Spring Training Needs to End

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 14, 2009 9:21 PM EDT

Marc Topkin tackles Aybar getting playing time:

With solid starters at each infield position and no interest in trying Aybar in rightfield, Maddon wouldn't appear to have many options.

St. Petersburg Times

And two other interesting notes:

Among other potential improvements, the Rays have asked HOK to look at the possibility of a retractable roof at Tropicana Field, with a report, and cost estimate, due by late April. Looks like the Rays will reach their goal of 1 million tickets sold by opening day, a "good start," team president Matt Silverman said, to where they hope to be, which likely is above 2 million

St. Petersburg Times

1 million by opening day is fantastic. Here's a graphical look, but the Rays are going to torch 2003's total attendance, and quickly:

Raysattendance_medium

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Next year is so expensive

Pena makes over 2 mil more, Crawford will be making 10 mil, Burrell goes up 2 mil, I assume Aki’s option gets picked up which brings him to 4.5 mil, Kazmir will also make more.. Shields and Longo will still be cheap but more than this year, lots of arby players, probably some extensions. Then add in what it will cost to renovate the stadium. Getting rid of contracts of Kapler, Shouse, Nelson, Percival, and Bradford will hardly make a dent.

So I really hope we at least come close to the 98’s numbers.

Evan Longoria and David Price - the fight for my heart

by joeybw on Mar 14, 2009 10:32 PM EDT reply actions

Player and stadium budgets are separate.

I know that’s not the point you were trying to make, but I can only imagine people accusing Sternberg of taking money out of the roster to get back at the stadium opposition.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 14, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I wouldn't be surprised

if the team declines Aki’s option.

by RaysTheRoof on Mar 14, 2009 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions

There's enough behind him for it to not make sense unless he has a monster season at the plate.

The good news is Aki’s still a good 2nd Baseman and should have a good amount of demand in next year’s free-agent market.

Check out my blog on (mostly ColdFusion, but some PHP) web development at kericr.wordpress.com

by kericr on Mar 14, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions

What is this based on?

Why wouldn’t they simply pick it up and move him if it’s financial concerns? And if it’s performance, well he’s a league average player at second base and the second base market is weak.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 14, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

after 2008, there is a decline. what is that about?

by walkoffwalk on Mar 14, 2009 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

I went ahead and added 1 mil for 2009 to give an idea of how that stacks up to the previous years.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 14, 2009 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions

What is the mean attendance?

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Mar 14, 2009 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

For all years, or?

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 14, 2009 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah.

Total. I’m just curious to see the mean line put in the graph.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Mar 14, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm going to remove 2009 before I upload it.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 14, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Sweet.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Mar 14, 2009 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

1.45M.

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 14, 2009 10:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Graph:

by R.J. Anderson on Mar 14, 2009 10:50 PM EDT up reply actions

From that

you should be able to give a percentage chance of beating 98’.

I’d do it, but I hated Stat.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Mar 14, 2009 10:55 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome.

We’ll be 2/3 the way to average before the first pitch. That’s a damn good sign.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Mar 14, 2009 10:51 PM EDT up reply actions

This is what HOK will say:

It will not be efficient to add a new roof to the trop. It was not designed for it. It would be more efficient to build a new stadium.

You can’t simply drop a retractable roof on a building engineered for one of the most sophisticated existing support-roofs in the world. Even a very commercial firm in HOK will know better.

Sign lady must die.

by EminenceFront on Mar 14, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions

I love the Trop

I already have tickets to the April 14th game (The Ring Game as I like to call it!).

Anyway, I have been missing the Trop ever since last season ended. Something about that stadium, the cowbells, the noise, and the whole construction. I really hope attendance goes up and nullifies the need for a new stadium.

by plasticman on Mar 15, 2009 12:39 AM EDT up reply actions