• MLB Puts on a Show of Force to Push for Stadium

  • In the Best Interests of Baseball: The Revolutionary Reign of Bud SeligMajor League Baseball launched a big push to resolve the Florida Marlins ballpark situation by sending Commissioner Bud Selig and President Bob DuPuy to meet with Jeffery Loria and Miami’s political leaders.

    “We want to get a stadium deal down here as expeditiously as possible,” Bud Selig said on Tuesday in Miami.

    So Bud is on board. Great. But couldn’t he use some of MLB’s money to close the funding gap instead? I’m sure he flew first class but writing a check may have saved him the trip.

    First, Bud and co. met with Miami Mayor Manny Diaz and city manager Pete Hernandez. Then, they met with Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez, county manager George Burgess and county chairman Bruno Barreiro.

    While I’m sure the conversations focused on both the economics and the location of the ballpark, I won’t be surprised if location is the real issue right now.

    Any optimistic parting words from the Commish?

    “…the Mets are building a new ballpark. Washington is moving into a new ballpark. Philadelphia is in a new ballpark, and Atlanta has a new ballpark. If I didn’t feel that South Florida wasn’t a market you can compete in, with the right stadium, I wouldn’t be here today.”

    Update: The Palm Beach Post adds:

    Selig, though, said neither side discussed key details about building the Marlins a stadium, including where to put it and how to pay for it.

    “It was clear to me that all of us were on the same page,” Selig said. “They want to get a stadium deal done here as expeditiously as possible.”

  • Marlins Park

  • Olsen Provides Some Interesting Insight

  • locker roomWhile we’re at it, the Palm Beach Post also provides us with a couple of interesting gems courtesy of Scott Olsen:

    Commenting about the Joe Girardi / Jeffery Loria fued:

    “We haven’t had to deal with that this year, which is a plus,”

    I don’t seem to remember players really commenting about that before. Clearly it was a huge clubhouse issue. It’s amazing to believe that so many rookies did so well with something like that hanging over their heads.

    Also,

    “He was more genuinely concerned about my health and my well-being than I thought he would be,” Olsen said. “That was a big relief … Some coaches would probably ream you out for that. He knows that I know I messed up.

    “I get suspended, arrested, and he sat me down and said, ‘This is how it is, this is what you need, this is what we need.’ Everything is straightforward with him.”

    Interesting to hear Scott Olsen talk openly about his screw-ups. My reading is that Fredi‘s reaction is helping Scott recognize, accept, and hopefully address his problems.

    Photo by Flickr user flattop341
  • News