Monday, April 7, 2014

Yankees Interested In Brian Omogrosso


The New York Yankees are one of several teams interested in former Chicago White Sox pitcher Brian Omogrosso. Omogrosso recently elected free agency after being outrighted off the Chicago 40 man roster and has been throwing down in Phoenix showcasing his talents for teams. The Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers are among the teams interested in the 29 year old as well as the Yankees.

Omogrosso has a major league career 5.54 ERA, 8.2 K/9 ratio, and a 4.52 FIP in 39.2 innings, all with Chicago, which are right in line with his career minor league 5.20 ERA, 9.8 K/9, and 3.26 FIP. Omogrosso does not walk many batters, in the minor leagues anyway which is evident by his 2.7 BB/9 ratio, and sounds like he could be a seventh or eight inning reliever.

Honestly the Yankees have enough right handed relief pitchers so I don't see an absolute need in signing one more but AAA depth never hurt, especially on a minor league deal. Especially for one who can throw in the mid 90's with his control and who harnesses a hard slider, making me think of a watered down Michael Pineda. He is intriguing to say the least but if he did not want to be off the 40 man and in the minor leagues for Chicago I cannot see him coming here for the same or less, I was wrong one time though.


Yankees beat Orioles in Jeter's last home opener, 4-2

Hiroki Kuroda threw 6.1 innings of two-run ball and Adam Warren and Shawn Kelley followed him with scoreless frames of their own today as the Yankees won their 2014 home opener over the Orioles, 4-2. When Kuroda left this one in the top of the seventh, the O's were threatening with runners on first and second, but then Middle Relievers Matt Thornton and David Phelps came in and pretty much saved the game, inducing back-to-back groundouts. 

Anyway, the Yankees offense, as it should be, was solid in this win, crossing the plate those four times thanks to Double Play from Derek Jeter with a man on third, a duo of RBI Singles from Yangervis Solarte and Jacoby Ellsbury, and a bases-loaded walk from Kelly Johnson. That RBI from Solarte, amazingly, was his sixth of the year in just five games, something that, in my opinion, simply wouldn't be done by Eduardo Nunez.

Besides those guys, Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Beltran also played pretty well this afternoon, going 2-for-3 with a walk and 1-for-3 with a walk respectively. Nothing fancy by any means, but still, definitely something helpful.

The Mark Teixeira Hamstring MRI Results Are In


The MRI results are finally in from Mark Teixeira's strained hamstring and the Yankees got the best news they could have hoped for, a Grade 1 strain of the hamstring. Mark fully expects to be ready to roll when the 15 day DL stint is up, which is great news for the New York and the middle of their order. Grade 1 strains are usually very mild and it will allow Mark to start an exercise program as early as tomorrow to work back in rehab. The best news the Yankees and their fans could have asked for so I am thankful for that.

Yankees Traded Eduardo Nunez To Minnesota


The New York Yankees have traded recently designated for assignment infielder Eduardo Nunez to the Minnesota Twins for left handed pitcher Miguel Sulbaran. Sulbaran is 20 years old and was recently acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the trade that brought them Drew Butera. Sulbaran is not a highly touted prospect, especially after coming to Twins camp overweight this spring, and posts a career 3.15 ERA with a 8.4 K/9 and 2.4 BB/9 in his 239.2 career innings pitched. Better to get something for nothing when it came to Nunez but this goes to show you any chance of Nunez being involved in a deal that brought Ike Davis was just a pipe dream at the end of the day.

David Robertson Headed To 15 Day DL

David Robertson is headed to the 15 day DL with a Grade 1 strain of his groin muscle. Robertson suffered the injury in his one inning and save in the 6-4 Yankees victory on Sunday. An MRI at Yankee Stadium confirmed the strain.

No word on the corresponding roster move just yet. 

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap: 4/6


Andujar Slugs RiverDogs to Road Win
Charleston splits a four-game series in Augusta with Andujar providing all of the offense
AUGUSTA, GA - Miguel Andujar sparked a fourth-inning rally and brought in a late insurance run as the Charleston RiverDogs claimed a 4-1 victory over the Augusta GreenJackets on Sunday afternoon at Lake Olmstead Stadium in South Atlantic League action.
The win closed a four-game set at Augusta, evening the series at two wins apiece for the RiverDogs and the GreenJackets. Both squads are now 2-2 for the season. Charleston returns home after the road trip to host a seven-game homestand that begins on Monday at 7:05pm.
Charleston's Brady Lail and Augusta's Carlos Diaz were equally matched through the first three innings. Each pitcher recorded four strikeouts while keeping the game scoreless.
Andujar came through in the fourth inning to build a 3-0 RiverDogs lead. Aaron Judge and Mike Ford led off the frame with singles. Andujar scored both runners on a double while he advanced safely to third base after a GreenJackets error. Andujar was brought in by an Eduardo de Oleo single for a three-run edge.
In the bottom of the fourth, Augusta cut the deficit to 3-1. With two outs and Ryan Tuntland at first base, Shawn Payne singled to keep the inning alive and Tyler Horan followed with a double that plated Tuntland and got the GreenJackets on the scoreboard.
Lail completed the rest of the fourth unscathed and finished six innings in a winning effort. He struck out five in the first quality start for the RiverDogs this season.
The RiverDogs could not touch GreenJackets reliever Ryan Jones until the eighth inning to improve Charleston's lead. Andujar singled in Judge and put the RiverDogs up 4-1. Andujar went 3-of-4 while driving in three runs and scoring the remaining tally for Charleston.
On the mound, reliever Cesar Vargas kept Augusta at bay, striking out the side in the bottom of the eighth. Nick Rumbelow followed in the ninth inning with a scoreless frame that ended the contest.
With the victory, Lail's record is 1-0 after his RiverDogs debut. Diaz dropped to 0-1 as the losing pitcher for the GreenJackets. Rumbelow, who was also in his first appearance with the RiverDogs, picked up his first save of the season.
COMING UP: Charleston returns to The Joe for a seven-game homestand, which starts with a visit from the Greenville Drive on Monday at 7:05pm. LHP Caleb Smith (0-0, 0.00 ERA) is scheduled to start the RiverDogs home opener against Greenville RHP Mario Alcantara (0-0, 0.00 ERA). Charleston hosts its in-state rival for Monday's grand Opening Night celebration, complete with $1 hot dogs and $1 beers presented by Coors. Tickets may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office, (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or on-line at www.riverdogs.com. If fans cannot make it to the ballpark, they are encouraged to tune in to all the action this year both home and away on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

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

Game Thread: Yankees @ Orioles 4/7 - Opening Day


The New York Yankees will finally have their home Opening Day today when they host the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium in the first of a three game set. The prestigious Opening Day home start goes to Hiroki Kuroda as he will face off with Ubaldo Jimenez at 1:05 pm ET. Like I said earlier 1:05 is just an estimate, I would expect some delays before first pitch, likely closer to 1:30 than 1:05. The game can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and WFAN.

Join in on the conversation on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes or by dropping a line in our growing comments section of the site. Just as a reminder you can get your Yankees Tickets for the home stand and all Yankees games, home and away, right here on The Greedy Pinstripes. Also feel free to join our 6th annual Mega Predictions Game where you wager points on whether the Yankees will win or lose.

Enjoy the day Yankees family!

What To Expect On Yankees Opening Day Today


The New York Yankees home opener is just an hour away as they host the Baltimore Orioles in the first game at Yankee Stadium this season. The gates have been open for an hour now and fans are pouring into the stadium. In just about 30 minutes the festivities for Opening Day will begin when both teams lineup down the baselines and get introduced to the crowd. Hopefully everyone thought ahead and arrived early so they didn't have to miss that. That begins at 12:30 pm ET.

The Yankees will have the Core Four throwing out the first pitch, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada. Pettitte and Rivera will be throwing to Jeter and Posada, that should be emotional and awesome all at the same time.

Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County Broadway star, will sing the National Anthem as 75 West Point Cadets roll out the enormous American Flag we have all grown accustomed to in center field. During the seventh inning stretch the Yankees will have James Moye of the Broadway hit Bullets Over Broadway singing the National Anthem.

No team can put on a show like the New York Yankees so I expect this to be another fantastic Opening Day and another fantastic show by the Yankees and their organization.

Preview: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 4/7


The New York Yankees will play the first game of their home schedule today with Opening Day at Yankee Stadium hosting the Baltimore Orioles. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound to face off with Ubaldo Jimenez for the Orioles. The game will be televised at 1:05 pm ET on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and WFAN. I would expect a delay or two, you always have them on Opening Days. Either way go Yankees!!!

Quick Hit: Tonight's Home Opener Should Be Fun

Should be fun, and emotional, and a ton of other emotions rolled into one. I am not quite sure how I feel about this yet but it should be great either way, the Yankees tend to put on a good show.

Trenton Thunder Game Recap 4/6


Thunder Use 11-run Fourth To Earn Series Split

TRENTON, NJ - The Thunder used an 11-run fourth inning to earn a split of their four game series with New Hampshire, defeating the Fisher Cats 11-5 on Sunday afternoon.
After each starting pitcher cruised through the first three innings, New Hampshire touched up Thunder starter Joel De La Cruz for three runs in the top of the fourth. With runners on first and second, leftfielder Ryan Schimpf doubled off the wall in right-center and scored on the play thanks to a throwing error by Dan Fiorito.
The Thunder wasted no time responding to New Hampshire's three-run frame. Rob Segedin drew Trenton within one with a two-run home run off the foul pole in left. Later in the inning, Yeral Sanchez drove in Gary Sanchez with a double and Francisco Arcia followed him with a two-run triple. After an error on Fisher Cat shortstop Peter Mooney, Ali Castillo doubled in another to chase starter Scott Copeland from the game after just three and ⅓ innings.
Trenton kept the inning alive by drawing a pair of walks against reliever John Anderson to set up Gary Sanchez's second at-bat of the inning. Sanchez hammered a 2-0 delivery over the wall in left-center for the team's second home run of the inning and first grand slam of the season. It was the fifth extra base hit of the inning for Trenton.
It was the first time the Thunder hit two home runs in the same inning since they did it on August 28, 2012 against New Britain. The 11 runs scored was the most in an inning by Trenton since they scored 12 times in the third inning on August 19, 2004 against Portland.
Right-hander Joel De La Cruz earned the victory in his double-A debut. De La Cruz held New Hampshire to five runs, four earned, on four hits and two walks over six and a third innings.
Each Thunder starter scored a run in the game and each starter except Mason Williams and Dan Fiorito recorded a hit in the game.
The Thunder will welcome the Portland Sea Dog to ARM & HAMMER Park for a three-game series beginning on Monday. The Thunder send LHP Matt Tracy (NR) to the mound, Portland will counter with RHP Mike McCarthy (NR). First pitch will be thrown at 7:05. The first 2,000 fans, through the gate on Monday will receive a Magnetic Schedule presented by Mercer County Improvement Authority.

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE

This Day In New York Yankees History 4/7


On this day in 2010 Forbes estimated the value of the New York Yankees to be worth approximately $1.6 billion, nearly twice as much as any other Major League franchise. The Yankees were reigning World Series champions and recently moved into a new ballpark and were using a new found $441 million in revenue after adjustments were made for its payment to baseball's revenue sharing program and the costs of financing Yankee Stadium III.


Also in case you were wondering the Tampa Bay Devil Rays retired  former Yankee and Red Sox Wade Boggs #12 uniform number on this day in 2000. Boggs got his 3,000th hit in Tampa Bay and hit the first home run in the franchise's history.