Saturday, March 26, 2016

Ballpark Food: The Diamondbacks Cheeseburger Dog


You guys knows me, I love food and I especially love ballpark food. Every year around this time new and creative inventions and dishes are released to hype up people like me, and for good reason because it works, and to garner attention and anticipation. The Arizona Diamondbacks did just that this week when they announced the release of their “Cheeseburger Dog.”

It’s self-explanatory but I’ll still explain nonetheless. It’s a hot dog, but it’s also a cheeseburger. The hamburgers are char-grilled and deep-fried with bacon, lettuce, tomato and a special sauce inside of a hot dog bun. The Cheeseburger Dog joins the Churro Dog, the MegaDog and the 16-inch fried D-Bat Dog at Chase Field this season.


Enjoy! Just don’t tell me about it because I’m already hungry!

MiLB.com Ranks Yankees Farm 17th Overall


I am a few days behind on this and I apologize, sometimes I miss things and sometimes there just simply isn’t enough time in the day. With that said I wanted to inform you, in case you missed it like I did, that MiLB.com released their rankings for the respective farm systems around the league for all 30 MLB teams and the New York Yankees system came in ranked 17th overall.

If the Yankees would have been ranked 7th overall, 17th or 27th overall I would have put the same amount of stock into the rankings, little to none. Organizational farm system rankings are difficult, subjective and as close to guesswork as they come for even a respectable site like MiLB.com. While we have come a long way the amount of information on prospects, especially in the lower levels of the system, is limited and sometimes rare. These experts rely on scouting reports, opinions and scouting reports and rarely, if ever, see most of these players in person. It’s also subjective because these rankings look at the top-tier prospects first and foremost and ignore the “solid” prospects for the most part.

In my opinion, there goes that whole opinion thing again, the Yankees have a better farm system than 17th overall. Why do I say this? They showed last season that many of their young players could hold their own in the Major Leagues, the ultimate goal, where few of their prospects looked to be bothered by the limelight. While I understand Greg Bird and Luis Severino are no longer considered prospects I find that a system with Aaron Judge, Jorge Mateo, James Kaprielian, Gary Sanchez, Luis Torrens, Ian Clarkin, Robert Refsnyder and a slew of others is much better than 17th. They have an insane amount of middle infield and specifically shortstop depth that I could name all day long and their pitching, maybe headed up by Domingo Acevedo, is beginning to make itself known in the system as well. The Yankees might not have a blue chip, can’t miss prospect like Byron Buxton but that doesn’t mean the system won’t be solid and it doesn’t mean the players won’t be good.


This isn’t a Top 10 system by any means but it shouldn’t be in the second half of the rankings either. Just my two cents, right or wrong. 

Yankees ST: New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays 3/26


All left-handed hitters beware, J.A. Happ is making a start this afternoon against the New York Yankees. I don't mean to harp on Happ much but he has hurt a couple Yankees by hitting them by a pitch in recent years, accidentally I'm sure. Back in 2013 Happ hit Robinson Cano and injured him only a year or so removed from breaking Curtis Granderson's arm with a pitch while he was with the Yankees. Just get out healthy, that's what's important here.

The game will be played at 1:07 pm ET and can be seen on MLB TV. Go Yankees!

MLB Trade Rumors & Their Top 10 Free Agents for Next Winter


MLB Trade Rumors is the king of the crop when it comes to covering your winter trade rumors, news and whispers and it’s because of the great group of people and hardworking individuals that they assembled. As the internet gets bigger and the sport gets bigger Major League Baseball is becoming more of a year-round sport and the guys and girls over at MLBTR never take a day off. In fact they are already looking towards the end of the 2016 season and the winter before the 2017 season. The crew over there released a power ranking of the Top 10 2017 MLB free agents and that list included one member of the New York Yankees.

1.       Stephen Strasburg
2.       Carlos Gomez
3.       Yoenis Cespedes (assuming he opts out)
4.       Jose Bautista
5.       Edwin Encarnacion
6.       Josh Reddick
7.       Andrew Cashner
8.       Kenley Jansen
9.       Adrian Beltre
10.   Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman.  Chapman is right there with Jansen in terms of relief dominance, regularly punching out at least 42% of batters faced.  The 28-year-old is the hardest-throwing pitcher alive, averaging 99.5 miles per hour on his fastball last year and over 100 the year before.  However, his upcoming free agency is clouded by an incident that occurred at his home last October.  In a police report uncovered by Tim Brown and Jeff Passan of Yahoo, Chapman reportedly pushed and choked his girlfriend and fired a gun repeatedly in his garage.  Chapman denies harming his girlfriend, but chose not to appeal the 30-game suspension handed down by MLB as part of its domestic violence policy.  Even if Chapman avoids further incidents as a member of the Yankees, this one will affect his free agency after the season.  Every interested team will conduct due diligence, and perhaps several will emerge with enough comfort to offer Chapman a large four-year deal.  At this point, it’s difficult to say.


None or all of these Top 10 could receive extensions from their teams between now and next October/November but they all seem unlikely to sign an extension and not test the market, especially Chapman. To see the original post and give the group over there a view or two CLICK HERE. Thank you. 

Trenton Thunder Press Release: Welcome North Open House Set for Tuesday, April 5

Welcome North Open House Set for Tuesday, April 5
WelcomeNorth2016_Email

The Thunder, Double-A Affiliate of the New York Yankees, will host their annual "Welcome North Open House," event on Tuesday, April 5 from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM.

Fans will have a chance to see the 2016 Thunder's first practice of the year when the gates to ARM & HAMMER Park open at 3:00pm. Following practice, fans will have the opportunity to meet the team and seek autographs for approximately one hour. Concession stands will be open throughout the event and will serve free hot dogs and sodas. This is a rain or shine event that will conclude for the general public at 6:30pm.

"We're excited to have our fans back at ARM & HAMMER Park to meet the 2016 Thunder players and coaches," said Thunder GM/COO Jeff Hurley. "We've done quite a bit around the ballpark in anticipation of the season and we are excited for the season to get started."

Members of the Thunder's 90% Club, a group of season ticket holders who attended at least 90% of the team's games last year, will have a special reception in the Yankee Club and Conference Center from 5:00pm until 7:30pm. The reception will feature a buffet dinner and an approximately 45 minute exclusive "meet and greet" with Thunder team members.

WELCOME NORTH OPEN HOUSE
WHEN: Tuesday, April 5, 2016: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM, 7:30 PM for 90% Club
WHO: Open to Media, Sponsors, Season Ticket Holders and General Public

Gates Open For Fans: 3:00 PM
Stadium Tours: 3:00 - 5:00 PM
Team Practice Ends: 5:15 PM
Player Autograph Session: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Players visit 90% Club in Yankee Club (Private): 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM
Ballpark Closes: 7:30 PM

Times are approximate and may change

The 2016 season, the 23rd in franchise history, will begin at ARM & HAMMER Park on April 7 when the Thunder host the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers) at 7:00 p.m. For more information on the Thunder and to purchase tickets, visit www.TrentonThunder.com or call 609-394-3300.

This Day in New York Yankees History 3/26: Casey Stengel is Arrested


On this day in 1957 Yankees manager Casey Stengel is arrested and released on a $50 bail after allegedly cursing and kicking a newspaper photographer during an exhibition game in St. Petersburg.


Also on this day in 1951 Mickey Mantle hit a home run estimated at 650 feet in an exhibition game against the University of Southern California at Bovard Field. Mantle, a rookie, also had a single, triple, and another home run in his first ever Yankees West Coast trip.


Finally on this day in 1936 the New York Yankees signed future Hall of Fame pitcher Red Ruffing to a deal worth $12,000.