Archives,
2007

January 2, 2007 [LINK / comment]

At the stadium construction site

The grandstand in what will be the right field corner, as seen from the north end of the construction site. Roll mouse over this image to see the grandstand behind home plate, on the southwest side.

After visiting some friends in Northern Virginia on Sunday, Jacqueline and I drove across the Potomac to check out the new stadium construction site. Things are indeed progressing at a rapid clip. Unfortunately, the skies had become overcast by the time we got there late in the afternoon, so these photos aren't that great. On the lot where the future parking garage will be built, we saw the Good and Plenty carry-out / eatery, which has been closed down and boarded up, unfortunately. Retaining some (but not all!) of those old neighborhood gathering places would have greatly enhanced the ballpark's place in the community, like Wrigley Field or Fenway Park.

I have created a rudimentary page for the future Washington Nationals Stadium, with a very rough sketch diagram.

Just around the corner...

Opening Day will be on April Fool's Day this year, so who knows what goofy hijinks will take place? Until then, the daily countdown will be displayed on the top right of the baseball blog page.

Fiesta Bowl: Unbelievable!

I don't usually spend much time discussing football, but the victory by Boise State over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl last night was one of the most amazing finishes I've ever seen. The outcome itself was a big upset, but the bizarre way it ended was truly a jaw-opener. I was worn out from the New Year's party, but I'm glad I stayed up past midnight to see the conclusion, in overtime. To top it off, the guy who scored the winning [two-point conversion] on a trick "Statue of Liberty" play, Ian Johnson, proposed to his girlfriend, who is one of the cheerleaders. Talk about a fairy-tale ending! See ESPN. Hats off to Boise State.

By the way, this was the first game I had seen played in the University of Phoenix Stadium, the new space-age, climate-controlled home of the Arizona Cardinals, featuring a retractable grass field. I think that's the first time that a university has obtained stadium naming rights in a competitive bid process. According to azcentral.com, "It is the nation's largest private university, with 250,000 students, most of them working adults."

UPDATE: Ironically, the University of Phoenix does not seem to have an athletic program!

Web site offline

For some obscure technical reason, my Web hosting service was not functioning for a few hours earlier today. My apologies for the inconvenience. Unlike yesterday morning, however, this time it was not my fault!

January 5, 2007 [LINK / comment]

Randy Johnson returns to AZ?

The Yankees have reached a tentative deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, trading Randy Johnson in return for four players. The Yankees would, it is reported, absorb $2 million of the $16 million Johnson is owed for the 2007 season. In return for waiving his no-trade clause, Johnson would get a contract extension through 2008, when he will turn 45. That would give him a good chance to reach the 300-career win threshhold; he currently has 280 wins. See MLB.com. It's probably for the best on both sides. Sometimes things just don't work out.

Mientkiewicz to Bronx

Doug Mientkiewicz, who played first base for the Mets last year, and for the Red Sox before that, is in the process of being traded "across town" to the Yankees. Assuming he passes the physical exam, etc., it would allow Jason Giambi to become a full-time designated hitter. See MLB.com. Now, will the Mets bring back Mike Piazza to play first base?

The mail bag

The owners of the land where the Twins' future stadium will be built are holding out for more money, which may necessitate formal condemnation proceedings in court, in which case the delays would raise the total cost by a large amount. $90 million has been allocated for land acquisition and related expenses. See startribune.com (via Mike Zurawski)

Bruce Orser found a page full of Yankee Stadium construction photos, at yankeephotos.com, as well as photos of Fenway Park thru the years at redsoxnation.net.

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Nick Johnson heals

UPDATE: Washington Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson is slowly healing from a broken leg he suffered last September, but he will probably miss at least the first month of the regular season this year. See Washington Post. Get well soon, Nick!

January 9, 2007 [LINK / comment]

Ripken, Gwynn to Cooperstown

It's hard to imagine two players who were more deserving to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, in terms of their accomplishments on the ballfield, and their modest, classy sportsmanship. "Iron Man" Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn, eight-time NL batting champion, are among the rare breed of superstars who defy Leo Durocher's dictum that "nice guys finish last." Both men were elected on their first opportunity and received among the highest-ever percentages of votes; see MLB.com. Goose Gossage didn't make the cut, but he edged closer to the 75% threshhold, and may finally make it next year. Mark McGwire was way down the list, but he's got plenty of chances yet to come. Like most people, I have mixed feelings about McGwire. I suppose we'll never come up with a satisfactory way to resolve the Dope Dilemma: to forgive and reward those who 'fess up, or to punish anyone suspected of artificial body enhancements, which would only keep the problem hidden under the rug.

Today's Washington Post had a good background piece on Ripken, noting that his "431 home runs and 3,184 hits were more a testament to hard work, durability and longenvity than to sheer talent or jaw-dropping power." (In that sense, ironically, he's a lot like Pete Rose.) Ripken will rank number one among all Hall of Famers in terms of total games played (3,001), consecutive games (2,632), fielding percentage for shortstops (.979), and appearances on All Star teams (19). His lifetime batting average was well below Gwynn's, however: .276 vs. .338. Both Ripken and Gwynn spent their entire careers with one team, near their home towns. It's like they were twin brothers or something...

January 10, 2007 [LINK / comment]

River cleanup near the ballpark

Folks who have lived in the Washington metropolitan area know that the Anacostia River has a reputation as a filthy place in a dangerous part of the city. Decades of unregulated industrial waste poisoned fish and the birds that feed on them. Because of antiquated sewer lines, moreover, the stench often becomes unbearable after heavy rain storms. It's too bad, because it was once a prime habitat for birds and other wildlife, and I even saw a Great egret there, very close to the RFK Stadium parking lot in June 2004. The National Arboretum, Kenilworth Gardens, and Anacostia Park are just a few of the outdoor attractions along the city's "other" river. Tuesday's Washington Post reviewed the status of the Anacostia River and plans for its restoration. The new stadium being built for the Washington Nationals is a key part of the long-term development plans along the river. An official in charge of the project put it very well: "The whole purpose here is to think of the river as a great centerpiece of the city and not a dividing line."

Exactly. If the stadium does not serve to rebuild the fractured sense of community in Our Nation's Capital, all those millions of public dollars will have been wasted. It reminds one of the situation in Pittsburgh in the 1970s, when the steel industry was crumbling, and far-sighted planners pushed for a massive cleanup effort that turned the area around Three Rivers Stadium into a veritable tourist mecca, attracting yuppies by the thousands. In Washington, by the same token, the Nationals' future stadium could do wonders for the Anacostia River by drawing attention to it, making its cleanup a higher priority. When I was at the construction site a couple weeks ago I noticed across the street that there is pedestrian access to the shore and boat piers, which will presumably be spiffed up considerably once the construction is finished. Eventually, I expect that there will be boat taxi service to baseball games from Alexandria and Georgetown.

That article also mentioned the plans for building a new soccer stadium for D.C. United on the other side of the river at Poplar Point. That franchise has just been purchased, and the new owners are said to be more interested in stadium-related development projects than in soccer per se. Hmmm...

January 11, 2007 [LINK / comment]

ESPN ranks the best ballparks

It would be hard for me to argue with Tim Kurkjian, whose brief article appeared in ESPN The Magazine. Of his favorite park, he writes: "Squeezed into the Fenway section of Boston, it's old, cramped and irritable, but there's no better place, no more intimate setting, for a baseball game." As for the other top five current baseball stadiums, his list matches mine, but in slightly different [reverse!] order. My rankings (excluding defunct ballparks) are in parentheses; see my Stadium rankings page, which is need of updating.

• Fenway Park (1st -- 8.0)
• Oriole Park at Camden Yards (5th -- 7.4)
• PNC Park (4th -- 7.6)
• Wrigley Field (T 2nd -- 7.8)
• AT&T Park (T 2nd -- 7.8)

Bonds faces more dope charges

This time Barry Bonds is accused of using amphetamines, not steroids. He denied reports that he got the pills from fellow Giant Mark Sweeney, but strangely enough he did not deny testing positive in a drug test last season. He apologized If the charges are corroborated, it could result in revision or nullification of his new contract with the Giants. See ESPN. What next?

Nationals let Robinson go

The Washington Nationals have decided not to offer Frank Robinson a paying job in the front office, and he let it be known -- in a dignified way, of course -- that he is less than pleased about it. See Washington Post. To me, the Nats' front office seems extremely short-sighted, not retaining the services of a guy who has so much goodwill and symbolized the rebirth of baseball in Washington. I hope they reconsider their decision.

January 15, 2007 [LINK / comment]

Bobby Murcer is gravely ill

Former Yankee Bobby Murcer disclosed that he has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after undergoing tests last month. He was selected for the All Star game five times, and has been a broadcast announcer for the Yankees since retiring. He played a total of 13 seasons with the Yankees from 1965 to 1983. He finished his career with 252 home runs and a .277 batting average. He also played for the Giants and the Cubs. See New York Times. It is especially noteworthy that he replaced fellow Oklahoman Mickey Mantle in center field.

Ballpark controversy in Miami

The Florida Marlins are still pushing hard for a new stadium in downtown Miami, but the state legislature would still have to approve money for it, and that is a very uncertain prospect. The officially designated "blighted neighborhood" would have to be expanded to encompass the plot of land where the stadium would be built so that it would qualify for tax breaks via the Community Redevelopment Agency. Miami Mayor Manny Diaz is touting the economic development benefits, but folks who were hoping that such funds would be used for new low-income housing are very angry, needless to say. See Miami Herald, via Neil deMause, who says this news casts doubt on the whole project; see baseballprospectus.com. Hat tip to Mike Zurawski. Why do stadium projects have to rely upon some obscure tax law gimmick?

Bowl game in Canada?

Matt Bahm informs me that Rogers Centre in Toronto played host to the inaugural International Bowl on January 6, the first time an NCAA football game has been played in Canada. Is this another side-effect of global warming?

UPDATE: Details on the Cincinnati Bearcats' 27-24 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos can be found at: TSN.ca.

January 17, 2007 [LINK / comment]

Nationals rebuild roster, slowly

As the deadline approached, the Washington Nationals made offers to the five players who are eligible for arbitration: right-hand pitchers Chad Cordero and John Patterson, outfielders Alex Escobar and Austin Kearns, and infielder Felipe Lopez. (He is expected to shift to second base this year, now that shortstop Cristian Guzman is healed.) Based on the spread between what they are offering and what the players are asking, it seems that Cordero is their top priority, which is appropriate. See MLB.com. Cordero only made $525,000 last year, and will get at least six times that this year. I'm more worried, however, that the Nats might lose Patterson, who is asking more than twice what they are offering. As things presently stand, he is the only solid pitcher in the Nats' rotation, and the pitching staff desperately needs an "anchor." Michael O'Connor and Shawn Hill, two pitchers who showed moments of brillance as rookies last year, also signed contracts, which is great news. They will probably start on a semi-regular basis. The value-conscious Nats front office also signed outfielder Chris Snelling, and pitchers Jerome Williams and Brandon Claussen -- all relative unknowns. (Has Jim Bowden read Moneyball, emulating the Oakland A's?) Long-term prospects are bright, but in the short-term the Nationals are looking more like a minor league team than even the Expos did! Two thousand seven will be a trying time for Nats fans...

Hall of Fame pitcher and former Braves announcer Don Sutton has signed up to do the color commentary for the Nationals on MASN this year. He overcame cancer a couple years ago, and is a classy, admirable guy for the job.

Stadium politicking: Fremont

Oakland Athletics co-owner Lew Wolff promoted his plan for a new ballpark at a meeting of the Fremont City Council. Some fans from Oakland who don't want the team to move showed up to protest. See yahoo.com. Wolff's notion of emulating the neighborhood ambience of Fenway Park and Wrigley Field seems ridiculous to me, especially since they have been touting "Cisco Field" as a high-tech wonder. Hat tip to Bruce Orser.

Stadium politicking: Miami

There is even more buzzing and haggling over the stadium proposal in Miami, and MLB executive Bob DuPuy is getting involved, as ESPN reports. DuPuy said,

Everyone is working very hard to get this realized. The hope is that we can get all the planets and sun and moon aligned and get this to fruition.

Given that he used virtually those same exact words in 2002 (or perhaps 2003, I'll check), referring to the expected relocation of the Expos to Washington -- an excuse for stalling, basically -- one might conclude that a new stadium deal for Miami is two years away. (What is that thing he has with astrology?) Hat tip to Mke Zurawski.

January 22, 2007 [LINK / comment]

The mail bag (getting full)

Mike Zurawski is doing a great job in keeping me up to date with the latest stadium news and commentary. First, Tim Marchand at the New York Sun reports that the 2008 All Star Game will probably be played in Yankee Stadium, in its final year of existence, and bids "Good Riddance to the House Ruth Didn't Build." I would be the last to deny that the 1974-1975 renovations pretty much ruined everything that was special about the original Yankee Stadium, but at least the basic structure was retained. Marchand is way off base, however, when he claims that removal of the supporting columns forced the upper decks to be recessed. Wrong! It may seem that way because additional rows were added in front of the lower deck, and in back of the upper deck, but the front edge of the second and third decks are in the same position as they originally were.

Second, the St. Louis Cardinals are spending $3 million on improvements to Busch Stadium (III) this year, mostly for additional escalators, seating at field level beyond the dugouts, and restrooms. In addition, the Baseball Writers' Association of America asked Major League Baseball not to award the 2009 All-Star Game to the Cardinals unless improvements to the press box are made. See St. Louis Business Journal. Well, excu-use me!

A's owner Lew Wolff says he wants to purchase 25 additional acres near the planned stadium site in Fremont, an apparent gesture to show he is serious about the project. Apparently he came across as too pushy in the recent city council meeting, and he is now trying to backtrack. See insidebayarea.com.

Finally, if Miami officials really are on the verge of a downtown baseball stadium deal, a lot of key people are still in the dark about it. The director of the Community Redevelopment Agency says that Mayor Manny Diaz has not discussed the matter with him. Very strange; see miamitodaynews.com.

Lopez signs with Nats

Felipe Lopez signed a one-year contract worth $3.9 million the Nationals, thereby avoiding arbitration. He will switch from shortstop to second base this year. Chad Cordero, John Patterson, Austin Kearns, and Alex Escobar are still in arbitration. See MLB.com.

DuPuy & astrology

Last week I noted that MLB executive Bob DuPuy used a peculiar phrase in reference to the ongoing stadium negotiations in Miami, and I found when he first used it. According to the July 24, 2003 issue of the Washington Times:

Bob DuPuy, MLB President, said last week the Expos will be moved when "the moon, the stars, the sun and the dollars are all aligned."

Anti-spam measures

I recently raised the anti-spam filter in my e-mail account, so some folks may have had their messages bounced. If so, I'm sorry. I fell behind with e-mail again during the holidays, and am gradually getting caught up. A meaningful subject line will be more likely to grab my attention.

January 25, 2007 [LINK / comment]

More Fenway Park renovations

The Red Sox are investing more money into improving Fenway Park this year. The main change is the addition of a new concourse deck behind the grandstand on the third base side, which will have a women's rest room for the first time. They are also adding an inside batting practice area for the visiting team on that side, replacing the one under the bleachers, which will leave room for a new restaurant beyond center field. The capacity for this year will be 38,808, more or less. See MLB.com. It is gratifying to see that the owners are putting enough money into Fenway Park to keep it in prime condition for the indefinite future. In five years, it will celebrate its 100th birthday; will Willard Scott take notice?

Nats owners buck the trend

The Washington Post had an interview with Nationals owner Ted Lerner, who explained his refusal to go along with the insane bidding frenzy for free agent players. The Nats will have one of the lowest payrolls this year, and finishing last in the NL East is almost a given; they will be lucky just to finish the season within striking distance of the fourth-place team. As a fan I grumble at his decision to let some of the best Nats players go, especially Livan Hernandez and Alfonso Soriano, but I have to admit that logic is on Lerner's side. Rich people generally get that way by shunning the herd mentality of other investors, and he probably knows what he is doing. Chances are, his team will become solid, consistent winners two or three years down the road. Let's just hope Washington fans are patient enough. The Nationals just signed outfielder Alex Escobar to a one-year contract, which leaves just three key arbitration-eligible players to go: John Patterson, Chad Cordero, and Austin Kearns. Spring training is drawing very close...

The mail bag

Matt Kuchna wrote to say that Cleveland (Municipal) Stadium was not really oversized at the time it was built, given that the city was growing by leaps and bounds back then. How times change, indeed. He also mentioned it always filled to capacity for Browns football games, and often for city high school championship football games as well.

January 30, 2007 [LINK / comment]

Nats tour future stadium

For me, there's no better way to start the day than to look at the front page of the Washington Post and see a photo of the progress being made at the the stadium construction site. Ryan Zimmerman, Nook Logan, and Mike O'Connor took a tour of the site on Thursday, wrapping up an eight-day goodwill "caravan" of the D.C. metropolitan area and points south. A day or two earlier, Zimmerman and his teammates paid a visit to Virginia Beach, his home town. Regarding the team's daunting prospects in the post-Alfonso Soriano era, Zimmerman brushed aside the gloom-and-doomers and insisted, "But we can win without him." See Washington Post. Good luck! (Seriously.)

Sosa: back to minors

Sammy Sosa signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers, hoping for a chance to lift his lifetime home run total from 588 to the symbolic 600 mark. The deal includes complicated incentive provisions; well, a job's a job. He could have played for the Nationals last year, you may recall. Sammy says he feels "born again," and at age 38 there's no reason why he couldn't play a few more years, as long as he keeps his body clean. See MLB.com. "Pharmaceutically adjusted," I'd say his current total is more like 470. He became noticeably bulkier after the famous 1998 season, at which point his lifetime total was 273.

The mail bag

There is a news aggregator of sorts that chronicles milestones in the construction of the New Yankee Stadium at PlanNYC.org. The latest news is that New York City's share of the cost of the new Yankee Stadium "has increased to $209 million from $160 million, and to $172 million from $92 million for the new Mets Stadium." Surprise, surprise! (Hat tip to Bruce Orser.)

The Minnesota Twins are enjoying a big increase in season ticket sales, because of fan enthusiasm over the team's winning record in recent years, and because corporations want to lock in priority when prime seats for the Twins' future stadium go on sale, presumably in 2010. See twincities.bizjournals.com. (Hat tip to Mike Zurawski.)

Stadium impressions

In the off season, most baseball fans have other things on their minds, but I noticed that a couple guys took the time to register for this Web site and add their impressions of old ballparks: Lou Norbeck for Griffith Stadium, and Drew Fullam for Shibe Park. Thanks, guys!

January 31, 2007 [LINK / comment]

Yankee Stadium to host All Stars

As had been rumored, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announced that the 2008 All Star Game will be played in Yankee Stadium, in its final year of existence. Mayor Bloomberg expects the big event to attract more than 175,000 visitors to New York, which is three times the capacity of Yankee Stadium. (Is that much standing room available?) The Bronx Basilica was also the site of All Star Games in 1939, 1960, and 1977, so it will match Cleveland Stadium for the record of hosting the most All Star Games. The new version of Busch Stadium will host the event in 2009, and the venues after that are yet to be decided. PETCO Park, Citizens Bank Park, Citi Field (the Mets' future home), Chase Field, and the Nationals' future home* are the leading candidates. See MLB.com.

Well, at least the second most famous sporting palace in human history (after the one in Rome) will go out with the honors that are its due. I know, many traditionalists refuse to consider the rebuilt post-1976 version of Yankee Stadium as authentic, but it's still the same place that Babe, Lou, Joe, and Mickey used to play. Knowing that it is widely considered "sacred ground," the Yankees plan to maintain the existing field as a memorial park, not paving it over to make a parking lot.

* That article mistakenly states "The new ballpark in Washington, D.C. ... is slated to also open in 2009..." Last I heard, it's still on track to open fourteen months from now. The article rightly calls attention to all of the silly circus-like side shows to the All Star Game that have been created over the past couple decades, making it more of a Hollywood spectacle than an athletic competition. In that respect, it reminds me of the Super Bowl!

Oakland fans resist relocation

The good people of Oakland are not taking the proposed relocation to Fremont lying down; an "Oakland Athletics Fan Coalition" has mobilized to keep the A's where they have been for the past 39 years. Their oaklandfans.com Web site provide arguments to show that Oakland can continue to support the team, blaming the recent owners for a lack of commitment, and they present the pros and cons of various stadium site alternatives: one in "uptown" Oakland, one on the waterfront, one next to the existing Coliseum, and the one in Fremont. Other proposed sites have already been rejected. (Hat tip to Bruce Orser.)