In San Antonio, Roy Bragg notes with the Astros off to a 21-13 start this season, the team's attendance "is up, but barely." The Astros "are averaging 23.373 fans" at Minute Maid Park, up less than 10% from the average attendance of 21,627 last season. Still, there are "signs it’s picking up." On local sports radio, the Astros "are a hot topic." Astros P Dallas Keuchel: "It’s definitely weird talking baseball instead of the NFL draft. That only means one thing. That means we’re winning. ... We want to win games and turn this city back into a winning baseball town" (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS, 5/13).
A HILL OF BEANS: In Boston, Nick Cafardo wrote fans can "forget the notion" that Red Sox GM Ben Cherington is going to get fired, because he has "ownership's backing." Cherington said of the team's ownership group, "We talk a lot. They care about the results. I care about the results. Always trying to find solutions. In any form of leadership there has to be a healthy balance of support and urgency." Cafardo: "This is Boston. You’re not allowed to fail for very long. You’re not allowed to be patient with players. You’re not allowed to go through rough times. Cherington knows the drill all too well" (BOSTON GLOBE, 5/13).
TAKING CARE OF THEIR OWN: In Baltimore, Eduardo Encina reports the Orioles "will reimburse hourly stadium employees for the wages from home games they were unable to work two weeks ago because of the Baltimore riots." Ballpark concessionaire Delaware North "will also compensate its workers for those four games" (Baltimore SUN, 5/14).
