October 15, 2010 [LINK / comment]

Sun Life (Dolphin) Stadium update

What is a baseball fan supposed to do during the agonizingly long hiatus between successive divisional, league, and World Series every year? (Something's gotta be done about the needless "rest" days that cause the baseball postseason to spill over into November, which is ridiculous.) Well, if you're a confirmed ballpark nut like me, you get back to work on your stadium research and diagramming. It's only one of many things that I've fallen behind on lately...

And so, after many hours of squinting, measuring, pointing, and clicking, the Sun Life (Dolphin) Stadium diagrams have been thoroughly revised. They are much more accurate than before, with greater attention to detail. Believe it or not, it was only recently that I realized just how extensive the 2007 renovations were. I have to thank Bruce Orser and Mike Zurawski for providing crucial bits of information that helped get all the details just right. There is also a new 1993 version diagram, along with a jumbo-sized "full view" version, with center field pointing up, and nothing truncated. The text on that page has been revised as well.

Along with Marlins Ballpark diagram which was added last week, that completes the update work for Miami stadiums, and the state of Florida -- almost. I still need to do a diagram for that minor league ballpark in Orlando which has been used occasionally by Tampa Bay.

ALCS gets underway

In Arlington, Texas tonight, fans were treated to a big thrill in the first inning when Rangers star slugger Josh Hamilton hit a three-run home run off of Yankee ace C.C. Sabathia. So it's going to be a competitive series after all! The Rangers scored twice more in the fourth inning, but the Yankees are now in comeback mode, closing the gap and taking a 6-5 lead in the top of the eighth inning. Alex Rodriguez just hit a two-run single: Is he the new "Mr. October"???

It is interesting to note that both A-Rod and fellow (new) Yankee Mark Teixera are playing this series in the stadium that they once called home: (Rangers) Ballpark in Arlington!