Minor league migraines

[geno57]

Less than two months into their season, the Lake County Fielders have seen paychecks bounce, a play-by-play announcer quit on the air, plans for a new stadium stall and nearly the entire roster traded or released.

Is this hell?

No. It's Kevin Costner's minor league baseball team.

The Zion-based North American Baseball League club — which never hesitates to promote the actor's partial ownership — has become a field of nightmares this summer, as the coaching staff and players have revolted against the front office over money. Fielders employees say they went unpaid for long stretches, while the club struggled financially and the city failed to deliver a promised stadium.

The team's former hitting coach, Pete LaCock, said the financial problems surfaced on the first day of a six-week road trip when a club-issued debit card was declined at the airport. Rather than ask the players to pay the individual baggage fees on their paltry salaries, he charged the $1,500 bill to his personal credit card.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-lake-county-fielders-players-20110721,0,417499.story

[Tim L]

Less than two months into their season, the Lake County Fielders have seen paychecks bounce, a play-by-play announcer quit on the air, plans for a new stadium stall and nearly the entire roster traded or released.

Is this hell?

No. It's Kevin Costner's minor league baseball team.

The Zion-based North American Baseball League club — which never hesitates to promote the actor's partial ownership — has become a field of nightmares this summer, as the coaching staff and players have revolted against the front office over money. Fielders employees say they went unpaid for long stretches, while the club struggled financially and the city failed to deliver a promised stadium.

The team's former hitting coach, Pete LaCock, said the financial problems surfaced on the first day of a six-week road trip when a club-issued debit card was declined at the airport. Rather than ask the players to pay the individual baggage fees on their paltry salaries, he charged the $1,500 bill to his personal credit card.

www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-lake-county-fielders-players-20110721,0,417499.story

To make it clear, this is an Independent (Non MLB affiliated) club..There is also a Lake County (Ohio) Class A Midwest League team affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, which are averaging nearly 3300 a game at a relatively new ballpark..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_County_Captains

[PYLdude]

Sadness of the state of the franchise notwithstanding- is this really a stout game show connection? Just because the manager's dad hosted Hollywood Squares?

[Tim L]

Sadness of the state of the franchise notwithstanding- is this really a stout game show connection? Just because the manager's dad hosted Hollywood Squares?

Stout enough for me..I think (and not to denigrate the moderators at all),, sometimes we overdo whether something is game show related or not. It's only a post on a message board..

[MikeK]

To make it clear, this is an Independent (Non MLB affiliated) club..There is also a Lake County (Ohio) Class A Midwest League team affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, which are averaging nearly 3300 a game at a relatively new ballpark..

That few?  I thought they average a good 5000-6000/night.  They have a great minor league park smack in the middle of the business district of a mid-sized Cleveland suburb, about 10 mins. from the Klauss House.

/Not as unique as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers' home park, which is in the back corner of a mall's property
//The Scrappers had a very lame game show night 4 years ago

[brianhenke]

You might remember the Fresno Grizzlies (the Giants' Triple A affiliate) wore TPIR-themed uniforms four years ago. (The Grizzlies love wacky uniforms; they had Harry Potter-themed unis a couple of weeks ago; for a video, see http://www.cw56.com/news/articles/sports/12004820083526/).

   Brian

[Tim L]

To make it clear, this is an Independent (Non MLB affiliated) club..There is also a Lake County (Ohio) Class A Midwest League team affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, which are averaging nearly 3300 a game at a relatively new ballpark..

That few?  I thought they average a good 5000-6000/night.  They have a great minor league park smack in the middle of the business district of a mid-sized Cleveland suburb, about 10 mins. from the Klauss House.

/Not as unique as the Mahoning Valley Scrappers' home park, which is in the back corner of a mall's property
//The Scrappers had a very lame game show night 4 years ago

I think after so many years, the newness wears off..The same thing is happening to the Akron Aeros (Eastern League Double A Indians affiliate)..They averaged about 3800 in 2010..

[trainman]

One of the (rotating) outfield ads at Durham Bulls Athletic Park is for "Family Feud" with Steve Harvey -- weekdays at 4:00 on Fox 50!

There, now we have two tenuous connections between game shows and minor league baseball.

[Jimmy Owen]

One of the (rotating) outfield ads at Durham Bulls Athletic Park is for "Family Feud" with Steve Harvey -- weekdays at 4:00 on Fox 50!

There, now we have two tenuous connections between game shows and minor league baseball.

See, if it had been "Family Feud" with Steve Garvey, that might be relevant.