Former 'Gade named to Futures Game

Kyeong Kang, an outfielder with the 2009 Renegades, has been named to the World team for this weekend's Futures Game as part of the MLB All-Star gala.

In 46 games with the Class A Bowling Green Hot Rods of the South Atlantic League, Kang is hitting .274 with two home runs, five triples, 13 doubles and 22 RBIs. Last season with Hudson Valley, the South Korean native led the New York-Penn League with his seven doubles. He added six homers and 15 RBIs, finishing the season with a .278 average. Taken in the 15th round of the 2006 draft by Tampa Bay — he was the first native-born South Korean ever drafted, having gone to high school in North Carolina — Kang is now playing in the Cincinnati Reds' organization.

Former Renegades like Josh Hamilton and Kelly Dransfeldt played in the Futures Game in 2000 and 1999, respectively.

Newest 'Gade ready for start

FISHKILL — Less than 24 hours after arriving in town, Renegades pitcher Jason McEachern said he's ready to take the ball Thursday in Staten Island.

“I’m just going to go out there and try to do my thing the best I can,” said McEachern, the Tampa Bay Rays’ 13th-round draft pick last year out of St. Stephens High School in Hickory, N.C. “I’m very excited just to see what it’s going to be like. I hear in Staten Island, you can see New York City and the Statue of Liberty in the background, so that’s going to be an eye-opener.” Before arriving here late Tuesday, McEachern made three 2009 starts for rookie-level Princeton, striking out 15 batters in 17 innings. He scattered two runs on 11 base hits, but did not earn a decision in this three appearances, all starts, hence earning the call up to the short-season, Class A Renegades.

For the full story on McEachern's road to the Renegades, check out Thursday's edition of the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Just when you thought...

...that you'd heard the end of the hoopla surrounding Tuesday's ladies-only promotion at Dutchess Stadium, there's this:Sports Illustrated has named Dutchess County's reaction to the event as the magazine's "Sign Of The Apocalypse" in its July 13th issue.

McEachern makes way to HVR

FISHKILL — The Renegades' newest starting pitcher was scheduled to get into town late Tuesday evening.

An 18-year-old righty, pitcher Jason McEachern (seen here on his rookie baseball card) has been promoted from the rookie-level Princeton (W.Va.) Rays and will likely make his first New York-Penn League start for Hudson Valley later in the week, Renegades manager Brady Williams said. “For an 18-year-old kid, he’s definitely got some maturity,” said Williams, who worked with the pitcher in extended spring training. “He definitely competes on the mound, which is what we want.” Coming out of high school in North Carolina, Eachern was the Tampa Bay Rays' 13th-round pick in last year's draft.

For more about McEachern's addition to the Renegades' roster, check out Wednesday's edition of the Poughkeepsie Journal.

Ladies night ... guys welcome, too

FISHKILL — After much back and forth between the Renegades, county officials and fans, the team's ladies-only promotional night is just hours away.

The team's promotion — not to mention its innuendo-laiden name, which we've chosen not to print — has gained headlines throughout the area and beyond, from St. Petersburg, Fla. to Pennsylvania (among others), as has the ensuing dispute with Dutchess County officials who own the stadium and entered into the latest lease with the team three years ago.

Over the weekend, team officials clarified that no one (male or female) would be denied access to their seat tonight, though they're still hoping men will keep to the spirit of the event and hang out outside the stadium's gates until the game is official.
As I type, the 'Gades are assembling their "Voluntary Men's Lounge," where male fans can watch the game on large-screen TV sets, playing video games and take part in other activities while women are pampered inside.

For all the media buzz surrounding tonight's event, perhaps the main point of the promotion is being overlooked: honoring women and their contributions to the game.

An assistant general manager with the New York Yankees, Jean Afterman (seen here) is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Renegades host the Yanks' New York-Penn League affiliate. "We have recognized the significant buying power that women have wielded within our parks for several years, and have seen the growth of females within our industry skyrocket along the same timeline," said Tyler Tumminia, an Our Lady of Lourdes High School graduate who's now the vice president of marketing and operations for the Goldklang Group, which owns the Renegades. "We wanted to both thank them for their support and empower them to continue their rapid ascent within our ranks."

Tonight's give-away, a collectible coin handed out to the first 2,500 fans, has been pushed back to August 5, when Hudson Valley hosts the Lowell Spinners.

Rain? What rain?

FISHKILL — The Renegades' grounds crew has just removed the tarp off the infield, signaling we're going to have baseball today ... two games, in fact! Hudson Valley (4-8) will host the Vermont Lake Monsters (6-6) for a doubleheader after yesterday's game was postponed due to soggy field conditions that made the diamond unplayable.

Tonight's first game is slated to start at 5 p.m., with the second game set for (hopefully) 7 p.m. As New York-Penn League rules mandate, each game will be scheduled for seven innings.

County to 'Gades: "Cancel this promotion"

In a two-and-a-half page letter just obtained by the Journal, Dutchess County has asked the Renegades to cancel the team's "Ball-Less Baseball" promotion slated for July 7th.

The letter, dated today, addressed to "Eben Yager, Renegades Manager," and signed by Senior Assistant County Attorney Keith P. Byron, says the promotion, which would keep male spectators outside Dutchess Stadium until midway though Tuesday night's game against the Staten Island Yankees, "likely violates the New York State Human Rights Law and probably violates the guarantee to equal protection under the laws contained in the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution." The letter goes on to say "New York State Human Rights Law (Executive Law Section 296) expressly prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in any place of public accommodation. Clearly, your plan to prohibit admittance based on gender runs afoul of this provision."

The team's Web site describes the promotion thusly: Massages, makeup, and mani-pedis...the way baseball was meant to be watched? We're gonna find out during "Ball-Less Baseball". Men will not be allowed into the stadium until after the 5th inning, however the Renegades will hold a huge tailgate party for the locked out men just outside of the gates. The Renegades also plan to have Jean Afterman, the New York Yankees' assistant general manager, throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Tuesday's game.

"Let me be clear, the County of Dutchess believes this promotion to be in poor taste," reads the letter from the county, which entered into an new lease with the team in late 2006. The letter says that pact requires "that the Renegades indemnify and hold harmless the County...from any and all claims, including attorney fees, which are incurred by any act, omission or negligence of the club...in connection with the clubs activities."

Later, the county's letter states "In the event the County of Dutchess is a named party in any action, the County will seek defense and indemnity from the Hudson Valley Renegades and coverage under the Hudson Valley Renegades insurance policy. In light of the foregoing, Dutchess County requests that you cancel this promotion."

Renegades team president Jeff Goldklang (seen here) sent the following response to county officials, including Byron: "Thank you for your letter concerning our upcoming promotion designed to honor women which, unfortunately, was forwarded as well to the media. Although you apparently have received inaccurate factual information concerning the promotion, which is reflected in your letter, I do understand your sensitivities. Please be assured that the Renegades will do our best to address those sensitivities in considering additions to the promotion."

A short-season, Class A affiliate of the American League's Tampa Bay Rays, the Hudson Valley Renegades are one of several minor league teams owned and/or operated by the Goldklang Group. In 2002, the Class A Charleston RiverDogs, a Goldklang Group team, held "Nobody Night," in which no fans were allowed into the team's ballpark until the fifth inning to ensure an official attendance of zero and set a minor league record.