True baseball fans mourn the demolition of old ballparks as if they've lost their only son. I do fit into this category, as I sometimes long for the days of Connie Mack Stadium, the old Comiskey Park, and the Astrodome. Tiger Stadium, near me, is a lost cause, a victim of mismanagement, lack of concern by the powers-that-be, and the inability of the stadium's fan base to be heard by those powers.
Fenway Park is the complete opposite, and what a wonderful story it has to tell, especially with this release from their official website. It's amazing that a ballpark built in 1912 can still thrive today, add some modern conveniences, become more fan-friendly, and yet have the ballpark retain its mystic charm and cozy sightlines & atmosphere in near entirety.
This is a result of an ownership that truly cares. Boston has a long history of baseball success, and the ownership realizes this. Even in New York, with the 27 World Series pennants blowing in the breezes, there's talk about moving to a new site, in spite of the House That Ruth Built still the formidable structure that it is.
If I were to go on a ballpark tour, it would be to only two: Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. Go beyond the actual attributes of the stadiums themselves, and you'll find ownership groups that know their clubs' long histories and fans' love for their parks. What results is the continuing evolution of ballpark icons that many more generations will grow to love.
Baseball roots itself in its history. What better way to show it than by continuing the tradition of maintaining true treasures like Fenway Park?
Thumbs-up to a group of forward-thinking owners who really do listen to the fans, speak their language and think their thoughts.
24 January, 2007
23 January, 2007
Does Florida want baseball?
You might find that as a funny question, since two-thirds of spring training games occur in Florida. Many retirees from up north are snowbirds who flock to the state for warmth in the winter, and that includes showing up at the spring training sites to root for their favorite teams.
The Marlins and Devil Rays are Florida's two teams, but they either are not well-received by the public, or they have been down-trodden from the word go.
The Marlins have given the idea of expansion teams a shot in the arm by being as successful as they've been, with two World Series titles. In between, however, they arm themselves with a Triple-A roster (save Dontrelle Willis), and play to a 25-percent-full stadium on many occasions. Furthermore, campaigns for a new stadium in Miami have fallen flat and discussions have been ongoing for years.
The roster they currently have is hard-working; I really liked the play of Dan Uggla last year (.282, 27-90) at second base. But do their fans appreciate these blue-collar efforts? Did they even spend the World Series years packing Joe Robbie Stadium during the regular season? Time has proven to be the judge, and the judgement doesn't look fulfilling for the average Marlins fan.
And then there's the Devil Rays. They spent last off-season in a front-office rebuilding mode. They let go of virtually everyone in the front office from the owner on down. They did Lou Piniella a favor by letting him go. They harked on about the fresh, new players on the field. What resulted was the same, tiresome, last-place finish. They don't even have a winning season in franchise history, so you can imagine how the Marlins' fans have been "spoiled", in comparison.
We laughed initially at the National Hockey League when they placed an expansion franchise in Florida, but they have done well statistically. That is literally more than can be said for Florida's two baseball franchises, which have a chance to do more and mean more to their fans than they have, but to this point, it's not really been the case.
Baseball fever in Florida doesn't have to end with the conclusion of March on the calendar. But what can the fans honestly point to as a rallying point to carry on past that date?
The Marlins and Devil Rays are Florida's two teams, but they either are not well-received by the public, or they have been down-trodden from the word go.
The Marlins have given the idea of expansion teams a shot in the arm by being as successful as they've been, with two World Series titles. In between, however, they arm themselves with a Triple-A roster (save Dontrelle Willis), and play to a 25-percent-full stadium on many occasions. Furthermore, campaigns for a new stadium in Miami have fallen flat and discussions have been ongoing for years.
The roster they currently have is hard-working; I really liked the play of Dan Uggla last year (.282, 27-90) at second base. But do their fans appreciate these blue-collar efforts? Did they even spend the World Series years packing Joe Robbie Stadium during the regular season? Time has proven to be the judge, and the judgement doesn't look fulfilling for the average Marlins fan.
And then there's the Devil Rays. They spent last off-season in a front-office rebuilding mode. They let go of virtually everyone in the front office from the owner on down. They did Lou Piniella a favor by letting him go. They harked on about the fresh, new players on the field. What resulted was the same, tiresome, last-place finish. They don't even have a winning season in franchise history, so you can imagine how the Marlins' fans have been "spoiled", in comparison.
We laughed initially at the National Hockey League when they placed an expansion franchise in Florida, but they have done well statistically. That is literally more than can be said for Florida's two baseball franchises, which have a chance to do more and mean more to their fans than they have, but to this point, it's not really been the case.
Baseball fever in Florida doesn't have to end with the conclusion of March on the calendar. But what can the fans honestly point to as a rallying point to carry on past that date?
20 January, 2007
Beginnings
This marks the beginning of a new column I am writing for mlbbloggers.com -- Ducks On The Pond. I am pleased to join a group of fifty blog writers commenting on America's favorite - and my favorite - pasttime.
Let it be said that I am not necessarily a "homer" or "rah, rah" type for any sports team. I am more a follower and commentator - from a realisitc point of view. I applaud the successes, brood over the losses, and criticize where necessary. But only because I truly do enjoy following the teams I have chosen as favorites, not because I may "hate" them. If there is hate involved, it serves no constructive purpose in following a team or its sport.
This blog may start off slowly. I maintain one full-time blog and one part-time blog in addition to this one, so links, photos, and the like will come slowly, but time is sometimes the best remedy for evolution. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say... and the Detroit Tigers took 22 years to fully get back to the greatness their long-loyal fans have wished for.
I hope you enjoy what shows up in my little corner of the world as we inch closer to the season, and again I thank mlbbloggers.com for allowing me this opportunity to play "sports columnist" and really make me feel as part of the lineup.
Spring training starts in less than six weeks... will you be ready?
Let it be said that I am not necessarily a "homer" or "rah, rah" type for any sports team. I am more a follower and commentator - from a realisitc point of view. I applaud the successes, brood over the losses, and criticize where necessary. But only because I truly do enjoy following the teams I have chosen as favorites, not because I may "hate" them. If there is hate involved, it serves no constructive purpose in following a team or its sport.
This blog may start off slowly. I maintain one full-time blog and one part-time blog in addition to this one, so links, photos, and the like will come slowly, but time is sometimes the best remedy for evolution. Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say... and the Detroit Tigers took 22 years to fully get back to the greatness their long-loyal fans have wished for.
I hope you enjoy what shows up in my little corner of the world as we inch closer to the season, and again I thank mlbbloggers.com for allowing me this opportunity to play "sports columnist" and really make me feel as part of the lineup.
Spring training starts in less than six weeks... will you be ready?
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