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
Thursday, September 15, 2016
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
“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
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!
Labels:
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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.
Labels:
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This Day In New York Yankees History 9/15: And the Oscar Goes To....
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.
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