MAJOR BLOGS.net (MLN Sports) – Indianapolis, IND. - Lee Landers, president of the Appalachian League the past 14 seasons, had his contract extended for two more years Tuesday at Baseball's Winter Meetings.

Before his new term expires, Landers wants to clear up a problem that dates back to the Nixon Administration.

“We take a survey (of each Appalachian League facility) every year,” said Landers. “There's a lot of different criteria in it. The field staff fills it out, the managers, and the umpires fill it out. We have it all compiled. You can see where they rate in the league, and the comments about what needs to be done.”

The surveys indcate DeVault Memorial Stadium in Bristol, Va., the home of the Chicago White Sox's Rookie Advanced affiliate, needs improvement.

“It appears they're going to completely start from scratch and do a new infield,” Landers said. “It's a two-year plan, with the turf and the dirt. And they'll clean up a drainage problem in right field.”

The drainage concern, Landers explained, is due to an uneven outfield. “We're going to take a look at that and renovate it. There's a unique slope in center field. It has been there since the first opening day, whenever that was, in the 1930s.”

Landers was off by nearly four decades: DeVault opened its gates in 1969, Richard Nixon's first year in the White House.

Hunnicutt Field, in Princeton, Va., which dates back to 1988, Ronald Reagan's last year as president, is also due for improvements.

“They're looking at completely renovating their whole field,” said Landers. “Infield and outfield.”

Princeton is a Tampa Bay affiliate.

Landers predicts success in 2010 for Appalachian League clubs. “Everybody's on the same page,” he said, “and very optimistic. I look for a great year this coming season. We had no turnover in affiliation, and it's always good to go into a season knowing who's in what slots.”

- Pete CAVA