Jury out on Puerto Rico plan
ISLAND LOVES PLAYING HOST TO EXPOS, BUT THE PLAYERS HAVE MIXED FEELINGS
By MIKE RUTSEY, TORONTO SUN
THE ISLAND IS lush and beautiful and contains an air of prosperity and sophistication. But young Blue Jays right-hander David Bush must have asked himself one question on Friday evening while making his major-league debut -- what in the name of God am I doing here in Puerto Rico?
The absurdity of the ownerless Montreal Expos' Frankenstein-esque schedule, cobbled together by the bean counters at Major League Baseball, is being hammered home this weekend with the two Canadian teams facing each other in San Juan, beginning the day after Canada Day.
QUAINT
But for the 8,220 souls who attended the Jays-Expos opener in quaint Hiram Bithorn Stadium, it was another chance to take in major league baseball and cheer their native sons -- Alex Rios of the Jays and Jose Vidro of the Expos.
The Puerto Rican experiment has not been the boomfest that was expected. The 22 games in 2003 averaged 14,227 fans, which is an upgrade over the average Montreal attendance of 12,081, but in actual dollars and cents it is a drop in the bucket.
This season the numbers in San Juan are slightly down.
The 18,836 who came out to watch Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants May 22 is the high point while the 8,157 who attended the May 19 game versus the Milwaukee Brewers, the low.
But as Omar Minaya, the vice-president and general manager of the Expos knows, it is a tougher sell the second time around, especially with a team devoid of two of its Latin stars -- Vladimir Guerrero and Javier Vasquez.
Friday's attendance totals were also hurt when, days earlier, news came out that favoured son Carlos Delgado, rehabbing from a rib cage injury, would not be playing.
"Last year we were a winning team and the fact that Delgado is not here plays into that," Minaya said of Friday's small crowd. "But like anything else, the first year is more exciting. The weather was much better last year (it's Puerto Rico's rainy season) too, and losing Vasquez, losing Vladimir, just the star appeal for the fans is not the same."
Still, the shifting of 22 games here is not without its enthusiasts.
Jose M. Suarez, the executive director of Puerto Rican Tourism, is thrilled major league baseball has been in his country the past two years, if for no other reason than it provides free advertising and a legitimacy the other islands in the Caribbean go begging for.
"The Expos have been very well received here and their presence has given us very positive international exposure," Suarez said. "The coverage by the media has shown that Puerto Rico has a vibrancy and depth of culture and sophistication lacking in other Caribbean destinations. The exposure as a tourist destination point has been tremendous."
Suarez went on to say that the presence of the Expos brings in $8 million US to the economy and the filling of some 7,000 hotel rooms over the 22-day stay.
But even Vidro has mixed feelings about the Expos' home away from home. In talking about the "grand experiment" Vidro wears two caps, one of a native Puerto Rican who is proud of his country and the other as an Expo player who knows what a grind it is for his teammates.
"I didn't know it was going to be the truth until I was here with a uniform on ready to play that day," Vidro said of his feelings playing that first game back in 2003.
EXCITING
"It was very emotional and I was very excited. All the things you think of when you grow up, of a chance to play in the big leagues, the best baseball there is and to get to play in front of your family and your friends is very exciting, an emotional thing."
It is a feeling not shared by all.
"The only bad thing is we play on the road for so long," Vidro said. "I'm the happiest guy here because I'm from here, but the rest of the guys, right now we're on a 28-game road trip so it's not easy for us."
WIN-WIN
It's a sentiment echoed by Puerto Rico native Tony Bernazard, a special assistant with the Players' Association.
"It has been a win-win situation for everybody," Bernazard said. "It has been great for baseball and the island of Puerto Rico.
"But, unfortunately, the Expos need a home, they should have an independent owner with a permanent home."
For Puerto Rico, however, it has been a worthwhile wait.
