Open Game Thread 7/26: Yankees vs. Blue Jays

Welcome to this afternoon's open thread for the game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays in Yankee Stadium this afternoon. This is the second game of the three game weekend set for these two teams. The Yankees will send Chris Capuano to the mound to make his Yankee debut and will face off with the Jays Drew Hutchison. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Remember to get your Yankees tickets right here on the blog without all those annoying fees and bulky shipping costs associated with the purchase. If you can't make it live then join us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes or you can search for The Greedy Pinstripes on Facebook to keep the conversation going all afternoon.

It's an open thread so let's light up the comments section of the site and chat with our fellow Yankees fans. Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy the rest of your afternoon and weekend. Go Yankees!

Capuano "Couldn't Be More Excited" to Join Yankees' Rotation

When Chris Capuano was first acquired by the Yankees Thursday, it was assumed by many the veteran would join the team's bullpen. 

The 35-year-old lefty, who won 11 games in 2012 as a member of the Dodgers, had put up a decent 4.55 ERA as a reliever with the Red Sox this season, numbers that seemed indicative of a job in the seventh inning.

Instead, though, Capuano was announced as the newest member of New York's rotation yesterday, a surprise the former All Star couldn't help but get excited about. 

"If you had told me about 25 hours ago, I wouldn't have believed you," he told MLB.com's Jamal Collier after the Yanks beat the Blue Jays last night. "The original plan was to be pitching in Colorado this weekend. I found out last-minute yesterday that I was going to be pitching here, and I couldn't be more excited about it."

In his last start with the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate, Capuano threw 96 pitches in 7 frames, likely meaning he'll have no limits today.

Still, since his time in the majors this year hasn't been successful you have to worry about the possibility of him getting beat up early, something the Yanks can't afford right now with their worn out 'pen.

Capuano, Joey Bats, & Public Service Announcements

This is a public service announcement to any pitchers that are wearing pinstripes and planning to pitch inside Yankee Stadium this afternoon. This man is considered to be armed and extremely dangerous. Do not approach and definitely do not pitch to this man. Hit him if you must, I'll pay the fine. This is not a test.

7/26 Yankees Game Preview vs. Toronto Blue Jays

The New York Yankees look to continue their dominance against the Toronto Blue Jays in the Bronx this afternoon in the second of a three game set this weekend at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will send the newest member of the team in Chris Capuano to the mound to face off with Drew Hutchison for the Jays. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Capuano was acquired from the Colorado Rockies earlier in the week for cash considerations and within two days he is already in the starting rotation. Capuano was a relief pitcher while in Boston but had a 1-0 record with a 2.79 ERA in four minor league starts with the Rockies this season.

Hutchison did not have a good time of it last time out as he allowed a career high six earned runs against the Boston Red Sox. He lasted just 2.2 innings which was the shortest outing of his career other than one start that was shortened due to an injury. Hopefully this is a trend that continues this afternoon.

Get your tickets here to see the red hot Yankees live before they leave Yankee Stadium later this month. Today is also Yankees sunglasses day at the stadium as the first 18,000 guests receive a pair. Cheap tickets without any fees or shipping costs, getting to see the Yankees live, and sunglasses sounds like a good Saturday to me. Buy now. 

Go Yankees!!

I'm A Chris Capuano Doubter, Prove Me Wrong

What happened the last time we signed a left handed relief pitcher that the Boston Red Sox did not want? Matt Thornton happened. The Yankees may never learn from their past and are doomed to repeat it. New York, as we all know by now, traded for former Boston Red Sox and Colorado Rockies reliever Chris Capuano and added him to the 40 man and 25 man rosters yesterday at the expense of Chris Leroux. Capuano will make the start this afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays at 1:05 pm ET at Yankee Stadium. 

Thornton is a prime example of why you cannot base your judgments solely on the numbers. Thornton’s ERA looks good at 2.91 (Capuano's MLB ERA is 4.55) but he has allowed 36% of his inherited runners to score. Thornton has also held same side hitters to a .265 average (Capuano has allowed a .333 average to lefties), not so good for a LOOGY. Thornton has been far from a disaster, I’ll be the first to admit that, but he hasn’t been as great as some may be making him out to be, Twitter here is looking at you kids.

Instead of Capuano joining an all of a sudden crowded, lefty heavy and veteran bullpen he will join a rotation that has been pieced together in the past few weeks. Chase Whitley will head to the bullpen after making the most of his starting opportunity for the Yankees. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out but honestly I cannot say I am too confident. I am officially a Capuano doubter and I hope that the man proves me wrong this afternoon in the Bronx.

Stay tuned. 

Quick Hit: Two More Days Rest For Teixeira

Yesterday we were excited to report that the decision whether to place Mark Teixeira on the disabled list or not would come yesterday, and it did. The decision was not the one anyone really wanted to hear asking for more patience and at least two more days for Teixeira. I guess technically the decision did come and the decision was to keep him off the DL, for now, but really?

We were told that Teixeira would sit out three to four games with his back, now it's likely seven. When does it stop and what are the Yankees going to do about it? We can't run with a two player bench for much longer and we seemingly cannot rely on Mark Teixeira to stay healthy either.

Brian Cashman, you're up. 

Yankees Sign Undrafted Free Agent Graham Ramos

The Yankees made their best sign of the summer. Congrats to one of my best friends on signing with the Yankees! @grahamcracka04 #319Boys
— Patrick grady (@Pgrady24) July 22, 2014

Another day and another undrafted free agent signing for the New York Yankees, this time Lander University shortstop Graham Ramos. Ramos is listed at 6'0" and 175 lbs as a right handed shortstop. Ramos has baseball in his blood and bleeds Yankee blue as his uncle, John Ramos, is a former member of the Bronx Bombers. His other uncle, Paul Ramos, was a minor league player for the Yankees as well.

Welcome to the family Graham and we wish you nothing but the best.

This Day In New York Yankees History 7/26: Yankees Trade For Alfonso Soriano

Saying that the New York Yankees offense struggled last season is probably the understatement of the year so New York needed a savior. On this day they got one when they acquired Alfonso Soriano from the Chicago Cubs for minor league relief pitcher Corey Black. The 37 year old came back to New York with come cash from Cubs after making his major league debut with the Yankees way back in 1999. The Yankees ultimately traded him to the Texas Rangers before the 2004 season for Alex Rodriguez. Soriano would go on a tear and almost brought the Yankees all the way back to the postseason before falling just short in late September.

Also on this day in 1961 the Yankees made some history with the home run ball but it had nothing to do with Roger Maris surprisingly. Instead it was the Yankees Johnny Blanchard as he hit his fourth consecutive home run over three games to set a new major league record. The backup catcher of the Yankees hit two home runs on this day to help New York beat the White Sox 5-2.

Also on this day in 1939 the Bronx Bombers earned their names by scoring in every inning to beat the St. Louis Browns 14-1. This is only the second time in franchise history that the Yankees have achieved this feat.

Finally on this day in 1933 Joe DiMaggio showed the Yankees brass that he was made for long hitting streaks. As a minor league player Joe D saw his 61 game hitting streak come to an end in a PCL game against the Oakland Oaks. DiMaggio played for the San Francisco Seals as a 19 year old when he set a new minor league record destroying the mark of 49 consecutive games with a hit set by Jack Ness in 1914.

Kuroda-Led Yankees Out-Slug Blue Jays in Opener

Going into tonight's opener against the Blue Jays, it was common knowledge that Yankees RF Ichiro Suzuki had a significant advantage. 

The 40-year-old veteran, who's struggled to produce this season, was hitting .451 in his career against Jays' Starter Mark Buehrle, giving Yanks fans a rare expectation that he'd contribute to the win.

And, well, he did, lining a go-ahead three-run home run off Buehrle (3 IP, 6 ER) in the bottom of the third as the Bombers rallied for a thrilling 6-4 victory over their rival.

Now for most of this one's early going, the Pinstripes did surprisingly trail, making the spectators at Yankee Stadium nervous the home winning streak against Toronto would end.

Still, thanks to big offensive performances in the second and third the Yanks did find a way to come out on top, the fourth straight day they've done so.

To begin the onslaught that included six crossings of home in two frames, the first four batters of the bottom of the second reached, with a bases-loaded infield single by Brian Roberts driving in the Bombers' first run.

Later in the at-bat, the Pinstripes would score again on a sac fly to deep center from Brett Gardner, cutting what appeared to be a comfortable 3-0 Toronto lead to 3-2.

Then in the next inning, in a sudden turn of events, New York circled the bases four more times, as Carlos Beltran skied one over the left field wall and Ichiro knocked the aforementioned three-run shot to right, causing Jose Bautista's two homers to become worthless and eventually helping Hiroki Kuroda get the W.

Don't get me wrong, Kuroda's 5 2/3 frames of four-run ball weren't amazing, but since the relieving endeavors of David Huff, Shawn Kelley, Dellin Betances, and David Robertson did close things out #18 was rewarded for besting his counterpart, the seventh time that's happened this year. 

Open Game Thread 7/25: Yankees vs. Blue Jays

Welcome to tonight's open thread for the game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound to face off with Mark Buehrle for the Jays as these two teams battle it out for second place in the AL East. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on MY9, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Remember to get your tickets for tonight or any game this weekend right HERE on the blog with out friends at Ticket Monster. If you can't make it live then join us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes or search for The Greedy Pinstripes on Facebook to keep the conversation going.

It's an open thread so use the comments section of the site to chat during the game. Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy the rest of your night and the weekend. Go Yankees!