One of the questions hovering around the Eastern League this off-season is the plight of the Norwich Navigators.

 

Like so many EL franchises before them, the Navigators prospered in the early days of their existence but the novelty has worn off.

 

The Navigators drew 281,473 to Dodd Stadium in their inaugural 1995 campaign when EL ball in Eastern Connecticut was a novelty. Buttressed by an affiliation with the Yankees that brought in a stream of big-league rehabbers, the franchise held its own through the late 1990s.

 

Two years ago, the Yankees left Norwich for Trenton and were replaced by the Giants. While affiliation isn't the only reason, attendance fell to 158,622 in 2003 and advanced only slightly last year (168,559). With the departure of New Haven after the 2002 campaign, Norwich landed in last place.

 

The Navigators were sold in the off-season to boxing media mogul Lou DiBella. As NBC-TV 30 reported last week, DiBella said he would consider moving the team after its current lease runs out (2006) if attendance didn't pick up.

 

EL President Joe McEacharn, in Farmington Thursday to attend the New Britain Rock Cats Hot Stove Luncheon, still feels that Norwich has promise as a Double-A venue.

 

"We'd be very hesitant (to approve of a move). We'd look at it very carefully," McEacharn said. "The State of Connecticut stepped up to the plate and built a very good facility up there.

 

"There a lot of things you can question about dwindling attendance and location of the park (within a suburban industrial park) have been called into question. We're not going to leave people high and dry with a nice ballpark sitting up there. ...

 

"I think (DiBella's) emotions probably got the best of him. He was hoping to get it going. That should be done in private for everybody's sake."

 

McEacharn said DiBella owned a small percentage of the ultra-successful Altoona (Pa.) Curve but his foray into Norwich is his first experience at the day-to-day operation of a club.

 

"You often times see that enthusiasm from his boxing side pouring over immediately and it's a different industry, but no harm, no foul," McEacharn said. "I think everybody recognizes that that's just all it is. It's a sign of his enthusiasm more than anything."

 

NEW STADIUM ON TARGET: McEacharn expects the new stadium in Manchester, N.H., to be ready for opening day when the Rock Cats visit the New Hampshire Fisher Cats in the 2005 EL lid-lifter.

 

"It's going very, very well," said McEacharn, who toured the site Wednesday. "(The stadium should be ready) barring unforeseen circumstances. The weather has been factored in. They're moving right along.

 

"They're well ahead of schedule. I don't foresee any problem."

 

Former Red Sox infielder John Valentin will be the Fisher Cats' new hitting coach. Dave LaRoche, a 14-year major-league veteran, will also be on the staff. Mike Basso returns as Fisher Cats manager.

 

STATE OF THE LEAGUE: McEacharn said the EL is on the best footing since he began his association with the league in 1997.

 

He acknowledged the Navigators' struggle but the recent 10-year agreement forged between Minor and Major League Baseball exudes stability.

 

"It's no secret Norwich has been struggling but we're in real good shape everywhere," he said. "We're not moving franchises. We look at stability as a real strength and moving around as a weakness."

 

He aspires to hit the 4-million mark in league attendance after the league attracted 3.9 in 2004.

 

McEacharn praised MLB for tightening the steroid policy. He believes the more stringent regulation will effect a trickle-down in terms of the game's integrity. The minor leagues continue to maintain a zero-tolerance policy.

 

"We have very few problems," he said. "You don't see Magilla Gorillas in Minor League Baseball."

 

With ticket prices in New York and Boston continuing to skyrocket in accordance with player salaries, McEacharn said the Eastern League ticket will become more and more appealing.

 

"Our walk-up tickets are as low as $4," he said. "God love the Red Sox but their box seats have gone up to $85. We're a different product. A family can afford to come out.

 

"It's unfortunate because we're partners with our major-league guys but we are two different products. The high prices in the major leagues are benefiting us. Everybody in Minor League Baseball recognizes that ticket prices are our solution."

 

A box seat at New Britain Stadium is $10, bringing up the question whether the major league experience is worth 8.5 times more than the affordability and convenience of EL baseball.

 

"To the average fan, you can't tell (the difference)," he said. "Other distinguishing factors are ego, accessibility and passion. There are a lot of major league players who have passion, work hard and do what we would expect of a major-league athlete, but their ego gets in the way as far as accessibility.

 

"You find that the big-league players who are most accessible are not your stars. You have to understand their privacy issues and all that, but (consider) the number of guys who come through here that are going to be big-league stars."