Saturday, March 28, 2015

Recap: Orioles 10, Yankees 2

Scott Baker surrendered five earned runs in just two innings and Alex Rodriguez hit his third home run of the spring Saturday as the Orioles trounced the Yankees, 10-2, in a never-close matinee at Steinbrenner Field.

Baker's Rough Performance: Baker sat down the Orioles 1-2-3 in the top of the first, striking out two on a couple of nice changeups. In the second, though, Baker allowed a five spot on five hits -- the biggest of which being a three-run homer by Alejandro De Aza. 

A-Rod's Deep Drive: Saturday -- for the most part -- will go down as a forgettable day for the Yankees' offense, but the Pinstripes can at least be happy that Rodriguez is continuing to hit. Indeed, Rodriguez lifted a solo shot way over the left field wall in the bottom of the seventh -- a no-doubter off Brian Matusz that got out in a hurry.

Drew Ruins the Shutout: With the Yankees down 6-0 and still yet to reach second base in the fifth, Stephen Drew put them on the board with a solo blast off Jason Garcia -- a hard line-drive to right that just snuck into the first row. It was Drew's only hit in two at-bats on the afternoon, but did liven up the crowd when it happened. 

Betances Struggles Again: Dellin Betances walked one and gave up a hit when working the Orioles' half of the sixth -- letting one run cross home on a routine sac fly by De Aza. It was Betances' fifth consecutive outing in which his opponent has scored, and his ERA on the preseason is now a hefty 7.11.

Other Bullpen Numbers: Andrew Bailey tossed a scoreless third inning -- inducing a pair of soft flyouts and a foulout after Manny Machado cracked a double. As for Justin Wilson, his luck wasn't nearly as good -- with the Orioles plating two off him in the eighth on a clutch knock by Jonathan Schoop. 

Next Up: Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for the Yankees Sunday when they pay a visit to the Astros in Kissimmee -- Eovaldi's first start for New York since March 15. He will be opposed by Houston's Scott Feldman when the action begins at 1:05 p.m. ET -- airing exclusively on The Astros Radio Network.

Refsnyder & Severino Named Yankees Top Rookies


The New York Yankees name their top rookies for each season with Greg Bird winning the award in 2013, Tyler Austin in 2012, Austin Romine in 2011 and Eduardo Nunez in 2010. The Yankees split up the end of the season awards between positional players and the best pitcher and Robert Refsnyder took home the honors for best positional player while Luis Severino took home best pitcher. The last four to win the pitching side of the award for New York were Shane Greene in 2013, Mark Montgomery in 2012, DJ Mitchell in 2011 and  David Phelps in 2010.

Both players took huge steps forward in the system and in their quest to make it all the way to the Bronx last season and both men are very deserving of the award. Congratulations to both.

Jared Burton is Back w/ New York

Less than a week after releasing Jared Burton the team has reportedly brought back the relief pitcher on a new minor league deal. The Yankees would reportedly owe Burton a $100,000 retention bonus if the team did not carry him on their 25 man roster on Opening Day and are presumably using this new deal to get around that bonus. Burton will miss the reminder of the spring with a strained lat injury and will start the season on the disabled list.

Spring: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 3/28


The New York Yankees will play host to the Baltimore Orioles this afternoon at George M. Steinbrenner Field as both teams start the final leg of their Grapefruit League schedules. Opening Day in less than two weeks away and frankly I cannot wait for the games to start counting again.


The man who will not be on the mound this afternoon for the Yankees is Scott Baker. Baker will play host to Bud Norris for the Orioles. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB Network. Go Yankees, beat those birds.

Weekly Check In on Robert Refsnyder


If you have ever read any of my blogs you know that I tend to lean towards the prospect side of things with the winning side of things keeps me somewhat in the middle. It frustrates me, even if I can see and understand why the team does what they do, when players like Stephen Drew are signed when players like Robert Refsnysder are down in the minor leagues. I understand that Refsnyder needs seasoning defensively, I’m the first to acknowledge and admit that, but so does Drew so common sense would tell you that the decision maker should come down to a tie breaker if neither are really great defensively, and that’s the offense. The offensive side of the game is where Refsnyder far and away takes the cake over Drew and yet still seems destined to start the season in Scranton. With that in mind, like we did yesterday with Jacob Lindgren, we will try and catch up with Refsnyder weekly, or as often as we can, as I continue to beat the drum for his presence in the Bronx.

G: 18
AB: 36
H: 10
BA: .323
HR: 1
2B: 3
RBI: 4
R: 7
SB: 1



The $3.2 Billion Rant You All Knew Was Coming


I like to rant when I am given a good reason to, it soothes the soul and it keeps my blood pressure down. It’s not good to keep all that anger and pent up aggression inside, it can kill you. I felt a lot of this anger, aggression and such this week when Forbes came out and announced that the New York Yankees were valued at $3.2 Billion as a franchise heading into the 2015 season. $3,200,000,000.00, Count the zeroes. 10 zeroes. The team also made over $500 million in revenue in 2014 without much stake in the YES Network and with attendance, parking, merchandise sales etc. down. I touched on this in the blog post but I will go more in-depth with it today as my first thought when I read this information was how the team could lose out on the Yoan Moncada sweepstakes.

The Yankees loved Moncada, you don’t work out a guy privately three times in a month if you don’t, and admitted themselves that he was a once in a decade type talent. Moncada was #1 overall talent in a draft that the Yankees would otherwise never have the opportunity to sign under normal circumstances. The team, the $3.2 billion team that made over $500 million alone in 2014, let Moncada sign with the Boston Red Sox for a measly $6 million or so. Let’s do some math, $500 million divided by 162 games is a shade over $3 million a game in revenue. We let Moncada not only sign somewhere else but sign with our most hated and heated rivals for two games worth of revenue over a six season deal

Now Hal Steinbrenner does not think he’s cheap and frankly, he’s not. No one with a $200 million payroll is cheap. What Hal leaves out is the fact that a ton of that money was on the books when he took over. The 2009 spending spree, the Alex Rodriguez contract, etc. Hal may say he’s not cheap but we won’t know that until after the 2017 season when all of his father’s doings and signings are officially off the books and the bottom line. I reserve judgment on whether Hal is cheap or not but with the announcement three seasons in advance that the team will try and get under the cap again I can’t say I feel hopeful that I’ll be on his side on this one.


I’m not screaming for new management, I’m not screaming for Mark Cuban to take over the team like Mr. Hans in the comments section, hell I’m not really screaming for anything. I just want to win and it angers me that the team looked a gift horse named Moncada in the mouth and watched as he walked away for what Hal carries in his pocket to give out to the bums on the street of New York City as long as a camera is watching. It’s madness and I’m not happy. I said if the team didn’t sign Moncada I wouldn’t buy a Yankees ticket this season and I haven’t, and I won’t. Now you know why. 

TGP Daily Poll: Scott Baker Gets Roughed Up



This was made before the Yankees got partially rained out, Scott Baker got the call for today's game and CC Sabathia was sent to the minor leagues to pitch. Just pretend the above says Baker and not Sabathia and carry on... it's Saturday after all. 

Vote in our prediction poll on Knoda.com

Tampa Yankees Introduce Daily Specials


Daily Specials


Sonny's BBQ Family SUNDAY 
Get 2 reserved tickets, 2 Sonny's BBQ pulled pork sandwiches, 2 sides of Mac & Cheese, 2 sodas and 2 passes to The Florida Aquarium for $20. Fans ages 55 & older receive a coupon for a free scooter dog, SM popcorn & SM Soda or juice with the purchase of a reserved ticket. All kids 14 and under receive FREE admission. Kids run the bases after the game.

Uncle Bob's Self Storage Military MONDAY 
All military receive FREE admission with a valid military I.D. All fans can enjoy 1/2 Price Burgers & Chicken Tender Baskets from 6-8pm.

2 for 1 TUESDAY
2 for 1 Tickets, Scooter Dogs, SM Popcorn, Peanuts, SM Sodas, Programs & Speed Pitch from 6-8pm.
Kids Eat Free WEDNESDAY  
Kids 14 and under receive a coupon for a free Hot Dog, Cracker Jacks and SM Soda or Juice with the purchase of a reserved ticket.

Throwback THURSDAY
$2 reserved ticket & $1 general admission ticket. 14 oz. Draft Beer for $2 and $1 SM Soda from 6-8pm.Silver Slugger Members get free admission.  

Bill Currie Ford Social Media FRIDAY
$2 Admission for ALL social media fans/followers. All fans can enjoy 1/2 Price Drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic) and $10 All You Can Eat Chicken Wings from 6-8pm on the Walgreens Deck.

Friends & Family SATURDAY sponsored by Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo:
Get 4 Reserved Tickets, 4 Hot Dogs, 4 Bags of Chips, 4 Sodas, 4 Tampa Yankees Caps, and 2 passes to Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo for $38. Kids Run the Bases before the game from 5-5:15pm. Player Autographs on concourse from 5:10-5:30pm.
Season Tickets
Be a 2015 Most Valuable Patron with the Tampa Yankees. Receive a game worn grey or navy TY jersey and enjoy all 70 home games at Steinbrenner Field.

Price: $150 & $50

Click here for more information
Fireworks 7-Pack
Get two reserved tickets to each of our seven fireworks nights and receive a 1978 Commemorative World Champions Ring from the George M. Steinbrenner Series.

Price: $40

Click here for more information
Silver Sluggers Club
The Silver Sluggers Club is open to all fans ages 55 & older. Receive free admission to Thursday & Sunday home games & get a $5 food/drink voucher to use at Sunday games. 
Price: $20
Blue's Crew Kids Club
The Blue's Crew Kids Club is open to all fans ages 14 & younger. Receive free admission to Friday & Sundayhome games & get a $5 food/drink voucher to use at Friday home games. 
Field of Dreams
Children receive a baseball for pre-game autographs & get to take the field with the Tampa Yankees for the National Anthem. They can also enjoy a reserved seat, hot dog & soda. 
Price Range: $12-$15
Birthday Parties
Give your child a birthday party that they are sure to remember. They'll get to throw out the first pitch & receive an autographed baseball, T-Shirt, a birthday message on our video board.  
Price Range: $6-$20 per person

Click here for more information
Group Outings
Bring a group out for an affordable night at the ballpark. Every guest receives a reserved ticket & Tampa Yankees cap. We have four food options to choose from plus an additional catering menu.
Price Range: $6-$20 per personClick here for more information

Recap: Yankees 10, Phillies 0

Michael Pineda hurled a nice five-inning shutout and the Yankees' offense scored in double-digits for just the third time this spring Friday as the Yanks blew out the Phillies, 10-0, in a rain-shortened contest in Clearwater.

Pineda's Complete Game: Pineda kept the Phillies scoreless through five frames in this one, surrendering just five hits while walking none and striking out five. Pineda was only the pitcher the Yankees used on the day after inclement weather ended things early in the top of the sixth -- having thrown 71 pitches for his second win of the preseason.

Bats Finally Come to Life: The Yankees broke a 0-0 tie with a seven spot in their half of the fifth, recording six hits and a walk off Jake Diekman in just a third of an inning. A run-scoring passed ball began the sudden onslaught for New York, followed later by RBI singles from Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira and a pair of two-run knocks by Stephen Drew and Chris Young.

A-Rod Out at Home: Alex Rodriguez solidly went 1-for-2 with a walk in this matinee, but perhaps the most memorable moment for him came on a potential sac fly in the second. Standing at third with one out, A-Rod tried to cross home on a high fly to right by Young -- but Phillies' outfielder Jeff Francoeur one-hopped a strike to the plate to retire the slugger easily. 

Papelbon Starting?: Due to the all-day threat of rain, the Phillies had Jonathan Papelbon pitch the first inning -- not putting Aaron Nola, their scheduled starter, in until the second. An unusual happening for sure, but one that probably gets a pass in March.

Insurance: Still up 7-0 in the sixth, the Yankees added to their lead even further with a bases-clearing, three-run double from Tyler Austin -- ultimately the last play of the afternoon. It wasn't a sharp hit by any means, but it did have enough momentum behind it to just chop past the third baseman.

Next Up: CC Sabathia was originally slated to start for the Yankees when they host the Orioles Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET, but since the team doesn't want him facing an AL East foe this close to the regular season, Scott Baker will get the nod instead. It will be Baker's fourth appearance of the month, and can be seen live on both YES and MLB Network.

This Day in New York Yankees History 3/28: YES Network Pulls the Plug


On this day in 2003, just three days prior to Opening Day, the YES Network claims Cablevision has pulled out of a deal signed 17 days ago that would have provided televised Yankee games to three million cable subscribers in the New York City area. According to the YES Network Cablevision failed to sign a finalized version of the hand-written document that both parties exchanged on March 12.

Also on this day in 1988 the Yankees decided to waive pitcher Phil Niekro just four days shy of his 47th birthday.


Finally on this day in 1986 the Boston Red Sox traded designated hitter Mike Easler to the New York Yankees for designated hitter Don Baylor in a rare trade between the two rivals.