Thursday, September 15, 2016

Betances Blows Game, Gives Up Walk Off HR to Ramirez for Second Straight Loss

On a very autumnal evening at Fenway Park, the Yankees squandered a chance to gain any ground on either Boston or Baltimore as their closer blew the game for his team for a second straight night. Masahiro Tanaka showed some real toughness tonight, not having his A stuff but working deep into the game for what seemingly would have been a huge game one win. Eduardo Rodriguez started for Boston, and despite his career 4-0 record against New York, the lefty was erratic all night long but was bailed out by another Bronx bullpen implosion.

It didn't take long for the Yankees to get to young Rodriguez, jumping on the lefty for two runs in the top of the first. Jacoby Ellsbury got the rally started with a line drive single to center, advancing to third on a Gary Sanchez 415-ft ground-rule double. Tonight's four-hole hitter Starlin Castro then lined a single to center. scoring Ellsbury and giving the Yankees a one run lead. The newest Yankee, just acquired last night, Billy Butler followed up with a fly ball to Bradley Jr. in centerfield that was deep enough to plate Sanchez from third to push the Bombers first inning advantage to two.

The Yanks kept the offense of pressure on in the top of the third as they put two more runs on the board and knocked young Rodriguez out of the game. With one out, Starlin Castro drilled a double to center, scoring on Butler's Second RBI and a Yankee uniform in as many at-bats; a single to center that scored Castro and made it a 3-0 ball game. After a Didi Gregorius double that advanced Butler to third, Chase Headley lofted a single in front of right fielder Mookie Betts that allowed Butler to score and widen their lead to 4-0. That run came off the fourth consecutive hit allowed by Rodriguez, forcing Sox manager John Farrell to pull his young lefty for Heath Hembree.

David Ortiz got one of those runs back for the Red Sox in the bottom of the frame, smacking a sacrifice fly to left that scored Jackie Bradley Jr. to make it a 4-1 ballgame.

But the Bombers got that Ortiz RBI back in the top of the fourth as New York kept their foot on the gas in the middle innings. Starlin Castro recorded his third RBI of the night when he hit a ground ball that was deflected off of the pitcher Hembree's glove for an infield single, scoring Gardner from third and extending the Yankee lead back up to four.

While he didn't have his best stuff tonight, Tanaka proved why he is the ace of the staff with his gutsy performance tonight. Masahiro tossed a tough seven innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits with no strikeouts and three walks.

David Ortiz passed Mickey Mantle with his 537th career homerun, a 446-ft solo shot to dead center off Adam Warren that made it a 5-2 game.

Even having just a three-run lead, Tommy Layne came on to record the first out of the nineth, only to give way to Blake Parker. Parker immediately drilled former Yankee Chris Young and was pulled for yesterday's losing pitcher Delin Betances. The big closer walked Dustin Pedroia, who took second on a double steal that was ruled defensive indifference. Xander Bogarts then nubbed a ball back to Betances. who instinctively threw it to home to get Young in a rundown as out number two. David Ortiz then laced a single to right that scored Pedroia to make it 5-3. Mookie Betts then singled in the fourth Red Sox run, and then Hanley Ramirez sent Boston fans home happy with a walk off three run jack. I have no idea why Girardi decided to bring in his closer in the middle of an inning AND the night after he had one of the toughest outings of his 2016 season. Whatever reason he decided to do it, it flat didn't work and knocked the Yankees back five games now out of the AL East lead.

Let's hope they have a short memory as they face Boston tomorrow again in Fenway for game two, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM/EST.












David


Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox 9/15


Here we go ladies and gentleman as the New York Yankees begin a four-game series with one of the teams they are chasing in both the American League East and the 2nd Wild Card chase, the Boston Red Sox. Rivalry renewed tonight in Boston as the Yankees send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound looking for a win to take the team one step closer to the postseason while the Red Sox will look to play spoiler for their most bitter rivals with Eduardo Rodriguez taking the ball for the home team. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Fenway Park and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

Follow along during this game or any game this series and for the rest of the season with us by either liking our page on Facebook or by giving our Twitter handle @GreedyStripes a follow on Twitter. Need a win. Get a win. Especially against the Red Sox.


Go Yankees!

Minor League Baseball Attendance Records for 2016

Minor League Baseball Attendance Tops 41.3 Million in 2016 
54 teams post average attendance increases over 2015  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A total of 41,377,202 fans passed through the gates at Minor League Baseball games in 2016, marking the 12th consecutive year the organization drew over 41 million fans.   The 2016 season saw eight teams set single-season franchise attendance records and seven set franchise records for largest single-game attendance. The 176 Minor League Baseball clubs across 15 leagues combined to record the ninthlargest attendance total in Minor League Baseball history.

“In cities large and small, our teams continue to offer their communities the very best in affordable, family-friendly entertainment in a clean and safe environment,” said Minor League Baseball President & CEO Pat O’Conner. “Minor League Baseball continues to offer what I believe is the best entertainment value in sports, and we are very appreciative of the tremendous fan support received again this year.”

The Triple-A Indianapolis Indians led all teams in total attendance, as 636,888 fans visited Victory Field this season. The Triple-A Charlotte Knights recorded the largest average attendance at 8,974, edging Indianapolis by four fans per game.

The Columbia Fireflies drew over 260,000 fans in the inaugural season at Spirit Communications Park, the only new ballpark to open in Minor League Baseball in 2016. Since 2000, Minor League Baseball clubs have opened 62 new ballparks, with new, or significantly renovated, stadiums scheduled to open in Hartford, Kinston, Lakeland and Tampa for the 2017 season.

The attendance leaders in each classification of Minor League Baseball and their overall numbers were: Triple-A — Indianapolis Indians (636,888), Double-A — Frisco RoughRiders (463,564), Class A — Dayton Dragons (548,574), Short Season-A and Rookie — Vancouver Canadians (222,363).  





Introducing the 2016 Gulf Coast League All-Stars

Gulf Coast League Announces 2016 All-Star Team Nationals outfielder Juan Soto named Most Valuable Player  

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Gulf Coast League today announced its 2016 All-Star Team, Most Valuable Player and Manager of the Year.

Nationals outfielder Juan Soto was named the league MVP after leading the league in hitting (.361), slugging (.550), OPS (.960) and total bases (93), while finishing second in the league in hits (61). Soto, 17, recorded 18 multi-hit games and had separate hitting streaks of seven, nine and 10 games. He was promoted to the Auburn Doubledays in the New York-Penn League on Sept. 1. The Washington Nationals signed the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native as a 16-year-old non-drafted free agent in 2015.  

Phillies manager Roly deArmas was named Manager of the Year after guiding the Phillies to a 43-15 record and a berth in the Gulf Coast League Championship Series. deArmas played in the Philadelphia Phillies organization as an infielder from 1973-1977 and began his professional coaching career in 1978. He has managed the GCL Phillies to a 430-337 record over for 13 seasons (2001-2002, 2004 and 2007-2016).  

The GCL Cardinals claimed their first league championship in franchise history with a 2-1 series victory over the Phillies.  

2016 GULF COAST LEAGUE ALL-STAR TEAM

1B David Jacob  21 Toronto  
2B Daniel Brito  18 Philadelphia
3B Michael Brosseau  22 Tampa Bay
SS Bo Bichette  18 Toronto   
C Carlos Sanchez  20 New York (NL)
UTL Aaron Whitefield  20
DH Randy Ventura  19 Atlanta  
OF Juan Soto  17 Washington
OF Jesus Sanchez  18 Tampa Bay
OF Lorenzo Cedrola  18 Boston  
RHP Sixto Sanchez  18 Philadelphia
LHP Nick Fanti  19 Philadelphia
RP Jared Carkuff  23 Toronto  


About the Gulf Coast League  
Founded in 1964, the Gulf Coast League has operated rookie-level teams in Minor League Baseball throughout the central area of Florida for more than 50 years. The Minor League Baseball office, located in St. Petersburg, Florida, assumed league operations in 2010. The league consists of 17 teams from 15 Major League Baseball affiliates. For more information, visit milb.com

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox 9/15


The New York Yankees had an amazing home stand that included a lot of memories and excellent wins but the time has come once again to pack their bags and hit the road for greener monsters. I mean pastures, no I really meant monsters. The Green Monster in Fenway Park is what I had in mind as the Yankees begin a four-game weekend set with the Boston Red Sox tonight behind enemy lines. In the first game of the set the Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to square off against the Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez. Rivalry renewed ladies and gents.

Tanaka has been the best he may have ever been here in the last month or so for the Yankees and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The definition of an ace in Major League Baseball is your best pitcher but it’s also much more than that. It’s the stopper of a losing streak, the guy you can depend on to keep you in each and every game and the anchor of the pitching staff. That’s Tanaka and more.

Rodriguez is well on his way to being considered a “Yankee Killer” after a great start to his career against the Bronx Bombers. In his career against the Yankees Rodriguez is 4-1 with a 1.88 ERA. Rodriguez has pitched against extremely left-handed heavy lineups though in recent years which benefits him as a left-handed pitcher but the Yankees have some right-handed pop now which could help alleviate some of their problems against the southpaw.


The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Fenway Park and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV. Don’t forget to check out MoonBigPapi.com where some Yankees fans are looking to organize 40,000+ to moon David Ortiz in his final trip to Yankee Stadium. They can’t put us all in jail, can they? Need a win, especially against these Red Sox. Get a win. Go Yankees!

Lourdes Gourriel Held September Showcase for MLB Teams

The latest “next big thing” to come out of Cuba is Lourdes Gourriel and after being declared a free agent by Major League Baseball recently he is ready to take the next step towards his professional career in the United States. Gourriel held a showcase for Major League teams yesterday in Panama City and Lourdes, the younger brother of Houston Astros prospect Yulieski Gourriel, reportedly put on a show. Were the Yankees watching?


I can remember when it was announced that these two fled their native country for a career in the United States that many believed it was Lourdes and not Yulieski that was the ultimate prize. Yulieski was a little bit older but he has been seen absolutely tearing the cover off the ball for the Astros since Houston promoted him in August. If Yulieski is this good, Lourdes should be better. I think so anyway, do the Yankees?

The Yankees are working towards a youth movement and the 2017 season and beyond and Lourdes fits that mold much better than Yulieski would have. Lourdes is expected to wait until October to sign so he will not be subject to MLB’s international free agency signing rules and restrictions for amateur players which also fits into the mold of what the Yankees are currently doing. See the Yankees are still on a signing restriction from their international haul from a few years back and cannot sign an amateur free agent for more than $300K if they fall under the IFA criteria, once Lourdes has a birthday in October he will no longer be subject to those rules and will be treated as a true free agent.

Lourdes is 10-years younger than his brother Yulieski and all signs point to him being a cheaper sign than the $47.5 million the Astros gave to his older brother earlier this year. For these reasons and many more there is expected to be stiff competition for Lourdes and Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball has even said as many as 20+ teams will be interested in his services once he decides to sign after his 23rd birthday.

Gourriel turns 23-years old on October 19, 2016 and then all hell breaks loose for his services. The Yankees have never been publicly linked to Gourriel but when the Yankees have an opportunity to add a young player with talent for just money they usually get their guy when they want him. Here’s to hoping they want Lourdes Gourriel. Don’t let this be another Yoan Moncada incident.


Weekly Prospects Check In: Justus Sheffield


Justus Sheffield was promoted from High-A Tampa with the Tampa Yankees to the Double-A Trenton Thunder just in time for their playoff push and the Thunder have to be absolutely loving the decision by the Yankees organization. Sheffield has been all he has been advertised to be and then some thus far this season for the Yankees after coming over from the Cleveland Indians in the deal that sent Andrew Miller to the American League Central.

His velocity is good, his command is better and his stuff is just purely awesome right now for a team that is contending for a Double-A Eastern League Championship. You cannot put a stat to or a number on the importance of what is happening right now for all the young guys in the Yankees system right now, not just Sheffield. They are learning how to win and learning how to deal with and cope with the pressure and expectations that come along with being a playoff and championship team.


In other words they are learning how to be Yankees. 

YearAgeLevAffWLERAGGSIPHRERHRBBSOWHIPH9HR9BB9SO9
201620A+-AACLE-NYY1063.092525125.110747436531291.2777.70.43.89.3
201620A+CLE753.59191995.1914038640931.3748.60.63.88.8
201620A+NYY311.735526.01465010270.9234.80.03.59.3
201620AANYY000.00114.02100391.2504.50.06.820.2

This Day In New York Yankees History 9/15: And the Oscar Goes To....


Derek Jeter has had an illustrious career with the New York Yankees including 14 All Star appearances, a 1996 Rookie of the Year award, 2000 All Star Game MVP award, 2000 World Series MVP award, Hank Aaron awards, Babe Ruth award winner, Roberto Clemente award winner, Lou Gehrig Memorial award, five Gold Glove awards, five Silver Slugger awards, and many other notable achievements and awards in his career but on this day in 2010 Jeter gave an Oscar worthy performance.

Jeter was awarded first base by the umpires after what appeared to be a hit by pitch by pitcher Chad Qualls. Video replay showed that the ball clearly hit the knob of the bat but Jeter's acting got the shortstop on base in a close game with the Tampa Bay Rays. After the game, a 4-3 loss to the Rays, Jeter admitted to pretending to get hit by the pitch to get on base. So much for Jeter's squeaky clean persona.