April 13, 2009 [LINK / comment]
Opening Night at Citi Field
To mark the Mets' first official game at 
Citi Field this evening (against the Padres), I have made several corrections and enhancements to that diagram. I have seen enough photographs to be fairly confident, but I'm sure I'll need to correct a few minor details eventually. It seems there are a zillion odd "nooks and crannies" in it, very time-consuming to get right. For example, the visiting team bullpen is mostly covered by a pedestrian bridge beyond right-center field.
The New York Times recently had an architectural review of both New Yankee Stadium and Citi Field. A blogger named Zack Hample offered his own review of Citi Field based upon a detailed, photo-documented inspection during a recent college game there. He thinks the food sucks, which is too bad. His blog is definitely worth checking out. I've received lots of feedback from fans regarding Citi Field and "NYS," mostly positive. Mike Zurawski thinks the exterior brick arches should have extended all the way along each side (as at Ebbets Field), rather than stopping where the grandstand per se begins.
Grand view of Citi Field. Click on the image to see a larger version. Photo courtesy of John Crozier.
The Yankees inaugurate their new Stadium this Thursday, April 16, hosting the Cleveland Indians.
Braves sweep the Nats
It was a race between Cleveland and Washington to see which team would begin the season with the longest losing streak. Thanks to the Atlanta Braves, the Nationals earned that dubious distinction, and are now 0-6 for the season. During their first four seasons since relocating from Montreal and changing their name in 2005, the Nationals had won at least one of their first three games. At this very moment the Nats are hosting the Phillies in Nationals Park, their first home game.
All-Star Game in Phoenix
On Saturday, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announced that Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, will host the 2011 All-Star Game. He said he had been under heavy pressure from Arizona lobbyists to make that decision. See MLB.com. High temperatures in Phoenix during July are usually at or above 100 degrees, but that's not a problem as long as the air conditioning at Chase Field is running at full blast! (Energy crisis? What energy crisis?)
This year's All-Star Game will be at Busch Stadium III, and next year it will be at Angel (Anaheim) Stadium. Speaking of Busch Stadium III, I noticed that Albert Pujols hit a home run into the third deck in left field last week. Wow!
Hockey in Fenway Park
John Grace learned that the National Hockey League will be hosting the Winter Classic at Fenway Park on New Year's Day 2010, just like they did at Wrigley Field this past New Year's.