Link Report for Mon. 8/27

[Mass Haas]

Stars' GM optimistic about future despite losing campaign in 2012

By Mark McCarter, The Huntsville Times

 

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Even as this Huntsville Stars' baseball season limps to a close - tonight's 6:43 game against Birmingham is the final one at Joe Davis Stadium this year - team general manager Buck Rogers has some sense of optimism.

 

"I'm more excited because I think something's going to happen," Rogers said, expressing optimism that a new stadium remains a viable possibility for Huntsville.

 

"Maybe we'll get a ballpark downtown, and we can be rocking and rolling into the future," Rogers continued, sitting in his office Monday evening before the Stars' 9-5 loss to Birmingham in which the Barons lashed 17 hits.

 

Though Rogers said he has "heard more talk (about a stadium) now than ever before," it was never a major topic in the mayoral race being contested today.

 

Former Mayor Loretta Spencer is not in favor of a new stadium, nor is challenger Jackie Reed. Spencer said she would work with the Stars to make improvements to Joe Davis Stadium.

 

Incumbent Mayor Tommy Battle has talked about a new stadium as part of downtown development, but only in a private-public partnership with team ownership that would "have some skin in the game." He has also said he'd like to see local ownership of the team.

 

Another reason for Rogers' optimism is a rise in attendance. Though the Stars drew only 751 Monday night, they'll still likely finish last in attendance again this year. Their season total is 128,442, more than 34,000 than the 2011 figures.

 

"The first reason, Darnell Coles and his players were unbelievable in community relations," said Rogers. "They were better than any team I've ever been around."

 

Rogers also pointed to the improved weather this summer - drought that's bad for farmers is good for baseball - and "on top of that, we had great cooperation from our community partners, people going to bat for us." He also lauded praise on "a lot of good interns who got out there and hustled."

 

What had been obvious, but not official until Monday, is that the Stars are out of the playoffs and won't finish above .500. They're 63-71 on the season with six games to play and seven games behind Chattanooga for what could be a potential wild-card spot. They end the season with five games at Montgomery, which is dueling Jacksonville for a Southern League South playoff spot.

 

Though Scooter Gennett's solo homer and Josh Prince's three-run homer tried to keep the Huntsville offense in Monday's game, starter Evan Anundsen gave up six runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings. Andy Wilkins had four hits and Brady Shoemaker homered for the Barons, who have won nine of their last 11 against the Stars.

 

The Stars haven't reached the playoffs since 2009 and haven't finished about .500 since 2008.

 

Stars' general manager Buck Rogers

 

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