How Cold Was It?

When I interviewed him in 2005, I wish I'd asked if Ed McMahon was a baseball fan. After all, a stock setup question of his to Johnny Carson for so many decades was "How Cold Was It?" All kidding aside, it was definitely on the chilly side Thursday night at Trenton's Arm and Hammer Park. Anxious to get a regular season look at top Yankees prospect Gary Sanchez, Dennis and I paused on our way back from Philadelphia to catch the Thunder and Erie SeaWolves.

Nippy and chilly before the sun went down, it was flat-out frigid by the 2nd inning. A tip of the (ski) hat to the Thunder players, who were clearly prepared in the headgear department.

Despite the nippy night, let me give credit to the fans for coming out to the ballpark. One of the charms of minor league ball is connecting with community groups. And with local school bands playing before the game, there were plenty of families cheering on the kids and then, the players.
(Below:) Gary Sanchez looking as ready for a run on the slopes as a swing in the batters box, went hitless on the night. But I got a good look at his opposite field power his first time up -- on a night the bat stung in one hands when you made contact, the righty hitter sent a ball soaring toward the right field corner. While it was recorded as an ordinary fly ball out, seeing the way it jumped off his bat made a strong impression.

I'm looking forward to seeing more of Sanchez, who is considered the Yankees' best minor league prospect. Hopefully, it'll be more springlike when they're in New Britain for a series with the Rock Cats a couple of weeks from now.