Off-Broadway play
The Battle of the Boroughs begins Friday night with the start of the New YorkPenn League, as the Staten Island Yankees host the rival Brooklyn Cyclones.
The threegame series moves to Brooklyn on Saturday and finishes back in Staten Island on Sunday. Friday night’s homeopener marks the Baby Bombers’ 17th season in the shortseasonA league while the Cyclones will celebrate their 15th year in the league.
Both clubs failed to make the postseason last year. Brooklyn finished in second place in the McNamara division with a 4234 record, slightly outperforming Staten Island, which finished third with a 3738 record.
The Yankees begin the season with a new manager in Patrick Osborn, a 34yearold former University of Florida third baseman and a former secondround draft pick of the Cleveland Indians.
Osborn spent last summer managing the Yankees affiliate in the Gulf Coast League, following three seasons at the helm of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League. He’ll be the 14th manager in the franchise’s 17year history.
The Cyclones return manager Tom Gamboa, 67, for a second season — an unusual move for a league that typically sees managers come and go after one year. But yes, he’s the same Tom Gamboa who, in 2002, was attacked by two intoxicated fans in Chicago while he was the firstbase coach for the Kansas City Royals.
Both managers will be responsible for the development of some potentially valuable talent.
Kyle Holder, the Yankees’ first round pick in this month’s draft, will play this season for Staten Island. Holder, 21 out of the University of San Diego, was selected by the Yankees with the 30th overall pick, and was touted as the best defensive shortstop in the draft.
Joining Holder is lefthanded pitcher Derek Callahan, a 16thround selection by the Bombers in 2014.
Headlining the Cyclones’ roster is Vinny Siena, the Mets’ 14thround pick in the 2015 draft. Siena is an athletic second baseman out of the University of Connecticut. He has a quick bat and some speed, and has an outside chance at becoming a majorleague regular — a rarity for a late round pick.
Outside of the action on the field, both clubs have come to be known for their creative promotions, and fans can expect the usual barrage of gimmicks this year.
Friday night, “Field of Dreams” actor Dwier Brown will throw out the first pitch and sign autographs. On June 24, the Cyclones are holding a salute to “Saved By The Bell,” featuring a Zack Morris “TIMEOUT” race around the bases. But wait ... there’s more. On August 8, the Staten Island Yankees will become the Staten Island Direwolves for ‘George R.R. Martin Night,’ complete with special “Game of Thrones” jerseys and a new logo. On July 5, the Cyclones will bring back the popular “Seinfeld” promotion by renaming the ballpark “Kramerica Industries Field” and bringing in actor Steven Hytner, who played Kenny Bania.