Weekly Check In: Luis Severino

Luis Severino was on the Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre inactive list for much of the week due to being away with the birth of his first child, congratulations to Luis, Mrs. Luis and the new bundle of joy that was welcome to the world this week. Severino came back on Friday to make his latest start and was once again dominant for the RailRiders.

Severino is continuing to make it difficult to keep him down in the minor leagues for the Yankees by pitching well almost every single start. Severino may not be up until September, if then, but the right-hander is definitely making his case for the 2016 season.

Year	Lev	W	L	ERA	G	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2015	AAA-AA	8	2	2.60	18	18	93.1	71	32	27	2	27	88	1.050	6.8	0.2	2.6	8.5
2015	AA	2	2	3.32	8	8	38.0	32	17	14	2	10	48	1.105	7.6	0.5	2.4	11.4
2015	AAA	6	0	2.11	10	10	55.1	39	15	13	0	17	40	1.012	6.3	0.0	2.8	6.5

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Recap: Yankees 8, Twins 5

Alex Rodriguez clubbed three home runs and the Yankees rallied themselves to a memorable win over the Twins, 8-5, on Saturday night at Target Field.

A-Rod Goes Off: The Yankees' DH hit a solo shot in the fourth, a two-run bomb in the seventh, and another solo blast in the ninth to tie the game -- leading New York back from a 5-0 third-inning defecit. His first two long balls were responsible for all but one of the Yankees' runs against starter Tommy Milone, though his third -- a line drive to straightaway center off closer Glen Perkins -- seemed to be what finally gave the team the upper hand.

A Starter in the Bullpen: His role with the Pinstripes has certainly been reduced since Ivan Nova's return, but Adam Warren nonetheless continues to contribute. Following CC Sabathia's removal with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth, Warren struck out Aaron Hicks to end the threat -- proceeding to throw two more scoreless frames afterward for his first victory in relief this season.

Murphy Hit a Home Run? What?: Yep, John Ryan Murphy went deep in this one. With the score still even at five and men on the corners in the ninth, the youngster launched a go-ahead three-run homer into the right-center field seats -- his first big fly of the year and second in the major leagues.

CC Struggles: Sabathia looked to be on the path to improvement prior to Saturday's outing, but his 5.2-inning, five-run performance was discouraging to say the least. The Twins cracked six hits off him while walking three times, raising the veteran's ERA to a hefty 5.38.

Other Help: Mark Teixeira essentially created a run by himself in the seventh, doubling to center and scoring on a shallow sac fly by Chase Headley. 

As usual, Andrew Miller had no problem earning the save in a 1-2-3 ninth -- the lefty's third consecutive appearance of 10 pitches or fewer.

Yankees' Record: 54-42.

Next Up: The Yankees and Twins conclude this weekend series with an afternoon finale on Sunday -- beginning at 2:10 p.m. ET and airing live on the YES Network. Nathan Eovaldi (9-2, 4.43 ERA) will start for the Yanks hoping to finish his month strongly, while surprise right-hander Kyle Gibson (8-7, 3.19 ERA) will get the ball for the Twins.

This Day In New York Yankees History 7/26: Yankees Acquire Alfonso Soriano

Saying that the New York Yankees offense struggled last season is probably the understatement of the year so New York needed a savior. On this day they got one when they acquired Alfonso Soriano from the Chicago Cubs for minor league relief pitcher Corey Black. The 37 year old came back to New York with come cash from Cubs after making his major league debut with the Yankees way back in 1999. The Yankees ultimately traded him to the Texas Rangers before the 2004 season for Alex Rodriguez. Soriano would go on a tear and almost brought the Yankees all the way back to the postseason before falling just short in late September.

Also on this day in 1961 the Yankees made some history with the home run ball but it had nothing to do with Roger Maris surprisingly. Instead it was the Yankees Johnny Blanchard as he hit his fourth consecutive home run over three games to set a new major league record. The backup catcher of the Yankees hit two home runs on this day to help New York beat the White Sox 5-2.

Also on this day in 1939 the Bronx Bombers earned their names by scoring in every inning to beat the St. Louis Browns 14-1. This is only the second time in franchise history that the Yankees have achieved this feat.

Finally on this day in 1933 Joe DiMaggio showed the Yankees brass that he was made for long hitting streaks. As a minor league player Joe D saw his 61 game hitting streak come to an end in a PCL game against the Oakland Oaks. DiMaggio played for the San Francisco Seals as a 19 year old when he set a new minor league record destroying the mark of 49 consecutive games with a hit set by Jack Ness in 1914.

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 7/25

What better way to spend a Saturday night then sitting at home and watching the New York Yankees face off against the Minnesota Twins inside Target Field. We will be doing just that tonight as these two teams continue their three game set this weekend in Minnesota as the Yankees look to put even more distance between them and everyone else in the AL East while the Twins try and stay close in the two Wild Card chases. The Yankees will send CC Sabathia to the mound tonight to face off against another left-hander in Tommy Milone for Minnesota. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11 and MLB TV.

The Yankees have one more game in Minnesota this week followed by seven more road games against the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers leaving you with at least another week to click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog to get your Yankees tickets in hand for when the team returns to the Bronx. Until then jump on Twitter and give @GreedyStripes a follow to root for the home team while they are away with us, we’d love to interact with each and every one of you reading this right now.

CC is taking the mound and for the first time in quite a few years that makes me happy and excited, go CC and go Yankees!

Twitter Poll: Will New York Trade Luis Severino or Aaron Judge Before August 1st?

@GreedyStripes no chance. I believe Cashman when he says they're untouchable

— The Bronx Empire (@thebronxempire) July 24, 2015

The July 31^st trading deadline will come and pass next Friday with the New York Yankees expected to be buyers. It is definitely a seller’s market this season with more teams than usual out of contention at this point, especially in the National League. Like with any trade deadline for the most part you will have to give something to get something and many are worried that New York may have to give a Luis Severino or an Aaron Judge to get a Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels or a David Price. I have my opinions on the matter, I don’t want to trade any prospects unless the deal makes too much sense, but I was more interested in what you had to say. Sounds like the perfect Twitter Poll question to me.

@GreedyStripes I don't think either one. And it most definitely better NOT be Judge.

— Ryann Elizabeth (@RyannEliza_) July 24, 2015

@GreedyStripes I hope they keep judge and severino. Farm looking up for first time in while. I do think ref needs a better shot at 2B.

— Gäbe Chabert (@gchab10) July 24, 2015

@GreedyStripes Neither. I really want to belive that, going to see Severino tonite. I bet Ref goes though..

— John DeBalso (@04RedVette) July 24, 2015

@GreedyStripes Noperino and nope.

— nyyankeefanforever (@nyyankeefanfore) July 24, 2015

@GreedyStripes Dont think either will the Yanks are winning and they are the Future and are the popular and flashy guys

— PeterCapote (@PeterDjSazon) July 24, 2015

@GreedyStripes No, nightmare situation for yanks. Best farm they've had in a while, too close to debuts. I can see Sanchez being moved.

— gianny boy (@gmcastronovo22) July 24, 2015

Like I said in the intro, if the deal is too good to be true and it involves Severino or Judge then you obviously have to pull the trigger. The only way a deal is too good to be true is if it brings in a player that has team control left on his deal and a player who is preferably on the right side of 30 years old. Cueto is a rental and is not worth Severino or Judge in my opinion but in the same breathe Price puts the team over the top and you more or less know what you’re getting out of the durable left-handed work horse. With Cueto and Hamels you have to wonder whether they can make it in New York, how much switching to the American League from the National league will affect them, etc. It is Price or bust if you ask me, which is why I asked you.

To be involved in our next Twitter poll simply head over to the app and give @GreedyStripes a follow. Be on the lookout for our next Twitter Poll tweet. We will not use your responses without informing you first. Go Yankees!

The Boston Red Sox are officially DEAD

The Boston Red Sox were making their yearly run before the All-Star break and before they welcomed the New York Yankees and Robert Refsnyder to town. The Red Sox took the first game of the series with the Yankees taking the final two heading into the break and ever since then the bottom has fallen out of the Red Sox season. That escalated quickly.

After the All-Star break the Red Sox were still in last place in the American League East Division but were a good week or two away from being back in contention for a division title. Boston had their pitching looking the best it has been with Clay Buchholz at the top and their young core was performing as well as could be expected. That was then, this is now. Boston came out of the gate losing eight games in a row essentially ending the Red Sox season. If this losing streak came at the beginning of July or the beginning of August that would be a different story but this close to the July 31^st trading deadline their season is essentially over and it is time to sell.

Ben Cherington, the Red Sox GM, is ready to sell, the fans are ready for players to be sold and the players are ready to go to a contender. Boston is not completely dead, they won’t be trading the likes of Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Blake Swihart, Hanley Ramirez, Pablo Sandoval, David Ortiz or Eduardo Rodriguez, but players like Justin Masterson, Koji Uehara, Shane Victorino and others may be preparing their ways out of Boston as we speak.

Any day the Red Sox lose is a good day and any season that Boston finishes in last place is a good season so it looks like 2015 is shaping up to be a great season for Yankees fans. 

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 7/25

The New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins will go at it head-to-head tonight for the second time this weekend inside Target Field. New York is playing a night game on Saturday, a rare occurrence these days in MLB scheduling for the Yankees, after facing off with Phil Hughes last night. Tonight the Yankees will send CC Sabathia to face off against the Twins starter Tommy Milone. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11 and MLB TV.

• Sabathia is coming off maybe his best start of the season and definitely his best two-start stretch of the season just at the right time for the Yankees. The last two times out Sabathia allowed just three runs combined in 11.1 IP against the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners and Athletics offenses are in line with the Twins offense so it is quite possible that CC strings together his third straight quality start tonight in Minnesota.

• Milone is coming off one of his more shaky starts of the season when he faced off against the Oakland Athletics last time out. Milone lasted just 2.2 innings and gave up seven runs, five of them earned, on five hits and three home runs in a loss for Minnesota.

New York and Minnesota play one more time tomorrow afternoon in a getaway game before the Yankees travel to face off with the Texas Rangers and the Chicago White Sox. All three of these series played on the road are very winnable series and it’s imperative that New York wins all three. The Yankees haven’t been the same team on the road as they have been at home this season so hopefully a road schedule like this with some “softer” opponents can turn that around. That continues tonight, go Yankees!

The Potential Trade That Buys Brian Cashman ANOTHER Extension

The time of the year where fake Twitter accounts, rumors and "news" is upon us and that was no more evident than last night when I saw a trade rumor "being discussed" between the New York Yankees and the Cincinnati Reds. The deal, and more could be added to a potential deal, would essentially send RHP Johnny Cueto and 2B Brandon Phillips to the New York Yankees for 2B prospect Robert Refsnyder and catching prospect Gary Sanchez. If Brian Cashman can acquire an ace, even a rental ace, like Cueto for any prospect combination not including Aaron Judge or Luis Severino that may warrant an extension for Cashman with two more years left on his deal.

I get it, you see that trade rumor and you instantly scoff. The trade rumor could be completely falsified and likely it probably is but at the same time just because Jon Heyman and Buster Olney isn't reporting it doesn't make it any less true. Our friends over at Bleeding Yankee Blue have had their sources break deals without recognition and we ourselves have broken at least the Curtis Granderson deal with the Mets, again without recognition from anyone, so you cannot completely disregard someone based solely on the fact that they are not an "insider." Remember when Chris Cotillo was just another guy? I do, but I digress.

If the deal ends up being true this is an absolute steal for the Yankees in my opinion. New York could also include a player like Ivan Nova in the deal or a couple lesser known prospects but the fact remains that Cueto would be a Yankee while the team holds onto Judge and Severino, a win-win. New York would gain the inside edge over everyone not named Cincinnati if they chose to pursue Cueto in the offseason by acquiring him now while getting an instant upgrade at second base over Stephen Drew.

Phillips is a clubhouse cancer and on a downward spiral offensively leaving little to be desired by any team that could acquire him. The fact of the matter is that Cincinnati is likely to hold Phillips ransom in either a trade for Cueto or a trade for Aroldis Chapman so if New York can pay less in terms of prospects while paying more in the terms of dollars, i.e. Phillips' contract, then I'm all for it. It's not likely to happen mind you but if it did... wow. I may become a Brian Cashman fan again in New York.

Keith Olbermann Wants George Steinbrenner in Hall of Fame

Keith Olbermann is annoying, passionate, opinionated, smart and just as much right as he is wrong on a lot of topics. We all remember his rants that would improve or save baseball over the past few years and while I agree with a lot of it some of his ideas are completely out of left field. Then again I am against making changes simply for the sake of change, but maybe it is just me. 

Olbermann took on the task of making the case for former Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to be added to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. I will leave my opinion out of this for the time being but only because I was for George being added to the Hall before I heard this rant. What is your opinion? Leave it down below in the comments section. 

Weekly Check In: Jorge Mateo

Jorge Mateo is stealing bases like (insert some catchy analogy here). Mateo has now eclipsed the 60 stolen base plateau with the Charleston Riverdogs and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. Could Mateo conceivably steal or approach 100 stolen bases in 2015? Maybe.

Mateo has slowed down his pace a bit from when he was chasing down Billy Hamilton’s single-season stolen base record in minor league baseball but has still been stealing bases at an impressive clip. Mateo is likely to finish the season at Charleston before making the jump to Class-A Advanced in 2016 with the Tampa Yankees although New York could decide to get aggressive with the 20 year old and bring him up sooner. If the team does that though they will have to do it soon as the second half of the season in MiLB is well underway.

Year	Lev	G	PA	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2015	A	87	371	48	92	15	7	2	31	66	33	68	.279	.349	.385	.734

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table