Sunday, May 12, 2013

Joba Chamberlain Will Start Rehab Assignment Tuesday


Joba Chamberlain threw a bullpen session today and came through with no set backs, pain, or problems and is expected to start his rehab assignment on Tuesday. Joba will pitch for the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Railriders team and is not expected to need much time to knock the rust off and return to the Bronx. I hate to say that the Yankees have not missed him but with the addition of Preston Claiborne the Yankees bullpen has not missed a beat without Joba in the pen. Joba makes the pen better no matter what though but he is going to create quite the problem when he comes back. I personally would like to see Adam Warren go down to AAA and keep Joba but that is just me and it probably will not happen that way.

These Yankees Are From The Island Of Misfit Toys

Being Posted From Pinstripe Bible As A Part Of Syndicated Sunday



Sometimes you see a lineup like the Yankees last night and just wonder how they are doing it. After last night they are one game back for the best record in the American League. We’re barely past a month into the season, but things looked pretty bleak not too long ago. I tried to answer this question last week in a more traditional article, but then it hit me a few days ago: This team might be the physical manifestation of the Island of Misfit Toys.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about then I’m sorry you’ve been neglected from one of the true social gems television has ever provided. Hear me out, though, because the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. Either that or it’s the nasal decongestant I’ve been using talking, but I haven’t been having any visual hallucinations yet. I take that as a green light.
In TV land, our heroes arrive at the island and are greeted by one of the most important misfit toys. He looks normal, but upon further investigation we learn that he’s been mislabeled. He’s, in fact, a Charlie-in-the-Box. In reality, I believe this to be none other than Vernon Wells. Who has been the most important misfit to date for the Yankees.He’s second on the team in total WAR (1.0) through 126 plate appearances. With the Toronto Blue Jays, he was an albatross of a contract producing .1 WAR in 2009 before rebounding in 2010. On the Angels he was a fourth outfielder with a bloated contract that couldn’t deliver even .5 WAR. With the Yankees he’s Charlie-in-the-Box. He’s one of King Moonracer’s Sargent-at-Arms and he’ll even fill in at third base in a pinch. I don’t know why Charlie couldn’t just call himself Jack, and I don’t know why Vernon fell off such a steep cliff after age 27.
Our next member from the island is Travis Hafner. He’s generated .8 WAR so far in only 98 plate appearances, and that’s all offensively since his legs might fall off if he ever wears a mitt again. This clearly makes Hafner the incarnation of the Bird-that-Swims.Yes, Hafner might not be able to move very well, but his stick still talks. With a limited bench, it’s not easy to find spots for him to pinch hit, but thankfully there’s the DH spot usually available for him to swim in. What’s the big deal anyway? Penguins are birds, and have you ever seen those guys swim? They’re real fast.
Next up is Francisco Cervelli and his .6 WAR produced to date in just 61 plate appearances. Currently back at the workshop for repairs, Cervelli brings a certain type of spunk with a taste of vinegar to his play. He must be the Water-Pistol-that-Shoots-Jelly.I don’t know how he does it. He can’t really do anything very well. He can’t throw, catch, or hit for power. He usually strikes out at almost twice the rate he walks. Heck, even the Yankees didn’t want him last year. Yet there he is, giving you nothing but jam to butter your toast with.
Add in Chris Stewart with his .4 WAR, and you’ve got a back stop that has produced at the same rate as Charlie-in-the-Box! Stewart is more of the traditional back stop, so he must be the Train-with-Square-Wheels. This WAR metric might need a lot of work, but it suggests the combined efforts behind the plate have been only usurped by our King Moonracer.
As lord over the island, King Moonracer searches the earth every night looking for abandoned and unloved toys. While that might sound like a title more fitting for Brian Cashman, I’m going with Robinson Cano and his team leading 1.3 WAR. We need a leader on the field, and he's our King Moonracer. He’s a good King to give a home to all of these misfit ballplayers and the guy is a lion that can fly. Seriously, that’s pretty cool. No wonder he’s going to get paid like a king. Cashman suffered a broken leg while skydiving.That doesn’t sound like a King Moonracer to me. That’s a pretty awesome name too: Moonracer. King Moonracer and the Misfits would be a decent band name. Don’t steal that it’s mine!
With my thesis thoroughly proven by this point, here’s the quick list of the rest of the misfits. May all live in happiness, and with someone who loves them forever.
King Moonracer
Robinson Cano, 1.3 WAR
Charlie in the Box
Vernon Wells, 1.0 WAR
Bird that Swims
Travis Hafner, .8 WAR
Water Pistol Shoots Jelly
Francisco Cervelli, .6 WAR
Train with Square Wheels
Chris Stewart, .4 WAR
Spotted Elephant
Lyle Overbay, .3 WAR
The current prototype of a defensive first baseman (which is usually an offensive description for that position), Overbay has still been able to reach a positive WAR to this point. Not bad for someone released just a few days before the start of the season. He’s our Spotted Elephant for sure.
Cowboy Rides an Ostrich
Brennan Boesch, (.5) WAR
You know, Ostriches are really fast as they can run up to 40 MPH. That’s as fast as the fastest horses, but I’m not sure how you get a cowboy on one. Likewise, Boesch has shown flashes of power in his short career, but with only 40 plate appearances so far, Girardi is having trouble finding opportunities for him.
Sinking Boat
Kevin Youkilis, (.1) WAR
It looked so promising at the very beginning, but his bad back as usual has been sinking his playing time and career.
Plane that Can’t Fly
Ben Francisco, (.3) WAR
No more Francisco bashing here. He hasn’t produced a positive WAR since 2010, and he hasn’t produced over 1 WAR since 2008. There is no discernible split to take advantage of in a platoon. This plane just can’t fly.
Doll with Psychological Disorder
Cody Eppley, 0 WAR
While this doll’s misfit status was not explained in the show, it was apparently revealed years later on an NPR broadcast that the doll was abandoned and suffered from depression from being unloved. Nobody loved him, so he was DFA’d.
Scooter with Unexplained Flaw
Shawn Kelley, (.1) WAR
He’s the only pitcher with a negative WAR. Yet he has a 32.7% K rate, a 7.3% BB rate, and an xFIP of 2.81. What gives? Well four homers has led to a 64.5% strand rate, but maybe we just haven’t learned what his flaw is yet. You’re the Scooter, Kelley.

Game Thread: NYY @ KC 5/12


The Yankees look for the sweep this afternoon as they face off with the Kansas City Royals in the rubber match of their three game weekend series. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound looking to finish off the sweep of the Royals. Please use this thread to chat during the game or give us a follow on twitter, @GreedyStripes, to chat with us there all season long.

Here is the Yankees lineup


Brett Gardner CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Vernon Wells LF
Travis Hafner DH
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Jayson Nix SS
Lyle Overbay 1B
Chris Nelson 3B
Chris Stewart C
RHP Hiroki Kuroda

New York Yankees @ Kansas City Royals 5/12


The Yankees look for the sweep against the Kansas City Royals this afternoon at Kauffman Stadium. The Yankees have slugged their way to a victory on Friday and pitched their way to a win on Saturday so Sunday should be fun. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound to face off with Ervin Santana in the rubber match.

Nunez To DL Alberto Gonzalez Called Up


The Yankees have announced that Eduardo Nunez has been placed on the 15 day DL with a strained rib cage muscle. The Yankees will call up Alberto Gonzalez to take his place on the 25 man roster. Mark Teixeira has been placed on the 60 day DL to make room on the 40 man roster for Gonzalez. Nunez's DL trip can be placed back to last Sunday since he has not played since then and Mark Teixeira's 60 day DL is retroactive to Opening Day. Kind of wondering why we don't see Corban Joseph in this situation but hey what do I know.

A Tribute To The Yankees Mothers

We just wanted to take the time here at The Greedy Pinstripes to honor the mothers of the New York Yankees players, coaches, and fans. We could not find pictures of all the players mothers but here are a few that we personally say thank you to. Whether you are a fan, you work at the stadium, you play at the stadium, or you work with the higher ups we want to thank all those strong mothers that made everyone what they are today. Thank you and Happy Mothers Day!
















Happy Mother's Day


Happy Mothers Day from The Greedy Pinstripes to all the mothers out there that read the blog and support the New York Yankees. Hopefully no moms are awake this early to read this or are sitting in bed eating breakfast. May this be a great holiday for a bunch of great women. I always look forward to this day to see the players and managers with the pink bats and gloves and such. Go mom's and Go Yankees!

Game 37 Lineup: Yankees @ Royals

Lineup vs. Royals:

Brett Gardner CF
Robinson Cano 2B
Vernon Wells LF
Travis Hafner DH
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Jayson Nix SS
Lyle Overbay 1B
Chris Nelson 3B
Chris Stewart C

Hiroki Kuroda P

Notes:

-- The Yankees have announced that Eduardo Nunez will go on the 15-Day-DL. Alberto Gonzalez (who the Yankees traded for on Friday morning at 1:00 a.m.) is going to come up from Scranton. To make room for Gonzalez, Mark Teixeira will go to the 60-Day-DL. Teixeira is still expected back with the Yankees in June.

-- And if you heard about the Joba Chamberlain / Mariano Rivera controversy, here's my take on the drama (with tweets from yankees fans)

Finally, a Yankees team we can love


Let’s be honest. When the “Yankees” lined up down the first base line on Opening Day, was this a team you were ready to watch for 162 games? Probably not.

Sure, there was Robinson Cano. You may have spotted Brett Gardner and Ichiro as well. But besides them, did anyone else catch your eye? Kevin Youkilis in pinstripes was “something else”, but what I mean is, did you feel comfortable relying on Lyle Overbay at first, or Vernon Wells in left? I don’t think so.

Where was Nick Swisher, the heart and soul of the team the past four seasons? What about Russell Martin, our Munson-esque backstop? How could we possibly win with these replacement-level, over the hill scrubs?

These questions and more swirled through many fans’ heads as the Yankees opened up the season back in April. Numerous analysts were picking them to finish last, and if they weren’t that harsh, they still predicted them to miss the playoffs.

Now of course it’s still early in the season, but who could have thought just how different the first month and a half would play out on the field, than we thought it would in our minds.

Here are our 2013 Yankees, at 22-13, first place in the A.L. East. A familiar sight without a doubt, but how they’ve gotten to the top of the division is as unusual as it’s ever been in the Bronx. Absent are the headlining stars - Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and Curtis Granderson - and present are former big name players revitalizing their careers, and youngsters trying to sink their teeth into the major leagues.

They still hit home runs like the usual Bombers, but win close games more often than not with solid pitching and nearly flawless defense. When was the last time those two aspects were keys to winning for the Yankees? It may have been in the playoffs, but certainly not on the path to get them there.

As mentioned, injuries have paved the way for players young and old to make an impact in pinstripes. Vernon Wells is second to Robbie Cano in runs scored, home runs, and average, Lyle Overbay already has 20 RBI, and Travis Hafner has made a fairly big impact when it matters with his still ferocious bat. Austin Romine, Preston Claiborne, Adam Warren, [and soon David Adams] have all made their big-league debuts and figure to be relied upon more as the days get longer and the season moves into the dog days of summer.

It’s hard to pinpoint the last time the Yankees have had so many role players, rather than superstars, and have been A) successful, and B) fun to watch. Maybe sometime in the 90’s, but they never went anywhere.

Sensing the sarcasm, no, this roster right now is not world championship worthy, and it will be a big help when everyone comes back off the DL. But, when they do, don’t be so willing to part with the Overbays, Hafners, and Wellses of the world.

Because truth be told, they’re the reason why Tex, Grandy, A-Rod and the Captain will jump right back into a pennant race they can win.

Keep it up guys...

This Day In Yankees History 5/12


On this day in 1956 Andy Carey broke up Orioles rookie Don Ferrarese's no hitter bid at Yankees Stadium. Andy Carey would single to lead off the 9th inning to break up the no hit bid but the Yankees would lose the game 1-0.