You go, squirrel!

Is St. Louis jinxing itself for Game 5 by setting up traps to nab the RallySquirrel?

It's a bird! No, wait — it's a plane! Hold on a sec. It's ... a squirrel?

Yes, a squirrel. Now you'll understand exactly what fans and players in the St. Louis-Philadelphia playoff baseball series are thinking.

Not one, but two games in St. Louis in the National League Division Series (Games 3 and 4) have been graced by the unexpected presence of a furry fanatic on the field that wasn't quite listed on the player roster.

In Game 3, a little brown squirrel scurried through the outfield, raising a few eyebrows and fueling a few giggles.

By Game 4, the brazen squirrel grew bolder. He not only dubbed himself "Busch Squirrel," scored himself a Twitter account (boasting almost 10,000 followers), and coined his hashtag "#rallysquirrel."

He scuttled right across home plate in the middle of a Roy Oswalt pitch to Skip Schumaker — incidentally leading the underdog Cardinals to a 5-3 victory over the heavily-favored Phillies.

Clearly, he's a Cardinals fan.

But now the Busch Stadium staff is setting squirrel traps up — right when the Cardinals are set to play everyone's World Series pick on the road in a decisive Game 5 tonight. Talk about potential jinxes!

The series used to be about baseball. It used to be about playoffs and titles and pennants and glory.

But now?

Well, you go, squirrel. Stay free.

chill out

Houston Astros ballpark gets cool new name for the next 15 years

Houston Astros Daikin Park rendering

Courtesy of the Houston Astros

The Astros' stadium will have a new name in 2025.

The Houston Astros are about to have the coolest ballpark in Major League Baseball. The team announced on Monday, November 18 that its has reached a naming rights agreement HVAC manufacturer Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc.

Beginning on January 1, 2025, the stadium will be known as Daikin Park (die-kin). Scheduled to run through the 2039 season, the new name replaces Minute Maid Park, which has been the stadium’s name since 2002. It opened in 1999 as Enron Field.

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Astros fans online are already calling the new stadium “The Ice Box,” replacing its informal “The Juice Box” moniker. That name feels likely to stick.

Japan-based Daikin Industries is a leading manufacturer of HVAC systems. It sells air conditioning units and other products under brand names such as Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex. Critically, it operates Daikin Texas Technology Park in nearby Waller, which is the largest HVAC manufacturing facility in North America. The company employs approximately 10,000 people in Greater Houston, according to a release.

“We are excited to be partnering with Daikin for our ballpark’s naming rights,” Astros owner Jim said. “Daikin is an international company that proudly calls the Greater Houston area its North American home. The Houston Astros and Daikin share the same values, a commitment to excellence and a desire to give back to our local community. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this ballpark in 2025, I am proud to have Daikin alongside us to create even more special memories for our fans now and in the future.”

The Astros will use the revenue for new stadium amenities and other upgrades. It will also continue the team’s various community initiatives. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. the Houston Chronicle notes that naming rights deals may be worth anywhere from $3.5 million per year (T-Mobile park in Seattle) to $11 million per year for the Texas Rangers’ Globe Life Field.

The team’s first game in Daikin Park will take place on Monday, March 24, which it plays an exhibition against its Triple-A affiliate, the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. It will open the regular season on Thursday, March 27 against the New York Mets.

“Daikin fit all of the criteria we set out to find in a naming rights partner,” Astros senior vice president Matt Brand added. “Their name and reputation fit our iconic downtown Houston home, and their values mesh perfectly with those of the Astros. We are grateful to partner with the entire Daikin team and to help them succeed in their business goals. Daikin Park will be a special place for our fans for many years to come.”

houston astros daikin park business

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