Sunday, May 15, 2016

Greedy Pinstripes Weekend Finale Open Thread


Where in the world has the weekend gone? Between family time, lawn maintenance, and the drag racing show I went to Saturday morning I blinked and the weekend was gone. So is the life of the popular guy. I kid, really I do, but I’m not joking about the weekend being far too short. If I wasn’t so good looking and maybe if I could trade it all for a little bit of money to even it all out. Again, kidding.

The weekend is over and so is our content for the week so I leave you with this open thread for the remainder of the evening and weekend. Talk about whatever you want just please keep it respectful. Nothing worse than waking up on Monday morning than waking up on Monday morning with hate mail and comments in the inbox.


Hope you all had a great weekend and I hope you have a great night as well. 

Beltran Hits 400th, Leads Yankees to 7-5 Victory

     On an overcast day in the Bronx, the Yankees and Masahiro Tanaka Took on the Chicago White Sox trying to take the series in a game three win this afternoon. Chicago countered with right-handed pitcher Miguel Gonzalez, whom they acquired after he was dropped by the Baltimore orioles at the end of spring training. All of the luck seemed to be in the Yankees favor coming into the game, especially considering when anyone other than Sale, Quintana or Latos is pitching for the White Sox, the team has gone 4-10 so far this season. Not to mention, the Yankees have plenty of experience against Gonzalez because he pitched for the division rival Orioles for the last four seasons.  But neither pitcher could find enough control to contain their counterparts in this back and forth contest.
     The Yankees kicked the scoring off in the bottom of the first when Gonzalez allowed back to back singles to Elsbury and Gardner, with the latter moving Elsbury from first to third. Carlos Beltran then hit a sacrifice fly to center that scored Elsbury, giving the Yankees a one run lead. In the top of the second, Tanaka walked back to back hitters, Cabrera and Lawrie, with one out. The next batter Avisail Garcia lined a single into left, scoring Cabrera and tying the game at one. They would take the lead in the top of the third when Adam Eaton launched a solo shot off Tanaka into the right field bullpen.
     The Yankees did not take long to get the lead back for their ace who just did not have his good stuff today. After allowing a one out single to Brett Gardner, Gonzalez walked Beltran and Teixeira on eight street pitches, loading the bases for New York. Gonzalez got McCann to pop out to the catcher in his first pitch of the at bat, but served up an infield single to Starlin Castro that tied the game at two and kept the bases loaded. And then Gonzalez walked Dustin Ackley that forced in the go ahead run, 3-2 Yankees.
      The White Sox, however, would be quick to strike back and once again take the lead. In the top of the fourth, Tanaka lead off the inning by serving up a single to Garcia, who stole second and advanced to third on a Single by back up shortstop Tyler Saladino. Adam Eaton, the same guy who took Tanaka deep earlier in the game, laid down a perfect safety squeeze bunt down the first baseline that scored Garcia from third tying the game at three. The next batter, former Yankee Austin Jackson, lined a single to center that scored Saladino and gave the White Sox a one run lead, 4-3. Tanaka would give way to the bullpen in the top of the sixth, leaving with a not so impressive final line of five innings pitched, eight hits, for earned runs, three walks and seven punch outs.
     Yankee fans got to witness a bit of history this afternoon as the Yankees made their come back on Chicago. In the bottom of the sixth inning, after Jacoby Elsbury reached base on a throwing error, Carlos Beltran hit his 400th career homerun off of white socks reliever Zach Duke. Joining the likes of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, Beltran hit his his stork homerun in his home ballpark that gave the Yankees a 5-4 lead.
     The first member of "No-Run DMC" Delin Betances would allow the tying run to score in the top of the seventh, but would impressively get out of the inning with the score tied. After allowing back to back singles to Jose Abreu and Todd Frazier, the 6'8" right-hander served up a double to Melky Cabrera that tied the game, scoring Abreu. leaving runners on second and third with no outs. The big man proceeded to get second baseman Brett Lawrie to ground out weakly, forcing both runners to stay put. And then, Betances struck out the next two batters, Avisail Garcia and Alex Avila, leaving the score knotted up at five.
     As I stated earlier this week, Chase Headley seems to be heating up and came through in a big way this afternoon. After Didi Gregorius Drew a walk off of newly inserted reliever Matt Albers, Headley got the call to pinch-hit for Ronald Torreyes. The 32- year old delivered with a two out double to center field, driving in Gregorius and giving the Yankees a 6-5 lead. The Pinstripers would add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Brian McCann launched a solo homerun deep into the right field seats.
     The other two thirds of the three headed monster cruised through the final two innings. Miller was phenomenal in his work in the top of the eighth, striking out two in route to a perfect inning. The closer Chapman was also perfect in his one inning of work as he closed the door on this afternoon's game and sealed the Yankees third straight series victory.
     Tomorrow, the Yankees travel to Arizona for a series with the newly-refurbished Arizona Diamondbacks, with first pitch at 9:40 PM ET.

Weekly Check In: Jake Cave


The New York Yankees lost one of their own this weekend to the Rule 5 Draft when the Cincinnati Reds took toolsy outfielder Jake Cave with their pick. Cave was given the opportunity to earn a spot in the Reds starting outfield and unfortunately was unable to do so before being offered back to New York. Cave has since made the best of his opportunities with New York but none of those accomplishments were more impressive than Cave getting promoted to the Scranton/Wilkes Barre RailRiders this week from the Double-A Trenton Thunder.

The last Yankee to be lost in the Rule 5 Draft only to be returned was Ivan Nova so if history repeats itself like it has a tendency of doing this may be a good sign for the Yankees outfielder. Here are the stats that earned Cave the promotion to the top rung of the ladder before stepping off the ladder and into the Major Leagues.

YearAgeLevGPARH2BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
201623AA-AAA291261534942031029.298.357.553.910
201623AA271161230831731028.288.353.510.863
201623AAA21034113001.400.4001.0001.400

Live Game Updates: White Sox at Yankees - 5/15

1:45 p.m., Mid 2nd: It's 1-1 after an inning and a half. Beltran gets the Yankees on the board with a sac fly in the first before Avisail Garcia evens it up with an RBI single in the second.

2:45 p.m., Mid 3rd: Adam Eaton puts the White Sox on top with a solo home run. It's 2-1 heading to the bottom of the third.

3:45 p.m., End 3rd: Yankees get the lead right back. A two-out infield single by Castro and a bases-loaded walk by Ackley put the Yanks back on top, 3-2, after three innings of play.

2:36 p.m., Mid 4th: And now Tanaka gives it back with two in the fourth. His fear of leads continues.

3:19 p.m., End 5th: It's still 4-3 Chicago after the Yankees strand two in the fifth.

3:49 p.m., End 6th: 400! Carlos Beltran crushes a two-run shot in the sixth, his 400th career home run, and the Yankees again lead it 5-4.

4:03 p.m., Mid 7th: Out of nowhere, Betances gives up a run in the seventh. It could've been a lot worse, though; the White Sox had second and third with none out after tying it, but Betances escaped further trouble. 

4:27 p.m., Mid 8th: After the Yankees yet again re-take the lead in the seventh on a pinch-hit RBI double by Chase Headley, Miller cruises through a 1-2-3 eighth. Now it's Chapman turn.

4:51 p.m., Mid 9th: That's your ballgame. Yankees beat the White Sox 7-5 after a 1-2-3 ninth from Chapman and an insurance home run from McCann.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox 5/15


One last time. The New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. In the finale of this three-game set between, statistically, one of the best teams in the American League vs. one of the worst teams in the American League we will all watch as Masahiro Tanaka takes the mound for the Yankees and Miguel Gonzalez takes the mound for the White Sox. The game will be played at 1:05 PM ET inside of Yankee Stadium and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11, MLB Network and MLB TV.

The Yankees are leaving on a jet plane after this game as they head out west to the desert to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks in their first interleague matchup of the season. In that series Michael Pineda, Nathan Eovaldi and Luis Severino will all take their hacks as they attempt to hit one into the pool out there beyond the outfield wall. It should be fun but it usually isn’t. Follow along on Twitter from the pool or from your own home and live tweet with us by following @GreedyStripes.


The Yankees are ready to bring back the Bronx Bombers and the #TooManyDamnHRs hashtag and Miguel Gonzalez is simply hoping to get out of the Bronx with his job. Let’s see which one happens and which one doesn’t. Go Yankees!

The Yankees Offense vs. Miguel Gonzalez


With Miguel Gonzalez a familiar face to many of these Yankees hitters after spending his career with the Baltimore Orioles I thought it would be a good opportunity to take a look at how he has fared against New York in his career. While we wait for the game this afternoon this is a good way to pass the time as we look at how dominant Gonzalez has been against the Yankees and how certain hitters have simply had his number.




All stats and the photo are courtesy of ESPN.com

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox 5/15


Another afternoon game in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox and yet another great pitching matchup for both clubs. This afternoon in the finale of their three-game set the Yankees will send their ace and their stopper Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to face off with Miguel Gonzalez for the White Sox. The Yankees need any and every win they can muster right now and they have their best chance at a victory on the mound searching for it. The stars have aligned and now the team just has to make it happen.

Tanaka battled through possibly his worst start of the season last time out like any ace would. Tanaka allowed six earned runs and three home runs but still managed to give the Yankees seven innings at just 79 pitches thrown marking the first time this season that Tanaka had allowed more than two earned runs in a game. Let’s not make it happen twice.

Gonzalez has seen the Yankees plenty as a former member of the Baltimore Orioles and will be seeing his old foes today for the first time in a White Sox uniform. Gonzalez is fresh off a good start against the Texas Rangers last time out where he threw 5.2 innings earning a no-decision cementing his job as the team’s fifth starter.


The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside of Yankee Stadium and can be seen on WPIC Channel 11, MLB Network and MLB TV. The Yankees travel to Arizona after the game for their first matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks this season. The Yankees cannot look ahead to Zack Greinke, Shelby Miller and praying nightly for their pitchers to not get hurt while hitting or running the bases though, they need to win this game this afternoon in the Bronx. Go Yankees!!

Weekly Check In: Domingo Acevedo


Domingo Acevedo was added to the minor league disabled list this week with an injury that has either been undisclosed or that I missed leaving me scrambling for a regular Sunday check in post for the blog. These Yankees prospects are not making it easy on me, are they?

So with Acevedo injured with an injury I know nothing about leaving him out for a time that I know nothing about I won’t waste much time here. He’s injured and here are his stats when he went down. I am hoping for a quick DL stint and a quick return because Acevedo seemed to be on the fast track through the system this year and next.


Get well soon Domingo!

This Day in New York Yankees History 5/15: Ty Cobb Beats Up a Cripple


On this day in 1961 the George Steinbrenner owned Cleveland Pipers of the American Basketball League hired John McLendon Jr. as their head coach. McLendon would be the first African American to be named to a top leadership position in any major professional sport. McLendon was well respected in the college ranks as a coach but would leave the job midway through the 1961-1962 ABL season due to interference from the front office. Interference from the front office on a George Steinbrenner run team? Say it isn’t so.


Also on this day in 1941 Joe DiMaggio began his 56 game hitting streak, spoiler alert, with a hit against the White Sox Edgar Smith. DiMaggio would collect at least one hit in every single game until July 17. The streak would be ended in Cleveland with the help of a couple outstanding defensive plays at third base by Ken Keltner.


Finally on this day in 1912 Ty Cobb grew tired of listening to heckling by Yankee fans and jumped into the stands near the Tigers dugout at Hilltop Park and pummeled a handicapped fan. Otto Blotz was the man who could not defend himself against the "Georgia Peach" as he only had one hand. Class act right there.