An item in today's Phila. Daily News talking about whether Phils' phenom Brett Myers will get to face Barry Bonds next week says that Bonds might not return from his hamstring injury on one of the two fields in the NL that still has artificial turf.

So it dawned on me--with some teams getting new ballparks and other teams just getting rid of the plastic, the Vet and Montreal's Olympic Stadium are the only two left. The Vet closes after the 2003 season and the Expos will presumably be contracted or move elsewhere by then. So in 2004 the National League will probably be an all-natural grass league. Finally.

Does anyone know what AL parks still have the fake grass carpet?

The Twins' Baggie Dome, and I think one other I''m blanking on?

Off the top of my head, Toronto's Skydome, Tampa Bay's Tropicana Field, and Minnesota's Mausoleum (I mean, Metrodome ... sorry, but it always looks so dark in there). Also, doesn't The Safe in Seattle have plastic? It looks like it, but I'm not sure.

Good god, NO! Safeco field in Seattle has 100% natural, biodegradable, cow-munching grass. The old Kingdome, of course, had the plastic stuff.

Oops, just checked on the Mariners' site. Yuppers, it's 100% natural. Gee, it sure looks fake sometimes! I wonder if the groundskeepers would take that as a compliment or an insult?