Atlanta Braves Morning Chop – Aaron/EYjr/Stars&Strikes

Future of Hank Aaron statue unclear as Braves plan for move

KATIE LESLIE / AJC VIA HOUSTON CHRONICLE

ATLANTA (AP) — It was probably the world’s only “pay-as-you-go statue,” Bob Hope — a local marketing guru, not the famous comedian — likes to joke. Eight years after Braves right-fielder Hank Aaron shattered Babe Ruth‘s home-run record in 1974, Hope decided to form a nonprofit group dedicated to erecting a monument to the baseball legend. As a symbolic gesture of gratitude, the nonprofit deemed, it should be paid for by Aaron’s fans.

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Problem was, Hope now says, “I don’t think I realized how many fans it took to raise the money.” Organizers cobbled together checks and coins. Managed to get The Atlanta Journal-Constitution to urge and match donations. In the end, a larger-than-life statue was erected at the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium in 1982, and later moved to Turner Field.

So, now that the Braves are headed to the suburbs, what should become of this gesture of gratitude, paid for largely by Atlantans? Specifically, who owns it, and where will it go when the team leaves town?

Well, that all depends on whom you ask.

Ask the Braves, and the answer is clear: They do. And it’s going to SunTrust Park when the team does in 2017.

But talk to the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority, which oversees Turner Field, and the ownership question becomes a bit murkier.

Hope, who worked in the Braves’ marketing department when Aaron broke Ruth’s record, believes the statue was donated to the AFCRA when it was dedicated. The folks there say they are in the early stages of itemizing the ball field’s monuments and plan to look into the issue later this year.

As far as those interviewed for this story know, there’s little or no paperwork that spells out ownership of Aaron’s bronze statue. Without a clear answer, many are looking to Aaron for guidance on whether the statue should stay or go.

In an interview this week, the baseball great says he’s conflicted.

“On one hand, I think the statue should be wherever the baseball park is, wherever the Braves are playing,” Aaron says. “After all, I played with the Braves.”

But on the other, he continues, the statue was paid for by fans — not the team. “So if you had to think about it, it all belongs to Atlanta, to the people of Atlanta.”

[more at the story link]

Source: Hardball Times (cited in Passan’s article)

Sources: MLB could alter strike zone as response to declining offense

JEFF PASSAN / YAHOO SPORTS

Major League Baseball is considering altering the textbook definition of the strike zone for the first time in nearly two decades, fearful that the proliferation of the low strike has sapped too much offense from the game, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Concern around baseball about the strike zone filtered down to the MLB’s Playing Rules Committee, which must formally adopt a rules change before it’s implemented. The committee will pay close attention to the size of the strike zone in 2015 with an eye on change as early as 2016 after studies showed it has expanded significantly since 2009, coinciding with a precipitous dip in run scoring. Of particular concern, sources said, is the low strike, a scourge not only because it has stretched beyond the zone’s boundaries but is considered a significantly more difficult pitch to hit.

Runs per game fell to 4.07 in 2014, the lowest mark since 1981 and the 13th fewest since World War II, and studies from The Hardball Times’ Jon Roegele and Florida professor Brian Mills pegged the low strike as a significant culprit.

Since 2009, the average size of the called strike zone has jumped from 435 square inches to 475 square inches, according to Roegele’s research. The results: Pitchers are throwing more in the lower part of the zone, and hitters are swinging at an increased rate, knowing the tough-to-drive pitches will be called strikes.

Roegele’s study estimated 31 percent of the offensive drought could be attributed to the strike zone while Mills estimated it’s between 24 percent and 41 percent. After seeing a strong correlation among the size of the strike zone, all-time-high strikeout rates and historically low walk rates, members of the committee now are fairly certain the relationship is causative, too, and seem primed to do something about it.

[ Ed. note – highly recommended piece – see the link above for the rest. ]

MLB officially awards 2017 All-Star Game to Marlins Park

MANNY NAVARRO / MIAMI HERALD

MLB, which snatched the 2000 All-Star Game away from the Marlins after the 1997 World Series team was dismantled, finally gave the city a second chance, announcing that the 2017 Midsummer Classic will take place at Marlins Park.

Baseball fans in South Florida have endured many a rainy day since the Marlins opened up shop in 1993. Friday, though, wasn’t one of them.

Major League Baseball, which snatched the 2000 All-Star Game away from the ballclub after the 1997 World Series team was dismantled by then-owner Wayne Huizenga, finally gave the city a second chance, officially announcing the 2017 Midsummer Classic will take place at Marlins Park.

In a festive ceremony overlooking downtown Miami from the left-field plaza, new commissioner Rob Manfred, flanked by owner Jeffrey Loria, team president David Samson, Gov. Rick Scott and the mayors of Miami, Miami-Dade County and Miami Beach, said the reason Miami was rewarded with its first All-Star Game was because it presented the best bid.

“The ’97 decision was somebody else’s decision,” said Manfred, who replaced Bud Selig as baseball’s leader three weeks ago. “All I’m going to say is we’re thrilled to have awarded the 2017 All-Star Game to the Marlins. It was time for baseball to recognize and pay back South Florida for what they did in building this stadium.”

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RELATED:

The American League will be the home team for the 2016 All-Star Game in San Diego

CRAIG CALCATERRA / NBC HARDBALL TALK

Since Major League Baseball insists on the ridiculousness of the All-Star Game determining home field advantage in the World Series, however, a tweak needs to be made to ensure fairness and to not give the National League last bats in three straight Midsummer Classics. The tweak was just announced:

Given that three consecutive National League ballparks are now scheduled to host the All-Star Game from 2015-2017, MLB has decided that sides will continue to alternate who bats last.  Thus, in the 2016 All-Star Game in San Diego, the American League will bat last.  Since 2010, the designated hitter has been in effect for both sides, regardless of venue.

[ Ed. note:  *sigh*… whatever ]

Next: The Atlanta Braves are Heading South