Sunday, April 22, 2018

Fan Time.....

Hello everyone, I’m back again and so far the Yankees are off to what I think is a slow start at 9 and 9. But like any other Yankee fan, I know its way too early to be concerned and they will pull it together just like always. Don’t forget I Still would love to chat with all of you, drop me an email anytime at JamesCPalma@yahoo.com. 

 

I’m here with another edition of Fan Time and boy do I have a treat for you this week. I have interviewed The Greedy Pinstripes own Daniel Burch! For myself and I’m sure for many of you readers, I like his work and agree with most of his opinions, so I figured who better to ask a few questions. I will start this interview with a question most of us can assume we know his answer, how long has he been a Yankee Fan?

 

Daniel: “As far as I can remember, I have been a Yankees fan my entire life. I can remember my parents telling me that I would be glued to the TV for a few innings at a time as young as two-years old. I became a religious Yankees fan who watched 140+ games a year (school, etc. got in the way sometimes) back in 1994, and I have been ever since.” 

 

Me: “How long have you been with The Greedy Pinstripes?”

 

Daniel: “Well Bryan and I started The Greedy Pinstripes (TGP) on January 6, 2012 and we have been plugging away ever since. Bryan and I had a few ventures we worked on together before we started TGP including a couple sports forums we frequented, but we never really liked the way things were done everywhere else. We always wanted to do things our way and differently... so we did, and the rest, as they say is history.”

 

Me: “Anything the readers here don’t know about you that you would like them to?”

 

Daniel: “Well… generally I am a private person so there is probably plenty that I could tell that many people don't know. The problem is I’m not entirely sure any of it would be all that interesting hahaha. If I had to choose one thing, it would be how much I truly appreciate every reader and every fan that interacts with us. I know everyone says that, but I truly mean it more than anyone will ever know! I am just a regular guy with a blog. I don't have a degree in writing or in English for that matter. I wouldn't call my HTML code writing or website design "great" by any means. I don't live in New York anymore and I don't get to watch as many games as I would like to because of work or because of life, yet you guys and girls tune in and read my stuff every single day. It is amazing to me, it blows my mind and it truly humbles me. There's so much competition in the Yankees blogosphere, and you choose to read my stuff. It's amazing, and it is truly appreciated. I don't make a dime off this site. It’s a money suck if I’m going to be honest. But I hope that it shows I don't care by the way I write and the way I conduct myself on the site.” 

 

Me: “The Yankees are 9-9 and seem stuck in neutral worried yet?”

 

Daniel: “I am never worried! I’m always the eternal optimist. I predicted the Yankees would win the American League East and the World Series in 2018. It’s in black and white on the blog, and I am not one to back away from that. I stand by my predictions, my words and my opinions. Always have, always will!” 

 

Me: “That is a great quality for any person to have! Do you make a reactionary move now and call up Gleyber Torres?”

(Interview conducted before call up)  

Daniel: “I don't think it would be a reactionary move to call up Gleyber. The organization has all but said they would delay his free agency by a year by keeping him down in Triple-A, and they will stick to that. Once he is ready he should be here, period. There's nothing left to prove down in Triple-A and it isn't reactionary in my opinion, it makes good baseball sense.”

 

Me: “What are your thoughts on the next wave of baby bombers?”

 

Daniel: “I think that is the best part about this new set of Yankees, the reinforcements are here and a new set isn't far behind them. The Yankees system may not be ranked the best, but it is one of the deepest I think I have ever seen in my entire Yankees fandom. Chance Adams, Justus Sheffield, Freicer Perez, and so many others I could mention, it is borderline un-fair! The team still has all their international money for this signing period that begins on July 2, 2018. The team didn't give up any draft picks by signing free agents and the future looks brighter and brighter as scary as that is for the rest of the league, by the day.” 

 

 

Me: “Do the Yankees win the division or the wild card?”

 

Daniel: “Division by four games. That was my prediction and that is still my prediction.” 

 

Me: “I think the Yankees would be better served with this line up: at leadoff, Gardner then Judge, Didi, Stanton, Sanchez, Hicks, Austin, Walker, and at 9th Torres. What are your thoughts?”

 

Daniel: “I got killed in the offseason for suggesting that Didi hit third. He has done nothing this season but make me look like the genius that I already know I am. I am not AT ALL sarcastic either, haha. But really, I love that lineup. Gardner the table setter, Judge with the high OBP, Didi with the power as one of the purest hitters and all-around hitters on the team in the third slot where your best hitter is suppose to be, followed by the big boppers. Imagine that lineup when Greg Bird gets back healthy and can hit sixth... scary!” 

 

Me: “It’s already scary without Bird but I totally agree. Should the Yankees look for help? If so, at what position and who? Any trade ideas?”

 

Daniel: “Honestly I don't see a glaring need on the team right now. The starting pitching could be upgraded, but it has been more than serviceable thus far this season. The bullpen has sucked but the track records of those guys and the history of the game suggests to me that the only way they can go from here is up. We have all said "once the hitters get hot, watch out." Does the same not apply to the bullpen? But if I had to play along and pick one position to trade for it would obviously be starting pitching. In the offseason I mentioned acquiring a true rental like Cole Hamels if the Texas Rangers were to fall out of contention and I still think that would be a huge upgrade over CC Sabathia right now, and I love CC just as an FYI.” 

 

Me: “Good point, so do you think it was a mistake we didn’t add a starter this off season?”

 

Daniel: “I really wouldn't call it a mistake. Do I think the Yankees could have used one? Sure, I clamored for Alex Cobb and others all offseason long. Would I call it a mistake though? No, not really. I used to kill the Yankees on the blog and on the sports forums I used to frequent when I felt they made a move just for the sake of making a move. Sacrificing prospects and such just for the sake of it isn't ideal in my opinion. If the right move was there I feel like Brian Cashman would have made it. It wasn't, so we didn't add a starter. That doesn't mean we won't in June or July though when we still have all those pieces available down on the farm.” 

 

Me: “I agree, Cashman knows what he’s doing but I want the best of the best lol. Who from next years free agent class do you sign and why?”

 

Daniel: “Everyone expects me to say Bryce Harper, Manny Machado or Clayton Kershaw if he opts out but truth be told I'd pass on all three. Machado wants to be a shortstop and I want to extend Didi while Harper plays a position where we already have two or three long-term outfielders. If the price was right for Harper, a contract similar to what Giancarlo has left on his deal (not the entire deal) then sure, snatch him up and let's Get Greedy, but that isn't going to happen. I'd love Kershaw as well but I am not convinced he is going to opt out, or come to the east coast. The guy I want more than anything is Dallas Keuchel. I would break the bank for that guy, 10 times out of 10.” 

 

Me: “Okay, I can agree with that, I like Keuchel as well. These next few questions/statements are going to be true or false starting with Judge wins batting title and/or MVP.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE. I picked Josh Donaldson to win both.”

 

Me: “Stanton winds up as a bust.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE.”

 

Me: “Chance Adams gets a shot this year.”

 

Daniel: “TRUE. Even if it is as a reliever or September call up.”

 

Me: “Justus Sheffield is a September call up.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE. 40 man roster crunch. But injuries could change that.”

 

Me: “Yankees win 90 plus games.”

 

Daniel: “TRUE.”

 

Me: “Yankees make a huge in season trade.

 

Daniel: “FALSE. Huge, probably not, Stanton was huge. They will make a trade or two though.”

 

Me: “Aaron Boone gets fired in season.”

 

Daniel: “FALSE.”

 

Me: “Yankees win the word series”

 

Daniel: “ALWAYS TRUE!”

 

Me: “Alright we are just about done here, just a few more questions. What is the biggest Yankee memory you have?”

 

Daniel: “The biggest Yankees memory I have, believe it or not, came down after I moved out of New York and came to Georgia. I hadn't seen the Yankees live in probably six years before they came down and I shelled out a ton of money to sit in the third row right next to the visiting Yankees dugout. I could see into the dugout the entire game, which was amazing. Also before the game Derek Jeter stood out and signed autographs for at least 45 minutes. It was a madhouse. I unfortunately did not get my autograph, but the fact that he did that on a Tuesday night in the rain for 45 minutes just showed what kind of person and player he was. It was things like that which always impressed me about Jeter, the stuff that the cameras never saw but the true fans always knew if you asked them.” 

 

Me: “Yeah, Jeter is a stand up guy and always showed that in everything he did. Who is your favorite all time Yankee and Why?”

 

Daniel: “It's not Derek Jeter, don't kill me! Honestly it is Tino Martinez. I don't know why but I was always driven towards him. I loved his batting stance, I loved his swing and I loved that fire and intensity he played with. He was no Paul O'Neill, but he did okay. LOL.” 

 

Me: “Very awesome answer! Paul and Tino are amongst my all time favorites as well. Tino is definitely an all time great Yankee who doesn’t always get his true credit or what I feel is deserved. Okay, last question, any final thoughts on this year’s team?”

 

Daniel: “As usual, World Series or bust!” 

 

Me: “Thank you Daniel it’s been a real pleasure. The Yankees are stuck playing .500 ball but as you I’m not worried. The Yanks will right the ship and bring home number 28!!!”   

Thanks again to Daniel for taking the time to help me out with this. A smart baseball man and loyal Yankee fan. I for one am glad that he and Bryan started TGP and I’m very happy to be part of the family.

 Keep in mind folks I’m going to need your help to continue with Fan Time. Please email me with any questions, comments, and/or would like to be interviewed. I look forward to hearing from you. I’m always looking for my next victim lol. Well thanks fans for reading and have a great week… LET’S GO BOMBERS!!!!

Gleyber Torres Career Highlight... Thus Far


Gleyber Torres Discusses His Promotion to NYY


Now, That's More Like It!...

Photo Credit: Associated Press (Julie Jacobson)
Yankees Win and Red Sox Lose…

For only the second time this season, the Yankees won on the same day the Red Sox lost. But, wow, yesterday the Yankees won big and the Red Sox lost in the worst way imaginable. I love it when that happens.

Jordan Montgomery had me worried in the top of the third inning when he loaded the bases with only one out and the score 0-0. With Teoscar Hernandez and Yangervis Solarte due up next (two hitters that have been feasting on Yankees pitching), I was fearful of a big early lead for the Toronto Blue Jays. Monty struck out Hernandez and got Solarte to pop up to short to end the inning unscathed. For me, that was the huge point of the game.  

In the bottom of the inning, a two-run homer by Aaron Judge (his sixth of the year) and the Yankees were off to the races. The Blue Jays finally scored a run in the fifth, but the Yankees answered in a big way when they pushed seven runs across the plate in the bottom of the sixth to break the game open. The lengthy sixth inning ensured that Montgomery (2-0) did not return, but hats off to him for his valiant, gritty effort to put the Yankees in the win column. His final pitching line was 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 3 walks, and 5 strikeouts on 91 pitches.  Not bad for the team’s number five starter (who’s arguably been much better than certain other pitchers in the starting rotation).  

The final score was 9-1 and improved the Yankees season record to 10-9.  

While the day’s offense was primarily driven by the top of the order trio of Brett Gardner, Aaron Judge, and Didi Gregorius (total of five runs and five RBI’s), Miguel Andujar made a statement in the sixth inning when he came to bat with the bases full of Yanks. His double cleared the bases and chased Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman.  

Photo Credit: New York Post (Paul J Bereswill)
After Friday’s dismal performance and loss by Sonny Gray, it felt great to take such a convincing win. It was a game that showed how devastating the Yankees offense can be, even if Giancarlo Stanton was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. He did walk and score a run on Andujar’s three-run double during the big sixth inning but the wait for his huge Yankee Stadium breakout continues to be delayed.  

If you had told me before the game that the pitchers in relief of Montgomery would be Chasen Shreve and Jonathan Holder, I would have cringed, with an image of pouring gasoline on a fire in my mind. But those two combined for three innings of perfect relief (no walks, hits or runs), while striking out four. Holder was able to reduce his ghastly season ERA to 11.57 with two innings of clean work. 

Out in Oakland, California, the Boston Red Sox had Chris Sale on the mound to face the A’s Sean Manaea. The Red Sox, sporting MLB’s best record at 17-2, looked like they had the right ingredients for their 18th win but Manaea had other ideas. After walking the leadoff batter, Manaea settled down and did not allow a hit to the potent Red Sox offense. He was helped along the way when Marcus Semien was charged with an error on a dropped popup in shallow left during the fifth inning that allowed Sandy Leon to reach base. Manaea issued his second walk in the top of the ninth inning with two outs, which brought the dangerous Hanley Ramirez to the plate and the Sox trailing 3-0. Ramirez hit a sharp grounder to short and the A’s were able to end the game with a force out at second. It’s always fun to see Ramirez fail in big spots.  The end result was the first no-hitter of the 2018 season and the third loss of the year for Boston.    

Photo Credit: Associated Press (John Hefti)
Manaea, unlike a former teammate that now resides in the Bronx, has raised his game this year. The no-hitter was great, but he had ten strikeouts in the 108-pitch effort. For the season, Manaea is sporting a 1.23 ERA and has only given up more than one run once (when he gave up two runs in five innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 10th).  

A great win by the Yankees and a wonderful loss by the Red Sox. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Today is Gleyber Torres Day

Photo Credit: Newsday (Thomas A Ferrara)
The long-awaited arrival of the Yankees best prospect and the fifth-best prospect in baseball happens today. Through fourteen games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Torres is batting .347/.393/.510 with .903 OPS. He has a homer to go with eleven RBI’s. Concerns about the back stiffness early last week are long forgotten. Gleyber seems ready to go and more importantly ready to take his spot among Pinstripes.

Time will tell if Gleyber is up for good or if his stay will be temporary until Brandon Drury is ready to return. But like Miguel Andujar is starting to show, you can make the decision very difficult for the Yankees by proving you belong. The Yankees production at second base this year has been rather underwhelming so the stars are aligned for Gleyber to grab the position. The odd man out, assuming that Tyler Wade isn’t sent down to Triple A to rediscover his Spring Training magic, appears to be Jace Peterson. I wasn’t really sure why the Yankees re-signed Peterson, a player who doesn’t really fit the team for the long run.  

At some point soon, the Yankees will be a man short when Tyler Austin begins serving his suspension. Peterson’s a nice luxury since he can play both infield and outfield but he is the least valuable man on the roster. I am hopeful Gleyber, like Andujar, proves he is here to stay.

My guess is Torres goes back to Triple A when Drury is ready but who knows. Things can change quickly and Gleyber has a chance to alter any decisions.  

Gleyber will be the starting second baseman for today's series finale with the Blue Jays and he'll bat eighth.  

I am a little surprised by his choice of numbers (25) given that it is normally reserved for slugging first basemen in recent years. But what the heck, the only Yankees pinstriped jersey I own is Number 25 (thankful for no names) so I am armed and ready to support young Gleyber.  


The Yankees are also expected to promote RHP David Hale today which is something of a surprise. It also leads me to believe that Jace Peterson will, in fact, be cut today since the Yankees will need to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for Hale in addition to making room for Torres on the active roster. Hale has given up nine runs in 14 2/3 innings this year for the RailRiders but hopefully he’ll have better success in the coming days. Hale’s worst day as a RailRider was his most recent when he gave up 12 hits and 6 runs in a start that lasted only four innings on April 18th. Fail your way to success? I hope so.

Update: As expected, the Yankees did option Tyler Wade to Triple A and designated Jace Peterson for assignment to make room for Torres and Hale.

It’s going to be a fun and exciting day. Welcome, Gleyber! We’ve been waiting for you.

Go Yankees!