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Marley RiveraESPN Writer
BUFFALO, NY – It once had a lifetime epidemic; Ban from playing in Canada, Pennsylvania and Maryland; millions of dollars; And the lighting borrowed from the “Field of Dreams” for Buffalo to host its first major league baseball game in more than a century.
Sahlen Field will officially become the new home away from home for the Toronto Blue Jem when Ace Hyun-jin Ryu throws the first pitch against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night. It would be the first major league game in Buffalo since 1915, when the Buffalo Blues were played in the Federal League.
Changes are apparent at Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate’s home ballpark, Sahlen Field, since 2013. The “Green Monster” color that adorns most of the ballpark but is a distant memory, with most areas now excluded with the Blue Jas logo, padded and painted in Jas Blue, and the use of ballplayers and staff. Has been renovated for.
“Biggest mouth opening, jaw dropping experience that I was seeing [the ballpark] From the highway. He did what it took to make the brand and feel like home to the Toronto Blue Jays … and it really is, “General Manager Ross Atkins said on a videoconferencing call before Tuesday’s game.” It is like a jaw to see. Difference. This is the best socially disordered place I’ve seen yet – and now I’ve seen Toronto, Washington, Atlanta, Tampa, Boston. “
The service level at Sahlen Field, which previously housed the home and clubhouse and batting cage, was considered similar to the Jace Clubhouse in Toronto. Toronto named a third-party as the official base as a tribute to the team’s setup at the Rogers Center.
Both field clubhouses will be used by Jem, as they were expanded to accommodate socially distant lockers, adorned with chairs traveling 98 miles from Toronto. So whether Charlie Montoyo’s drums, office decor and family portrait – which he was pleasantly surprised to find in his mint Buffalo office – were all in an effort to make the minor league ballpark feel like home.
The visiting team will use a huge tent in the right field parking as the visitors’ clubhouse. The tent area, fully furnished as a clubhouse space with workouts, locker rooms and office facilities, was built using a blueprint similar to the one MLB planned for the “Field of Dreams” game in Iowa. Visiting teams will also have office and clubhouse space in the suite area at Sahalen Field.
“Looking at Boston, I think, really helped us here,” Atkins said, referring to the inspiration the team had at Fenway Park. “It helped us think of things a little differently. The ways in which they were challenged are similar to the ways that we were going to be challenged here. To maximize contemporary space and in large, open areas where we Could, and the thoughtfulness around branding. In a way where it felt completely different. I’m pretty sure our players, when they came here, didn’t recognize it. ”
The Blue Jayes are calling Buffalo their home after the Canadian federal government rejected a plan to use the Rogers Center in Toronto to broaden the spread of COVID-19 in a 60-game season to reduce the epidemic There was apprehension. Blue Jayce reached out to the Oroles and Pirates to use their facilities, but state governments in Pennsylvania and Maryland declined the proposals.
Since there was no major league baseball infrastructure at Sahalane Park, Blue Jayce had to bill to make massive improvements not only to player and staff facilities, but also to field lighting and terrain. The grass behind the home plate and when extended over 20 feet, was excluded from the infield needed to replace it. Other changes included dugout extensions and ejected the bottom 15 feet of the scoreboard to protect the batsman’s eye.
Temporary light trucks will also be deployed during the Games to bring them up to MLB and broadcasting standards. Those trucks were considered part of additional lighting measures used by MLB for their hitherto canceled “Field of Dreams” game between the White Sox and Cardinals in Iowa. The game, a tribute to the famous 1989 film by the same name, was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.
“They’ve done a good job,” Atkins said, discussing lighting improvements. “Tonight will be the best test, but we feel good about it. We know it’s not going to be the Rogers Center, which has exceptional lighting, but we feel good about it. Last night Our players were in it. They felt like it. It was a significant upgrade, and I’m excited to see how it plays tonight. ”
“We were all wandering around and talking about how we couldn’t recognize that place,” first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. told ESPN. Guerrero slipped .343 / .420 / .593 with an OPS of 1.013 in two Little Stones 39 games at Buffalo in 2018 and 2019.
Jayce played Guerrero’s young trio, Cavan Bigigo (.312, 6 HR, 27 RBI in 43 games at Buffalo), and Bo Bachette (.275, 8 HR, 32 RBI in 56 games) all with Beyoncé. Many other current Blue Jams also know buffalo, have played in the minors or in rehab games.
“I was there [Randal] Grichuk, [Lourdes] Guerrillas and [Anthony] Alford’s B.P. [Monday], And all of us drew attention to the size and field conditions of the clubhouse, even to all the changes in colors, “said Sharero.” It’s not like the ballpark I’ve played in a few years. Nothing looks like a minor league ballpark anymore. And it is good to settle down. ”
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