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July 6, 2006 [LINK]

Safeco Field update

Safeco FieldThe Safeco Field page has been updated with a new diagram that conforms to the new standard. That means that all of the "neoclassical" stadiums built since 1992 now have diagrams that can be compared to each other. A dynamic diagram for Safeco Field is pending...

Lopsided victories

Last night's game in Washington started off horrendously, as the Marlins got two home runs in the first inning off rookie pitcher Michael O'Connor. The Nats came back and took the lead, 4-3, in the bottom of the inning, which seemed to give them the momentum. But then the Marlins got four more runs in the second inning, forcing O'Connor out of the game, and scored eight (8) runs in the fifth inning. Ouch! The Nats had enough self-respect to close the gap to single digits late in the game, but it didn't matter. Final score: 18-9.

There were othe high-scoring games in the last couple days. The slumping Braves beat the slumping Cardinals, 14-4, the Tigers beat the A's, 10-4 (thus avoiding being swept), and the Yankees beat the Indians, 11-3, one day after the Indians massacred the Yanks, 19-1. (Sorry for the gratuitous, anachronistic ethnic cliché.) Also on the Fourth of July, the Orioles fell to the White Sox 13-0, and the Angels beat the Mariners, 14-6. A lot of commentators these days are lamenting the dearth of good pitching, which probably accounts for the increased number of very high scoring games in recent years. But like global warming, it's one of those gradual trends that is hard to explain in a way that is widely accepted.

Mail bag

Jonathan Karberg let me know about a few minor inaccuracies in the Busch Stadium III diagram, which I'll take care of later this month. Cullen Barrie is curious about how I derive my stadium profiles. Well, most of them are done by the old-fashioned "eyeball" method. Mike Zurawski noticed that the Cubs have planted ivy on the brick exterior of Wrigley Field behind the newly expanded bleachers. See MLB.com. Good idea!

Outta here...

Blogging will be light for the next ten days or so, as I head to South Dakota to attend my brother John's wedding. Diagram revisions will resume after mid-month...


UPDATE: No parking?

D.C. chief financial officer Natwar Gandhi warned that Mayor Williams' compromise plan to build a combined above-ground/below-ground parking complex north of the future baseball stadium is technically and financially unsound. Construction must begin by September if the whole project is to be ready by Opening Day 2008. See Washington Post. If they were able to get these issues ironed out, I would say that the April 2008 target completion date is realistic. Until then, I say July 2008 is more likely...

Zimmerman yet again!

Can you believe what a clutch hitter this guy is? Ryan Zimmerman knocked in the winning run in extra innings as the Nationals beat the Marlins this afternoon, 8-7. It was a weird game, starting much like last night's game, with Washington scoring five runs in the first, answered by Florida with seven runs in the second. The Nats tied it 7-7 in the seventh, and with two outs in the bottom of the 11th, Zimmerman grounded a single into center field, allowing Brian Schneider (who reached first on an error) to score from third. So, the Nats took three of four games from Florida, raising hopes that July may mark a big upturn in their fortunes -- the opposite of last year. They welcome the Padres to D.C. this weekend.

Stadium impressions

I have posted fans' impressions of Ebbets Field (Peter Piroso), Citizens Bank Park (Phil Faranda), and RFK Stadium (me). Just scroll down to the bottom of those pages and click on the proper link. It's still a work in progress, but it won't be long until it's ready for prime time.

Posted (or last updated or commented upon): 06 Jul 2006, 7: 16 PM

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