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Esta página no está disponible en español. 'Los Expos' To Play 22 Games In San Juan…Robinson: Great To Play Down There, They’re Great Fans, In Puerto Rico, Baseball Fans Say They Are Thrilled
'Los Expos' To Play 22 Games In San Juan By RONALD BLUM November 20, 2002 IRVING, Texas (AP) - The Montreal Expos will play 22 of their 81 home games in Puerto Rico next year, and the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners will start the season with the major leagues' second opening in Japan. Expos president Tony Tavares said that with the guaranteed income from the games in San Juan, his team will not have to conduct a "fire sale" of players such as Vladimir Guerrero and Bartolo Colon. Still, he did not reveal the Expos' planned payroll. As baseball owners ended their meeting, commissioner Bud Selig also formed a committee to determine the long-term fate of the Expos, who were purchased from Jeffrey Loria earlier this year, and formed a marketing task force to examine how baseball attracts fans. Baseball announced that the Expos would play three homestands at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan without identifying specific opponents, but the hoped-for schedule was revealed by several baseball officials spoke who on the condition of anonymity. Subject to negotiations with the players' association, the Expos would play a 10-game homestand in San Juan in April, with games against the New York Mets (April 11-14), Atlanta (April 15-17) and Cincinnati (April 18-20). The second homestand would include the World Series champion Anaheim Angels (June 3-5) and Texas (June 6-8), and the last would have Florida (Sept. 5-7) and the Chicago Cubs (Sept. 9-11). San Juan was the host for its first regular-season game in 2001, the season opener between Texas and Toronto. The Expos have been at or near the bottom in attendance in recent years at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, and the commissioner's office wants to cut losses. Montreal drew just 812,000 fans to its home games this year, and baseball isn't ready to decide on a permanent move. The games in San Juan are seen as a method to increase revenue. "Puerto Rico will help a lot because you are collecting U.S. dollars and certain dollars, if you will, because there are guarantees involved," Tavares said. Baseball has asked Puerto Rican organizers to guarantee revenue from the games on the Caribbean island. "We went there last year to open the season. It was terrific," Rangers owner Tom Hicks said. "We're totally open to it." The players' association had argued for two homestands in San Juan instead of three, seeking to minimize dislocation. The union, which must approve the games, wants baseball to pay for families to join players on the shifted homestands and also wants additional meal money. "This is going to require some discussion with us. This is not a done deal," Gene Orza, the union's No. 2 official, said shortly before the announcement. Baseball officials hope to have a permanent solution for 2004, and probably will hold a bidding process. Charlotte, North Carolina, Portland, Oregon, and Washington, are among the possible contenders. Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, hopes to have a decision by midsummer. The games between the A's and Mariners at the Tokyo Dome also require the union's approval. They are scheduled for March 25 and 26 - nearly a week ahead of most teams, who open March 31. The New York Mets and Chicago Cubs played the first regular-season games in Japan, opening the 2000 season with a two-game series at the Tokyo Dome. "The clubs are happy," Selig said. "They wanted to go."
Robinson: Great To Play Down There, They’re Great Fans November 20, 2002 "It doesn't affect me where we play," Expos manager Frank Robinson said Tuesday after agreeing to come back for a second season in Montreal. "It will be great to play in front of the people down there. They're great fans. I spent nine years down there managing in winter ball." San Juan was the host for its first regular-season game in 2001, the season opener between Texas and Toronto.
In Puerto Rico, Baseball Fans Say They Are Thrilled At Plan For Expos Games On Island By RICARDO ZUNIGA November 20, 2002 SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - A plan for the Montreal Expos to play some of their home games in Puerto Rico next year is stirring support among fans who for years have been rooting for faraway teams. Youth league baseball coach Carlos Diaz said the games should give a new boost to interest in the sport that historically has been the most-watched on the Caribbean island. "It's good for the young people to become excited about baseball," said Diaz, who added that he would attend the games. Under plans developed by U.S. Major League Baseball officials, Montreal would open its new part-time home in Puerto Rico on April 11 against the New York Mets. While the proposal still hasn't been finalized, baseball officials are discussing having the Expos play 10 games in April at San Juan's Hiram Bithorn Stadium against the Mets (April 11-14), Atlanta (April 15-17) and Cincinnati (April 18-20), several baseball officials said on condition of anonymity. Negotiations are continuing between the commissioner's office and the players' association, and it still hasn't been decided whether the Expos will make three trips or two to Puerto Rico, where they would play up to 20 of their 81 home games. Puerto Rico has been sending its best players to U.S. Major League Baseball for decades, but only recently has Major League Baseball seriously considered bringing games to the Caribbean island. Baseball officials want to move the team from Montreal, where the Expos drew just 812,000 fans this season, but have virtually ruled out a relocation for 2003. Puerto Rico has been mentioned as a potential site for relocation. Possible games in San Juan next year also include the interleague series against the World Series champion Anaheim Angels (June 3-5) and a matchup with Sammy Sosa and the Chicago Cubs (Sept. 9-11), baseball officials said. Michael Guzman, 43, said it's about time that top Puerto Rican players have a chance to play in their homeland. "If we bring Puerto Ricans and other Latinos who are in the Major Leagues, we would have a team that would win the World Series," he said. Puerto Rican big leaguers who play for the Expos include pitcher Javier Vazquez and second baseman Jose Vidro. Puerto Ricans who play for teams that would face the Expos include Roberto Alomar, of the Mets, Javier Lopez of the Braves and Bengie Molina of the Angels.
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