Wednesday, September 7, 2016

Yanks Sweep First Placed Jays, 2-0, Pull Within 3.5 Games of First

For the first time in seven tries, the New York Yankees completed a three-game sweep, and what was more impressive was that it was against the first place Toronto Blue Jays in the Bronx tonight. Making his 2016 debut was rookie right hander Brian Mitchell, who suffered a terrible foot injury in spring training to prevent him from making an impact with the big club thus far this season. You could not have asked for a better performance out of Mitchell as he recorded his first big league victory of the season while facing one of the toughest lineups in all of baseball. Getting the ball and the loss for Toronto was the only MLB player ever drafted from Duke, Marcus Stroman, falling to 9-7 while actually lowering his ERA to 4.55 in a game that may very well have knocked Toronto out of first place in the East.

Although Stroman held the Yankees scoreless through the first two frames which included four strikeouts, the Bombers got to the New York native in the bottom of the third. With two outs, Starlin Castro's amazing Break out season continued as he launched his 20th homerun of the season, a line drive into the seats in left that put the Yankees up by a 1-0 score. After a ringing opposite field double by Didi Gregorius and a walk to Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann lined a single into right field that scored Gregorius and extended the Yankee lead to two.

Just as former yankee and current color commentator for the YES Network David Cone said, "If you would've said at the beginning of the night that Mitchell was going into the sixth inning against the Jays with a shut out, you would've taken it all day." And that's exactly what the big righty did for the Pinstripers tonight, tossing five innings of shutout ball, allowing just four hits while walking and striking out two. Mitchell was pulled for Luis Severino in the top of the sixth after allowing a leadoff double to Devon Travis. Severino's bullpen dominance continued as he went on to retire the next three batters consecutively, finishing off the inning with a 98 mph fastball that struck out Toronto's cleanup hitter Jose Bautista.

In fact, Severino went on to keep the Blue Jays scoreless through eight as Tyler Clippard came on to close out the game in the ninth. Clippard came in and shut the door on the Jay's in the ninth, striking out two in route to his first save as a Yankee in 2016 AND pulled the Yanks to within 3.5 games out of first place in the American League East.

New York welcomes in the last place Tampa Bay Rays tomorrow for a four-games set, with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM/EST.


Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays 9/7


Here we go ladies and gentleman as the New York Yankees finish off their three-game series tonight by playing host to the Toronto Blue Jays. This has been a pretty good series thus far but this series goes from "pretty good" to great with a victory tonight. That will be no easy task with the bullpen day the Yankees are going with tonight but it's one of those things that come around every once in a while unfortunately. Opposing the Yankees talented and stockpiled bullpen tonight will be Marcus Stroman for the Blue Jays. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

The Yankees are set to play host to the Tampa Bay Rays the next four games in the Bronx and if you want to be there live for any or all of them click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog. Doing so can get you premium Yankees seats without being charged an arm and a leg in the way of fees and shipping costs, they are free with Ticket Monster. If you can't make it live then at least follow along with us during all four games and for every game this season by liking our Facebook page and by giving @GreedyStripes a follow on Twitter.

The Yankees bullpen vs. Marcus Stroman. Let's go. Go Yankees!

Herrera, Fowler, Coshow Take Home End of Season Awards

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The Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, announced today that starting pitcher Ronald Herrera has been named the winner of the Smith's ACE Hardware Pitcher of the Year award, outfielder Dustin Fowler is the recipient of the 2016 OxiClean "Dirtiest Uniform of the Season" award, and pitcher Cale Coshow is the recipient of the 2016 Samuel J. Plumeri, Sr. Community Service award. The awards were presented on Monday afternoon at ARM & HAMMER Park prior to the regular season finale against the Reading Fightin Phils.

The Smith's Ace Hardware Pitcher of the Year award was voted on by fans during the final month of the season. This year's winner, Ronald Herrera, went 10-7 with a 3.75 ERA in 23 starts for the Thunder. On April 26, Herrera threw eight no-hit innings as part of the second nine inning no-hitter in franchise history and was later named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week for his performance. Herrera follows in the footsteps of pitchers Caleb Smith (2015), Jaron Long (2014), Nik Turley (2013), Brett Marshall (2012), and Shaeffer Hall (2011) as recipients of the award.

Dustin Fowler earned the OxiClean "Dirtiest Uniform of the Season" with endless determination and hustle on the field and played with a consistently dirty uniform. Fowler joins Tony Renda (2015), Ben Gamel (2014), Slade Heathcott (2013) and David Adams (2012) as winners of the "Dirtiest Uniform" award and will earn a years supply of OxiClean products.

The Samuel J. Plumeri, Sr. Community Service Award winner Cale Coshow has been a frequent participant in activities for Trenton Thunder charities. Coshow was a leader in community outreach programs with the Miracle League of Mercer County, the SKOR Camp at Hamilton-area YMCA Sawmill, the Trenton YMCA and in the Thunder's HOPE Week.

Coshow, who was selected for the award by Thunder management, joins Dan Fiorito (2015), Tyson Blaser (2014), Aaron Dott (2013), Craig Heyer (2012), Cory Arbiso (2011), Ryan Baker (2010), Noah Hall (2009), Joe Muich (2008), Jason Jones (2007), Jason Brown (2006), Ben Julianel (2005), Jason Grove (2004), Brian Myrow (2003), Mike Griffin (2002), Josh Garrett (2001), Marty McLeary (2000) and Brad Tweedlie (1999) as recipients of the award.

The Thunder will play playoff baseball at ARM & HAMMER Park against the Reading Fightin Phils on Wednesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 8 at 7:00pm. For tickets click here.

Can't Predict Baseball: A First in Major League History w/ Just 23 Fans in Attendance to Tell About it

When you think of the greatest games in Major League history and all the greatest feats in the game you think of jam packed stadiums and crowds rocking and the stadium going wild, right? Not so much on this day in 1916 when the Philadelphia Athletic's switch hitter Wally Schang became the first player in major league history to hit a home run from both sides of the plate in the same game. This feat would not be accomplished again until 1940.

What made this especially special was there was only 23 fans attending the game due to rain. This was the smallest crowd in American League history and for such a historic feat to happen really goes to show you, you just cannot predict baseball Suzyn.

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Toronto Blue Jays 9/7


The New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays will finish off their three-game set tonight in the Bronx with the latest "biggest game of the season" for both clubs. Let me just say that I love this time of the year. Temperatures are dropping and baseball begins to get that playoff atmosphere every night. Anyway, in that playoff atmosphere tonight in the Bronx the Yankees will have a bullpen night led by Bryan Mitchell against Marcus Stroman and the Blue Jays.

The Yankees will send out any and every arm they have if necessary tonight so if you're looking for specifics be sure to check out the post I put up a couple hours ago. It has all the potential pitchers who could come out of the bullpen tonight and how long they could go for.

Stroman will be making his second start against the Yankees this season in his home state of New York. In his first start against the Bronx Bombers the Blue Jays right-hander allowed two runs in eight innings of dominant work although in Stroman's last 12 innings overall he has allowed eight runs. Who knows what is going to happen tonight.


The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. One last time this series before the Yankees get another go at the spoiler-centric Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays can really do some damage this month with so many games left with AL East Division teams so hopefully the Yankees aren't looking ahead of a great pitcher tonight in Stroman and a great team in the Jays. Need a win. Get a win. Go Yankees!

Potential Arms for "Johnny Wholestaff" Today


The New York Yankees were faced with a decision this week after learning of Chad Green's elbow injury. The team had to decide whether they wanted to move Luis Severino out of the bullpen and into the rotation again, whether they wanted to rush Bryan Mitchell back to the Major Leagues or whether they wanted to take advantage of September call ups and expanded roster to have what they call a "Johnny Wholestaff" day, aka a bullpen day. The Yankees went with the latter, although technically Mitchell will be the first one out of the gates, so here are just a few of the arms the Yankees could throw out today and how they could use them.

Luis Severino was needed on Monday, he was originally going to make the start on Wednesday, so while he is still stretched out he is likely only available for two or three innings today. If that.

Bryan Mitchell will start the game but I'm not exactly sure how many innings he will throw. Five? Six? Maybe less. Who knows.

James Pazos got a September call up along with Mitchell yesterday and he could be available for multiple innings as well.

Chasen Shreve pitched Monday but could be available for multiple innings today if necessary.

If necessary, with the whole "most important game of the season" stuff being thrown around, you can count Dellin Betances in for two innings, Tyler Clippard for one and Adam Warren for at least one if necessary. The team needs victories and everyone is tired now. You have to keep pushing though if you want in the postseason.

Kirby Yates, Blake Parker, Tommy Layne, Ben Heller, Jonathan Holder and Nick Goody are all good for an inning if necessary and haven't been used all that much lately. Maybe two innings for all but Holder? Who knows.

This could be a long night for the Yankees but thank goodness this happened now and not before the rosters expanded in September. For someone who has been against roster expansion in September I'm sure Joe Girardi isn't bagging on it too hard tonight. Just a thought.

Weekly Prospects Check In: Hoy Jun Park


We have checked in with this particular prospect a few times already this season but none of them have been as important as this check in post. Why? Because Hoy Jun Park is set to lead the Charleston Riverdogs into the postseason! Many of the Yankees minor league affiliates are heading to the postseason this year including the Low-A affiliate down in Charleston.

Let's see what Park has done as a contribution to the cause:

Year Age Tm G PA R H 2B HR RBI SB BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
2016 20 Charleston 116 517 60 98 15 2 34 32 67 120 .225 .336 .329 .665

This Day In Derek Jeter Day & New York Yankees History 9/7

On this day in 2014 the New York Yankees honored the great Derek Jeter in a pre-game ceremony at Yankee Stadium. 2014 marked the final season of Jeter's 20-season career, all with the Yankees, and came with a plaque inside Monument Park.

Also on this day in 1974 the Yankees Graig Nettles was suspended for ten games after stuffing his bat with six super balls. The bat was shattered by a pitch and found by the Detroit Tigers catcher Bill Frehan. Nettles claims the bat was given to him as a gift by a fan in Chicago and hit a home run with the bat in this game for the only run of the game. The Yankees would beat Detroit 1-0 while playing in Shea Stadium while Yankee Stadium was being renovated.

Also on this day in 1955 the Yankees Whitey Ford becomes only the fifth major league pitcher to throw consecutive one hitters. In his last start Ford held the Washington Senators to one hit, a seventh inning bloop single by Carlos Paula. In this start Ford held the Athletics to one hit in a 2-1 Yankees victory.

Also on this day in 1952 Johnny Mize hit a pinch hit grand slam to give the Yankees a 5-1 win over the Washington Senators. With the home run Mize would have the honor of hitting a home run in all 15 big league stadiums presently in use.

And finally on this day in 1908 the Washington Senators Walter Johnson continued to dominate the Yankees with his third victory in four days over the Bronx Bombers. In those three games Johnson allowed a total of zero runs to the Bronx Bombers. Johnson started the dominance with a six hit performance on Friday blanking the Yankees. Johnson pitched the very next day allowing only four hits and no runs on Saturday. The Yankees were not allowed to play on Sundays so Johnson had to wait to hold the Yankees to two hits in the first game of a Monday Labor Day doubleheader at Yankee Stadium for the third consecutive shutout.