Look What The Scranton RailRiders Will Wear Tonight

Mountain Man's jersey! @swbrailriders will wear these tonight & auction them off! presented by Friedman Electric! pic.twitter.com/TXZuUwnA8A
— SWB RailRiders (@swbrailriders) April 18, 2014

Take a look at what the Yankees AAA affiliate the Scranton Wilkes Barre RailRiders will be wearing tonight as a part of "Outdoors Night." Camouflage uniforms with hunter orange sleeves will have them sticking out and oddly blending in at the same time. Mountain Man from the A&E show Duck Dynasty will be there, hence the name on the back of the jersey in the tweet above. You really have to love minor league baseball, don't you?

Tampa Bay Rays World Series Meme

This is a picture of the only ring the Rays will ever see... too funny

Preview: New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 4/18

The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays will play the second of their four game series tonight at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. We were treated to a couple of aces pitching in last nights game and tonight we get to see Hiroki Kuroda for the Yankees facing off with Erik Bedard for the Rays. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET and can be seen on television with the YES Network and MLB Network, on the computer with MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Kuroda is proving to be valuable and consistent once again for the Yankees, at least early in the season, winning his last two starts for New York. Kuroda allowed a two run home run in his last start against the Boston Red Sox in his first six innings. Kuroda would allow two more runs in the seventh before leaving and getting the team the victory.

Bedard spent spring training with the Rays trying to win the fifth starter job and ultimately lost the competition and went down to AAA Durham. Bedard is back and making his first start of the season after replacing the injured Alex Cobb in the Rays rotation. Maybe a little rust and a lack of stamina will work in the Yankees favor tonight.

Go Yankees!!

Brendan Ryan Inching Towards A Return, Now What?

Brendan Ryan will join fellow injured Yankees Mark Teixeira and David Robertson in a minor league game on Saturday, his first real action since an oblique/lower back injury and what was being classified as a pinched nerve in his back derailed the beginning of his season. This begs the question, what will happen when Ryan comes back?

We all know that it will likely be another couple of weeks before Ryan could be back with the big league club after missing most of spring training so we have some time to figure it out but what do the Yankees do on the roster? Do they send Scott Sizemore down after earning his spot albeit in a small sample size down in AAA? His first couple games were nothing to hang his head about either with a couple hits and an RBI. Sizemore also showed an ability to play first base last night against the Tampa Bay Rays which can only help his cause.

The biggest thing working against Sizemore is the emergence of Yangervis Solarte. How can you not keep this guy up and not keep his bat in the lineup as often as you can? He has hit the cover off the ball all spring and season long, especially for extra base hits, and has played all over the infield. His switch hitting bat also evens out the Yankees lineup and he possesses some much needed pop with the bat. He seems, again it is way early, like a better candidate for second base then say Brian Roberts.

Could the Yankees conceivably bench Roberts when Ryan comes back and let him be a replacement late in games? Your initial thought is that this is probably very unlikely but maybe it should be considered. Roberts has shown an inability to stay healthy for multiple consecutive seasons now and has not exactly been tearing the cover off the ball. Roberts has also lost a step in the field and on the bases and it only makes sense to concede him for Solarte, at least until he finally comes back down to Earth. Roberts when healthy is still a better option right now, as much as this pains me to say, then Dean Anna.

Anna has that one home run to be remembered by and not much else. If Sizemore continues to hit the way he has and fields the way he has all season long we may have seen the last of Mr. Dino "Racoon" Baseball.

I've Got Til 5! - No List This Week

Unfortunately, due to moving and not having my internet set up yet, I won't have a post for you this week.

I could definitely due a post about things that suck about moving, including missing a few Yankees games, but I'll spare you my whining on that subject. Besides, I'm sure many of you share my pain.

If you have any ideas for future lists let me know, otherwise I'll talk to you later.

Alex Rodriguez Just Made $2.575 Million Bucks

What is a Friday morning in Yankee Land without a little Alex Rodriguez news, right? As we all know Alex was suspended for the entire 2014 season and lost out on much of his $25 million in salary but Rodriguez made a cool $2.575 million recently according to Candace Taylor of the Wall Street Journal.

According to the report Alex sold his Miami condo for $2.575 million after buying it just one year ago for $2.1 million. The reason for selling it was apparently A Rod wanted something bigger on the beach, not because he sued the world and probably owes Joe Tacopina more than what I will make in a lifetime.

Must be rough for Rodriguez to only have a three bedroom and three and a half bathroom condo on the beach in Miami worth over $2 million bucks.

Quick Hit: Derek Jeter Comeback Player of the Year?

When thinking of Comeback Player of the Year I immediately went to Grady Sizemore with my pick for the award but what about our very own Derek Jeter? Jeter played in 17 games last season due to a many number of leg and ankle related injuries but seems to be healthy in 2014. Now Jeter is in his final season and knocking the cover off the ball with the consistency he had in 2012.

Does Jeter have a legit shot at winning the Comeback Player of the Year in 2014? I think so.

Trenton Thunder Game Recap 4/17

De La Cruz, Roller Lead Thunder to 5-3 Win

TRENTON, NJ - The Trenton Thunder (8-6) jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the fifth inning and held on late to defeat Erie SeaWolves (5-7) on Thursday night by a score of 5-3 at ARM & HAMMER Park.

Each starter cruised through the first three innings of the game before Trenton used three straight hits with one out in the fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. Taylor Dugas drove in Kyle Roller and Rob Refsnyder with a triple down the right field line. Dugas scored on Dan Fiorito's double later in the inning.

Trenton added to their advantage thanks to a two-out error by SeaWolves shortstop Eugenio Suarez to extend the fifth inning. Kyle Roller followed with a two-run homer to take the five run advantage. Roller now has three home runs in 18 at-bats since being activated on April 13 and finished the night 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two driven in.

The SeaWolves had their best opportunity in the seventh inning when Thunder reliever Aaron Dott loaded the bases with three walks. Jason Krizan scored a pair with a single through the right side and Suarez brought in another with a fielders choice. Jairo Heredia ended the threat by getting Aaron Westlake to fly out to left.

Brandon Pinder and Diego Moreno each threw a scoreless inning of a relief to finish the game for the Thunder bullpen. Joel De La Cruz improved to 2-1 on the season with five and ⅔ innings of scoreless baseball.

The Thunder and SeaWolves will play game two of their series tomorrow night at ARM & HAMMER Park. The Thunder starter is to be announced, the SeaWolves will counter with LHP Kyle Ryan (1-1, 2.61). First pitch will be thrown at 7:05, listen live on 91.3 WTSR and TrentonThunder.com.

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE. 

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap 4/17

Wade Caps RiverDogs Comeback Win

Win streak improves to four after an 8-7 win against Rome in the series opener

CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston RiverDogs scored the final four runs, including a go-ahead single by Tyler Wade, to defeat the Rome Braves 8-7 on Thursday evening in front of 5,841 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in South Atlantic League action.

The RiverDogs now have a 7-7 record this season following their fourth straight victory. The Braves slide back to 5-10. Charleston now has a 1-0 lead in this three-game series at Riley Park.

Michael O’Neill cleared the bases on a standup triple in the first inning. O’Neill hit a line drive into the left field corner for a three-base hit that scored Abiatal Avelino, Aaron Judge, and Miguel Andujar for a 3-0 Charleston lead.

In the top of the second, Rome cut its deficit to 3-2. Joey Meneses hit a leadoff home run to right field. Later in the frame, Dan Carroll kept the inning alive with a two-out single. Carroll came home after a stolen base coupled with a throwing error and a wild pitch.

Charleston reinforced its lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the second without any base hits. Gosuke Katoh was hit by a pitch to open the inning and scored on three consecutive walks, giving the RiverDogs a two-run advantage.

Rome rallied to get ahead of Charleston with five straight runs. The Braves tied the game in the fifth inning with back-to-back RBI singles from Mikey Reynolds and Johan Camargo. In the sixth, Victor Caratini put the Braves ahead 5-4 on a sacrifice fly. Rome added to the lead on a Carroll double and a Cody Livesey squeeze play that built a 7-4 advantage.

It was the RiverDogs turn to work from behind, and Charleston came back to tie the game by the seventh inning. After an error brought in John Murphy and Eduardo de Oleo in the sixth, Aaron Judge blasted a solo shot to left field in the seventh for the game-tying score and his first career home run.

A two-out rally in the eighth pushed the RiverDogs past the Braves for good. Singles from de Oleo and Avelino extended the frame for Wade, who singled to score de Oleo and gave Charleston an 8-7 lead. Rome was able to put the potential tying run on base in the ninth inning before the RiverDogs closed the game.

Stefan Lopez pitched a scoreless eighth inning and took the win, improving to 1-0. Race Parmenter is 0-1 after being charged with a blown save and a loss. The save went to Nick Rumbelow, his second of the season.

BALLPARK FUN: RiverDogs fans enjoyed many great drink specials, including the debut of “The Original” RiverDogs branded beer in the Palmetto Brewery Beer Garden and $1 drafts in the Ashley View Pub on Budweiser Thirsty Thursday, presented by 95SX. After hosting a RiverDogs victory, The Joe stayed open a little bit longer to host a postgame concert near the Beer Garden by The Dunder Chiefs, courtesy of Palmetto Brewery and Awendaw Green.

COMING UP: Game two of this three-game series will feature RiverDogs LHP Caleb Smith (1-1, 2.00 ERA) and Braves RHP Andry Ubiera (0-2, 8.59 ERA). First pitch at The Joe is scheduled for 7:05pm. Wear red to the game on ISHPI Red Shirt Friday and save $1 off your ticket purchase at the box office, or donate that dollar to the Canines for Veterans and Folds of Honor charities. Enjoy $3 Aluminum Pint Night from Miller and Coors and stick around after the contest for postgame fireworks over the scenic Ashley River. Tickets may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office, (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or on-line at www.riverdogs.com. If fans cannot make it to the ballpark, they are encouraged to tune in to all the action this year both home and away worldwide on www.riverdogs.com and locally on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

Box Score: http://atmilb.com/1tgqnQQ

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs organization. The original article can be seen HERE.

This Day In New York Yankees History 4/18

On this day in 1923 the Yankees new $2.5 million ballpark was opened in style as Babe Ruth hit the first home run of the parks history. This is where the term "The House That Ruth Built" first started when referring to the original Yankees Stadium. This was the first ballpark to have three decks which sold over 72,000 Yankees tickets on this day. The Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox 4-1 beating the Sox hurler Howard Ehmke.

On this day in 1929 the Yankees became the second team to wear numbers on their uniforms when their Opening Day game was postponed due to rain. The Indians became the first team to wear numbers on their jerseys thanks to Mother Nature. New York assigned their numbers by where you hit in the lineup. Earle Combs wore #1, Mark Koenig #2, Babe Ruth #3, Lou Gehrig #4, Bob Meusel #5, Tony Lazzeri #6, Leo Durocher #7, Johnny Grabowski #8, Benny Bengough #9, and Bill Dickey #10.

On this day in 1972 for the first time in the Yankees storied franchise they played a night game on Opening Day in Yankee Stadium. The Yankees beat the Brewers 3-0 behind a gem by Steve Kline.

On this day in 1978 Reggie Jackson deceived Indians pitcher Tippy Martinez when Reggie pretended to get angered by getting a sign from third base coach Dick Howser. It was well known that Reggie had the green light in 3-0 counts but pretended to be forced to take a pitch. Martinez threw a fastball right down the middle and Reggie slugged the ball into the bleachers and gave the Yankees a 4-3 walk off victory.