Saturday, April 19, 2014

Nova unsurprisingly bad as Rays blowout Yankees

Ivan Nova gave up 8 earned runs in 4+ innings and the offense mustered just 3 hits against Tampa Bay starter Chris Archer tonight as the Yankees were blown out by the Rays, 16-1. After facing two batters in this one's fifth inning, Nova left due to a currently unknown injury, something that's still pretty irrelevant to the fact that 6 (2 solo, 2 two-run) of those 8 trips around the bases came on homers. 

Anyway, the Pinstripes offense, as I just stated, really struggled this evening, collecting just 2 singles from Alfonso Soriano and Jacoby Ellsbury and a run-scoring double from Kelly Johnson. That double, unfortunately, was the highlight of the night for this team, who has now given up at least 10 runs for two consecutive games.

Back to Nova for a second, I'll admit I'm tired of him. Every once in a while he's good, but still, at the end of the day he's nothing but another Phil Hughes. He has potential that he'll never use, making me, and probably many other Yankees fans, believe than Vidal Nuno or David Phelps would simply help the team more. They wouldn't be perfect, but come on, I'm right on this. All you guys might not realize it now, but trust me, eventually you will.

Dean Anna Making His Major League Pitching Debut


The Yankees are getting thumped tonight by the Tampa Bay Rays, 14-1 as I type this out, and Joe Girardi is getting desperate for pitching. So desperate that Dean Anna is making his major league debut as a pitcher for the New York Yankees. What a night. That's all I've got.

Ivan Nova Leaves Game In 5th w/ Elbow Soreness


UPDATE: The official word with why Nova left the game is elbow soreness. Stay tuned.

Ivan Nova has left his start against the Tampa Bay Rays in the 5th inning after throwing just 82 pitches due to some sort of unreleased injury. Nova had not been sharp all night and gave up four home runs including a couple two run home runs to the Rays. Joe Girardi came out and talked to Nova and you could clearly see Nova trying to make his case to stay in the game but Girardi did not hear what he wanted to obviously and brought in Matt Daley.

Stay tuned as we will bring you an update when it is available.


Game Thread: Yankees @ Rays 4/19


Tonight the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays play Game Three of their four game set this weekend at Tropicana Field in St. Pete. The Yankees will send Ivan Nova to the mound to face off with the always tough Chris Archer for the Rays. The game will be on television at 7:10 pm ET on the YES Network, on the computer with MLB TV, and on the radio with WFAN.

If you are looking for more Yankees discussion or news follow us on twitter by following @GreedyStripes or drop us a line in our comments section. We have a very laid back and mature group of guys commenting daily on the blog and it is really enjoyable to talk Yankees baseball when they are not on the field. Also you can buy all your Yankees tickets right here without leaving the blog so be sure to check that out.

Enjoy the game and enjoy the rest of your weekend Yankees family. Hopefully the Easter bunny will be good to everyone tomorrow morning.

Introducing Mr. Ivan Super(man) Nova... Meme


Ivan Nova looking to be super once again tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays. Here are some good vibes for the young right hander. Go Nova!

Scott Sizemore Has A Minor League Option Left

Scott Sizemore confirmed himself that he has a minor league option remaining which makes him the likeliest of players to be sent down to AAA when Mark Teixeira returns off the disabled list tomorrow. Dean Anna also has a minor league option remaining but Anna can play shortstop and Sizemore can't and that may be the straw that breaks the camels back.

Since Sizemore was called up before his May 1st opt out date those opt out dates disappear so no worries of losing him. His August 1st opt out date also goes by the wayside with his contract being purchased earlier in the week.

Preview: New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 4/19


The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays will play their third game of this four game series at Tropicana Field this weekend tonight. A night game at the Trop has all the makings of no one showing up, even with the Yankees as a draw for the home crowd. The Yankees will send Ivan Nova to the mound to face off with Chris Archer for the Rays at 7:10 pm ET. The game can be seen on television on the YES network, on the computer with MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Nova looks to be super again after holding the Red Sox to two runs and eight hits over 7.1 IP and a victory last time out. Nova is 6-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 13 career games against the Rays but is just 2-1 with an mediocre 4.56 ERA in five career games in Tropicana Field.

Archer is coming off his worst start of the young season after he gave up 12 hits on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles for his first loss. Archer has been a Yankee Killer in his career though with a 3-0 record with a 1.23 ERA against the Yankees last season. This is a much different and improved offense this time around so hopefully the Yankees can plate enough runners to get another victory.

Go Yankees!!

Comparing Robinson Cano To His Replacements

Not smiling now, are ya?

Okay, who is ready to have a little bit of fun with some small sample sizes mixed in with some hot and slow starts for various players around the league? When I say various players around the league I mean how smart the New York Yankees look less than three weeks into the season for letting Robinson Cano go and for signing the likes of Dean Anna, Scott Sizemore, Kelly Johnson, Brian Roberts, and Yangervis Solarte. It's early so don't put much into these numbers but it is still interesting to look at while we wait for the game tonight.

WAR - Wins Above Replacement Player:

Dean Anna - 0.1
Scott Sizemore -  -0.1
Kelly Johnson - 0.4
Brian Roberts - 0.2
Yangervis Solarte - 0.4

Combined 1.0 WAR for New York

Robinson Cano - 0.1

Salary:

Dean Anna - $500,000
Scott Sizemore - $500,000
Kelly Johnson - $3,000,000
Brian Roberts - $2,000,000
Yangervis Solarte - $500,000

Combined $6.5 million in salary for New York

Robinson Cano - $24,000,000

Quick Hit: Robertson Back Tuesday, Who Goes Down?


David Robertson is set to come off the disabled list on Tuesday before the Yankees travel to Fenway Park to take on the Boston Red Sox, who goes down off the 25 man roster? The decision is probably an obvious one, especially since New York is currently carrying three left handed relief pitchers. Dellin Betances, Adam Warren, Shawn Kelley, and David Phelps all seem to be safe bets to stay leaving Matt Thornton, Cesar Cabral, and Vidal Nuno.

Speaking of Nuno, where has he been since getting shelled by the Baltimore Orioles two weeks ago at Yankee Stadium? Nuno took one on the chin but threw 65 pitches and really saved the bullpen and now has been MIA basically ever since while Cabral and Thornton have been used in key and situation spots since. I guess Joe Girardi already answered this question for us, Nuno is going down.

To play devil's advocate real quick though you have to remember that the Yankees have a TBA listed as a starter tomorrow so having three potential spot starters and log men on the roster will really help. Then again the Yankees have an off day on Monday so who knows besides Joe Girardi's iPad.

ICYMI: Video Proof Of The Latest Yankees Triple Play


Solarte, to Roberts, to Sizemore, triple play!

Trenton Thunder Game Recap 4/18

Combined Two-Hitter in 5-3 Win over Erie

TRENTON, NJ - Trenton's offense did their work early and the bullpen held the Erie bats late as the Thunder defeated the SeaWolves 5-3 on Friday night at ARM & HAMMER Park. It was the second straight night that the Thunder defeated the SeaWolves by the score of 5-3.

After Mason Williams and Tyler Austin singled, Gary Sanchez brought the game's first run home with a drive to right-center in the bottom of the first. With two outs in the inning, Rob Refsnyder singled in a run and Dan Fiorito followed with a run-scoring double to take a 3-0 advantage.

In the fourth inning, Refsnyder led off with a single and Fiorito drove him in with his second RBI double of the game. Erie starter Kyle Ryan came back to retire the next two hitters before Williams reached on a line drive off the glove of the pitcher to give Trenton a 5-0 lead after four innings.

Erie took advantage of three Trenton errors to score twice in the top of the fifth inning. Jason Krizan's single was the first hit of the game for Erie and scored Francisco Martinez. Wade Gaynor scored earlier in the inning thanks to an error by Gary Sanchez.

Matt Tracy was able to pitch out of trouble in the fifth to earn his third win of the season. Tracy allowed two runs, one earned, on one hit and five walks. He struck out a season-high six batters.

Fiorito and Refsnyder each had three hits for the Thunder. Mason Williams also went 2-for-5 with a run scored and a run driven in. Gary Sanchez drove in a run with a first inning single, he is now tied for third in the Eastern League in RBI with 11.

The Thunder and SeaWolves will complete their three-game series tomorrow night at ARM & HAMMER Park at 5:05 p.m. The first 1,000 fans 18 and older will receive a Brett Gardner Adult Replica Jersey.

The Thunder will start RHP Bryan Mitchell (1-2, 5.14), the SeaWolves will counter with RHP Wilsen Palacios (0-1, 7.71). Listen live on 91.3 WTSR and TrentonThunder.com.

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

Matt Daley Called Up, Cesar Cabral Designated For Assignment

In order to make room for Matt Daley, who was recently called up from Scranton, the Yankees have designated for assignment Cesar Cabral.

Cesar only made four appearances for the Yankees this season. Cabral was only able to get one out, while allowing a hit and a walk, in his first appearance. His second time out was very nice, as he struck out two the only two batters he faced. In Cesar's third appearance he walked the only batter he saw. And finally he imploded, giving up three runs on three hits and three hit by pitches.

Being a young lefthander, I can see somebody giving Cabral a shot. But since he's thrown less than five innings in MLB, and wasn't the most successful pitcher in the minors, my bet is that he's in the Yankees' minor league system by season's end.

Quick Hit: Teixeira Back Tomorrow, Who Goes Down?


Mark Teixeira is eligible to come off the disabled list for tomorrow afternoon's game with the Tampa Bay Rays and is expected to be activated before game time. The Yankees will obviously need to make a 25 man roster move, who stays and who goes?

Yangervis Solarte seems like a safe bet to stay as well as Brian Roberts so is the odd man out going to be Dean Anna? Unfortunately for Raccoon I think his time has come to end, at least for now. Scott Sizemore has come up and hit the cover off the ball. Sizemore showed an ability to play first base on Thursday night and can play all three of the other infield positions in some capacity. His versatility and right handed bat gives him a slight step up above Anna's left handed, and struggling, bat.

I love Anna, I was a kid in a candy store when we interviewed him as a part of our Prospects Month this past February, but the guy has not hit a lick since coming up. Anna did have his first major league home run and has been eerily absent in the Yankees lineup since and his time in Yankee pinstripes may be coming to an end.

Stay tuned.

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap 4/18


RiverDogs Postponed; Doubleheader on Saturday
RiverDogs Postponed; Doubleheader on Saturday

CHARLESTON, SC - The Charleston RiverDogs and the Rome Braves were postponed due to rain on Friday evening at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader at Riley Park on Saturday, April 19, with two seven-inning contests on the docket. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05pm for game one.
Tickets for Friday's game may be exchanged at the Riley Park Box Office to any remaining RiverDogs home game in 2014. With the postponement, Saturday will take on our ISHPI Red Shirt Friday ticket deal where fans who wear red can save $1 off their ticket purchase at the box office, or donate that dollar to the Canines for Veterans and Folds of Honor charities. There will also be a fantastic postgame fireworks display over the scenic Ashley River following the conclusion of Saturday's doubleheader.
COMING UP: Charleston and Rome will play two games on Saturday evening at The Joe, opening at 6:05pm. Game one's starters are LHP Caleb Smith (1-1, 2.00 ERA) for the RiverDogs and RHP Andry Ubiera (0-2, 8.59 ERA) for the Braves. Charleston will send RHP Rookie Davis (2-0, 2.30 ERA) to the mound against Rome RHP Frank Lafreniere (1-2, 7.07 ERA) in game two. Prior to Saturday's doubleheader, the RiverDogs will host the 11th Annual "Run, Forrest, Run" 5K, presented by Fleet Feet Sports and WTAT Fox 24. RiverDogs fans will also stay active on Social MediaSaturday by making requests for music, promotions, and other ballpark features and by participating in a Run-In-Place Marathon, where select fans will be chosen to try and cumulatively take 52,400 steps. Tickets may be purchased in person 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 radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

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

This Day In New York Yankees History 4/19


On this day in 1939 Joe DiMaggio learned the news that he was engaged and planned to marry that summer to actress Dorthy Arnold. DiMaggio quickly shot down the rumors saying that no ceremony would take place during the baseball season and the two wed in November of that year.


On this day in 1948 Yankees pitcher Allie Reynolds refused to leave second base after hitting his first and only home run of his career. Allie thought the Washington Senators were trying to trick him as he did not see the ball clear the left field fence. Obviously Reynolds, in front of President Truman, eventually was convinced enough to run the bases.


On this day in 1949 Babe Ruth joined Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins in receiving a center field monument from the Yankees after their deaths. Ruth died eight months prior before joining Monument Park in Yankee Stadium.


On this day in 1960 Roger Maris made his New York Yankees debut going 4-5 while batting leadoff on Opening Day. Maris racked up 11 bases, including two home runs and a double, and saw the Yankees win 8-4 over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.


On this day in 1979 Goose Gossage sprained a ligament in his thumb while fighting with teammate Cliff Johnson. The closer would be out until mid July and Johnson was traded to the Indians for Don Hood due to the brawl in the clubhouse.