Sunday, May 29, 2016

Andy Pettitte to Represent Yankees in 2016 Draft


The MLB First Year Players Draft is right at two weeks away now, less actually, and the rosters of former players, Hall of Fame players and prospect guru's are in. Every team will send two representatives to the MLB Network studio to represent their team and the Yankees representatives will be Andy Pettitte and Mike Thurman.

The Draft will go down on Thursday, June 9th at 7:00 pm ET and it can be seen on MLB Network. See below for the complete team and representative list courtesy of MLB.com:


Weekly Prospects Check In: Eric Ruth


One can never have too much starting pitching whether it be in the Major Leagues or down on the farm and the Yankees have been utilizing that philosophy for the past few years in the MLB Draft. One of those guys that the Yankees have drafted without much fan fair or recognition only to turn him into a solid MiLB producer and potential MLB player is Eric Ruth. At one point maybe two seasons ago Ruth was considered by man to be an organizational filler and an organizational prospect but not parts of two seasons later Ruth has put his name back on the map for the Yankees.

Ruth continues to impress and has reached the highest tier of MiLB, Triple-A. Ruth is one phone call away from the Bronx and if anyone doubts that, ask Conor Mullee. Ruth may see the Major Leagues this season and that is exciting, especially if you love baseball feel-good stories.

YearAgeLevWLERAGGSIPHRERHRBBSOWHIPH9HR9BB9SO9
201625AAA-A+-AA414.349437.136181809381.2058.70.02.29.2
201625A+106.394012.2149903131.3429.90.02.19.2
201625AA114.913211.0126604131.4559.80.03.310.6
201625AAA201.982213.2103302120.8786.60.01.37.9

Castro Lifts Yankees to Series Win, 2-1

      The Yankees and Rays squared off today in the third and final game of the series in Tampa. Nathan Eovaldi took the ball for the Pinstripers this afternoon in hopes of taking the rubber game despite Pineda's garbage outting yesterday. Nasty Nate has been dealing lately, going 5-0 with a 2.92 ERA in his last six, and 5-2 with a 3.95 ERA overall this season. Tampa Bay sent right-hander Jake Odorizzi to the bump to oppose New York, who's 2-2 in ten starts, with a 3.46 ERA in 2016. He has struggled against the Yankees early in his career, having lost three times to them just last season. But you would not have known that if you watch today, as both starters were phenomenal today and this quick and close contest.
     The two out RBI hit by the opposition has been a problem throughout the season and reared its ugly head again today. With two outs in the bottom of the third, Evan Longoria fought off a 98-mph fastball by Eovaldi, dumping it into right for a single that scored Brandon Guyer and gave the Rays a one run lead. That one run would seem a lot larger than it's minimal value, however, because Odorizzi was dealing.
     The Rays righty Odorizzi was dominant all afternoon, tossing a perfect game through the first five innings. In fact, he had only four three-ball counts through the first six frames. The fourth three-ball count concluded when Dustin Ackley hit a sharp ground ball to short, where Brad Miller bobbled it and threw the ball in the dirt to Logan Morrison, allowing Ackley to reach base as the first baserunner of the ballgame for New York. Odorizzi didn't even allow his first hit of the game until the top of the seventh. After walking Gardner with one out, Odorizzi served up an absolute bomb to Starlin Castro that was not only the first hit for New York, but also gave up the shut out and the lead as well.
     With the Yankees taking a 2-1 lead in the seventh, Girardi was able to deploy No-Run DMC in relief of Eovaldi, who was again phenomenal, leaving with a final line of 6 IP, 1 ER, 2 BBs and 7 K's. Delin showed why he leads all of MLB relievers in strikeouts, fanning a pair in a scoreless seventh inning of work. Miller followed suit by striking out the side in the eighth, and Chapman collected his seventh consecutive save as he fanned two Rays to close out the series win. Seven of the Final nine hitters of the game went down via the strikeout. In fact, with the win today, the Yankees are 19-1 when leading after six innings.
      Tomorrow, the Yankees hit the road for a three game set in Toronto against the rival Blue Jays, with first pitch scheduled for 7:07 PM/ET.

Live Game Updates: Yankees at Rays - 5/29

1:46 p.m., End 2nd: A great defensive play by Ronald Torreyes keeps it tied after two. Yankees still looking for their first baserunner. 

2:07 p.m., Mid 4th: That's 12 up, 12 down so far for the Yankees. It's 1-0 Rays.

2:36 p.m., End 5th: That could've been bad. Evan Longoria just misses a three-run home run -- flying out to the warning track in right -- as the Rays fail to add on. It's still 1-0.

2:47 p.m., Mid 6th: Yankees finally break-up the perfecto on a controversial error. Looked like an infield single, but officialy, the no-hitter is still going. 

3:18 p.m., Mid 7th: Starlin Castro drills a two-run shot to left-center, and just like that, we have a brand new ballgame: Yankees still have just one hit, but at least they lead 2-1.

3:28 p.m., End 7th: Dellin Betances strikes out two in a 1-2-3 seventh. Yankees now six outs away from a series win. 

3:59 p.m., End 9th: That's your ballgame. Aroldis Chapman fans two in the ninth and the Yankees, despite getting just one hit, beat the Rays 2-1.

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 5/29


What better way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon on a holiday weekend than on the couch in front of the air conditioner watching the New York Yankees. Well I'm sure there are better ways to spend it truth be told but we keep things PG here and we're Yankees-centric so we'll go with that. In the finale of the three-game set between these two clubs this afternoon the Yankees will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound to face off with Jake Odorizzi for the Rays. The game will be played at 1:10 pm ET inside Tropicana Field and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11, MLB Network and MLB TV.

Follow along with us all season long by giving us a follow on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, or by finding us on Facebook. We're not one to put our work out there and ignore you when you agree, disagree or have a question. We're social and we're on social media, interact with us.

I love watching Nathan Eovaldi pitch so I'm going to get off here and go watch hopefully another Yankees win this series. Go Yankees!

Yankees Release Old Timers Day Roster 2016


The New York Yankees are set to host their 70th annual Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium later this season and will likely once again put on a show like no other organization can. Every year the fans sit and wait for the roster to be released but I feel like that may be even more so lately with the retirement of the Core Four plus Bernie Williams. Well none of the official Core Four will be attending this year's contest but Williams will be along with five Hall of Fame players and 49 other widows or former members of the New York Yankees.

The game will be held at Yankee Stadium, the eighth time the new stadium is playing host to the tradition, on June 12th and fans are asked to be in their seats by 11:30 am that morning.

Here is the list provided by Yankees.com:

  • Jesse Barfield
  • Brian Boehringer
  • Scott Bradley
  • Dr. Bobby Brown
  • Homer Bush
  • David Cone
  • Bubba Crosby
  • Bucky Dent
  • Al Downing
  • Brian Doyle
  • Mariano Duncan
  • John Flaherty
  • Whitey Ford
  • Oscar Gamble
  • Joe Girardi
  • Rich "Goose" Gossage
  • Ron Guidry
  • Charlie Hayes
  • Rickey Henderson
  • Arlene Howard (widow)
  • Helen Hunter (widow)
  • Reggie Jackson
  • Scott Kamieniecki
  • Pat Kelly
  • Don Larsen
  • Graeme Lloyd
  • Hector Lopez
  • Jill Martin (widow)
  • Hideki Matsui
  • Lee Mazzilli
  • Ramiro Mendoza
  • Stump Merrill
  • Gene "Stick" Michael
  • Gene Monahan (Trainer)
  • Diana Munson (widow)
  • Kay Murcer (widow)
  • Jeff Nelson
  • Paul O'Neill
  • Joe Pepitone
  • Lou Piniella
  • Willie Randolph
  • Mickey Rivers
  • Eddie Robinson
  • Tanyon Sturtze
  • Ralph Terry
  • Marcus Thames
  • Joe Torre
  • John Wetteland
  • Roy White
  • Bernie Williams

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 5/29


The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays are set to finish off their three-game set this afternoon with the finale of the set inside of Tropicana Field. We have watched this weekend as both teams have sent their best pitchers according to the depth chart out to the mound and today we see the final matchup between the two clubs. In the finale the Yankees will send possibly their best pitcher to the mound statistically in Nathan Eovaldi to face off with a thorn in the Yankees side over the past few seasons in Jake Odorizzi for the Rays.

Eovaldi has been absolutely filthy in his last four starts posting a meager 2.16 ERA in that span. Eovaldi has finally added and harnessed the splitter that he worked on all of last season and has had great success with it limiting his hits and striking out more batters than ever. Sure he still throws too many pitches but one thing at a time.


Odorizzi had a rough start to judge last time out against the Miami Marlins. Odorizzi did not allow a run in his five innings of work but it took him well over 100 pitches to get there thus leaving a load of outs to get for a shaky Rays bullpen.If the Rays want to win they have to be carried by the starting pitching so the Yankees need to be patient and make Jake throw a lot of pitches this afternoon if they want to win.


The game will be played at 1:10 pm ET inside of Tropicana Field and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11, MLB Network and MLB TV. Can Nathan keep Eovalving and continue his recent stretch of dominating performances or will Evan Longoria and the Rays offense get the best of the man some compared to a young Nolan Ryan on this very site? Stay tuned and Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Ian Clarkin


Domingo Acevedo is said to be progressing well from his lower body injury according to Gary Denbo but he is not quite ready to rejoin the Yankees staff just yet. Until then we will continue to check in with other Yankees prospects around the farm including today's showcase player, Ian Clarkin. Clarkin came to the Yankees organization with a lot of controversy and even more projections, talents and raw stuff and thus far in 2016 he may be finally putting all of that together into one large lump sum.

The numbers are not dominating for Clarkin while in Tampa which may be a little discouraging on paper but he is getting his work in and he's staying healthy. After missing the entire 2015 regular season that matters more than a low ERA and FIP with high strikeout totals.

Year Age Tm W L ERA G GS CG IP H R ER HR BB SO WHIP H9 HR9 BB9 SO9
2016 21 Tampa 3 4 4.07 9 9 1 48.2 57 24 22 1 13 33 1.438 10.5 0.2 2.4 6.1

This Day in New York Yankees History 5/29: Roger Clemens Strikes Out 10 Batters, Again


On this day in 2002 the New York Yankees Roger Clemens becomes the third major league pitcher to strike out 10 or more batters in at least 100 games. Nolan Ryan did it 215 times and Randy Johnson did it 175 times.


Also on this day in 2000 the Oakland Athletics second baseman, and former Yankee, Randy Velarde completed the tenth unassisted triple play in Major League history. The New York Yankees had runners on first and second when Shane Spencer hits a line drive to Velarde who catches the ball, tags out Jorge Posada, and then tagged Tino Martinez to complete the triple play. No, CC Sabathia was not on the mound for the play.



Finally on this day in 1997 the Hideki Irabu Era started in the Bronx with the New York Yankees. The Padres sent Irabu to the Yankees to complete an April 22nd trade that sent Gordon Amerson and Homer Bush to New York in exchange for Rafael Medina, Ruben Rivera, and $3 million. Irabu was purchased by the Padres from the Chiba Lotte Mariners in January but refused to sign with San Diego, or any team not named the Yankees. In three years Irabu compiled a 29-20 record and was called a fat toad by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner once, publicly.