Sports
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
More sports
Yanks park gets push
By wire services
Published April 6, 2006
NEW YORK - Plans for a new ballpark for the Yankees moved forward Wednesday when the City Council approved several key aspects of the planned $800-million stadium.
The 45-2 vote cleared the way for some of the team's land-use plans, including a takeover of two public parks as a site for the 53,000-seat stadium, which would be built adjacent to the current ballpark in the Bronx.
Council speaker Christine Quinn, a vocal opponent of the New York Jets' plan to build an NFL stadium in her district on Manhattan's west side, said the Yankees' plan is a good one by comparison because it includes new parkland and a new commuter train station.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Bronx borough president Adolfo Carrion back the ballpark, which has been approved by the city's planning commission.
Stadium critics were displeased with the loss of the parks, saying the plan to replace the lost acreage with new green space elsewhere was inadequate.
Some also have attacked the idea of taxpayer funding for the richest team in baseball. The city and state have committed to spending $215-million, but opponents have said they believe the public's share of the project could climb to $400-million.
That issue will be the subject of Monday discussions by the council's finance committee, which is considering whether to help finance the stadium by issuing tax-exempt bonds. The Yankees have promised a variety of amenities to the Bronx, including thousands of free tickets for community groups.
ANGELS: Catcher Jeff Mathis, the team's first-round amateur draft choice in 2001, made his first major-league start while catching right-hander Jeff Weaver's Angels debut. Mathis appeared in five games and had three at-bats as a September call-up last season.
MARINERS: Lefty Eddie Guardado said he was ready to be the closer again after throwing 41 pitches and allowing three runs in the ninth of Seattle's 10-8 win Tuesday night against Los Angeles. Manager Mike Hargrove laughed when asked if "Everyday Eddie" could pitch one inning. "Or 80 to 85 pitches, whichever comes first," he said. Guardado, 35, said he is in far better position this April to pitch on consecutive days than he was 12 months ago. Last spring training, a sore hamstring kept him from pitching in a single exhibition game. "Whenever the bell rings, I'm ready to go. No excuses," he said.
RED SOX: David Wells threw a side session and is set for a minor-league start. The 42-year-old lefty, back from offseason knee surgery, will join Triple-A Pawtucket for a start Friday. His first outing for Boston is scheduled for April 12 against Toronto.
[Last modified April 6, 2006, 02:00:13]
Share your thoughts on this story
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor
