And just like that it is game time here inside Target Field
as the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins finish up their three-game set.
In the finale of the series tonight the Yankees will send Luis Severino out to
the mound to face off with Jake Odorizzi for the Twins. The game will be played
at 8:10 pm ET inside Target Field in Minnesota and can be seen on the YES
Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat
app, and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling
and Suzyn Waldman.
Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us on
Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to keep up with us and the team all season
long. Enjoy the game, head into the off day with a victory, and go Yankees!!
The New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins will finish off
their three-game set and their season set tonight inside Target Field with the
finale of the series. In the finale the Yankees will send Luis Severino to the
mound on an extra day of rest to face off with Jake Odorizzi for the Twins. Must
win for the Yankees with the A’s nipping at their feet, so let’s get to it here
inside Target Field.
Severino heads into the start tonight fresh off his shortest
outing of the season last time out against the Oakland Athletics. In the start
Severino lasted just 2.2 innings while allowing six runs in the Yankees 8-2
loss out in Oakland. Since July 7th Severino has posted a 4-5 record
with a 6.83 ERA in 11 starts and the Yankees hope an extra day of rest can help
the right-hander turn things around.
Odorizzi also struggled in his last start against the
Houston Astros where the right-hander gave up five runs in 4.2 innings pitched
in a loss. Odorizzi was strong early, but it all came apart in the fifth
innings, which has been an issue for him all season long.
The game will be played at 8:10 pm ET inside Target Field in
Minnesota and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with
the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app, and by tuning into the Yankees
radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.
Enjoy the game, gain some breathing room in the Wild Card
chase, and go Yankees!!
Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. As
many of you know earlier this year I wrote a book, well I wrote another. Here is
Chapter 1. Enjoy. And baby, I hope you especially enjoy because these books are
for you. They are our love story!! I love you.
From Defiance to Undefeated, available for purchase on Amazon.
Prologue
Standing in a room called the Hygge House are the last known
remaining members of the Valkyries regime, the faction of men and women that
once ran and owned the Land of Bartow. Dan, the former Valkyries council member
and Territories expert that was in charge of not only keeping the Valkyries
safe, but was also in charge of keeping tabs on the numerous splinter cells of
resistance that popped up across the region, namely the group called Defiance.
Andy, the former leader of the Valkyries after one of their own, a Defiance spy
and operative working undercover, assassinated the former leader, Poke. Andy’s
first decision as leader of the Valkyries ended up being his last after his
orders to send the entire Valkyries military out to attack in response to the assassination
kicked off the plan for Defiance to take over not only their compound, but all
of Bartow. Jax, another leader of the Valkyries council and the man in charge
of recruitment for the entire Valkyries regime. Jax had brought in many heavy
hitters during his time with the Valkyries and his charm and skills as a
recruiter were unmatched until Defiance came along. Jax could see things in
people that many others couldn’t or wouldn’t. Jax saw potential in people that
no one else did, and for that he was special.
Zero, the leader of the Valkyries military and war machine.
Zero could have been the leader of the Valkyries, or in their council in the
very least, but he always decided to simply stay where he was atop the
Valkyries war list. If the towers needed taken, the opposing generals needed to
be blown up, or if the final blow of the war needed to be handed down Zero was
the man to do it. Zero led the Valkyries military with pride, precision and a
heavy hand that you didn’t want to get in the way of when he was on a mission.
Adam, a member of the Valkyries military that worked under Zero. Adam preferred
to stay quiet and out of the limelight with his head down doing his job. Adam
didn’t speak much but when he did his commanding presence and authoritative voice
to match demanded the attention of the room. Phil, a member of the Valkyries
military that also worked under Zero and with Adam. Phil was small in stature
and his voice did not command the attention of a room, but there must have been
a reason he was in the Valkyries military. Whether it be his brains, his brawn,
or the fact that he had a wild streak that didn’t mix well with adrenaline
remained to be seen, but there was certainly a reason he was picked by Zero to
work under him.
These were the six remaining Valkyries, at least to the best
of their knowledge, and they were all huddled up in a place north of their
former compound in a house known as the Hygge House. After their battle with
Defiance had come to an end with devastating losses and casualties for the
Valkyries their remaining members and soldiers were left to pick up the pieces.
Now the crew was left with the decision of what to do next. Do they run and
hide? Do they try to rebuild and bring the fight back to Defiance? Or do they
sell their souls in exchange for security, peace, food and a home to join
Defiance?
No one knew right now, but they were all about to figure it
out rather quickly.
Chapter 1 Six
Remain
“So, what are we going to do now?”
In the Hygge House stood the six remaining Valkyries left
after their brutal war with Defiance. The Valkyries took heavy losses and had
lost control not only of their compound, but of Bartow as well. Like the
Valkyries had done to Scopely all those years ago Defiance showed off their
might and seized control over the region. The Valkyries as everyone knew them
were gone, they had fallen, but if anything, the war with the Defiance gave the
remaining Valkyries members something they never would have had before, a clean
slate. As far as anyone knew all the remaining members of the Valkyries were
dead, and with the amount of revolutionary leaders that Dan had seen die before
his eyes there were fewer and fewer people that could even identify these six
men even if they wanted to. They could run, but where would they run to? They
could hide, but no one really knew who they would be hiding from. The group
could try to blend in, but Nacho, the leader of Defiance, had seen Dan’s face
as well as many others including the Phoenix Rises members that joined Defiance
along with Dan’s girlfriend, Kari Ann. Tee, Gee and Darth could all identify
Dan. So, what would they do? The group of six sat in the empty room surrounded
by nothing but glass panes and brainstormed.
“I think we have to run, bro!” Jax exclaimed to the group.
“Where the hell are we running to, Jax?” Andy questioned.
“Hell, I don’t know, but we can’t stay here” Jax replied,
sounding almost annoyed.
“Why can’t we stay here?” Zero was speaking up now. “Nobody
knows where this place is but Daizie, who is dead, and the Valkyries, which are
all in this room as far as we know.”
“As far as we know!” Adam was speaking up now. “We don’t
know who the hell is alive out there. None of us thought that Dan was alive.
None of us saw Phil lying there besides the Ultra-Rare Gear shop. There could
be Valkyries still out there!”
“Yeah, and we don’t who was working with Defiance from
within. This wasn’t just a coincidence that they knew just when to hit, and
where. Someone was spying for them from within the Valkyries, I just know it.”
Andy didn’t know about Jessica apparently, not yet anyway.
“Jessica…” was all that Dan was able to mutter amidst all
the talking that was going on. Dan knew he was going to have to tell the story
that Jessica told him, and he knew that he was about to break at least five
more people’s hearts by doing so.
“Yeah, did anyone see Jessica when all this shit started?”
Jax asked the question that Dan was waiting for someone to ask. The question
that would jump start his story.
“I saw Jessica, yeah. I saw Jessica in her house right
before I jumped the wall, and she was meeting with the leader of Defiance. His
name is Nacho.” Dan began to tell his story as the jaws of the Valkyries
members collected in the room seemingly dropped all at once. Dan revealed every
detail to the men that stood in that room beside him. Dan told them how she was
abducted by a man named Fox and he told them how they held medical treatments
over her head in exchange for her cooperation. Dan explained to the Valkyries
how Jessica infiltrated the Valkyries council, and Poke specifically, with the
intent of bringing down the Valkyries after spending time with the rebel group
named Kill All and Dan explained how she was the one that ordered Dan to be
abducted, much like she was however many years before. Dan explained to them
that it was Jessica, or “Light” which was apparently her code name with
Defiance, that came over the wall and set off the alarms, seemingly on purpose,
the night that Dan was abducted, and it was Jessica that sent Fox to his home
with orders to burn it down and to kill Dan if he resisted.
The room was silent, and all eyes were on Dan. He had their
full attentions as he continued to recant his story of what happened just a few
hours prior within the home that Jessica and Dan shared. Dan explained how it
was Jessica who pulled the trigger, killing Poke the fallen leader of the
Valkyries and he explained how it was her who tipped off Defiance that the
military was on its way in full force outside the walls of the compound and
headed towards Phoenix Rises. Dan told them everything, even down to the
smallest of details. Dan especially told them about when her story was just
about over how Nacho busted into the room and put a bullet through her head as
if she was no longer useful to Defiance or to their leader any longer, discarding
her like yesterday’s trash.
“… and before I knew it Nacho was gone from the room, and
from the house, and I was left there watching who I thought was my friend bleed
out. I knew I couldn’t stay there and I knew I had to get out, so I took off running
from the house and I jumped the wall closest to the armory. I didn’t know where
else to go, so I came here hoping that a few of us made it and would follow.”
Dan was done telling his story, but he knew he left out many key pieces of
information. Dan never mentioned Kari, not even once, or the fact that he had
been outside the walls and inside the Phoenix base strapped to a table as a
prisoner as the assault began from the Valkyries military. Dan also left out
that he had a choice whether to join Revolution or not after he was abducted.
Sure, declining meant death but how could Dan justify his decision in that way
when Ellie, his partner within the Valkyries territories room, was given the
same choice and declined. Ellie sacrificed her life to die as a Valkyrie rather
than live as a traitor to the regime, a decision that Dan would have to live
with for the remainder of his days here in Bartow.
“There was one thing I remember from Jessica’s story that
may be able to help us though, if we do it right. Maybe it can give us a
starting point anyway.” Dan had the attention of the room as a glimmer of hope
came across many of the eyes of the remaining Valkyries members. “When Jessica
was talking to Nacho in the kitchen I overheard her talking about a man named
ABB, and a place called ‘The Peach.’ Does anyone know a place like that? Or a
man named ABB?” Silence overtook the room as the remaining members of the
Valkyries all racked their brains trying to think if they ever heard of ABB or
The Peach until finally Phil spoke up.
“I know what The Peach is… it is a bar maybe 30 miles or so
from here. I know exactly where it is. You think if we went there we would be
able to find other Valks?” Phil now had the attention of the room, but he
really had the attention of Dan. Members of the Valkyries never referred to
themselves as “Valks.” In fact, most members of the Valkyries hated being
called Valks, it was almost like a condescending term to them. Poke would never
allow a member of his Valkyries to call one another Valks, so it was weird when
Dan heard that word come out of Phil’s mouth. Dan never mentioned this in front
of the group, he knew he could just paranoid at this point after everything
that has gone down and he knew that he may be looking to deeply into it. For
all Dan knew, Phil could be a new Valkyrie and he just didn’t have that rule
cemented into his head yet like the rest of the Valkyries did. Jax was in
charge of recruiting, not Dan, and he didn’t bat an eye when Phil said it. Dan
quickly put the idea out of his head and chalked it up to just being paranoid,
although that didn’t mean he was going to forget it completely.
“Well, going to The Peach is a better lead than anything
else we have to go on. Let’s go!” Andy was still leading the Valkyries, even
from the dirt and no longer from the throne, and his Valkyries followed. No one
questioned Andy, everyone simply gathered their things and they began shuffling
out the door of the Hygge House and back into the unknown. No one knew what
they would find when they got to The Peach, but each one of them knew that the
five men they stood with was all that they had at that moment, with the
exception of Dan who had Kari still in his life. As Dan packed his bags and
began walking towards the door thoughts of his beautiful blue-eyed vixen came
to his mind. He wished he had time to call her back on his laptop. Even more so
he wished that she didn’t have to be such a secret, a feeling that I am sure
she reciprocated for Dan. She was patient though and never said a word, but Dan
knew that she would grow tired of this secretive world eventually. “Cross that
bridge when you get there Dan, if we even get there” he thought to himself as
he walked out the door and began his march towards The Peach.
Today is the full reporting date for the New York Yankees with the arrival of all remaining position players. It’s an exciting day for the Yankees Universe as the Pinstripers begin preparations for what hopefully will lead to the 28th World Championship for MLB’s most storied franchise and our favorite team.
Even though the Yankees were not in the news, it was a very active Saturday night around Major League Baseball last evening.
The evening started with news that the Tampa Bay Rays had acquired first baseman/DH C.J. Cron from the Los Angeles Angels. The Cron move, from the Angels perspective, makes sense. Shohei Otani is expected to take DH time away from Albert Pujols, which will force Pujols to play more first base than he did last year (143 games at DH, 6 games at first). Luis Valbuena has the ability to handle both infield corners, whereas Cron was strictly 1B/DH, making the latter the more expendable of the two. I honestly do not understand the move from the Rays perspective. They have a need at first base given that Lucas Duda and Logan Morrison, last year’s first basemen, are both currently free agents and not expected to re-sign with the Rays. But to make room for Cron, they designated outfielder Corey Dickerson, the Rays’ sole representative on last year’s AL All-Star team, for assignment. Dickerson hit .282 last season with 27 home runs and 62 RBI’s (carrying a respectable .815 OPS). The Rays either have a specific trade in mind or they know they have good trade alternatives to consider for Dickerson who will never see the waiver wire.
The Rays weren’t finished. They followed the Cron trade by sending starter Jake Odorizzi to the Minnesota Twins for shortstop Jermaine Palacios. While I did not want a fly ball pitcher like Odorizzi pitching for the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, I was surprised by the low cost for Minnesota to acquire the pitcher. Zack Littell, one of the prospects that the Yankees sent to the Twins in last year’s head-scratching trade for Jaime Garcia, is rated significantly higher among prospects in the Twins organization than Palacios. Good move by the Twins, but apparently, Tampa Bay Rays GM Erik Neander was drunk-dialing his friends last night. His first words this morning probably were, “OMG, I did what?” Maybe Yankees GM Brian Cashman should have called Neander last night to ask about Chris Archer.
The evening was capped by the long-awaited and much-anticipated free agent signing of first baseman Eric Hosmer by the San Diego Padres. Hosmer joins the now bearded former Yankee Chase Headley in lovely San Diego. Hosmer’s deal has two components. 5 years guaranteed for $105 million, with an opt-in for an additional 3 years and $39 million after 2022. Agent Scott Boras ensured that the contract was front-loaded for his client in what has been a very stagnant free agent market. The Hosmer signing has ramifications for several other players. Hosmer was viewed as a potential fall-back for the Boston Red Sox if they are unsuccessful in their stare-down with free agent outfielder J.D. Martinez. The move also increases the likelihood Mike Moustakas re-signs with the Kansas City Royals. The Royals preferred Hosmer over Moustakas but now that Hosmer is off the table, the Royals will most likely attempt to bring back Moose Tacos, eliminating any thoughts that the third baseman might accept a one year pillow contract with the Yankees.
It’s only been a few days but I am very impressed with how Gleyber Torres has handled himself this spring. He’s so young (21) but he shows maturity beyond his years. He has made a very strong effort to converse in English which is never an easy thing to do. Most of us raised with English as our primary language struggle with it. Torres wants to make the Opening Day roster but he has stated he would understand if he has to go to the minors to start the season. His words, from what I’ve seen, are team-oriented and not selfish like some players. He is my favorite to be the Yankees starting second baseman, either on Opening Day or within a few weeks after the season has started. Even though the Yankees have publicly stated that service time will not be a consideration, I am convinced the Yankees, given a choice, would wait to start Gleyber’s service time clock to delay free agency by a year. He is an exciting player and once he grabs second base, he’ll be a long-term fixture in the Bronx.
Photo Credit: New York Post (Charles Wenzelberg)
It may be inevitable that Manny Machado and the Yankees join forces after the season, but I have reservations. Manny will head into the season as Baltimore’s starting shortstop, his preferred position, and is making comments that he expects to player there for a very long time. According to Machado, “This is where my heart has always been, this is what I’ve wanted to do. This is what I’ve always wanted to do. This what I came into this world to do — to play shortstop at the big league level. Finally, Buck and the Baltimore organization are giving me the opportunity to go out there and do what I can at that position and show myself. That’s been my dream all along. I’m really looking forward to it.” Machado added, “Once I do it this year, it’s not something that’s just switching off. I’m making the transition. Hopefully, I want to stay there and continue doing it. This is where my heart has always been. Finally getting an opportunity to do it for a full season. I’m looking forward to it, and hopefully I can continue playing [shortstop] for a long time.” I’ve seen comments say the Yankees would/should move Didi Gregorius to third base to accommodate Machado. I am sorry but that’s not a price I think the Yankees should pay. Didi has earned the right to be the team’s starting shortstop. He’s such a team guy that I am sure he’d make the move if asked, but why should he? I like Machado but there are other options. I really hope that Miguel Andujar grabs third base this year and runs with it, eliminating the need for Machado. The plan for next offseason should not be ‘Machado or Bust’ unless he recognizes that the only path to the Bronx is and should be third base. Andujar has the ability to make this entire issue moot.
Photo Credit: Getty Images (Jonathan Daniel)
Here are the number assignments for the Yankees coaching staff (thanks to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com):
17-Aaron Boone, Manager
59-Josh Bard, Bench Coach
60-Mike Harkey, Bullpen Coach
64-Carlos Mendoza, Infield Coordinator/Quality Control Coach
53-Phil Nevin, Third Base Coach
63-P.J. Pilittere, Assistant Hitting Coach
58-Larry Rothschild, Pitching Coach
62-Marcus Thames, Hitting Coach
50-Reggie Willits, First Base Coach/Outfield Instructor
It’s going to be fun to watch the coming days at Steinbrenner Field. Granted, it will be a disappointment if this year’s team falls short of its quest for a World Championship, but the ride is going to be magnificent. Welcome Yankees, one and all! Let’s get to work.
Aaron Boone is present and accounted for in Tampa…
As we bear down on the reporting date for pitchers and catchers (with many players already at camp) in a few days, it has continued to be very quiet for the Yankees and their primary division rival, the Boston Red Sox.
It really does not feel like there is any team willing to match or exceed the alleged offer made to free agent outfielder J.D. Martinez by the Red Sox. There has been some talk that the Arizona Diamondbacks could come up with a $100 million contract offer but they’d need to move salary to make it happen (sounds like the Yankees and their interest in free agent starting pitcher Yu Darvish except their ‘Jacoby Ellsbury-like’ albatross is the heavy contract of starting pitcher Zack Greinke who at least remains a vital part of the team’s plans). Martinez would prefer to play right field which probably makes Phoenix more desirable (to him) than Boston but I remain convinced that dollars will win in the end and that Martinez will be on display at Fenway Park as the team’s primary DH. There’s always the chance they could trade Jackie Bradley, Jr and move Andrew Benintendi to center but that would weaken the outfield defense.
Photo Credit: Getty Images (Jennifer Stewart)
If the Red Sox fail to sign Martinez, names like Mike Moustakas and Logan Morrison have been mentioned. None are easy fits. Signing Moose Tacos would require an adjustment with plans for young starting third baseman Rafael Devers. Morrison probably makes more sense as he could share 1B and DH with Mitch Moreland. Nevertheless, I really feel the Red Sox will persevere and eventually sign Martinez. The Red Sox know that they need a big bopper to compete with the Yankees this year. I am not quick to say the Yankees are the superior favorites in the AL East. I feel the Red Sox are the champions until proven otherwise. I also expect the Red Sox starting rotation to be stronger this year, with bounce backs by David Price and Rick Porcello. It was great that Chris Sale couldn’t get a victory against the Yankees last year, but the odds of that happening again are similar to the odds of the Yankees successfully trading Ellsbury. Boston is not going away and the Yankees won’t be sneaking up on anybody this year like they did in 2017. Baseball Prospectus released its annual PECOTA projections last week and they have the Yankees winning the division by 9 games over the Red Sox with 96 wins. I think the division will be much closer than that, especially if the Sox are successful in snagging Martinez. I have been a Yankees fan too long to underestimate the Sox.
PECOTA, for what it’s worth, projects Aaron Judge with a batting average of only .247 (really?), with 37 home runs and 94 RBI’s. Giancarlo Stanton is projected at .259, 41 home runs and 106 RBI’s. Gary Sanchez is not far behind with .269 BA, 34 homers and 97 RBI’s.
The one that really stands out to me is first baseman Greg Bird. The projection has him getting over 500 plate appearances, while batting .246 with 28 homers and 86 RBI’s. I am really hopeful that this is the year that Bird finally stays healthy. I love his swing and his bat in the stacked Yankees lineup. But until he proves that he can stay on the field for the duration of the season, I am going to be a bit skeptical.
Photo Credit: New York Daily News (Andrew Savulich)
My fear is that the Yankees have to lean on Tyler Austin at first base more heavily than expected. I guess all things considered that’s better than rolling out Chris Carter, but I’d prefer no question marks at first base as the Yankees attempt to break in rookies at second and third bases.
The Tampa Bay Rays might actually play in Tampa…
On Friday, the Tampa Bay Rays announced that they’d like to build a new stadium in Ybor City, a historic Latin community northeast of downtown Tampa. There are many hurdles before it can come to fruition, but I hope the Rays are successful. I don’t know much about Tampa politics but it makes more sense to have the Rays in Tampa than St Petersburg. Watching a baseball game at Tropicana Field always feels like watching a game in an oversized warehouse. I really hope that Rays principal owner Stuart Sternberg is successful in getting his stadium initiative approved and funded. This seems like such a win-win situation for the Rays and the greater Tampa metropolitan area.
Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Times (Marc Topkin)
Ybor City is about five miles east of Steinbrenner Field and Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
I don’t like the smell of that rumor…
Speaking of the Rays, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported this week that the Yankees had checked in on Rays starter Jake Odorizzi. Odorizzi is only 27 (28 in late March) but the right-hander had a down year in 2017. He was 10-8 with 4.14 ERA in 28 starts. He only struck out 127 batters while walking 61, the worst K/BB ratio of his career. A fly-ball pitcher, he gave up 30 home runs, which obviously would not play well in Yankee Stadium. One Rays blog proposed sending Odorizzi and reliever Alex Colome to the Yankees for outfielder Clint Frazier and a low-level lottery ticket. I wouldn’t do it. I would consider sending Frazier to Tampa for a trade circled around Chris Archer, but not Odorizzi.
Photo Credit: Getty Images (Mark Cunningham)
“Odo” would not be a significant upgrade over any of the starters in the current Yankees rotation so I dismiss the thought that the Yankees might be interested. I’ll gladly take a promising young arm like Chance Adams or Justus Sheffield over Odorizzi. The only reason you’d make a trade for Odorizzi would be on his potential as a breakout candidate but I’d prefer the in-house options…and keeping Red Thunder in pinstripes.
But wait, weren’t we part of the exciting young Yankees?…
Yesterday, Tyler Kepner of The New York Times wrote an article about which teams stand a chance in 2018. It was kind of sad looking for the photo that he posted with the caption, “The Yankees reached the American League Championship Series last season, but fell short against the Astros.” Of the recognizable faces, only one player and one coach remain from this pic taken just last October.
Photo Credit: The New York Times (Chang W Lee)
Joe Girardi can now be found on the MLB Network sporting a suit and defending his managerial choices during last season’s post-season. Rob Thomson is helping set up training camp in Clearwater, Florida for the Philadelphia Phillies as new manager Gabe Kapler’s bench coach and most likely the lead training camp organizer. No word about the future plans for former hitting coach Alan Cockrell, seen in the photo standing next to current hitting coach Marcus Thames. Yankees centerfielder Aaron Hicks looks at a trio of ex-Yankees. Todd Frazier will soon be headed to Port St Lucie, FL for the New York Mets; Starlin Castro, assuming he is not traded, will go to Jupiter, FL for the Miami Marlins; while Chase Headley returns to the Valley of the Sun in Peoria, AZ to play for his original team, the San Diego Padres. Hicks, as we know, will help ensure that Jacoby Ellsbury is the most expensive bench player in baseball. Thames, I am sure, is salivating at the opportunity to work with Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius, Greg Bird, and others. Good times…
Yankees 5, Rays 1... A fielding error by Rays third baseman Trevor Plouffe in the 4th inning opened the door for an offensive outburst that was capped by a three-run homer by Todd Frazier. The single inning explosion carried the Yankees to victory over the "home" Tampa Bay Rays in Queens, NY.
Credit: Steven Ryan-Getty Images
For three innings, the Yankees couldn't muster a hit off Rays starter Jake Odorizzi. Meanwhile, the Rays scratched out a run against the Yanks in the bottom of the 2nd. Lucas Duda, at home at Citi Field and using his old locker, drew a walk to start the inning. Yankees starter CC Sabathia retired the next two batters and had Adeiny Hechavarria down to two strikes. Hechavarria battled and finally on the 9th pitch of the at-bat tripled to the center field wall, splitting the outfielders, to score Duda with the game's first run. Aaron Judge opened the 4th inning with a walk, extending his own MLB record for most walks by a rookie to 108. Gary Sanchez finally got the first hit for the Yankees, a line drive to center. The Yankees had runners at the corners. Didi Gregorius hit a sacrifice fly to right which scored Judge standing up. The game was tied. Starlin Castro struck out for the second out. Then the magic happened. Well, maybe not from Trevor Plouffe's perspective. Matt Holliday hit a grounder to third that Plouffe was unable to field (under his glove). As the ball rolled down the left field line, Sanchez scored to give the Yankees the lead and Holliday moved to second on the play. On a full count, Jacoby Ellsbury reached base on catcher's interference when his bat hit the catcher's mitt. It was the 30th career catcher's interference for Ellsbury which surpassed Pete Rose for the most all-time. Todd Frazier came to the plate and homered to left off the facing in the second deck to make it 5-1. The Yankees got two more runners on base when Tyler Austin doubled to the left field wall and Brett Gardner walked. It spelled the end for Jake Odorizzi who went from a no-hitter to a four-run deficit despite only allowing one earned run. Rays reliever Chaz Roe came in and struck out Aaron Judge, who had led off the inning, to end the Yankees' rally. CC Sabathia was allowing baserunners, giving up two singles in both the third and fourth innings, but had been escaping unscathed. He got into trouble again in the bottom of the 5th. He walked Peter Bourjos to start the inning. After striking out Kevin Kiermaier on three pitches, Trevor Plouffe singled to center over Sabathia's back with Bourjos moving to second. Manager Joe Girardi opted to take no further chances and pulled Sabathia (avoiding a confrontation with Evan Longoria). The move appeared justified when David Robertson came in and struck out both Longoria and Lucas Duda to end the threat. Sabathia probably wasn't too happy with the early hook, but he had thrown 88 pitches and allowed six hits. It was only a matter of time before the Rays broke through but the D-Rob insurance card paid off.
Credit: Andrew Savulich-The New York Daily News
The Rays did have a scoring opportunity in the bottom of the 6th with D-Rob still pitching. Adeiny Hechavarria hit a two-out ground-rule double which hit the warning track in left and bounced off the back wall. He took third on a passed ball by Gary Sanchez, but was left stranded when Danny Espinosa grounded out to short. The Yankees got their final hit of the night in the 7th inning when Brett Gardner led off with a single to left. A failed stolen base attempt, a perfect throw from catcher Wilson Ramos to second baseman Danny Espinosa, sent Gardy to the bench. D-Rob pitched the bottom of the 7th, making this outing the longest in his career (pitching a total of 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief with 4 K's).
Credit: Richard Rodriguez-Getty Images
The bottom of the 8th brought out Dellin Betances and it was time to start drinking heavily. Evan Longoria started off with a single that dropped in right field. Betances struck out Lucas Duda for the first out, but then walked Cesar Puello. Aargh! Logan Morrison was up next, pinch-hitting for Wilson Ramos, and I was seeing images of a three-run home run to make it a one-run game. Fortunately, those visions proved false as Betances struck out Morrison. He got Adeiny Hechavarria to fly out, with Aaron Judge running to the wall, for the final out. Whew! That was a hard inning to sit through... Aroldis Chapman took over in the 9th. After a brief pause on my part hoping that Chapman has truly righted the ship, he proceeded to retire the side on ten pitches. It wasn't a save opportunity but the result was the same. The Yankees win! The Yankees (78-65) picked up a 1/2 game on the idle Boston Red Sox so they now trail by 3 games. The Baltimore Orioles fell to the Toronto Blue Jays, 4-3, so the gap between the Yanks and the third-place O's is now 7 1/2 games. The win also increased the Yankees lead in the Wild Card Standings to 4 games. David Robertson (8-2) picked up the vulture win with Sabathia's inability to make it through five full innings. The Yankees were outhit by the Rays, 8 to 4, but they obviously made the most of their hits with Todd Frazier's home run leading the way.
Credit: Tony Gutierrez-Associated Press
Odds & Ends...
The Yankees activated OF Clint Frazier off of the disabled list on Monday. Red Thunder was somewhat underwhelming in his rehab stint with the Trenton Thunder. In 17 at-bats, he had only 2 hits and 10 strikeouts. Here's hoping that his return to the Pinstripes is little more successful. He should slot back into the fourth outfielder role that has been lacking since Aaron Hicks went on the DL.
When Aaron Judge hit his 40th home run, he joined some lofty company. Prior to Judge's home run, the only Yankees to hit 40 home runs at 25 years or younger were Babe Ruth (54, 1920), Lou Gehrig (47, 1927), Joe DiMaggio (46, 1937), and Mickey Mantle (52, 1956). That's a nice group of names to rub shoulders with...
Have a great Tuesday! Seems like a great day for another win! Go Yankees!
Here we go one last time this weekend between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays. Like I said in the game preview post here on the blog this has been a great weekend but it's been a bit of a draining weekend as well. The good news for the Yankees is that they have plenty of youth in order to deal with this including today's starting pitcher Luis Severino. Opposing Severino on the mound will be another young guy for the Rays in Jake Odorizzi. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.
The Yankees welcome Toronto to the Bronx tomorrow and the Blue Jays won't have Jose Bautista in the lineup which is always a sigh of relief. The youth movement will continue next week and if you want to see them live click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog. Judgement Day is coming ladies and gentleman.
To follow along during this game or any game this season either like us on Facebook or give us a follow on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes. Odorizz vs. Severino. Go Yankees!
What an exciting weekend here in the Bronx. Alex Rodriguez said goodbye to the Yankees and their faithful fans on Friday night, the team said hello to Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin on Saturday while looking back at the 1996 World Series championship team and this afternoon it's just a boring and lazy Sunday in the Bronx. Today the Rays and the Yankees finish this awesome series as the two teams return to a little bit of normalcy, if that's even possible in the Bronx. This afternoon the Yankees will send Luis Severino to the mound as he makes his return back to the Yankees rotation, again, while the Rays counter with Jake Odorizzi.
Severino was sent down to Triple-A after his last start but due to an elbow injury for Nathan Eovaldi the Yankees future ace is back in the Bronx armed with a refined pitching repertoire. The Yankees sent Severino down to work on his offpseed pitches, namely his changeup, in hopes of turning his season around.
Odorizzi had been pitching to the tune of a 20.2 innings scoreless streak before facing off with the Toronto Blue Jays last time out. Odorizzi did not have his best stuff in that start but he tends to bring his "A" game against the Yankees which is evident by his 1-1 record and 1.12 ERA against the Bronx Bombers this season.
The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. Again, what an exciting weekend here in the Bronx. It has also been a draining weekend here in the Bronx with the goodbye of a Yankees legend and the introduction of two potential future Yankees legends. If only every weekend were like this. Go Yankees!
Ladies and gentleman it is time for Friday night baseball at
The Trop as the New York Yankees and their fans invade Tropicana Field tonight
as they take on the hometown Tampa Bay Rays. In the first of the three-game set
that will take us all the way to the August 1st trade deadline the
Yankees will send Ivan Nova to the mound looking to keep the good times rolling
for the Bronx Bombers while the Rays will look to play spoilers tonight with
Jake Odorizzi on the mound. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Tropicana
Field and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.
Get your Yankees Tickets now before the team sells off
pieces or before the price goes up to pay for that new addition the team
presumably gets at the August 1st trade deadline. Click the Yankees
Tickets link at the top of the blog to secure your seat now. Also look the part
while in the Bronx by visiting the TGP T-Shirts link also located at the top of
the blog to get a cool Yankees-themed t-shirt for the game.
Follow along on twitter during this game and all the way
through the August 1st trade deadline by either liking us on
Facebook or by giving @GreedyStripes a follow on twitter. If it happens either
Bryan or myself will have it. Odorizzi vs. Nova. Let’s go. Go Yankees!
The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays begin an
all-important three-game weekend set tonight in Tampa St. Pete as we inch
closer and closer to the August 1st trading deadline. The Yankees
were thought to be dead and buried when looking at their second half schedule
but the team has come out with all guns blazing and firing on all cylinders
changing the entire dynamic of the decision making and the season for the
Yankees. The Yankees would be the ultimate procrastinators if they wait until
this series to decide whether to truly buy or sell this season but if tonight’s
starter Ivan Nova can keep the good times rolling against Tampa’s Jake Odorizzi
you never know what the team could do. They have the better part of four days
left to decide.
Nova pitched extremely well in his last start and will look
to put all the trade rumors behind him at least for a night for his start. Nova
pitched seven innings against the San Francisco Giants last time out in a 2-1
extra-innings loss for New York giving up just one run and six hits while
striking out seven. Nova had also earned the victory in each of his two starts
prior to his last start as well meaning if the Yankees are going to trade him
now is the time to do it while the iron is hot.
Odorizzi heads into this start leading the Major Leagues in
a category you probably don’t want to be leading in, no decisions. Odorizzi
threw eight innings of shutout baseball in his last start against the Oakland
Athletics and still came away with one, let’s make it 13 tonight. Or a loss
would be okay too, either way.
The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Tropicana Field
and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. It can also be seen live, I’m
not sure if Tampa Bay Rays fans truly know that yet or not. I joke but really
the attendance down there is horrendous, even for Yankees games. I’ve been to
the stadium and it’s an absolute nightmare to navigate the area and get to the
stadium and truth be told the stadium leaves much to be desired but still, it’s
baseball. And it is cheap baseball, Tampa has some of the cheapest tickets in
MLB. Oh well, Go Yankees whether anyone is there to see it or not.
What better way to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon on a holiday weekend than on the couch in front of the air conditioner watching the New York Yankees. Well I'm sure there are better ways to spend it truth be told but we keep things PG here and we're Yankees-centric so we'll go with that. In the finale of the three-game set between these two clubs this afternoon the Yankees will send Nathan Eovaldi to the mound to face off with Jake Odorizzi for the Rays. The game will be played at 1:10 pm ET inside Tropicana Field and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11, MLB Network and MLB TV.
Follow along with us all season long by giving us a follow on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, or by finding us on Facebook. We're not one to put our work out there and ignore you when you agree, disagree or have a question. We're social and we're on social media, interact with us.
I love watching Nathan Eovaldi pitch so I'm going to get off here and go watch hopefully another Yankees win this series. Go Yankees!
The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays are set to finish off their three-game set this afternoon with the finale of the set inside of Tropicana Field. We have watched this weekend as both teams have sent their best pitchers according to the depth chart out to the mound and today we see the final matchup between the two clubs. In the finale the Yankees will send possibly their best pitcher to the mound statistically in Nathan Eovaldi to face off with a thorn in the Yankees side over the past few seasons in Jake Odorizzi for the Rays.
Eovaldi has been absolutely filthy in his last four starts posting a meager 2.16 ERA in that span. Eovaldi has finally added and harnessed the splitter that he worked on all of last season and has had great success with it limiting his hits and striking out more batters than ever. Sure he still throws too many pitches but one thing at a time.
Odorizzi had a rough start to judge last time out against the Miami Marlins. Odorizzi did not allow a run in his five innings of work but it took him well over 100 pitches to get there thus leaving a load of outs to get for a shaky Rays bullpen.If the Rays want to win they have to be carried by the starting pitching so the Yankees need to be patient and make Jake throw a lot of pitches this afternoon if they want to win.
The game will be played at 1:10 pm ET inside of Tropicana Field and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11, MLB Network and MLB TV. Can Nathan keep Eovalving and continue his recent stretch of dominating performances or will Evan Longoria and the Rays offense get the best of the man some compared to a young Nolan Ryan on this very site? Stay tuned and Go Yankees!
Thanks goodness for the Tampa Bay Rays, right? The Yankees
have done much better against the Rays this season than they have against teams
like the Toronto Blue Jays. New York will look to continue that streak of good
play against Tampa Bay tonight when they face off in the second game of their
three game set inside Tropicana Field. Tonight the Yankees welcome Adam Warren
back to the starting rotation as he takes on Jake Odorizzi of the Rays. The
game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB
Network and MLB TV.
New York has an off day looming, the final off day of the
regular season, and a tough stretch of games coming up as the 2015 season comes
to an end. To see the Yankees one more time this season live inside Yankee
Stadium click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog, we appreciate
the support of the blog and it helps us to keep this thing going. Also we
appreciate every one of our Twitter followers so if you’d like to be one of
them head over and give @GreedyStripes a follow. Thank you.
Warren is back in the rotation and back on the mound for the
Yankees, a wrong has been righted. Go Yankees!
The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays will continue
their three game set tonight inside Tropicana Field with another great pitching
matchup. It seems like every time these two teams face off head-to-head the
Yankees face off with Jake Odorizzi and Chris Archer, it never fails. Even if
the series was a two-game series it seems like New York would face these two
men and they face them again this series with Archer going tomorrow and
Odorizzi going tonight in Tampa. Opposing Odorizzi will be Adam Warren who will
be making his return to the starting rotation as a sixth man. The game will be
played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB
TV.
Warren has spent the entire second half of the 2015 season
in the Yankees bullpen after starting the season in the starting rotation and
the right-hander will make his return to the rotation tonight inside Tropicana Field.
Warren is being plugged into the rotation after the Yankees learned they would
be without Nathan Eovaldi for the remainder of the regular season as he battles
with a bout of right elbow inflammation.
Odorizzi is fresh off an impressive start against the
Detroit Tigers where he allowed just six hits and one walk with six strikeouts
and no runs allowed in a victory. Odorizzi notched his seventh win of the
season last time out and looks for his eight win tonight inside Tropicana Field
where he has posted a 3-3 record and a 2.61 ERA this season in 10 starts.
After a rough week and weekend facing off with American
League East foes the Yankees need to beat up on the Rays a bit. That’s no easy
task, especially lately as Tampa has played much better with their backs
against the wall and with the playoffs on the line, but good teams beat the
team’s they are supposed to beat and the Yankees are supposed to beat the Rays.
Now do it. Go Yankees!
Luis Severino lasted a career-high 6 1/3 innings and the Yankees cruised past the Rays, 5-2, on Friday night at Yankee Stadium.
Not Bad for a Rookie, or Anyone: Severino yielded just one earned and seven hits en route to his third consecutive win, walking three and striking out five. The confident-looking youngster ran into trouble in the first, second and sixth, but ultimately allowed nothing more than an Evan Longoria solo shot on the evening.
Who Needs Baserunners?: The Yankees put just five men on against the Rays' Jake Odorizzi, but managed to score each one of them. Alex Rodriguez began the outburst with a two-run homer in the second, followed by a Brian McCann solo blast in the fourth and another two-run bomb by Greg Bird in the sixth.
At Least it Wasn't a Hip Issue: Jacoby Ellsbury left the game in the fifth with flu-like symptoms, being replaced by Chris Young in the batting order. Ellsbury may not be available on Saturday, but the Yankees can still be thankful it wasn't anything more serious.
Laboring, But Prevailing: Justin Wilson relieved Severino with a runner on in the seventh, and for a while, didn't appear to have his best stuff. The lefty had to use 10 pitches before Brandon Guyer lined out to the warning track, ending the frame shortly afterwards with a fly ball from Longoria.
The Big 3-0: Andrew Miller recorded the final two outs of the ninth for his 30th save of the season, becoming just the fifth AL closer to reach such a total this year. The other four on that list -- Brad Boxberger, Glen Perkins, Houston Street, and Zach Britton -- have all blown at least two saves, essentially putting Miller in a category of his own.
Next Up: The Yankees and Rays continue this series with a matinee on Saturday, the Yanks sending Nathan Eovaldi (14-2, 4.17 ERA) to the hill versus Tampa Bay's Matt Moore (1-3, 8.78 ERA). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. ET, airing live on Fox Sports 1 and WFAN.
The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays are just about
ready to kick off their three game set head-to-head this weekend inside Yankee
Stadium. Is there any better way to spend a Friday night then downtown in the
Bronx watching the Yankees beat up on a division rival? I guess it depends on
who you ask but if you ask this guy I’d have to think not. Anyway, the Yankees
will send Luis Severino to the mound looking for his fourth straight victory
while the Rays counter with their ace Jake Odorizzi. The game will be played at
7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.
To see the Yankees live during this home stand or for the
rest of the season you have to click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the
blog. We’re playing Game 133 of Game 162 tonight in the Bronx, not including a
potential playoff game or two, so you’re running out of time to buy your
Yankees tickets. If you can’t make it live then that’s not a problem, simply
jump on Twitter and give @GreedyStripes a follow. Michael Kay follows us and
mentioned us on air once, which has to count for something…right?
The rookie is ready to continue making Brian Cashman look
like a genius while the offense is hoping to remain hot and not have another
letdown the game after an offensive explosion. Go Yankees!
