Well here it is finally – mostly…
The 2012 SWB Yankees will play their home schedule in the following stadiums: Buffalo, Syracuse, Rochester, Pawtucket, Lehigh Valley and Batavia. (Batavia, NY is 55 miles E of Buffalo)
Rochester will host 37 of those 72 games.
Looks like a home “away” opener and a total of 8 extra games at CCP!
Schedules to follow.
Bring the noise!
OinK On!
Filed under DiPro's Dish
Recent IronPig post-season call ups Domonic Brown and relievers Joe Savery and Justin De Fratus were told they would be sent to Clearwater, to stay sharp just in case of injuries. Outfielder Brandon Moss and reliever Michael Schwimer were sent home after Wednesday’s season conclusion.
Erik Kratz while not eligible for the post-season roster may still travel with the team.
Finally it appears unless one of the other Philadelphia coaches is hired away by another team there will be no spot for Coach Sandberg on the Phils.
Good luck to all the IronPigs and we can only hope that ‘Pig fans will have the pleasure to watch them next season either for the ‘Pigs or the Bigs.
OinK On!
Filed under DiPro's Dish
Speculation continues on the fate of the 2012 SWB Yankees’ season. Latest reports reveal SWB may remain in Moosic at PNC Field in 2012. Renovations would either be postponed until 2013 or construction would occur during the season (sounds awful for attendance). Yet another option is to schedule the construction over a 2 year period (and remain in Moosic) thus adding $1.4 million to the construction budget.
The NY Mets have recently blocked SWB from playing at Newark’s Riverfront Stadium due to territorial issues. Oddly enough the newest report has the Yankees AAA team splitting time between Buffalo, Syracuse, and Rochester. So, the Mets block the Yankees from Newark and now they are going to end up at their own AAA team in Buffalo? (The Buffalo Bisons are the IL AAA team of the NY Mets).
For the record, Coca-Cola Park was not mentioned in any recent reports. At the same time it doesn’t appear it’s been ruled out either.
The three way split doesn’t seem very palatable at all for IronPigs fans who hoped to start their season on April 5th with two away games at SWB or perhaps a home “away” opener at Coca-Cola Park.
Buffalo: 327 mi, 5 hours 48 mins
Rochester: 272 mi, 4 hours 56 mins
Syracuse: 205 mi, 3 hours 35 mins
All are quite a bit farther than Moosic but not quite as far as the “middle of the woods in Rhode Island”!
Who’s up for a chilly NY road trip in April?
OinK On!
Filed under Coca Cola Park, DiPro's Dish
Rumors have been rampant on the future of Coach Sandberg’s coaching career. While we would enjoy nothing more than Sandberg’s return to the IronPigs for 2012, unfortunately that appears unlikely.
It’s well known that Ryno wants to manage in the Majors and has been engineering his successful MiLB managerial career along that track. The IronPigs have been lucky to be stop-over along the way. The following are brief summaries regarding recent rumors on the next destination of the Ryno Train – All aboard!
Chicago White Sox
Shortly after the release/trade of Ozzie Guillen, the rumors began circulating of Sandberg taking the Sox managerial position. However, there have been no concrete reports about Sandberg moving to the cross town rivals. As of Monday, Phillies GM Rubén Amaro, Jr. stated no other team has approached the Phillies about retaining Coach Sandberg’s services for 2012 and beyond.
Even our old friend Mitch Williams has perpetrated this rumor stating “Cubs fans would become Sox fans if Ryno was the coach.” – Cubs fans aren’t having any of that! Surely, this has raised a lot of ire with Cubs fans and seems to be the main purpose of this rumor.
Chicago Cubs
A recent report from the Chicago Sun Times states the Cubs are likely to reconcile with Ryne Sandberg. However, owner Tom Ricketts would most likely need to replace fired GM Jim Hendry before searching for a new team manager and this could certainly take a while.
It was Jim Hendry who hired Mike Quade (also now released) over Ryno last fall. With Hendry removed and Ricketts reportedly being Sandberg friendly, is this enough to bring Sandberg back to the Windy City? Perhaps Ricketts will hire Sandberg before replacing Hendry. At this point, still just rumor fodder.
Philadelphia Phillies
GM Rubén Amaro, Jr. told mlb.com. “He should get an opportunity to be in the big leagues as a coach or manager. I’m certain he has the ability to do that. For his sake, I hope people come calling for him. For our sake, I hope they don’t because we’d love to have him in our organization.”
Sounds like Sandberg is on waivers and Amaro is waiting to see if another team claims him. Last I checked Sandberg is not a player. Perhaps there is someone more wise in the contracting of MLB managers than I that could shed some light on why the Phils couldn’t hire Ryno right now if they so choose.
So far those are the three main teams in the rumor mill at the moment. Much like the SWB Yankees 2012 Season we may not know the result until well after Thanksgiving or beyond. At least the off-season seems full of ongoing speculation and drama.
In the mean time here’s the Rumor Dish to add to the mix: In 2012 Ryne Sandberg will become the coach of the SWB Yankees who will play in the parking lot, in the Bronx before each Yankees’ home game. “Peanuts, Popcorn, Lawn-Chairs”
Filed under DiPro's Dish
Reports from IL HQ reveal no additional sanctions were served against SWB for missing the previous deadline (Sept 20) other than a new deadline. That new deadline was not specified.
At this time, the IL directors will not huddle again until Baseball’s Winter Meetings in December.
So, it appears the fate of the SWB Yankees will not be sealed until at least the end of the year.
Updates will follow accordingly.
OinK On in 2012!
Filed under Coca Cola Park, DiPro's Dish
While no decision has been publicized as of yet, the speculation on the fate of the 2012 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees continues.
During last night’s Phillies viewing party (pix below) and although I didn’t expect to break any story, I searched diligently for anyone whose opinion would be noteworthy.
The first quote of the night, was: “If I did know, I wouldn’t tell you (giggle) – but I really don’t know” and that is the central theme at this point. It wasn’t personal – no one is talking – mainly because they just simply don’t know yet. In a recent e-mail exchange with Mr. Landes, he was kind enough to reply with a very polite “no comment” and understandably so.
I was able to conduct an informal, impromptu conversation with another IronPig’s insider to gain their perspective on some of the ideas that have been mentioned by Dan, Kram, Decal and others. Everyone seems to agree that money is certainly the central theme here, but there have been a number of other theories discussed that may effect the IronPig’s fans 2012 season at Coca-Cola Park.
While joking about the LHV Yankees, someone named Slim Too None was mentioned – not sure who he is (ha). Regardless, there is little likelihood of that happening for a myriad of reasons.
In a recent post Dan mentioned the wear and tear on the field and employee fatigue. I discovered in the past when SWB “borrowed” CCP in 2009 due to drainage issues, their employees traveled south. Unfortunately, not many fans would have realized they were there. Upon their arrival they were unfamiliar with CCP’s systems/procedures and wound up mostly just enjoying the game with the fans. We’ll have to keep an eye on this one and how it may effect the fan’s enjoyment of the 2012 season.
The discussion then turned to the dilution of the IronPig’s brand. The organization has spent untold time and money carefully crafting the brand to the point of number one attendance in all of MiLB. Would the Yankees marching into town in some way tarnish the IronPig’s sterling product?
The overall consensus seems that a home “away” opener on April 5 and 8 extra games would be mostly welcomed and not very taxing on the IronPigs, Yankees, or their respective fans. This would also result in a season long home stand of 11 consecutive games at the end of June through the beginning of July.
It’s been a fun ride speculating, debating and theorizing where this will all end up. I’m confident Mr. Mobley, Mr. Landes, the IronPigs, and the Yankees organization will do what’s best for the business. Hopefully, what’s best for the business will be best for the fans as well.
At the end of the night it was bittersweet to say one last goodbye to the good folks of CCP and spend one final evening of 2011 with old friends and even a few new ones.
Finally, I noticed one thing that sort of bothered me (which doesn’t happen often). I watched people who brought bags with them to carry home 12 boxes of popcorn – I know – I counted. Others were leaving with plates of pizza and bunches of hot dogs. Maybe in the future there will be a new rule – what’s cooked in CCP stays in CCP!
A few snaps of Phils Viewing Party 9/22/11
Cuuttt On and missed (the ticket)
One final view...
OinK On!
Filed under Coca Cola Park, DiPro's Dish
The International League Board of Directors met without reaching a final decision on the fate of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees for the 2012 season, as negotiations are still ongoing between team management and potential hosts.
The SWB Yankees are in need of a new home for the 2012 season when PNC Field undergoes an extreme renovation that calls for the removal of the second deck, massive changes in the seating bowl and the installation of a new suite level. The International League Board of Directors, in Albuquerque for the Triple-A Championship Game — congrats to winner Columbus Clippers, by the way — was expected to approve a plan presented by the SWB Yankees management.
But the board was not presented with a proposal — they were merely updated as to potential arrangements, we’re told by several GMs. The issue is both simple and complicated: money. It’s simple in that the SWB Yankees management would like to see more of it, and complicated because potential hosts don’t see the team generating a lot of it — they’re not willing to put up as much money as the SWB Yankees were expecting or would like. No one is going to make a killing hosting SWB Yankees games in 2012 (it’s not as though local sponsors will pay a premium, and there’s the serious chance any tickets sold to a SWB Yankees game would come from the regular sales of the locals), and the proposals on the table reflect that. The SWB Yankees are already going to take a bath on the 2012 season, and any small measure of financial relief is not being provided by potential host teams, which include the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and the Rochester Red Wings. Adding to the complication: who covers losses during the season.
Too bad the most logical solutions, like having the SWB Yanks playing full-time in Staten Island or even Yankee Stadium, as some have suggested, aren’t feasible because of the territorial agreement the Yankees have with the New York Mets. (We’re guessing the New York Yankees would make a killing hosting the team in The Bronx; price every ticket at $10, open concession stands only in the main concourse, and bring in a whole new audience to the ballpark who normally couldn’t afford a night at an MLB game. More than one MiLB owner has suggested to us this would be the ideal solution.)
So we’ll wait to hear what is finally proposed to the International League in coming weeks. We hear there might be a surprise player from outside the ranks of the IL in a position to impact a decision as well.
Filed under Coca Cola Park, DiPro's Dish
Scranton Yankees Still Without A Home
Posted Sep. 20, 2011 4:18 pm by Josh Leventhal
“Both Lehigh Valley president Kurt Landes and Rochester CEO Naomi Silver have said they are open to hosting the Yankees, though Silver said the Red Wings could accommodate Scranton for just half the season.”
Filed under Coca Cola Park, DiPro's Dish
2011 Baseball Attendance by Average
Rank |
Team |
Lge |
Total |
Gms |
Av. |
2010 |
1 |
Lehigh Valley IronPigs |
IL |
628,925 |
68 |
9,248 |
9,227 |
2 |
Louisville Bats |
IL |
601,372 |
69 |
8,715 |
8,634 |
3 |
Columbus Clippers |
IL |
591,884 |
68 |
8,704 |
8,945 |
4 |
Round Rock Express |
PCL |
618,261 |
72 |
8,586 |
8,408 |
5 |
Saltillo Saraperos |
MxL |
426,915 |
50 |
8,538 |
4,946 |
6 |
Sacramento River Cats |
PCL |
600,306 |
71 |
8,455 |
9,137 |
7 |
Monterrey Sultanes |
MxL |
430,420 |
51 |
8,439 |
6,731 |
8 |
Dayton Dragons |
ML |
571,886 |
69 |
8,288 |
8,534 |
9 |
Pawtucket Red Sox |
IL |
578,930 |
70 |
8,270 |
8,342 |
10 |
Indianapolis Indians |
IL |
580,082 |
71 |
8,170 |
8,027 |
11 |
Albuqueque Isotopes |
PCL |
578,328 |
71 |
8,145 |
8,158 |
12 |
Toledo Mud Hens |
IL |
549,436 |
69 |
7,962 |
7,972 |
13 |
Buffalo Bisons |
IL |
521,530 |
67 |
7,784 |
8,218 |
Go Pigs!
OinK!
Filed under Coca Cola Park, DiPro's Dish
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