In San Jose, John Woolfork notes the city is “toughening its stance toward opponents" of A's efforts to move from Oakland. San Jose officials have argued the MLB Giants "are chief actors behind local efforts to block an A's downtown ballpark and are moving more aggressively to expose the team's role.” Last week the city filed for a court order “allowing it to examine the organizational structure -- and any Giants ties -- of Stand For San Jose, a community group whose lawsuit over the proposed ballpark has raised questions about the San Jose plan's viability.” Giants Senior VP/Communications Staci Slaughter last year said that the Giants were “among Stand For San Jose's supporters." A source indicated "that is no longer the case" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 9/5).
BIRD IS THE WORD: In Baltimore, Kevin Cowherd writes with the AL East-leading Yankees in town for a four-game series, “Orioles fans, your time has finally come.” Cowherd: “But it's definitely put up or shut up time, Orioles fans. No more excuses for not supporting a team that has shocked the pundits and delighted its fans for five months now” (Baltimore SUN, 9/6).
KNOWING THEIR LIMITS: In DC, Dan Steinberg noted the Nationals are “announcing a self-imposed season-ticket limit of 20,000 seats in 2013.” Attendance at Nationals Park is “up 27 percent from last season, the second-biggest increase in baseball.” The number of full season-ticket packages sold this year is “believed to be about 12,000, and is no greater than 14,520” (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 9/5).
KEEP ON MOTORING: The Tigers yesterday reached three million tickets sold in advance sales for the ‘12 season. It is the third time in the last six seasons the club has surpassed that mark. The Tigers have sold out 31 games in ’12, marking the second-highest total number of sellouts in club history (Tigers).
