News & notes

 The Tri-City Valleycats might want to consider petitioning Hudson Valley Community College to add a roof to Joe Bruno Stadium

The 'Cats were rained out yet again Friday, pushing the start of a weekend series vs. Sussex County to today, with a 1st pitch at 4:35 pm.

But, if you were expecting to see former MLB player and manager Lou Piniella, it's not happening. Piniella has scratched for today, and will not be in person for his induction into the NYS Baseball Hall of Fame. Piniella, who won 2 World Series as a player (Yankees, 1977-8) and 1 as a manager (Cincinnati, 1990), will be replaced by another inductee with ties to the Yankees. 

Tino Martinez succeeded current Miami manager Don Mattingly at 1st base with the Yankees from 1996-2001, and appeared in 5 World Series during that stretch, with the Yankees winning 4 of them. Martinez also played for Seattle, St. Louis, & Tampa Bay before retiring with the Yankees after the 2005 season. His last appearance of note in the 518 drew a huge crowd at Colonie Center a few years ago.

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Former Albany Academy star Dion Lewis has announced his retirement after 10 seasons in the NFL.

Lewis, who played last year with the Giants, mostly on special teams, won a Super Bowl with New England, which stupidly let him walk after the 2016 season. He also played for Cleveland, Philadelphia, & Tennessee before signing with the Giants.

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I'm starting to think there's a clause in WCWN/WRGB's contract for Mets games.

For the 2nd time in a month, a Mets game set to air on WPIX didn't air in the 518, as the two network affiliates opted to air first run network programming. Luckily, the game, won by the Dodgers, 6-5, in 10 innings, was available on SNY's website.

Tonight's game will definitely air on WCWN with a 7:10 pm first pitch.

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Former WNYT sports anchor Andrew Catalon, now with CBS, is doing Buffalo Bills pre-season games with ex-Bill Steve Tasker on color commentary.

Due to storms in the 518, the satellite feed from Detroit, where the Bills beat the Lions last night, was messed up, making things uncomfortable for Bills fans here. Hopefully, that won't be the case for their next game, a matinee one week from today.