Monday, June 23, 2014

Whitley Loses For First Time in His Career As Blue Jays Top Yankees, 8-3

Since he was called up in April, Chase Whitley has only done good things. 

In his first 7 major league starts, the rookie prospect has helped the Yankees go 6-1, with the one loss not at all being his fault.

Because of that interesting stat, it seemed logical that he'd at least compete tonight in Toronto, something that surprisingly didn't happen, as Whitley surrendered 8 earned runs in just 3.1 innings as the Yanks fell to the Blue Jays, 8-3.

In the game's bottom of the first, Whitley escaped a jam down just 1-0, making his early struggles appear to be nothing. 

However, that belief was completely destroyed in the Jays' next AB, when #39 was hammered for six trips around the bases, a three-run shot from Adam Lind highlighting the onslaught.

The homer by Lind, his fourth of the year, raised his RBI total to 4, with teammate Dioner Navarro also driving in a pair.

Because of all those runs, which caused Whitley's ERA to skyrocket from 2.56 to 4.07, a top of the fourth blast to straightaway center off the bat of Mark Teixeira didn't matter, with a ninth inning RBI Double from Kelly Johnson also falling into that category.

As for the Yanks' one other scoring play, it was actually somewhat fun to watch, as it came in the form of a routine base hit from Yangervis Solarte.

Solarte, who hasn't gotten a knock since June 8, was riding an 0-for-28 slide going into the AB, probably making the single productive on a phychlogical level.

As for the contest, though, it wasn't all that amazing, as it only made an 8-1 game 8-2 and didn't help the Yanks come back from a brillant performance from Toronto Starter Marcus Stroman, who impressively got through 8 innings allowing just the Teixeira homer.

Please welcome back...who?

If the whole YES/Yankee propaganda complex was a dartboard, the outer ring would be the Yankee Classics, the inner ring would be most of the commentators in general (except for Kenny and maybe David Cone,) and the bullseye would probably be that once-a-year party that I compare to some kid's 5th birthday party where most of the guests are the parents' friends and co-workers who barely know the kid. This event is known as...Old Timer's Day.

I grew up with Monument Park being a sacred place; our grandparents thought that Babe, Gehrig and Dimaggio were buried under their monuments. It was a testament to only the greatest players in the top-tier franchise in baseball history. Then they started throwing plaques out there, the latest two being Tino Martinez and Goose Gossage. They were nice players in their era, but give me a break! Tino wasn't even the best player on that team; how doesn't Bernie have a plaque by now?! Batting champion, a ton of gold gloves and a lifetime .297 average. Tino never even batted .300 in a single season! I'm shocked, considering teams don't like controversy, that the Yankees didn't completely shy away from him after the allegations as Marlins hitting coach last year.

Goose...yes he was a great multi-inning asset, but if you think about his career, it's more known for the agony of defeat than the thrill of victory: 1980 ALCS home run to Brett, the Pine Tar Game and not walking Kirk Gibson. He doesn't even have the second-most saves as a Yankee (we all know Mo's the leader.) You know who does? DAVE RIGHETTI! Yeah, '81 Rookie of the Year, no-hitter against the Sox, and led the league with 46 saves in 1986. He was Eckersley before Eckersley! My cousin Richie couldn't stand that he took Sparky Lyle's job.

Yankees, speak to us like adults, we know it's not gonna happen again for a few years, stop pretending like it's 1998 where the Yankees are 30 games up in first and Dimaggio's still alive.

One more thing, and this is where the earlier comparison comes in. You ever notice that you have no idea who the first 10-11 Old Timer's are, or if you do they're so irrelevant in the course of the long, illustrious history of the team? (Andy Phillips was there.) Seriously, the Yankees have dulled down players accomplishments to just simply wearing the pinstripes! The first introduction usually goes like this:

"This next Yankee was called up at the end of the 1951 season. In 2 at-bats in the 1951 World Series against the Giants, he struck out and popped up, but Alvin Dark ALMOST dropped the pop-up, which would've been his first hit in pinstripes. He then spent 3 years in the minors before retiring as a rodeo clown. He has a faded Yankee tattoo on his right bicep; please welcome back, Joe "Double-Day" Horowitz!"

Daddy, who's dat guy? Exactly.

Neil Dwyer @neildwyer1993

Game Thread: Yankees @ Blue Jays 6/23


Welcome to tonight's game thread and open thread as the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays start a three game set in Rogers Centre in Toronto Canada tonight. The Yankees will send Chase Whitley to the mound to face off with Marcus Stroman for the Jays. The game will be played at 7:07 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Get your Yankees tickets for this weekend's series with the Boston Red Sox back at Yankee Stadium right here on the blog, CLICK HERE. Also you can talk with us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes or you can search for The Greedy Pinstripes on Facebook. Comment in the comments section and interact with fellow members of the Yankees family.

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

I'm Going To Toronto To Catch A Blue Jays Game


I want to see all 30 Major League Stadiums, and I know that's not an uncommon life goal and bucket list item, but Toronto may have jumped to the front of the list. Just saying.

New York Yankees Injury Updates For June 23


Mark Teixeira is in Toronto and in tonight's lineup against the Blue Jays after leaving yesterday's game after being hit by a pitch on the foot. Teix tried to walk it off and take his base but couldn't and left the game extremely frustrated causing Yankees fans to think the worse and thankfully we worried for nothing. Really dodged a bullet on that one.

Michael Pineda is expecting to start a throwing program as early as this weekend. It should have been last weekend but you take what you can get at this point I guess.

Ivan Nova expects to start a throwing program in August or September after his Tommy John surgery. Nova in the meantime is lifting weights and sprinting to stay in shape. If anything is encouraging from this it's the fact that he went down early in the season and has a real shot at being effective for us Opening Day 2015.

Manny Banuelos has been placed on the Double-A disabled list, dun dun dun, with blister issues. Thankfully it's not the elbow or the shoulder and shouldn't require more than a week or two to get it all cleared up.

6/23 Yankees Game Preview @ Toronto Blue Jays


The New York Yankees will travel to Canada to take on the Toronto Blue Jays tonight in Rogers Centre for a three game set. The Yankees will see some familiar faces this series including Marcus Stroman tonight. The Yankees will send Chase Whitley to oppose Stroman who we saw just last week at Yankee Stadium. The game will be played at 7:07 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.

Whitley has got the win in his last three starts improving his record to 3-0 after shutting down the Blue Jays and holding them to just two runs and five innings last time out. Whitley proved that even when he doesn't have his best stuff he could still get major league hitters out and stretched himself out to a career high 95 pitches.

Stroman threw a ton of pitches to a very patient Yankees lineup last time out lasting just 3.2 innings taking the loss for the Jays. Stroman threw a career high 98 pitches so it will be interesting to see how the young man bounces back tonight in Toronto.

Get your tickets for tonight's game if your in our neighbors to the north's backyard or if you want to see the Yankees take on the Red Sox this weekend back at home. We offer tickets with no fees, great prices, and free shipping for every single game home and away, CLICK HERE. 

Go Yankees!!

Nuno Is The Only Option We Have? I Call Bullsh*t


Vidal Nuno wet the bet once again on Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles ruining Tino Martinez Day at Yankee Stadium and handing the Yankees a loss. The Yankees were quick to defend Nuno but manager Joe Girardi basically said that we were out of depth options and would stick with the struggling left hander. I completely and vehemently disagree with this statement. We absolutely cannot wait on Michael Pineda anymore and even though struggling CC Sabathia would be better than Nuno at this point if we wait until the end of July it may be too late.

Currently sitting in Triple-A we have a few options, albeit in the bullpen, that could keep us in a game more than Nuno. Remember, unless we DFA Nuno (which I don't think we would), we have Vidal in the bullpen to pick up some slack while we stretch out the likes of Francisco Rondon, Pat Venditte, Danny Burawa, and even the struggling Jeremy Bleich and Bryan Mitchell. The Yankees need upgrades, even if they are marginal upgrades, at this point if we have any chance of making the postseason this season.

Mitchell struggled a little in Trenton but had four shutout innings in his Scranton debut. Mitchell already used his option this season so that would lessen the blow as well if he doesn't do well. Shane Greene is struggling in Triple-A but still strikes out almost a batter an inning and is the most stretched out of any of our starters. Like Mitchell, Greene has had his option used for the 2014 season.

Alfredo Aceves is always an option, although he is not on the 40 man roster and may be the final option we have. We may not have great options but we have options, so either make a move or make a trade and don't tell me we don't have any options when we do. I am sure I could go seven innings and have an ERA approaching six. Do something, now.




Can't Predict Baseball: One Pitcher, 16 Walks


On this day in 1915 the Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Bruno Hass made his major league debut against the New York Yankees at the very historic Shibe Park. The good news was the 24 year old southpaw, known as Boon, tossed a complete game in the contest and in the start established a post-1900 major league record. The bad news was the record was for issuing 16 walks during the nine inning game in a 15-7 loss to the Yankees.

Also on this day in 1950 the Detroit Tigers and the New York Yankees combined for 11 home runs in a nine inning game, a major league record for the most in a single game. Hoot Evers hit the historic home run as a walk off home to give the Tigers a very dramatic 10-9 victory over New York.

Suzyn, you really can't predict baseball.


Quick Hit: The Call For Cliff Lee


I don't care if CC Sabathia is on the way back and I don't care if we will "get Michael Pineda back" eventually, I want Cliff Lee and I want him now. I wanted him when he was a Seattle Mariner, I wanted him when he was a Texas Ranger, I wanted him before he was a Philadelphia Phillie, and I want him now.

The Yankees have to strike now while they can. They normally wouldn't have the prospects, that they are willing to give up anyway, to get a deal done but with Lee being on the DL they will likely get a bit of a break. Lee is also a big salary dump with his outrageous salary for the 2015 season that the Yankees could easily absorb.

Lee threw a 30 pitch bullpen session and states that he is not 100%  but feels no pain and no discomfort. He could probably go out there less than 100% and still be better than Vidal Nuno. Get it done Cash.

NY Post's Sherman: Yankees Can't Acquire Samardzija or Price

For years, it has been a well-known fact to us all that the Yankees aren't a team with a strong farm system. 

While the recent emergence of Gary Sanchez has helped them a little bit, the Yanks are clearly still a club who'll make their splash in free agency, something some of their fans seem to have a hard time grasping.

Fortunately for us, the New York Post's Joel Sherman isn't one of those people, saying in an article published yesterday that indications are the Yanks likely can't acquire this year's most coveted starting pitchers.

"Indications are they cannot go to the top of the available-starter food chain," Sherman writes when referring to Jeff Samardzija and David Price. "(Therefore) the Yankees might have to shoot lower for pitchers such as the White Sox’s John Danks, the Cubs’ Jason Hammel, or the Padres’ Ian Kennedy."

While Danks and Kennedy are both solid arms who'd likely replace the struggling Vidal Nuno nicely, Chicago's Hammel is probably the best available option, as he is a veteran with experience in the AL East.

In 2012 and 2013, Hammel went 15-14 as a Baltimore Oriole, recording solid ERAs of 3.43 and 4.97 during his two seasons with the team. 

This Day In New York Yankees History 6/23


On this day in 1996 the Yankees showed how much of a "never count us out" team they really were when they behind early only to come back with nine runs in the sixth inning. The Yankees would win the game 11-9 at Jacobs Field over the Cleveland Indians and it would complete the first time the Yankees would sweep the Indians in Cleveland since 1964.