Dugout Diary by Joe Boesch

With the MLB trade deadline approaching Tuesday, one has to wonder: what teams will make the biggest trades of the day? The Phillies? What about the Yankees? All of a sudden, the Mets are buyers and not sellers. Fans will have to wait and see, following the trades.  So it goes, and here's a trade deadline quote: "Trade a player a year too early rather than a year too late."  — Branch Rickey  Until then, see you at the trade deadline. — Joe Boesch 

The Judge has spoken.  But it was not enough to close the Yankees game against the Red Sox last night. Aaron Judge again hit a mammoth 470-foot home run in Fenway into the scoreboard that many Yankees fans thought sealed the game, but in the end, the Yankees lost again. This is becoming a pattern for the Yankees, and with the Tuesday trade deadline fast approaching, they need to do something quickly to stay in contention. Losing to the Red Sox 7-9 last night has the Yankees in second place in the American League East with a 60-45 record behind the Orioles. Will Cashman do anything is the question? Again, it will be a wait and see approach. — Joe Boesch 

New York baseball fans this is the start of the Subway Series. Who's your team? Yankees or Mets? Will Aaron Judge and Pete Alonso put on a show? Wait and see. Go pledge your allegiance for the next two games. Go New York Go! Until then, see you on the subway! — Joe Boesch 

With the humid weather alive and well, today is a great day, as it's National Ice Cream Day. So, if you're at the ballpark and taking in a game, make sure to grab your favorite ice cream — from soft serve to the different flavors offered — enjoy it. As we head into the second half of the season, this day signifies America's Pastime. Enjoy! Until then, see you at the park! — Joe Boesch 

The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.   — Babe Ruth — Joe Boesch 

"The strongest thing that baseball has going for it today are its yesterdays." – Lawrence Ritter The Brooklyn Dodgers were a fixture in the City of New York until they moved to California in 1958. New York was left with the Yankees, and then, in 1962, the New York Mets. The void was felt, especially in 1960, when Ebbets Field was demolished for an apartment complex. In a move to bring life back to Brooklyn and Coney Island, the New York Mets came to the rescue. They lobbied the City of New York to bring the Brooklyn Cyclones in as part of the New York-Penn League Single-A Short Season. The dream became a reality, and the birth of baseball began again in Brooklyn. Maimonides Park (formerly KeySpan Park), home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, is an awesome experience with the park built right into the boardwalk, which is a short distance to the beach and the famous Coney Island Amusement Park and boardwalk shops. Now, Nathan's Hot ...

If you're playing baseball, why are you playing baseball? Is it to have success on the field and be a Hall-of-Famer or whatever it is? Sure, that's everyone's goal. But then what? For me, it's about the legacy you leave off the field.  — Clayton Kershaw — Joe Boesch 

Happy 4th to all, and what a great day to attend a baseball game — especially in New York. There are a lot of good games going on, and the New York weather is finally beautiful. Inspirational Quote "Baseball, to me, is still the national pastime because it is a summer game. I feel that almost all Americans are summer people, that summer is what they think of when they think of their childhood. I think it stirs up an incredible emotion within people." — Steve Busby Until then, see you at the park! — Joe Boesch