MLB Giants CEO Larry Baer said that the team will "continue to be 'respectful of the process' when asked about the A's desire to move to San Jose, but hinted that a resolution is not coming anytime soon." Baer said, "This is something that ain't new. This was discussed when Steve Schott owned the team 12 years ago. We know it's been studied and being studied. We're cooperating." Meanwhile, in San Jose, Alex Pavlovic noted the Giants are "once again on the verge of selling out every home game," and Baer said that merchandise and sponsorship numbers are "tracking at nearly the same levels they were a year ago, when the Giants were coming off a World Series title" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 2/26).
SO FAR, SO GOOD: Astros Owner Jim Crane said that he is "'leaning heavily' toward having new uniforms in time" for the '13 season and the move to the AL. MLB has been working with the Astros on uniform designs, and Crane said that he "wants to get input from his staff and even get some fans involved before choosing the new threads." Crane said that the team "has to have its plans submitted to baseball by May 1, but nothing will be made public until after the season" (MLB.com, 2/26). CBSSPORTS.com's Danny Knobler wrote the Jim Crane era with the Astros "seems to be off to a good start." Crane is doing things "you want an owner to do, and suggesting that he won't do things you want owners not to do." Crane said, "We'll stay out of the way. And we'll help any way we can...I'll fade more into the sunset as the season starts." The suggestion from Crane and his people is that he is also "prepared to spend money when it can make a difference" (CBSSPORTS.com, 2/26).
'TIL DEATH DO US PART: Marlins Owner Jeffrey Loria is entering his 11th season as the club's owner and he said yesterday he intends to own the team for "as long as I live." Loria: "I love this team. My business is baseball. Baseball is my business. It's a great pleasure. It's a great challenge" (MIAMI HERALD, 2/27). Loria said about this year's club, "This is the strongest (team) going in, and if we have some good health and good luck, we're going to be a hell of a team to contend with" (PALM BEACH POST, 2/27).
SELLING AT RECORD PACE: In Milwaukee, Haudricourt & Rosiak noted as of 3:00pm CT Saturday, the Brewers had sold 1,587,000 tickets for '12 -- a "franchise record for most tickets sold through the first day of individual-game ticket sales." The previous record was set in '09, when 1,555,000 had been "sold through the first day." The Brewers also eclipsed 101,000 tickets sold for "single games as part of their 'Arctic Tailgate' promotion, marking the second-highest total in franchise history on the first day." Last year, the Brewers sold 95,000 tickets on the first day (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/26).
HONORING A TEAM LEGEND: On Long Island, David Lennon noted the Mets will wear a patch in '12 to honor the late Gary Carter who died Feb. 16 after a 10-month battle with brain cancer (NEWSDAY.com, 2/25).
