Monday, October 19, 2015

Can You Figure Out the Final Jeopardy Question?


Was it just me or growing up did you get stuck watching Jeopardy with your parents and grand parents every night after dinner? I got to be pretty good at the trivia that Alex Trebek would throw down, especially the sports trivia, but when three contestants received an MLB-themed Final Jeopardy question all three of them bombed it. Can you do better?

The question was this:

I have to admit I didn't know 100% what the answer was. When I saw the term "full name" I immediately went to the Arizona Diamondbacks since diamond and backs could be split up into two different words. My second choice was the Los Angeles Dodgers just because I went with my gut. Obviously I wouldn't give away either of the answers here so without cheating leave your answers in the comments section below.

If you can't wait for the real answer than highlight below to see the answer:

ANSWER - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim... translated into the City of Angels Angels. 

Highlight above.....

Most Popular Article of the Week: 2015 Postseason Yankees Farm System Top 30 Rankings

by: Ben Embry (guest contributor from The Bronx Empire)

The Yankees farm system had a terrific year in 2015. Luis Severino forced his way to the Majors and met even the most optimistic fans' expectations. Greg Bird similarly arrived in the Bronx and quite possibly Wally Pipp'ed the team's All Star 1B stalwart Mark Teixeira, (ok probably not but on a team more progressive than the Yankees it might be possible). Slade Heathcott, Mason Williams, Rob Refsnyder and other prospects all gave the team strong contributions. The future is bright. Ironically this will result in the farm system being ranked lower next year than it did at the beginning of 2015 because Severino and Bird graduated due to their service time in August and September.  This just goes to show: farm system rankings aren't the end-all-be-all.

First, before the rankings I have a disclosure: I am not a scout. I do not communicate directly with scouts. I do not regularly watch the prospects in person, on television, or on the Internet. My opinions are informed by websites and publications such as Baseball America, Fangraphs, and ESPN.com and interactions with fans and writers on social media. I am simply a fan who is expressing his opinion; take it for what it's worth.

Ok, here are the Yankees' top 30 prospects:
RankNamePOS
1Aaron JudgeRF
2Jorge MateoSS
3Gary SanchezC
4James KaprielianSP
5Wilkerman GarciaSS/3B
6Domingo AcevedoSP
7Jacob LindgrenRP
8Rob Refsnyder2B/LF
9Eric Jagielo3B/1B
10Rookie DavisSP
11Tyler WadeSS
12Ian ClarkinSP
13Hoy-Jun ParkSS
14Miguel Andujar3B
15Abiatal AvelinoSS/2B
16Luis TorrensC
17Jake CaveCF
18Mason WilliamsCF
19Brady LailSP
20Angel AguilarSS/3B
21Slade HeathcottCF
22Drew FinleySP
23Domingo GermanSP
24Dustin FowlerCF/RF
25Austin DeCarrSP
26Juan de LeonCF/RF
27Dermis Garcia3B
28Leonardo MolinaCF
29Thairo EstradaSS
30Nelson Gomez3B
Let's compare the last list to this one.  First, players who were in the previous rankings but not this one, (including previous ranking):


1. Luis Severino (graduated)
4. Greg Bird (graduated)
22. Kyle Holder (out of top 30)

And now, the players who were not in the previous ranking but are now in this one, (including current ranking):

5. Wilkerman Garcia
14. Hoy Jun-Park
30. Nelson Gomez

For those who like deep dives, here's a top 30 hitters list:

RankPlayerPositionBorn
1Aaron JudgeRF1992
2Jorge MateoSS1995
3Gary SanchezC1992
4Wilkerman GarciaSS/3B1998
5Rob Refsnyder2B/LF1991
6Eric Jagielo3B/1B1992
7Tyler WadeSS1994
8Hoy-Jun ParkSS1996
9Miguel Andujar3B1995
10Abiatal AvelinoSS/2B1995
11Luis TorrensC1996
12Jake CaveCF1992
13Mason WilliamsCF1991
14Angel AguilarSS/3B1995
15Slade HeathcottCF1990
16Dustin FowlerCF/RF1994
17Juan de LeonCF/RF1998
18Dermis Garcia3B1998
19Leonardo MolinaCF1997
20Thairo EstradaSS1996
21Nelson Gomez3B1997
22Jhalan JacksonOF1993
23Kyle HolderSS1994
24Tyler AustinRF/1B1991
25Ben GamelRF1992
26Miguel FlamesC/3B1997
27Diego CastilloSS/2B1997
28Trey AmburgeyOF1994
29Alexander PalmaRF1995
30Tony Renda2B1991

And now, the pitchers:

RankPlayerPositionBorn
1James KaprielianSP1994
2Domingo AcevedoSP1994
3Jacob LindgrenRP1993
4Rookie DavisSP1993
5Ian ClarkinSP1995
6Brady LailSP1993
7Drew FinleySP1996
8Domingo GermanSP1992
9Austin DeCarrSP1995
10Jordan MontgomerySP1992
11Cale CoshowSP/RP1992
12Jonathan HolderSP1993
13Jeff DeganoSP1992
14Simon de la RosaSP1993
15Ty HensleySP1993
16Vicente CamposSP/RP1992
17Nick RumbelowRP1991
18Nick GoodyRP1991
19James PazosRP1991
20Josh RogersSP1994
21Tyler WebbRP1990
22Gilmael TroyaSP/RP1997
23Alexander VargasSP1997
24Johnny BarbatoRP1992
25Luis CedenoSP/RP1994
26Jordan FoleySP/RP1993
27Chance AdamsRP1994
28Miguel SulbaranSP/RP1994
29Chaz HebertSP1992
30Caleb SmithSP/RP1991

Well, let me know what you think. My Twitter handle is @thebronxempire and my email is bembry24@gmail.com. I'll update the list this fall after the season. Ok, have a good day!

ICYMI: Bryan Van Dusen Writes an Open Letter to Brett Gardner

Dear Mr. Brett Gardner,

I wanted to write this because there's already been a lot of talk about trading you, and there are sure to be more in the future. Some of it will come off as "just business", but it's highly likely that other things may be taken personally.

For starters, I have nothing but the utmost respect for you. During your eight years with the Yankees, not once can I remember being ashamed of you. Heck, you didn't earn the "gritty, gutty" moniker because you don't care.

In 3,058 at bats you failed to get a hit 2,251 times. While I probably shook off most of them, especially since you at least reached base thanks to a walk or whatever over 400 of those times, I know I got upset at times. And how could you be a fan of the Yankees and not be? Heck, I'd bet everything I have that you were just as disappointed, if not more so, than anyone.

Nobody can deny that you're an excellent outfielder.

I can't count how many times I've watched you run down balls hit in the gaps. Balls that should have fallen for base hits somehow found there way into your glove. There was a game against the Tigers that you not only ran one down in the gap, but jumped and caught it before it hit the wall in right-center field. I know for a fact that wasn't the first time you've caught a ball while running into the fence. A few of those times you weren't feeling too good afterwards, either.

You've also robbed your fair share of home runs. I believe there was one time, during an extra inning game against the Cardinals in St. Louis, that you took away a walk-off win.

And how about your arm? I've seen you keep runners from advancing an extra base a number of times. Like when you threw out Caleb Joseph of the Baltimore Orioles when he tried to stretch a single into a double. I believe a lot of the time that hit by Joseph would have been a stand-up double, but the combination of your speed and arm easily got him out.

While you were never a huge contributor to the offense, that's not to say you haven't had some key hits over the years.

There was a walk-off home run against the Tigers in 2013. Actually, if I remember correctly, you hit a walk-off single against the Tigers that same season. I'm sure there's more than one Detroit fan that still gets annoyed at the mere mention of you.

You can also find numerous highlights of you stretching what should have only been a single into a double, and what should have been a double into a triple. Those legs of yours have helped the Yankees score so many more runs over the years. In fact, you've led the team in runs scored in each of the last three years*.

*tied with Robinson Cano in 2013

The point is you're not some bum that fans want to get rid of, so we can make room for a shiny new toy.

Toys... that's a good comparison...

In Toy Story, when Andy got Buzz Lightyear and started playing with him more than Woody, it wasn't because Woody stunk. For a long time Woody was Andy's favorite toy, and would go with him everywhere. Andy even wore a hat similar to the one Woody wore. But time catches up to us all, whether you're a toy or a human. Besides, we're not talking about the Yankees replacing you with just any shiny toy. I mean, Jason Heyward is pretty good (114 OPS+ since 2012), and is still young (26).

My biggest fear, and I'm speaking as a fan of the Yankees here, is that you'll be back in pinstripes next season and hold a grudge. You're a pro, so I'm not saying the offseason rumors and discussions would truly affect things, but it's gotta at least hurt a little knowing that so many fans wanted you to go... for whatever reason.

Chances are you'll be back with the Yankees in 2016, and that's okay. It would be nice if you're numbers didn't crash in the second half like most of your career (career .283/.360/.421 in 1st half, .236/.326/.351 in 2nd half), but you're still an above average outfielder. You still have value to the Yankees.

And keep in mind, part of the reason people want you to be traded is because the chances of trading away Jacoby Ellsbury are between "slim" and "none" (closer to "none"). So you can take a little solace in that.

Whatever happens in the future I wish you the best of luck. Unless that means you helped beat the Yankees. If that ever happens, then know I will curse your name at the top of my lungs.