Sunday, May 1, 2016

Red Sox Sweep New York, 8-7

     Maybe the team happiest to say goodbye to the month of April, the 8-14 Yankees played their first game of May tonight in game three of the three-game set in Boston. Tonight's pitching matchup between Nathan Eovaldi and David Price saw two pitchers who were both coming off their best outings of their seasons. Price dominated Atlanta, striking out 14, and Eovaldi pitched six perfect innings against Texas in route to the Yankees most recent victory. However, Boston ranks first in the American League in runs scored (129), where New York has scored just 12 runs in their previous seven games. Something would have to give tonight.
    The Yankee offensive woes showed up early on, beginning whren Jacoby Ellsbury lead off the game with a double to left-center, and was bonded over to third-base by Brett Gardner. However, Elsbury would not score as he was thrown out at home plate by third baseman Travis Shaw on a fielders choice off the bat of Alex Rodriguez. Like Price, Eovaldi found himself in early trouble, giving up base hits to the first two men in the Red Sox order, Mookie Betts and Dustin Pedroia. Betts would score on a RBI fielders choice by shortstop Xander Bogarts, 1-0 Boston.
     Then, in the top of the third, price allowed a leadoff single to back up infielder Ronald Torreyes, who was bunted to second base on the Yankees second sacrifice bunt of the night. Jacoby Ellsbury doubled yet again, this time down the right-field line, scoring Torreyes, 1-1 game. Two batters later, Alex Rodriguez continued to stay hot, launching a Price fastball over the left-field wall, giving the Yankees a 3-1 lead.
     The Yankees would not hold onto that lead for long. After recording the first out, Eovaldi gave up back-to-back singles to Pedroia and Bogarts. After walking Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez tied the game on a bases-loaded two RBI single up the middle. And then, Brock Holt gave the Red Sox a 4-3 lead with a single to center field, scoring Ortiz but ending the inning as Ramirez was thrown out attempting to advance to third base. But, like the Yankees, the Red Sox would not hold onto the lead for long. In the top of the fifth, Ellsbury was hit by a pitch, followed by a Brett Gardner walk. With two men on, the hero of the day so far for the Pinstripers, Alex Rodriguez launched a double off of the green monster, scoring both Ellsbury and Gardner, putting the score at 5–4 in favor of New York. Immediately following the Rodriguez clutch at-bat, Teixeira drove Alex in on a single to left field, 6-4 Yankees.
     No matter what he did, it seemed like Eovaldi found himself in trouble every inning. In the bottom of the fifth, the right-hander served up yet another hit to DH David Ortiz, who was replaced at first by Hanley Ramirez, after his ground ball forced Ortiz out at second base.The following hitter, Travis Shaw, launched a two-run homer just inside the right-field foul pole, tying the game at six.
     Ivan Nova would replace Eovaldi in the bottom of the sixth,leaving Nathan with a final line of 5 IP, 6.ER and 3 K's. The right-handed reliever would work himself in and out of trouble, making it through the sixth inning without allowing a run. However, In the bottom of the seventh, Nova allowed a one-out single to Travis Shaw and was pulled in favor of Delin Betances with two outs and Shaw on base. The rookie Christian Vasquez hit a first-pitch fastball over the green monster, giving the Red Sox a two run lead and setting up Ivan Nova to be the losing pitcher of record.
    Replacing Price in the top of the eighth, Koji Uehara served up a one-out double to Starlin Castro, who moved up to third base on a Chase Headley ground-out to first baseman Hanley Ramirez.  Castro would eventually score on a wild pitch to Brian McCann, inching the Yankees closer, 8-7. But, as has been the case, the Yankees were unable to tie the game and were swept right out of Fenway.
     The Yankees have a much needed day off tomorrow, meant as a travel day but, hopefully used to clear their heads. They begin a three game series in Baltimore on Tuesday, starting at 7:05 PM ET.

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox 5/1


On the first day of May the good Baseball God's gave to me, a win over the Red Sox for the New York Yankees? Yes I have resorted to parodying Christmas songs and praying to the Baseball God's for a victory tonight inside of Fenway Park. Desperate times call for desperate measure and this team has to be feeling the desperation right now, May or not. Tonight ESPN showcases the finale of the three game set between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox inside of Fenway Park as a part of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. The Yankees will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound tonight for the finale while the Boston Red Sox will send their ace and their newest hired gun in David Price. The game will be played at 8:05 pm ET and can be seen on ESPN nationally and locally.

The Yankees are off tomorrow before heading out to Baltimore to face off with the Baltimore Orioles for a three game set inside Camden Yards so you definitely want to leave Fenway with a win tonight. Root for the home team and follow along tonight on Twitter by giving @GreedyStripes a follow. It won't be the same without Curt Schilling and John Kruk to troll but it still should be good fun, especially if we win. Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Ronald Herrera


As you guys may or may not know we do a daily check in with some of the top Yankees prospects here on the blog and bring you their stats and performances on a weekly basis. Monday through Sunday has generally a set schedule of prospects to check in with including the Yankees top prospects and prospects who are closest to the Major Leagues but on Sunday evenings we like to bring you a wild card as well. This week we bring you one hell of a wild card who now has a combined no-hitter added to his minor league credentials. Ronald Herrera.

Herrera was brought over to the New York Yankees this winter in a trade with the San Diego Padres that sent infielder Jose Pirela to the West Coast and just a month into the season it looks like the Yankees are winning this trade. Herrera and Jonathan Holder combined for a no-hitter earlier in the week with the Trenton Thunder and our friend Matt Kardos was there to cover the game. Scratch one off the bucket list.

Here was Herrera's final line and his stats thus far this season:

8 IP 0 Hits 0 ER 105 pitches thrown

YearAgeLevWLERAGGSIPHRERHRBBSOWHIPH9HR9BB9SO9
201621AA-AAA312.774426.0148827280.8084.80.72.49.7
201621AA301.293321.073314200.5243.00.41.78.6
201621AAA019.00115.07551382.00012.61.85.414.4

MLBPA Pushing For 7-Day DL in New CBA


Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have already begun preliminary discussions surrounding the renewal of a new collective bargaining agreement to avoid a work stoppage and keep the players on the field for another four seasons. While we haven't heard much out of either camp as far as specifics, you know that both sides will want what the other side doesn't and they will ultimately meet in the middle, but we heard of one thing that the MLPA is going to push for this winter, a 7-Day disabled list.

Currently MLB had a 15-Day DL, a 60-Day DL which removes you from the 40 man roster and a 7-Day concussion disabled list if said player can get approval from MLB's medical director before activation. This is not the first time the Players Union has pushed for a 7-Day DL but there are concerns that teams would exploit the system, specifically with starting pitchers who would not make a start in the next seven days with off days and the use of a sixth starter. While the deal would come with much negotiation it is unclear whether the league is willing to budge on this.

This would have come in handy for the Yankees in recent weeks as they played with a 23 man roster and a two man bench while Alex Rodriguez and Aaron Hicks battled little nagging injuries. You have to think the Yankees would have added one or both of them to a 7-Day DL if they had the chance while a 15-Day DL may have been a bit overkill for both injuries.

There is a 7-Day DL in the minor leagues so it is not out of the realm of possibilities that it would come to the Major Leagues. We have all year to speculate and watch out for this and topics like it so stay tuned to The Greedy Pinstripes because we'll have it here when and if they do.

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox 5/1


There is nothing better than a New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox facing off head-to-head on a Sunday night on ESPN. Well it used to be a lot better when we could get on Twitter and contradict everything that John Kruk and Curt Schilling said but we will find a way to get by tonight when we watch Sunday Night Baseball. In the contest the Yankees will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound looking to flirt with a no-hitter again while the Red Sox send the man to the mound they signed to beat everyone in his way, especially the Yankees, in David Price.

Eovaldi took a no-hitter bid into the seventh inning during his last start against the Texas Rangers only to give up a single in the top of the 7th inning. This was Eovaldi's first win of the season and the young righty will look for his second win tonight against the Red Sox. Eovaldi's strikeouts are up and his location and pitch selection is getting better with every start which is an encouraging sign for the New York Yankees. 


Price had the luxury of facing off with the league's worst team in the Altanta Braves last time out where he struck out 14 batters in a victory for Boston. Price will look to improve his career 13-7 record against the Yankees tonight and his career 4.04 ERA in his first taste of the Yankees and Red Sox rivalry.


The game will be played at 8:05 pm ET and can be seen on ESPN as a part of the new Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. Like we said, no more John Kruk and no more Curt Schilling and in their place is a former Yankees player Aaron Boone and the multi-talented Jessica Mendoza. We need a victory, Go Yankees!

Ridiculously Early MLB All-Star Game Voting is Open!


Here we are on May 1st of the 2016 MLB season and the All-Star Game voting has already been open for a few days. This is open ridiculously early but this is far from a new thing for the league. This can open up the debate of whether the game should mean anything and whether a popularity contest should determine home-field advantage in the World Series but we will save that for June or July, and then again in September and October, and simply leave you with the link to vote for Chase Headley, Jacoby Ellsbury and Austin Romine.

CLICK HERE to vote up to 35 times per email address so if you truly want to throw a monkey wrench into this whole equation and get something changed before the new CBA vote for Headley on every email address you have or can make until next month.

#VOTEHEADLEY

Prospects Weekly Check In: Domingo Acevedo


Domingo Acevedo turned heads last season with the New York Yankees and he has picked up right where he left off for the 2016 season. Acevedo drew comparisons to Dellin Betances as a starter last season and has last been seen throwing in excess of 103 MPH. That is not a typo. 103 MPH! If Yankees starter Nathan Eovaldi has taught us anything it's that you need more than just velocity to succeed in Major League Baseball but thus far Acevedo has shown an ability to get outs at any level he reaches.

Thus far anyway. Acevedo may not be long for Charleston and may be a quick mover through the Yankees system, see Luis Severino in 20915. The way Acevedo is pitching it wouldn't surprise me to see him in the Bronx late into the 2017 season if every goes according to plan or at least knocking on the door in the spring of 2018 if it doesn't come earlier.

YearAgeLevWLERAGGSIPHRERHRBBSOWHIPH9HR9BB9SO9
201622A201.915528.1197614320.8126.00.31.310.2

This Day in New York Yankees History 5/1: ARod 660




On this day in 2015 Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez has hit his 660th home run of his career to tie Willie Mays for fourth on the all-time home run list. Steroids or not this is a milestone and a hell of an accomplishment and I will give credit and congratulations where credit and congratulations is due. Congrats A Rod, you came back when no one said you should and you put together a great first month of the season when nobody said you could. You deserve this! Now about that $6 million check....

On this day in 1996 Bernie Williams became only the second member of the New York Yankees to get six hits in one game. Bernie went 6-8 against the Baltimore Orioles joining Myril Hoag who accomplished the feat in 1934 against the Boston Red Sox.


Also on this day in 1953 Mickey Mantle hit his first home run of his career off White Sox pitcher Randy Gumpert. Mickey would go on to hit 535 more home runs in his Hall of Fame career.


Finally on this day in 1920 Babe Ruth hit his 50th career home run at the Polo Grounds. This would be his first home run as a member of the New York Yankees.