The Seattle Mariners are changing the dimensions at Safeco Field for the 2013 season, moving in portions of the outfield wall in the power alleys. These changes will be the first to the field dimensions since the ballpark opened in 1999. “Our goal was to create an environment that is fair for both hitters and pitchers,” […]
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In memoriam: Max Soriano
Max Soriano, who partnered with brother Dewey Soriano to bring the Seattle Pilots to the American League, has passed away. He was 86. Dewey Soriano was a longtime baseball entrepreneur in the Pacific Northwest. When the opportunity came to own an expansion franchise in 1969, he and Max put up $2 million for a 35 […]
Seattle renews PDCs with four affiliates
The Seattle Mariners renewed player-development contracts with four teams: Jackson Generals (Class AA; Southern League), High Desert Mavericks (High Class A; Cal League), Clinton LumberKings (Low Class A; Midwest League) and Pulaski Mariners (rookie; Appalachian League). “We are happy to continue our relationship with the great group of people associated with the each of our […]
Acquiring Ichiro brilliant financial move for Yankees
Acquiring Ichiro Suzuki for the remainder of the 2012 season may have helped the New York Yankees on the field, but the Japanese star should help the team’s bottom line for the rest of the season — unless something goes dramatically wrong. The Wall Street Journal looked at the financial impact of the Ichiro trade, […]
Whose ballpark roof is open the most? Seattle
Despite the reputation of Seattle’s climate as being cool and damp, the roof at Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners, is open the most among covered ballparks in Major League Baseball, according to a local meteorologist. The roof at Safeco Field was closed around 19 games a season (making for 23 percent of the […]
PETA cites Citizens Bank Park, Hammond Stadium for veggie offerings
The best vegetarian ballpark food can be found at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies, and Hammond Stadium, home of the Fort Myers Miracle, according to PETA’s annual rankings. The advocacy group has released rankings of veggie offerings at ballparks for 11 years now. “Tasty vegetarian food is sweeping the nation, and that […]
Mariners, AquaSox extend PDC
The Seattle Mariners and Everett AquaSox (short season A; Northwest League) are extending their player-development contract through the 2014 season. “We are pleased to extend our partnership with the Mariners,” said AquaSox Executive Vice President Tom Backemeyer. “We could not be affiliated with a better organization, and we are excited that future Mariners will continue […]
Wedge: Forget I said anything about the Safeco Field fences
After discussing the possibility of bringing in the fences at Safeco Field, Mariners manager Eric Wedge wants to walk back from talk about ballpark disadvantages after his team tanks at the plate. There’s a real danger in bringing up perceived deficiencies in a ballpark: if you begin talking about a new ballpark, the issues with […]
Why Peoria loves spring training: $5.2 million
Why the economics of spring training leads cities to strike deals with Major League Baseball clubs: Peoria (Az.) Sports Complex tallied $5.2 million in revenue this past spring. Peoria Stadium is the spring home of the Seattle Mariners and San Diego Padres, so it’s busy virtually every day of spring training. In a report made […]
Wedge: Let’s look at moving in Safeco Field fences
This wasn’t an issue when the Seattle Mariners won 116 games under Lou Piniella in 2001, but apparently the Safeco Field dimensions are a problem for Eric Wedge in 2012. Talk about moving in the fences came up again this week after two long drives that could have been homers at other parks ended up […]
Angels, Seattle going retro PCL this weekend
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Seattle Mariners are going retro Saturday, wearing uniforms based on old Pacific Coast League team designs in each city. The Mariners are wearing uniforms based on those worn by the Seattle Rainiers, who played out of Sick’s Stadium for decades. The Saturday game at Safeco Field will feature […]
Peoria to spend $48 million on upgrading spring-training complex
Peoria (Az.) will spend $48 million on upgrading the spring-training complex for the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners as part of a lease extension running through 2034. Spring training has become a big business, with demanding — and receiving — first-rate complexes. The Peoria Stadium complex was considered state of the art when it […]
MLB teams plan Earth Day activities
No matter the team colors, many Major League Baseball teams and ballparks are going green this weekend to mark Earth Day. Many teams have already instituted green programs in their ballparks — Target Field is a LEED-certified building, the Giants and Royals installed solar panels at their homes, the Nationals have an elaborate cistern system […]