set for a season in the independent North American League, but the team’s owners are pretty open about their lack of enthusiasm about indy ball — and their preference to field a team in the Pacific Coast League. Good luck. The Capitals are owned by the Katz Group, owner of the […]
Reds, Bats extend PDC through 2014
The Louisville Bats (Class AAA; International League) will remain the Cincinnati Reds‘ top farm team through 2014, as the two teams extended their Player Development Contract for two additional years. “The Reds are thrilled to have the opportunity to formally extend our relationship with the people operating one of the truly great professional baseball operations […]
Judge dismisses suit challenging ONEOK Field funding
Well, that didn’t take long: Tulsa County Associate Judge Dana Kuehn ended a lawsuit challenging assessments against downtown businesses used to pay for ONEOK Field, the home of the Tulsa Drillers (Class AA; Texas League). True, it was a pretty low threshold to victory: all the city (the defendent in the case, not the Drillers) […]
Outlaws, Chico State reach ballpark lease for ’11
The Chico Outlaws (independent; North American League) and Chico State University announced the team would be playing the 2011 season at the team’s only home in franchise history, Nettleton Stadium. “It will be good to be back at The Net, said Chico Outlaws President Mike Marshall. “We have been the most successful team in the […]
Rays go with new turf for ’11 season
The playing surface at Tropicana Field will be upgraded for the 2011 season, as the Tampa Bay Rays announce the impending installation of a American-made, 1.1-million-square-foot AstroTurf field. “The AstroTurf fiber and in-fill systems contain the very latest technology and will provide our players the best playing surface available,” said Rays President Matt Silverman. “Our […]
Shuffles in the broadcast booth
We have multiple shuffles in MiLB broadcast booths for the 2011 season, as retirements and shifts have caused team voices like J.P. Shadrick and Mike Boyle to assume new posts. First: J.P. Shadrick, the voice of the Jacksonville Suns (Class AA; Southern League) for the past five seasons, is moving on to a broadcasting position […]
New Pensacola team already has 500 season tickets in the bank
Nice to have this sort of financial commitment from the community before the team even has a name: the Pensacola Southern League team slated to begin play in 2012 has already received 500 season-ticket commitments, complete with nonrefundable deposits. “It is gratifying to see the excitement for Double A baseball in our area,” said team […]
Developer lays out plan for Chain of Lakes Park redevelopment
Chain of Lakes Park, the former spring home of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians, would be redeveloped as a lakeside village with retail and restaurants under a plan submitted to Winter Haven officials, with work beginning in a month. The Landings, proposed by Orlando developer Tony Benge, would take the former spring-training site […]
Mariners upgrading concessions: “the anti-fast food”
The Seattle Mariners are upgrading concessions at Safeco Field once again; the team that brought us ballpark sushi and the Ichiroll is bringing in three celebrity chefs to upgrade Bullpen Market food offerings in 2011. Centerplate, the team’s concessionaire, has hired national celebrity chefs Ethan Stowell, Roberto Santibañez and Bill Pustari to oversee new food […]
Metrodome out for the count; Gophers working on backup plan
The Metrodome will be unavailable for use by the University of Minnesota baseball team for the entire season, as officials will debate whether to repair the roof or replace it — a process that could last until August — so the Gophers are looking for a new home. No decision has been made about the […]
Cal baseball enters final season — maybe
The University of California-Berkeley baseball team is slated to begin spring practice on Friday, but the important upcoming date is Monday — the day when a final decision will be made regarding the future of the program, already scheduled to be eliminated. Monday is the deadline for activists to raise $25 million to save five […]
Harper slated to begin season in Hagerstown
Good news if you’re a Hagerstown Suns or Sally League fan: phenom Bryce Harper is set to begin the season in Municipal Stadium — but don’t expect him to stay for long. It should be a pretty exciting season for the Suns: new manager Brian Daubach has a track record as manager, guiding the Pittsfield […]