The Royals yesterday announced that they will implement digital ticketing for all season-ticket accounts for the '15 season. Ticket holders now will manage their tickets and parking passes exclusively through an online account and can access gates at Kauffman Stadium with their smartphones or tablets for every regular-season home game. They also can print their tickets at home for no additional cost (Royals).
THIRTY SOMETHING: In Boston, Dan Shaughnessy writes Red Sox President & CEO Larry Lucchino deserves credit for "not attempting to reframe his commentary about the Red Sox 'philosophy' from last spring." Owner John Henry last week said that his "remarks about the risk of signing players over 30 to long-term contracts were 'overblown.'" Shaughnessy: "Baloney." The Red Sox "had a philosophy after their fluke title" of '13. They thought they "had it figured out." Then they finished last in the AL East, NESN’s ratings "went south, and the team reacted with a spending binge." Shaughnessy: "We applaud this binge. No need to apologize, or pretend they’re not switching game plans again" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/2).
KIND GESTURE: In Baltimore, Dan Connolly noted when Orioles players met in September to vote on how they would "divvy up whatever playoff money they would receive from the 2014 postseason, they made a point to remember" late PR Dir Monica Barlow. A source said that the players "chose two different ways to remember Barlow, who died in February at age 36 after a protracted battle with lung cancer." The players "assigned one cash award to Barlow’s estate and made a separate donation to the LUNGevity Foundation, which provides lung cancer research, educational programs and support for lung cancer patients." The source "would not reveal the exact amount of the two awards," but they were "characterized as 'very significant donations'” (Baltimore SUN, 11/27).
NO SHOW-TIME: In L.A., Ben Bolch wrote those "three to four years" Lakers Exec VP/Player Personnel Jim Buss "gave himself to straighten out the Lakers are shaping up as a timeline to nowhere, except maybe basketball oblivion." Bolch: "How does Buss justify this product to fans paying four figures every game for courtside seats?" The Lakers' brand "isn't what it was, no matter how many times they reference their 16 titles or make slick video presentations to free agents" narrated by actor Tobey Maguire (L.A. TIMES, 11/30).
