The Expos have drawn an average of fewer than 2,000
customers during Spring Training, and "the suspicion is that
most of the spectators who do turn out are supporting their
opponents," according to Marty York of the Toronto GLOBE &
MAIL. York notes "fan apathy has been a problem for the
Expos for a decade or so, but it seems this season it has
exceeded the usual level." York adds that "only" 6,000
season-tickets have been sold for the regular season at
Olympic Stadium, fewer than were sold by the CFL Ottawa
Rough Riders last season. York: "And you know what happened
to the Riders." Former Expo Lenny Webster: "I think they're
in trouble" (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/10).
TIGERS: The Tigers took out a full-page ad in Sports
Illustrated's regional edition in Ohio to offer discounts on
tickets to the five Indians games in Detroit. The ad offers
a pack of one upper-deck ticket to each game for $35, $55
for a lower-deck package (Ken Berger, AP/DETROIT NEWS, 3/9).
INDIANS: The Indians, who sold out their '97 season in
December, added 175,000 bleacher tickets for new seats over
the weekend and sold "the majority." The team said about
100,000 tickets were sold in eight hours (Sheldon Ocker,
AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 3/9).
CUBS: The Cubs led all NL teams in Spring Training
attendance as of Saturday with an average of 7,980 per game.
The Yankees lead the majors with a 9,812 Spring Training
average (Paul Sullivan, CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/9).
ORLANDO: Would-be MLB owner Norton Herrick had until
Sunday "to get a team and receive millions of dollars in
government subsidies for such things as a new stadium,"
according to Lancaster & Kornacki in the ORLANDO SENTINEL.
The missed deadline is a "blessing," according to county
leaders, who say the community "should wait 10 to 15 years
before trying again" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 3/9).
RED SOX: The Red Sox fined John Valentin $500 for
missing yesterday's morning workout after giving him 48
hours on Saturday to leave camp and think about his new
position with the team. The team has moved Valentin to
second base from shortstop. Valentin's agent, Dick Moss,
said they planned to file a grievance with the MLBPA. Moss,
on the Red Sox: "Not only are they mean spirited, but
they're stupid" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/11).
ROYALS: Chair David Glass said he and George Brett
"chuckled over a recent report they were headed for a heated
showdown over ownership of the Royals." Glass said the
report was "off target" (K.C. STAR, 3/11).
