OK, I just can't resist. It's so hard to stay away...
Anyway, the Phillies will be wearing green caps this evening when they play the San Diego Padres here at the Bank. The reason, in addition to clever marketing, is because the ballclub announced that it had begun a "groundbreaking green initiative," in which it will attempt to "offset its carbon footprint" from being typical wasteful Americans. In order to offset its waste, the Phillies have purchased 20 million kilowatt-hours of Green-e Energy Certified Renewable Energy Certificates, which the team says the EPA reports is the largest single purchase of 100 percent renewable energy in pro sports and is equal to planting 100,000 trees.
According to its web site, Green-e Energy is "the nation's leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market."
Moreover, the Phillies say they are the first Major League Baseball team to join the EPA's Green Power Partnership program, which is a "voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use." The team also reports that according to the EPA, the team is the third largest Green Power Partner in Philadelphia and seventh largest Green Power Partner in Pennsylvania.
So that's why the Phillies are wearing green caps. It also is worthy of a nice kudos for the Phillies for being proactive in a vital issue. However, the cynic in me couldn't help but wonder if the new greening of the Phillies means the team will shut off the lights to the ballpark after the game instead of letting them burn away all night?
Does it also mean that the team will encourage its ballplayers to drive more fuel-efficient automobiles? Perhaps the team will even begin composting some of the waste left in the seats after the game? I'm sure there are many more little peccadilloes we can delve into about the team being truly "green," but in the meantime it should be noted that it is a most worthy effort.
Besides, there are a few more noticeable recycling stations planted about the ballpark, which is nice.
Speaking of the Phillies' ballpark, Sports Illustrated ran a poll of fans and ticketholders ranking the stadiums on several criteria and Citizens Bank Park came in 10th. The categories are affordability, food, team quality, tradition, atmosphere, fan IQ, hospitality, promotions, traffic and neighborhood.
Amongst those, the Philllies performed well in food (fourth), team quality (ninth), atmosphere (seventh) and fan IQ (seventh). In promotions and traffic the Phillies did OK, checking in 10th of the 30 teams.
What hurt the team was the ballpark's neighborhood - it was rated 20th - and the patrons in the ballpark. In that category, called hospitality, the Phillies were dead last.
Hey, it was the home team's fans that responded to the poll. In other words, the Phillies fans are the people who are so self-loathing.
Anyway, for those who did not click on the link, here are the top 10 rankings according to the Sports Illustrated poll:
1.) Cleveland
2.) Milwaukee
3.) Pittsburgh
4.) Detroit
5.) St. Louis
6.) Seattle
7.) Colorado
8.) Chicago White Sox
9.) L.A. Angels
10.) Phillies
Cleveland? Milwaukee? Detroit?
Interestingly, the Phillies and the White Sox are the only teams rated so highly that did not have a ballpark located in the downtown area of the city. The L.A. Angels play in Anaheim, which is a suburb of a suburb so there really isn't a downtown to speak of. Nevertheless, it's worth noting that CBP was rated better than the ballparks in New York City, Boston and Wrigley Field - the so-called traditional ballparks.
Since no one asked and it is my web site, here's how I'd rate the parks:
1.) Coors (Denver) - mostly because if I'm there it means I'm in Colorado.
2.) Camden Yards (Baltimore) - best press box and they have fresh-brewed ice tea in the media dining room. It's also easy to get to and all of the logistical stuff. It was the first of the "retro parks" and still the best.
3.) Fenway (Boston) - sentimental choice, but really, the place is a bit of a dump. It is also cool to walk to and from the park in one of the best "walking cities" in the country.
4.) Yankee Stadium (New York) - sentimental choice, but really, the new park is needed.
5.) Nationals Park (Washington) - OK, I haven't been there yet, but it's in Washington and everyone says it's cool. So there.
6.) CBP (Philly) - I'm here so much and know my way around. Here's a fun fact: I've been covering games at CBP longer than at the Vet.
One more interesting caveat: the bottom three rated parks (Florida, RFK ad Shea) are all in the NL East.