MLB Franchise Notes: Yankees To Play Game At Virginia Tech

Yankees Sport Virginia Tech Tributes During Game Against Red Sox

On Long Island, Davidoff & Rieber report the Yankees will play an exhibition game likely at the end of Spring Training next year “at or near” Virginia Tech (VT). The team yesterday announced a $1M contribution to VT’s Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund and wore the VT logo on their caps during last night’s game against the Red Sox. VT President Dr. Charles Steger threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Meanwhile, sources indicated that “momentum continues to build toward a Yankees-Red Sox season opener in Japan next year, with exhibition games played prior to that in China” (NEWSDAY, 5/24).

LOONIE TUNES: Blue Jays President & CEO Paul Godfrey said that the team saves C$600,000 on player payroll “every time the Canadian dollar rises one cent” in comparison to the U.S. dollar. Godfrey: “There’s no doubt that when the dollar gets closer to par, the better it is for the ball club.” The CP’s Shi Davidi notes yesterday the loonie closed at US$0.9241, its “highest close since October 1977.” Blue Jays revenue is evenly split between Canadian and American dollars, the “latter of which comes in through [MLB’s] revenue sharing and central fund distributions.” Only administrative expenses and Toronto operations are paid in Canadian dollars (CP, 5/24).

LATIN FLARE: Pirates Chair Bob Nutting, CEO Kevin McClatchy, GM Dave Littlefield and PNC Park Operations Manager Dennis DaPra traveled to the Dominican Republic Sunday and spent three days “examining facilities, scouting and training.” Nutting said, “We have an adequate facility, but we have an opportunity to improve it.” However, there is a “strong feeling within the organization” the team will build a new, state-of-the-art training center instead of renovating the current one (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 5/24).