Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch

"A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz." — Humphrey Bogart — Joe Boesch 

With it being so cold living in the Metro New York area, even though I want to think about baseball, I find myself thinking a lot about hockey. Living not too far from where the New York Islanders play, I'm excited for the NHL Stadium Series which will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ where the NFL Jets and Giants play.  The following games will be played on Feb. 17, with the Philadelphia Flyers playing the New Jersey Devils and on Feb. 18, the New York Islanders will match up against the New York Rangers. As they say in hockey: Game On. Until then, see ya at the rink! — Joe Boesch 

Now that the Holiday Season is over, it's time to look to the '24 baseball season and a reset to start fresh. From Spring Training to new baseball cards coming out, here's to the new year.  I think author W. P. Kinsella said it best:  "The crack of the bat, the sound of baseballs thumping into gloves, the infield chatter are like birdsong to the baseball starved." Until then see ya at the park! — Joe Boesch 

(*Note: Rewind 2018 NHL Winter Classic from CitiField.) Here is 2024 and before we know it, the baseball season will be right around the corner. That means the first sign of Spring.  Every season I enjoy what the NHL does with their Winter Classic. Maybe it is because they play it in baseball/sports stadiums? Maybe it is because my career in writing started in hockey and the New York Islanders magazine? But, I like the play of the Winter Classic. So, as they say in hockey: Game On! Until then, see ya at the Winter Classic. — Joe Boesch