N.Y. Yankees Throw Affiliates a Screwball

From the desk of: EVIL EMPIRE STRIKES AGAIN

BRONX BOMBERS ABANDON BABY BOMBERS

Over the last year, we've watched Rob "Simon Bar Sinister" Manfred and MLB owners radically alter the landscape of minor and independent league baseball.  Major League clubs are pairing down their farm operations to four affiliates each.  Over forty teams are presently either ostracised or face elimination, with even more teams and leagues slated for reclassification.  The (rookie) Appalachian League has already been reorganized into a wood-bat summer league for college freshman and sophomore players while the New York-Penn League and other short-A season leagues face a similar fate.  Major League Baseball also has struck partnerships with the formerly independent Atlantic League, Frontier League, and American Association.

MiLB said in a statement that MLB owners are solely interested in protecting their own profitability.  I must agree.  If I were an MLB owner - I get it - there's a clear advantage to maintaining all your affiliates within close proximity of the parent club.  However, the owners intentionally made no effort to renegotiate in good faith a new bargaining agreement with minor league baseball and have since steamrolled their agenda regardless of the impact on individual proprietors, local communities and economies, and above all, players.  

The New York Yankees are perceived to have employed a rather cold and distant tact in severing ties with Trenton, (Charleston), and a local affiliate here in Staten Island.  Trenton and Staten Island claim they first learned of the news through (social) media and not until after the New York Yankees official announcement.  In separate statements, the Trenton Thunder owner calls the Yankees action a "betrayal" while the Staten Island Yankees owner deems the decision to be "unacceptable."

So incensed is the Trenton Thunder owner he calls the New York Yankees despicable for leaving culturally diverse Trenton for a wealthier, higher socioeconomic area in Somerset.

Trenton is supplanted by the formerly independent Somerset Patriots as the Yankees' new double-A affiliate.  The Yankees also bid adieu to Charleston who will be replaced by the Hudson Valley Renegades.  

For now, Staten Island is without a team.

Minor League Showdown Between Mets and Yankees Affiliates

From the desks of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  and  BLAME CARLOS MAY

EASTERN LEAGUE DIVISION SERIES

GAME ONE

Trenton

Thunder

vs.

Binghamton

Rumble Ponies

FROM
NYSEG STADIUM

Binghamton Rumble Ponies: New York Mets Upstate Club Set to Face Yankees Affiliate in (AA) Eastern League Semi-Finals.

It's not exactly the Subway Series; no crosstown rivalry here.  But because the Mets triple-A affiliate plays in the PCL, and the Yankees top farm club plays in the International League, the upcoming playoff match-up pitting the Binghamton Rumble Ponies against the Trenton Thunder in the Eastern League's division playoff is perhaps the next closest thing.

In fact, I'm looking forward to it.

On Wednesday, the post-season commences throughout the MiLB landscape.

As they say in Binghamton, 

The Road to Queens Runs Through Rumble Town

Only problem is, the road to the Eastern League championship series goes through Trenton.  With a 92-48 regular season record, the (AA-Yankees) Thunder won the Eastern Division handily, by six games over the second place (AA-Mets) Rumble Ponies, whom nonetheless posted a stellar 85-54 (.612) regular season record.

I timed my most recent road trip so as to catch last Sunday's game in Binghamton.  I thought the team's early-afternoon decision postponing the game was hasty.  It rained throughout the previous night and through the morning ... yes.  But as indicated by weather forecasts, all rain had ceased by mid-afternoon (considering a 6:35pm start time).  A sign posted at the ticket office stated the game was ultimately called due to unfavorable field conditions.

Plausible ... I guess.  At least the geese enjoyed themselves.

My initial plan was to catch Sunday's game in Binghamton, then trek again to New Jersey for Labor Day's 1pm game in Trenton.  With a planned overnight stay in a Binghamton hotel, we stuck around for Monday's 1pm game then headed home.

The division series starts on Wednesday in Binghamton, with Game Two on Thursday.  Friday's Game Three (Four, Five if necessary) will be in Trenton.  The winner moves on the Eastern League championships against the winner of Altoona Curve/Bowie Baysox series.

I'm looking forward to third baseman David Thompson and recently promoted 

first baseman Peter Alonso (pictured above alongside L.J. Mazzilli) competing against Trenton.

Affiliates: 2017 Mets vs. Yankees Comparison

AAA  Pacific Coast League: (NYM) Las Vegas 51s - last place.
AAA  International League: (NYY) Scranton/WB RailRiders - first place.

AA  Eastern League: (NYM) Binghamton Rumble Ponies - second place
AA  Eastern League: (NYY) Trenton Thunder - first place.

A+  Florida State League: (NYM) St. Lucie Mets - last place.
A+  Florida State League: (NYY) Tampa Yanks - first place.

A  South Atlantic League: (NYM) Colombia Fireflies - last place.
A  South Atlantic League: (NYY) Charleston River Dogs - first place.

A-  New York Penn League: (NYM) Brooklyn Cyclones - last place.
A-  New York Penn League: (NYY) Staten Island Yankees - first place.