Pinch hitting: Pinstriped Scranton
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- January
- 29
Our guest blogger series continues today with an entry from Scranton. Chris has a blog named Pinstriped Scranton.
A 2007 graduate of Marywood University, Chris did a documentary on the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees as his senior project. He now works as a sportswriter for the Moscow Villager and covers the SWB Yanks for Pinstripes Plus.
Here is his post:
As a life-long Yankees fan transplanted in Scranton, hearing the news the Yankees were coming Moosic, Pa. (located just outside Scranton) was just about the best thing that I had ever heard. Instead of sitting back and living through the news reports, I decided to cover the process for my required senior project at Marywood University. It went a little something like this:
Getting the Yankees to come to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre wasn’t something that happened overnight. Many changes had to be made along the way. The Phillies’ affiliate, the Red Barons, were already on their way out, headed for a one-year exodus in Canada before taking their place in Lehigh (as the Iron Pigs). Someone needed to call Moosic home, so why not the Yankees?
To prepare for the Yankees, major changes needed to take place in the home team’s locker room. Politics in the area had a pushed that process back for sometime, essentially driving the Phillies out in the first place. In 2006, that changed and the Red Barons enjoyed a Major League caliber locker room in their final season. Major League enough that Omar Minaya, the Mets’ GM, was blown away while taking a tour of the facility.
But that wasn’t all that had to change. While the Yankees loved the new locker room, they needed more than that. The field was designed for the Phillies. It was reminiscent of the old field at The Vet. This meant the surface was Astroturf. The New York Yankees on Astroturf?
I don’t think so.
For anyone who has never seen a transition from Astroturf to natural grass, it’s an interesting process. Furthermore, it’s a very long one. The turf was ripped off, removed, and a giant dirt field sat barren over the course of the long winter months before grass planted in early spring, just a few days prior to opening night. The difference was as clear as day and night.
It was more than just changes to the field that had to be agreed upon to bring the Yankees. Mandalay Sports was hired, by request of the Yankees, to manage the minor league club. Mandalay Sports owns and manages an assortment of teams, including the Single-A club Staten Island Yankees. And so, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees were born.
I believe general manager Jeremy Ruby put it best when speaking of the reasoning behind the name. “As long as we have the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre attached, why not use the number one sports marketing name in the world,” he said.
From Opening Day to an early elimination in the International League playoffs, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees went on to break PNC Field attendance records and provide fans with one of the best minor league experiences in the country. So, if you’re looking for a place to see the future of New York, come on down to Moosic, Pennsylvania. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, January 29th, 2008 at 1:48 am by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Thanks to Chris for his post. Good luck with your career.
Chris,
Thanks for the view from the inside. How exciting to have the AAA affiliate for the Yankees in your own back yard.
I’m assuming that there are lots of Yankee fans in Scranton now. How does it compare to the old days?
And what was it like when Joba blew through Scranton?
Isn’t it great having the future stars coming through SWB. Nice Post. Do you think the yankees are going to stay in SWB or move somewhere else? If you think they are going to stay For how long are they going to sign to SWB?
great post. loved getting this insight to the minors.
Great post, Chris! I’m glad you have Yankee baseball in your backyard.
I made it out for 2 games last season & had a great time. Saw Kennedy pitch a gem in August (even though they lost in extra innings) and thoroughly enjoyed the ballpark & experience. I definitely will be back again this season. Where else can you get $5 beers and pierogies?
the Trenton Thunder also give this type of environment when going to a minor league game… only the best minor league affiliates for the best franchise in the sport.
Great post Chris!
I lived near Norfolk Va for 16 years. The Tides were for many years the Met’s AAA team (Baltimore now). They have a great stadium on the river near downtown Norfolk. We used to go once a year at least because of the venue and the prices, which were very reasonable. Most years I tried to go when Columbus came to town to see the Yankees kids. The quality of AAA baseball is really enjoying to watch, and the mix of kids on the way up and veterans trying to hang on for one more shot is an interesting dichotomy.
One of the very best things about this blog is the insight into the minor league prospects.
Thanks for the nice post, Chris. I live not too far away in NW NJ, so I have to get down there to SWB this season.
Chris :
You’ll be in for another treat this year with another wave of good young talent paying their dues in Moosic before heading to The Bronx.
Nice post, Chris. I’m going to get there this year, I hope. Sounds like a great place to see a game and some team to see too.
Notice how I said ONE of the best minor league experiences. I should be going down to Trenton this year for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre vs Trenton game, so I’m looking forward that. It should be an incredible environment. I think you put it well there, Yanks57, the mix of young stars and last shot hopefuls is fun to watch.
Plus, an occasional rehab, can’t forget that.
For those who still think George “Steroids” Mitchell is the most embarrassing story in Baseball this year.
Brady Anderson, former Oriole, is trolling online dating sites to find suitable ladies. Video via TMZ.com (Hope it works)
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid285859616/bclid294430730/bctid1394183497
Whatevered, sorry I missed your post before. To answer your question, I really do believe they are going to be here a while. Rumblings have come about over the course of time that there’s going to be a new stadium coming up possibly. If it wasn’t going to work out with the Yankees, it would most likely be because of some kind of conflict in terms of decision making.
Here’s the thing, the team isn’t managed by a board anymore like it used to be. Politics aren’t as heavily involved. What makes it an interesting situation though, is the man who helped negoiate the Yankees coming, isn’t a commissioner anymore. I haven’t put much thought into it, but I suppose that could change things as he does have to approve certain things I imagine. I”m not up to date on politics and my county commissioner works exactly, so please forgive me in that respect.
I can say this, by the reaction that the team received last year and should continue to receives, this team isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
good post chris
Moved to philly last spring and made alot of trenton games but only one swb game. I got my tickets yesterday for the Scranton-Trenton game April 1st, cant wait!
btw my sister also went to Marywood! congrats and good luck!
Yazman,
“I live not too far away in NW NJ, so I have to get down there to SWB this season.”
I went to High Point high school in NW Jersey. Where you from?
I went last year, the first weekend of the season. It was so damn cold!!! I can’t recall who won though. It is a great stadium, and we were told by someone to make reservations at the resturant so we watched a good portion of the game from there. We went outside and sat basically where we wanted because it was so cold and the crowd was sparse. I plan to go back this year only a little later in the season
Jennifer,
Opening day was bitter cold. You picked a good spot. A lot of people sat there the entire night, and I definitely saw frost covered faces throughout the stadium. It was a site to see.
Nice post Chris. I’ve never been down to Moosic for a game but I just added a new must-do on my computer stickie after reading your post. Any particular game you’ll recommend on the schedule?
Dee,
There are quite a few interesting games this year. I am excited about opening day for one. It’s the first game of the year of course, but it’s against Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs, which used to be the Red Barons in Moosic two years ago.
Other games of note might not come up till the season itself, with big pitching match-ups and call-ups of players such as an Alan Horne or someone along those lines.
Here’s a link to the schedule if you didn’t have one.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_sch&cid=531&sid=t531&stn=true
I really have enjoyed games with teams like Rochester and Buffalo. A Pawtucket/Scranton game isn’t near the intensity you’ll get out of a Yankees Red Sox game in New York, but to be honest, it’s fun to see the Red Sox farm system play. They’ve got a lot of talent, and it’s a lot of talent in one park.
Thanks! Ok Pawtucket it is, the series fall on a weekend so it’ll work out great. I love roadtrips and I love baseball, this is perfect! Thanks again Chris!
Chris: Great post!
I remember going to Scranton when they were the Red Barons, and having a great time there as well…but now I absolutely must go to see the young Yankees!
so i guess santana may down to the red sox and mets.
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2008/01/29/santana-update-sox-vs-mets/
Great Post! Makes me very excited to see what the Yankees can give us this coming year…all the new talent passing through there before heading to the old Yankee Stadium for the final year.
ed don’t listen to any of that garbage. When I see him putthing on a different uniform, than I believe it. Until now it is all bs.
I plan to go some time in May, it should be warm enough than. I just have to make sure to go when the Yankees are away, I don’t want it to conflict with any home games.
Thanks Chris. Sounds like the Yankees run class organizations from the top down.
I’m so sick of all these Joba use rumors, Santana wars, bullpen issues. Lets just starts the season already UGH!!! I’ve never been so excited for spring training!
Just so I make it known, I’ll be gone for about 10 hours from 12:15 to 10:45, but I’ll take a look if anyone did have any questions in particular when I get back from work, so I can try and answer as much as possible for anyone who did have questions.
Like in the intro, I fell in love with the Yankees a long time ago, and really did dig into this process once it started, so I like to think I’d at least be able to inform you a little more.
Great post. As a local, and a Marywood alum I can’t get enough of the Scranton love. Two things make the AAA Yankees a great experience. The first, as Chris captured, is it’s a great place to see a game. Good stadium for the minors and plenty to do surrounding if you from out of the area. The second is seeing so many guys make impacts in the majors who have passed through. Last year I got to see Phil’s first start (in the cold) Joba, and Clemens on Memorial day. All for about $8 a ticket. Looking forward to Ajax, Humberto and others this year.
Also for those interested there is great shopping right near the stadium. It is a huge shopping center about 1/2 down the road! Go early go shopping, than see a ball game.
What can I say, there’s no party like a Scranton party. Doing this project was about the most fun I’ve ever had. Phil’s start was one of very few in Scranton. It wasn’t long after that I was standing in a field of press listening to him talk about what it was like to be called up to the Majors.
Great post Chris! I have been to only one Minor league game & that was in Buffalo, for a Bisons game. It was a great experience with tons of die hard fans, even though it’s a Cleveland Indians affiliate.
Here’s another link for you guys that you might be interested. Kind of gives you a look at how things work in terms of how the city works with Mandalay Sports.
http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19131822&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=6
I have nothing but kind words for what Robert Cordaro did for me. He’s the one who got me half the permission I needed to do my senior project. He’s the one called up the Yankees, prior to negotiations beginning, and made it clear there’s an option in Scranton. Without him, the Yankees would have have come only two hours away from the city.
It’s been good for Scranton, and it’s great for the Yankees.
they are adding a minor league field in at the new Meadowlands/Xanadu project, but i think they are really doing a disservice by putting an independent league team there to play.
i think northern NJ is a perfect spot for a real minor league affiliate, whatever franchise they’d be supporting.
it’d be a great alternative to going to the city for the games, and itd be half the price. why not a Mets AAA franchise? might not be a popular idea necessarily on this board, but right now they are playing in New Orleans, and then maybe moving to Syracuse for the near future. if this Xanadu project is going to be ready in the next year or two or so, seems like a logical move to me.
If I recall correctly, there were a lot of teams including the Mets looking to move to Scranton. The Yankees won out, as did Scranton.
Scranton WHAT?! The Electric City!
Yes, the Mets did check out the locker room. I have the press release somewhere, but I believe Omar actually said he thought they had a better locker room than his Major League club. Don’t quote me on that one, I know he made a very nice comparison at least.
They wanted the Yankees though, when it comes down to it, this is a Yankees area. The Red Barons fit well down by Allentown, and the Yankees fit in perfect here. Not to say the Mets wouldn’t, but not as well as the Yankees.
When are these guest spots going to be over? Its not that anyone is doing a bad job but I’m just not interested. I go to their sites. I come here for your opinion and two cents Peter. I want you to do the writing. Stop the madness!
Nice job Chris, quite an interesting read. I remember when they brought the grass in last year. Fun stuff.
Good post, Chris; I like reading about the kind of stuff that won’t show up in the national publications
If you paid attention to Pete’s writing, he said through the end of the month.
“Latest” from Olney. Twins asked for last, best offers. They’re hoping that the Yankees will be distracted by the Pettitte situation enough to give the Twins the package they requested-Hughes and IPK.
However, “The Yankees appear to be not presently engaged whatsoever in the Santana talks.”
“I come here for your opinion and two cents Peter. I want you to do the writing.”
The whole reason for the guest spots is that there’s really nothing for Pete to write about. Nothing’s really happening. When things do happen, Pete writes. I’m not sure what there is to complain about…
i still can’t believe they named the new phillies AAA team the “Iron Pigs”. horrible name and i’m thinking they will be a flop in the lehigh valley. except when the SWB yankees play them there, of course.
saucy,
Wouldn’t you rather be an Iron Pig than a Mud Hen?
actually, a Mud Pig would make most sense, i think…
“They’re hoping that the Yankees will be distracted by the Pettitte situation enough to give the Twins the package they requested-Hughes and IPK.”
Well, if the rumor about Lester being available only in a deal that involves Crisp and little else, offer IPK, Melky, Horne and Gonzalez. That’s better than Lester/Crisp, and it’s better than whatever the Mets have to give—unless they give EVERYTHING.
agreed, whozat. but i have a feeling its Hughes or bust… like, if they dont get Hughes, theyd rather take a lesser, although good-enough, package but send him to the NL.
It’s been a pleasure today. I’ll be back later tonight. I have to go find an alternate route to work now, being 380 is closed up in the Pocono’s, and that’s my usual route to work.
Gotta love ice and accidents.
Thanks again for the opportunity, and I’ll probably check back in if and when I get home tonight.
Actually a mud pig makes the most sense.
Jennifer ~ love the shopping there, especially the drive thru Starbucks
Thanks for a great post Chris! I had a great time going to to see the SWB Yankees last summer and hope to go again when next I’m back in the States.
Every single guest post, going back to the very first, has been really enjoyable, each in their own way. I’m glad that Pete is going to do it again next year.
What does Jackson or Tabata have that Gomez doesn’t?
Speed? Nope. Gomez is better then either.
Power? Nope. All 3 have little isolated power to date and project to gain power in the next few years.
Defense? Nope. Gomez is better then either. Tabata even figures to need to play a Corner Outfield spot.
Arm? Nope. Gomez is better then either.
Hitting for Average? This is the one area where they can make up some ground, but it’s not like Gomez is a miserable hitter himself. He hit .278 in the Minors.
I just don’t see where Yankee fans get off saying that either of them that much better then Gomez is (Other then pure homerism), and if they are better, Gomez is not much further behind (Thus a ranking of 4th wouldn’t be crazy).
As for Guerra, he has better pure stuff then either Kennedy or Horne. His repoitare features one of the best curveballs among any prospect and a fastball that is touching 95 mph at 18 years old! His 3rd and 4th pitches need development, but he is a better prospect then either of them, although not quite as good as a Hughes or a Chamberlain, of course.