This Day in New York Yankees History 1/27: Giants play in Yankee Stadium

On this day in 1956 the New York football Giants switch their NFL home games to Yankee Stadium. This fueled tons of speculation that the baseball Giants would also be leaving the Polo Grounds.


The team also signed relief pitcher Chris Leroux on this day in 2014 but I didn’t figure many people cared about or cared for that signing much. Carry on.

This Day in New York Yankees History 1/27: Giants play in Yankee Stadium

On this day in 1956 the New York football Giants switch their NFL home games to Yankee Stadium. This fueled tons of speculation that the baseball Giants would also be leaving the Polo Grounds.

The team also signed relief pitcher Chris Leroux on this day in 2014 but I didn’t figure many people cared about or cared for that signing much. Carry on. 

Catch Up: Tanaka Feels Good, Hal Talks, Leroux DFA

Here's a quick post to get your caught up with today's Yankees news:

Masahiro Tanaka feels absolutely no pain in his right throwing elbow after throwing 10 fastballs today. Tanaka has amped up his rehab from throwing just light tosses on flat ground to real fastballs from 120 feet. This came after Tanaka threw 90 throws from 120 feet earlier in the day. No pain. If all goes well Tanaka will be back in the middle of September.

Hal Steinbrenner talked today and all you need to know is that the team expects and plans to have Alex Rodriguez back in 2015 and the team does not know what they will do with Brian Cashman, a free agent after the 2014 season, as of yet. If they do they are not telling anyway.

Finally Michael Pineda has been activated and Chris Leroux has been designated for assignment to make room right Pineda on the roster. I predicted this was the plan the day he was called up, I love it when a plan comes together.

Stay tuned.

It's Far Too Early For A Bryan Mitchell Rant, No?

Here it is 7:00 in the morning and I am already ranting, this is going to make for a good day. Yesterday it made me mad but the more I thought about it the more mad I got. Why are the Yankees so against using young talented pitching? Bryan Mitchell finally made his major league debut Sunday afternoon in his third call up with the team and responded by pitching two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. One of those strikeouts came against the Indians best hitter in Michael Brantley. How do the Yankees say "atta boy?" They send him down to Triple-A for a "fresh arm" in Chris Leroux.

Leroux sucks, I can post all these stats and sabermetrics and try and make an argument but I don't need to. Leroux sucks and we all know it, Mitchell doesn't. Mitchell has yet to put it all together but he has better stuff than Shane Greene and maybe even Adam Warren (as a starter) and David Phelps but continues to get passed over.

When are the Yankees going to join the 21st century of roster construction in Major League Baseball and learn that you can build your pitching from within for the most part. Instead of bringing up journeymen who have always sucked and will always suck why not trust in your young guns and let them build confidence because they deserve it, not out of necessity.

Leroux is likely the ax man when Michael Pineda is activated tomorrow anyway but that's no excuse to slap Bryan Mitchell in the face once again. Carry on Yankees family, I'm just pissed.

Leroux & Billings Accept Triple-A Assignments

Both starting pitchers Chris Leroux and Bruce Billings were designated for assignment by the New York Yankees last week and both players have since cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A. Both players have accepted their minor league assignments and will report to Scranton Wilkes-Barre with the RailRiders rather than electing free agency. Both players will probably be back at some point this season if Brian Cashman cannot bring in more depth.

Nothing wrong with a minor league deal and nothing wrong with depth. Nothing more, carry on.

Yankees Add Capuano to 25 Man Roster; Send Down Leroux

The Yankees have officially added Left-handed Pitcher Chris Capuano to the 25 man roster, The Journal News' Chad Jennings reports.

In doing so, as expected, the team has sent righty Chris Leroux back down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he's been for pretty much the entire season.

While with the Red Sox in 2014, Capuano, a 35-year-old veteran who's played in the majors since 2003, was up-and-down, starting things off strong with 15 straight scoreless innings before giving up 17 runs over his next 16 2/3, causing him to get DFA'd on July 1.

Three days after being cut though, he did sign a minor league deal with the Rockies, the club who gave him another chance yesterday by trading him to the Yanks for cash considerations.

Overall in his career, Capuano has solidly gone 74-84 with a 4.28 ERA, numbers apparently good enough to draw interest, likely landing him a job as the Bombers' fourth lefty reliever.

Also included as a possibility is Capuano starting, although since everyone in the Pinstripes' rotation's doing well right now that probaby won't happen, as the Yanks' underdog group has given up 3+ earned runs just once in the last week.

Kelly Johnson Placed On 15 Day DL w/ Groin Injury

The Yankees have placed Kelly Johnson on the 15 day DL with a left groin injury. The Yankees need bullpen help so Chris Leroux has been called up and Bruce Billings has been designated for assignment. No word on any other corresponding moves if any so stay tuned.

Yankees Starting Pitching Could Always Be Worse

The New York Yankees pitching has quietly been really good this season, it could get a lot worse. The Yankees come into player yesterday with a team ERA of 3.88 including a 27.00 ERA from Cesar Cabral, 22.50 ERA from Chris Leroux, and a 18.00 ERA from Dean Anna. What got me thinking of the Yankees pitching staff was what happened on this day in 2005.

On this day in 2005 the Boston Red Sox beat the crap out of the Yankees, there is not other way to put it, by the score of 17-1. The Red Sox beat us so bad the scoreboard went blank for a few minutes because the operator could not keep up with the Red Sox barrage. Boston had 27 hits, one shy of the Yankees record for hits allowed, which were the most collected by the Red Sox since tying the team record of 28 in Hune of 2003.

The ironic part about it all is that Carl Pavano was on the mound on this day in 2005 and on the mound in June of 2003 when the Red Sox beat the crap out of the Florida Marlins.

I said all that to say this. We got the crap beat out of us by our division and most hated rival and we still won the division that season. So what if the Yankees give up a run or two or twelve, we will be there when it matters. Patience Yankees family.

Yankees Outright Chris Leroux To Scranton

The New York Yankees have announced that Chris Leroux has cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and has been outrighted to Scranton in Triple-A. The 30 year old has been designated and outrighted before so he has the option whether to elect free agency or not but it is expected that he will accept the assignment and head down with the RailRiders. No surprise that Leroux was DFA'd and then cleared waivers as he has a 6.03 ERA in 71.2 career innings pitched.

Leroux Designated For Assignment, Aceves Up

Excuse me for one second as I do my happy dance.....

Thanks guys for your patience and understanding. Chris Leroux has been designated for assignment and the Mexican Gangster Alfredo Aceves has been called up to take his place. I was going to cut grass today during the Yankee game this afternoon but it can wait, I want to see Aceves back in the Bronx.

Nuno, Leroux beat up in 14-inning loss to Rays

Vidal Nuno surrendered 4 earned runs in 4.2 innings and youngster Chris Leroux gave up another 5 in the top of the 14th tonight as the Yankees depressingly lost this series' opener to the Rays, 10-5. In those 4.2 frames, Nuno was overall solid, inducing two 1-2-3 innings in the first and third, but in the end a couple of walks, an unfair lost-in-the-sky triple from Evan Longoria, and a solo home run from Desmond Jennings caused the team to lose. 

Anyway, the Bombers offense, judging by their 14 hits, was okay in this loss, collecting three home runs from Brian McCann (2-run), Mark Teixeira, and Alfonso Soriano before scoring for the final time in the bottom of the ninth when Jacoby Ellsbury singled home the tying run. Those two shots from Teixeira and Soriano, interestingly, came back-to-back in the eighth off TB's Joel Peralta, tying the game at 4.

Unfortunately, the good for the Pinstripes stopped there, as their offense stranded a combined 7 runners in the 11th, 12th, and 13th innings. In that last frame, the Yanks actually had the bases loaded with two outs, before Derek Jeter grounded out as part of his tough-to-watch, 0-for-7 performance.

Nik Turley Released, Greene Sent Down, Leroux Up

The revolving door in the Yankees bullpen continued this morning as the Yankees announced a couple roster moves to have some fresh bodies in the pen. First we all heard earlier this morning that Chris Leroux was called up to give the Yankees a fresh arm to throw out there since starter today Vidal Nuno is only good for 80-85 pitches today.

To make room on the 40 man roster the Yankees have released Nik Turley is a somewhat surprising move. Turley has been injured all spring training and all season long so the Yankees may be hoping to get the lefty through waivers, back in Trenton when he is healthy, and off the 40 man roster. That's the best case scenario here anyway.

To make room on the 25 man roster the Yankees have sent Shane Greene back down to Scranton. Now you're all caught up.

Yankees Call Up Chris Leroux

Chris Leroux in the clubhouse. Assuming that's the move after last night
— Erik Boland (@eboland11) April 26, 2014

No word on whether Bruce Billings will be designated for assignment or if Jose Campos will simply be transferred to the 60 day DL and another roster move will be made but the Yankees will call up Chris Leroux before the game this afternoon. I am obviously leaning towards Billings getting the DFA after his 76 pitch night taking it on the chin for the Yankees bullpen. Thanks for the memories Bruce, even if they weren't so great.

And the revolving door continues in the Yankees bullpen.

Claiborne surrenders 6 runs in Yanks loss to Blue Jays

Despite getting a solid 3 innings of two-run from starter Chris Leroux, a 2-run Single from a 3B playing first in Kelly Johnson, and a 2-Run Double from struggling RF Carlos Beltran, the Yankees lost again today to the Blue Jays in Dunedin, 10-6. Going into this one's bottom of the fifth, the Yanks actually led 6-2, but then youngsters Fred Lewis and Preston Claiborne came in and completely ruined everything, giving up 2 and 6 runs respectively in the frame. 

So yea, the frustration that is this week definitely continued today. Don't know why or how, but it did. 

New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays 3/26

The New York Yankees have set their fifth starter, Michael Pineda, and are now riding out their time until Opening Day. That ride continues tonight as they travel to play the Toronto Blue Jays in the latest spring training game in the Grapefruit League. Chris Leroux will be on the mound for the Yankees and the game will be televised at 1:05 pm ET on MLB TV, I think. Enjoy the day Yankees family.

Yankees Spring Training News & Notes 2/18/14

The Yankees were back down at the minor league complex for Spring Training today and here are a few news and notes for you to get you caught back up:

Ivan Nova and Bruce Billings threw live batting practice early this morning to hitters in Tampa today. Nova faced Gary Sanchez and Billings pitched to Peter O'Brien. The Yankees four starters all threw side bullpen sessions today including Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, and Hiroki Kuroda.

Brendan Ryan is expecting a lot of boos this season when he comes in to replace the retiring Derek Jeter. At least they aren't booing you because you suck Brendan, always look on the bright side.

Chad Jennings asked a Yankees talent evaluator about some of the talent he has seen thus far and Chris Leroux of all people is getting rave reviews. His fastball has shown "impressive life" and is drawing comparisons to AJ Burnett without as much velocity. With AJ being my favorite pitcher of all time you know I like these comparisons and just became an immediate Leroux fan.

Another thanks to Chad Jennings for the pitchers side session list which also includes a video of Masahiro Tanak throwing his bullpen session next to Hiroki Kuroda:

 Today’s sides:
CC Sabathia (to Austin Romine)
Masahiro Tanaka (to John Ryan Murphy)
Hiroki Kuroda (to Brian McCann)
David Herndon (to Francisco Cervelli)

· Among the listed guest instructors for this year: Willie Randolph, David Wells, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, Reggie Jackson, Ron Guidry, Goose Gossage

#Yankees agree to sign Chris Leroux to minor league deal (as @alexfan590 said). Canadian RHP pitched for Yakult Swallows after time in MLB
— Ben Nicholson-Smith (@bnicholsonsmith) January 27, 2014

Ben Nicholson Smith has tweeted that the New York Yankees have inked 29 year old right handed pitcher Chris Leroux. The deal is a minor league deal and will more than likely include an invite to Spring Training. The Canadian has nearly 70 IP of Major League experience that he brings to the table along with his 5.56 ERA, 8.1 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 career numbers.