Saturday, April 26, 2014

Betances, rest of bullpen slip Yankees past Angels, 4-3

Dellin Betances threw 2 innings of shutout relief and fellow bullpen-dwellers Shawn Kelley, Matt Thornton, and David Robertson combined to get the last eight outs today as the Yankees beat the Angels in stressful fashion, 4-3. That two-frame performance, interestingly, gave Betances the win in this one, the first decision of his Major League career. 

Anyway, the Bombers offense went down without a fight in most of their at-bats this afternoon, but in the end, they still were able to cross home plate four times thanks to Angels starter Hector Santiago balking with a runner on third and backup Catcher John Ryan Murphy singling home a pair in the second before hitting his first career home run in the fifth. Going in this contest, Murphy actually had just one career RBI, so this sort of game should definitely turn out to be a memorable event in his life.

Besides those guys, starter Vidal Nuno and LF Brett Gardner also contributed to this W, throwing 4.1 innings of three-run ball and going 2-for-3 with a run respectively. Nothing too amazing, as Nuno didn't even get half of the team's outs, but still, he did keep the Pinstripes in the game, something I consider acknowledgeable. 

Introducing My All Star Game Ballot For 2014


Just as a disclaimer, homer alert. Since voting for the MLB All Star Game opened yesterday I wanted to share my ballot in case anyone was wondering. I voted my 35 times with this same ballot doing my part for the Yankees (and a few of those deserving ones who weren't blessed enough to be Yankees) and now it's your turn. Share your ballots below, here's mine:

American League

1B: Albert Pujols (STL)
2B: Ian Kinsler * (DET)
SS: Derek Jeter (NYY)
3B: Josh Donaldson (OAK)
C: Brian McCann ** (NYY)
OF: Mike Trout (ANA)
OF: Jacoby Ellsbury (NYY)
OF: Melky Cabrera (TOR)
DH: Nelson Cruz*** (BAL)

National League

1B: Brandon Belt (SF)
2B: Chase Utley (PHI)
SS: Troy Tulowitzki (COL)
3B: Aramis Ramirez (MIL)
C: Evan Gattis (ATL)
OF: Ryan Braun (MIL)
OF: Andrew McCutchen (PIT)
OF: Giancarlo Stanton (MIA)
DH: Devin Mesoraco (CIN)

I know the National League does not technically get a DH voted on but if I could I would pick Mesoraco simply because he is flirting with .500 and hitting the cover off the ball and out of the ballpark. I probably should have went with Carlos Beltran over Jacoby Ellsbury if I was bound and determined to pick a Yankee in the outfield, which I was, but it's my ballot and I like Ellsbury so that is the direction I went in. Beltran is definitely deserving of a starting bid though, no matter what.

While I understand it is extremely early and subject to a whole lot of change this is my team and I am sticking to it. I have to. Well unless I want to make another MLB.com account and I don't so I am really sticking to it. Again, what's yours?

* Suck it Robinson Cano
** Homer Alert, probably should have been Matt Weiters
*** Suck it Big Papi

Game Thread: Yankees vs. Angels 4/26


The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play an afternoon game at Yankee Stadium this afternoon in the second of a three game weekend set. The Yankees will send Vidal Nuno out to the mound to face off with Hector Santiago for the Angels. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on Fox Sports 1, which is better than a Fox Saturday baseball game I guess. It can also be seen on your computer with MLBTV and heard on the radio with WFAN.

Follow us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes to chat during the game or drop us a line in the comments section of our site. We are working hard to try and build that aspect of the site up to offer yet another enjoyable part of the Yankees and The Greedy Pinstripes experience and we need your help with it. Don't be shy, it's free, it's fun, and you instantly become one of the cool kids. :)

Enjoy the game Yankees family, the rest of your day, and the rest of your weekend.

Nik Turley Released, Greene Sent Down, Leroux Up


The revolving door in the Yankees bullpen continued this morning as the Yankees announced a couple roster moves to have some fresh bodies in the pen. First we all heard earlier this morning that Chris Leroux was called up to give the Yankees a fresh arm to throw out there since starter today Vidal Nuno is only good for 80-85 pitches today.

To make room on the 40 man roster the Yankees have released Nik Turley is a somewhat surprising move. Turley has been injured all spring training and all season long so the Yankees may be hoping to get the lefty through waivers, back in Trenton when he is healthy, and off the 40 man roster. That's the best case scenario here anyway.

To make room on the 25 man roster the Yankees have sent Shane Greene back down to Scranton. Now you're all caught up.

Happy 30th Birthday To Shawn Kelley

Happy 30th Birthday to Shawn Kelley. Enjoy your day buddy!

Michael Pineda Cheats & So Do The Angels... Meme


I don't really want to hear another thing about Michael Pineda, cheating, or pine tar this weekend especially from the Angels. I mean come on guys, you were the ORIGINAL cheaters no? Replace this kid, who was too busy making out with Scarlett Johannson, with a "rally monkey" and the same principal applies.

Yankees Call Up Chris Leroux

No word on whether Bruce Billings will be designated for assignment or if Jose Campos will simply be transferred to the 60 day DL and another roster move will be made but the Yankees will call up Chris Leroux before the game this afternoon. I am obviously leaning towards Billings getting the DFA after his 76 pitch night taking it on the chin for the Yankees bullpen. Thanks for the memories Bruce, even if they weren't so great.

And the revolving door continues in the Yankees bullpen.

Jose Campos To Have Tommy John Surgery


And another one down, and another one down, another Yankees pitcher bites the dust. The Yankees announced that Jose Campos underwent undergo Tommy John surgery and it will end his 2014 season. The official line was elbow inflammation but with Campos going under the knife yesterday and none of us knowing it goes to show you that you cannot believe everything you read on the internet, unless you read it here of course.

Campos missed much of the 2012 season with a stress fracture in his elbow and will now miss all of 2014 and some of 2015. Campos did not pitch much at all this spring which leads you to believe that the elbow problem has been around longer then we have been told.

And it's official, the Michael Pineda and Camp for Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi trade is officially cursed.

Trenton Thunder Game Recap 4/25

Thunderous Offense Displayed in 14-10 Win

PORTLAND, ME - In a game that saw the Trenton Thunder and Portland Sea Dogs trade punches from the opening bell (the ballgame was tied 4-4 after the first inning), the Thunder scored four times in the ninth inning to break a 10-10 tie and win 14-10.

Tied 10-10 in the top of the 9th inning, Trenton loaded the bases with three walks to the first four batters, and Taylor Dugas pinch-hit for Yeral Sanchez. With one out and the infield pulled in, Dugas was hit on the second pitch of the plate appearance against newly-inserted righty Michael Olmstead. In a ballgame that featured a total of 24 runs on 29 hits, the winning run scored on a hit-by-pitch.

Two batters later, Ali Castillo stood-in with the bases loaded and two outs and drew the count 3-0 against Olmstead. After taking a couple of strikes, Castillo lined a double towards the Maine Monster at Hadlock Field for a three-run double to give Trenton a 14-10 into the bottom of the 9th.

Branden Pinder recorded an out to strand two runners in the 8th inning and was the pitcher of record for Trenton in the game which took 3:27 in front of 5,037 fans. Pinder moves to 2-0 on the season and has now thrown 10.0 scoreless innings to begin the season.

Kyle Roller connected for two homeruns on his perfect evening at the plate- the second of which completed back-to-back homeruns in the 5th inning- and now has seven homeruns in 10 games this season. Roller, who also has six homers in his last seven games, walked twice and was hit by a pitch to reach all five times at-bat in the ballgame.

Starting pitcher Matt Tracy did not factor in the decision for Trenton. He allowed 12 hits and seven runs (7 ER) in 4.1 IP.

The Thunder scored a season-high four runs in the first inning, but Portland scored the next six to take a 6-4 lead into the 5th inning. In the 5th, Rob Segedin blasted an opposite-field three-run homer and Roller connected for his second of the game immediately after for an 8-6 Thunder lead. Portland scored the next three runs to take a 9-8 lead, and then Mason Williams delivered a two-out, two-run single in the top of the 8th to put Trenton ahead 10-9. A ground-out with one out and runners at first and third by Stefan Welch plated Mookie Betts in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game.

Trenton returns to action Saturday against the Sea Dogs. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. with the Trenton Thunder pre-game show beginning at 12:45 p.m. on 91.3 FM WTSR, 1490 AM WBCB or online at www.trentonthunder.com.

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

Preview: New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Angels 4/26


The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will play the second of a three game set this weekend at Yankee Stadium this afternoon. These same two teams met last night so expect some of the Yankees regulars to be out of action today, namely Derek Jeter. The Yankees will send Vidal Nuno to the mound to face off with Hector Santiago in a matchup of left handed starting pitchers. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on Fox Sports 1, on the computer with MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Nuno is essentially replacing Ivan Nova in the rotation after he decided to get Tommy John surgery and filled in nicely in his last start, his first of the season, pitching five scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. Nuno scattered three hits, walked two, and struck out six on a serious pitch count and will look to improve on that this afternoon in the Bronx.

Santiago is winless in his Angels starting career but has pitched better in his last two times out there on the mound. Santiago held the Oakland A's and the Detroit Tigers, two pretty good offensive teams, to just three runs (one earned) in 12.2 innings pitched.

Go Yankees!!

Quick Hit: Send Your Yankees To The All Star Game


Just a quick hit this Saturday morning for all of you reading that get to sleep in and are reading this late, I'm extremely jealous and a little bitter about it by the way, it's that time of year again when we can send our Yankees to the MLB All Star Game. Voting opened up yesterday afternoon on Yankees.com and MLB.com, or you can CLICK HERE for the direct link, so what are you waiting for? Get to voting.

Derek Jeter will more than likely get the starting nod in his final All Star Game of his career and I wouldn't put it past Major League Baseball and it's players to honor him much like they did Mariano Rivera last year. You can vote 25 times, 35 times if you have a MLB.com account, and every vote will count.

Stop reading and go vote.

This Day In New York Yankees History 4/26


On this day in 1931 the Senators walked the Yankees Lyn Lary to bring up Lou Gehrig and Gehrig responded by hitting a ball that cleared the fence but bounced back into the hands of Harry Rice. Lary thinks the ball was caught for the third out and returned to the dugout without crossing home plate. Gehrig was running hard the whole time and passed the runner in front of him resulting in an out. This play cost the Yankees the win after they lost by two runs but also the 1931 home run crown, tied Babe Ruth with 46, and cost him two RBI's to add to his already record breaking total for a single season of 184.


On this day in 1961 Roger Maris finally got off the snide hitting his first home run of the season in the Yankees 11th game of the year. The Yankees would win the game 13-11 over the Detroit Tigers and as we all know Maris went on to his 60 more home runs that season, one more than Babe Ruth.


On this day in 1982 Gene Michael was hired to be the Yankees manager for the second time in two seasons.  Stick had a 48-34 record his first time as Yankees manager but was fired before the end of the strike shortened 1981 season in favor of Bob Lemon.


On this day in 2005 Alex Rodriguez hit three home runs in his first three at bats of the game becoming only the 11th Major League player to knock in 10 or more RBI's in a single game. Rodriguez fell one RBI short of the American League record for most in a game, 11, set by Yankee Tony Lazzeri in 1936 and just two shy of the shared Major League record held by Jim Bottomley and Mark Whiten.