Officially The New York Yankees 25 Man Roster

This will be the Yankees 25 man roster on Tuesday when they open their season at the Houston Astros.

Catchers:

Brian McCann
Francisco Cervelli

Infielders:

Mark Teixeira
Brian Roberts
Derek Jeter
Kelly Johnson
Dean Anna
Yangervis Solarte

Outfielders: 

Brett Gardner
Jacoby Ellsbury
Carlos Beltran
Ichiro Suzuki

Designated Hitter:

Alfonso Soriano

Starting Pitchers:

CC Sabathia
Hiroki Kuroda
Ivan Nova
Masahiro Tanaka
Michael Pineda

Bullpen:

David Robertson
Dellin Betances
Shawn Kelley
Matt Thornton
David Phelps
Adam Warren
Vidal Nuno

Minor League Assignments

Before Girardi beats us to it, should we just start calling him "Jaggy" now?

With the fact that we got nearly 3 inches of snow in mid-Ohio last night (thankfully very little of it stuck) it's hard to believe that not only is Tuesday opening day for Major League Baseball, but the minor leagues start on Thursday. 

With that said, thanks to Josh Norris and Nicholas Flammia, we have information regarding some of the rosters for the Yankees minor league affiliates. Of course, these are unofficial, as the team has yet to announce these things, but here's what we got so far...

Triple-A Scranton: OF Zoilo Almonte, RHP Danny Burawa, OF Ramon Flores, IF Corban Joseph, C John Ryan Murphy, and C Austin Romine. RHP Al Aceves, RHP Bruce Billings, RHP Brian Gordon, RHP Shane Greene, and RHP Chris Leroux will be in the starting rotation, although the order is unknown. RHP Chase Whitley is a possibility for the rotation as well.

Double-A Trenton: RHP Bryan Mitchell, 2B Rob Refsnyder, C Gary Sanchez, and OF Mason Williams. 

High-A Tampa: LHP Manny Banuelos, OF Jake Cave, SS Cito Culver, RHP Rafael DePaula, 2B Angelo Gumbs, 3B Eric Jagielo, and C Peter O’Brien. 3B Dante Bichette Jr. looks to be part of this team too.

Low-A Charleston: 3B Miguel Andujar, SS Abi Avelino, RHP Rookie Davis, OF Aaron Judge, RHP Brady Lail, RHP Luis Severino, C Luis Torrens, and SS Tyler Wade. It's being reported that RHP Jordan Cote will also be there.

Extended Spring Training: RHP Domingo Acevedo, RHP Manolo Reyes, RHP Simon De La Rosa, LHP Ian Clarkin, OF Alex Palma, and OF Leonardo Molina. OF Tyler Austin (wrist), OF Slade Heathcott (knee), 1B Greg Bird (back), and RHP Jose Campos (being cautious) will be here as they are being slowed down to start the year.

After a down year in the minors in 2013, I'm really hoping 2014 is a good one. I'm not much of a prospect humper like some people around here, but I can't wait to see what guys like Eric Jagielo, John Ryan Murphy, Gary Sanchez, Mason Williams, Manny Banuelos, Aaron Judge, Jose Campos, Ian Clarkin, Slade Heathcott, and Tyler Austin will do. Chances are, the Yankees will need to do something about their middle infield, and having these young guys step up would really help (directly or in a trade).

Yankee Stadium Legacy: #2 Mickey Mantle

The New York Yankees were the class of the Major Leagues in the 1950's appearing in eight World Series. One of the brightest stars on those clubs that decade was Mickey Mantle who stood out on a bunch of absolutely stacked teams. Was Mantle the first ever six tool player? I have heard some call him that. Mantle won back to back MVP awards in the American League in 1956 and 1957 and slammed 280 home runs in the 50's while leading all of Major League Baseball with 994 runs scored.

We are now just two off days from Yankees Opening Day!

Quick Hit: My Favorite Yankees In 2014

Many people don't know this about me but I like to play favorites, and especially like to pick favorites when it comes to my Yankees. The people who knew me, Bryan Van Dusen my co-owner specifically, before The Greedy Pinstripes knows how much of a hard on I had for AJ Burnett when he was in Yankee Pinstripes. This year is no different as I always pick a couple positional players and pitchers to especially root for in a season. The votes are in and the results are as follows:

Dellin Betances
Alfonso Soriano
Jacoby Ellsbury
Michael Pineda

You didn't think I was going to pick Derek Jeter did you? I love Jeter, who doesn't, but Jeter has never made one of these lists for me and I don't know exactly why. There is just something about what Soriano and Ellsbury bring to the club and to the lineup that intrigues me, especially the finger point from Alfonso. Betances is a guy guy and can intimidate and overpower everyone on the field, plus he is a good guy to have around in a Yankees and Red Sox brawl.

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/30

On this day in 1984 the San Diego Padres obtained Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles for pitcher Dennis Rasmussen and prospect Darin Cloniger.

On this day in 1991 the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition game at Joe Robbie Stadium which drew 67,654 fans, a new spring training attendance record. The two day series between the two teams was a part pf South Florida's efforts to get a National League expansion team, soon to be named the Florida Marlins.

On this day in 2001 former Yankee Dwight Gooden announced his retirement from baseball. Doc finished with a 194-112 record playing for the Mets, Yankees, Indians, Astros, and Devil Rays and won a World Series and pitched a no hitter with the Yankees.

Charleston Opening Night To Showcase Parade

Opening Night to Feature Charleston's Charm; Pregame Parade

Charlie T. RiverDog Plans to Have Spectacular Entrance for the First Game of the Season presented by South Carolina's Future Scholar 529 Program

CHARLESTON, SC - New York Yankees Hall of Fame catcher Yogi Berra reportedly said that he loves home openers, whether they are at home or away.

There's no doubting that he'd love the home opener for the Charleston RiverDogs, the Class A affiliate of the 27-time World Series Champions Yankees.

The RiverDogs opens the 2014 season on Monday, April 7, at 7:05 pm at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park against the rival Greenville Drive.

"Opening Night is always a big night for us as it also signals the unofficial beginning of Spring and another fun-filled season of RiverDogs Baseball," said General Manager Dave Echols. "This is one game that we don't hold back because we want to make a good first impression."

Fans, whether local or visiting from out of town, will enjoy the Opening Night festivities as the club features the city of Charleston and its charm.

Opening Night will feature a grand pregame parade that wraps around the outfield warning track that will highlight many staples of Charleston including the College of Charleston cheerleaders, the North Charleston High School marching band, the South Carolina Stingrays' mascot Cool Ray, The Citadel Bulldogs' mascot Spike, zoo animals, the lads from the Holy City Beard and Moustache Society, and a quite few others one wouldn't expect to see on a baseball field. Santa and many creatively decorated floats are expected to join in on the fun as well. As the parade concludes, the 2014 RiverDogs will be introduced to the home crowd when they enter the stadium on horse-drawn carriages.

On-hand to perform the Star Spangled Banner will be national recording artist, former American Idolcontestant, and local star Elise Testone. Also, just like in many years past, Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley, Jr. - the ballpark's namesake - will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

But the pregame highlight will be the arrival and introduction of loveable mascot Charlie T. RiverDog, who will have a welcoming like none other. Fans will want to keep an eye on the sky for this one.

Since the Greenville Drive will be our opening week guests, it begins the "Battle of the Palmetto State" rivalry series presented by Spinx. The winner of the season-long battle will receive the Rivalry Championship Trophy, and with it goes the bragging rights as the state's best Sally League representative.

Fans will also enjoy $1 hot dogs and $1 beers, courtesy of Coors.

The first 5,000 fans that pass through the Riley Park gates will receive a 2014 magnet schedule compliments of South Carolina's Future Scholar 529 Program.

Plus, The Joe's brand new, state of the art videoboard and scoreboard will both make their RiverDogs debuts, and be on display for everyone to enjoy for the very first time during a professional baseball game.

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs organization. The original article can be seen HERE. 

Breaking: Should The Yankees Sign Vin Mazzaro?

Vin Mazzaro has been designated for assignment
— Travis Sawchik (@Sawchik_Trib) March 29, 2014

It's not often that a relief pitcher the caliber of Vin Mazzaro becomes available, should the Yankees take advantage of this after he was designated for assignment? Mazzaro was the casualty of a deep bullpen and a 40 man roster crunch caused by first basemen Travis Ishikawa.

Mazzaro pitched to a 2.81 ERA last season in 71.2 IP and followed it up this spring with a 3.97 ERA in 11.1 IP.

I think the better question is would Mazzaro be better than David Phelps, Adam Warren, Vidal Nuno, or any of the other men we have in our bullpen not named Matt Thornton? I'm not so sure when you factor in the National League to American League transition. If this happened a month or two ago I think it is a foregone conclusion that Mazzaro is in pinstripes but now, I am not so sure.

Yangervis Solarte Gets Final Roster Spot, Nunez To AAA

Yangervis Solarte has made the Opening Day roster and will be added to the 25 man roster, Eduardo Nunez is headed down to AAA to start the 2014 season. The Yankees do not have to make the 40 man roster move until sometime Tuesday so stay tuned on how the Yankees will give Solarte a 40 man roster spot.

Masahiro Tanaka Named Yankees Rookie of the Spring

Leave your opinions at the door on whether Masahiro Tanaka should be eligible for any kind of rookie considerations, including the Rookie of the Year Award. Tanaka is eligible, everyone who has come over from Japan before him has been eligible, and anyone in the foreseeable future will be eligible if they come over from Japan, Cuban, China, etc.

With that said the New York Yankees have named Masahiro Tanaka as their rookie of the spring after signing him to a $155 million contract this winter. The James P. Dawson Award is given annually to the top rookie in Yankees camp and Tanaka is the 2014 recipient. Below is a list of the recipient winners since 2001:

2001…Alfonso Soriano 2B
· 2002…Nick Johnson 1B
· 2003…Hideki Matsui OF
· 2004…Bubba Crosby OF
· 2005…Andy Phillips INF
· 2006…Eric Duncan INF
· 2007…Kei Igawa P
· 2008…Shelley Duncan INF/OF
· 2009…Brett Gardner OF
· 2010…Jon Weber OF
· 2011…Manny Banuelos P
· 2012…David Phelps P
· 2013…Vidal Nuno P
· 2014…Masahiro Tanaka P

New York Yankees Spring Training Is Over

With the final spring training game of the season rained out the New York Yankees spring training camp is officially over. Here are the last spring training news and notes for the 2014 season. From here on out it's all business, the games start counting on Tuesday.

The Yankees honored Derek Jeter in a pre-game ceremony only to cancel the final game of the spring just minutes later. Bizarre, either way Jeter's spring training career is over.