In L.A., Bill Shaikin notes the Yankees will play the Angels next week for the first time at Angel Stadium since Yankees SS Derek Jeter recorded his 3,000th hit, and Angels VP/Communications Tim Mead last week indicated the team wants to "honor the man, the player and the person in some form." Mead said that the Angels subsequently received "about 100 calls and emails from fans concerned that the team would go out of its way to fete an opposing player, perhaps with a pregame ceremony." Mead said, "I think it had as much to do with it being the Yankees as much as anything." He noted that the Angels now "might acknowledge Jeter but had no plans for any kind of ceremony" (L.A. TIMES, 8/11).
NEW WARDROBE: In Toronto, Mark Zwolinski reported it is expected the Blue Jays' uniforms "will have a new look for the 2012 season, one that will reflect a Canadian theme more than ever." The change "has been in the design phase for months." The new look could include "a more pronounced maple leaf and red and white colours on the uniform to capture characteristics of the Canadian flag" (TORONTO STAR, 8/10). The Blue Jays are making a dedicated effort to market the team throughout Canada.
MONEY DOESN'T BUY HAPPINESS: In Minneapolis, Jim Souhan noted the Twins "spent a franchise-record $115 million on a team that will be lucky to avoid last place in a weak division." After decades of "overachieving despite financial constraints, the 2011 edition is proving that neither a new ballpark nor inflated spending ensures success." The Twins, "like novice investors or the uninitiated in Las Vegas, found themselves with just enough cash to get themselves into trouble." Souhan: "With a lower payroll, they never would have invested $14.5 million in a skinny Japanese shortstop. ... Without a new stadium and the promise of record payrolls, the Twins never would have spent $184 million on one player, not even a reigning MVP from St. Paul" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 8/10).
REVISIONIST HISTORY: Sunday marked the fourth anniversary of Barry Bonds breaking Hank Aaron's all-time home run record, but the Giants let the date pass without any public acknowledgement. Oakland Tribune columnist Monte Poole said of the Giants, "Now that he’s gone, they kind of want him out of sight and out of mind. ... As long as there are legal issues going on involving Barry Bonds, he’s got to be someone you've got to be very careful with. I would say right now you don't really recognize that.” CSNBayArea.com's Ann Killion wondered why the team would "get involved" with Bonds considering his legal issues. Killion: "It's been a big enough embarrassment for the team, for the franchise, for the history.” She added the fourth anniversary “means nothing” (“Chronicle Live,” Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, 8/10).
