Lakeland, Fla. – Furniture is still arriving, piece by piece, in Al Avila’s new office at Tigertown, which sits three stories above Publix Field. Through glass panels he or a visitor can take in the ballfield below and a full panorama of Marchant Stadium’s awesome, $48-million makeover.
But, ah, it’s Avila’s team folks wonder about. The Tigers came to Florida with a roster flush with last year’s players. And now the Tigers are 3-8, with team pitching (6.54 ERA) that’s 28th in the early days of spring games, and hitting (.233) that’s 26th.
Folks back home are nervous about the Grapefruit League scene and what it portends for Avila’s gang.