Wednesday, November 16, 2016

RiverDogs Honored with Inaugural Charles K. Murphy Patriot Award by MiLB

RiverDogs Honored with Inaugural 
Charles K. Murphy Patriot Award by MiLB
Club honored for their continued efforts to support Armed Forces



CHARLESTON, SC – With a vibrant military community right in their backyard, the Charleston RiverDogs have consistently expressed their gratitude to the service men and women in the Lowcountry. Through their continued efforts, the RiverDogs have been awarded the inaugural Charles K. Murphy Patriot Award recognizing an individual or club for its outstanding support of the military branches and engagement with veterans as announced by the Minor League Baseball office.

As the South Atlantic League’s nominee for the newly minted award, the RiverDogs continued to go beyond paying their respects to the Lowcountry’s strong military family in 2016. The club hosted three Military Appreciation nights during the season where all active and retired service members enjoyed complementary tickets. The club also continued their support of the Wounded Warrior Corps on “Red Shirt Fridays” where fans wore red in their support of the military along with a portion of the ticket proceeds benefitting the nonprofit.

“With the strong military community that we have in Charleston, recognizing both veterans and active service members has always been a focal point for us as an organization,” said RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols. “This award is as much recognition of our efforts as it is to the fantastic support we have had from the Charleston community to show solidarity with our men and women in uniform.”

In addition to hosting several Military Appreciation Nights, the RiverDogs also honored a Military Family of the Game with the featured veteran at each home game receiving complimentary tickets, food, and merchandise along with an in-game recognition of their service.

The RiverDogs were also an instrumental part in the founding of the Palmetto Military Support Group, a civilian organization focused on the backing of the extended military family in the Lowcountry. Echols currently serves as the Vice President on the PMSG board.

“It is exciting to see the RiverDogs nationally recognized for their outstanding support to our military. It comes as no surprise to those of us who serve at Joint Base Charleston who have been the focus of their support. I'm glad to see it recognized by others,” said Colonel Robert Lyman, Commanding Officer of Joint Base Charleston and the 628th Air Base Wing. “The RiverDogs have continuously supported our Joint Base Charleston active duty, reservists, retirees and their families. We are grateful, and excited to see them recognized.”

Service men and were also frequent performers of the National Anthem at The Joe and the club had honorary commander participation to the annual “Citadel Night” where the famed Summerall Guards perform and the Cadet Chorale sings “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Additionally in 2016, the RiverDogs strengthened their ties with the local military community through the hiring of Alfonso Rogers, a recent sport management graduate of The Citadel who previously earned an associate’s degree in Aviation / Airway Management and Operations from the Community College of the Air Force in 2014, as a sales executive. Rogers also served as president of the Student Veterans of America while at the Military College of South Carolina.

The Patriot Award is named in honor of the longtime Florida State League president and U.S. Army veteran who passed away Feb. 21, 2015, at the age of 83. Murphy retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 21 years in the U.S. Army, broke into professional baseball in 1975 and led the Florida State League from 1990 until his passing. He received the Warren Giles Award for outstanding service as a league president in both 2011 and 1991, and the Friends of Baseball Chapel Award in 1994.

RiverDogs season tickets, half-season ticket packages and mini plans are now available for the 2017 campaign. The RiverDogs begin the season on April 6 when they host the Lexington Legends at Joseph P Riley, Jr. Park. Ticket information can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com

Staten Island Yankees release 2017 season schedule

STATEN ISLAND YANKEES RELEASE 2017 SEASON SCHEDULE
Opening Day scheduled for Monday, June 19, against Brooklyn


STATEN ISLAND- The Staten Island Yankees are excited to announce the team's 2017 season schedule. The Baby Bombers kick off another action-packed summer at home for a 16th season at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George on Monday, June 19, against cross-bridge rival the Brooklyn Cyclones. See the attached document for the entire 2017 schedule.

For the first time since 2013, Staten Island will open the season at home on a Monday (June 19) against Brooklyn. The team then returns to the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George on Saturday, June 24, for their first three-game series of the season as they take on division foe the Aberdeen IronBirds.

While fans will have to wait until early 2017 for the promotional schedule, dates such as July 4 vs. the Hudson Valley Renegades and the regular season home finale on Sept. 6 vs. Brooklyn should be games to mark in your calendar.

More information regarding our rebranding efforts will be available in the coming weeks.

Fans can reserve season tickets and partial plans for the 2017 season by contacting a Staten Island Yankees ticket rep at (718) 720-9265 or by email at tickets@siyanks.com. Contact us today to reserve your tickets or for more information about the 2017 season.

The Staten Island Yankees are the Single A-Short Season Affiliate of the New York Yankees and play at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George. The Staten Island Yankees are six-time New York-Penn League Champions (2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009 and 2011). For more information, visit siyanks.com.

Arizona Fall League MVP’s and the Future


Earlier this morning I discussed the possibility of the New York Yankees having a second MVP award winner from the Arizona Fall League in the last three seasons as Gleyber Torres seems to be the early candidate for the award in 2016. Greg Bird won the award in 2014 with a monster fall and we all watched as he burst onto the scene in 2015 in a big way with the big league club, could we be seeing that soon with Torres? Also, is there a direct correlation, at least lately, with Arizona Fall league success and success at the Major League level shortly thereafter?

To discuss this we have to see the list of recent AFL MVP’s. For simplicity sake we will go back to the last ten seasons of the Arizona Fall League and look at who won the MVP Award and what they did the following season to see if there is a pattern emerging.

2015 – Adam Engel

Reached AAA in 2016. Should make his MLB debut in 2017.

2014 – Greg Bird

We all watched as Bird burst onto the scene and became the “Birdman of New York” in 2015 taking over for the injured Mark Teixeira. His defense was good, his power was great and his poised was unmatched by anyone as a rookie since some kid named Derek Sanderson Jeter came up through the system. He was truly impressive in his short tenure before a shoulder injury derailed his 2016 campaign.

2013 – Kris Bryant

Can you say burst onto the scene in a big way, again? Bryant has been nothing but spectacular since reaching the Major Leagues and will likely have an MVP Award to sit beside his World Series trophy tomorrow night when the major awards are announced.

2012 – Chris McGuiness

2011 – Nolan Arenado

Arenado may be one of the best, if not the best, offensive third baseman in all of Major League Baseball right now. Sure he plays 81 games inside of Coors Field year in and year out but his splits are impressive on the road as well. Arenado should probably be a perennial MVP candidate in the National League for the foreseeable future.

2010 – Dustin Ackley

Ackley was a solid player in Seattle although he never shared the same successes as Arenado and Bryant. Ackley was doing well as a Yankee before another shoulder injury derailed his 2016 campaign as well. Ackley can still be a super utility player on any MLB team right now assuming the health of that shoulder.

2009 – Grant Desme

2008 – Tommy Hanson

Hanson pitched well for the Atlanta Braves before meeting an untimely demise as a member of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Hanson was never an ace but he was a solid pitcher in Atlanta that had his entire career ahead of him before the injury bug hit him.

2007 – Sam Fuld

2006 – Chip Cannon



Predicting the AL & NL Cy Young Award Winner


Today the Baseball Writers Association of America will reveal who they chose to win both the American League and National League Cy Young Awards and before they do I wanted to take a stab at predicting who I thought they would pick. This is not necessarily who I would have picked if I had a vote in the BBWAA and this may or may not be who I voted for in the IBWAA ballot but just who I think will be announced as the winner tonight on MLB Network so keep that in mind.

Without further ado here are my picks for the awards tonight:

American League Finalists 
Corey Kluber, Indians
Rick Porcello, Red Sox
Justin Verlander, Tigers

In the American League I think we will have one of the closest votes that we have seen I quite some time. All three of these pitchers deserve to be finalists but one didn’t really take the necessary step forward this season to differentiate themselves and distance themselves from the rest of the pack. Ultimately I think Kluber wins the award with Verlander finishing a very close second but it wouldn’t surprise me to see any of these three men win the award. In years past when there wasn’t such a importance and relevance to sabermetrics I think Porcello and his magical 20+ wins plateau season would run away with the award but it goes to show you, assuming he does not win the award, how far the league has come since “Moneyball” became a thing.

National League Finalists
Kyle Hendricks, Cubs
Jon Lester, Cubs
Max Scherzer, Nationals


In the National League I know a lot of fans will likely ride the emotion of the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series and want or even expect either Lester or Hendricks, the ERA leader in 2016, to win the award but you have to remember that these awards are voted on before the end of the regular season. Max Scherzer will likely win the award based on his 2016 stat line followed distantly by Hendricks. In my opinion if Jose Fernandez had not passed away so suddenly I’m not sure Lester would even be a finalist this season but that’s just me. 

IBWAA SELECTS MADDON, FRANCONA IN MANAGER OF THE YEAR VOTE

IBWAA SELECTS MADDON, FRANCONA IN MANAGER OF THE YEAR VOTE
 
Los Angeles – The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) announced the winners in its Manager of the Year category Tuesday, with the Chicago Cubs’ Joe Maddon winning the group’s National League award, and Terry Francona, of the Cleveland Indians, being selected in the American League.
 
Maddon received 85 first-place votes (48.57%) and 585 points while being named on 157 of 175 ballots (88.70%). Others receiving first-place votes include Dave Roberts (66), Dusty Baker (10) and Terry Collins (10).
 
Francona received 102 first-place votes (58.62%) and 683 points while being named on 167 of 174 ballots (94.35%). Others receiving first-place votes include Jeff Banister (27), Buck Showalter (12), John Farrell (9) and Joe Girardi (5).
 
Election results are as follows:
 
AL Manager:
 
1st Place:                  Terry Francona, Cleveland Indians – 683 points
2nd Place:                 Jeff Banister, Texas Rangers 
– 390 
3rd Place :                  
Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles – 193
 
NL Manager:
 
1st Place:                  Joe Maddon, Chicago Cubs – 585 points
2nd Place :                 
Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers – 494
3rd Place:                  Dusty Baker, Washington Nationals – 264
 
Ballot tabulations by Brian Wittig & Associates, using the Borda Method.
 
The IBWAA was established July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). Voting for full season awards takes place in September of each year, with selections being announced in November. The IBWAA also holds a Hall of Fame election in December of each year, with results being announced the following January.
 
Among approximately 460 others, IBWAA members include Jim Bowden, Jim Caple, Schoenfield and Mark A. Simon of ESPN.com; Tim Brown, Yahoo! Sports; Craig Calcaterra, NBC Sports Hardball Talk; Bill Chuck, GammonsDaily.com; Derrick Goold, St. Louis Post-Dispatch; Jon Heyman, Today’s Knuckleball; Danny Knobler, Bleacher Report; Kevin Kennedy; Kostya Kennedy, Sports Illustrated; Will Leitch, Sports on Earth; Bruce Markusen, Hardball Times; Ross Newhan; Dayn Perry and Matt Snyder, CBSSports.com; Tom Hoffarth and J.P. Hoornstra Los Angeles Daily News; Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times; Tracy Ringolsby, MLB.com; Ken Rosenthal, FoxSports.com; Eno Sarris, FanGraphs and Jesse Spector, Sporting News.
 
Association membership is open to any and all Internet baseball writers, with a lifetime fee of $75. Discounts for groups and scholarships are available. Members must be 18 years of age to apply.
 
For more information please visit www.ibwaa.com.

Weekly AFL Check In: Gleyber Torres


The New York Yankees are well on their way to having two of the last three Arizona Fall League MVP Award winners with the impressive fall that Gleyber Torres has put together. Torres has defied expectations and has excelled against advanced pitching and talent and all signs point to him joining the 2014 Arizona Fall League MVP Greg Bird as two Yankees to win the award in recent years.


The AFL and success down there has shown to be a precursor to future and almost immediate success in the Major Leagues in some cases so this is nothing but good news for the Yankees and their organization.


This Day In New York Yankees History 11/16: Yankees,Yomiuri Giants & Hideki Matsui


On this day in 2002 the New York Yankees and the Japanese League Yomiuri Giants sign a deal that creates a partnership between the two biggest teams in their respected leagues. Both teams hope to benefit from improved scouting, marketing, and other benefits that will help both teams. Enter Hideki Matsui in 2003.