In Phoenix, Bob McManaman noted the D-backs have decided to "install a giant humidor at Chase Field" to store their baseballs in. The team has been "toying with the thought for a while." D-backs President & CEO Derrick Hall said, "We don't know if it's going to make much of a difference, but it's probably a necessity." Because of Arizona’s "sweltering summer heat and dry conditions -- not to mention the Valley's high elevation -- storing baseballs in a specially designed humidor should improve grip." Hall said that "plans are in the works to have one installed in downtown Phoenix in about a month." The Rockies are the only MLB franchise that "uses a humidor" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/7).
TRAFFIC COP: In Chicago, Fran Spielman notes trucks will be "banned from the streets around Wrigley Field -- and other traffic will be sharply constricted -- to ramp up security for Monday’s Cubs’ home opener and, probably, the entire season." The security bubble "mirrors the plan in place during the playoffs and World Series." However, it "does not go as far as the game day shutdown of Addison and Clark that the Cubs wanted, particularly after the terrorist attack in London that saw five people killed and 40 others injured after an attacker drove a car into a crowd along Westminister Bridge near the British Parliament" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/7).
NAZCA LINES: In Dallas, Evan Grant notes the "weird looking outlines -- one resembles a very crude pacman -- in the outfield" at Globe Life park are the "remnants of a winter golf promotion." Rangers officials said that there is "no impact on the playing surface." Rangers Exec VP/Communications John Blake said, "We'd certainly prefer for the (lines) to not be there, but the bottom line is they don't impact playability. After the golf promotion, where the grass did not come back in, we re-sodded and it is a different color." Blake said that the lines "should fade by May" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 4/7).
