New Season, New Seats in Arlington
Sunday, March 30, 2014
If the Ballpark in Arlington looks a little different when you walk in on April 7th for the home opener, you’re not crazy. The team has added a third deck to the right field bleachers, increasing the park’s total capacity to 45,000. The club coordinated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to give this expansion a special meaning. Before the home opener, there will be a ceremony to dedicate the new section to United States Military Veterans. Representatives from each branch of the military will be on hand as the organization honors all servicemen and women.
Not just a nod to our American heroes, a special program will allow veterans and their families to purchase discounted tickets to sit in the new section. During the July 4th weekend series against the Manchester Maulers, veterans will be able to get into the stadium for free. Prior to the games that same weekend, the team will be throwing a free barbecue in the main concourse for all in attendance.
But wait! We’re not done yet. The Bureaucrats will also donate 10% of ticket sales from the Veteran’s section to the Disabled American Veterans and will match any donations made by the players during the 2014 season. Donations will be voluntary, of course, but closer Masutaro Sato has already pledged $500,000. Perhaps he’s celebrating his recent 3-year, $24 million extension. You might remember he shared some of his earnings when he first signed with Arlington back in 2012. Sato has made a good impression on teammates and fans after having a reputation in Japan as a selfish player.
The new seats are of the same design as the other upper deck sections but have a red, white and blue color scheme to go along with the theme. It will also be the park’s only alcohol-free section to encourage a family-friendly environment. Season ticket packages will be available for the 2015 season but are currently only available on a per-game basis for 2014.
As for Opening Day 2014, the Bureaucrats will be starting the year in Manchester to face their bitter rivals. Coming off a down season in 2013, the Maulers underwent a bit of roster turnover in the off-season and have retooled. Gone are mainstays Kikugoro Memoto and Ted Boyd, but new faces include All-Stars John Gustafson and Jason Kirkland. Though they might lack a dominant ace, Manchester has a solid staff that pitched well during Spring Training and will likely cause the Bureaucrats some grief early in the season. Projections have Manchester improving six wins in 2014, but that still means they will be fighting to have a .500 season. Don’t be surprised if some of their young players break out, though, as the Maulers have a tendency to have the IL’s best rookie. In fact, former Wunderkind Ed Williams is due for a bounce-back season after a painful sophomore slump.
The Bureaucrats welcome a couple new players of their own for 2014 in Brooks Erickson and Orlando Ramos. Erickson played with the Maulers in 2013 and Ramos signed as a free agent after playing for the Aurora Borealis for the last five seasons. Erickson will patrol left field and is usually good for 20-plus home runs and a boatload of doubles. Look for him to hit behind Raines and Guillén. His primary job will be to rack up RBI in bunches.
Breaking camp with Arlington is top pitching prospect Martín Francisco. “Sawmill” has put shoulder surgery behind him and pitched a shutout during his cup of coffee last September. Not only will Francisco be on the Opening Day roster, he’ll be involved in the home opening ceremony on the 7th. His father, Col. Alberto Francisco, will be throwing out the first pitch to kick off the first home series. Martín remembers moving several times as his father’s career took the family all over the country, but he remains proud of his father for his service. Even though he pitched pretty well this spring, Francisco is slated to start in the bullpen. However, the five guys penciled into the starting rotation will have to keep a look out over their shoulders, as Sawmill will be waiting to take over if anyone falters.
The ‘Crats will be looking to be the PEBA‘s first repeat Rodriguez Cup winner but will have to overcome a much-improved Pan-Atlantic Division. Happy baseball, ‘Crats fans – see you at the park!
– Beulah Tuttle of The Citizen