Look around the Eastern League, and we have bickering in Hartford, discontent in Richmond and hopes for stability in Binghamton.

The Portland Sea Dogs are supposed to make their first trip to the new Dunkin’ Donuts Park in Hartford April 21-24. But the Sea Dogs can plan for a detour. Construction delays and cost overruns are causing a political nightmare.

“It is clear that the baseball park is dangerously behind schedule and dramatically over budget,” Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin told the Hartford Courant.

While the developer of the stadium project and the city argue over design and budget, opening day in Hartford (April 7) looks doubtful – as does the whole month of April.

If so, the Yard Goats – formerly the New Britain Rock Cats – will have to find a backup site.

Might I suggest Dodd Stadium in Norwich (40 miles away), the former home of an Eastern League team (the Connecticut Defenders, aka the Norwich Navigators)? Dodd now houses a New York-Penn League team, which does not begin its schedule until June 17.

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THE OWNER of the team that left Norwich after the 2009 season, the Richmond Flying Squirrels, is not happy. Lou DiBella said Richmond promised to build a new stadium when he relocated from Norwich, but the team remains at The Diamond, a 31-year-old park.

The Diamond’s previous tenant, the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A club, left because it could not get a new stadium built. The term most often used to describe The Diamond is “antiquated.” A recent Richmond Times-Dispatch story was headlined “Stadium shortcomings abound.”

DiBella has hinted his team could leave after the 2017 season.

“It’s pretty ironic to be enticed back (to Richmond) with a lot of promises and to feel like, in effect, you’re being booted out,” DiBella told the Times-Dispatch.

Attendance is not a problem in Richmond – the Flying Squirrels led the league last year with an average crowd of 6,055 (ahead of Reading’s 6,044; the Sea Dogs were third at 5,497).

ATTENDANCE IS a problem in Binghamton, which has finished last in Eastern League attendance for the past six years. Last season, the Mets averaged 2,766 fans. The team was up for sale and there were rumors of a move to either Ottawa or Wilmington, Delaware.

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The sale went through Dec. 28 and new owner John Hughes said he is committed to keeping the team in Binghamton.

MEANWHILE, NEW Britain will not be without baseball. The New Britain Bees, an independent team in the Atlantic League, is moving in. The team hired a familiar face as manager – Stan Cliburn, who managed the Rock Cats from 2001-2005.

WHEN LUIS Diaz made his Hadlock Field debut in 2014, it was with great fanfare. Diaz, then 22, was a pitching prospect on the way up and he allowed only one run over eight innings. His mentor, Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez, was on hand to watch.

“Outstanding. Outstanding. I’m very proud,” Martinez said.

But Diaz, with his low-90s fastball and developing off-speed pitches, could not maintain the consistency. He remained in Portland all of last year (2-10, 5.47 ERA) and is no longer in the Red Sox organization after signing with the San Diego Padres, who assigned him to their Triple-A team, the El Paso Chihuahuas.

ANOTHER SEA Dog who has moved on is outfielder Keury De La Cruz. He broke out in Class A Greenville (.308/.888 OPS) in 2012, but was not as successful at higher levels. He batted .240/.658 last year in Portland. De La Cruz signed with the Twins.

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A few other former Sea Dogs have signed as minor league free agents – pitchers Brock Huntzinger (Rockies) and Drake Britton (Tigers) and outfielder Alex Hassan (Dodgers).

Two other Sea Dogs were released by Boston – first baseman David Chester, who struggled (.181, seven home runs) last year, and outfielder Kevin Heller, who made brief appearances at Hadlock the last three seasons.

THE ANNUAL Sea Dogs Hot Stove Banquet is Friday at the Sable Oaks Marriott in South Portland. Blake Swihart is the featured guest. About 30 tickets remain ($50, with proceeds going to the Maine Children’s Cancer Program).

 


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