Sunday, July 3, 2016

Teixeira Homers Twice, Leads Yanks to 6-3 Victory

On a beautiful sun soaked afternoon in San Diego, the Yankees tried to salvage a victory against the Padres before heading to Chicago. New York sent rookie call-up Chad Green to the mound this afternoon. Green made his debut against the Diamondbacks earlier this season and was touched up before being sent back down to Triple-A. Today, however, the young right-hander was simply stellar as he made his case to join the Yankees somewhat dubious rotation. San Diego sent veteran right-hander Andrew Cashner(3-5, 4.75 ERA) to oppose New York in today's third and final game of the three-game set.

The Yankees got the scoring going in the top of the second against Cashner. After Gregorius reached on a fielding error by Alexi Ramirez and then advanced to third on a single by Aaron Hicks, Ronald Torreyes grounded into a double play that scored Gregorius and gave the Yankees a one run lead. The Padres were quick to respond, however, as former Yankee and the centerpiece of the 2014 Chase Headley acquisition Yangervis Solarte smacked a solo shot off of Green in the bottom of the second that tied the game at one. But, Didi Gregorius stayed hot as he put the Yankees back on top in the top of the fourth. The sizzling shortstop drilled a line drive solo homer that pushed the Bombers back up by one.

In the top of the eighth inning, Mark Teixeira belted a solo homerun off of San Diego reliever  Carlos Villanueva that gave the Yanks a 3-1 lead. The longball was the 400th of his career, makeing him the fifth switch-hitter in Major League history to reach the 400 homerun mark, joining Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray, Chipper Jones and Carlos Beltran.

 More runs were scored in the ninth inning today then were scored in any of the other eight innings combined. In the top of the ninth after Jacoby Ellsbury walked and stole second base, Brett Gardner lined a single into right field that scored Ellsbury and made it a 4-1 ballgame. Then, Teixeira hit his second bomb of the game, this a two-run shot off of Padre reliever Kevin Quackenbush that made it a 6-1 game.  In the bottom of the frame, Yankee reliever Anthony Swarzak served up a two run shot off the bat of rookie Alex Dickerson that pulled San Diego back to within three, at 6-3, where the score would stay for the remainder of the contest.

Chad Green was absolutely phenomenal this afternoon in his second big leagues start, tossing six innings of one run baseball, while allowing just three hits with no walks and eight punch outs. Green gave way to Delin Betances, who worked a scoreless seventh, and Miller followed with a scoreless eighth. After Swarzak allowed that two run shot, Chapman entered the ballgame and locked down his 16th save of the season as the Yankees again pulled to within a game of .500.

 Tomorrow, the Yankees begin a three-game series with the White Sox, with 4th of July first pitch scheduled for 2:10 PM ET.

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ San Diego Padres 7/3


The New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres are set to kick off this finale of their three-game set with an afternoon game in southern California. In the finale the Yankees will send Chad Green to the mound for his second MLB start while the Padres counter with Andrew Cashner who is making his first start since coming off the disabled list. The game will be played at 4:10 pm ET inside Petco Park and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

No sales pitches, just bring me a victory. For America. Follow us on Twitter to interact during the game, our handle is @GreedyStripes. Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Domingo Acevedo


The New York Yankees have a lot more talent down in their farm system than most people give them credit for. You see the Yankees system always ranked around the middle of the pack in preseason and post-draft rankings but these are made by people who see or read about just a fraction of the talent in the Yankees system. It's the people that dedicate themselves to just one team that know more about the depth of a farm but I think one thing that both parties can agree upon is that Domingo Acevedo is an absolute man child.

Acevedo is a beast. He can throw well above 100 MPH and draws comparisons to Dellin Betances at such a young age. With James Kaprielian possibly done for the remainder of the 2016, and hopefully not beyond, it is on Acevedo to shoulder the load for the Yankees farm system in the starting pitching department. He's got an awfully big shoulder. I think we'll be fine.

YearAgeLevWLERAGGSCGSHOIPHRERHRBBSOWHIPH9HR9BB9SO9
201622A-A+422.1211111159.1501814211621.0287.60.31.79.4
201622A311.90880042.23413917480.9617.20.21.510.1
201622A+112.70331116.2165514141.2008.60.52.27.6

Where the Hell is CC Sabathia?


If you read my game preview earlier for this afternoon's contest you know that this was CC Sabathia's start and not Chad Green's. For some reason the New York Yankees have decided to push Sabathia back a day despite his ability, and love, for hitting but why? Is it because he rolled his ankle twice in his start before last? Is it because he has reverted back to the CC we have come to loathe over his last two starts or is it something else? Something more important? Maybe that degenerative knee condition is rearing its ugly head again?

You have to remember that the knee condition will be something that CC will battle not only for the remainder of his playing career but the remainder of his life. Brian Cashman and others have stated that CC needs the knee drained three or four times a year because of all the fluid build up and all that new knee brace is going to do is help and prolong the real issue. There is no fix here.

Mixing this news that his start will be pushed back along with the fact that he has struggled in each of his last two starts concerns me. How is the groin muscle? How are the hamstrings? How are the ankles? The knee? CC's lower body concerns me every single start but I am really concerned now after this start.

Do the Yankees just want to give him, and subsequently Masahiro Tanaka as well, an extra day of rest or do they not want to even risk CC having to run the bases? They have never had that concern before, at least not externally that we know about, so I am beginning to worry about the Yankees big left-hander. Are the Yankees trying to get him through to the All-Star Game or even the trade deadline or am I simply looking too much into this thing? I'm not really sure but you'll have to excuse me for being a pessimist with this team and what they say as opposed to what is actually going on as far as injuries go.

Stay well CC.

Nick Swisher Opts Out of Yankees Deal


Nick Swisher has announced that his comeback bid with the Yankees is over. Swisher has opted out of his minor league deal with the team and will spend the remainder of the 2016 season with his family and his daughter who was just born. And good for Nick.

Here is the exact quote from Swisher's Facebook page:



“After the birth of my second child, I’ve decided to take a step back and spend the rest of this season full time with my wife and two daughters,” Swisher wrote. “Make no mistake, I am not hanging it up. I love this game with the same amount of passion that I had as a rookie 12 years ago.


“I want to thank the Yankees for giving me the opportunity to return to the organization that I love so much and wish them nothing but success for the rest of 2016. Despite not being at the ballpark every day, I will continue to train on a daily basis and evaluate my options for next season at the appropriate time.”

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ San Diego Padres 7/3


The New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres will finish off their three-game set this afternoon in sunny San Diego and most on the East Coast will actually be able to see it. The Yankees and Padres are playing in a day game after a night game so the Yankees can getaway after the contest. In the finale the Yankees will send Chad Green to the mound and not CC Sabathia who will be pushed back a day while the Padres will counter with one of their best pitchers in Andrew Cashner. This has all the makings of being another frustrating contest for New York.


Green will make the trip from Triple-A to the Major Leagues for this spot start which makes you wonder what is going on with CC Sabathia, more on that later. The Yankees hope the Green that has been dominating with a 1.54 ERA in 14 starts in Triple-A makes the trip and not the guy who struggled in his MLB debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Cashner has been on the disabled list since early June with a strained neck and draws the Bronx Bombers who have been struggling offensively (aside from the 9th inning when down) lately in his first start.


The game will be played at 4:40 pm ET inside beautiful Petco Park and can be seen locally on the YES Network and on MLB TV wherever you are. The Yankees need to get this game out of here so they can make the long trip back to Chicago to prepare for an old face and foe in James Shields inside U.S. Cellular Field so let's get on with it and let's get a victory. Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Tyler Austin


The New York Yankees found a hell of a prospect when they drafted Tyler Austin back in 2010 when they drafted the Conyers, Georgia boy. It may have taken a while with some bad luck, injuries and struggles thrown in the mix but since his call up to Triple-A and since his move to first base Austin has shown the organization why they drafted him so highly just six years ago.

Austin is hitting for power, and not just home runs either as the extra base hits are coming in early and often, while hitting for average and playing a good first base. The sky is the limit right now for Tyler and he may be the next in line if New York needs a first baseman this season.

YearAgeLevGPARH2BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
201624AA-AAA75317437623115544375.281.379.496.875
201624AA5021022461042913046.260.367.395.762
201624AAA2510721301372631329.323.402.6881.090

This Day in New York Yankees History 7/3: ESPN Sued By The Sleeping Man



On this day in 2014 the New York Yankees were playing as a part of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball and one fan was caught sleeping live on national television. Andrew Rector filed a $10 million defamation suit in the Bronx Supreme Court against the New York Yankees, Major League Baseball, ESPN and ESPN's play-by-play men Dan Shulman and John Kruk. Rector, the 26 year old used car salesman, was caught napping in the game and felt like the commentary pained him in a bad light and damaged his reputation. Okay.


Also on this day in 1932 the Boston Red Sox played the New York Yankees on what was a Sunday in Fenway Park. What made this significant is the fact that Boston law outlawed games played within 1000 feet of a church. The Red Sox would lose 13-2 on this day.


Finally on this Independence Day eve you have to wonder what the world would have been like had they had Twitter back then. While the official news that the United States of America had gained its independence on this day would have dropped on July 4th in the 1770’s the news would have likely been breaking today, July 3rd, in modern times you would have to think. Just some senseless thinking on my part that doesn’t really mean much to start your Friday.


Have a great day Yankees fans!