Spring Break
N.L. East foes with much in common
Rounding the Bases
Andy Silva
Issue date: 4/27/04 Section: Sports
Two teams heading in different directions on the field may be converging off of it, as the Expos and Marlins struggle with where they will play their games now and in the future.
The Marlins have continued their outstanding play of last year, with a 12-6 record putting them atop the competitive N.L. East. Dontrelle Willis has been outstanding on the mound and at the plate and the Marlins have owned the team many thought would win this division, the Philadelphia Phillies. The Expos? Well they have crawled out of the gates to a 5-14 record, good for last place in the division. They lost superstar Vladimir Guerrerro in the offseason to the now wheeling and dealing Angels (kudos to their new owner by the way, he's done a fantastic job and I am glad to see he's not handing the Dodgers that market), pitcher Javier Vazquez to the Evil Empire and will surely lose second baseman Jose Vidro this offseason to the highest bidder. So what can these polar opposites on the field have in common? Neither has a definite future.
The Marlins, desite all their success, publicity and a growing fan base are close to being denied funding for a new stadium by the Florida legislature again. Now, most of the time I shed no tears for owners crying foul monetarily, but in this case Jeffrey Loria has a point. The Marlins have been treading water for years. Miami has been a less than responsive community to this team, although that appears to be changing with the success of the team's most recent incarnation. Even with their World Series championship last year, ESPN.com is reporting the team took an estimated $20 million loss.
Loria should be commended for not disbanding the team the way it was following their 1997 title and the voters and legislative leaders should reward him and the team. Pro Player Stadium was not built for baseball, thus it is a huge burden for the Marlins to overcome. They need better facilities in order to continue to be competitive, and in the end the state of Florida would benefit from a new stadium. Camden Yards revitalized the harbor area in Baltimore. Ditto for Jacobs Field in Cleveland. I'm not saying Miami needs to be revitalized, but I am saying that a new stadium would bring more fans, more tourists and more money to all parties involved. New stadiums bring a curiosity and intrigue which attracts local fans and tourists. It's like that "new car" smell that everyone loves, a new stadium boosts local morale and gets new customers to come out to the ballpark.
The Marlins have continued their outstanding play of last year, with a 12-6 record putting them atop the competitive N.L. East. Dontrelle Willis has been outstanding on the mound and at the plate and the Marlins have owned the team many thought would win this division, the Philadelphia Phillies. The Expos? Well they have crawled out of the gates to a 5-14 record, good for last place in the division. They lost superstar Vladimir Guerrerro in the offseason to the now wheeling and dealing Angels (kudos to their new owner by the way, he's done a fantastic job and I am glad to see he's not handing the Dodgers that market), pitcher Javier Vazquez to the Evil Empire and will surely lose second baseman Jose Vidro this offseason to the highest bidder. So what can these polar opposites on the field have in common? Neither has a definite future.
The Marlins, desite all their success, publicity and a growing fan base are close to being denied funding for a new stadium by the Florida legislature again. Now, most of the time I shed no tears for owners crying foul monetarily, but in this case Jeffrey Loria has a point. The Marlins have been treading water for years. Miami has been a less than responsive community to this team, although that appears to be changing with the success of the team's most recent incarnation. Even with their World Series championship last year, ESPN.com is reporting the team took an estimated $20 million loss.
Loria should be commended for not disbanding the team the way it was following their 1997 title and the voters and legislative leaders should reward him and the team. Pro Player Stadium was not built for baseball, thus it is a huge burden for the Marlins to overcome. They need better facilities in order to continue to be competitive, and in the end the state of Florida would benefit from a new stadium. Camden Yards revitalized the harbor area in Baltimore. Ditto for Jacobs Field in Cleveland. I'm not saying Miami needs to be revitalized, but I am saying that a new stadium would bring more fans, more tourists and more money to all parties involved. New stadiums bring a curiosity and intrigue which attracts local fans and tourists. It's like that "new car" smell that everyone loves, a new stadium boosts local morale and gets new customers to come out to the ballpark.