Sunday, June 19, 2016

Thunder To Welcome 9 Millionth Fan to ARM & HAMMER Park

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The Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New Yankees, stand just 4,608 fans shy of nine million fans in franchise history and expect to pass the milestone on Saturday as the team hosts the Binghamton Mets at ARM & HAMMER Park.

Saturday's game with the B-Mets projects to be a signficiant crowd at ARM & HAMMER Park. Fans holding tickets to the game are encouraged to arrive early to ensure a smooth parking and entrance experience.

Since first opening the doors as Mercer County Waterfront Park on May 9, 1994, the Thunder have welcomed 8,995,392 total fans through the gates.

The Thunder's nine millionth fan will receive a prize package that includes:

- A luxury suite with food for a future game in 2016 (based on availability)
- 9 autographed baseballs including former Thunder: David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain, Michael Pineda, Andy Pettitte, Hideki Matsui, Reggie Jackson, Tony Franklin, Luis Severino, Greg Bird.
- A replica jersey and hat
- Four 10 game Pic-A-Plan tickets for the 2017 season
- Dunkin Donuts prize pack
- Case's Pork Roll prize pack including: One (1) 6 lb. chub of pork roll and a mixed case of slices (Case Mild Thin, Case Mild Thick, and Case Tangy Thin)
- 9 gift cards from various local restaurants including: Killarney's Publick House, Chick-Fil-A, Continental Tavern, Dunkin Donuts, Whole Foods, and Rossi's Bar and Grill.
- The opportunity to bring the lineup card to home plate with the Thunder Manager at a future game
- Half inning on the Thunder Radio Broadcast
- Watch fireworks from the field

The Thunder have welcomed 165,271 fans this season to ARM & HAMMER Park, an average of 4,861 per game.

On May 9, 1994, Brian Edmonson delivered the first pitch thrown at home in franchise history. Just two years later, the franchise welcomed their one millionth fan. The two millionth fan, Charlie Brown of Trenton, NJ, entered the gates in 1998. The three millionth fan was eight-year old Grace Conway of Yardley, PA during the 2001 season. Kevin Burch of Flemington, NJ was the Thunder's four millionth fan during the 2003 campaign. In September 2005, Eileen Conville of Cinnaminson, NJ became the five millionth fan. Fan number six-million, Shawn Caple of Franklinville, NJ attended on June 11, 2008. Angie Bernstein of Mercerville, NJ was the seven millionth fan on August 31, 2010. On July 23, 2013, Cherie Boccardo of Fairless Hills, PA, walked through the turnstiles and became the eight millionth fan in franchise history.

Don't miss your chance to be part of history at ARM & HAMMER Park. Join the Thunder as they continue their homestand against the Binghamton Mets this weekend. Tickets are available by calling 609-394-3300 or online at www.trentonthunder.com.

Yanks Drop Father's Day Finale, 7-4

     First off, Happy Father's Day to all you great dads out there!  Looking to complete the four game sweep, Nathan Eovaldi and the Yankees faced off against the twins on a gorgeous afternoon in Minneapolis. Eovaldi(4.88 ERA) was personally looking to bounce back from his less than stellar outing in Colorado. On the mound for Minnesota was Ervin Santana(5.10 ERA), who has lost his last five straight starts and is 0-8 in his last 11 starts against New York however, Minnesota's offense came to life as they salvaged a victory in today's Father's Day finale.
     Mired in a 0 for 15 slump, Brian McCann got the Bomber bats going early this afternoon. In the top of the second, Santana led off the frame by serving up a Ruthian clout that ricocheted off the facing of the upper deck in right center to the Yankee backstop, giving the Pinstripers a one run advantage. And then in the top of the fourth, after allowing a leadoff double to Brett Gardner, Alex Rodriguez lofted a single into left field that was read beautifully by Gardner which allowed him to score, extending the Yankees lead to two.
     The Twins would begin their comeback in the bottom of the fifth when Eovaldi gave up a solo shot to rookie outfielder Max Kepler, 2-1. Then, in the bottom of the sixth, Eovaldi allowed consecutive one out singles to Brian Dozier and Trevor Ploof. With runners on first and third, Eduardo Escobar ripped a triple down the right-field line that scored both runners and gave the Twins their first lead and ended Eovaldi's afternoon. Delin Betances came on in relief and immediately allowed an RBI single to Yankee nemesis Max Kepler, 4-2. Betances allowed The fourth Twin run of the inning to score when Kurt Suzuki doubled to left, scoring Kepler and extending Minnesota's lead to three. Brian Dozier notched the sixth Minnesota run when he hit a solo shot off of Kirby Yates in the bottom of the seventh.
     As for Santana, he lasted until one out in the top of the eighth. After allowing a single to Ike Davis, Santana was pulled for left-handed reliever Taylor Rogers. The first batter he faced, Jacoby Ellsbury hit a comebacker to Rogers who took a bad angle on the throw to first and launched it into right field, allowing Davis to take second. Brett Gardner then hit a grounder to first that got first baseman Trevor Pluffe on an in-between hop, shooting into right field and scoring Davis and making it a 6-3 ball game. Because Santana was responsible for Davis, he left with a final line of 7.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs on six hits and striking out four in route to his first victory over the Yankees in Twelve starts.
      Both the Yankees and Twins would add one more run in the final two half innings bringing the final score to 7-4. The Yankees have an off day tomorrow and begin a short two-game series with the Colorado Rockies in the Bronx, with first pitch on Tuesday scheduled for 7:05 PM ET.
   

Weekly Prospects Check In: Tyler Austin


Tyler Austin may be the product of prospect fatigue, bad luck with injuries and a little bit of reverse development. Or he could just be really, really hot since getting called up to Triple-A to play first base after the loss of Chris Parmelee in the Bronx. Either way Austin has done extremely well with the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders this season and may be finally putting his name back on the prospects lists around the Yankees and their front office.

Austin may be the next one down the pipe is something happens to either Ike Davis or Robert Refsnyder and here are his stats to back them up.

YearAgeLevGPARH2BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
201624AA-AAA6326731601664143761.265.367.425.792
201624AA5021022461042913046.260.367.395.762
201624AAA135791462123715.286.368.531.899

Live Game Updates: Yankees at Twins - 6/19

2:32 p.m., End 1st: Eovaldi walks a pair in the first, but works out of trouble. This one's scoreless heading into the second.

2:40 p.m., Mid 2nd: McCann breaks an 0-for-15 slump with a solo shot to center. The Yankees score first for just the second time in their last eight games.

2:48 p.m., End 2nd: Eovaldi works a 1-2-3 second. Maybe he's getting back on track.

3:14 p.m., Mid 4th: A-Rod adds to the Yankees' advantage with an RBI single. He's starting to heat up.

3:39 p.m., End 5th: Max Kepler gets the Twins on the board with a solo home run. It's 2-1 Yankees after five innings of play.

4:13 p.m., End 6th: Twins break out for four runs against Eovaldi and Betances in the sixth. Just like that, it's 5-2 Minnesota.

4:55 p.m., Mid 8th: With the help of a couple of errors, the Yankees get a run in the eighth. They still trail 6-3, however, with just three outs remaining.

5:14 p.m., Mid 9th: McCann hits his second home run of the day, but it's not enough. Yankees lose 7-4.

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 6/19


Here we are again one more time and for the last time as the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins finish off their four game set this weekend in Minnesota. The battle of two of the worst offenses in all of the American League has been fun and I always personally enjoy seeing Joe Mauer and Eduardo Nunez but I'll personally be glad when the Yankees return home on Tuesday to the Bronx. One thing at a time though as we have this game to get on with as the New York Yankees send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound to face off against Ervin Santana. The game will be played at 2:10 pm ET inside Target Field and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

The Yankees return home to the Bronx on Tuesday so click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog to visit Ticket Monster and secure your premium seats now. Also be sure to have the right gear on in case the YES Network cameras catch you by clicking the TGP T-Shirts link also on the top of the blog. Until then root for the home team from afar and interact with us by either liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes.

Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Eovaldi? Stay tuned. Go Yankees!

Happy Father's Day


Happy Father's Day everyone! Whether you are a dad, a step dad, a mom being both, a grandmother taking on far too much, a grandfather that's always there for the child or someone who just came into a young person's life when they needed you most... thank you. This is your day. Happy Father's Day!

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 6/19


Here we are once again with quite a bit on the line this afternoon for the New York Yankees. The Yankees will head back to Target Field one more time this afternoon to take on the Minnesota Twins in the finale of their four-game set. In the finale the Yankees will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound looking to harness some of that magic he had during the month of May while the Twins will counter with their best pitcher this season in Ervin Santana.

Eovaldi was absolutely unhittable in May but June has not been good to him and neither has his splitter. Eovaldi had a nine-start unbeaten streak broken last time out after he gave up six runs in four innings and the Yankees righty will look to start another streak this afternoon inside Target Field.


Santana has not been sharp in his last four starts giving up five or more runs in three of those starts including his last start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Santana has lost five straight decisions leaving Twins manager Paul Molitor scratching his head for much of this season.


The game will be played at 2:10 pm ET inside Target Field and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. The Yankees are off tomorrow before heading back to New York and the Bronx so this game has all the makings of a trap game. If New York gets caught looking ahead to hosting the Colorado Rockies they will get mowed down by a good pitcher like Santana so let's hope this veteran team can keep their head in the game and get another victory. Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Brady Lail


Until James Kaprielian comes back, and speaking of Kaprielian this elbow injury is scaring me more and more... does inflammation take this long to come back from usually?, the Yankees top prospect pitching prospect is there for the taking. Luis Severino is no longer prospect eligible despite the fact that he's in Triple-A with the RailRiders so could it be Ian Clarkin? Is it Domingo Acevedo? Or is it today's check in, Brady Lail?

Lail has been quietly following the same path that many Yankees prospects in front of him have followed including David Phelps, Adam Warren, Rookie Davis, Bryan Mitchell and others have. Climb the ladder in the minors without turning heads and continue to simply get guys out at the MLB level when you get there. Lail won't be an ace and he won't fetch you a top guy in a trade but he's solid and he knows how to get batters out.

Sometimes that's enough.

YearAgeLevWLERAGGSCGIPHRERHRBBSOWHIPH9HR9BB9SO9
201622AAA-AA444.001313172.0753832523431.3619.40.62.95.4
201622AA124.2355127.2301513212151.5189.80.73.94.9
201622AAA323.8688044.1452319311281.2639.10.62.25.7

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/19: AROD3K


Congratulations went out to Alex Rodriguez on this day in 2015 as the Yankees designated hitter hit his 3,000th hit of his major league career. In the first inning Rodriguez stepped up to the plate against the Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander and clobbered an opposite field home run to right field for the historic hit. Alex became just the third player in the history of the game to hit a home run for his 3000th hit joining Wade Boggs (Tampa Bay Rays) and Derek Jeter (New York Yankees) all-time. Congratulations once again to A Rod from all Yankees fans and from everyone here at The Greedy Pinstripes.

Also on this day in 1950 Joe DiMaggio had a two hit day and collected his 2,000th hit of his career. DiMaggio had an RBI single in the third inning and had another RBI single in the seventh inning to reach the milestone. The Yankees would beat the Indians 8-2 in DiMaggio's 1,537th game of his career.

For all the fans growing up in my generation to have a three strikeout game for a batter is something that happens once or twice a week, but it didn't happen all that much by Joe DiMaggio. On this day in 1942 DiMaggio struck out three times in a game for the first and only time in his 1,787 game career. The Indians Mel Harder is the pitcher that will forever go down in history in a 5-4 victory for Cleveland at Cleveland Stadium.


Also on this day in 1921 Babe Ruth vaulted himself into second place on the career list for home runs. Ruth would hit his 127th home run helping the Yankees beat the Red Sox in Fenway Park 7-6 in 10 innings. Ruth would pass Sam Thompson on the All-Time list and would find himself just 11 home runs away from the All-Time record holder Roger Connor.