Yankees Have Lost $166 Million in Ticket Revenue

The New York Yankees built a new stadium across the street from their old, historic stadium before the 2009 season to a bag of mixed reviews. Some fans didn’t want to see the old stadium and all its history torn down in lieu of a new stadium while others welcomed the change. The Yankees presumably welcomed the change because of the added revenue a new stadium tends to bring a team and organization, well that was the plan anyway. That has not gone according to plan for the Bronx Bombers according to a report that ran in the New York Times this week.

According to the report the New York Yankees have lost a whopping $166 million in ticket and suite revenues since opening their new stadium back in 2009. These numbers have to be reported on since the tax payers of New York are helping to pay for the stadium. Here is the official press release:

"The financial figures, from the public filings the Yankees are required to make on their stadium bonds, represent a 42 percent loss in ticket and suite revenues over the last seven seasons. And despite the team's compelling play this season, attendance through the first quarter of their home schedule is down from the same point last year."

The drop-off in ticket and suite revenues also comes at a time when the team's expenses are still among the highest in baseball."

The average attendance at Yankee Stadium per game is 35,642 which is nearly 12,000 fans a night less from Yankee Stadium III’s highest numbers. Despite this the Yankees are still the most valuable franchise in all of Major League Baseball according to Forbes and the team also has the second highest payroll in all of MLB behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers.

We have a few former season ticket holders here… what are your thoughts? Leave them below in the comments section or drop us a tweet on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes. 

So it Seems We’re Taking the Day Off

Well, not on the blog. The Yankees are taking the day off though and boy do they need it after spending 18 innings with the Chicago Cubs only to do nine more innings with the Cincinnati Reds the very next night. It figures that those two teams would go for 18 innings while on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball and not during one of the Cubs numerous day games, huh? Oh well, it was fun and New York won.

So today we have a long-awaited and much-needed off day. Enjoy it. Have a great day everyone.

True Statement — The Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field!…

Credit:  Chris Sweda/The Chicago Tribune

While the Cubs did have their chances, Saturday’s game felt like it was over after the Yankees took their first swings in the top of the first inning en route to the 11-6 victory.  Admittedly, I felt badly for Cubs starter Brett Anderson.  He gave up three doubles, two singles and a bunt with a throwing error that led to multiple runs.  When Anderson departed after 23 pitches, he had gotten only one out…a swinging strikeout by Aaron Judge.  The Yankees held a 5-0 advantage, and we were off the races.

Anderson was once a promising young starter for the Oakland A’s.  He’s pitched very well when healthy, but unfortunately health has not been his friend.  He made 31 starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2015 and then missed most of last year after surgery for a bulging disk in his back.  After yesterday’s start, Anderson was showing signs of back trouble so yet another DL-stint is likely.  After the game, Anderson said that it was “embarrassing”.  He went on to say “Whenever the backup catcher gets more outs than you, it’s not a positive”. Cubs catcher Miguel Montero pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Cubs although he did walk two. Hopefully Anderson is able to recover from his latest setback.

Credit:  Chris Sweda/The Chicago Tribune

Jordan Montgomery (2-1) was solid again for the Yankees as he continues to cement his role in the starting rotation.  He made it into the seventh inning until running into some trouble after throwing 100 pitches.  He allowed 3 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), and struck out 3.  He did walk 4 batters.  After two groundouts in the top of the 7th, it looked like it was going to be another quiet inning for Monty.  But he walked Jon Jay and it was followed by a run-scoring triple by former Tampa Bay Rays nemesis Ben Zobrist which ended Montgomery’s day.  

Aaron Hicks, subbing for Jacoby Ellsbury who is still nursing a sore elbow, delivered the clinching shot, a three-run homer in the eighth inning, that put the Yanks up 11-3.  The Cubbies tried to mount a rally in the bottom of the 8th against reliever Tommy Layne, scoring three runs.  Adam Warren came in with a runner at first (Miguel Montero) and two outs.  He allowed a double to Jon Jay which advanced Montero to third.  Ben Zobrist came to bat with a chance to chip away at the 11-6 Yanks lead but Warren struck him out swinging.  Another nice job by the  2016 World Series ring holder.  

Credit:  Tannen Maury/EPA

Hicks finished the day 4-for-5 with 3 RBI’s and 3 runs scored.  He continues to impress and is making it hard for Manager Joe Girardi to keep him on the bench.  I read one columnist who suggested that Hicks should permanently replace center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury.  I wouldn’t necessarily argue but are we really only four years into Ellsbury’s seven-year $153 contract?  The end of the contract seems so friggin’ far away.  Despite his recent heroics, Brett Gardner remains the more marketable outfielder and it seems that it would make more sense to move him to make room for Hicks…unless GM Brian Cashman would hoodwink some other GM into taking Ellsbury off his hands.  Maybe ply former buddy Billy Eppler with some tequila when the Yankees visit Anaheim in mid-June.  

The other hitting star of the game was the former Chicago Cub Starlin Castro.  You know that he enjoyed his fourth inning home run.  He even paused for a moment to enjoy the view as the ball traveled to the left outfield bleachers.  Increasing his batting average to .381, Castro went 3-for-4.  He had 3 RBI’s and 2 runs scored.  Starlin has been enjoying his time at Wrigley Field so I am sure these games will be memorable to him for a very long time.  

Credit:  Chris Sweda/The Chicago Tribune

The Yankees maintained their half-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East.  The O’s held off a late challenge by the Chicago White Sox to win 6-5.  Sadly the Boston Red Sox also won.  

I’ve said it before but Tommy Layne is just not doing it for me this year.  His appearance always seems to be accompanied by multiple runs for the opponent.  His ERA is now an unsightly 9.45 after giving up the 3 runs to the Cubs while only recording 2 outs.  I will gladly take Chasen Shreve as my lefty specialist over Layne.  I think we’re seeing why the Boston Red Sox gave up on Layne last year.

I wonder if we’ll see Matt Holliday at first base today as the Yankees face an old foe in former Boston Red Sox ace Jon Lester.  It should be a great game as the Yankees go for a sweep with Luis Severino on the mound.

The Yankees completed their off-season trade that sent reliever Nick Goody to the Cleveland Indians.  On Friday, they acquired 21 year-old pitcher Yoiber Marquina, a converted catcher, who underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this month.  The Yankees see promise in Marquina’s lively arm, but meanwhile Goody is delivering the goods for the Indians.  He has an 0.00 ERA in 7 appearances with 10 strikeouts.  He has allowed only three hits in 9 1/3 innings of work.  Sounds like the Indians are making up for lost ground with the talent they gave up in the Andrew Miller trade.

I saw the debate that TGP’s Daniel Burch sparked yesterday when he suggested that the Yankees should trade backup catcher Austin Romine.  My first question is why?  Unless you can include Romine in a trade for a frontline pitcher, I do not see the motivation to make a deal.  He has shown that he can be a very valuable backup catcher.  It’s not that I dislike Kyle Higashioka, but Romine has earned his shot to be a member of the New York Yankees.  If you tell me that the Yankees could acquire Gerrit Cole from the Pittsburgh Pirates (don’t we always send our catchers to the Steel City?) by including Romine with other prospects, I’m on board.  Otherwise, I think Romine should stay.  

I am not trying to look ahead but the Yankees will, for the first time, face the ramifications of their  December 2015 trade for closer Aroldis Chapman.  The team will be traveling to Cincinnati after they complete the three game series against the Cubs later today.  On Monday, they’ll face former top pitching prospect Rookie Davis who is scheduled to start opposite Masahiro Tanaka.  Davis is the only player on the Reds MLB roster in the deal that sent Davis, third baseman Eric Jagielo, pitcher Caleb Cotham, and second baseman Tony Renda to Cincy.  

Credit:  Justin Berl/Getty Images

Have a great Sunday!  Let’s hope the wind carries us to a sweep out of Chicago!

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Chicago Cubs 5/6

Ladies and gentleman we are in for a treat tonight as the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs are back at it again inside Wrigley Field. This time these two teams will be playing under the lights though as Wrigley hosts these two historic MLB teams for a primetime matchup. With such a great matchup comes great responsibility and the two pitchers shouldered with such pressure are Jordan Montgomery for the Yankees, the rookie, and Brett Anderson for the Cubs, the veteran. This should be another fun one in the Windy City.

Montgomery has been just what the Yankees needed out of him since making his MLB debut with the team last month. Montgomery keeps the Yankees in every game and gives his teammates a chance to win and that was on display in his last start as well against the Baltimore Orioles. In the start Montgomery allowed three runs in five innings of work keeping the Yankees around long enough for Aaron Judge and company to bash the team to victory.

Anderson did not keep his team in the game and did not give Chicago a chance to win the game last time out lasting just 1.1 innings while giving up seven runs on seven hits. In Anderson’s defense he was dealing with heavy winds and rain during his last start but either way I’ll take that kind of production out of him once again tonight in Chicago.

The game will be played at 7:15 pm ET inside Wrigley Field and can be seen on FOX. I’m not sure how this will affect MLB TV but I’d venture to say the game will be blacked out everywhere but on FOX. You can also follow along on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Enjoy the game and as always Go Yankees!

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Chicago Cubs 5/5

Afternoon baseball in Chicago is about as American as it gets but having the New York Yankees join those Chicago Cubs on a Friday afternoon inside Wrigley Field… well that’s just awesome and I don’t care who you are. The Yankees and the Cubs kick off their three-game weekend set this afternoon with a stellar pitching matchup that pits Michael Pineda for New York against Kyle Hendricks for Chicago. The game will be played at 2:20 pm ET inside Wrigley Field and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV. You can also follow along with the game at work like I am or in your cars by tuning into WFAN.

Follow us on Twitter by giving @GreedyStripes a follow. Enjoy the game and Go Yankees!

I Left My Heart In San Fran…I mean, Chicago!…

Credit:  Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune

ChiTown is spreading the love for our second baseman, Starlin Castro.  From comments by Cubs manager Joe Maddon “He was a great teammate here” to current Cubs players like Anthony Rizzo “He played hard and played every day”, the warm accolades about Castro are overflowing in the Chicago papers.  As Rizzo went on to say, “He was here for a while and part of this two-year run.  But I’m sure he was pulling for us.  I’m sure it would have been great for him to be a part of it, too, but I think a little part of him was.”

The Cubs will honor Castro before today’s game at Wrigley Field as a thank you for his contributions while a long-time member of the Cubs organization.  From the 2010 to 2015 seasons, Castro played in 891 games and batted .281/.321/.404.  He hit 62 home runs with 363 RBI’s and 75 stolen bases. 

I am sure that it will be tough for Castro to watch Adam Warren and Aroldis Chapman accept their World Series rings from Cubs President Theo Epstein and Maddon, considering he was part of the rebuilding effort that led to the championship run.  He played six seasons in Chicago’s North Side, while you could piece together only one season collectively for Warren and Chapman (if you include Warren’s time in the minors). 

Credit:  Jonathan Danie/Getty Images

I fully expect a loud and rousing ovation for Castro when he comes to bat for the first time today.  He has always said the right things about his time in Chicago and I don’t think I really understood before how willing Castro was to accept the position change from shortstop to second base during his final months as a Cub.  It had to have been a huge letdown but he didn’t complain or argue.  He embraced the change and has continued to improve as a second baseman.  

I am very happy that he’ll be recognized by the city of Chicago and Cubs fans.  But of course, once the first pitch is thrown, he is a Yankee and his job will be to beat the Cubs.

While three Yankees will be having fun reminiscing, one Yankee returns to the field of his arch-rival.  With so many years in St Louis as a member of the Cardinals, Wrigley Field is like a Yankee setting foot on Fenway Park turf for Matt Holliday.  He’ll have no trouble going to war when the games begin.  

Credit:  Getty Images

It will also be interesting to see how Chapman does.  I don’t expect any spillover from his negative comments about his handling by Joe Maddon in the World Series (the two have apparently talked and mended fences since then, plus Chapman was right).  I think Aroldis will be a pro when he takes the mound.  He played a huge role in getting the Cubs to the World Series and certainly deserves the ring he’ll receive.

Credit:  Jon Durr/Getty Images

I forgot to mention Yankees manager Joe Girardi as this is a homecoming for him too.  A Chicagoland native, he is also a former Cub (1989-1992, 2000-2002).  I am sure that he’ll have fun visiting with friends and family.  When I think of Girardi and the Cubs, it always reminds me of a very tragic day.  On June 22, 2002, Girardi, then the Cubs catcher, took the microphone to speak to the Wrigley Field crowd moments after a game with the Cardinals was scheduled to begin.  A very emotional Girardi spoke the words “I thank you for your patience.  We regret to inform you because of a tragedy in the Cardinals family, the Commissioner has cancelled the game today.  I ask you to say a prayer for the St Louis Cardinals family.”  The crowd was silenced.  The name had not yet been released but we subsequently found out that Cardinals pitcher Darryl Kile had been found dead (heart disease) in his hotel room. I have always admired Girardi for how he handled the situation that day even though he didn’t know Kile.  

Among the Coaching Staff, Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild was the long-time pitching coach for the Cubs prior to his arrival in New York (from 2002 to 2010).  Bullpen coach Mike Harkey played for the Cubs in 1988 and 1990-1993.  

Here are the pitching match-ups for the Yankees-Cubs series:

FRIDAY

NYY:  Michael Pineda (3-1, 3.14 ERA)

CHC:  Kyle Hendricks (2-1, 4.18 ERA)

SATURDAY

NYY:  Jordan Montgomery (1-1, 4.15 ERA)

CHC:  Brett Anderson (2-1, 6.23 ERA)

SUNDAY

NYY:  Luis Severino (2-2, 3.86 ERA)

CHC:  Jon Lester (1-1, 3.67 ERA)

Gary Sanchez is expected to be activated before today’s game.  He is the one guy capable of stealing ratings away from The Aaron Judge Show.  It’s going to be so much fun watching those two in the lineup together again.  It’s an awesome time to be a Yankees fan!

Credit:  Seth Wenig/AP

Have a great Friday!  Let’s show the World Champions that we can play this game!

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Chicago Cubs 5/5

How’s this for a historic matchup? The New York Yankees are fresh off their off day yesterday and heading to the Windy City of Chicago to take on the Chicago Cubs in a three-game set inside Wrigley Field. In the first matchup of the series these two teams will send possibly their best starters thus far this season to kick things off as the Yankees send Michael Pineda to the mound to square off against Kyle Hendricks for the Cubs.

Pineda pitched well once again in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles allowing two unearned runs in 5.1 innings of work walking one batter and striking out eight. Pineda is back to being the high strikeout and low walk guy the Yankees traded for all those years ago striking out 37 batters this far this season to just four walks in 28.2 innings pitched.

Hendricks faces his second consecutive American League East team tonight after making his last start against the Boston Red Sox. In that start Hendricks lasted six innings allowing just three hits including a Hanley Ramirez two-run home run. More of those please.

The game will be played at 2:20 pm ET inside Wrigley Field and can be seen on the YES Network in New York, MLB Network nationally, CSN-C in Chicago and on MLB TV wherever you are your device are. You can also follow along on the radio the old fashioned way with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Enjoy the game and as always, Go Yankees!

What About Jason Hammel?

The free agent market on paper looks pretty thin this season in Major League Baseball, especially when you consider last year’s class, but recently a couple a veteran arms got added to the fold. The first was Derek Holland who saw his option declined by the Texas Rangers and also saw his name show up here on the blog yesterday and now we have former Chicago Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel joining the fold. Should the Yankees be interested in the man with the first World Series ring since the 1908 season on his finger in the Bronx?

Hammel doesn’t exactly fit what the Yankees are trying to achieve in the youth department but to think the Yankees will have an entire team of 25-year olds is unrealistic. Especially in the Bronx. Hammel is 34-years old, which is still younger than CC Sabathia, and is coming off a strong 15-10 season with a 3.83 ERA in 166.2 innings of work. Hammel isn’t going to strike out a ton of guys but he generates enough fly balls to be successful with the wind blowing out in Wrigley Field leaving me to believe that Yankee Stadium may actually help those numbers improve, not worsen, for once.

Hammel has turned his career around with the Cubs after learning a sinker but you have to think Hammel dealing with elbow tightness late in the season in 2016 may be the reason the Cubs decided to let him go. Hammel missed the entire postseason with the elbow and if I’m being frank, the last thing the Yankees need is another guy with elbow concerns every time he throws a pitch.

So what about Jason Hammel? Obviously that’s nearly impossible to say without knowing the status of his elbow but if you’re putting me on the spot, right here and right now, I think the Yankees have to pass on him. Sure he could be an improvement over what the Yankees currently have but that and $15 bucks can buy you a beer at Yankee Stadium if he’s sitting on the disabled list for a bulk of the season.

If the elbow is bad, or even questionable at this point, I think you have to pass. If his medicals pass with flying colors, and I can’t say that either way right now so I am remaining cautious, then we have another discussion for another day. Stay tuned. 

World Series Game Three Thread: Cleveland Indians @ Chicago Cubs

Here we go ladies and gentleman, Game Three of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians. The Indians were not able to protect home-field advantage, not that this is a huge deal in Major League Baseball in my opinion, and head into Chicago for the next three games with the series tied at a win each. The Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks to the mound tonight looking to take the team to the next step in breaking the Curse of the Billy Goat while the Indians will look to break their own personal World Series drought with Josh Tomlin taking the mound looking for a victory. The game will be played at 8:08 pm ET and it can be seen on FOX.

Enjoy the game everyone! 

World Series Game Three Preview: Cleveland Indians @ Chicago Cubs

It’s Game Three of the World Series already? Wow. The series began in Progressive Field in Cleveland and as the series shifts to Chicago for the next three games expect the crowds at Wrigley to be absolutely insane. The Cubbies, like the Indians, are three wins away from a World Series but this means so much more to Cubs fans I think. It means so much more to baseball too for the Cubs to win in my opinion but maybe that’s just the historian in me speaking. Anyway tonight the Cubs will send their Game Three starter Kyle Hendricks to the mound to square off against Josh Tomlin of the Indians.

Tomlin has two good starts already this postseason for the Indians and will look to deliver a third tonight in Chicago. All told Tomlin has allowed just three runs in 10.2 innings pitched this October for Cleveland.

Hendricks gave the Cubs a huge Game 6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers last time out and will start tonight looking to somehow improve on his 1.65 ERA in 16.1 innings this October. In that NLCS start Hendricks allowed just two hits in 7.1 innings pitched in the victory.

The game will be played at 8:08 pm ET inside Wrigley Field and can be seen on FOX. Good luck to both teams.

World Series Game One Thread: Chicago Cubs @ Cleveland Indians 10/25

Here we go ladies and gentleman. World Series 2016 time between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians, get excited and get pumped. Both teams will look to end respective World Series droughts tonight with the beginning of the series. Who takes it home? Is it Game One starter Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians or is it the Chicago Cubs and their ace Jon Lester? Only one way to find out, tune in tonight at 8:08 pm ET on FOX.

I try to leave my bias out of posts like this but this is history…. GO CUBBIES!

My 2016 World Series Predictions

The pitching matchups are in, the lineups have been set and the contenders are ready. Who wins the World Series? Do the Cleveland Indians bring home their first World Series title since 1948 in their first trip to the Fall Classic in 19-years or are the Cubs, who are scoffing at the Indians 58-year wait as they read this, finally set to make history and reverse the curse?

Every bone in my body wants to go with the Cubs and who am I to resist my gut feeling. The Cubs are going to do it. It may take four games, it may take seven games or anything in between but I think the Cubs do it. They might make it interesting and they may add a little drama and flair to the whole experience like the Boston Red Sox did in 2004 with the 3-0 come-from-behind victory against the Yankees but the Chicago Cubs get it done.

Theo Epstein will forever go down in history as the man who broke every curse in Major League Baseball. Hey the Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2009. That’s close to being a curse, isn’t it?

Cubs in 7. Also isn’t it ironic that the two closers in this World Series were both Yankees a few months ago? Do we get a World Series ring or something for trading them away? I think we should. Just saying. 

Cubs vs. Indians 2016 World Series Schedule

The 2016 field is set for the World Series and it will be the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs going at it head-to-head. The Cleveland Indians will have home-field advantage throughout this series after the American League won the 2016 All-Star Game inside Petco Park while the Cubs don't care where they win it as long as they can reverse the Curse of the Billy Goat. Let's look at the schedule for this upcoming series.

Game 1 - Tuesday October, 25th

Chicago Cubs @ Cleveland Indians

Game 2 - Wednesday, October 26th

Chicago Cubs @ Cleveland Indians

Game 3 - Friday, October 28th

Cleveland Indians @ Chicago Cubs 

Game 4 - Saturday, October 29th

Cleveland Indians @ Chicago Cubs 

Game 5 (if necessary) - Sunday, October 30th

Cleveland Indians @ Chicago Cubs 

Game 6 (if necessary) - Tuesday, November 1st

Chicago Cubs @ Cleveland Indians

Game 7 (if necessary) - Wednesday, November 2nd

Chicago Cubs @ Cleveland Indians

All games are 8:08 pm ET and all games can be seen on FOX.

MLB Postseason Schedule for 10/23: Game 7?

Will there be a Game 7 in the National League Championship Series? Will the Cubs have already punched their ticket to the World Series or will the Dodgers live to fight another day? At the time of this writing that is still undetermined so just in case here is the Game 7 schedule for the NLCS.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs (Game 7 if necessary) @ 8:08 pm ET on Fox Sports One

MLB Postseason Schedule for 10/22

Baseball is back tonight with the National League Championship Series the only series left to decide before the World Series. The Cleveland Indians are home resting after taking care of business with the Toronto Blue Jays and now we are down to the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Who will take home the prize? We may see the Chicago Cubs make a return trip to the World Series or we may see Los Angeles push it to a Game 7. Stay tuned to find out what happens. We could be witnessing history here folks.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs (Game Six- Cubs lead series 3-2) @ 8:08 pm ET on Fox Sports One

MLB Postseason Schedule for 10/16

The Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians will take their first day off the American League Championship series as the home teams shifts while the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs get caught up in the National League Championship Series. Today Game Two of the NLCS happens in Wrigley Field with the Cubs playing host to Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Enjoy the game and enjoy whats left of your weekend.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs (Game 2) inside Wrigley Field at 8:08 pm ET on FS1

NLCS: Recapping the Head-to-Head Matchups from 2016

Yesterday morning we took a look at the six matchups between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians before the ALCS officially kicked off between the two clubs and today we will do the same for the two remaining teams in the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs pretty much steamrolled any and all teams they had put in front of them this season en route to the best record in Major League Baseball but the Dodgers were no slouch either winning the National League West Division. Who had the upper hand during the regular season between these two historic clubs? Let’s find out.

Rk	Date	Tm		Opp	R	RA	Win	Loss	Save
50	Tuesday, May 31	CHC		LAD	0	5	Blanton	Richard
51	Wednesday, Jun 1	CHC		LAD	2	1	Lester	Bolsinger
52	Thursday, Jun 2	CHC		LAD	7	2	Hendricks	Urias
127	Friday, Aug 26	CHC	@	LAD	6	4	Wood	Liberatore	Chapman
128	Saturday, Aug 27	CHC	@	LAD	2	3	Urias	Hammel	Jansen
129	Sunday, Aug 28	CHC	@	LAD	0	1	Blanton	Cahill	Jansen

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference. 

MLB Postseason Scoreboard Watching for 10/15/16

Last night the American League Championship series took center stage for all MLB fans to see and tonight the National League Championship series kicks off between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs inside historic Wrigley Field. The Blue Jays and Indians also play the second game inside Progressive Field this series as well so it should be a full day of playoff baseball for us all to enjoy.

Toronto Blue Jays @ Cleveland Indians (Game 2) – 4:08 pm ET on TBS

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Chicago Cubs (Game 1) – 8:08 pm ET on Fox Sports One

Good luck all and Happy Friday to everyone reading. 

MLB 2016 Playoffs Scoreboard Watching for 10/8/16

Saturday afternoon and Saturday evening baseball today ladies and gentleman as the National League stands along tonight with the NLDS. The American League foursome is off tonight while the four teams remaining in the National League take center stage to showcase their talents in a pair of Game 2’s. This should be fun and strategic, but mostly fun.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ Washington Nationals (Game 2) – 4:08 pm ET on Fox Sports One

San Francisco Giants @ Chicago Cubs (Game 2) – 8:08 pm ET on MLB Network

The USA Today Ranks All 30 MLB Stadiums

The USA Today’s Ted Berg did something I wish I could do this week, he ranked all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in the league. Now sure, I could rank them all day long but he has actually visited all 30 and that is the key component to my jealousy and to what makes this list unique and great. Make sure to visit the link to check out his write up’s on all 30 MLB stadiums and see where he ranks them but for the purposes of this post I will sample the Top 10 stadiums and the write up for good ole’ Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Enjoy.

1.       Petco Park – San Diego Padres

2.       AT&T Park – San Francisco Giants

3.       PNC Park – Pittsburgh Pirates

4.       Wrigley Field – Chicago Cubs

5.       Dodger Stadium – Los Angeles Dodgers

6.       Kauffman Stadium – Kansas City Royals

7.       Coors Field – Colorado Rockies

8.       Fenway Park – Boston Red Sox

9.       Target Field – Minnesota Twins

10.   Citi Field – New York Mets

25. Yankee Stadium – New York Yankees:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/ranking-best-worst-mlb-stadiums-30-petco-wrigley-pnc

Credit the Yankees for eschewing the typical new-old look popular when their stadium opened in 2009, but not for producing a ballpark that looks more like a Las Vegas casino version of a stately building than the actual stately building they intended. The giant videoboard is great and the sight of the 4-train rumbling past is very cool, but the Yankees play within a couple of miles of some of the best Italian food on this great planet and somehow dare to unironically serve Papa John’s Pizza at their ballpark. You have to admire the chutzpah, really. — Ted Berg