Monday, May 12, 2014

Yankees blow multiple three-run leads in tough loss to Mets

You gotta hand it to the Mets; the Yankees sure did. 

On a night when Bartolo Colon was starting for New York's NL team and Brett Gardner hit a grand slam, it's logical to assume that the Yankees would win.

They didn't though, as they fell to the Mets in excruciating fashion, 9-7.

The Bombers didn't get a great start this evening from Hiroki Kuroda, who gave up 4 earned runs in 6 innings, but since the veteran still left the game with a 7-4 lead you can't blame this loss all on him. 

Who can you blame this defeat on? Matt Thornton and Preston Claiborne. After a three-run bottom of the sixth which included an RBI Single from Yangervis Solarte, an RBI Triple from Kelly Johnson, and a run-scoring error, the Pinstripes looked to be in pretty nice control, but due to double and a single in the top of the eighth the Mets quickly tied the game. 

After that, Curtis Granderson's, who hit a two-run home run in this contest's top of the sixth, new team finally took the lead they'd been waiting for, as Chris Young took Preston Claiborne deep to left to pretty much end this evening's time of entertainment.

Now the game wasn't technically over when that long ball was hit, but still, it was. The Yankees had blown two three-run leads, so it was obvious to everybody watching that they simply didn't have enough left in them for another rally, one that would have to consist of a comeback, not just a tiebreaker.

Yankees might sign Stephen Drew after 2014 Draft

I guess they're not out of money after all.

According to the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo, the Yankees, despite their previous claims, could sign Free Agent SS Stephen Drew sometime after the 2014 Draft. 

During Spring Training, as you remember, the Yanks claimed they were "tapped out" after their massive $503 million spending spree, something that, if this report turns out to be true, was obviously a lie. 

Even if it was, the Bombers signing Drew right now isn't considered an absolute necessity, as the team only plans to pick up the former Red Sock if it turns out that Derek Jeter can't play the whole season.

And considering that that likely won't happen, as Jeter has been given a considerable amount of nights off this year (and already has a solid backup in the 1.000-hitting defensive stud Brendan Ryan), it seems unlikely that this move will end up getting done, although the possibility is still there.

Drew, who has also spent parts of his first 8 MLB seasons with the Diamondbacks and A's, hit .253 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI last season, as Boston won their third World Series in 10 years over the Carlos Beltran-led Cardinals. 

Subway Series Game Thread: Yankees vs. Mets 5/12


The New York Yankees and the New York Mets play the latest installment of the Subway Series starting tonight in Yankee Stadium. Hiroki Kuroda will head to the mound for the Yankees to take on former Yankee Bartolo Colon for the Mets. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

There was a lot of trash talk on twitter last year so this series should be fun. The Yankees are much improved and the Mets are still talking about last years sweep, mainly because that is the only good thing they had to talk about from last season. Join us on twitter by following @GreedyStripes or drop us a line in the comments section of the site. You can also head out to the games by getting your Yankees tickets right here on the blog. 

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

Yankees Release Andrew Benak & Charley Short


It's that time of the year where the Yankees start making tons of roster moves in the minor leagues and unfortunately that includes releasing players. We already learned that Peter O'Brien was added to the Double-A Trenton and Kyle Roller was promoted to Scranton in Triple-A but what we don't know is that Andrew Benak and Charley Short were released from the organization.

Benak was the Yankees 14th round pick in the 2012 draft and Short was undrafted and also signed with the Yankees in 2012.

Yankees International Spending Plan Taking Shape


A few weeks back we brought you four players from the Dominican Republic that the Yankees were said to be interested in for $2 million or higher signing bonuses and today Ben Badler brings us three more that New York is said to be interested in for around $1 million each. As a reminder the Yankees are slotted to have $2.2 million in international money this year but the plan is go to as high as $15-$20 million in the international market totally blowing the cap out of the water.

The three players the Yankees are said to be interested in are from Venezuela. See below for their projections and a quick bio of them, the article is subscription only.

Miguel Flames - a catcher with raw power that can work the count and can put together consistent at bats. Flames just recently moved to catcher after spending much of his career at third base so the immediate comparisons to Jorge Posada, Peter O'Brien, etc are obvious.

Jonathan Amundaray - an outfielder with a good arm and above average speed in right field. Amundaray has good bat speed and it could translate into some power in the major leagues.

Diego Castillo - a shortstop who is a line drive type hitter and has a very clean swing. Castillo reminds me a lot of a polished Robinson Cano from everything I am reading.


Michael Pineda Begins Rehab Throwing Program


The New York Yankees announced that Michael Pineda has begun a throwing program in hopes of rehabbing his teres major muscle in his back. The Yankees think that it will take more than the four weeks originally thought to get Pineda back on the mound and 100%, not surprising the way the Yankees like to baby their pitchers. Pineda has done cardio and was throwing at 60 feet and feels "much better" so that is a good sign.

Pineda was one of our best pitchers this season, pine tar and all, so the Yankees need him back sooner rather than later with the CC Sabathia injury. Pineda is not throwing off a mound yet and will likely need at least two minor league rehab starts before returning to the majors so Michael may be another month away at this point.

New York Yankees & New York Mets Subway Series

Preview: New York Yankees vs. New York Mets 5/12


Welcome to the latest edition of the New York Subway Series as the New York Yankees take on the New York Mets tonight at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound to face off with Bartolo Colon for the Mets. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Kuroda expressed some discomfort with the Yankees shifting behind his defensively and responded well last time out when the Yankees played their defense straight up. Kuroda allowed three runs, one earned, in 7.2 IP striking out eight Angels. Kuroda owns a career 2-5 record with a  4.14 ERA against the Mets all time.

It's a shame that Colon will not have to hit tonight, that is always entertaining. Colon has started seven games this season and has only allowed 16 runs combined in his two losses. In the other five starts Colon has a 2.65 ERA and has 28 strikeouts and two walks.

Go Yankees!!

The History Of The New York Subway Series


1997:

Dave Milicki throws a complete game shutout to win the very first game but the Yankees would take the next two to win the Subway Series 2-1.

1998:

Mike Piazza was added to the Mets to add fuel to the rivalry, also in hopes of the Mets having a playoff push,  but the Yankees still won the Subway Series 2-1

1999:

Interleague Play was expanded to where both teams hosted a series. The Mets won their series 2-1 at Shea Stadium and the Yankees won their series 2-1 at Yankee Stadium.

2000:

On July, 8 2000 the Yankees and Mets played a split doubleheader, one game at Yankee Stadium and one game at Shea Stadium, and the Yankees took both games 4-2. The Yankees would win that season series and these two teams would meet in the World Series with the Yankees taking home the championship in five games.

2001:

Yankees win the series 4-2

2002:

Yankees win the series 4-2

2003:

The Yankees won all six games to sweep the season series for the first time.

2004:

The Mets would win their first Subway Series 4-2 after sweeping the Yankees in Shea Stadium.

2005:

The Mets won their first series at Yankee Stadium this season and almost swept the Yankees at Yankee Stadium before Jason Giambi had a ninth inning game winning hit to split the season series 3-3.

2006:

These two teams would split the season series 3-3.

2007:

These two teams would split the season series 3-3.

2008:

The New York Mets would win the Subway Series for only the second time and got their first sweep at Yankee Stadium. Mets win the series 4-2.

2009:

The Mets were swept at Citi Field and would lose two of three games at Yankee Stadium to lose the series 5-1.

2010:

These two teams would split the season series 3-3.

2011:

Yankees won the series 4-2 just days after Derek Jeter joined the 3,000 hit club.

2012:

The Mets could only scamper one win and lose the series 5-1.

2013:

The Yankees offense was non existent and for the first time the Mets swept all four games against the Yankees.

2014:

To be continued.....

Total Yankees Wins: 54
Total Mets Wins: 40

Remembering The 2000 World Series - Game 1


The 2000 World Series featured the New York Yankees and the New York Mets facing off in the World Series for the first time in their history. This was the first Subway Series since 1956 when the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees faced off. Let's take the time to remember Game 1 of the 2000 World Series.


The Yankees sent Andy Pettitte to the mound to face off against the Mets Al Leiter on a very important date in baseball history, October 21st. This was the day that Carlton Fisk hit his home run in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series and on the same day the Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series on this day in 1980. Both starting pitchers had shut outs going into the 6th inning until David Justice knocked a two run double to put the Yankees up 2-0. Andy Pettitte would quickly lose the lead in the 7th after hit after hit off the savvy lefty including an Edgardo Alfonzo hit to give the Mets the 3-2 lead. Chuck Knoblauch would have a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 9th inning off Mets closer Armando Benitez to tie the game and send it to extra innings. Jose Vizcaino would be the unlikeliest of heroes when he would knock in Tino Martinez with his fourth hit of the game to give the Yankees a 4-3 victory and a 1-0 lead in the Subway World Series. Mike Stanton would get the win and Mets pitcher Turk Wendell would take the loss.

Mariano Rivera's History In The Subway Series


This will be the first time that the New York Yankees will take on the New York Mets in the Subway Series without the great Mariano Rivera. Rivera did quite well against the Mets in his career and I wanted to go over a few of the high points to honor the great Rivera. 


In the 2000 World Series Mariano Rivera was on the mound throwing his cutter when Mets catcher Mike Piazza hit a long fly ball to Bernie Williams for the final out of the World Series. This would be Mariano's second save of that World Series and his fourth ring in five seasons.


Mariano Rivera notched his 500th career save in 2009 at Citi Field against the New York Mets. Mariano Rivera's only career RBI, to date anyway, came against Francisco Rodriguez of the Mets in the same game. Granted it was a bases loaded walk but I think Mariano will take it anyway that he can get it.

Quick Hit: Four Game Subway Series Starts Tonight


The New York Yankees and the New York Mets will continue the Subway Series tonight with the first two games being played in Yankee Stadium and the next two games being played in Citi Field. Here are the pitching matchups for the series:

Yankee Stadium:

Hiroki Kuroda vs. Bartolo Colon (5/12/14)
Vidal Nuno vs. Zack Wheeler (5/13/14)

Citi Field:

Masahiro Tanaka @ Jennry Mejia (5/14/14)
Alfredo Aceves @ Dillon Gee (5/15/14)


Trenton Thunder Game Recap 5/11

Thunder Take Series Finale 15-0, Drop Suspended Game 4-3

The Thunder dropped the completion of Saturday night's suspended game with Reading on Sunday afternoon at ARM & HAMMER Park, bowing to the Fightin Phils in 14 innings, 4-3.

Reading scored the game's go ahead run in the 14th inning with a pair of singles and a passed ball. Taylor Knigge hurled two shutout innings in relief to earn his second victory of the season for Reading. Pat Venditte took the loss for the Thunder.

In the regularly scheduled game, the Thunder amassed 15 runs on 17 hits in a 15-0 thrashing of Reading.

Ben Gamel's two-run homer in the fourth inning staked the Thunder to a 2-0 lead. The Thunder erupted for eight additional runs on eight hits in the fifth inning. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single by Yeral Sanchez, a two-run double by Gamel, and a three-run home run by Peter O'Brien.

The Thunder extended their lead to 12-0 in the 5th inning on O'Brien's second home run in as many innings, a mammoth two-run blast high over the left-field wall.

The Thunder capped their biggest offensive output of the season with three more runs in the seventh inning. The inning was aided by a pair of Reading errors.

Thunder starter Matt Tracy hurled seven shutout innings of to earn his fourth win of the year. Tracy, allowed six hits and just one walk on Sunday afternoon. Reading's starter Severino Gonzalez surrendered ten of the Thunder 15 runs in three and two-thirds innings to lower his record at 3-2.

The Thunder open a three-game series with the Erie Sea Wolves on Tuesday night at ARM & HAMMER Park. Left-hander Jeremy Bleich (3-2, 4.46) will pitch for the Thunder; Erie will counter with right-hander Wilsen Palacios (2-1, 5.34). Listen live on 91.3 WTSR and TrentonThunder.com beginning at 6:45 p.m.

On Tuesday night, it is Kids eat free night, with fans age 12 and under receiving a free meal voucher when they enter. It is also Dollar Dog Night presented by Black Bear Franks.

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

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap 5/11


Lail Wins Fourth Consecutive Start, RiverDogs Tie Series
Brady Lail strikes out nine, joins league leaders in victories

CHARLESTON, SC - Brady Lail won his fourth straight appearance and recorded a career-high nine strikeouts as the Charleston RiverDogs picked up a 3-1 triumph against the Savannah Sand Gnats on Sunday in front of 3,084 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in South Atlantic League action. Lail is also tied for the most wins in the league after his fifth victory of the year.
The RiverDogs even this four-game series with one win each and have a 19-16 record. The Sand Gnats are now 24-10 this season.
Lail allowed an unearned run in the first but held the Sand Gnats scoreless for the rest of his outing. Jared King's two-out single plated Jeff McNeil for a 1-0 Savannah lead. Over his final five innings, Lail allowed just three baserunners. He now joins Asheville's Johendi Jiminian, Delmarva's Dylan Rheault, and Hagerstown's Nick Pivetta with a league-best five victories.
In the third inning, Charleston tied the contest at 1-1. Following two fly outs, Tyler Wade hit a triple against Savannah's Chris Flexen to keep the inning alive. The RiverDogs drew even when Mikeson Oliberto doubled to score Wade.
Two runs in the bottom of the fifth pushed the RiverDogs to a 3-1 lead. Gosuke Katoh walked and stole second base while Wade was at the plate. Wade brought in Katoh with a single and reached third base on a wild throw to home plate. Oliberto hit a sacrifice fly that scored Wade and gave Charleston a 3-1 advantage. Later in the inning, Mike Ford hit a single and extended his hit streak to a team-best and career-high eight consecutive games.
RiverDogs reliever Jordan Cote faced the minimum in the seventh before Savannah tried to start a rally in the eighth. After a one-out single and a two-out walk put the potential tying runs aboard, Cesar Vargas came out of the bullpen but loaded the bases on another walk. Vargas escaped the jam with a strikeout and pitched a perfect ninth inning to wrap up a RiverDogs win.
Lail's record is 5-1 after winning each of his last four starts. Flexen has a 1-4 record following the loss. Vargas earned his first save of the season.
BALLPARK FUN: Mother's Day was an extra special day at The Joe thanks to Gildan's "Pampering in the Park," which offered a mini-massage or mini-manicure to all moms in attendance. Banfield Pet Hospital sponsored Dog Day as dozens of fans brought their dogs to Sunday's contest. Children enjoyed another CCPRC and Crews Subaru Kids Club Sunday, presented by Y102.5, including pregame catch on the field and postgame autographs with the RiverDogs players.
COMING UP: Game three of this four-game series on Monday features RiverDogs RHP Jaron Long (2-1, 3.33 ERA) starting against Sand Gnats RHP Kevin McGowan (1-1, 2.77 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm on Monday evening. Coors and Magic 107.3 present Dollar Dogs and Beers Night with $1 hot dogs and $1 drafts in the Ashley View Pub. McDonald's is sponsoring Youth Baseball Night while Play It Again Sports Mt. Pleasant will be on-hand to collect used baseball equipment to donate to local charity Pass It Forward Sports. 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 worldwide on www.riverdogs.com and locally on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

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

Jeter has one hell of an arm

Jeter has one hell of an arm on him, it is as if he were still 30 years old.
I had to take a double look to see if that was really him or not. Something fans may not see is Jeter picks almost everything on his right side. This is a great thing to do as it gives him the ball in position for a throw but, one better have damn good hands. The one problem is, the route to the ball is longer. As he has aged, he has moved a bit closer to 2nd base, dua that is always the case, as one ages.
For him to have played 20 years as the SS on a team like the Yankees says a lot about his talent!
He is a 3 1/2 +1 tool player, by that I mean to say he is not a power hitter, and not fast enough to steal a lot of bases, and that is one of the 5 tools.
He does have one tool that the experts never seem to talk about...that is the one most (90%+) ballplayers don't have and the one tool I think, is one of the most important of the 6 tools. It is Baseball Instincts, until lately he has been in the right place at the right time, on a daily basis, for 20 years! Now, as one that has put in a few years playing baseball myself, no matter how often or hard one may practice the old..."if this happens do this etc."...be assured, it is not near as fluid as one having that elusive 6th since.
It is amazing for him to have played 20 years and never rated the #1 SS in the league, never won a league MVP, he was rated the top player on the team 3 times. Big Deal, there are players in the HoF that never had a chance to play in the WS, Jeter has helped win five World Series Rings. He has set many new, Yankees records over his 20 years of playing and has joined a select few on the 3,000 hits list.
Respect, is the word fans say a lot along with him being the Greatest Yankee ever! Everyone has the right to be wrong, as do those of use that think Jeter should have retired after the last big year he had.
Respect, is something I have for Jeter and hope he can retire in peace.

This Day In New York Yankees History 5/12


On this day in 1956 Don Ferrarese got his first major league victory when he shut out the Yankees at Yankee Stadium 1-0. The Orioles rookie lefty loses his no hitter when Andy Carey leads off the ninth inning with a single.