Thursday, May 1, 2014

Offense dead in second straight loss to Mariners

Hiroki Kuroda gave up 3 earned runs in 6 innings of work and the offense struck out a total of 12 times against Seattle's pitching staff tonight as the Yankees were swept by the Mariners in this rain-shortened series' finale, 4-2. In this start, Kuroda, a guy getting paid $16 million this season to put up an ERA over 4.00, really struggled early on, giving up all 7 of his hits and all 3 of his runs in the first 3.2 frames before bouncing back late to unimportantly retire the last seven hitters he faced. 

Anyway, the Yanks offense struggled to do anything this evening against M's Starter Roenis Elias, scoring just one earned in 7 at-bats when CF Jacoby Ellsbury led off the bottom of the first with his first home run of the year. After that, the Bombers would circle the bases one more time in the sixth, when Brian McCann singled home Alfonso Soriano to shorten Seattle's lead to just two.

Besides those guys, Adam Warren and Shawn Kelley also gave this game's unhappy attendants something to cheer about, tossing 1.2 and 1 scoreless innings of relief respectively. With that no-hit, one-strikeout performance, Warren's ERA this season is now impressively just 1.72, to go along with a decent 1-1 record.

Four Yankees Make John Sickels' Top 150 Prospects


Four members of the New York Yankees have made John Sickels' Top 150 Prospects list recently with Masahiro Tanaka, Gary Sanchez, and a new faces in Eric Jagielo and Aaron Judge making the list. Sickels is a member of SB Nations's Minor League Ball and is one of the prospect opinions that I truly take to heart with everything I read, he's legit when it comes down to the farm.

Masahiro Tanaka was at the top of the list and received a Grade A from Sickels after coming to New York from Japan. That's a nice change from Byron Buxton, Oscar Tavares, or Xander Bogaerts being at or near the top spot.

Gary Sanchez is ranked at #38 and received a B+ rating, Jagielo was ranked at #122 and received a B rating, and Aaron Judge is ranked at #145 and received a B- rating. Tyler Austin and Greg Bird are said to be right there on the bubble of making the list as well, so much for the Yankees having a weak and barren farm system.

Yankees Cannot DL Pineda While Suspended

Andrew Marchand dropped some unfortunate news for the Yankees today as he announced that New York could not place the injured Michael Pineda on the disabled list until his suspension was over on Sunday. The Yankees will have to play with essentially a 24 man roster this weekend against the Tampa Bay Rays and tonight with the Seattle Mariners. You would have to think, and I do not know this as the gospel, that you cannot back date the disabled list trip either, not that this is a big deal either way.

The Yankees are expected to place Pineda on the disabled list before Tuesday's game, before the rain out it was Monday, and a roster move is expected. Sounds like the Yankees are pushing for Brendan Ryan to be ready for Tuesday night's game if you ask me.

Game Thread: Yankees vs. Mariners 5/1


The New York Yankees will host the Seattle Mariners and Robinson Cano for the final time this week tonight as a part of their rain shortened two game set at Yankee Stadium. We all heard the boo's from the Yankees fans Tuesday night and I think we are all going to hear a few more tonight when Cano comes up in the first inning. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound after the Yankees skipped David Phelps in the rotation and is facing off with Roenis Elias for the Mariners. The rain out really helped the Yankees as they will now miss Felix Hernandez in this series, hooray mother nature. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network,  MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Tell me why it's okay to boo Robinson Cano by dropping us a line in the comments section because I still just don't get it personally. If you're not into the comments section then give us a follow on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes. If last night and the weather is any indication there should be plenty of Yankees Tickets available for tonight's game as well so jump on that if you can.

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

Cano Asks For Helps From President Obama... Meme


... Because so far the Mariners are paying $24 million per home run for this guy. Cano hasn't even hit one in Seattle yet. He's gonna be there in September but now I bet no one is more happy that the calendar changed than Cano. 

So I guess Seattle's got 99 problems and one Cano home run huh?

Preview: New York Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners 5/1


Welcome to May baseball Yankees family as the New York Yankees will play host to the Seattle Mariners tonight in the finale of what is now a rain shortened two game set in the Bronx. Isn't it ironic that Robinson Cano leaves for Seattle as a free agent and when he comes back to New York it is cold and rainy. The Yankees will skip David Phelps in the rotation and send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound tonight to face off with Roenis Elias. The Mariners are using the rain out to give all their starters an extra days rest so the Yankees miss out on Felix Hernandez for once. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and on the radio with WFAN. 

Kuroda has been inconsistent at best this season for New York and needs to turn it around sooner rather than later. Kuroda got bombed in his last start and has struggled with his slider control and command overall this season and looks to turn his season around tonight in the Bronx. 

Elias has made five April starts and pitched well without much run support. The Mariners have score two runs or less just two times and been shut out twice with Elias on the mound this season which is great news for the Yankees.

Go Yankees!!

"Unsung Heroes of the Game"

Brett Gardner
We all know the big named players that will be the foundation of this team, but the press and some bloggers, seem to be unwilling to give credit to others that have been the real glue, making this team something we have not seen in many years! A team that will fight to the end and find a way to win! Not by the long ball, as has been the case over these many years. They win by hitting with runners on more often than I have seen in the last few years.

It still amazes me how some fans can read what is on the blogs or in the media and take it as gospel.
We have, Brett, Betances, Ichiro, Cisco, Romine and a nobody named Solarte all doing well for the team.
Each and every one of them has been denigrated by the Media/Blogs and (so called) experts. Yet, here it is, almost a month into the season and we find without these players doing very well...we would be in or, close to last place!
Yes, Cervelli is hurt and Solarte has come back to reality, but they have played a big part in the Yankee wins, none the less.
Brett as many know, was said to be nothing better than a 4th or 5th out fielder, yet here he is once again playing winning baseball. Same could be said for Ichiro, he also was put in the "Dead Weight" class but, if that is dead weight...please, give me more of the same.

Betances and Romine were each on the "Can't Miss" list and then knocked down by said media. Why? Because they were not moving fast enough? Maybe someone should enlighten the experts and media...that is what the farm system is for...to get all the kinks and mistakes out of a player.

Where would we be without these players? The guys do a lot of the little things for winning baseball, try watching how they play the game...take extra bases, steel a base, make a great catch or pitch, what ever it takes to win!

These are the "Unsung Heroes of the Game"!

Thoughts After A Month Of New York Yankees Baseball


Just a few quick thoughts after a month of baseball in the books for the New York Yankees:

For an injury prone guy, knock on wood, Jacoby Ellsbury has only missed one game. In that one game Ellsbury was available as a pinch hitter off the bench but the Yankees kept him out as a precaution.

For a Yankees team that was going to win 85 games this season and be on par or worse offensively without Robinson Cano we sure have done well. This is a well rounded team that is not content just sitting back and waiting for the three run home run.

The Yankees have a legit shot at leading the league in stolen bases this season. Ellsbury has eight stolen bases while Brett Gardner has seven. Yankees have 21 stolen bases already as a team.

David Robertson has done well replacing Mariano Rivera in the closers role. So has Shawn Kelley. So has Dellin Betances. Three potential closers in one bullpen is absolutely filthy and I love it.

This team has a real shot at sending Derek Jeter off in his final season with class. #28in2014


Guess Who Is Getting The Next Derek Jeter Gift Basket


Either Derek Jeter is checking out Robinson Cano's butt or he is the unfortunate victim of an ill timed picture being taken.

Quick Hit: Yankees Fans Have A Shot At Redemption


The New York Yankees fans have a shot at redemption tonight when Robinson Cano comes back to Yankee Stadium. The Yankee faithful could not be bothered enough to even show up to the game for the most part but the ones that were there boo'd early and boo'd often. I have touched on why we had no right to boo the man that did what three players did to their old teams this season alone to become members of the Yankees. The good news is the Yankees fans have a shot at redemption tonight and show their respect and admiration for Cano because really he deserves it.

I personally don't want to wait 15-20 years before Cano comes back on Old Timers Day to hear the standing ovation that he deserves for his time as a member of the Yankees, I wan't him to get that respect tonight. The fans that boo'd him had their moment on Tuesday night when they boo'd his every movement at the stadium and now it's time to be the bigger and better person here. Cheer Cano tonight, please?

This Day In New York Yankees History 5/1


On this day in 1920 Babe Ruth hit his 50th career home run at the Polo Grounds. This would be his first home run as a member of the New York Yankees.


On this day in 1953 Mickey Mantle hit his first home run of his career off White Sox pitcher Randy Gumpert. Mickey would go on to hit 535 more home runs in his Hall of Fame career.


On this day in 1996 Bernie Williams became only the second member of the New York Yankees to get six hits in one game. Bernie went 6-8 against the Baltimore Orioles joining Myril Hoag who accomplished the feat in 1934 against the Boston Red Sox.