With the changes in ownership and stadium upstate, the Yankees are going to be tougher to hate.
If you’ve been following the continuing saga of our upstate rivals, you know some changes are afoot in the Northern Division of the AAA International League of baseball. Extensive stadium renovations are under way in Moosic. Go here to see cam/photos of the construction. As far as I know, it will still be PNC Field (PNC Park is in Pittsburgh).
Along with the “new” stadium, comes new ownership. The Yankees will still be the MLB affiliate, but there have been changes in the ownership and lease structure for the team. I’m unsure of all the parties involved, but as a result of the process, a new team name will be chosen.
Oh, they’ll still be our rivals. They’re only an hour or so away, and we remember who they represent. But they’ll have a new disguise. Wanna help them choose it? Go here
Here’s the text from the team name finalists, taken from their website:
Blast
The Blast combines the over-the-top fun of MiLB with the tough miners who unearth coal to fuel America’s industrial revolution. It’s also the sound of the Yankees of tomorrow blasting home runs in front of a packed house at PNC Field.
Black Diamond Bears
Paying homage of the rich coal mining history of the SWB area combined with the ferociousness of the black bear, no one will want to mess with them on the field. The natural setting of PNC Field will be the perfect den for the Black Diamond Bears.
Fireflies
Watch the Fireflies light up the night sky at PNC Field in 2013. The state insect of Pennsylvania is a sure sign of summer time in NEPA. Families will have a glowing good time at the ballpark!
RailRiders
All aboard! We’re not just blowing steam with this one. The SWB express isn’t your ordinary ride on the rails. We’ll be charting our own course as we speed our way into the minds and hearts of NEPA baseball fans. Kids can join the Lil’ Conductors Club or you can shop for your favorite team gear at the Station.
Porcupines
This tough as “Quills” animal is a renegade native to Northeast Pennsylvania. The fighting, resilient spirit of the porcupine is the same spirit indicative to our area. With Pulled Porky-Pine Sandwiches, fans are sure enjoy the fun, creative nature that only Minor League Baseball can bring to the community.
Trolley Frogs
Known as the “Electric City,” Scranton is home of America’s very first electric trolley car. A trolley frog is not only a mechanical part of a trolley, it takes us into a creative world of frogs, lily pads and snapping tongues.
You can go there and vote, if you wish, but we all know it’s going to be the Trolley Frogs, right? It’s the goofiest choice and has the best marketing/family appeal. Advice to SWB, though: When choosing a mascot name, please keep in mind that those with French Heritage may be offended by the use of the term “Frog.”
@Kram209
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
i like the trolley frogs, but i’m not sure about serving frog legs at the food stands, but it’s said they taste like chicken.
Yeah, they’re like chicken but slightly sweeter and with a subtly different texture. They are commonly served in restaurants sauteed in butter and garlic. They are delightful that way. But then, so is just about anything smothered in butter and garlic.
I found some recently at the fish market. I snipped the flippers off with kitchen shears so that I could tell the kids that they were a new type of chicken wings. I marinated them in olive oil and garlic, then spritzed them with a little lemon before putting them on the grill (gas). I brushed them with garlic infused butter on the grill.
They didn’t come out that good. I think I over-cooked them as they were a bit dry–or perhaps that was because they had been frozen. And the kids didn’t go for it. I think Mrs. Kram and I finshed them by adding a little hot sauce. Next time I’ll try a hotter grill for less time.
oh, and yeah, I don’t think that serving frog legs at the stadium would work very well either food-wise or sales-wise. If I were in charge I might sell small, skinny fried chicken strips and call them some kind of cute frog-like name. Like: Hopper Strips