Thursday, May 22, 2014

Early runs prove costly for Yankees in 3-2 loss to White Sox

One bad inning.

Coming off yesterday's thriller at Wrigley, the Yankees offense looked to be carrying some momentum.

That wasn't the case tonight though, as the Yanks' bats picked up just 1 hit over 6 innings against White Sox starter Chris Sale, causing them to fall by a score of 3-2.

The Bombers hurler in this one, David Phelps, did exactly what was needed of him, surrendering just 2 earned runs over 7 frames of his own.

However, due to a two-out rally in the bottom of the second in which the Sox scored those two runs, Phelps and the Pinstripes fell in frustrating fashion, something that could end up knocking them out of first place.

They still competed eventually, scoring twice in the ninth thanks to a two-run single from Mark Teixeira, but due to Alfonso Soriano striking out on a questionable 3-2 pitch afterwards that rally proved unsuccessful.

It still should've been enough, as the Yanks did trail just 2-0 for the majority of this contest, but since Alfredo Aceves gave up another trip around the bases in the bottom of the eighth it wasn't. 

In other words, the Bombers seemingly weren't meant to win this contest. That'd make sense, as they didn't even get a runner on base until two outs in the top of the sixth, but still, it's rough. You'd like to be able to start these long road series with wins.

Game Thread: Yankees @ White Sox 5/22


The New York Yankees will travel to US Cellular Field in Chicago to take on the White Sox in the first of a four game set. The Yankees will send David Phelps to the mound to face off with Chris Sale for the White Sox fresh off the disabled list. The game will be played at 8:10 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

You can get your Yankees tickets for this game and every Yankees game right here on the blog by clicking the Yankees Tickets window at the top of the page. Be sure to give @GreedyStripes a follow on Twitter to keep the Yankees conversation going all day long.

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

Manny Banuelos Plays Catch, Will Start In 5 Days

Manny Banuelos was shut down with some arm fatigue/soreness but played catch today and reported no problem in the left arm. Banuelos is penciled in to make a start in five days for the Trenton Thunder. Banuelos will be limited to just two innings or 35 pitches, whichever comes first. Not pitching for two years will give anyone a dead arm so hopefully this is nothing more than that and he can stay the course this season.

To Be A Cubs Fan Or A White Sox Fan In Chicago


Listen White Sox fans, at least you have the Chicago Blackhawks to root for. 

Preview: New York Yankees @ Chicago White Sox 5/22


The New York Yankees continue their week long stay in Chicago tonight as they take on the Chicago White Sox in the first of a four game set in US Cellular Field. The Yankees will send David Phelps to the mound to face off with the White Sox ace Chris Sale. The game will be played at 8:10 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Phelps is only making his fourth start of the season and is coming off his first win of the season last time out against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Phelps pitched five scoreless innings against the Pirates in the Yankees victory on May 17. This is Phelps second appearance against the White Sox, his first start, of his career as he pitched 3.1 IP of relief against them.

Sale is making his first start since April 17 having spent the last month of the season on the disabled list with a strained flexor muscle. Let's hope the Yankees see some rust and stamina, command, and control issues by Sale tonight to get a victory.

Go Yankees!!

Putting Tanaka's Loss Into Perspective w/ A Meme


Girardi: "Possibility" that CC won't make it back

This injury must be pretty serious. 

Despite the recent report that he'll be back sometime in July, Yankees Pitcher CC Sabathia may not return at all this season, Manager Joe Girardi recently told The Newark Star Ledger.

In the quote, Girardi doesn't necessarily sound negative about #52's health, even though he does say some very alarming stuff.

"I think there’s always that possibility a player may not make it back," Girardi said. "But I feel pretty good about what he’s had done so far and the steps that were taken, and you just kind of keep your fingers crossed."

If Sabathia was to go down for the rest of the year, it seems unlikely that the Bombers would keep Chase Whitley in the rotation, although it is possible.

Whitley, a 24-year-old right-hander, has done well in his two major league starts for the Pinstripes, giving up just 1 earned run in 9 combined innings.

However, with the emergence of Jeff Samardzija as a dominant starter, the Yanks' front office has a difficult choice to make here: give away talented prospects for that guy everybody wants, or take their chances with a promising youngster. It seems like an easy decision at first, although it really isn't. Whitley clearly has a lot of talent, so sending him down now could be something the team ends up regretting in the near future.

Can't Predict Baseball: Can't Strikeout Joe Sewell


On this day in 1933 the Yankees third basemen Joe Sewell is struck out for the first time of the season. Cleveland's Wes Ferrell was the man to strike out Sewell and Sewell would only strike out three more times the entire season, his final season, in 524 at bats. That's insane by today's standards.

On this day in 1977 the Boston Red Sox(6) and the Milwaukee Brewers(5) combined for 11 home runs to tie a major league record. The 11th home run matched the Yankees and Tigers in 1950 and the Cubs and the Mets in 1967 who also had 11 round trippers.

On this day in 1990 Andre Dawson for the Cubs was walked intentionally five times in one game to set a new major league record. The previous mark of four was held by the Yankees Roger Maris in 1962 and by the Padres Gerry Templeton in 1985.


Little Things Mean a Lot!


Question; How many perfect bunts do the Yankees, or for that matter, any AL East team lay down a year?
Answer; Very few are perfect bunts, as was done by Claiborne last night! Oh ya, we see bunts, but how many are that good? Most are Sac Bunts to move a runner over, with Claiborne's bunt, it would have been an easy hit by most position players. Not bad for a pitcher and it had one heck of an impact on the game...like, a win!
The little things are what helps win games sometimes! The player that hits the three run home run gets a lot, if not all the credit for the winning HR but, he could never have knocked in three runs without the other two guys getting on base!
Thus, 25 players make up a TEAM not one, not even two or three...25 people playing as a team win.
We have 27 World Series Wins and I keep hearing how this or that guy, won the World Series for the Yankees...NO, he helped win!
One of the most unforgettable, and heads-up plays in the last 20 years was made by Jeter! But, not only did he get in the right position, he had the instincts to make a flip to the other half of the story Posada, the unsung hero!
Team work, helped win that game, not one player...two guys being in the position they were trained to be in at the right time and not giving up on the ball being off line...saved the day!
May I say; two very good players, that don't know how to quit, and will do whatever they can to win.
Fans wonder why some of us are big on Defense, a look at last nights game will explain an awful lot. One bad throw to the 1st baseman and the game turned from a loss into a tie, and a wild pitch turned a tie into a win for the Yankees. Offense and defense in conjunction make winning easier!
The Little Things are the difference between winning and losing!

Say Hello To Our Newest Partners, Ticket Monster!!

 
We just wanted to take a second to send our a plug to our newest friends and partners of The Greedy Pinstripes, Ticket Monster. Ticket Monster is a third party website that you can buy and sell your Yankees tickets on. The best part about it, besides the fact that they are friends of ours, is there are no fees associated with the transactions. Anyone who has used StubHub or an equivalent knows how huge that is to not have to pay those bulky additional fees on top of usually an overpriced ticket. Check them out by clicking our tab Yankees Tickets, SEEN HERE, or by visiting their website www.TicketMonster.com.

Here's to a long and last relationship. Go Yankees!!

Quick Hit: Today Should Be Reggie Jackson Day


On this day in 2004 the Oakland Athletics retired the #9 jersey of Reggie Jackson. Jackson was honored for his nine Hall of Fame season with the A's and was a part of three consecutive World Series titles from 1972-1974. Jackson also had his #44 retired by the Yankees in 1993 becoming only the eight player to have his number retired by at least two teams in Major League history. That's quite the accomplishment, hate the guy or not.


Trenton Thunder Game Recap 5/21

Thunder Suffer 9-0 Loss to Harrisburg Wednesday

Harrisburg struck for runs in four of the first five innings in a 9-0 win over the Trenton Thunder Wednesday morning at ARM & HAMMER Park.

Before 5,420 energetic fans on a matinee Education Day ballgame, Harrisburg outhit Trenton 8-for-3 and for the third time this season, the Thunder were shutout.

The Thunder offense was paced by Mason Williams who went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks. In addition to the team's three hits, the Thunder recorded Williams' two walks and a pair of hit-by-pitches (Segedin, Dugas) against Harrisburg starting pitcher Paolo Espino and the Senators bullpen.

Thunder starting pitcher Caleb Cotham allowed 7 runs (7 ER) in 6.1 IP on 106 pitches. Included in those seven runs were three solo homeruns by the Senators offense, including a pair by shortstop Jason Martinson and one by leadoff hitter Michael Taylor.

After two straight victories, the Thunder's loss drops their season record to 25-21 while the Senators' record improves to 14-30 (5-20, Road).

The Thunder conclude their four-game homestand Thursday against the Harrisburg Senators at ARM & HAMMER Park. First pitch is scheduled for a 7:05 p.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 post can be seen HERE

This Day In New York Yankees History 5/22


On this day in 1922 The Yankees begin construction on Yankee Stadium after sharing the Polo Grounds with the New York Giants since 1913. The stadium will unofficially be called the "House that Ruth Built" due to Babe Ruth's popularity with the team in the early 1920's.


On this day in 1930 Babe Ruth tied a major league record by hitting five home runs in two games and six home runs in three games when he hit three homers in the second game of a double header the day before, two more in game one of this day's double header, and one more in the second game of the double header on this day. Lou Gehrig also went deep three times in the second game of the double header and the Yankees would beat the Philadelphia A's 20-13.


On this day in 1962 Roger Maris is intentionally walked four times in a game to establish a major league record. Four different Angels pitchers intentionally walked Maris in New York's 2-1 victory in Yankee Stadium.


On this day in 1963 Mickey Mantle once again almost became the first person to hit one out of Yankee Stadium. Mantle hit the home run off the A's Bill Fischer and it was just a few feet below the facade down the right field line in a 8-7 Yankees victory.


On this day in 1999 after a disabled list stint and a rain out Roger Clemens finally breaks the American League record with his 18th consecutive win. Johnny Allen had the record previously with the Indians in 1936-1937 as did Dave McNally with the Orioles in 1968-1969. Clemens had ten no decisions mixed in with the 18 consecutive victories.