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Posted on 07/15/2003 6:24:09 PM PDT by Petronski
BY RONALD BLUM Associated Press Jul. 15, 2003 8:33 p.m.
CHICAGO (AP)—
The Montreal Expos could play their entire home schedule in Puerto Rico next season under a plan being considered by major league baseball.
To raise revenue, the commissioner's office moved 22 of the team's 81 home games this season to Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan. Baseball still hasn't come up with a permanent solution for the Expos, who were bought by the other 29 teams before the 2002 season.
While baseball's goal is to have a decision by September, the sport's top officials say they don't feel bound by any deadline.
"Puerto Rico has made a proposal to play all 81 home games in Puerto Rico, and it has not been rejected," Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said before the All-Star game Tuesday night.
Northern Virginia; Portland, Ore.; and Washington, D.C., are all trying to land the Expos on a permanent basis, but baseball owners want to have a complete financing plan for a new ballpark in place before making a decision.
DuPuy said no particular plan was a front-runner at this point, either for a long-term solution or for 2004.
"They could play 81 games in any one of a number of locations," he said.
Montreal players have complained of their constant travel this season. They were 32-18 on May 25, then went 8-14 on a trip that ended June 19. They entered the All-Star break 49-45, four games behind Florida, the NL wild-card leader.
"It's been very hard," said second baseman Jose Vidro, the NL starter in the All-Star game. "Me being Puerto Rican, I would love it to be in Puerto Rico, but to tell you the truth, I don't care where we play next season as long as we play 81 games in the same place"
Approval of the players was necessary for baseball to move the 22 home games, and it may be more difficult for management to gain consent for two different home sites next year. Gene Orza, the No. 2 official of the players' association, declined comment.
The Expos are averaging 12,206 for home games, the lowest in the major leagues. They are averaging 11,133 in Montreal and 14,216 in Puerto Rico, where they have played 16 games.
How about the Portland proposal or the VA/DC proposal?
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Estadio Hiram Bithorn is home to the Santurce Crabbers
"Crabbers" is cool.
But perhaps they could call it the San Juan Crabbers, just so those of us on the mainland have an idea where it is.
BTW, I hope Puerto Rico gets the full time franchise. I think it's a great idea!!!
"Juego bola!"
I've been rooting for Puerto Rico to get a MLB Franchise for some time now.
You can read my full rant on one of the following threads:
Puerto Rico's undivided loyalty
Once you get there, Puerto Rico makes you want to stick around
Since Puerto Rico is an island economy, I also advocate economic development of their infrastructure to include nuclear power, electricly powered mass transportation and desalination plants (More of my pet issues!)
I have to admit, one of the reasons I'm so favorable towards Puerto Rico is because of Roberto Clemente. As a young boy growing up in Pittsburgh, it was indeed a privilege to have watched him play for the Pirates. He was a great man and role model, both on and off the field.
Re: PR Beisbol, I must admit I wondered how you knew so much about their stadium.
And regarding Roberto Clemente, hey, what can any of us say? I was too young to see him play, and he still became a hero for me just by his legacy.
Blood-Sucking Leeches?
Ingrates?
Leftists?
Socialists?
Fire-Bombers?
Gringo Haters?
Anti-U.S. Navyists?
Medicare Fraud Artists?
Welfare Cheats?
Perps?
Car-Jackers?
Drive-by Shooters?
Free-Loaders?
Total Waste of $20 BILLION U.S. Tax Dollars Each Year?
That last one is a little long, but it's right on the money.
3rd-World Hell-Holers?
Let me know if you like any of these. If not, I'm sure I can think of more. ;^)
We're forced to give them 1,000's of acres of our land on Vieques, Culebra and the main island of Puerto Rico by the same panderers in the White House and our Congress.
Now, the ingrates on Puerto Rico are attempting to extort the 11,000 acres that the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station is on away from the U.S. Taxpayers instead of allowing it to be auctioned off to the highest bidders.
The U.S. Taxpayers have paid to build an airport, hospital, roads, 1,000 buildings, a water filtration plant, improve the harbor, docks, a golf course, other infrastructure, etc. and the Puerto Rican ingrates demand it all for FREE in return for mainland Puerto Rican votes and island campaign contributions.
Willie Green ignores the recent terrorist acts all over the island, fire-bombings of a U.S. Naval convoy, the destruction of vehicles and buildings belonging to the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and proposes we give the PR terrorists access to a nuclear reactor.
The whole U.S. Navy couldn't keep the PR terrorists from attacking the naval base on Vieques, but some $5.00-an-hour rent-a-cops are going to stop them from causing a nuclear disaster that will impact the entire Caribbean and the East Coast of the continental United States.
That's just brilliant! :P
Oh well, never mind. Let's see some more articles applauding the PR Ingrates ability to have enough left over, from our squandered $20 billion dollars each year, to pay for 14,000 tickets to a Major League Baseball game.
Next year they'll be demanding a coupon good for free admission to a ballgame along with every Welfare and 'Earned Income Tax Credit' check.
Let's not forget the $100's of thousands of our recycled Tax Dollars they're able to contribute to Jorge and Jeb Bush's re-election campaigns.
Oh, and how about our recycled U.S. Tax Dollars they collected to be used to help ONLY the families of Puerto Ricans killed on 9/11? Let's not forget that.
Woo Hoo! Man, does that show some fiscal responsibility. Makes me proud to be a U.S. Taxpayer and a Republican.
>/sarcasm<
Scan the FR archives for Puerto Rico threads...
No matter the topic, you'll find "4Freedom" there, spewing his hateful venom.
His fanatic obsession is waaaaaaay over the top, refusing to even credit the many, many fine Puerto Rican American citizens who have served admirably in our military.
I haven't decided whether "4Freedom" is an actual right-wing bigot, or a left-wing troll stirring up ethnic animosities. But either way, he's a putrid stench on this forum and shouldn't be applauded for anything.
Is that what Liberal, Socialist pukes call the irrefutable truth, now?
"putrid stench"
If you're smelling a putrid stench where you are, it's probably because your mouth is open. Go wash your face, Willie. The stench is probably from some vile, filth stuck to your upper lip.
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