Sabathia, offense overpower Rays in 10-2 win

CC Sabathia gave up just 1 earned run in 7 innings and the defense turned a 5-4-3 triple play in the bottom of the second tonight as the Yankees stunned David Price and the Rays in St. Petersburg, 10-2. In those 7 frames, Sabathia wasn't necessarily dominant, as he surrendered 7 hits while getting a lot of balls hit hard off him, but since those line drives rarely turned into runs I guess it's tough to complain about this outing. 

Anyway, the Yanks offense attacked early and often in this one, scoring 4 times in the first two innings thanks to 2 RBI Triples from Jacoby Ellsbury and Brian Roberts and 2 RBI Singles from Brian McCann and Derek Jeter. Later on, McCann, Ellsbury, and Roberts, along with Alfonso Soriano, struck again, collecting a Solo Home Run, a Sac Fly, a run-scoring single, and another Solo shot respectively to make this contest a blowout. 

Besides those guys, Yangervis Solarte and Scott Sizemore also contributed to this W, going 3-for-5 with a 2-run Shot (the first of his career) and 1-for-3 with a double. After that double, Sizemore scored easily on the triple by Roberts, giving the Pinstripes an early 2-0 lead.

Yankees Turn A Triple Play

The New York Yankees have turned a triple play tonight in the second inning against the Tampa Bay Rays! The Rays had runners on first and second with nobody out when a sharp line drive was hit to the third basemen Yangervis Solarte. Solarte stepped on the bag and threw to the second basemen Brian Roberts who stepped on the bag and threw to the first basemen Scott Sizemore to complete the triple play.

CC Sabathia was on the mound, if you remember correctly he was on the mound for the last Yankees triple play as well... Kind of cool.

Game Thread: Yankees @ Rays 4/17

The New York Yankees have been home for the last nine games and are headed back out on the road tonight as they travel to Tropicana Field to take on the Tampa Bay Rays for the first of four games this weekend. The Yankees will send their big man CC Sabathia to the mound to face off with David Price for the Rays, a matchup of the aces of the staffs. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET on the YES Network, on the computer with MLB TV, and on the radio with WFAN.

Join the discussion on twitter by following @GreedyStripes or by dropping us a line in the comments box of the site. You can also bid points on whether the Yankees will win or lose every single game if you take part in our mega prediction game. You can also get your Yankees tickets for this  game and all Yankees games, home or away, right here on The Greedy Pinstripes so keep that in mind as well.

Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy the rest of your night.

Hoping For The Return Of "Fat" CC.... Meme

"Please Eat Me... Please?" - Cap'n Crunch

New York Yankees Injury Updates 4/17

Mark Teixeira played three innings in an extended spring training game today playing in three innings and walking twice while striking out once. No problems were reported with the hamstring or the wrist and seems ready to go for Sunday's game at the Tampa Bay Rays.

David Robertson threw 25 pitches off the mound for the first time since his groin injury and came through everything fine. Robertson is on track to come off the disabled list on Tuesday when the Yankees are in Boston, perfect timing. D Rob is scheduled to throw in a minor league game on Saturday and take Sunday and Monday off before coming back to the big club.

Brian Roberts is back from his back injury and is in the lineup tonight for the Yankees. Roberts and his career .313 average against David Price is obviously healed enough to make the start tonight, great news.

Preview: New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 4/17

The New York Yankees head out on the road to their home away from home, well one of them anyway, when they take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a four game set at Tropicana Field. Tonight we will see each teams ace on the mound as CC Sabathia takes the rubber for the Yankees and will face off with David Price for the Rays. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET on the YES Network, on the computer with MLB TV, and on the radio with WFAN.

CC Sabathia proved once again that he was susceptible to the big inning as he took a loss on the chin to the Boston Red Sox last time out. The Yankees could have easily swept that series if CC bends but didn't break in that 6th inning against Boston. CC is the only Yankees pitcher with multiple losses this season and he deserved both of them unfortunately.

David Price held the Reds to one run on four hits and a walk while striking out 10 batters in 8.1 IP in his last start as he flirted with having the first shutout of the season. Price is 2-0 on the young season and once again looking to lead the Rays to the top of the American League East division.

Go Yankees!!

Fender Now Sells MLB Licensed Team Guitars

Some people are fans of both Major League Baseball and plucking on a guitar, well if that is you then today is your lucky day. Fender, the very popular guitar company, is now selling official MLB licensed team guitars for all your favorite MLB teams. For the low, low price of $799 you can have a standard stratocaster Fender New York Yankees guitar of your very own.

I don't play the guitar and honestly I have never had the passion to even want to try but that guitar is cool and I think I must have one.

Stephen Drew & Kendrys Morales Wouldn't Help Much

It is common knowledge that the Yankees infield was a major concern and question mark coming into the season due to not only production but age and health. Well two weeks in the Yankees infield has taken a big hit with the DL stint for Mark Teixeira and the missed games for Brian Roberts and Derek Jeter and the fans are screaming for the signings of Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales and I am over here wondering why. I am not overly confident that they will help much, if at all.

The first thing that needs to be said is neither of these guys have had a spring training or competed in any games this season. They are both working out at the Scott Boras complex but that can only get you so far and nothing can replace real games and live competition. Ervin Santana signed late in spring training and did not make his first start until April 9, going on almost two weeks into the season. You have to figure that Drew and Morales would need at least two weeks just to be ready to get into a game.

In two weeks time Mark Teixeira would be back so the need for Kendrys Morales would be little to none. He is a first basemen or a DH and we would have that on the team already. Now while I am not above getting greedy and having an All Star a every position, even the bench, I am against giving up a draft pick for a glorified bench player. Kelly Johnson has also filled in well enough to be considered a legit first basemen back up option.

Drew could play second base and could be our shortstop next season when Derek Jeter retires, sure, but I am not entirely sure how much better he would be. Brian Roberts is struggling but is a switch hitter and plays a good enough defense to make up for a slow start, a slow start I don't expect to last all season if healthy. Drew adds yet another left handed bat to the Yankee lineup and is only a career .264 hitter while Roberts is a career .278 hitter. Roberts is hurt a lot, I get that, but so is Drew. Drew has played in over 100 games once in the last three seasons, and that was last years 124 game campaign, so he is not the poster child for durability himself either.

The most important thing, in my opinion, to this whole situation is a Drew signing takes at bats away from Dean Anna and Yangervis Solarte. The Yankees don't need Drew, they have infield depth in the minor leagues and on the bench, and I am not sure he would even be nice to have. He's a name, he's not the type of player we need. Neither is Morales so I hope that New York passes on both.

Quick Hit: What Will Boston Fans Whine About Now

The Boston Red Sox organization and players may have not made a big stink about Michael Pineda and Pine Tar Gate but their fans did, especially on Twitter. I heard many ignorant ramblings that basically said that Pineda was only good because of the pine tar and that Boston would have won had Pineda not cheated. While they are entitled to their opinion it doesn't necessarily make them right, especially when MLB players former and current are saying that pine tar does NOTHING to affect the pitches and the pitcher. You grip the ball better just like you use pine tar to grip the bat better. Anyway, I digress...

What will Boston fans complain about now after Pineda dominated the Chicago Cubs last night? The Cubs don't have the offense that Boston has, that's a given, but they are still a Major League team capable of scoring runs at any time. Oh yeah, the Yankees still have Alex Rodriguez. Carry on.

Mark Teixeira To Start Minor League Rehab Today

Mark Teixeira scheduled to play 3 innings tomorrow in Tampa, on track for activation Sunday.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) April 17, 2014

Mark Teixeira is eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday for the finale with the Tampa Bay Rays and seems to be on track with that as he will start a minor league rehab assignment today down in Tampa. Today will mark the first time Teixeira has been in any kind of game since injuring his hamstring almost two weeks ago on an innocent foul ball at first base. The Yankees offense has done well in his absence but they definitely get a shot in the arm with him in the middle of the lineup.

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap 4/16

RiverDogs Triple Up on Drive for Sweep

Charleston sweeps Greenville after breaking a tied game in the top of the ninth in the finale

GREENVILLE, SC - Two early triples and Eduardo de Oleo's first home run of the season sparked the Charleston RiverDogs, but Brandon Thomas' ninth-inning single was the winner in an 8-7 sweep-clinching victory over the Greenville Drive on Wednesday evening at Fluor Field at the West End in South Atlantic League action.

Charleston's record stands at 6-7 as Greenville slides down to 7-6. This three-game win streak is the best stretch of the season for the RiverDogs.

On the second pitch of the ballgame, Abiatal Avelino stroked a triple to right field that got the RiverDogs on the move. Avelino went home on a sacrifice fly from Tyler Wade, beating a tag attempt from Greenville catcher Jordan Weems for a 1-0 Charleston lead. The RiverDogs doubled the lead later in the first inning when Miguel Andujar scored on a John Murphy single.

The RiverDogs lead grew to 5-0 in the top of the fourth. Thomas led off the frame with a walk and scored during a Gosuke Katoh triple. Katoh scored when de Oleo cleared Greenville's version of the Green Monster in left field for a two-run shot that put Charleston up by five.

Greenville started to trim the Charleston lead in the fourth inning. Kevin Mager hit a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth, cutting the RiverDogs lead to 5-1. In the fifth, the Drive came within 5-3 after a two-run double by Jantzen Witte off the Monster.

Charleston began a hectic sixth inning by reinforcing its lead. With two outs and two runners in scoring position, Wade singled and brought in Katoh and Mikeson Oliberto to give Charleston a 7-3 advantage.

The Drive cut into the Charleston lead in the sixth before tying the contest in the eighth. Jimmy Rider and Bo Greenville had run-scoring singles in a three-run rally that sliced the RiverDogs lead to 7-6. Rider responded again in the eighth with a game-tying single to even the game at 7-all.

Thomas came through in the final inning to put the RiverDogs back in front. After two quick outs, Andujar and Mike Ford extended the inning with a walk and a single, respectively. Thomas drove in Andujar for the go-ahead run on a single that put Charleston ahead 8-7. Greenville was unable to score against Philip Walby, who closed the door on the Drive and the series.

Andury Acevedo received the victory in relief, moving up to 1-0. Taylor Grover lost his Drive debut and fell to 0-1 this season. Walby picked up his first save at the end of the triumph.

COMING UP: Charleston returns to the Lowcountry and hosts a three-game series against the Rome Braves that starts at 7:05pm on Thursday, April 17. The series opener pits RiverDogs RHP Brady Lail (1-1, 5.79 ERA) against Braves LHP Jared Dettmann (0-1, 5.00 ERA). Thursday night at The Joe will be another Budweiser Thirsty Thursday presented by 95SX, complete with DJ Natty Heavy, $1 drafts, and a Wild Wing Café wing-eating contest in the Ashley View Pub. The Dunder Chiefs will perform a postgame concert adjacent to the Beer Garden thanks to Palmetto Brewery and Awendaw Green. Tickets may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office, (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or on-line atwww.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 worldwide on www.riverdogs.com and locally on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

Box Score: http://atmilb.com/1r0VLPt

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

Trenton Thunder Game Recap 4/16

Nuding's Gem, Roller's Power Pace Game 2 Win

AKRON, OH -Zach Nuding tossed a complete-game shutout against the Akron RubberDucks in Trenton's Game 2 win Wednesday afternoon.

Trenton received a solo home run from Kyle Roller leading off the second inning, and that was the only offense of the game for the Thunder in their 1-0 win. For Trenton's power-hitting first baseman, it was his second longball in four games since being transferred from Staten Island's roster.

Nuding was dominant throughout, allowing a base hit to the leadoff hitter in the game, before allowing just two (hit, BB) of the final 22 RubberDucks batters of the game to reach.

The ballgame did not finish without drama however, as Akron sent the middle of their lineup to the plate in the 9th inning. The middle of their lineup included cleanup hitter Jason Giambi who was rehabbing a rib injury from a hit-by-pitch sustained in Spring Training. Nuding froze the 2000 AL MVP and five-time All-Star with a fastball on the outside corner for his fifth strikeout of the game Giovanny Urshela.

It was the first complete game shutout by a Thunder starting pitcher since Kevin Millwood's one-hit shutout of Harrisburg April 17, 2011. It was also the first complete by a Thunder starting pitcher allowing two hits or fewer since 2011 as well.

Roller also doubled in the 6th inning giving him two of Trenton's six hits in the second game. Ben Gamel had a pair of singles in Game 2 to make him a combined 4-for-7 in the double-header, while Tyson Blaser was 1-for-2 with a walk in his first action of 2014.

Trenton returns home Thursday and will send Joel De La Cruz (1-1, 4.26) for Trenton against the Erie SeaWolves at FREE All-You-Can-Eat Night at ARM & HAMMER Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. with the Trenton Thunder pre-game show beginning at 6:50 p.m. on 91.3 FM WTSR or online at www.trentonthunder.com.

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

This Day In New York Yankees History 4/17

On this day in 1912 The New York Giants and the New York Yankees play an unscheduled exhibition game to raise money for the survivors of the HMS Titanic. Over 14,000 fans came out to the Polo Grounds to see Broadway legend George M. Cohan and the new look Yankees uniforms who were now sporting pinstripes. This would be the first Sunday game ever played between two Major League teams and raised over $9,000 when each fan donated the price of an admission ticket to purchase a special program for the event.

On this day in 1925 Babe Ruth underwent an operation for an intestinal abscess at St. Vincent's Hospital. The 30 year old Yankees outfielder missed the first 40 games of the season and the Yankees finished in seventh place that year.

On this day in 1929 Babe Ruth got married on Opening Day at 5:00 am ET to Claire Hodgson, the second Mrs. Babe Ruth. Ruth's first wife, Julia Woodford, died in a house fire in January of 1929. Ruth wastes no time in the love department apparently.

On this day in 1951 rookie Mickey Mantle made his first ever appearance and grounded out to second base. The 19 year old would go 1-4 with a six inning single and RBI in a Yankees Opening Day 5-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

On this day also in 1951 the Yankees had another legend making his debut as Bob Sheppard announced the Yankees lineup for the first time. Sheppard announced Yankees legends Mickey Mantle, Phil Rizzuto, and Yogi Berra but the first batter Sheppard announced was that of a guy named DiMaggio. That was Dom DiMaggio, he was the leadoff for the Boston Red Sox that day.

On this day in 1953 Mickey Mantle hit a reported 565 foot home run off Chuck Stobb in the Yankees 7-3 victory over Washington at Griffith Stadium. The home run length was historic at the time but was later debunked as not going that far. How they determined that is beyond me but I am sure ESPN, Bud Selig, and the Boston Red Sox had something to do with it.

On this day in 1976 Thurman Munson was named the Yankees captain by owner George Steinbrenner. Munson is the first Yankees captain since Lou Gehrig when he was named the captain in 1935.