On this date ten years ago, 42-year-old Tim Raines and his son, 22-year-old Tim Raines Jr., played outfield for the Orioles, becoming the second father-son duo to play in the same outfield (the Griffeys were the first). Here are some recent updates from around MLB…
- Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail has not yet decided on his future role with Baltimore, according to MLB.com’s Brittany Ghiroli. It’s expected that MacPhail will step down and that the Orioles will find a replacement.
- The Indians announced that Grady Sizemore underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The Indians say they expect the 29-year-old to be ready for spring training 2012, but it’s hard to be overly optimistic - Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer points out that it’s Sizemore’s fifth surgery in three years. GM Chris Antonetti told Hoynes that he isn’t going to speculate on Sizemore’s $9MM option for 2012.
- FanGraphs’ Dave Cameron doesn’t deny that some batters have advantages over some pitchers, but he doesn’t endorse relying on past batter/pitcher confrontations to predict future outcomes.
- Dave Waldstein of the New York Times explains that there's a small chance C.C. Sabathia threw his last pitch for the Yankees last night, since the left-hander can opt out of his contract after the season. When MLBTR readers voted earlier today, they were divided on Sabathia's offseason earning power.
- Rays owner Stuart Sternberg told Jim Caple of ESPN.com that he's frustrated that winning hasn't led to improved attendance in Tampa Bay. The Rays' attendance figures dropped by 15% this year and Sternberg says it's "untenable as a model going forward."
” Sternberg says it’s “untenable as a model going forward.” ”
Does this mean they would look to relocate the Rays franchise?
I don’t think many metro areas would have the money/revenue to build a stadium for the Rays.
Draw a 25mi circle around The Trop. How much of is is going to cover water? Hard to pull in a huge fan base when one, the Trop is a hike for anyone to get there who doesnt live in St. Pete and two The Trop doesnt FEEL like a BALL PARK. Im a huge RAys fan and go to games as often as I can. But after going to see them play the Orioles at Camden Yard last season, I was soooooo taken back and thought to myself, “So THIS is what an actual ball park feels like!” Then saw a Nations / Mets game in DC! Unbelievable park! However, how many games were rained out at The Trop? How many players or fans got heat exhaustion? I wouldnt hesitate taking my 84yo grandmother to watch a game at The Trop.
I’d rather watch the Rays play at the Trop than the Nationals play at their park anyday..
You’re there to watch a baseball game, not sight see.
I agree although a combo of it is great. But yeah, you should come to see the ball game, not how great a ballpark looks or feels.
True, but a bad ballpark can be a distraction. I remember going up to Montreal to see the Expos and the one thing I can remember is how much I hated Olympic Stadium.
I hated it as well, and granted its a legit concern moving forward for tampa bay..
But especially down the stretch, the fact that every game wasn’t sold out is extremely discouraging..
Depends if Strasburg is pitching =p
The Rays problems start and end with that disaster of a stadium. Replace that with a *real* baseball park and watch the attendance rise.
Is it any hotter in Tampa than it is in Texas, Miami, Atlanta or St. Louis? Rain is a valid excuse but other than that? Not a major concern. They do need a stadium more centrally located though.
The Rays should be relocated. They’d do better in Montreal.
Yeah i mean, who would want to go watch a team with no payroll and full of young stars who hustle on every play still make the playoffs more frequently than most teams because of their genius GM and scouting? Sounds like an absolutely horrible franchise to go watch, I don’t blame the people of Tampa at all.
…
Brittany, Brittany , Brittany …..we all know Andy Mac is undecided, the question is why that the case? The other problem part of the problem is, I don’t like any of the names being thrown around by the Orioles Insider. There wasn’t one name that was interesting to me, one reason being I wasn’t sure if any of them could do any better of a job our “Current Last Action Hero”. It sort of would be like replacing a peg with a peg.
McPhail was too slow with everything he did the entire time he was with the organization, his departure is pretty fitting.
With that said I actually want Buck as GM. My logic is what the hell we’ve tried McPhail’s conservative approach, lets go absolutely nuts and let him clean house. It would at least be more fun than what the Orioles are giving us.
First move: Get the Stockstills the freaking hell out of here.
First move: Get the Stockstills the freaking hell out of here. LOL
Jeez, just give them a new ballpark, or a new freaking city. How can a team that draws no one, stays competitive, makes the playoffs this year, actually draw LESS! It’s depressing thinking about the Rays.
swoooooshhh
(sorry I had to)
CC may have thrown his last pitch last night????
Greedy St. Petersburg is ruining a franchise now. Tampa is willing to build a new stadium for Rays in downtown Tampa, but then the city is threatening the team with the 30 yrs contract on Trop. field. If you cannot support a baseball team then don’t bother it finding a better future.
The Yanks starting rotation in 2012
CC, Wilson, Nova, Hughes, Burnett, Garcia. The Yanks have the money to make CC and Wilson the best offer!
And Cliff Lee too. Wait…
And Cliff Lee too. Wait…
A lot of players like to keep their soul intact.
A lot of players like to keep their soul intact.