Saturday, February 22, 2014

Yankees agree to Incentive Laden Minor League Deal with Andrew Bailey

On Saturday evening the Yankees agreed to a minor league deal with 28 year old reliever Andrew Bailey. The deal, first reported by Buster Olney on twitter says it is worth $2.5 million and has a 2015 option+buyout. Bailey who is sometimes vulnerable to the injury bug wont be ready till mid-season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in mid-July.


The deal posses an enormous upside for the Yankees and the reliever has proven himself in the past. In 2009 Bailey won the AL ROY with the Athletics saving 26 games and having a 1.84 ERA. In 2009 Bailey also had a .217 BABIP, regardless of the production Bailey is a nice addition and could prove to be valuable in the second half of the season for the Yankees.

Highlights From Yankees Photo Day


Just in case you want to see ALL of the photos you can click HERE and see them at AP. I will go over the major ones here for you on the blog, just so you get the picture. See what I did there?

Zoilo Almonte

Mark Montgomery

Matt Thornton

Dellin Betances

Brian Roberts

Brian McCann

David Robertson

Jacoby Ellsbury

Carlos Beltran

Could we finish with anyone besides Derek Jeter?











RailRiders Dave Miley Inducted To IL Hall of Fame


Former Scranton Wilkes Barre RailRiders manager and Manager of the Year Award winner Dave Miley has been elected to the International League Hall of Fame for his efforts. Former IL League MVP Jeff Manto and longtime Toledo Mudhens broadcaster Jim Weber were also elected to the hall on this day. Miley's ceremony will happen on Saturday, June 7 when the RailRiders host the Toledo Mudhens of the Detroit Tigers organization.

The first 2,500 fans through the gate will receive a Dave Miley statue, which is kind of cool. Miley won the fan vote this past season to receive the honor of being made into a giveaway statue, which is also very cool and shows the respect the fans have for Miley.

The 2014 Yankees Injury Bug Is Alive & Present


The Yankees haven't even played their first exhibition game, which comes Tuesday against Florida State in case you were wondering or had forgotten, and the injury bug is going around worse then the flu. Not again.. I can't handle another season of this. 

Alfonso Soriano has been kept out of workouts and such the past two days with flu like symptoms and actually feels worse today. This is the good news, he can get over this in a few days and be fine all season. No need to rush Soriano, he will be there when it matters. 

The worst news is Tyler Austin and his wrist are acting up AGAIN, terrible news. His wrist bothered him all season last year and kept him out of the Arizona Fall League and will continue to hamper him this Spring Training. Austin was held out of batting practice today and will be reevaluated in a couple of days, doesn't sound good. 

Nik Turley was scratched from his scheduled throwing sessions because his arm was a little tight. Turley, as of right now, is only expected to be out for today. Manager Joe Girardi did not sound concerned about it and hopefully it is just his body adjusting to throwing after a long offseason. 

Jim Miller is on a minor league deal so this hurts him more than it hurts us, even with a short bullpen, when his calf came up slightly irritated today. Miller was held out of camp today and will again tomorrow and the Yankees will see how he feels on Monday before throwing him out there again. 

Here's to hoping these are the exception and not the rule this season, again. 

Meet A Prospect: Carlos Beltran


Carlos Ivan Beltran was born on April 24, 1977. Beltran excelled in many sports as a child including volleyball and baseball among others and turned his attention to baseball full time when he was 17 years old. Beltran spent his High School years at Fernando Callejo High School and graduated from the school in 1995. The Kansas City Royals selected Beltran in the second round of that 1995 Major League Baseball First Year Player’s Draft and signed him rather quickly out of High School. Beltran would sprint through the Royals farm system and would finally make his Major League debut on September 14, 1998 and would become a permanent fixture in 1999, and the rest as they say is history.

Beltran went into the 1999 season as the Royals leadoff hitter and starting center fielder but was quickly moved to the third spot in the order after he showed enormous power for his age. Beltran batted .293 with 22 home runs, 108 RBI’s, and 27 stolen bases in his rookie campaign bagging him Rookie of the Year honors. Beltran also made the final out at the old Tiger Stadium in Detroit when he struck out against Detroit reliever Todd Jones as the Royals fell to the Tigers 8-2. Beltran has a bit of a sophomore slump in 2000 as injuries kept him out of all but 98 games and saw his batting average slump to a dismal .247, thus making him lose his starting job to up and comer Johnny Damon. Luckily for Carlos Damon was traded to Oakland following the 2000 season and Beltran was given his job back for the 2001 season and did not disappoint as he batted .306 with 24 home runs and 101 RBI’s in 2001. Beltran’s 2002 and 2003 campaigns were impressive as well with Beltran finishing 2002 with a .273 average with 29 home runs and 105 RBI’s and finished the 2003 campaign with a .307 average with 26 home runs and 100 RBI’s on the dot. Playing for a small market team with a dismal record mixed in with the fact that Carlos had Scott Boras as an agent made Carlos the talk of a ton of trade rumors during the 2003 and 2004 seasons before the Houston Astros, in a three team trade, traded for Beltran which also brought reliever Octavio Dotel to Houston with Beltran from the Oakland Athletics. Beltran was selected as the American League starting outfielder in the 2004 All Star Game and was named the National League starting center fielder after Ken Griffey, Jr. went down with an injury making Beltran the first player to be selected for one All Star team only to play for the other in the same season.


The 2004 postseason with the Astros is where Beltran put his name on the playoff map tying Barry Bonds single postseason record with eight home runs, hitting one in each of the four games of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. If you count Game 5 of the NLDS where Beltran hit two home runs to bury the Atlanta Braves Beltran had hit a home run in five consecutive post season games, something that has never been done in the history of the game. Beltran did not stay an Astros player for long as he was a free agent after the 2004 season and tested the free agent market. The New York Yankees were believed to be the favorite to land Beltran, especially after he offered New York a $19 million discount to play for them, but when the Yankees declined the crosstown New York Mets swept him up with a seven year deal worth $119 million. This contract was the biggest in franchise sports history at the time and became only the 10th contract in baseball history to go over the $100 million mark.

Things started great for Beltran in New York, the fans loved him, the media loved him, opposing pitchers hated to face him, but on August, 11 2005 in a game against the San Diego Padres Beltran was seriously injured after colliding head to head with teammate Mike Cameron on a shallow hit by in right center field. Cameron missed the rest of the season with a concussion, temporary loss of vision, and two broken cheekbones with Beltran suffered from vertigo for a long while. This was on top of the quadriceps injury that hampered Beltran most of the season and limited him to career lows in batting average, .266, home runs, 16, RBI’s, 78, runs scored, 83, and stolen bases, 17. All this while still making his second All Star team, go figure. Beltran followed 2005 by playing for Team Puerto Rico in the 2006 World Baseball Classic and his success there followed him into the 2006 season in New York. Beltran surpassed his previous seasons home run totals before the half way point of 2006 and earned himself a spot in his third consecutive All Star Game. Beltran become the first Mets player to ever hit three grand slams that season when he hit one in consecutive games on July 16th and July 18th and hit his third at the end of July. Beltran finished with 41 home runs that season tying Todd Hundley’s Mets team record for a single season and also scored 127 runs that season, a Mets single season franchise record.


The 2007 season is when things began to go wrong for Beltran in New York, although his overall numbers were decent in 2007 they were helped drastically by a hot August and September run. The Mets had a major collapse in 2007 and Beltran was considered to be one of the prime culprits for the run down the stretch. Beltran did have some upside though as he hit the final regular season home run in the history of Shea Stadium by a Met, the final home run going to the Marlins Dan Uggla.  Beltran surpassed the 1,000 RBI mark for his career in 2009 but struggled in 2010 after a knee surgery had him out what was supposed to be 8-12 weeks. Beltran made his season debut in 2010 on July 15th after a long drawn out battle on whether or not the Mets knew about and consented to Beltran’s surgery being done by Beltran’s personal physician Dr. Richard Steadman. The 2011 was the end of Beltran’s career as a New York Met as he was traded to the San Francisco Giants on July 28, 2011 for Zack Wheeler and others. Beltran’s Giants career was less than stellar, as his contract expired at the end of the 2011 season, but he did hit his 300th home run of his career in a Giants uniform off of Padres pitcher Mat Latos.

On December 22, 2011 Beltran agreed to a two year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals worth $26 million and a full no trade clause. Beltran’s time in St. Louis was both memorable and historic as he became the first to ever get a hit in a regular season game at the New Marlins Park. Also on June 1 of that year, in his first game in New York after leaving the Mets, he was given a standing ovation by the crowd. Beltran was also at the plate when his “foul” ball was ruled foul after hitting the foul line which preserved Johan Santana’s no hitter, the first in New York Mets history. Beltran also became the first switch hitter in MLB history to reach the 300 home runs and 300 stolen base plateau in June of that season. Beltran also got his 2,000th hit in June of that season and his 400th double of his career as well.  Beltran made his first World Series appearance of his career in 2013 but ultimately lost to the Boston Red Sox and entered free agency this winter.

Beltran has had his fair share of achievements in his Major League career including being the American League Rookie of the Year in 1999, is an eight time All Star, has won three Gold Glove Awards for his work in the outfield, has won two Silver Slugger Awards, is a member of the 30 home run and 30 steals club, has won an American League Player of the Month award and is a nine time Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award winner, he has tied the single postseason record for home runs with the Astros with 8 home runs, won the Fielding Bible Award in center field with the Mets in 2006 and 2008, holds the Mets single season runs scored record with 127 runs and home run record holder with 41 in one season, has over 1,000 runs scored and over 1,000 RBI’s, is the first switch hitter and the 8th player overall to attain 300 home runs and 300 stolen bases in his career, has over 2,000 hits, has over 400 doubles, is a part of the Mets All Time 50th Anniversary team as a starting center fielder, and most recently won the Roberto Clemente Award for the 2013 season. Impressive credentials if I don’t say so myself!


Carlos has played for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, and now is a member of the New York Yankees for at least the next three seasons. With Beltran finally in the fold for the Yankees maybe he can ultimately get the one thing that has eluded him, a World Series ring. Beltran is one of the best all-time statistical hitters in the history of the postseason and has even earned nicknames like “the new Mr. October”, “Mr. October Jr.” , “Senor Octubre” and “the real Mr. October from the news media. Carlos leads all time in postseason slugging percentage, runs scores in a single season and at bats per home run ratio. Beltran is also MLB’s all-time leader in OPS during the postseason when he passed the great Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Beltran has broken the 1.000 OPS mark in four different playoff series, has a 100% stolen base percentage in the postseason, and is bringing all this to the Bronx next season.

New York Yankees Spring Training News & Notes 2/22


Today is photo day at New York Yankees camp which is always fun, someone always has to be photoshopped in for some reason.

Remember Mark Montgomery? The heir apparent to Mariano Rivera, the big time prospect in the Yankees minor league bullpen? If I asked this question last year almost everyone would have said yes but that doesn't seem to be the same answer I am getting this season. That works for Montgomery who is finally healthy and looks great in Yankees camp this year. I expect to see him as one of the first in line if the Yankees need another bullpen arm, that's if he doesn't win a spot out of the spring camps.

David Phelps threw a simulated game this morning, the first of the spring, pitching to John Ryan Murphy and facing Mason Williams and Jose Pirela.

Speaking of firsts of the spring Jorge Posada has showed up to be a guest instructor. It's gotta be cool to be at Yankees spring training camp to see all these former Yankees and legends showing up to help out.

The rain is coming down so the updates may be scarce today as everyone has moved inside until or unless it dries up down there. It's Florida, if you don't like the weather wait five minutes.

Chad Jennings with the assignments as he does every day:

Early bullpens:
Got these in before the rain
Shane Greene (to Gary Sanchez)
Bryan Mitchell (to Pete O’Brien)
Nik Turley (to Francisco Arcia)
Francisco Rondon (to Austin Romine)
Vidal Nuno (to O’Brien)
Adam Warren (to Murphy)
Preston Claiborne (to Jose Gil)
Dave Robertson (to Francisco Cervelli)
· Live batting practice:
Scheduled to begin at 11:35 a.m.
Field 1
Matt Thornton (to Cervelli)
Shawn Kelley (to McCann)
Matt Daley (to Gil)
Chris Leroux (to Gil)
Field 2
Manny Banuelos (to O’Brien)
Cesar Cabral (to Romine)
Brian Gordon (to Sanchez)
Mark Montgomery (to Arcia)
· Infield drills:
Group 1
Russ Canzler (1B), Corban Joseph (2B/1B), Brian Roberts (2B), Derek Jeter (SS), Scott Sizemore (3B/2B), Dean Anna (3B/2B), Zealous Wheeler (3B)
Group 2
Mark Teixiera (1B), Jose Pirela (2B/3B), Yangervis Solarte (2B/SS), Brendan Ryan (SS), Eduardo Nunez (3B/SS), Kelly Johnson (3B)
· Batting practice groups:
Most of the catchers have moved to new groups
Group 1: Derek Jeter, Eduardo Nunez, Brian Roberts, Jose Gil
Group 2: Kelly Johnson, Brendan Ryan, Mark Teixeira, Francisco Cervelli
Group 3: Dean Anna, Russ Canzler, Scott Sizemore, Brian McCann
Group 4: Corban Joseph, Yangervis Solarte, Zealous Wheeler, John Ryan Murphy
Group 5: Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Ichiro Suzuki, Gary Sanchez
Group 6: Zoilo Almonte, Brett Gardner, Alfonso Soriano, Pete O’Brien
Group 7: Tyler Austin, Antoan Richardson, Mason Williams, Austin Romine
Group 8: Ramon Flores, Adonis Garcia, Jose Pirela, Francisco Arcia


Yankee Stadium Legacy: #37 Elston Howard


Elston Howard held down the catchers position for the New York Yankees in the 1960's and in that span the Bronx Bombers went to five straight World Series from 1960 to 1964. Howard's 1963 season was the most note worthy as he won an American League Gold Glove Award and a Most Valuable Player Award. Howard had 85 RBI's, scored 75 runs, and hit a career high 28 home runs that season.

37 days until Yankees Opening Day

Prospects Month: Top 28 Yankees Prospects List #7


Continuing our look at The Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 prospects list as a part of Prospects Month we name our #7 prospect, Ian Clarkin!

Here is the complete up to date list. Check back every day as the list fills out and we continue our look at the prospects in the New York Yankees system during Prospects Month here on TGP.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7. Ian Clarkin
8. Eric Jagielo
9. Greg Bird
10. Manny Banuelos
11. Jose Campos
12. Gosuke Katoh
13. Shane Greene
14. Jose Ramirez
15. Peter O'Brien
16. Aaron Judge
17. Ty Hensley
18. Luis Severino
19. Abiatal Avelino
20. Rob Refsnyder
21. Nik Turley
22. Cito Culver
23. Ramon Flores
24. Mark Montgomery
25. Rookie Davis
26. Jake Cave
27. Ben Gamel
28. Angelo Gumbs

Exclusive Interview w/ Prospect Guru Draft2Dynasty


I like to do things a little different than everybody else, not for the sake of being different but because that is just me. I got into the blog game not to recycle the same old garbage over and over again with no emotion and all business, I'm not making money here and this isn't a business to me. The same, in my opinion anyway, can be said about our latest interview Draft2Dynasty. I met him on Twitter and was instantly impressed with his knowledge for the game, specifically the farm systems, and have had many awesome conversations with him. He runs his own blog, Draft2Dynasty.blogspot.com, and is an all around awesome guy so why not interview him right?





The Greedy Pinstripes: How long have you been a fan of the New York Yankees?

Draft2Dynasty: Born and raised a Yankees fan... April it would make it 28 years.

TGP: How many baseball cards do you think you actually own?

D2D: LOL good question Ask my wife she would tell you ENOUGH honestly still adding old collections.... would say easily pass 10,000 yankee cards

TGP: How many of them are autographed? Ballpark numbers are fine here.

D2D: 200 + certified autographs 175 + in person autographs

TGP: How did you get to throw out the first pitch before a Tampa Yankees game in 2012?

D2D: It was for my birthday celebration held at Steinbrenner Field

TGP: I take it you were against the Tampa Yankees potential move to Ocala? Or were you for it?

D2D: I wasn't against. The driving distance is a slight shorter. I would have missed some of the other fans i have gotten to know but i think it would have ultimately worked best for the players playing in a site that might bring more fans to the field.


TGP: Where were you when the Trenton Thunder won the EL Championship this season?

D2D: Believe I was at home, I was listening to it on the radio feed, believe I was live tweeting that night too

TGP: What made you want to get into the blogging world with your site Draft2Dynasty.blogspot.com?

D2D: Before I started Draft 2 Dynasty I was asked by a few other blogs to write with them. At the time I turned the offers down, got to thinking that maybe I should do my own blog with my cards and MILB adventures and other events happening around the Yankees.

TGP: Could you even begin to narrow it down, as a fan of course, to pick a favorite prospect currently in the Yankees system?

D2D: Hmmm....put me on the spot...major spot... I am either a President, Vice President or sit on the board of many fan clubs. Right now I think I am the Supreme Leader of the Peter O'Brien fandom.

TGP: Who do you think makes the biggest impact in the Yankees system this year?

 D2D: If Jagielo & Judge can open up the season in Tampa they can definitely shake up the depth charts for the organization

TGP: How many big time Yankees stars and prospects have you and your children met at various Yankees minor league stadiums?

D2D: Gary Sanchez, Mason Williams, Tyler Austin, Slade Heathcott, Rafael De Paula, Ty Hensley, JR Murphy, Ramon Flores, Bryan Mitchell, Angelo Gumbs, Austin Romine, Cesar Cabral, Vidal Nuno, Michael Pineda, David Phelps, Eduardo Nunez, and Joba Chamberlain as well. Those guys I have had conversations with one time or another. Luis Sojo I would throw him in too. We met Mariano Rivera and A Rod as they were signing during games last season, don't know if that counts. I have also met Cecil Fielder, Goose Gossage, David Wells, Roy White, Bucky Dent, Oscar Gamble, and Chris Chambliss at various signing events and have ran into Reggie Jackson twice in during spring training.


TGP: Re-sign Brett Gardner or give the job to Slade Heathcott/Zoilo Almonte/Other in 2015?

D2D: Brett Gardner, I would offer qualifying deal first. Safe deal of 4 years 60 million...I'm not a GM so I don't know the terms but a shorter type deal. Gardner, Ellsbury, Almonte, Heathcott seems like they will all work together and Beltran to DH.

TGP: If you had the choice to build from within with the prospects or trade them for the "sure thing" which do you think you would do if you were running the Yankees?

D2D: With the core we have I would prefer to build from within.

TGP: Michael Kay or Mike Francesa?

D2D: I don't really listen to either of their radio shows.. PUSH

TGP: Fire John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman or keep them around?

D2D: Keep em around...why not...I kinda have a soft spot for the HR calls

TGP: Do you have any Yankees players former or present in your cell phone?

D2D: Nope...I have some guys on my DM quick hits though.

TGP: When are you going to join The Greedy Pinstripes family so you can help me with Prospects Month?

D2D: lol good one... honestly have given it more thought. ... still cant commit to it yet... but always willing to help out.



The last question was not a joke, you always have a spot here my friend if you ever decide to go that route. Thank you for taking the time sir and I look forward to seeing all the pictures and recaps from this spring and all season long down in Tampa. You can follow him on Twitter by following @Draft2Dynasty or on his blog by bookmarking www.draft2dynasty.blogspot.com. 


This Day In New York Yankees History 2/22


On this day in 2005 now deceased San Diego Padres broadcaster and former New York Yankee Jerry Coleman is selected to receive the Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award. The then 80 year old broadcaster was the 1950 World Series MVP, played for teams like the Yankees, Angels, and Padres, and spent over 40 years in the booth as a play by play man.


On this day in  2010 the Yankees lost their own free agent Johnny Damon when he agreed to a one year deal worth $8 million with the Detroit Tigers. Damon was 36 years old at the time and coming off a .282 with 24 home runs and a World Series championship in the 2009 season.