We end 2015 with a countdown of the 10 biggest stories of the year on Ballpark Digest, as chosen by editors and partially based on page views. Today, #8: The Houston Astros make plans to remove Tal’s Hill from Minute Maid Park — a move eventually postponed. (more…)
Though Houston officials assumed Minute Maid Park would generate new economic development after opening in 2000, it’s only now that serious activity has occurred around the home of the Houston Astros. (more…)
The Houston Astros have suspended a $15-million Minute Maid Park renovation that would have removed Tal’s Hill in center field to make way for new bar and food locations, and a premium group-seating area at field level. (more…)
The Houston Astros today announced $15 million in changes to Minute Maid Park‘s center-field area for the 2016 season: improved seating options, better access and revisions to the playing field, including the removal of Tal’s Hill. (more…)
Something for any team to consider: The independent Atlantic League has shortened the length of games by 10 minutes since the implementation of new Pace of Play initiatives. After 38 games played through August 10, the length of nine-inning games have declined from 2:59 to 2:49. Prior to August 1, only 11 percent of nine-inning […]
It’s a major issue for the independent Atlantic League, and leaders are taking another run at ways to quicken the pace of games with the formation of a Pace of Play (POP) Committee. The committee is tasked with reviewing ways to reduce the average time and enliven the pace of baseball games in order to […]
The real value to Roger Clemens signing a contract with the Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League): it makes the circuit a more attractive business proposition. It was a good weekend for the league: the appearance with the Skeeters was nationally televised by ESPN Classic, and Tal Smith got in some good interview time during […]
Roger Clemens, fresh off a legal win on charges of perjury, has signed a contract to pitch for the Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League) and is expected to start Saturday night’s game. Clemens last pitched in 2007 for the New York Yankees. According to AP, Clemens has been working out and pitched in a […]
The Houston Astros are looking at removing both Tal’s Hill in center field and the train running above it as part of branding changes for the 2013 season, when the team enters the American League. The raised center-field hill at Minute Maid Park, never popular with players, was named for former Astros executive Tal Smith in […]
Nostalgia, front-office changes and a resolution of the SWB Yankees ballpark/ownership situation. Here are the most popular stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as measured in page views. Lost in the shuffle: Tiger Stadium and Crosley Field Tal Smith joins ODP as special advisor Pacifics: Fate of NAL’s Northern Division rests on winning […]
A personnel move to note: Tal Smith, longtime member of the Houston Astros front office, has been named special advisor to Opening Day Partners (ODP), owners of several independent Atlantic League teams. ODP’s newest team is the Sugar Land Skeeters, and Smith will be advising Opening Day Partners on that team as well as new locations […]
New Houston Astros owner Jim Crane didn’t waste any time in launching his makeover of the struggling franchise, firing team president Tal Smith and GM Ed Wade. The moves were far from unexpected: the team has struggled in recent years and Crane signalled an intent to rebuild things via the draft and a youth movement, […]
Fresh off an affiliation with Round Rock, the Houston Astros have struck an affiliation deal with the Oklahoma City RedHawks (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League), bringing back Astros players to the city where old Colt .45s had their original Triple-A affiliation in 1962. “We are very excited to have our Triple A affiliation coming home […]
