Last week, it was announced that the Yankees Triple-A team would play every game on the road this season, because of renovations to their home stadium, PNC Field.
That’s an extra 72 games on the road. Sixty of those 72 “road” games will be played in stadiums in upstate NY, which will rotate as the club’s “home.”
The Yankees’ AAA affiliate is where some of the farm system’s crown jewels will apply their trade, most notably Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, and Austin Romine. There’s some other solid prospects there as well, like Adam Warren, David Phelps, and DJ Mitchell.
And now, these players will not have the stability of a home park, something which has rarely happened in baseball history (maybe even the first time for an MLB affiliate). There will be more travel, more buses, more hotels — these are the kids who are on the brink of moving to the Bronx, and now they’ll be shuffled around like a local Little League All-Star team. So we have to ask: Is this a good thing for their development??
And we’re not the only ones posing this question…some of the players and staff are asking the same thing:
“It’s another obstacle you’ve got to climb,” Phelps said. “Whatever attitude you take into it, is how you’ll deal with it. If you go into it thinking it’s going to be worse than it really is, it’s going to be worse than it is.”
“Every baseball team has a home base. It’s going to be a little weird just not having one,” said 27-year-old infielder Kevin Russo, embarking on his fourth season with the team. “Friends, family, girlfriend, they all don’t really understand. Even I don’t understand it.”
Media Relations Director, Mike Vander Woude:
“I don’t how much it will impact the players because they are used to traveling,” Vander Woude said. “We’ve got 84 of the 144 games that will be played within three of four hours of Scranton and that will help. It will amount to a few more hotel stays than we’d normally have.”
Maybe it won’t have an impact at all, but it’s definitely worth asking the question. They don’t call it “home-field advantage” for nothing.
Manny, are you too good for your home!?!
17 Comments
Ana March 13, 2012 23:09
Isn’t this the Mets fault? They wouldn’t let them play close to the city.
Pedro Feliciano March 14, 2012 01:57
It’s always the Mets’ fault.
Sensitive RAB Guys March 14, 2012 05:03
you’re no hannah ehrlich
A-Bomb March 14, 2012 19:22
Hannah Ehrlich=babe.
Joe Páwlikowski March 15, 2012 14:16
I wouldn’t fuck her with Bexy’s dick.
rob balis March 13, 2012 23:15
yeah they were supposed to play in newark where the bears play…but the mets put a halt to it cause they are fags
Huge Douche March 13, 2012 23:46
YEAH
Rimjob Mike March 14, 2012 08:29
Get set for a lot of achy backs, nevks, and stomachs from bad beds and even worse eatery. Nothing’s better than home cooking and your own bed.
Not good at all.
Rush Limbaugh March 14, 2012 08:37
This is a shame. I can’t believe that they would let the AAA team travel on anything but Sarah Palin’s straight talk express.
They can get good rates from what I hear if they promise to bang Sarah, Glen Rice style!
Obama March 16, 2012 13:53
Let’s tax that shit.
Cletus March 14, 2012 10:22
Well done. Glad Nomaas brought this up.
Malcolm March 14, 2012 12:03
Mistah Hal say’s us po black folks gotta sit on the back o that bus ride too. Sho ’nuff. He say weze happiest dat way. I don’ know ’bout that, but he dah boss.
Fartknocker March 15, 2012 00:49
The MLB team doesn’t have a homefield advantage anymore anyway.
Joe Páwlikowski March 15, 2012 14:18
Kevin Russo is a stud muffin. :)
Mitt Romney March 15, 2012 17:49
We’ve got to stop making minor league club owners put players up in fancy hotels and renting luxury buses to get players to work. Players need to get to the games themselves and pay for their own lodging. The Obama administration needs to cut out the regulations and let baseball club owners make an honest return.
Cluelessliberaldrone March 16, 2012 06:18
Don’t worry about the travel. Didn’t you hear our fearless leader Obama mocking those who want to actually drill for oil. Obama has all the answers. He’s a mastermind. Now that his Volt has stopped production GM can focus on bulding a Yankee bus that is powered by windmills, solar panels and algae.Don’t worry about the travel our President, who never managed anything before being elected, knows what to do.
Obama March 16, 2012 13:54
TAX IT!