Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Yanks Route O's, 7-1, Make It 3 Straight

The New York Yankees dominated the AL east leading Baltimore Orioles tonight in game two of the four games set. Making his return to the rotation, Nathan Eovaldi was given the task of shutting down the daunting Orioles lineup tonight. Eovaldi was relegated to the bullpen after having a rough month of June as a starter, sporting an ERA of 9.20 during that rough stretch. Also coming out of the bullpen to start tonight's game, Vance Whirley got the call for Baltimore, falling to 2-1 and raising his ERA to 3.16, jumping up 29 points tonight as Starlin Castro and the Yankees recorded their third consecutive victory.

After both teams went scoreless in the first(23 straight games without scoring in the first for NY now), the Yankees kicked off the scoring as they took the lead in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Didi Gregorius worked a 10-pitch walk against Worley, scoring when the next batter Starlin Castro unloaded on a hanging sinker that ended up landing in the second deck in left, giving the Yanks an early two run advantage.

After a very strong first inning, Worley had control problems the rest of the way and got knocked out of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Rob Refsnyder began the frame with a walk, stealing second base during the next batter Gardner's at-bat. With one out, Jacoby Ellsbury lined a single up the middle that scored Refsnyder, making it a 3-0 game. After the RBI single, Worley was lifted for right-handed reliever Odrisamer Despaigne, who got out of the inning without any further damage.

After coasting through five, Nathan Eovaldi hit a wall as the Orioles forced him out in the top of the sixth. Ryan Flaherty drew a one-out walk, advancing to second when the next batter Adam Jones smacked a single to center. Joey Ricard then hit a line drive double to left that scored Flaherty and pulled the Birds to within two. Eovaldi was pulled after walking the next batter Manny Machado, departing with a final line of 5.1 innings pitched, allowing one run on four hits while walking one and striking out two. Nate was lifted for Anthony Swarzak, who brilliantly got out of the bases-loaded jam by getting the MLB homerun leader Mark Trumbo and the red hot Jonathan Schoop to pop out to end the frame, keeping it at a 3-1 score.

Starlin Castro's big night continued as he broke the game open for the Bombers in the bottom of the sixth. Brian McCann led off the frame with a walk and advanced to second base when two batters later Gregorius ripped a single, reaching base for the third time in the game. Castro then smoked a double into the right-center field gap that scored both runners, giving him four RBI on the night and extending their lead to 5-1.

In the bottom of the eighth, Alex Rodriguez drew a leadoff walk and was pinch ran for by Ronald Torreyes. Chase Headley then got in on the RBI parade, launching his ninth homerun of the season into the seats in right field, extending the lead to six.

Anthony Swarzak pitched exceptionally well as he shut down the O's offense and more importantly giving No Runs DMC the night off. Swarzak tossed 2.2 perfect innings against the offense that leads all of baseball in homeruns. Nick Goody came on in relief of Swarzak and sat down the Orioles in order, tying a bow on a huge win for New York tonight.

Here's to hoping they can keep the momentum going tomorrow night in game three, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM ET.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 7/19


The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. Round Two. Fight. Enough Mortal Kombat references, it’s time for baseball and tonight we have the second of a four game set between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. Tonight more pitching manipulation will occur as Buck Showalter saved another pitching specifically for this Yankee series as Baltimore sends Vance Worley to the mound to square off with Nathan Eovaldi. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

Get your Yankees tickets for the remainder of this season and before they start selling off all the players worth seeing by clicking the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog. Also look the part by clicking the TGP T-Shirts link at the top of the blog to snag a t-shirt or two for your trip.


Follow along during this game and every game this season with us by giving @GreedyStripes a follow on Twitter or by “liking” us on Facebook. You like us on Twitter, like us on Facebook! The return of Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Eovaldi. Which do we get tonight? Let’s find out. Go Yankees!

Trenton Thunder Debut F.I.E.L.D Program Tomorrow

Thunder Debut F.I.E.L.D. Program on July 20
Field_Logo_2

The Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, are pleased to announce the debut of their F.I.E.L.D. program. F.I.E.L.D. is a Thunder initiative that stands for Focused Initiative for Enhanced Learning and Development.

The program supports youth baseball in the area and will make it's debut on Wednesday, July 20 when members of the Thunder front office and Merck, a health care leader working to help the world be well for 125 years, will come together to rebuild the fields at West End Little League in Trenton, NJ. The renovation will take place following the Thunder vs. Portland Sea Dogs game at 11am that day.

"We are pleased to partner with Mayor Jackson and the people of Trenton to revitalize a place that kids can explore their love of the game and build life-long friendships," said Community Relations Manager Vince Marcucci. "The Thunder are thrilled to partner on an economic development and revitilization project in the Capital City."

More than 30 volunteers from Merck and the Thunder will remove trash, paint the dugouts and scorer's booth as part of the rebuild. On the field, volunteers will rebuild the mound and home plate, installing a new pitcher's rubber and home plate. Field work will include weeding and edging of the infield and adding of material to low spots to ensure a safe and flat surface for little league play. Thunder Head Groundskeeper Mike Kerns will be on hand to teach members of West End Little League how to properly care for the field as well.

As part of the field rebuild, Diamond Pro will provide professional infield materials. Diamond Pro offers a complete line of professional groundskeeping products which include infield conditioners, calcined clay products, mound and home plate clays, clay bricks, marking dust, green divot sand, infield and warning track mixes. For more information about Diamond Pro, visit their website www.diamondpro.comand follow them on Facebook and Twitter (@Diamondpropgp).

Finch Services will also donate time for equipment delivery in support of the rebuild of the fields at West End Little League. Finch Services, Inc. has been in business since 1945. They cover the Mid-Atlantic region for sales and service of John Deere Golf and Sports Turf maintenance equipment. Finch was awarded the coveted "Distributor of the Year" award in 2013.

For more information on the Trenton Thunder F.I.E.L.D. Program, contact Community Relations Manager Vince Marcucci atVMarcucci@TrentonThunder.com.

Yankees Trade Partners: Kansas City Royals


The New York Yankees are going to be sellers before this season’s August 1st trading deadline. They may not know it yet or not, or maybe they just aren’t saying it out loud yet to milk every last ticket sale they can before a fire sale, but it’s going to happen. We all know it’s going to happen, better yet we all know that it should happen anyway, and one name is being thrown out there more so than others. This name represented the New York Yankees at the 2016 All Star Game as the only positional player to don the Yankees pinstripes in the game. His name is Carlos Beltran and he is drawing a whole lot of interest from a whole lot of teams including one of his former teams, the Kansas City Royals.

Many teams have scouted Beltran and even more teams could use the veteran right fielder’s services but possibly no team needs or wants Carlos more than the Kansas City Royals. It was the Royals who offered Beltran a free agent contract after his last contract ended pushing the Yankees to guarantee Carlos a third year to get him to sign and Carlos, especially this season, has done nothing to make the Yankees look foolish for that decision.

At some point this season the Royals and Yankees talked about a trade involving Beltran, we learned this just this week, and right-hander Luke Hochevar came up in the discussion as a possible center piece for Kansas City in the deal. Where would Kansas City play Beltran? Would he be an outfielder for them? A defensive replacement? A platoon bat at DH with the revitalized Kendrys Morales? That I do not know unfortunately. 

Hochevar is a former number one pick who “failed” as a starter and was converted into a reliever. Hochevar is 33-years old and comes with a $7 million mutual option for the 2017 season. He doesn’t exactly fit into the future plans and he doesn’t fit into the whole getting younger and more flexible mode either so I’m a bit perplexed to hear this rumor if it’s true.


Kansas City needs to bring me more if I was the GM in New York but as you all know and rage about quite often that is not the case. Stay tuned, we may have a developing story here Yankees fans. 

Status update: What does the second of the season hold?

The New York Yankees are at an unusual place in their history as they reach this year’s midseason. The organization is still transitioning from the Core Four era, but ever since the retirements of Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and finally Derek Jeter, the roster has been interchangeable. The team has tried to replace the players with different levels of success — which begs the questions who are the Yankees and what do they represent at this juncture?

It has not been the Yankee way to fashion a thorough rebuilding of the team from the ground up, since it doesn’t fit with the organization’s win at all costs every year mentality. But maybe now it’s time to throw out the Yankee rulebook and begin anew.

To replace Rivera, the organization employed Rafael Soriano (much to Brian Cashman’s chagrin), then David Robertson, then Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller, and most recently the Miller/Betances/Chapman deadly combination. The Yankees signed Brian McCann after the 2013 season, which also featured Tanaka, Ellsbury, and Beltran joining the organization. The following off-season the Yankees acquired Andrew Miller and Derek Jeter’s replacement, Didi Gregorious.

All of the aforementioned players have had different levels of success with the Yankees, but this observer believes it is time to undergo a full rebuild, instead of an on-the-fly-one. The 2016 Yankees are not good enough for a deep playoff run and unlike the George Steinbrenner-era, it seems the time may have come to sell off assets in order to better the long-term future of the franchise. This way the organization could surround Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, and Greg Bird with other talented assets. And maybe this could the path to anther dynasty era.

Regardless, change is needed.


Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 7/19


The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles will continue their four game series tonight inside Yankee Stadium with the second game of the series. The Yankees will welcome Nathan Eovaldi back to the starting rotation tonight after a quick trip to the bullpen to presumably get his head screwed back on straight while the Baltimore Orioles will counter with Vance Worley.

Eovaldi returns to the Yankees starting rotation tonight after just two relief appearances in the bullpen. That may not be a good thing for New York because the last time Eovaldi saw Baltimore they tagged him for eight hits and five runs in 5.1 innings. Before heading to the bullpen Eovaldi posted a 9.20 ERA so he almost has to be better now than he has been. Right?

Worley will get a spot start inside Yankee stadium tonight after pitching 1.2 innings of relief on Sunday. Showalter held him back with the intent of pitching him tonight in the Bronx due in large part to his 2.87 ERA this season.


The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. Let’s see what other little tricks and schemes Buck Showalter has up his sleeve for this one. It seems like he is always up to something and it usually is never a good sign for New York. See the fact that he held back Kevin Gausman to start against New York because of his career numbers as just a small example of this. Either way I’m rooting for the Yankees in spite of him. Go Yankees!

Boycott the Yankees: Isn’t It Sad?


You know what Yankees family I came to a realization over the weekend. The New York Yankees have broken my heart and I’m not sure what they can will do to fix it. Now usually I am the fan that will sit through every inning of every game no matter if the Yankees are up 20-0 or losing 20-0, I just love baseball. I love baseball so much that I would watch any and all baseball that is nationally televised simply because I cannot get enough. This weekend though it was a different story and this week hasn’t started out much better either. On Friday night I watched until the Red Sox put up a five spot on the Yankees before turning it off and I did the same on Saturday afternoon as well. Sunday I didn’t even bother watching because what’s the point? Long story short the Yankees won Sunday but isn’t it sad that this team and the way it has been put together and constructed has essentially sucked all the baseball happiness out of me?

I can’t be the only one that feels burned out, can I? I mean it feels like every run the pitching allows feels like three runs and every lead the Yankees get doesn’t feel safe until or unless the three-headed monster is brought into the game. This team stinks, we all know that, but I guess what is depressing me the most is that there is no salvation in sight. And save the whole “we’re rebuilding for the 2018 season and beyond” garbage because, at least the way I feel right now, I’m not buying it.

The Yankees will have money coming off the board but until or unless they show that they will not only spend it but spend it right what does it matter? The last time the Yankees went on a huge spending spree they added two contract that they are now hoping to unload just a few seasons later. I personally loved and clamored for the Masahiro Tanaka and Brian McCann contracts but the Jacoby Ellsbury contract has disaster written all over it. Who is to say the team won’t take the money given to Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran and others and give it to another drop in the bucket player whose best days are behind them?

I guess I’ve just lost all confidence in the team and the front office and that’s truly not fair. It’s the mindset now. Do your best (elsewhere), get the big contract (here) and rake in the dollars rather than the wins and the hits. It’s an attitude that we the fans have allowed by continually pouring our money into this game we love. That’s why we need to take this team back, take this stadium back and take the whole damn organization back. Let’s see how Hal would like operating the team in the red year in and year out like his dad did. We can’t do little to nothing (double negative, sue me I’m ranting) and expect something to come of it. That’s crazy. Just like this team is being run. Crazy.


Boycott the Yankees at BoycottTheYankees.com

Weekly Prospects Check In: Gary Sanchez


Another week in the books for one of the New York Yankees top prospects. Gary Sanchez hurt his thumb earlier this season which landed him on the disabled list but has seemingly seen no ill effects since thankfully. Sanchez suffered a crack in his thumb which sidelined him for a few weeks but the thumb looks healthy now which is a great sign for the Yankees. You can see the health of it in his bat, in his arm and in the way he controls the running game.


Let’s see what El Gary Sanchez has been up to this week and this season:

YearAgeLevGPARH2BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
201623AAA5926131681994051338.281.322.479.801
201623MLB1400000001.000.000.000.000

This Day In New York Yankees History 7/19: Yankee Stadium Hosts An All Star Game

The New York Yankees and Yankee Stadium have not hosted many All Star games in their storied history but they did on this day in 1977. The eventual World Series champion Yankees hosted the midsummer classic at the old Yankee Stadium and the American League surrendered four runs in the first inning to get things started.

The National League would beat the American League 7-5 at the newly renovated "House that Ruth Built" to mark the sixth straight victory for the NL. The NL would also win their 14th in the last 15 All Star games to keep the string of dominance going. It's a good thing the Yankees didn't lose home field advantage in the World Series because of this.