Saturday, March 15, 2014

Yankees get no-hit by Marlins in Panama; lose 5-0

Well, what can I say here? When half of your starters are playing in a game meant to honor a recent retiree, you'd think that you'd be able to muster up a couple of hits, but no, I guess not. I mean, I know this is just spring training, but this offensive performance was just ridiculous. How can you get no-hit in a spring training game? That really is unheard of. 

Anyway, the Yankees starter in this embarrassment was another fifth-spot candidate in Adam Warren, who looked alright, giving up just 1 run on 2 hits in 4.1 innings of work. He got the loss here, although really, he didn't deserve it. I mean, when you play for the Yanks, you're supposed to get at least some run support, right?

Yankees 13th In ESPN's Organizational Power Rankings


ESPN ranks all 30 Major League Baseball teams using the entire organization as a whole and how healthy the organization is in their decision and the New York Yankees came in 13th place. Some of the criteria used to come up with these rankings is strength of the major league roster, the strength of the farm system, the finances of the club, management, and roster flexibility to name a few. The Yankees were lucky number 13 while the Boston Red Sox topped the list with a score of 89.1 out of 100. The second place team was obviously the St. Louis Cardinals with a 82.3 and were the only other team above 76 out of 100. The Miami Marlins were last with a score of 20.4, imagine if they trade Giancarlo Stanton this summer how much farther that will drop.

The Yankees scored a 51.6 this season with their 13th place finish. This is down from 53.8 last season and an 11th place finish, which was down from 65.9 and a 5th place finish in 2012. The highest the Yankees got was 2nd place with a 79.6 out of 100 after 2011. The lack of a farm system is continuing to hurt New York in these rankings, not that they matter much in the grand scheme of thing.

New York Yankees vs. Miami Marlins 3/15


This will be the second split squad game of the day for the New York Yankees as the Legend Series between the Bronx Bombers and the Miami Marlins get under way down in Panama. These two games were designed to honor the great Yankee and recently retired Mariano Rivera, and no he does not plan to pitch or appear in either of these games. The Yankees have sent an A list set of names down to Panama for this historic event which will begin at 8:05 pm ET locally here in the states. I do not believe, to the best of my knowledge anyway, that this game will be televised anywhere which seems really odd. Adam Warren will be on the mound against the Marlins, enjoy this historic event.

Just as an FYI the Yankees will be playing as the home team so the designated hitter will be in effect for both games down in Panama.

Nuno makes strong bid for fifth starter spot in loss to Orioles

Vidal Nuno gave up just 2 base runners in 4 innings of work today as the Yankees lost another game to the Orioles, 2-1. In those four frames, Nuno impressively allowed just one hit, while also striking out 3 and walking 1. 

Anyway, a few notable Yankees who played in this ballgame were Brian Roberts, who went 2-for-3 with a couple of singles, Kelly Johnson, who went 0-for-2 with a walk, Ichiro, who just went 0-for-3, and first base prospect Francisco Arcia, a guy I've never heard of who went 1-for-2 with a home run. So yea, overall I'd say this game didn't go too well, but those are still the numbers. Make what you want with them.

Florida Georgia Line Coming To Home Of The Charleston Riverdogs


RECORD-BREAKING DUOFLORIDA GEORGIA LINE SLIDES INTO SUMMER WITH NEW HEADLINE TOUR

THIS IS HOW WE ROLL SUMMER SERIES 2014 Launches In May, Featuring Multi-Platinum Superstar Nelly and Opening Act Chris Lane

(March 14, 2014) – As announced across social media earlier today, reigning ACMNew Artist of the Year Florida Georgia Linewill turn up the heat with their headline run-- THIS IS HOW WE ROLL SUMMER SERIES 2014. Kicking off May 30 in Springdale, AR, the sizzling new tour will slide into select baseball stadiums and feature special guest, Grammy Award-winning Nelly and opening act Chris Lane.

The tour will visit Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Parkon June 12. Information on tickets and an on-sale date will be announced in the near future.

“Last year we played the ballpark in Lexington, Kentucky and it was an epic night,” says Brian Kelley. “We thought how fun would it be to hit several of these and bring the good times to the field!”

Tyler Hubbard adds, “Summer can’t get here fast enough. Having Nelly and Chris along for the ride is going to make for one big, outdoor party!”

FGL has exploded since releasing four consecutive, multi-week #1 smashes in the US and Canada with the GOLD-certified “Stay,” the PLATINUM-certified hits “Get Your Shine On” and "Round Here," and 6X PLATINUM “Cruise,” whose sales are combined with the remix featuring Nelly.Breaking the record for longest #1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart, “Cruise” has sold nearly 6.8 million downloads in the US alone and is the best-selling digital Country single of all time according to SoundScan. Nelly's remix on the summer anthem helped maximize the reach across multiple genres and platforms. The award-winning duo’s current single “This Is How We Roll” featuring Luke Bryan is quickly climbing the country radio charts and is from the deluxe version of their chart-topping, PLATINUM-certified debut album HERE’S TO THE GOOD TIMES (Republic Nashville).

FGL has racked up four nominations - Vocal Duo of the YearAlbum of the Year (HERE’S TO THE GOOD TIMES), Single of the Year (“Cruise”) and Vocal Event of the Year (“Cruise” Remix featuring Nelly) - for the ACM Awards, airing April 6 at 8:00P Eastern on CBS. Earlier in the weekend (April 4), FGL will join labelmates at the ACM Party for a Cause Festival for "Outnumber HungerLive!" to raise awareness for the 1 in 6 Americans who struggle with hunger.

The unstoppable duo is currently on the road as direct support for Jason Aldean’s NIGHT TRAIN Tour. 

THIS IS HOW WE ROLL SUMMER SERIES 2014*

May 30 - Springdale, AR – Arvest Ballpark

May 31 - Pearl, MS – Trustmark Park

June 1 - TBA

June 12 - Charleston, SC – Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park

June 13  - Augusta, GA – Lake Olmstead Stadium

June 14 - TBA

June 19 - Ft. Wayne, IN – Parkview Field

June 20 - Bowling Green, KY – Bowling Green Ballpark

June 22 - Asheville, NC – McCormick Field
*Initial dates announced
For on-sale dates and more, visit FloridaGeorgiaLine.com.  

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs organization. The original article can be seen HERE. Thank you. 

New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles 3/15


The Yankees are playing another pair of split squad games today so two more guys vying for rotation spots are on the mound with Vidal Nuno starting against the Baltimore Orioles and Adam Warren is starting in the Legends Series against the Miami Marlins down in Panama. The Yankees have been struggling in the win column as of late with three losses and two ties in the last week or so, not that wins and losses matter much right now. The Yankees will travel on the road to the home of the Orioles today to play this first split squad game of the day. The game will be televised at 1:05 pm ET on MLB Network and MLB TV. Enjoy!

Here is the Yankees lineup:

Ichiro Suzuki RF
Brian Roberts 2B
Kelly Johnson 3B
Austin Romine C
Ramon Flores LF
Mason Williams CF
Kyle Roller DH
Carmen Angelini SS
Francisco Arcia 1B



Masahiro Tanaka Likely The Yankees Fourth Starter


The New York Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild gave us a new hint where the Masahiro Tanaka parade will make it's first stop and it's not in the first series against the Houston Astros. The Yankees want to give Tanaka an "extra days rest relatively early" and are expecting him to be their fourth or even their fifth starter, which we all know he won't be the fifth starter and that is just posturing but whatever. The Yankees reasoning for wanting to pitch him fourth means for Tanaka that his second start would come on normal rest and his third day would come on an extra day's rest again due to the New York playing in 13 straight games to open the season.

You have to wonder if pitching Hiroki Kuroda second had anything to do with splitting up the two similar pitchers and pitching styles, they will not come out and say that though.  Ivan Nova looks penciled in to be your third starter right now and Tanaka looks to be the highest paid fourth starter in the history of fourth starters, bummer.

Yankee Stadium Legacy: #16 Joe DiMaggio


Joe DiMaggio was one of the games all time greats beginning his New York Yankees career in 1936. The 21 year old from Martinez, California wasted no time showing his talent hitting .323 with 125 RBI and 132 runs scored as a rookie, unheard of. Three short years later DiMaggio won his first of three American League MVP Awards while in pinstripes. What could have been had he not missed all those years to the World War.

16 days until Yankees Opening Day.

Drew/Morales Willing To Wait Until June To Sign


In a report from super agent Scott Boras that could really help the New York Yankees news broke today that free agents Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales could wait until June to sign free agent deals to play in 2014. The reason for this being is both players were offered qualifying offers and are linked to draft pick compensation, meaning the team that signs them have to give up their first non-protected draft pick in the MLB First Year Player's Draft to acquire their services. If Drew and Morales were to wait until June to sign they would no longer be linked to the draft pick and would essentially become true free agents.

If the Yankees were struggling come June of this season or the infield does not hold up the way many expect it not to the Yankees could go hot and heavy after Drew. Also if Mark Teixeira's surgically repaired wrist does not hold up the way some people worry than Morales could be a viable option for the Yankees. This is great news for the Yankees as this talent is usually never available in June or July without a top prospect or two attached and going back to the other team in return.

Ervin Santana had trouble finding a new deal after being linked to a qualifying offer as did Nelson Cruz and both caved into one year deals at or below the $14.1 million qualifying offer but Drew and Morales do not seem willing or likely to do that. A lot can change between June and now but this just goes to show you that the qualifying offer system is broken and it needs fixed sooner rather than later.


This Day In New York Yankees History 3/15


On this day in 1960 the Southern Association announced that the New Orleans Pelicans, for the first time since 1901, will not be part of any AA affiliates inside Major League Baseball. The Pelicans were an affiliate of the New York Yankees in 1958 and were essentially replaces by the Little Rock Travelers.


On this day in 1999 the Yankees named Don Zimmer the team's interim manager while then manager Joe Torre received treatments for prostate cancer. Zimmer was the Yankees bench coach at thew time and recorded a 885-858 (.508) record during his time as a manager in San Diego, Boston, Texas, and Chicago.