Friday, May 23, 2014

Game Thread: Yankees vs. White Sox 5/23


The New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox will play the second of a four game set this weekend in Chicago tonight at US Cellular Field. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound to face off with former Yankee prospect Hector Noesi. The game will be played at 8:10 pm ET and can be seen on MY9, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Get your tickets for this game and every Yankees game right here on the site while you read. Be sure to give @GreedyStripes a follow on Twitter to chat during the game, or any time really, as we are always up for new and interesting Yankees talk. If Twitter isn't your thing then simply drop us a line in the comments section of the site, we always have something going on over there.

Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy your holiday weekend.

The Three Greatest Disasters of Chicago


It's an hour before game time so you know what is coming, a meme. Today is no different as I present to you the three greatest disasters in Chicago history... the fire, the flood, and the Chicago White Sox. Ouch. 

Michael Pineda To Face Live Hitting This Weekend

Michael Pineda has thrown a few bullpen sessions while working on rehabbing his teres major muscle in his back and will take the next step, facing live hitters, this weekend. It was widely believed that the Yankees would let Pineda throw one more bullpen session before facing live hitters but the Yankees may be being aggressive with Pineda at this point with the current state of affairs in the rotation.

I've Got Til 5! - The Horrors of Ebay and Amazon

Every so often I like to go to Ebay or Amazon and randomly search things to see what crazy stuff is for sale. I'm a big Green Day fan, so I'll look to see if there is anything unique and cool that I could buy (or wish I had the money to buy). Heck, I'll type just about anything in the search area to see what comes up, because... like Chris Rock once said... ya never know.

Warning: This video is not edited. However, it's really damn funny.

Two years ago I actually did the same thing (you can read that article here, although you can only see two of the pictures as the auctions have obviously ended), but I think it's time for a new one.


1. I make fun of the pink hats quite a bit, as I think they're ridiculous. Honestly, I don't like any Yankees hat that isn't the true color it's supposed to be. But fine... Major League Baseball and teams like the Yankees should try to make all the money they can. So sell the pink, red, royal blue, purple, green, etc color hats. When I'm out and about and see a person with a Yankees hat, I no longer assume they are Yankees fans, because the Yankees have become something of a fashion thing now. Which is really sad for true fans like myself. I mean, if you're not a Yankees fan then take the hat off! That's our team!

With that said, I can't imagine anybody getting this hat. To be frank... it's hideous. Now it is for children, and some kids like some strange stuff, but that's where the parents have to step in and say "no". Get your little girl a pink hat if she really doesn't want the navy blue one, but those ugly flowers, along with the black piping around the "NY" and on the brim? UGH!

If you still want to check this item out then here you go. Maybe you collect ugly hats, and if that's the case then you'll like thisthis, and this. Oh, and there's plenty more where those came from. Yikes.


2. This one isn't as ugly as those hats above, but something about a United States flag with the Yankee logo on it, and colors changed, doesn't sit right with me. While this country has it's fair share of problems, I'm still extremely proud to be an American. And although I despise the Red Sox, no matter whether the hat you wear has "NY" or "B" on it, when it comes down to it, we're all Americans.

It's like the bombing that happened during the Boston Marathon last year. It was absolutely horrific, and it still bugs me that the scumbag that took part in that bombing gets his face plastered everywhere. That piece of garbage doesn't deserve the press... good or bad. And just like with 9/11, the bottom line is that we're all Americans and we will come together regardless of what team we root for or where we're from.

And that is why altering the American flag like this guy did bothers me so much. And if you expect a link to it then too bad, because I'm not going to advertise the sale of this thing.

Go Yankees and Go USA!


3. I don't get this one. I mean, there is no way you're going to use Yankee duct tape. Heck, I can understand a team having their logo on toilet paper, as rival fans would like to wipe their backside with it. But what use could you have for Yankees duct tape? It doesn't look like it would make a good collectors piece, as it wouldn't display well. And why use it, since duct tape is eventually tore up and thrown away anyway? Besides, you can get a regular roll of duct tape for around a dollar, while this roll will cost you thirty times that amount.

I suppose that some girl could make her prom dress out of it. *shrugs*

I don't know, I really have nothing else to say about this one. I... I just don't get it. But if you do, then check it out.


4. I'm a basketball referee so I've been inside of a lot of locker rooms. If I'm reffing a girls' game that night, chances are I'm changing in the boys' locker room. And I can't tell you how many bottles of Axe body spray I see. What happened to just wearing a nice cologne? Why do some kids, and even adults who want to act hip, have to douse themselves in that God-awful smelling stuff?

So when I came across this Yankees body spray at Amazon my jaw dropped, and shortly afterwards a tear came to my left eye due to the sadness I felt seeing the good name of the Yankees tied to such horror.

By the way, while I would likely shun a Yankees fan that actually wore this, I did link to it as I can see it being a good practical joke to buy a Yankees fan (I better not see any of this in my mailbox).


5. I have never seen, nor do I ever expect to see, somebody put an ornament of a shoe on their Christmas tree. Whether it was a high heel, a sneaker, flats, sandals... whatever. How does a shoe represent Christmas? I could maybe see a boot like the ones Santa Claus wears, but even that's a stretch for an ornament on a Christmas tree.

I completely understand Christmas tree ornaments with the Yankees logo or player on them. You've surely seen plenty of them. But a shoe? It doesn't make any sense to me. Maybe Brian Cashman's wife has a pair of these, and this ornament is a replica of it. But even if that's the case, why would you put that on a your Christmas tree?

Even if there really were high heels like this would any woman want them? If you're watching a game, lucky enough to go to a game, or just hanging out and want to flaunt your fandom, wouldn't you want a more comfortable pair of shoes on? And if you want some that tie into the Yankees, then why not something like this? Those aren't cool looking, but at least they look kind of comfortable and still rep the Yankees.

I may have to write an article about some cool Yankees stuff on Ebay or Amazon for next week to even things out, because I've seen some awful stuff today. Oh well, have a good one and GO YANKS!

Preview: New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox 5/23


The New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox will play the second game of their four game set this weekend at US Cellular Field. This should be an interesting game for Yankees fans as New York will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound to face off with former Yankee farm hand Hector Noesi. The game will be played at 8:10 pm ET and can be see on MY9, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Kuroda picked up another victory in his last outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates and has pitched much better since the Yankees stopped shifting behind him. Kuroda held the Pirates to three runs in six innings and has logged a quality start in three of his four starts this month. Keep the line moving tonight #HIROK.

Noesi is facing his former team after being traded to the Seattle Mariners in the Michael Pineda and Jesus Montero trade. Noesi has been designated for assignment twice this season, once by Seattle and once by Texas, and has a 0-4 record this season. Noesi allowed five runs in six innings against the Houston Astros in a 6-5 loss.

Go Yankees!!

Yankees Close To Signing Hyo-Jun Park


The New York Yankees are said to be close to a deal with 17 year old Korean shortstop Hyo-Jun Park wroth somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.1 million. The bonus will count against the team's international spending cap so do not expect the deal to become official until July 2 or after. This may be the first of many international signings to happen on July 2 and beyond for the Yankees in the international market.

Park is left handed and said to excel with his glove in the field. Park does not hit for much power yet, although he has plenty of time to grow, but is considered to be a line drive hitter. This can only help the Yankees farm system so I like it, I like it a lot.

Yankees OF Ichiro Wants to Pitch

Before playing for the Mariners from 2001 to the middle of 2012, Yankees OF Ichiro Suzuki was a star in Japan.

The 40-year-old, now just a bench player for the Bombers, appeared in 7 Japanese All Star Games from 1994-2000, even pitching to a single hitter in 1996.

That hitter, facing Ichiro's pitch trio of fastball, slider, and splitter (his "bread and butter"), eventually grounded out, leaving a permanent mark on #31's baseball career.

Today, apparently, the veteran actually wants to try that whole thing again, something Manager Joe Girardi doesn't seem to disagree with.

“I’ll definitely ask him if he can do it,” Girardi recently told David Waldstein of the New York Times. “It looks like he has pretty good stuff.”

That pretty good stuff, remember, got an NBP All Star out, so it's not like #31's just throwing decent bullpen sessions. 

No, he may actually be legitimate. That doesn't mean that the Pinstripes should immediately find him a spot in the bullpen (getting rid of somebody else in the process), although in a 10-0 game, I don't see why not. Give the guy a chance. It's not like he doesn't deserve it, being a future Hall of Famer and all.

Yankee Stadium Logo Has Been Redesigned


The New York Yankees, and all 30 Major League Baseball teams, have had their stadium logos redesigned by Next Impulse Sports. The logos include the team name, the team logo, the name of the stadium, the city it's located in, and the year that it opened. This is pretty cool, I didn't even know team stadiums had logos.

Should The Yankees Sign Wandy Rodriguez?

"Something stinks... oh wait that's me."

The New York Yankees and Brian Cashman have long sought left handed starting pitcher Wandy Rodriguez and they now finally have their chance. Wandy was designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday and can be had for just his salary, a salary that the Houston Astros ($5.5 million) and Pittsburgh Pirates ($7.5 million) will pay much of. The Yankees have the option to trade for Wandy and pay the prorated league minimum of $500K or hope he clears waivers and try to work out a deal as a free agent. That's the good news about Wandy.

With the good you have to take the bad and the bad is really bad with Rodriguez. Wandy has been pitching in a weaker National League Central and has a 6.75 ERA and a 7.34 FIP in six starts this season. In a rotation that includes David Phelps, Vidal Nuno, and Chase Whitley this would somehow make the rotation worse, not better. Even with only having Matt Thornton in the bullpen as a left handed reliever I cannot even think of a reliever I would send down for Wandy, and my dislike and lack of trust in Preston Claiborne has been well documented.

Could you imagine Wandy's 3.38 HR/9 ratio in Yankee Stadium? Just to put that into perspective Phil Hughes' HR/9 was a third of that last season and he seemed like an automatic home run ball for a month or more last season. So to answer my question, should the Yankees sign Wandy Rodriguez? Not only no but hell no.

Amaro Jr. & Torre Candidates For New Commissioner


Bud Selig's tenure as commissioner of Major League Baseball comes to an end at the end of this year and a committee has been made to find a suitable replacement. Two men on that list that are being seriously considered are the Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. and former Yankee manager and Selig's discipline czar Joe Torre. Other big names such as Disney CEO Bob Igerk, President George W. Bush, and NBC Sports Bob Costas are also being considered by the committee.

 Torre, for obvious homer reason, would be an intriguing and deserving candidate as well as Bob Costas. I can't think of many who know more about the game than Bob Costas and I think a baseball game should run the baseball game, just my two pennies. Why the Disney CEO or former President George W. Bush are being considered is beyond me but it's still interesting nonetheless.

Quick Hit: Brian Cashman The 8th Best GM In MLB?


The Sporting News author Jesse Spector ranked the best general managers in all of Major League Baseball and the New York Yankees Brian Cashman came in at the eight spot. Billy Beane, the genius in Oakland, was at the top of the list and was followed by Boston's Ben Cherington and Detroit's Dave Dombrowski. Brian Sabean of the Giants and Andrew Friedman of the Rays finish out the Top 5.

The worst GM in all of baseball you ask? Ruben Amaro Jr. of the Phillies.

Here is Spector's write up on Cashman specifically:

Yes, Cashman has an enormous advantage over his peers in the Yankees’ everlasting financial resources, but his performance this past winter, holding the line on Robinson Cano to avoid paying him megabucks at age 40 — hi, A-Rod! — and then splashing all over the free agent market to get Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Masahiro Tanaka, showed the thorough job of planning that Cashman does, and his willingness to exploit opponents’ over protection of draft picks. Cashman always is difficult to evaluate, though, because it can be hard to tell which moves are his and which are directives of ownership.

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap 5/22


Fowler Homers, But Crawdads Take Opener
Charleston falls in third straight road game after dropping series opener at Hickory

HICKORY, NC - The Charleston RiverDogs held an early 3-1 lead with help from Dustin Fowler's first professional home run, but the Hickory Crawdads rallied for a 9-4 victory on Thursday evening at L.P. Frans Stadium in South Atlantic League action.
With a loss to open a four-game road series, the RiverDogs now have a record of 23-22. The Crawdads improve to 22-23 through the win.
Hickory's Tyler Smith and Charleston's Caleb Smith each recorded 1-2-3 first innings before the RiverDogs got on the scoreboard in the second. Brandon Thomas had the bases loaded with one out and hit into a force out that scored Mike Ford from third base, putting the RiverDogs up 1-0.
The Crawdads quickly tied the contest at 1-1 in their half of the second inning. After Caleb Smith retired the first five batters that he faced to start his outing, Ronald Guzman evened the score by hitting his first home run of the season, a solo blast to left field.
A near-home run by Aaron Judge in the third was good enough to give Charleston a 2-1 lead. Michael O'Neill reached on a one-out walk and scored from first base when Judge doubled off the top of the center field wall.
While Judge's ball almost left the ballpark, Fowler managed to clear the fence with a drive in the fourth inning. Fowler put the RiverDogs ahead 3-1 with a solo home run to right field for the first round-tripper of his professional career.
In the bottom of the fourth, Hickory came back to force a 3-3 tie. The inning opened with two outs but a Nomar Mazara double extended the frame. Travis Demeritte singled and Guzman walked to load the bases for Kellin Deglan, whose double to right field brought in Mazara and Demeritte for the game-tying runs.
Hickory closed the top of the fifth by turning an inning-ending, bases-loaded double play before surging ahead with a home run. Charleston's Giovanny Gallegos induced a pop out before Evan Van Hoosier lifted a one-out solo shot, his third home run of the season, to give Hickory a 4-3 advantage.
During the seventh inning, the Crawdads exploded with a rally that stretched the lead to 9-3. The bases were full with one out as Nick Vickerson singled to score Deglan. Ryan Cordell walked to move in Michael De Leon for another run. Mazara came through with a bases-clearing double and created a six-run advantage. Charleston did score in the ninth inning in its own comeback attempt, but the RiverDogs scored just one run before the Crawdads sealed up the victory.
Ryne Slack, who followed Tyler Smith with three scoreless innings of relief, was credited with the win and is now 3-1. Gallegos took the loss to fall to 1-4.
COMING UP: Game two of this four-game road series will start at 7pm as RiverDogs RHP Brady Lail (6-1, 3.30 ERA) squares off against Crawdads RHP Cole Wiper (2-5, 3.52 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 5/22

Harrisburg Erases Late Lead with Five-Run Ninth

A five-run ninth inning sparked a 6-4, rain-delayed win for the Harrisburg Senators over the Trenton Thunder Thursday night.
The Thunder maintained a 4-1 lead until the ninth inning when Harrisburg rallied using four singles and four walks to vault ahead for good, 6-4. Thunder pitching recorded 25 consecutive outs without allowing a hit until the final frame. Cole Kimball and Fred Lewis combined in the ninth inning, with Lewis being charged with the loss and three runs in 0.2 IP.
Harrisburg starting pitcher A.J. Cole cruised through the first 5 innings before surrendering four runs- all unearned- to the Thunder in the in the 6th. The Thunder loaded the bases on back-to-back singles by Mason Williams and Ben Gamel and a walk to Slade Heathcott. Williams and Gamel scored on a two base throwing error by Harrisburg's Adrian Sanchez. Tyler Austin followed with a two run double that put the Thunder ahead 4-2.
Harrisburg's Rafael Martin earned the win to even his record at 1-1. Tyler Herron pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his first save of the season.

Out of the bullpen, Manny Barreda was impressive over 3.0 innings of hitless, shutout baseball for the Thunder. He entered the game in the top of the fourth inning in relief of starting pitcher Eric Ruth who earned a no-decision. Ruth made his second Double-A start- and his ARM & HAMMER Park debut- and pitched up until the rain delay halted the fourth inning. The Harleysville, Pa. native went 3.2 innings and allowed one run on two hits with four strikeouts.
The Thunder begin a four-game road trip Friday in Richmond, Va. To take on the Richmond Flying Squirrels at The Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start time with a 6:50 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 5/23


On this day in 1948 the Yankees Joe DiMaggio would hit three consecutive home runs with the first two coming off the Indians Bob Feller. The Yankees would beat the Indians 6-5 on this day behind DiMaggio's offensive outburst.


On this day in 1962 the Yankees Joe Peptione hit two home runs in the same inning to become the second player in Yankees history to do so. The Yankees scored nine times in the eight inning and would beat Kansas City 13-7. Joe DiMaggio became the first Yankee to do it as a rookie in 1936.


On this day in 1998 the Yankees David Wells extended his American League record for consecutive outs to 38 when the Red Sox leadoff hitter Darren Lewis grounded out to start the game. Wells was coming off his perfect game in his previous start and retired the last ten batters he faced in Kansas City in the start before setting history.