Friday, December 25, 2015

How Have the Yankees Done in "Star Wars Years"


Okay guys, I know I'm late to this party as usual but I finally, FINALLY, saw the new Star Wars movie recently and I loved it. Truth be told I was never a huge Star Wars movie guy. I watched the movies and I liked the movies but I was not one to dress up as a Storm Trooper and go to conventions and stuff, you know? Recently my son got into Star Wars though and we've been growing our fandom together. While playing Star Wars Commander on our iPads I got thinking about how I could link Star Wars to the New York Yankees. I know the Bronx Bombers have a lot of success in the years that a Democrat is a President of the United States so I got thinking about how well the team did in the year of a Star Wars movie release.


Well the first year that a Star Wars movie was released was 1977. I don't need to tell you how that worked out for the Yankees. Reggie Jackson had three home runs in three at bats in Game Six and had a home run in his final at bat of Game Five to win the World Series and bring the trophy back to the Bronx, despite the fact that the Bronx is Burning.


Episode II, which is now Episode V, came out in 1980 but despite this being a thing in the movie the empire did not strike back in the Bronx. Well that depends on if you follow the whole "World Series or Bust" mantra. The Yankees did finish with 103 victories but the team was swept in the American League Championship Series 3-0 by the Kansas City Royals. Tommy John won 22 games and Ron Guidry won 17 games this season and Reggie Jackson said goodbye to the Bronx just one year later.

Episode VI, the Return of the Jedi came out in 1983 but the Yankees did not make the cut in Jedi training. The Yankees did win 91 games that season but it was only good enough for a third place finish in the American League East. At least the team had plenty of time to watch what was thought to be the final movie of the trilogy.

The prequel trilogy began in 1999 when the Phantom Menace came out and it came out just in time for the dynasty years of the New York Yankees. The Yankees would win their third World Series title in four seasons in 1999.

Episode II Attack of the Clones came out in 2002 but the Yankees were not able to clone their success from 1999, 2000 and 2001. The Yankees won the World Series in 1999 and 2000 and were one out away from another in 2001 but the team did not make the cut in 2002. The team did win 103 games and win the AL East but an ALDS loss to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim left a bitter taste in the Yankees mouth.


Episode III Revenge of the Sith came out in 2005 and the Yankees were looking for revenge. The year prior the team had lost a 3-0 lead to the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS and watched from home as they broke the Curse of the Bambino and the Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was not happy about it. Once again New York won 95 games and once again won the AL East but one again the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim did them in. Another season and another ALDS loss.

In closing the Yankees have had success in every single season that a Star Wars movie has been released. The team has won World Series or at worst won 90 games in every single season giving New York some hope in 2016, well if the past is any indicator of the future anyway. Well, unless the 2015 movie is the reason for the successful 2015 season despite coming out after the MLB season. I guess we'll have to stay tuned for 2016 to find out. Merry Christmas everyone, we'll be back at full strength tomorrow.

Comparing the 2015 and 2016 Baseball America Top 10 Yankees Prospects Lists

The New York Yankees have been building their farm system for years now, more like what feels like forever, and the system is finally starting to bear some fruit. The Yankees system, in my opinion, is an underrated one and one that is finally set to start producing a ton of Major League caliber talent. The system has already produced two such talents in Luis Severino and Greg Bird with Gary Sanchez looking like the next to take the big step to the big leagues. Let's take a look at the 2015 Baseball America Top Prospects List and compare it to the 2016 version that recently just came out, shall we?

2015

1. Luis Severino
2. Aaron Judge
3. Jorge Mateo
4. Greg Bird
5. Gary Sanchez
6. Ian Clarkin
7. Robert Refsnyder
8. Jacob Lindgren
9. Luis Torrens
10. Domingo German

2016

1. Jorge Mateo
2. Gary Sanchez
3. Aaron Judge
4. James Kaprielian
5. Domingo Acevedo
6. Rookie Davis
7. Tyler Wade
8. Robert Refsnyder
9. Wilkerman Garcia
10.Dustin Fowler

There are a few repeat names from 2015 on the 2016 edition while there are a few new faces to talk about as well. It speaks volumes about just how underrated, in my opinion of course, the Yankees farm system is when you have potential ace starting pitchers in Ian Clarkin, potential top catchers in Luis Torrens (remember he was always rated to have a higher ceiling than Gary Sanchez) and potential top pitchers in Domingo German that fell off the prospects list due to injuries. If they can come back healthy and strong in 2016 while the newcomers have strong seasons themselves the Yankees system could produce more MLB talent in 2016 while taking a large jump in the organizational standings.

* Just as a reminder that Luis Severino exceeded 50 innings pitched in 2015 and Greg Bird exceeded 150 at bats making both men ineligible for these prospects list this season. 

Merry Christmas from The Greedy Pinstripes!


Merry Christmas from everyone here at The Greedy Pinstripes! It's been a heck of a year, at least for me, and truth be told I'm surprised I made it this far. The blog has done well, my baby boy turned two years old and my oldest boy started school. A lot has changed in my routine and a lot has changed in my life but I truly think its all been for the better. We made it though, and that's all that matters.

As we wake up this morning we see that Santa has been good to us this year, probably better than we deserve. We are truly blessed and we appreciate everything in our lives and everything we get from this blog. We have some of the best commentators, Twitter followers, readers, followers and fans. I've said it a million times but I only say it because I mean it. We are NOTHING without you guys and girls. Thank you, I truly mean that.

Merry Christmas everyone! If you don't celebrate Christmas then Happy Holidays! No matter what you believe or what you celebrate we still appreciate your support and wish you nothing but the best this year and next.

How I Woke Up to Elf on a Shelf Today...


This Day In New York Yankees History 12/25: Merry Christmas Everyone!

On this day in history long,long ago George Steinbrenner had one too many beers with that elf on the shelf, put on the ugliest Christmas sweater he could find, bought a slay and went around the world spreading Christmas cheer. He was later named Santa Claus for the Yankees haters because they cannot put aside their differences even on Christmas but that's okay, we continue to pray for the Yankees haters. Long story short this morning you can tell your kids that Santa brought them all their presents but we all know that it was George Steinbrenner who started it all.

Merry Christmas all! And if you don't celebrate Christmas then Happy Holidays. And if you don't celebrate anything I hope that you have a great day anyway and enjoy the paid day off for not believing.... in Santa that is.