Think your new 50-inch Sony plasma is pretty cool? Bitch, that thing looks like an iPod compared to what the Orioles are planning for Camden Yards. When the park opens up for the 2008 season, fans will have a 24-by-74 foot Mitsubishi widescreen to catch the replays on -- and it only set ownership back a mere 5.2 million bucks.
"We're pleased to offer fans a video experience that will be unsurpassed by any other ballpark in America," Maryland Stadium Authority chairman Frederick W. Puddester said.
The new video screen and scoreboards will operate on light-emitting diode (LED) technology, creating a much sharper picture than the old JumboTron, which operated much like a traditional television set. The screens will be capable of accepting a high-definition picture, though not all images on them will appear in high definition.
"It has long been our goal to improve this original technology, and we are pleased to be able to provide our fans with a state-of-the-art video system and LED boards that will both enhance the ballpark experience and preserve the traditional aesthetic that is a defining characteristic of Oriole Park," Orioles communication director Greg Bader said in a written statement. "We appreciate the Maryland Stadium Authority's efforts in working with us to accomplish this important goal."
No word yet on the long-term effects of viewing a 24-by-74 projection of Aubrey Huff on a regular basis. But we assume someone's looking into that.
To this point in franchise history, most of the Tampa BayDevil Rays' playoff aspirations have been the stuff of imagination. So I guess it makes sense that the team has landed Kevin Costner, who built a career out of suspension of disbelief and playing fake baseball players, to help launch its new uniforms, team colors and logos.
It all makes perfect sense to Costner, who claimed a special kinship with Rays manager Joe Maddon.
"[Maddon] didn't make it into the bigs as a player, and ... I kind of dig that," Costner said. "That's kind of who Crash Davis was."
The extravaganza will also include a fashion show, with Maddon, Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff modelling the Rays' new look uniforms. And if that doesn't scream "something I need to see before I die," I just don't know what would.
Those who stayed didn't leave disappointed; the Orioles, down by 3 in the ninth, pulled a Lazarus, tying the game before winning it in the tenth, and setting off an AL East-clinching celebration on the field and in the stands at Fenway.
It's the first time the Sox have won the division since 1995, but there's still a small bit of drama to be played out this weekend, as the Sox are neck-in-neck with the Cleveland Indians for the best record in the American League, which would give them home field advantage for the playoffs.
As I type this, they're still tossing beer, quaffing champagne and playing grab-ass with the fans at Fenway Park. But the next couple weeks will show us whether this team can conjure as much post-season magic as the 2004 model.
Despite some early season woes and a bout with appendicitis, Roy Halladay was one of the best things to happen to the Blue Jays in 2007. And with his three-year contract extension kicking in next year, the Jays will have their premier pitcher locked up through 2010.
But after a significant step down from 2006's second-place finish in the East, momentum that a lot of people figured would carry into this season, can the Jays bounce back to contend while they still have their ace under contract? Doc sure hopes they can.
"The one thing that I want to do in this game is win a World Series. But I'd like to take every chance I can to do it here," he said. "In past years, playing the way we've played, if we were in other divisions, we might have been close. I knew how tough it was going to be and that's a lot of what made me want to stay here."
Of course, baseball being a business first and foremost, Halladay added that when his three years are up, he'd certainly revisit his stance in the event that an opportunity for a ring lies with another team.
"What happens after the three years I have left?" Halladay wondered rhetorically. "There's a lot of things up in the air as far as what J.P. [Ricciardi]'s going to do with the coaching staff, players, a lot of things are changing. That's something to re-evaluate at that point."
Count me among those who figured the Blue Jays to improve upon last year's second-place finish in 2007. Then they lost B.J. Ryan for the season. And Frank Thomas and Vernon Wells forgot how to hit. And pretty much every starter hit the DL. And the team slowly dissolved in the standings.
But the Jays appear to be making their biggest statement in the season's final weeks, albeit in the role of spoiler -- a role they're playing pretty damn well. Last night, powered by an eighth-inning Russ Adams grand slam, the Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Red Sox, cutting Boston's division lead from 4.5 to 1.5 games in the blink of an eye.
And tomorrow, they open a four game series in Yankee Stadium where they can continue to impact the race.
"It's always fun to get a sweep," Adams said. "But to be playing in games that matter in the grand scheme of things of what's going on in the American League, it's fun to be a part of it. It was back-to-back exciting nights here at the Rogers Centre."
Making baseball in Toronto fun again? Hey, we'll drink to that.
Here at FanHouse, we're all about politeness: holding doors for ladies, waiting our turn at the microwave, putting our pants on before the really important meetings... stuff like that. But when it comes to snagging a souvenir game ball, all bets are off. Clearly, the woman in this video (at the 40-second mark) was trying to teach her son to do the right thing, but I'm betting all she did was earn herself a ticket to the "bad" nursing home in about 20 years.
Sure, we here at FanHouse love to laugh at the foibles of overpaid athletes as much as the next guy. But we also have a serious side -- one that was moved by a recent story concerning one of our favorite ballplayers, the Blue Jays' Sal "The Stache" Fasano.
Sal's wife, Kerri, is carrying their third son who was recently diagnosed with a rare heart ailment that restricts circulation. Doctors plan to induce Kerri later this month and then perform open heart surgery on the newborn, as Sal explained to the National Post.
"They have to retool the highway system of the heart to recycle through the heart and then back out to the lungs. That's the part that's scary, because at four days old, our baby's going to have open-heart surgery. And that's the part that's a little bit sad. How does a baby have to have open-heart surgery? But it happened, what are you going to do?"
"It isn't just a little thing, it's major," he said. "I don't know how else to explain it. It touches you in your heart. It makes you sad. It makes you just happy and thankful that the kids you do have are healthy."
Yeah, it's a lot for any expectant dad to carry, let alone a guy who has to be on the road with his team and continue to perform whenever called upon. Not to mention the fact that for Fasano, a journeyman who's respected throughout baseball as a stand-up guy but never made the big bucks, the ability to keep a career rolling and bringing in a paycheck is essential. But, obviously, family comes first.
"If I have to be away for an extended period of time while my son is going through these things, I don't know if want to do that," Fasano said. "I don't think making money or collecting service time is that important in relation to the life of a child. You can't put any type of number on what the time is worth or how much money you can make in this game."
Our best vibes and good wishes to Sal and his family.
When your team's 16 games out of first place in late August, you may think you can get away with such things as skipping out on pre-game stretching. But not on Dave Trembley's watch, buddy.
Before yesterday's game against the Blue Jays, the Os skipper took great exception to seeing some of his players show up late for their mandatory stretch. So, bat in hand, Trembley got his Lou Piniella on, blasting the guilty for their tardiness and reminding them of his three golden rules: Be on time. Be professional. Respect the game.
"There are no exceptions. People will be out on time, and we'll do things right. We've made tremendous strides. I've had tremendous cooperation from the players, but on days like today, where it is a day game after a night game, there may be a tendency just to go out there and say, 'We shot all our bullets in New York. I want to go out there and make sure everybody knew that we didn't. We're coming out here to play today, and we're going to get after it.
"A big part of my job is to make sure guys are prepared to play and focused. It all starts with being on time, doing things right and expecting to win. I'm not trying to be a bad guy here, but commitment needs to happen by everyone and as a team. I won't compromise those things for anybody at any time, and if I have to raise my voice to get people's attention, I have no problem with that."
The tirade seems to have paid dividends: Os starter Steve Trachsel won for the first time since June 8, and J.R. House hit his first major league home run. Today, Baltimore shoots for the rubber game, and you can bet everyone shows up on time for stretchin'.
Yeah, I don't know what the hell the Mascot Hall of Fame is, either. But surely it's something that Orioles fans can get behind. And although this clip does provide almost 5 minutes of unbeatable guy-in-a-bird-suit action, you can save yourself some time by checking out the two highlights:
-- The opening montage of the Oriole Bird's various incarnations through the years, including a menacing "gangsta" version that shows up about 15 seconds in.
-- A visit by the Bird to what I'm guessing is the set of Romper Room; an all-too-short snippet of surrealness that kicks in at around 38 seconds in.
People talk about how Roger Clemens could provide the swing vote in the AL East when he decides between the Yankees and Red Sox next month. To that, I'd argue that Frank Thomas could have even greater influence over the division's final standings. In 2006, he was the comeback story of the season; this year, he's adding muscle to an already beefy Toronto line-up.
And he's also hurtling toward a pretty impressive milestone, now a mere 12 home runs away from joining the exclusive 500 club.
Last night, he got number 488 in dramatic fashion, nailing a grand slam to power the Jays over the Rays and wipe away some of the bitterness of Friday's loss, which saw Jays closer B.J. Ryan cough up 3 earned runs and blow a 5-3 lead.
"When I get to 500, I'll be happy -- extremely happy," Thomas said. "But I've got my focus somewhere else. I don't want to get caught trying to just get to 500 because that can be a long, long chase. I'm not going to put pressure on myself."
While the rest of the baseball world follows Barry Bonds on his quest for eternal insufferability, I'll be right here. On the Frank Thomas 500 Watch. Who's with me?
Think your new 50-inch Sony plasma is pretty cool? Bitch, that thing looks like an iPod compared to what the Orioles are planning for Camden Yards. When the park opens up for the 2008 season, fans will have a 24-by-74 foot Mitsubishi widescreen to catch the replays on -- and it only set ownership back a mere 5.2 million bucks.
To this point in franchise history, most of the 
After the 
Despite some early season woes and a bout with appendicitis, 
Count me among those who figured the 
Sure, we here at FanHouse love to laugh at the foibles of overpaid athletes as much as the next guy. But we also have a serious side -- one that was moved by a recent story concerning one of our favorite ballplayers, the 
When your team's 16 games out of first place in late August, you may think you can get away with such things as skipping out on pre-game stretching. But not on 
People talk about how Roger Clemens could provide the swing vote in the AL East when he decides between the Yankees and Red Sox next month. To that, I'd argue that Frank Thomas could have even greater influence over the division's final standings. In 2006, he was the comeback story of the season; this year, he's adding muscle to an already beefy Toronto line-up.
