Each of the 12 billboards at Minute Maid Park designated for the $40M Community Leaders Program "was supposed to display the logo of a different corporate sponsor,” but so far “only seven of those billboards are occupied,” according to Lisa Gray of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. The other five billboards “are essentially blank, lightly screened with baseball scenes.” In previous years, the ballpark "gave Houstonians a million-dollar view of the downtown skyline," but during "this rotten summer ... even that view is gone." The view is now blocked by the "ugly bank of billboards." The "best thing that can be said about the billboards is this: Some of the sponsorship money behind them goes to Houston parks.” Astros VP/Marketing & Strategy Kathleen Clark said that under the Community Leaders Program, “up to $18 million could go to the Houston Parks Department over five years.” Gray noted "less than half the money that sponsors put up would flow to the parks.” The remainder, “essentially, is advertising, which generates a nice profit for the Astros.” Former Astros 1B Lance Berkman: “I hate what they’re doing to the outfield” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/8).
RETURN OF THE ROCKET? Astros Owner Jim Crane yesterday said that the team “would not rule out the possibility that Roger Clemens could pitch with the Astros this season.” Crane: “That’s still up in the air. We certainly would take a call from Roger.” He added that the Astros “would not use Clemens against a playoff-contending team.” Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said that he “had no news on a potential Clemens appearance.” He added he is "not expecting any changes” to the team’s pitching rotation (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/11). ESPN's Karl Ravech said, “To me, this was about as obvious as anything that’s ever happened in baseball: Roger Clemens is really close to actually pitching in Major League game this year.” Ravech acknowledged Crane's interest in Clemens and said, "There’s a shocker” ("Baseball Tonight,” ESPN2, 9/10). ESPN's Jayson Stark said, "I know the Astros are really concerned about getting Roger mixed up in the integrity of a pennant race. It seems like the Astros' baseball operations really doesn’t want to pitch Roger at home against teams like the Cardinals and the Pirates that are still in the race.” Stark: “I guess it is getting less and less likely. But until everybody involves says, ‘No way this is happening, not this year,’ I’m not going to say this won’t happen” (“Mike & Mike in the Morning,” ESPN Radio, 9/11).
