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H.O.P.E. Week 2013

Posted by on Saturday, 23 March, 2013

March 21, 2013
New York Yankees Spring Training
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

By: Rocky Julich

HOPE Week 2013 will return for the fifth consecutive season at Yankee Stadium in New York from July 8 through July 12. The Initiative is a unique week-long community program that brings to light five remarkable stories intended to inspire individuals into action in their own communities.

During the 2012 HOPE events, it marked the beginning of a new tradition for the New York Yankees as all of the organization’s minor league clubs held their own HOPE Weeks, allowing the initiative to reach five new cities.
Hope Week is rooted in the fundamental belief that acts of goodwill provide hope and encouragement to more than just the recipient of the gesture.

Helping Others to Persevere & Excel can be compared to the colors of the rainbow. HOPE is driven by the outreach of the rainbow like individuals, families and organizations.

During Spring Training, the New York Yankees kicked off HOPE Week prior to the Yankees game against the Minnesota Twins. The Yankees were proud to host the HOPE ceremony with the Twins in attendance, as the Minnesota organization continues to embrace the HOPE Week concept with their third annual HOPE Week planned for June 10-16 in Minnesota.

During the pregame ceremony, in the spirit of the H.O.P.E. Initiative, the Yankees recognized 73-year old Ken Guill, founder of the non-profit organization “Missions Made Possible”. The organization provides lifeguard and emergency relief flights for those in need of transportation due to health problems and medical needs.

Ken Guill is a look-a-like to Chesley (Sully) Sullenberger, pilot hero of the Hudson River. Pilot Guill along with his crew of “Missions Made Possible” Vice President Joe Kemmer, Co-Pilot Chris Meyer and Flight Nurse extraordinaire Vicky Smith were the honorees of the HOPE Initiative at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

The H.O.P.E. honorees were presented with a $5,000.00 check to aid “Missions Made Possible” in their medical missions.

One Airplane. “Missions Made Possible” is able to transport non-ambulatory individuals using specialized FAA-approved stretchers which are secured inside the airplane.

Since its founding during 2005, the “Missions Made Possible” team has transported over 90 severely ill individuals; ranging from newborns to the elderly, to their respective hospitals, doctors and clinics in cities across the country.

“Missions Made Possible” has flown from home base Orlando, Florida to as far away as Pittsburgh, Little Rock and Tulsa to pick up passengers who are then flown to other cities for urgent care. The work of “Missions Made Possible” is a lifeline for individuals whose families cannot afford the costs of arranging critical medical treatment far from their home.

A nurse is always present on flights to ensure the safety and health of patients being transported. Vicky Smith, nurse retired after 20 years of service from the Florida State Penal System Department of Corrections was honored for her work in helping others persevere. She considers the service she volunteers to provide rewarding “by the act of completing the missions made possible by however it takes to help the patient in need, sometimes under not the most favorable weather conditions”.

We asked Nurse Smith if she ever flew with a recognized celebrity during one of the missions, to which she replied “every patient is a celebrity”. She continued “and today, the New York Yankees honored us as if were celebrities”.

The group made comments how “the thrill and the whole experience of being with the Yankees as wonderful”. They all stood at Home Plate while being honored, listening to the Yankees announcer during the presentation and later remained on the field as each met and spoke with favorite players and posed for pictures. They received autographed balls. Nurse Smith held her autographed baseball and indicated to me that while a lifelong Yankees fan her favorite autograph belonged to Jennifer “Jenny” Steinbrenner.

Fans can learn more about the initiative and nominate inspirational individuals for HOPE Week recognition by visiting the official website at www.hopeweek.com

You can make contributions to the non-profit organization “Missions Made Possible” by visiting the official website at www.missionsmp.com

Stay tuned.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional baseball Leagues or its clubs.

WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC 2013

Posted by on Wednesday, 6 March, 2013

March 06, 2013
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC vs. NEW YORK YANKEES

By: Rocky Julich

The New York Yankees Spring Training field was visited by various dignitaries from the Dominican Republic; among them, Jaime David Fernandez, Ministro de Deportes and Hector Pereida, Presidente de La Federacion de Beisbol. Leo Lopez, Director de Relaciones de Media.

Today, the player practice on George M. Steinbrenner Field took a different meaning as most of the vocal exchanges heard from the opposing team were in Spanish. The visiting team on the field is the baseball crazed Dominican Republic and they came prepared to play with a line-up that is unforgiving.

As I prepare the line-up sheet in my score book, it is interesting to note that all of the opposing Major League players have Spanish names. Vidal Nuno, Carlos Santana, Edwin Encarnacion, Robinson Cano, Hanley Ramirez, Eric Aybar, Ricardo Nanita, Alejandro DeAza, Nelson Cruz. Tony Pena manages the Dominican team, while Alfredo Griffin is at first base and Juan Samuel coaches third. Moises Alou is the General Manager.

It may be one of the rare times in franchise history that the New York Yankees have faced an all Latino Major League Baseball players line-up.

The New York Yankees line-up reads as follows; Hiroki Kuroda, Francisco Cervelli, Luke Murton, Jayson Nix, Kevin Youkilis, Eduardo Nunez, Matt Diaz, Melky Mesa, Juan Rivera. Joe Girardi is the manager. Brian Cashman is the General Manager, presently among the long list of injured players of the Yankees.

After losing in the Inaugural (2006) and second World Baseball Classics (2009) the Dominican Republic team is playing to win with a little bit of everything; power, hit & run, steals and player chemistry.

The 2013 Dominican Republic club include seven players who have participated in Major League Baseball All Star games. Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes and Robinson Cano played for their Country in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

As evidenced by the exhibition debut defeat of the Philadelphia Phillies by 15 runs, 28 hits in a 15-2 win. The Dominican Republic is passionate about winning the World baseball Classic. Playing the second game of competition, during the second half of the 7th inning, the Dominican Republic led the Yankees 6 – 0, with 10 hits vs. Yankees 0. Continuing play in the bottom of the 7th inning, the Yankees Zoilo Almonte, with two outs on the board, connected a two run home run. Dominican 7 – Yankees 2.

There were lots of fans in the seats (8,146), many of them waving the flag of the Dominican Republic with loud cheers for baseball Nationalism over the New York Yankees.

The Dominican Republic continues strong in competition in the World Baseball Classic with wins over the National League Phillies and the American League Yankees.

Final score:
Dominican Republic 8 runs – 13 hits – 0 errors
New York Yankees 2 runs – 2 hits – 2 errors

The question was asked of Yankees star second baseman Robinson Cano regarding the difficulty in his competing for the Dominican Republic vs. the team he plays for, the New York Yankees.

La dificultad en apoyar la Republica Dominicana sobre su quipo los New York Yankees.

No response necessary.
It’s just baseball with a bilingual flavor. Es un poquito de beisbol con sabor bilingue.

Stay tuned.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

ORIOLES vs. YANKEES – SPRING TRAINING AFTERNOON

Posted by on Wednesday, 27 February, 2013

February 27, 2013
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

By: Rocky Julich

Prior to the afternoon of a spring training game, a lot goes on with the players. All types of physical conditioning; print, radio & TV interviews and meetings.

Today there was a player/union meeting. Mark Teixeira as the Yankees team representative, during a briefing of the media in the player’s Clubhouse presented a picture of the issues discussed.

Steroids. The one voice assured that “most guys are on the same page”. They want a clean game and are voicing each new issue as it comes up. The Yankees first baseman made his feelings clear as to solutions regarding steroids. He expressed belief that the sight of players becoming twice their size will be less common, as will the feat of hitting 60 homeruns.

Recognizing that steroids is a part of baseball which will not go away, Mark Teixeira is all for increasing testing, in order for the teams to stay ahead of the “cheats”. With union leadership, he would like to see fixing the science side. Having your “name dragged through the mud” is punishment.

The game of the day starts promptly at 1:05 pm as both teams place and test on the playing field the best players of previous seasons and the best players in development.

A, AA and AAA players each play to learn from the other during a spring training afternoon.

The Yankees lost this game early with the pitching failure of a young LHP being developed for the Major Leagues. To quote the manager Joe Girardi, “it was nerves, but a good experience for Nik Turley”.

Nine (9) Yankees pitchers followed Nik Turley on the mound to complete the game; Eppley, Daley, Rondon, Kahnle, Montgomery, Spence, Claiborne and Pope. Between the group, they combine one year of Major League Baseball experience.

With a score of Baltimore 10 – Yankees 7, the Yankees notched five (5) errors during the game. Manager Girardi “the game was sloppy, but these are young kids, our regulars are not healthy”.

There were bright moments in the Yankees fielding. Johnson to Joseph 5-3 out during Baltimore’s 4th inning. What a throw, what a leg splitting catch.

A Spring Training afternoon – observed, player development.

Stay tuned.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

SPRING TRAINING NYY OPENER

Posted by on Tuesday, 26 February, 2013

February 24, 2013

George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

By Rocky Julich

How many ways has it been written about the “rite of spring”? A good guess would be as often as has been written about the rite of Major League Baseball Spring Training. It was the year 1890 when the concept of Spring Training was developed as a time for the players of the day to experience the game through rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection and regrowth.

Since 1903, the New York Yankees teams have experienced all of the above during the 111 seasons of spring, while training 18 consecutive seasons in Tampa and before then, 33 seasons in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The Yankees have always been considered a resilient team. They have been a franchise which has been able to pull championships out of a hat or better yet out of free agents.

It is a different era in Major League Baseball and there can be no denying that the 2013 Yankees will place on the field what some consider the worst line-up in decades. The current players are a little bit of this and a little bit of that.
The oldest player in camp, RHP Mariano Rivera is 43 years of age. Eight players listed on the Yankees roster have more than 10 years of service. While their superstars 3B A-Rod and shortstop Derek Jeter are in the sunset of their careers.
So fans get ready, rebirth through youth is where the team is headed.

The Yankees players, vulnerable positions?

During the media press briefing Manager Joe Girardi stated, “I’ve said you never really know about the depth of your club until it’s tested. Well, it’s going to be tested here. We’re going to find out how deep we are.” During the rite of Spring Training.

The Yankees outfield is uncertain with the injury to Curtis Granderson and Brett Gardner’s switch to centerfield. The infield is being held by the gloves of Robinson Cano and Mark Teixeira. Perhaps looking forward to Rob Segedin at third? Catcher, catcher, how about the glove of youngster Gary Sanchez? And, starting pitching for the Yankees, straight out of Single-A may be Jose Ramirez and Nik Turley.

Stay tuned………

TAMPA YANKEES VS. LAKELAND FLYING TIGERS CLINCH

Posted by on Wednesday, 5 September, 2012

September 2, 2012

Joker Marchant Stadium
Lakeland, Florida

By Rocky Julich

The 1st Half, 2nd Half and Final Standings:
Tampa Yankees 30-37/35-32/65-69
Lakeland Flying Tigers 36-29/36-29/72-58

The Lakeland Flying Tigers advanced to the Florida State League playoffs while the Tampa Yankees with Luis Sojo, the Manager with the most career wins by a FSL Manager, finish the 2012 Class “A” season without appearing in the playoffs since 2010.

It is Labor Day weekend with Tampa/Lakeland playing in the final four games of the Florida State League regular season.

During the Saturday night game, 2,118 fans were in for a treat when the New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez played in his first rehab start. After being hit in the left hand and suffering a broken bone, A-Rod stepped back into the batter’s box for the first time since July 25th. He appeared as the designated hitter for Class-A Tampa in a 7-6 loss to Lakeland. Rodriguez went 0-3 with a walk and a run scored.

Shane Green (4-6, 5.30 ERA) started and lost the game for the Tampa Yankees while Cesar Carillo (1-3, 5.54 ERA) started and won the game for Lakeland Flying Tigers with a score of 6 – 0. 473 fans enjoyed the final game of the season.

The Lakeland Flying Tigers are headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. The Flying Tigers clinched by defeating the Tampa Yankees on Saturday, 8-1. Lakeland will play vs. Dunedin Blue Jays on Tuesday, September 4th at 6:30 p.m. in Joker Marchant Stadium for game one of the three game North Division Championship Series.

After the game we spoke to the Tampa Yankees Manager, Luis Sojo.

Es un Poquito de Beisbol con Sabor Bilingue.

Pegunta: Los Tampa Yankees completan la temporada en 65-70, no llegan a los play-offs. Tu comentario hoy sobre la temporada.

Sojo: Mira, fue una temporada de altos y bajos, no? Lamentablemente en la zona mitad teniamos practicamente el camino abierto para la clasificacion, pero bueno, cuando tu juegas con tantos muchachos jovenes, hombres que estan comenzando a jugar beisbol y que, bueno cosas pasan pero en lina generales estamos contentos con el desarroyo de algunos muchachos que creo que es la parte mas importante a este nivel.

Pregunta: Tu opinion sobre el pelotero con el future mejor con los Yankees, en esta temporada.

Sojo: Mira, en cuanto pitcheo sobre todo, los abridores; Nuding, Turley, Tracy, Cotham , son peloteros que tienen muchos chances, no, si se mantienen sanos, si hacen las cosas pequenas. Ellos tiene chances de algun dia jugar en las grandes ligas. En lo que son los peloteros de posiciones: Ramon Flores creo que fue un pelotero que me impresiono muchisimo. Tyler Austin tambien, que ahora los subieron a Doble A, a los dos. Y, por supuesto, Gary Sanches el catcher, que creo que tiene futuro. Creo que la cabesita es lo que hay que acomodar un poquito , pero ese proseso viene. Creo que la parte mental es lo mas importante y si logra eso tiene la oportunidad de llegar a las grandes ligas.

Pregunta: Y que sorpresa, durante los ultimos cuatro partidos, a lo menos un dia, tener a Alex Rodriguez contigo.

Sojo: Bueno, es importante. Lo conosi cuando comenzo su carrera en Seattle a los 17 anos y poder tener la experiencia de dirigirlo auque sea aqui en Clase A es algo muy motivado. No solamente para mi, pero tambien para los muchachos que puedan ver una super estrella como el en el equipo.

Pregunta: Otra vez, te felicitamos por ser el Manager mas ganador de todo tiempo en el Florida State League durante la temporada 2012.

Sojo: Gracias, eso son cosas que se logran con trabajo y esfuerzo y espero seguir hacienda un buen trabajo para la organizacion.

Pregunta: Quizzas te vemos en las grandes ligas durante 2013.

Sojo: Bueno, todo es possible. Vamos a ver. Todavia esa es la mentalidad de Luis Sojo. Yo quiero, por supuesto, llegar alla, pero el trabajo es los que me va a llevar a eso. La paciencia es algo que no va a hacer facil, pero la disposicion esta y eso es lo mas importante.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional baseball Leagues or its clubs.

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE – Minor Leagues Teams

Posted by on Sunday, 1 July, 2012

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE
MINOR LEAGUES BASEBALL TEAMS
CLASS “A” Advanced

NORTH

BREVARD COUNTY MANATEES (Milwaukee Brewers)
Space Coast Stadium
Viera, Fl. 32940

CLEARWATER THRESHERS (Philadelphia Phillies)
Bright House Field
Clearwater, Fl. 33765

DAYTONA CUBS (Chicago Cubs)
Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Daytona Beach, Fl. 32114

DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS (Toronto Blue Jays)
Florida Auto Exchange Stadium
Dunedin, Fl. 34698

LAKELAND FLYING TIGERS (Detroit Tigers)
Tiger Town -Joker Marchant Stadium
Lakeland, Fl. 33805

TAMPA YANKEES (New York Yankees)
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Fl. 33614

SOUTH

BRADENTON MARAUDERS (Pittsburgh Pirates)
Pirate City – McKechnie Field
Bradenton, Fl. 34205

CHARLOTTE STONE CRABS (Tampa Bay Rays)
Charlotte Sports Park
Port Charlotte, Fl. 33948

FT. MYERS MIRACLE (Minnesota Twins)
Lee County Sports Complex – Hammond Stadium
Ft. Myers, Fl. 33912

JUPITER HAMMERHEADS (Miami Marlins)
Roger Dean Stadium
Jupiter, Fl. 33458

PALM BEACH CARDINALS (St. Louis Cardinals)
Cardinals Complex -Roger Dean Stadium
Jupiter, Fl. 33458

ST. LUCIE METS (New York Mets)
Digital Domain Park
Port St. Lucie, Fl. 34986

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE – Players

Posted by on Sunday, 1 July, 2012

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE
MINOR LEAGUES BASEBALL
CLASS “A” ADVANCED

OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

08/12/2012
KYLE ROLLER, Tampa Yankees (New York Yankees)
(.375/.444/1.188, 4 G, 6-for-16, 2 3B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB, 4 K)
Roller only played in four games this week, but he managed to pack a lot of punch into his 16 at-bats. The 24-year old first baseman went 5 for 12 with three homers, two triples and eight RBIs during a three game sweep of host Clearwater. Roller drove in or scored 12 of the Yankees 25 runs in the series and now ranks second in the league in both homers (18) and RBIs (78). With Roller hitting .303/.386/.588 since the All-Star break, Tampa owns a narrow one-game lead in the second-half North Division race.

08/06/2012
RICHARD LUCAS, St. Lucie Mets (New York Mets)
(.435/.480/.783, 6 G, 10-for-23, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 8 K, 3 SB)
A fourth-round pick in 2007, Lucas is back in St. Lucie, where he played in 2010, after spending last season with Brooklyn in the New York-Penn League. He was an organizational All-Star with the Cyclones in 2012. This week the 23-year old clubbed two of his eight homers on the year and closed out the stretch by going 6-for-9 against Fort Myers over the weekend, missing the cycle by a triple on August 5th.

07/29/2012
ALEX DICKERSON, Bradenton Marauders (Pittsburgh Pirates)
(.462/.533/.846, 7 G, 12-for-26, 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 10 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 SB)
An outfielder and designated hitter at Indiana University. Dickerson is still working oh his defense since the Pirates moved him to first base. There’s been no question about his bat, though, as the 22-year old slugger leads the Florida State League with 77 RBIs in 100 games. A left-handed hitter who once toyed with switch-hitting due to his struggles against southpaw pitchers, Dickerson is hitting .311 against lefties this season. His biggest game this week was a 4-for-5, two-homer performance against Daytona on July 24th.

07/22/2012
EDGAR DURAN, Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies)
(.444/.545/.944, 6 G, 8-for-18, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 SB)
Duran was having an average week before Clearwater traveled to Charlotte for a weekend series against the Stone Crabs. The Venezuelan born shortstop doubled on Thursday and went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs on July 20th, before blasting a pair of homers, just his second and third of the season, and driving in four runs on July 21st. The Stone Crabs were spared further Duran related damage only when rain washed out July 22nd series final.

07/16/2012
RAMON FLORES, Tampa Yankees (New York Yankees)
(.412/.412/.882, 5 G, 7-for-17, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 H, 4 RBI, 3 R, 5 K, 1 SB, 1 CS)
The Yankees outfielder had a pair of three-hit games last week, falling a hit shy of the cycle in each. The left-handed Flores is batting .351 in his last games, and that includes a hitless effort on July 14th. He’s hitting .360 in July after batting .340 in June for Tampa in his second stint in the Florida State League.

07/02/2012
JASON ROGERS, Brevard County Manatees (Milwaukee Brewers)
(.429/.600/.857, 7 G, 9-for-21, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R, 9 BB, 5 K, 2 SB)
A mid-season All-Star in the Midwest League, where he hit .301/.394/.485 in 66 games for Wisconsin, Rogers has been even better in his first 10 days in the FSL. Brevard County’s new first baseman/corner outfielder/designated hitter drove in 10 runs in seven games this week and, with 11 walks, has posted a .571 on-base percentage in his first 10 Class-A Advanced games. Rogers capped the week with a pair of homers and five RBIs on July 1st as the Manatees routed host Clearwater, 10-3.

06/25/2012
KIRK SINGER, Bradenton Marauders (Pittsburgh Pirates)
(.474/.545/.789, 5-G, 9-for-19, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 CS)
Like California League winner Casey McElroy, fellow shortstop Singer was scuffling at Class A, posting a .282/305/321 line, before taking his new league by storm. The 22-year old Singer went deep in his first Florida State League game on June 18th and drove in at least one run in each of his first five games with the Marauders. With another blast at Charlotte on June 22nd, Singer has as many homers in five FSL games as he hit in 112 previous games for West Virginia and State College.

06/18/2012
ANTHONY HEWITT, Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies)
(.375/.441/1.000, 4G, 6-for-16, 1 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 4 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 SB)
Hewitt’s first Class A Advanced season has featured long stretches of scuffling punctuated by outbursts of prodigious hitting. The 23-year old, whom the Phillies took with the 24th overall pick in the 2008 Draft, was hitting .161 through May 4th, before going 11-for-16 in his next four games to hit his average 108 points. Hewitt was just 5-for-33 (.151) in June before going 5-for-8 with three homers and eight RBIs in two games against Tampa Yankees on June 13th and June 14th. Unfortunately for the Phillies’ No. 19 prospect, his surge was interrupted by the FSL All-Star break. Hewitt and the Threshers will be back at it on June 18th.

06/11/2012
KEVIN AHRENS, Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto Blue Jays)
(.471/.500/.882, 5 G, 8-for-17, 1 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 5 K)
A first round pick (16th overall) in the 2007 Draft, Ahrens is in his fourth Florida State League season. After slugging a career high 14 long balls last year, the 23-year old third baseman went homerless in his first two months of the campaign before breaking the seal with a solo shot at Charlotte on June 3rd. Ahrens homered again on June 4th, and added a third blast in a 3-for-3 effort against Clearwater on June 9th. He capped his week by driving in a pair of runs on June 10th, as Dunedin clinched the first-half title in the FSL’s North Division.

06/04/2012
OSWALDO ARCIA, Ft. Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins)
(.571/.640/1.048, 6 G, 12-for-21, 1 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 CS)
The Venezuelan born Arcia is in his fourth Minor League season and his second with the Miracle, despite having just turned 21-years old in May. The Twins’ No. 4 prospect, Arcia has stepped up his game, raising his batting average 67 points and on-base percentage 88 points above his FSL stint last year. He had hits in each of his six games this week, including a pair of four-hit performances and went deep on both June 2nd and June 3rd, against Daytona. Arcia ranks fourth in the league in hitting and second in both slugging and OPS.

05/29/2012
GABE JACOBO, Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto Blue Jays)
(.429/.452/.821, 7 G, 12-for-28, 5 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 5 K)
Jacobo’s presence in the FSL may not be entirely fair, he spent last season in the Double-A Texas League but he won’t be there long at this rate. The first baseman, who the Blue Jays acquired in the Minor League portion of the Rule 5 Draft last December, closed out his week with five consecutive multi-hit games. Jacobo doubled in each of those contests and has reached base in all 22 of his games with Dunedin this season. Had he the at-bats to qualify, the 25-year old would rank fourth in the league in hitting.

05/22/2010
CARLOS ALONSO, Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies)
(.545/.583/.909, 6 G, 12-for-22, 2 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, 1 BB, 3K)
After going 0-for- 4 at Dunedin on May 14th, Alonso’s batting average stood at .282. By May 20th, it was .360, thanks to five straight multi-hit games in which he went 12-for-18 with two homers and 10 RBIs. The 24-year old, University of Delaware product played two games in left field, two at second base, one at shortstop and one at third base, but none of the stresses of fielding different positions seem to have affected his hitting. Alonso’s three homers this year (in 27 games) are already a career high.

05/14/2012
LANCE RAY, Ft. Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins)
(.421/.542/.789, 6 G, 8- for- 19, 2 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, 4 K, 1 SB)
After hitting just .192 in April, Ray has at last one hit in nine of his 10 games this month and has scored in six of seven. An eighth-round pick out of the University of Kentucky in 2010, Ray’s 16 homers for Beloit were fourth most in the Twins organization last season. The 22-year old delivered his fourth blast of the year on May 9th, a first inning grand slam at first place Dunedin and added two doubles and a single on May 10th to help the Miracle split a four game set with the Blue Jays.

05/07/2012
NICK CASTELLANOS, Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit Tigers)
(.464/.531/.643, 7G, 13-for-28, 2 BB, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 SB)
The Florida State League seems unlikely to feature Nick Castellanos for long, as it has been wholly unable to contain him in the first month of the season. A first-round pick in 2010, the 20-year old Castellanos is MLB.com’s No 46 prospect and currently leads the Minor Leagues with a .404 batting average. He has hits in 27 of his 29 games and multiple hits in 14 of them, including a 4-for-5 performance against first-place Dunedin on April 27th. Castellanos went 8-for-13 against the Blue Jays in three games on May 1st, May 2nd and May 3rd, to help him win Player of the Week honors.

04/30/2012
JAKE MARISNICK, Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto Blue Jays)
(.423/.444/.846, 11-for-26, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB, 1 SB)
Marisnick, MLB.com’s No. 58 prospect, began the week mired in an 0-for-13 slump. His extra work with Dunedin hitting coach, Ralph Dickerson began to pay off on April 24th, as the 21-year old slugger clubbed in his first long ball of the year at Tampa. Marisnick followed with four straight multi-hit games, adding two more homers and a double while plating six runs. The 2009 third-round pick’s third blast in five days helped the Jays top the Yankees, 6-1, on April 28th, and open up a 5-1/2 game lead over Lakeland in the FSL North.

04/23/2012
CHRISTIAN YEICH, Jupiter Hammerheads (Miami Marlins)
(.500/,615/,1.100, 10-for-20, 2 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 7 R, 6 BB, 4 K, 1 SB)
Yelich, the Marlins top prospect, missed the end of Spring Training and the first week of the season with a bruised right elbow. He’s shown no signs of rust since joining the Hammerheads on April 15th, going 12-for-24 with two homers, two triples, two double, seven walks and nine runs scored in seven games. The 20-year old outfielder has collected multiple hits in five of his seven outings and completed a variance on the cycle on April 21st, delivering a single, double, triple and solo homer in seven at bats as Jupiter split a doubleheader against visiting Charlotte.

04/16/2012
ANGEL MORALES, Fort Myers Miracle (Minnesota Twins)
(.415/.457/.561, 10 G, 17-for-41, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R, 4 BB, 1 K, 3 SB, 1 CS)
Morales’ third season with the Miracle is off to a flying start with hits in nine of 10 games and multiple hits in five of them. The 22-year old outfielder out of Puerto Rico, a third-round Draft pick in 2007, had three hits on Opening Day and fell a triple shy of the cycle in a four-hit, three-RBI performance against Bradenton on April 14th. Morales, is leading the Florida State League with 17 hits in his first 10 games.

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE – Pitchers

Posted by on Sunday, 1 July, 2012

FLORIDA STATE LEAGUE
MINOR LEAGUES BASEBALL
CLASS “A” ADVANCED

PITCHERS OF THE WEEK

06/25/2012
FRANK DEL VALLE, Dayton Cubs (Chicago Cubs)
(1-0, .0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 2 HBP, 0 BB, 11 K)
Del Valle, a 22-year old Cuban born left-hander, faced his first Major Leaguer on June 22nd, as Daytona visited Clearwater, where Phillies second baseman Chase Utley was rehabbing. Perhaps wound up to face Utley, Del Valle fanned a career high 11 batters over six no-hit frames in the Cubs’ 3-1 win. He did not walk a batter but did hit two of them, including Utley, once. Though going just 2-2, Del Valle has posted a 1.37 ERA over 19-2/3 innings in four June appearances.

06/18/2012
ENNY ROMERO, Charlotte Stone Crabs (Tampa Bay Rays)
(0-0, 1.13 ERA, 1 G, 7 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 4 BB, 6 K)
Left hander Enny Romero has been a solid contributor to the Stone Crabs rotation this season, posting a 3.30 ERA in 12 starts. On June 11th, the Rays’ No. 8 prospect showed that he’s pretty good out of the bullpen as well. Romero pitched seven innings of no-hit relief against St. Lucie (which owns the best record in the Minor Leagues), striking out six and walking four. It was his second straight outing without allowing an earned run. Romero has held FSL hitters to a .205 average in his 13 outings.

06/11/2012
SHANE GREEN, Tampa Yankees (New York Yankees)
(1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 BB, 8 K)
After being blasted for nine earned runs over 7-2/3 innings in two early May starts, Greene returned to the Tampa rotation in top form last weekend. The 23-year old right hander struck out six over four scoreless innings June 10th, before pitching six perfect frames against Daytona on June 9th Greene fanned a season high eight to earn his first victory of the season in the Yankees’ 7-0 win.

06/04/2012
JESSIE BIDDLE, Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies)
(1-0, 0.64 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 14 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 3 BB, 21 K
After two rough starts in April, back-to-back, losses to Lakeland, the 20-year old Biddle has been outstanding. The Philadelphia native, whom the Phillies made the 29th overall pick in 2011, has allowed six earned runs while fanning 48 over his last 46 innings. This week Biddle struck out nine Tampa Yankees, over seven innings in a no-decision on May 29th, then fanned a career high 12 while holding Palm Beach to four hits in seven shutout frames on June 3rd,. The southpaw No. 13 prospect ranks third in the FSL with 64 strikeouts and is tied for fifth with 2.51 ERA.

05/29/2012
ASHER WOJCIECHOWSKI, Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto Blue Jays)
(1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 12 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 1 BB, 12 K)
Wojciechowski, a 2010 first-round pick and the Blue Jays’ No. 11 prospect, entered the week having been pounded in his previous two starts to the tune of 14 runs on 15 hits in 5-1/3 innings. The right-hander scattered five hits over six scoreless frames against Jupiter on May 21st, for his first win since April 24th, then held Brevard County to one run on four hits while striking out a season high eight batters over six innings on May 26th. One key for Wojciechowski seems to be avoiding sunlight; after pitching 12 scoreless innings in two day starts for Dunedin last season, the right-hander has a 10.80 ERA in his two day games this year.

05/22/2012
C.J. RIEFENHAUSER, Charlotte Stone Crabs (Tampa Bay Rays)
(2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 1 GS, 6-1/3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 BB, 10 K)
A reliever in 2010 and a starter in 2011, Riefenhauser has done a bit of both this season, with outstanding results in both roles. After striking out the lone batter he faced in relief (and earning the win) on May 15th, the left-hander allowed three hits while fanning nine over six shutout frames to beat host Tampa on May 18th. Having now pitched 11 scoreless innings in his two starts of the campaign, Riefenhauser leads the FSL with six wins and a 0.70 ERA and leads qualifying pitchers with 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

05/14/2012
ERIC JOKISCH, Daytona Cubs (Chicago Cubs)
(2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 13 IP, 8 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 BB, 16 K)
Jokisch has been a workhorse for the Cubs this season, pitching fewer than six innings in just one of his eight starts. The left-hander fanned a season high 11 over seven scoreless innings against Jupiter on May 7th, before tossing six more shutout frames against Brevard County on May 12th. An 11th round pick out of Northwestern in 2010, Jokisch leads the Florida State League with 49-2/3 innings pitched and ranks third with 48 strikeouts.

05/07/2012
JOSE RAMIREZ, Tamp Yankees (New York Yankees)
(1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 2 BB, 10 K)
The 22-year old Ramirez was thumped in his first two outings of the season, giving up 11 runs on 21 hits in just 10 innings. Steadily improving since then, the right-hander’s work paid off on May 4th, as the Yankees prospect out dueled Bradenton’s heralded Jameson Taillon (last week’s FSL Pitcher of the Week) in a 2-0 win. Ramirez held the Marauders to two hits while striking out a season high 10 batters in six scoreless innings for his second victory of the season.

04/30/2012
JAMESON TAILLON, Bradenton Marauders (Pittsburgh Pirates)
(1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 2 BB, 10 K)
The Pirates have been understandably cautious with the arm of Taillon, the second overall pick in the 2010 Draft. The right-hander averaged four innings in his 23 starts for West Virginia last season. This week served notice that the training wheels are coming off, as Taillon stifled the Jupiter Hammerheads for 11 scoreless innings over two starts. The April 29th game, in which Taillon earned his first Florida state League victory, was the longest of his career; six three hit innings. MLB.com’s No. 8 prospect has fanned 28, walked four and held FSL hitters to a .169 average in 24-2/3 innings this season.

04/23/2012
BRODY COLVIN, Clearwater Threshers (Philadelphia Phillies)
(0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 0 BB, 6 K
Colvin is still looking for his first win of 2012, but he certainly deserves one this week. The Phillies No, 3 prospect held visiting Tampa to a pair of singles in six shutout innings but the Yankees rallied for two late runs to top the Threshers, 2-1. After a tough 2011 campaign during which he suffered a back injury, the 21-year old Colvin seems poised to regain the form that saw him fan 120 batters in 2010.

04/16/2012
SEAN NOLIN, Dunedin Blue Jays (Toronto Blue Jays)
(2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11-2/3 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 0 HBP, 2 BB, 13 K)
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Nolin was impressive in his first 2012 start, allowing four hits while fanning a pair over six scoreless innings at Clearwater on April 6th. He was overwhelming in his second, racking up 11 strikeouts in 5-2/3 frames against Brevard County on April 12th (and he had to be, as Manatees starter Jed Bradley was perfect through his first five innings). Nolin has held hitters to a .175 batting average to earn two victories in as many Florida State League outings.

H.O.P.E. WEEK INITIATIVE – June 8, 2012

Posted by on Sunday, 24 June, 2012

June 8, 2012

By Raquel Julich
Foreign Radio
Special to Gulf Coast Yankees
Tampa, Florida

ST. JOSEPH’S CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital is well known through the Southeast United States as a leader in Pediatric Heart and Cancer Care. With 80 Pediatric Physician Specialists representing 25 medical and surgical disciplines, the board certified staff offers the care St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital is known for, Family Focused Care.

Families always come first at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. Parents have the confidence of knowing that the specialized pediatric services offered are further strengthened by St. Joseph’s Hospital full-service medical center, including the 24-hour Steinbrenner Emergency/Trauma Center for Children.

After a week of rain storms in Tampa, on Friday, June 8th, the sun came out to play for the children from St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. The children were visiting the New York Yankees Himes Complex during the H.O.P.E. Week Initiative, for a morning of baseball fun with the players of the Gulf Coast League.

All four children and their parents benefiting from the Family Focused Care at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and on this sunny morning one of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital benefactors was providing a little something extra.

To start, Ron Dock took the boys in the group on a mini visit of the players’ clubhouse.

Afterwards, while the children and family members watched from behind a protective fence, a Gulf Coast League player had throwing practice to outfielder, Adam Silva (Australia).

New York Yankees pitcher, Michael Pineda (Dominican Republic) and Tampa Yankees outfielder Slade Heathcott greeted the children on the field and posed for pictures.

Pitchers Jairo Heredia (Dominican Republic), Steve Evarts, Alex Smith, Yunior Peroza (Venezuela), Graham Stoneburner and catcher Austin Romine all stopped by to say hello. The children were interested in the “resistance vest” worn by one of the pitchers.

Then, under the supervision of Alex Cotto and Ron Dock, the kids; Abel, Daniela, Nestor and Nicholas enjoyed a healthy game of kick ball with the players from the Gulf Coast League. A couple of the players ran the bases for the children as the parents watched, cheered and coached from the nearby foul lines. Ron Dock reminded the children when it was time for water. Every so often, you could hear an individual “how are you doing?” from the mothers.

The H.O.P.E. Week Initiative had the full support of Felix M. Lopez, Jr., Executive Vice President/Chief International Officer.

While the children were at play, members of the Himes Complex management who ensured the success of the first Tampa H.O.P.E. Week Initiative stopped by to see the game; Mark Newman, Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations, Pat Roessler, Director Player Development, who made it possible for the players to make it to all the events by scheduling their workouts early enough so that the players could get their work in, and, Tim Lentych, Head Athletic Trainer Player Development, who scheduled all the treatments and therapy for the injured players so they could join in the events.

The “coach” for the day, Ron Dock called the game. When it was over, after many high fives Dock announced them all winners and the children walked off the field laughing and chatting as they headed to the players’ resting area.

New York Yankees pitcher, Joba Chamberlain dressed in traditional Yankees pinstripes, after completing his pitching routine, under the watchful eye of Pitching Instructor Greg Pavlick and Billy Connors, Vice President Player Personnel, joined the children in conversation, picture taking and autographs signing.

After a brief questions and answers period where “what is a grand slam?” was discussed, Ron Dock took the children and the parents through a tour of the Yankees Offices. One of the children, 10 year old Nicholas named the players as he walked past the legendary Yankees pictures on the walls.

The Children received H.O.P.E. baseball caps, pins and a baseball, as it came time to say good-by.

H.O.P.E Helping Others Persevere and Excel

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H.O.P.E. WEEK INITIATIVE – June 7, 2012

Posted by on Sunday, 24 June, 2012

June 7, 2012

By Raquel Julich
Foreign Radio
Special to Gulf Coast Yankees
Tampa, Florida

THE CHILDREN’S HOME

The Children’s Home story begins in 1892, in a small frontier village in Florida, when as recorded by history, Miss Carrie Hammerly began tending to orphaned and abandoned children.

In 1922, the ELKS donated $100,000 towards the restoration of the aging Home.

During 2012, The Children’s Home celebrates 120 years of history in Tampa, Florida.

The Flagpole: The Flagpole was constructed in 1922, it is 80 years old. On it is a plaque in honor of Marty Lawrence, a young man who was an orphan and who was killed in the line of duty in Vietnam. Because The Children’s Home was the only family he knew, he was honored with the plaque.

Situated on an 88 acre, Academy like setting, The Children’s Home features six cottages, an administration building, a playground and an in campus school. The cottages were named after the prominent philanthropist families of the era in Tampa; Constantino Garcia Lopez Cottage, Conn Cottage, Davis Cottage, Lowry Cottage, Lykes Cottage and the MacFarland Cottage.

With the number of children entering foster care on the rise, The Children’s Home has launched a number of prevention and intervention programs with the aim to strength families in the community. The Children’s Home serves nearly 13,000 children and adults each year in the Tampa Bay Area with programs ranging from residential treatment, to school readiness and vocational education efforts to kinship care.

Kinship Care: Families headed by grandparents sharing their homes with their grandchildren when the children are displaced from their parents because of abuse or neglect. More than 4.8 million children live with grandparents. About 830,000 of these grandparents are age 60 or older.

The following words on a plaque greet all visitors at the entrance to the William MacInnes Activities Center at The Children’s Home:

“Lives of great men (women) all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and departing leave behind us, footprints on the sands of time……….” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

There are many indications that the “Boss” of the New York Yankees, George M. Steinbrenner III, left his footprints at The Children’s Home.

On the fourth day of the Yankees H.O.P.E. Week Initiative, Alex Cotto presented the players of the Gulf Coast League to The Children’s Home. Cotto advised that Mark Newman, Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations, believes “getting our Yankees players started in community service should start early, at the Rookie level”.

The community service team included; catcher, Jackson Valera (Venezuela), infielder, Jake Anderson, outfielder, Exicardo Cayones (Venezuela), pitchers, Jose Campos (Venezuela), Giovanny Gallegos (Mexico), Dawerd Cruz (Dominican Republic), Conor Mullee, Brandon Braboy, and the only ambidextrous pitcher in professional baseball, Patrick Venditti, on rehab. from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Because of the severe rain storms in Tampa, The Children’s Home, Recreation Coordinator, Chris Boulanger teamed the youths and the GCL players in the MAC Activities Center, where they spent time shooting hoops. The players also enjoyed playing video games with the youths. It was the final day of school for the children, so, afterwards, they all enjoyed a pizza party.

In Kind Donations & Volunteer Recruitment Manager, Rachelle Gyurke, provided an overview of the Children’s Home. We were introduced to Shirley Lowry, Learning Center and Vocational Specialist, who offered information of the “Virtual School”. It is a place where the children go for tutoring, computer usage and art. The Learning Center has a small library and a special area dedicated for reading books.

For others in the Yankees group, a visit was allowed into the cottage dedicated to “Constantino Garcia Lopez”. We observed how ten children per cottage live in a homelike environment; bedrooms, recreation room, kitchen, dining room, bathrooms and laundry room. It held a relaxed atmosphere.

Among the things the children miss the most, “Not being able to bring friends home from school”, and “Playing on a Little League Team”. (Over 80% in The Children’s Home have never participated in organized sports).

In the cottages, with the assistance of an adult “Primary”, the children learn how to take care of themselves from personal care, to room cleanliness and laundry. Besides schooling, the children receive therapy on a daily basis with the HOPE to return them to their families or foster care.

One child’s story:
His name is Chris. He is 10 years old and stands, perhaps 3” tall. He is in the 3rd grade, but, “is working hard to pass on to the 5th grade”. We asked him a couple of questions;
Which is your favorite team? “The Tampa Yankees”.
The Tampa Yankees, how come? “My grandmother used to take me to the games, but she died”.
Do you have a favorite football team? “The Buccaneers”.
What are you going to be when you grow up? “Cool”.
Cool? Why? “So that I can wear nice shirts and pants”.
What else do you want to be when you grow up? “A coach” and he added “I’m really fast”.
If you could have anything you want right now, what would it be? “A pair of shoes without holes”.
What do you miss the most? “I miss my Mom”.
Why are you here? “Because I hurt my brother”.
I ended the conversation with the child, but not before he said he liked the way I talked.
I enjoyed his spirit.

H.O.P.E. Helping Others Persevere and Excel – The Children’s Home