PETA revives call to close down stingray touch tank at the Trop
With another home run hit in the stingray touch tank past the outfield wall at Tropicana Field, PETA is calling on the Tampa Bay Rays to shut down the fan attraction. It’s not a new plea: PETA contacted the Rays about shutting down the tank earlier this year. Since it opened, three batters have managed […]
Biloxi approves new-ballpark funding; team set to play in 2015
The Biloxi City Council today moved forward with a bonding plan for a new $36-million ballpark, paving the way for Ken Young to move a Class AA Southern League team there in 2015. The $36-million financing plan for the 6,000-seat ballpark is pretty simple: the city will use $15 million from a state grant stemming […]
2013 Broadcaster of the Year: John Sadak
From coast to coast, their voices heard through car speakers and porch radios, talented baseball radio broadcasters paint the picture from the ballpark throughout the spring and summer nights. Our choice for 2013 Broadcaster of the Year: John Sadak, voice of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Class AAA; International League). A native of New York City, Sadak […]
Measuring MLB’s winners and losers in costs per win
Every year we attempt to measure how well MLB teams did in spending money to procure wins. Here’s this year’s ranking, and, to no one’s surprise, Oakland excels. With the 2013 season completed, it’s time to look at how well MLB team did in translating payroll to wins. Despite what many fans think, there’s not […]
New Bakersfield ballpark plans collapse
Financing for a proposed new ballpark for the Bakersfield Blaze (High Class A; California League) fell through, leading team owners to call a halt to development efforts. The plan called for the Blaze owners, Gene Voiland and Chad Hathaway, to work with a developer on Bakersfield Commons, a 255-acre retail, office and residential project at […]
Selig: We’ll solve Oakland ballpark situation before I leave office
With the Oakland ballpark situation highlighted in the American League playoffs, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig pledged a solution before he leaves office in 2015. No one sees O.Co Coliseum as the future of pro sports in Oakland — the NFL’s Raiders are seeking a new facility as well — but the issue is the location […]
Poll: Squirrels home should be built next to current home
In a nearly worthless poll, the Richmond Times-Dispatch discovered suburban voters love the idea of a new Richmond Flying Squirrels (Class AA; Eastern League) ballpark be built for maximum suburban access. The poll of 694 people in Richmond (which, under Virginia law, isn’t within a county) and the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover showed […]
Did MiLB dodge a bullet in Ottawa?
After reviewing the Ottawa City Council deliberations over a lease at Ottawa Stadium — with the decision to go with the indy Can-Am League over an affiliated bid — it’s pretty clear there was little commitment to spend money on serious ballpark upgrades. You can view the Ottawa Sun story about the ballpark deliberations here, […]
Parney named Eastern League Executive of the Year
Todd “Parney” Parnell, VP/COO of the Richmond Flying Squirrels, has been named the 2013 Class AA Eastern League Executive of the Year. The 2013 season marked Todd’s fourth with the Flying Squirrels. Parnell, who previously won the award in 2004 while with the Altoona Curve, will be presented with the award at the Baseball Winter […]
Tulsa Drillers, Hoppel score Texas League awards
The Tulsa Drillers were named the Class AA Texas League Organization of the Year for 2013, while Midland RockHounds GM Monty Hoppel was named executive of the year. “To be awarded the 2013 Texas League Organization of the Year is a tremendous honor for the entire Tulsa Drillers organization,” said general manager Mike Melega. “It […]
Veeck, Myers lead FSL Hall of Fame 2013 inductees
Mike Veeck, in his role as Fort Myers Miracle exec, and Ron Myers from the Lakeland Flying Tigers lead the nine inductees in the 2013 High Class A Florida State League Hall of Fame class. Players set for induction include players Al Nipper, Ramon Martinez, Jimmy Rollins and David Wright; current Baltimore Orioles manager Buck […]
Twins hold groundbreaking on spring-training upgrades; new renderings released
The Minnesota Twins held a groundbreaking today to mark the official beginning of renovations to Hammond Stadium and the Lee County Sports Complex, the team’s spring home. “Since 1991 the Twins and Lee County have enjoyed the model public-private partnership,” said Twins President Dave St. Peter. “Today’s groundbreaking signifies the evolution of the partnership as […]
Pat Salvi profiled in Chicago Lawyer
No great profundities on our part, just some friendly advice: Team owner Pat Salvi was profiled in the latest issue of Chicago Lawyer, and it’s worth a read. Salvi owns the Gary-Southshore RailCats (independent; American Association), Schaumburg Boomers (independent; Frontier League) and North Shore Navigators (summer collegiate; Futures League). Besides being a very good team […]