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-Digger's Daily-
Another tremendous baseball season is well underway. Texas Rangers Josh Hamilton's chasing baseball's coveted triple crown (leader in home runs, runs batted in and batting average). Baseball's are jumping off his bat.
Speaking of baseball's jumping off bats - Hamilton's Texas Rangers teammates compose the game's most feared lineup. They lead all of baseball with a .292 team average, 212 runs, 386 hits, 634 total bases, .480 slugging%, .828 OPS, and +75 run differential. Rangers are hungry for their first World Series title after back to back close calls. Texas is a much stronger team than the one which came within a strike of winning it all in 2011. Their loss to St. Louis made this squad more determined than ever to fulfill childhood dreams of glory.
Speaking of St. Louis - the defending Albert Pujol-less champions haven't missed a beat this season leading the NL Central with a 21-15 record. They've over come early season injuries to key players (Wainwright, Carpenter, Beltran, Berkman, Craig, Jay & Schumacker). Replacement players have excelled. Cardinals remain a very determined team. All players are chipping in admirably.
Time to pay tribute to a few successful clubs considered longshots before this season began. Washington Nationals 1/2 game off NL East lead (24-12). Another injury riddled club playing good baseball. Manager Davey Johnson has these guys ready to go every night....
New York Mets (20-16) showing the baseball world they're not dead yet despite plenty of spring training epitaph's. It's been a mixture of young and old getting it done through injuries, slumps and lack of over all team power....
Al East leading Baltimore Orioles (23-14) players and fans finally holding their heads high for the first time in ages. Adam Jones and Matt Wieters are real deal Baltimore fixtures for years to come. It'll be a long haul and big challenge for Oriole hurlers to keep down tough AL lineups. So far so good...
Los Angeles Dodgers (24-12) own baseball's best record. Don Mattingly has won over the trust and respect of Dodger players. LA is a talented team from top to bottom. Time is ripe for them to make a run for the NL crown.
MLB just named the New York Mets (CitiField) as hosts for the 2013 All Star Game. Mets haven't hosted an All Star Game since 1964 (a travesty). It's about time baseball recognized New York's other team. It's been a long time coming for the Mets to host another ASG. I was terribly disappointed only one ASG was played in Shea Stadium.
Stay tuned... more to follow.
Showing posts with label LA Dodgers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LA Dodgers. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Citi Field Opens to New Generation of Mets Fans!
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-Digger's Daily-
Say goodbye to rustic, old, run down, antiquated Shea Stadium. Citi Field officially opened last night as the new Mets home. New York's new stadium is an eye catcher. I was one of the fortunate fans to be at opening day. Citi's exterior design replicates an old NY favorite, Ebbets Field. It's entrance pays tribute to Jackie Robinson (Robinson Rotunda). Fan reaction has been wide ranging and thoroughly mixed.
Citi Field will provide the new generation many great memories. It's very pleasing to the eye. Each seat is angled for optimum field views. Fans can watch games from most locations while walking around the park. New field dimensions will challenge both hitters and fielders. Tall outfield walls, deep distances from home plate, Pepsi Porch in right field. Outstanding new centerfield scoreboard. And, yes, the Mets Big Apple was transported from Shea and now sits in center too. Better concession stands highlighted by Nathan's Franks and specialty foods. It really is a great place to watch a game.
Transportation couldn't be easier from rail accessability to parking. Security was in plain sight and plentiful. Even New York's finest were on hand using their most technological surveillance including bioligical warfare dectectors, helicopters and sharp shooters who were stationed in not so descrete locations.
For younger Mets fans... it's a great place soon to create memories spanning generations. They'll love it. Tradition rich older fans... it's tough love.
I've been thinking of how best to represent Citi Field in this brief blog. Most of my childhood baseball memories were from days spent rooting on my favorite New York team from great seats in Shea Stadium. At Shea, there was no mistaking it was home to the New York Mets. The famous scoreboard in right field was one of a kind when first built. Mets memories splashed everywhere within its' vast structure. Mets pennants blowing from flagpoles. Shea hosted some of baseball's most memorable moments. It also hosted many great venues from famous concerts to religious leaders. Let's not forget, this was also home for the New York Jets football team too.
I, and many others in attendance last night, had an overwhelming feeling while viewing the game. I felt as though I was watching the Mets in someone else's beautiful new home stadium. Los Angeles Dodgers players will love it. It was built more for old Dodger fans than old Mets fans. Mets Owner Fred Wilpon grew up as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and it shows. More tribute was paid to Brooklyn than to the Mets. How odd!!!!
Citi Field barely displays the Mets name. I counted 4 places where the Mets were represented. 1) "Let's Go Mets!" on the scoreboard. 2) Big Apple in center. 3) A "few" banners buried outside the park. 4) 1969 & 1973 banners on one flag pole. That's it! Nothing, zero, nada on interior walkways, corridors. No Mets emblems. No pictures of current/former players. No World Series moments. No Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub or player tributes. Nothing to speak of for "Mets" history. Not even outfield fence colors represent the Mets!
Plenty of Dodgers stuff though. Laughable. Citi's main entrance features Robinson Rotunda filled with Jackie related "Brooklyn Dodgers" moments. Complete with engraved marble flooring, a huge Dodger Blue "42" (Robinson's uniform number) and plenty of Dodgers pictures in panoramic view. Interior walkways are filled with Ebbets Field references with no Mets themes. I appreciate the exterior design emulating Ebbets Field. A tribute to Robinson is also nice but NOT as the main attraction for a "New York Mets" team. In practical theory, there's absolutely no connection between Robinson and the Mets.
It's obvious to me Mets owner Fred Wilpon is still infatuated with Brooklyn Dodgers memories from his youth. Most Brooklynites from back then still rightfully hold their deep love and appreciation of their childhood Dodgers stars. However, with Citi, Wilpon seems to set aside the plain and simple fact this is home to the METS!
Funny little known fact is there's more of a historical Mets connection to the New York Giants. Mets first owners (Payson) were also co-owners of the Giants who fiercely opposed their moving to San Francisco. Giants director, Donald Grant, also voted against the move. He became the Mets Chairman of the Board. Mets team colors closely resembled Giants old Navy/Orange. Mets played their first two seasons in the Giants home (Polo Grounds).
A beautiful stadium with a sour taste. How can anyone build a new park which does not honor the home team for which it was built? I'm hoping additions will be made representing Mets history but don't expect to catch me blue in the face from holding my breath! Without some sort of team history, Citi Field is nothing more than a new generic ballpark.
As for the Mets first ever regular season home game. 6-5 loss to the San Diego Padres.
(www.allworldallsports.com)
-Digger's Daily-
Say goodbye to rustic, old, run down, antiquated Shea Stadium. Citi Field officially opened last night as the new Mets home. New York's new stadium is an eye catcher. I was one of the fortunate fans to be at opening day. Citi's exterior design replicates an old NY favorite, Ebbets Field. It's entrance pays tribute to Jackie Robinson (Robinson Rotunda). Fan reaction has been wide ranging and thoroughly mixed.
Citi Field will provide the new generation many great memories. It's very pleasing to the eye. Each seat is angled for optimum field views. Fans can watch games from most locations while walking around the park. New field dimensions will challenge both hitters and fielders. Tall outfield walls, deep distances from home plate, Pepsi Porch in right field. Outstanding new centerfield scoreboard. And, yes, the Mets Big Apple was transported from Shea and now sits in center too. Better concession stands highlighted by Nathan's Franks and specialty foods. It really is a great place to watch a game.
Transportation couldn't be easier from rail accessability to parking. Security was in plain sight and plentiful. Even New York's finest were on hand using their most technological surveillance including bioligical warfare dectectors, helicopters and sharp shooters who were stationed in not so descrete locations.
For younger Mets fans... it's a great place soon to create memories spanning generations. They'll love it. Tradition rich older fans... it's tough love.
I've been thinking of how best to represent Citi Field in this brief blog. Most of my childhood baseball memories were from days spent rooting on my favorite New York team from great seats in Shea Stadium. At Shea, there was no mistaking it was home to the New York Mets. The famous scoreboard in right field was one of a kind when first built. Mets memories splashed everywhere within its' vast structure. Mets pennants blowing from flagpoles. Shea hosted some of baseball's most memorable moments. It also hosted many great venues from famous concerts to religious leaders. Let's not forget, this was also home for the New York Jets football team too.
I, and many others in attendance last night, had an overwhelming feeling while viewing the game. I felt as though I was watching the Mets in someone else's beautiful new home stadium. Los Angeles Dodgers players will love it. It was built more for old Dodger fans than old Mets fans. Mets Owner Fred Wilpon grew up as a Brooklyn Dodgers fan and it shows. More tribute was paid to Brooklyn than to the Mets. How odd!!!!
Citi Field barely displays the Mets name. I counted 4 places where the Mets were represented. 1) "Let's Go Mets!" on the scoreboard. 2) Big Apple in center. 3) A "few" banners buried outside the park. 4) 1969 & 1973 banners on one flag pole. That's it! Nothing, zero, nada on interior walkways, corridors. No Mets emblems. No pictures of current/former players. No World Series moments. No Willie Mays, Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub or player tributes. Nothing to speak of for "Mets" history. Not even outfield fence colors represent the Mets!
Plenty of Dodgers stuff though. Laughable. Citi's main entrance features Robinson Rotunda filled with Jackie related "Brooklyn Dodgers" moments. Complete with engraved marble flooring, a huge Dodger Blue "42" (Robinson's uniform number) and plenty of Dodgers pictures in panoramic view. Interior walkways are filled with Ebbets Field references with no Mets themes. I appreciate the exterior design emulating Ebbets Field. A tribute to Robinson is also nice but NOT as the main attraction for a "New York Mets" team. In practical theory, there's absolutely no connection between Robinson and the Mets.
It's obvious to me Mets owner Fred Wilpon is still infatuated with Brooklyn Dodgers memories from his youth. Most Brooklynites from back then still rightfully hold their deep love and appreciation of their childhood Dodgers stars. However, with Citi, Wilpon seems to set aside the plain and simple fact this is home to the METS!
Funny little known fact is there's more of a historical Mets connection to the New York Giants. Mets first owners (Payson) were also co-owners of the Giants who fiercely opposed their moving to San Francisco. Giants director, Donald Grant, also voted against the move. He became the Mets Chairman of the Board. Mets team colors closely resembled Giants old Navy/Orange. Mets played their first two seasons in the Giants home (Polo Grounds).
A beautiful stadium with a sour taste. How can anyone build a new park which does not honor the home team for which it was built? I'm hoping additions will be made representing Mets history but don't expect to catch me blue in the face from holding my breath! Without some sort of team history, Citi Field is nothing more than a new generic ballpark.
As for the Mets first ever regular season home game. 6-5 loss to the San Diego Padres.
(www.allworldallsports.com)
Friday, February 27, 2009
Manny Being Manny! Slugger Rejects LA's $45M Offer!
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by Digger
Manny being Manny. Anyone paying attention to Manny Ramirez drama filled career shouldn't be too surprised he's holding out for more money while spring training games are in full swing. Baseball economics must be in tip top shape during these trying times. Star players are still commanding top dollar. Manny wants more. Will LA budge? Mixed emotions.
The Dodgers offense needs this guy. Manny's single handedly carried the Dodgers for 53 games after arriving via trade. He hit .396, slugged .743 while leading LA into the Playoffs. Manny being Manny. Rejecting a whopping offer. Now missing spring training. Holding out for better offers? One would think nearly every MLB would be banging on the door. Not so.
During his Hall of Fame style career, he's been accused of not giving it his all on every play. Sometimes, putting himself over teammates by not wanting to play. He more or less wore out his welcome in Boston. Former Sox teammates even had a few parting shots for their old friend. In LA, things seemed great. Right now it's about money and contract length. No teammates are publicly grumbling.... yet!
Baseball economics. As politicians continue their sky is falling rhetoric, baseball acts as if they're immune. 2009 will be challenging on many fronts. Ad revenues will be slashed. Gate receipts will vary from city to city. Corporate box seats could be on auction blocks.... at least they should be! How many families of four will be able to afford ticket prices? Throw in parking, gas, tolls, $10 hotdogs all while worrying about making ends meet.... Thousands of people losing their jobs world wide so when baseball players sit around holding out for millions more than offered...? Should fans care? Not this one.
Get a grip Manny, greed isn't always good. Shut up. Sign up. Suit up. Batter up.
by Digger
Manny being Manny. Anyone paying attention to Manny Ramirez drama filled career shouldn't be too surprised he's holding out for more money while spring training games are in full swing. Baseball economics must be in tip top shape during these trying times. Star players are still commanding top dollar. Manny wants more. Will LA budge? Mixed emotions.
The Dodgers offense needs this guy. Manny's single handedly carried the Dodgers for 53 games after arriving via trade. He hit .396, slugged .743 while leading LA into the Playoffs. Manny being Manny. Rejecting a whopping offer. Now missing spring training. Holding out for better offers? One would think nearly every MLB would be banging on the door. Not so.
During his Hall of Fame style career, he's been accused of not giving it his all on every play. Sometimes, putting himself over teammates by not wanting to play. He more or less wore out his welcome in Boston. Former Sox teammates even had a few parting shots for their old friend. In LA, things seemed great. Right now it's about money and contract length. No teammates are publicly grumbling.... yet!
Baseball economics. As politicians continue their sky is falling rhetoric, baseball acts as if they're immune. 2009 will be challenging on many fronts. Ad revenues will be slashed. Gate receipts will vary from city to city. Corporate box seats could be on auction blocks.... at least they should be! How many families of four will be able to afford ticket prices? Throw in parking, gas, tolls, $10 hotdogs all while worrying about making ends meet.... Thousands of people losing their jobs world wide so when baseball players sit around holding out for millions more than offered...? Should fans care? Not this one.
Get a grip Manny, greed isn't always good. Shut up. Sign up. Suit up. Batter up.
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