Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Nelson & Cannizaro To Represent Yankees At Draft


The New York Yankees like to send former players and stars to represent them at the MLB First Year Players Draft and this year is no different with Jeff Nelson and Andy Cannizaro. You may remember Cannizaro from last year in the same role representing the Yankees in the draft.

Nelson pitched in the Yankees bullpen and received four World Series rings during his time in New York. Nelson pitched in 331 games over six seasons in New York. Nelson will announce the Yankees first selection, the 55th pick overall, which will come in the second round.

The 2014 Draft will take place June 5-7 and the first round will be televised on MLB Network starting at 6:00 pm ET.

Bullpen's dominance, late rally lead Yankees to 13-inning win over Cubs

This game couldn't have gone better.

Not only the Yankees see that Jeff Samardzija is the real deal, but they also got a much-needed W today at Wrigley Field, beating the Cubs in a 13-frame thriller 4-2.

For just about all of the contest, the Bombers' offense showed no life, getting no runs in 7 innings against one of their possible future-starters in Samardzija.

Still, the Pinstripes did find a way to win in the end, picking up a pair of runs in the top of the ninth (Cubs led 2-0 after 8) off Chicago Closer Hector Rondon. The rally wasn't at all fancy, as its main highlight was just a bases-loaded Fielder's Choice from Ichiro followed by a run-scoring error, but overall it was definitely exciting. 

Anyway, after that AB this one became a battle of the bullpens, with the Yankees getting threw the ninth, tenth, and 1/3 of the eleventh thanks to a scorless outings from Matt Daly and Matt Thornton. Following Thornton's departure, the eventual winning pitcher Preston Claiborne came in, collecting another 5 outs.

In the top of the thirteenth, the Yankees would finally get to the Cubs' bullpen, scoring twice off Jose Veras when Claiborne bunted a couple of runners into scoring position, Brendan Ryan scored on a wild pitch, and John Ryan Murphy singled home an insurance run. Following those heroics, David Robertson would end the game in the bottom of the frame, recording the last three outs for his ninth save of the young season.

Kelley suffers setback; will now miss more than 15 days

Yankees Set-Up Man Shawn Kelley suffered a setback Tuesday and will now miss more than the originally scheduled 2 weeks, The Star Ledger's Jorge Castillo reports. 

Kelley, who hadn't appeared in a game since May 5's loss in Anaheim, was scheduled to play catch yesterday, before throwing a bullpen session tomorrow and a simulated game on Saturday.

However, back soreness Tuesday morning put that whole schedule on hold, causing #27 to be temporarily shut down and making his return date a mystery. 

The 30-year-old, 1-2 with a 3.52 ERA in 15.1 frames of work so far this season, usually pitches eighth innings for the Bombers when healthy, so his being gone is definitely not a welcome sign. Currently, sophomore Adam Warren has acted as the team's top/bottom of the eighth guy, although doing so leaves the club vulnerable in the still-important seventh, where recent signee Alfredo Aceves has struggled mightily. 

And considering that the alternative option there is minor-leaguer Matt Daley, this news really is terrible. The Pinstripes are already pretty beat up now, so hearing that they won't get Kelley back for this weekend's White Sox series has got to be frustrating for the coaching staff.

Can't Predict Baseball: Mike Piazza Loses $1 Million


On this day in 1930 Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hit three consecutive home runs from the left side of the plate in a game against the A's. Ruth gets cocky in his fourth at bat in the ninth inning and decided to try and bat right handed. After getting two quick strikes Ruth went back to the left side of the plate where the Philadelphia pitcher Jack Quinn promptly struck him out on the next pitch. Yankees still won the game 15-7.

On this day in 2005 the Mets Dae-Sung Koo (who? exactly!) came up to bat against the Yankees Randy Johnson. Before the at bat Mike Piazza told David Wright in the dugout that if he got a hit he would donate a million dollars to charity. Wouldn't you know it that the Korean relief pitcher batting lefty against the left handed Johnson roped a double off the center field wall that at bat. Piazza stated after the game that he would be making a "significant donation" to a charity over the next 20 years.


Game Thread: Yankees vs. Cubs 5/21


The New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs will play the finale of their two game set this afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The Yankees will send Chase Whitley to the mound for his second career start and his second start replacing ace CC Sabathia in the rotation. The Cubs will counter with Jeff Samadzija looking for his first win in 15 starts. The game will be played at 2:20 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Personally I wish we could acquire Samardzija simply to make him cut that hair and shave that disgusting facial hair but maybe it's just me. Join the discussion by following us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, to keep the conversation going. You can always drop us a line in our comments section of our site as well if you crave Yankees baseball discussion.

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


Every Team Has A Bad Century Every Once In A While


Every team has a bad century every once in a while, right? It just so happens that the Cubs have been terrible since 1946 and haven't won a World Series since 1908. If the Red Sox can do it then... who am I kidding.

Preview: New York Yankees @ Chicago Cubs 5/21


A day game in Wrigley Field between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs, this should be fun. The New York Yankees and the Cubs finish their quick two game set in Wrigley this afternoon with Chase Whitley on the mound for the Yankees and future Yankee Jeff Samardzija on the mound for the Cubbies. The game will be played at 2:20 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Whitley made his major league debut last time out in the Subway Series against the New York Mets and worked into the fifth inning allowing just two hits and no runs in a Yankees victory. Whitley took the no decision but struck out four of the 18 batters that he faced and kept his team in the game. Whitley looks to build on that start today in Wrigley as he continues to replace injured staff ace CC Sabathia.

Samardzija is still looking for his first win on the mound since August of 2013, hopefully he doesn't get that today against the Yankees. Samardzija has gone 15 straight starts without a victory and is coming off a loss in his last start against the Brewers. Samardzija gave up four runs in five innings but only two of them were earned as the defense committed three errors.

Go Yankees!!

Cubs Using Donations To Re-Sign Jeff Samardzija


The Chicago Cubs are apparently using donations to try and re-sign their ace starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija. Samardzija is not a free agent until after the 2015 season but speculation has run rampant that he will be traded this July 31 trading deadline to continue to total rebuild going on in Chicago. The Cubbies are using the popular website Kickstarter to get the starter to sign long term with the Cubs, good luck with that. By the way this is on a site named The Heckler so if you believed this article to begin with, and you shouldn't have, then let me lay it out for you. It's a joke, it's funny, I posted it, then end. Enjoy the game Yankees family.

Quick Hit: Babe Ruth's Pocket Watch Sells For $650,108


Tom Stevens, Babe Ruth's grandson, decided to auction off a gold pocket watch that given to Ruth in Yankee Stadium in 1948 and got a cool $650,108 for it. Originally it was thought that the watch would bring $750,000 but who could complain about that chunk of change. The watch was given to him to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original Yankee Stadium opening, the house that Ruth built.

In February of this year a 1923 World Series gold watch that belonged to Ruth went for $717,000 so everyone check your drawers, you may have a gold watch that is worth six figures in it.

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap 5/20


Savannah Salvages Split Despite Long's Shutout Start
Third straight scoreless start by Jaron Long not enough after late Sand Gnats rally

SAVANNAH, GA - Jaron Long pitched 6.2 shutout innings for the Charleston RiverDogs on Tuesday night, but the Savannah Sand Gnats rallied in the eighth to claim a 2-1 comeback win at Historic Grayson Stadium in South Atlantic League action. Long has pitched 17.2 scoreless innings over threestarts but has no wins in those appearances.
Charleston splits this four-game series against first-place Savannah despite winning the first two games. The RiverDogs drop to 23-21 with the Sand Gnats bouncing up to 30-14.
The evening began with a leadoff single by Tyler Wade, who later advanced to second base on a one-out single from Aaron Judge. With two outs, Miguel Andujar singled to score Wade for a 1-0 Charleston lead. On the play, Andujar tried to stretch his hit to a double and was put out at second base.
Both starting pitchers escaped bases-loaded jams as the game continued. Charleston's Jaron Long had the bases full after a two-out walk before he induced an inning-ending force out that kept the RiverDogs in front. In the top of the third, Savannah's Ricky Knapp allowed the first three hitters to reach, but he struck out the next three batters to keep the Sand Gnats within a run.
Long and Knapp each recorded quality starts on Tuesday. Long struck out seven in 6.2 scoreless innings, working hard through a 98-pitch performance. Knapp had five strikeouts for the Sand Gnats and even retired nine consecutive RiverDogs during his six frames.
Rony Bautista inherited the potential tying run at first base when he relieved Long in the seventh. Dominic Smith moved into scoring position when Champ Stuart's full-count single sent Smith to second base. Bautista responded with a strikeout against Colton Plaia to end the scoring threat.
Savannah broke through in the eighth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Bautista drew a pair of groundouts before Jeff McNeil reached on a single. Cesar Vargas relieved Bautista and put two early strikes on L.J. Mazzilli. After fouling away three straight pitches, Mazzilli doubled to score McNeil and made it to third base on an error. Smith's go-ahead single plated Mazzilli as Savannah came back to snatch a victory over Charleston.
Dario Alvarez pitched two scoreless innings and improved to 3-0 with credit for the victory. Vargas fell to 0-2 with the loss. Robert Coles pitched a perfect final frame and earned his ninth save in as many attempts for the Sand Gnats.
COMING UP: No South Atlantic League games are scheduled for Wednesday, but Charleston will start a four-game road series at Hickory on Thursday. First pitch is set for 7pm with RiverDogs LHP Caleb Smith (3-3, 0.70 ERA) opposing Crawdads LHP Frank Lopez (3-2, 2.09 ERA). The RiverDogs follow this road stretch with an eight-game homestand at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park. "Re-Opening Night" is on tap for a May 27 doubleheader with the Greenville Drive at 6:05pm while "Bark for Your Brew" on June 1 at 3pm precedes the homestand finale against the Asheville Tourists at 5:05pm. 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

Trenton Thunder Game Recap 5/20

Thunder Jump to Early Lead in 5-1 Win over Sens

The Thunder used early runs, including three RBI from second baseman Rob Refsnyder, to jump to an early 5-0 lead in a 5-1 win over the Harrisburg Senators Tuesday night at ARM & HAMMER Park.
Refsnyder had his first three-RBI game of the season in his 2-for-4 evening. Meanwhile, Thunder fans have been spoiled by Peter O'Brien's burst onto the scene in Double-A with his six homeruns in his first nine games entering Tuesday.
He may have outdone himself Tuesday night by crushing a solo shot in the 3rd inning that sailed over the 32-foot high batter's eye in centerfield up above the 407-foot mark. The Thunder DH finished 2-for-4 with a run and RBI, and he now has an RBI in 8 of his 10 games since being promoted from Tampa.
Harrisburg loaded the bases in the 9th inning off reliever Graham Stoneburner, who was lifted with one out for Fred Lewis. Lewis allowed one inherited runner to score, but retired Cutter Dykstra as the tying run at the plate for his first save of the season. The win was credited to LHP Tyler Webb who tossed two shutout innings for Trenton. Webb's victory was the first in his Double-A career.
RHP Bryan Mitchell started for the Thunder on a pitch count in just his second start in returning from the Disabled List, and tossed three shutout innings. He was not eligible for a win since he did not go a requisite five innings, but has now allowed one earned run in his last 16.1 IP with 26 strikeouts datingback to April 14. His ERA was 9.00 through two starts but he has dropped it
The win is the second straight victory after having dropped six ballgames entering the homestand. Trenton's record improves to 25-20 while the Senators' record drops to an Eastern League-worst 13-30

The Thunder continue their four-game homestand Wednesday against the Harrisburg Senators at ARM & HAMMER Park. First pitch is scheduled for a special 10:35 a.m. start time with a 10:15 pre-game show that can be found streaming on 91.3 FM, the TuneIn Radio app and on www.trentonthunder.com

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

This Day In New York Yankees History 5/21


On this day in 1947 Joe DiMaggio and five other Yankees players are slapped with fines from the club for not fulfilling contract requirements. The $100 fine would come due to the lack of promotional duties for the team by the players. Alex Rodriguez used a $100 bill to light his pilot light last night in his furnace.


On this day in 2004 the Texas Rangers fans let former All Star Alex Rodriguez know what they felt about him during his first return to Arlington Park. The fans booed heavily before and especially after when A Rod hit a home run in his first inning at bat.