Bobby Ojeda from 1986 Mets World Series team on WFAN with Mike Francesa, Fri., May 27, 2016

Fri., May 27, 2016, Bobby Ojeda on WFAN with Mike Francesa talks about this weekend's celebration of the 1986 Mets and his views on the 2016 team. Bobby Ojeda. On the topic of Matt Harvey, Ojeda says he's a fan of Harvey, but that if Harvey can't straighten himself out in his next game, he should be sent to Las Vegas. Referring to Harvey's 2015 post season, Ojeda says it was wrong of Harvey in WS game 5, 9th inning, score 2-0 Mets, to beg his manager in the dugout to leave him in the game. Harvey went back out, jumped on the pitching rubber, and hasn't been the same since. He began by walking the next batter. The Mets finally lost in 12 innings.

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Alex Rodriguez had two singles for Trenton Thunder v New Hampshire Fisher Cats

Above, "TRENTON - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 NY Yankees' designated hitter Alex Rodriguez returns from a disabled list stint (hamstring) suiting up for the Double-A Trenton Thunder vs the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Fans wait for an autograph opportunity which never came." Trenton Times

Above, "TRENTON - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 NY Yankees' designated hitter Alex Rodriguez returns from a disabled list stint (hamstring) suiting up for the Double-A Trenton Thunder vs the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Rodriguez throws a foul tip to fans while he was on deck." Trenton Times

Above, "TRENTON - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 NY Yankees' designated hitter Alex Rodriguez returns from a disabled list stint (hamstring) suiting up for the Double-A Trenton Thunder vs the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. (Michael Mancuso | For NJ.com )" Trenton Times

Above, "TRENTON - Tuesday, May 24, 2016 NY Yankees' designated hitter Alex Rodriguez returns from a disabled list stint (hamstring) suiting up for the Double-A Trenton Thunder vs the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Rodriguez fouls out his first time at bat. (Michael Mancuso)" Trenton Times

Above, "Tuesday, May 24, 2016 NY Yankees' designated hitter Alex Rodriguez returns from a disabled list stint (hamstring) suiting up for the Double-A Trenton Thunder vs the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. Pre-game press conference. (Michael Mancuso | For NJ.com" Trenton Times

Trenton Thunder website, game tied 2-2 in 11th

5/24/16, "Alex Rodriguez with two singles for Thunder," Trenton Times, Sean Miller

"When a New York Yankees player comes to Trenton, there is usually some fanfare surrounding the contest. Tuesday night was no different, as Alex Rodriguez made the trip from the Bronx to suit up for the Thunder, as they took on the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

A-Rod was in the lineup for Trenton, batting third in the DH slot, as the Thunder looked to win the first two games of a four-game set with the Fisher Cats. He came up big for the hosts in the third inning, with an RBI single up the middle off of John Anderson, to give Trenton a 1-0 lead. His single with one out in the bottom of the seventh loaded the bases for Tyler Austin, who walked to force home Cito Culver.

The DH ended the Thunder fifth inning with a fielders choice ground-out to third base. Rodriguez may be here for two nights, as Yankees manager Joe Girardi told the player on Monday that he would be heading down to the Thunder.

"I have no idea (how long it'll last)," said Rodriguez. "I'm an employee."

"I'm not going to tell you exactly the details, but it was very positive conversation," A-Rod said. "Look, I have tons of respect and trust for Joe, so when he makes a request, I put a lot of value into that. He thought it would be a good idea for me to get some at-bats, and that's great."

With a near sell-out crowd of 6,217 fans, for what should be two straight nights with Rodriguez in town, the Thunder looked to build some more momentum at home. They have been red-hot at ARM and HAMMER Park, going 17-7 heading into Tuesday night. Trenton has not lost a series at home this season.

It is a stark contrast to the Thunder's play on the road, where they are 6-12. Trenton has won just one series, at Erie, to end the month of April. With 14 of their next 20 games, and 20 of 32, on the road following Thursday's 10:30 a.m. series finale with the Fisher Cats, the Thunder will look to get a boost from this four game set.

Reigning Eastern League Player of the Month Dietrich Enns will get the ball Wednesday night, after a stint in Scranton Wilkes-Barre."

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Arod is in Trenton, NJ for Tuesday night rehab game, New Hampshire Fisher Cats at Trenton Thunder. Arod will face New Hampshire left hander John Anderson

5/24/16, "Yankees' Alex Rodriguez arrives in Trenton; What you need to know," Trenton Times, Randy Miller

"The presence of Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez was at Waterford Park before he even stepped on the field to play a minor-league rehab game for the Trenton Thunder on Tuesday night.

Outside the ballpark Rodriguez's picture is on the team's video billboard outside the ballpark and there's a life-size cutup of him in a Yankee uniform inside the ticket booth.

Alex has arrived," Thunder media relations manager John Mozes told early press box arrives at 3:45 p.m.  "He's in the weight room and will be taking BP at 4 p.m."

Rodriguez will hit third and DH for the Thunder, which is the Yankees' Class AA Eastern League affiliate, in a game against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

This will be A-Rod's first game since he strained his right hamstring during a game in Baltimore on May 4. He went on the 15-day disabled list the next day and was hopeful of returning when first eligible last Thursday, but he didn't quite feel ready when running last week before Yankees games in Phoenix and Oakland.

The Yankees announced the rehab game for A-Rod on Monday after saying for days that he wouldn't need one. He's expected to return Wednesday for a second game, as well, Yankees manager Joe Girardi said in New York.

A-Rod will be hitting on Tuesday against New Hampshire left-hander John Anderson, who is 2-4 with a 5.14 ERA in eight starts this season.

Anderson, 27, was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 28^th round of the 2008 draft out of Chabot College. The Pleasanton, Calif., native is 21-27 with a 4.49ERA in 135 career minor-league games, 67 as a starter."

Above image caption: "The Trenton Thunder is letting fans know that Alex Rodriguez will be playing for them Tuesday night in a video billboard outside Waterford Park in Trenton." from Trenton Times

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Field in progress for Fort Bragg MLB game

5/19/16, "The field for the #MLBFortBragg game is coming along nicely!" Atlanta Braves twitter

Among comments:

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Some Yankee shirts in the stands in Arizona, Wed., May 17, 2016

"Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Brandon Drury watches a two-run homer by New York Yankees' Brett Gardner fly into the bleachers in the 1st inning in Phoenix, Ariz., on Wednesday, May 18, 2016." photo AZCentral Sports. Final 4-2 Yankees over Diamondbacks. 

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Aroldis Chapman brings life to sleepy Yankee Stadium

5/12/16, "Aroldis Chapman warming up on Thursday. He did not enter that game but has been a captivating presence on the Yankees, who are trying to crawl out of last place. Credit Alex Goodlett for The New York Times." Chapman is a free agent after this season.

5/14/16, "Aroldis Chapman, Yankees’ New Fireballer, Is Kindling Fans’ Excitement," NY Times, Billy Witz

"The seats had mostly emptied late Tuesday, but some fans could not bring themselves to leave Yankee Stadium. Their mad dash to the subway had come to a halt, and they congregated four and five deep along the field-level concourse.
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What kept them anchored was the man standing on the pitcher’s mound: Aroldis Chapman.

Chapman, the newest Yankee, who became eligible Monday after serving a 30-game domestic violence suspension, has brought a buzz to the late innings at the often somnolent stadium with a fastball that rides steadily at 100 miles an hour.

When Chapman enters through the bullpen gate, he is accompanied by a beat-thumping music medley and a montage of flaming scoreboard graphics, which awaken the crowd as would one of his fastballs under the chin.

“Even though Yankee Stadium is empty, it’s like there’s life back in it,” Elan Wilkenfeld said Tuesday as he stood in the right-field corner with his friend Ross Rubin, watching Chapman work the final inning of a 10-7 Yankees victory.

For a team that has been competitive but not dynamic — and devoid of much personality — in recent seasons, Chapman may be the Yankees’ most captivating presence as they try to crawl out of last place in the American League East.

But because he is a closer — used almost exclusively when the Yankees have a lead but not too large a lead — it is uncertain each night if Chapman will appear.

On Thursday night, Gregg Fein, who was seated in the right-field bleachers, peered down into the bullpen with his two young sons to watch Chapman warm up while the Yankees extended their lead with two late runs on the way to a 7-3 victory.

“I’m kind of torn,” Fein said. “If we score a bunch of runs here, Chapman won’t come into the game.”

Indeed, with a comfortable margin, the Yankees saved him for another day."...

 

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NY City's three major airports inform TSA they can no longer tolerate its incompetence, will find private firm for passenger screening if improvements not made-ABC News

5/10/16, "NYC Airports: We Can No Longer Tolerate TSA's 'Inadequacy'," ABC News, David Kerley, Jeffrey Cook

"Management of the New York City area’s three major airports is fed up with long lines at security check points, and they have given the Transportation Security Administration an ultimatum: Either shorten the lines or we’ll find someone else to do it. 

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, tasked with running John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark airports, is threatening to privatize the process of screening passengers before boarding their flight, according to a document sent from the Port Authority to TSA Administrator Peter Neffenger. 

“We can no longer tolerate the continuing inadequacy of the TSA passenger services,” the letter obtained by ABC News reads. 

According to the Port Authority, the March 15 to April 15 period at JFK saw 253 reported occurrences of 20-plus-minute waits. In 2015, only 10 instances were reported over the same time period. 

“The patience of the flying public has reached a breaking point,” the letter reads. Passenger wait times have "risen dramatically in recent months, prompting angry complaints from passengers, terminal operators, and airlines alike citing inconvenience, delayed flights, and missed flight connections." 

While the Port Authority says it understands the challenges facing TSA, it says it “is exploring the merits” of participating in private screening “to enhance flexibility in the assignments and operating hours of front line screening staff.” 

They wouldn’t be the first. The busiest airport in the country, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, made a similar threat in February. 

There are less than two-dozen airports currently using private screening. Most of these airports are very small. However, there are exceptions. 

San Francisco International Airport and Kansas City International Airport both have private firms handling a significant amount of passengers. These firms must meet the same standards and protocols as TSA and pay officers at least what TSA pays. The airports and firms also must go through a process to get approved.

A TSA spokesperson said the agency is addressing the growing volume of travelers, but that “TSA’s primary focus is the current threat environment, as the American transportation system remains a high value target for terrorists." 

TSA said it will respond to the Port Authority directly. The agency said there is no noticeable difference in wait times between federalized and non-federalized screening points. The agency encourages travelers to sign up for TSA Pre or other trusted traveler programs like Global Entry and to arrive at airports at least two hours before a domestic flight."

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Two MLB games scheduled to be played in Puerto Rico have been moved to Miami due to players' concerns about Zika virus-BBC

5/6/16, "Puerto Rico baseball games moved due to players' Zika fears," BBC

"Two Major League Baseball games that were scheduled to be played in Puerto Rico have been moved due to players' concerns about the Zika virus.

The games between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins have been moved to Miami instead. Players said they were worried about contracting the virus and passing it to their partners. Zika is suspected to cause birth defects in babies whose mothers had it while pregnant.

The island has seen more than 600 cases of the virus.

In a statement, Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) said Commissioner of Baseball Robert D Manfred Jr "had no choice" but to relocate the games because so many players had partners who were pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

The statement also said baseball would hopefully be played in Puerto Rico again "in the near future" and that those concerned would "continue to support the growth of the game in Puerto Rico, where an outstanding baseball tradition has long made the island an important venue for the game". More than 20 countries are reporting cases of Zika, which is spread by mosquitoes.

The country which has been worst affected by the outbreak, Brazil, is due to host the Olympic Games in August 2016.

The authorities there said in February that there was no chance the Games would be cancelled due to the outbreak, and that there was no risk to players or spectators except for pregnant women.

Since then, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said sexually transmitted transmission of Zika is more common than previously thought."


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