Not So Fun Deep in the Heart of Texas...

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Richard Rodriguez)

Yanks lose first series since April…

With leads of 4-0 and later 10-5, you do not really expect to lose, but thanks to multiple pitching failures, the Yankees allowed the Texas Rangers to take the final game, 12-10, and win the series, two games to one. It was the first series the Yankees have lost since the Boston Red Sox took two of three from the Yankees on April 10^th through 12^th. 

I keep hearing “don’t blame Sabathia, he is part of the solution, not the problem” but realistically, he’ll be 38 in a couple of months and he is not exactly a physical specimen. Since he held the Cleveland Indians to three hits and no runs over six innings on May 4^th, he has averaged slightly under five innings per start (three starts). He has given up 15 runs (13 earned) in 13 1/3 innings pitched including 4 home runs and 7 walks. If CC wants to be part of the solution, he needs to start pitching better. My current confidence level in Sabathia is nowhere near where it was last year.   

Yesterday’s game was a microcosm of the problems with both the starting pitching and the bullpen. Losing the 4-0 lead was bad enough, but there was no reason to blow the subsequent five-run lead. David Robertson did not look good. I have been a huge D-Rob fan but he’s pitching his way out of the Bronx right now. If these struggles continue throughout the season, there’s no doubt the Yankees will let him walk away at the end of the year. Of course, it’s all about cause and effect. Sabathia’s early departures put added and unnecessary pressure on the bullpen.   

I am not sure why Aaron Boone tries to get more than one inning out of Dellin Betances. It seems like the second inning for Betances never works out in our favor regardless of how sharp he looks in the first inning of relief. Overall, I’ve liked the job Boone has done, but he hasn’t shown the ability to work the bullpen like Joe Girardi did. Girardi had his critics about his handling of the pen but the results were much better or at least I had more confidence in Joe’s ability. I think Boonie will get there and I am certainly not trying to go down a ‘we should have stayed with Joe’ path. I support Boone and like him as the Yankees manager. I was proud of his use of the f-bomb a few times the other night when he was thrown out of his first game as manager. 

There were positives in the Texas series.  Namely, Gleyber Torres is a stud. There is literally nothing that the guy cannot do. He may not be the speediest guy on the team but I swear he wears an “S” on his shirt under the uniform.  

It was hard to watch Robinson Cano leave after the 2013 season via free agency. He had been the Yankees best player and it was great to have such a strong player at second base. Then we had to deal with a series of interim players like Brian Roberts and Stephen Drew.  With no disrespect to Starlin Castro, Torres gives us our first legitimate young superstar at the position since Cano left.  

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Richard Rodriguez)

Giancarlo Stanton’s numbers may be coming around, but I still trust Aaron Judge more. 

Neil Walker keeps showing why he should not be the sacrificial lamb when Greg Bird returns. While I’d like the first base pairing of Bird and Tyler Austin, I still feel that it makes more sense to option to Austin to Triple A.  He’ll be needed again at some point. 

Glad to see that Didi Gregorius is starting to warm up again. His slump was the worst of his career following his All-World performance and Player of the Month honors in April. The Yankees need Didi if they expect to contend in October. 

I try to keep up with the Yankees farm system but I have to say that I was shocked when reliever Ryan Bollinger was added to the 25-man roster yesterday. My first reaction was ‘who?’. I hadn’t really paid much attention to his minor league free agent signing or the stellar work he has done for the Trenton Thunder this year. Since he is not really a “prospect” anymore at the stage of his career (he is 27 after all), I just viewed him as depth for the minor leagues. Honestly, I do not expect him to stay in the Bronx long, not with the impending returns of Tommy Kahnle and Adam Warren. I like what I’ve seen out of A.J. Cole and want him to stick around so it would seem Bollinger will be the odd man out in a few days and a potential DFA candidate if the Yankees need his 40-man roster spot. As for Cole, I’d probably give him a spot start over Domingo German to see what he can do.

Maybe it was because the Yankees were in Dallas, but the past week has brought so much speculation of Cole Hamels to the Yankees at the trading deadline. I do not see it. I like Hamels and I wouldn’t squawk about his presence on the roster.  There are a few guys in the starting rotation that he’d leapfrog. But, realistically, it makes no sense to me. Unless the Rangers are willing to pay significant dollars to pay down his contract, the Yankees would be responsible for the prorated portion of his $22.5 million 2018 salary. The contract has an option for $20 million in 2019. The option becomes guaranteed if Hamels has 400 IP in 2017-18 (he is presently at 206 2/3 innings so he’s unlikely to reach the milestone). The buyout for 2019 is $6 million.  Hamels also has a limited no trade clause that includes the Yankees. So, in order to get the Rangers to pay any dollars toward the contract, the Yankees would have to up the ante in terms of premium prospects. There would be more dollars involved to get Hamels to waive the no-trade. I don’t see how a few months of Hamels would justify the elimination of the majority of the cap space under the luxury tax threshold and the quality prospects that would be lost. Sure, if the Yankees win the World Series as a result, it would be worth it but I just don’t see Hamels as the difference-maker. 

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Joe Robbins)

I keep hoping the Seattle Mariners start losing now that they’ve lost Robinson Cano and Dee Gordon, but all they’ve done since is win. The M’s are currently riding a five-game winning streak and sit just two games behind the AL West leading Houston Astros. My desire to see the M’s lose is to open their willingness to move James Paxton. However, if they keep winning, there’s no chance. 

The best possibility for the starting rotation might be our own Justus Sheffield. He came off the disabled list to pitch four innings of scoreless three-hit ball against the Pawtucket Red Sox yesterday. He struck out five and walked only one batter. Tommy Kahnle may have gotten the win in the 7-1 victory but it was a great limited outing for Sheffield’s return. I personally don’t think we’ll see Sheffield in the Bronx until August or September (if at all this year) but the power to accelerate the time table is certainly within his control. I probably shouldn’t read too much into Sheffield’s fine performance.  Chance Adams threw a one-hitter last week to go with ten strikeouts (to raise my excitement level), yet he followed it up with a stinker against Pawtucket on Tuesday (five runs and three walks in three innings of work). 

With last night’s disappointing loss, the Yankees have fallen 1 ½ games behind the Boston Red Sox in the AL East. Boston wraps up their series with the Tampa Bay Rays today, so they could hold a two-game advantage entering play on Friday. The first half schedule for the Red Sox has been so generous for them. 

For the Yankees, I am glad to see the road trip end. With the washout of the games in Washington, they finished the trip with a 3-3 record despite hitting three home runs or more in five straight games for the first time in franchise history. The road trip also included extended flight delays and sleeping at airports. Their flight last night was delayed for mechanical reasons and they didn’t get off the ground this morning until about 5:30 am Eastern. Fortunately, today is an off day, but they’ve certainly dealt with more than their share of adversity this trip. Hopefully, the Yankees will be rested and ready to play when they meet the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Yankee Stadium tomorrow night.

Go Yankees!

I’m Hungry: Yankee Stadium Food

Good morning everyone. Am I the only one that woke up hungry as hell today? I doubt it, but really. I’m hungry and the food at Yankee Stadium this season looks absolutely amazing. Let’s take advantage of the off day today as the Yankees travel back to the Bronx and hit the high spots in terms of food choices inside Yankee Stadium III.

Put away the peanuts, stay away from the Cracker Jacks, and popcorn is a waste of goof stomach space here in the Bronx. Especially when you consider that section 127 has hand rolled taquitos in a plastic Yankees cup! I love taquitos, and I won’t apologize for it either. The three taquitos are sitting in a helping of chili con queso and pico de gallo. Black bean and chicken are your protein options.

Bacon cheeseburger crispy dumpling. Enough said, right? The Noodle Bowl Stand in section 127 sells ground beef, bacon and cheese wrapped in a dumpling before being fried and serves them with Thousand island dressing and a stadium-made pickle.

Adobo Bao can be found in the Toyota Terrace and is a Filipino-style pulled chicken thigh and garlic aioli sauce topped with crispy pork cracklings in a steamed bun. If this is how they eat in the Philippines, count me in.

The Rotisserie Chicken and Steak Stand in section is where you need to go for all the meat you could ever dream of. The rotisserie chickens are all organic and cooked there right on the spot, served in halves with fries. The steak is a 10-ounce flatiron steak that is also served with fries.

Of course, you can always stop by Jersey Mike’s sub sandwiches, Mighty Quinn’s BBQ, Papa John’s Pizza (gross), Ben & Jerry’s, Nathan’s Famous (a must), Bacon on a Stick, Tater Kegs and so much more. Come hungry.

Hello… Another Off Day

Good morning everyone and Happy Thursday to you all. Friday eve, and six more days and counting. The weekend is almost here, and the New York Yankees are off today, enjoy the day. The team heads home to play host to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim over the weekend which could include a Masahiro Tanaka vs. Shohei Otani pitching matchup in the Bronx on Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned for that because that will be a good one worth watching in my opinion. I hope you all have a great day.

And hey you. Chin up, six more days. I love you.

This Day In New York Yankees History 5/24: Bernie Williams Day 2015

On this day in 2015 the New York Yankees honored former center fielder Bernie Williams with Bernie Williams Day at Yankee Stadium.


Also on this day in 1986 a drunk Billy Martin was fired as the co-host on Saturday Night Live after slurring his lines during a skit. The former Yankee manager sets fire to his dressing room at the end of show, the season finale for SNL.


Also on this day in 1956 Mickey Mantle went off at the plate going 505 with an intentional walk in an 11-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Mantle would hit a home run and four singles in the game to go with his walk.


Finally on this day in 1936 the Yankees Tony Lazzeri becomes the first player in major league history to hit two grand slams in the same game when the Yankees beat up on the A's 25-2. The future Hall of Famer also established a new American League record in the game with 11 RBI's.

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers 5/23

And just like that it is game time here in Arlington, Texas between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers. In the finale of this three-game set this week the Yankees will send CC Sabathia to the mound to square off with Doug Fister for the Rangers. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Globe Life Park in Arlington and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB 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 with the legendary duo of 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, it’s Gleyber Day, and go Yankees!!

Joe Girardi, Meet Buck Showalter

Man, you have to feel for manager Joe Girardi right now, don’t you? The man that has managed the New York Yankees for the last ten seasons was not offered a contract after the 2017 season leading the team to hire Aaron Boone, an inexperienced manager, to lead the Baby Bombers. Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it and this entire situation seems awfully familiar to me. Remember when, like Girardi, Buck Showalter managed through some bad seasons in New York only to be fired a season before the team began a dynasty? Does this not have the same feel to it? Does Girardi not seem like he is following the same pattern as Showalter did, and does that make Boone the next coming of “Clueless Joe?”

The Yankees were fresh off a trip to the American League Division Series as a Wild Card team in 1995 when Showalter was not brought back for the 1996 season. Joe Girardi led the Wild Card winning Yankees to the American League Championship Series in 2017 and was within one game of the 2017 World Series. In 1996 the Yankees did not bring back Showalter and brought in a surprising choice for manager in Joe Torre. See the offseason and the Aaron Boone signing for similarities in the story, they happened. The 1995 Yankees were young and had a promising group of players coming through the farm system including Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and eventually Jorge Posada. The 2018 Yankees? You know the names. Gleyber Torres, Miguel Andujar, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, Tyler Austin and others.

The Yankees had to sacrifice Showalter in order to get Torre, and that led to a dynasty. Whether it would have led to a dynasty with Showalter running things is a discussion for another day. Will the sacrifice of Girardi lead to another dynasty under Aaron Boone? Stay tuned, but how could it not?

…But is Cole Hamels REALLY an Option in July?

Earlier this week, albeit sarcastically, I declared it “trade season” in Major League Baseball and for the New York Yankees. While I believe it is still a little too early to start making concrete plans for the trading deadline before the calendar even strikes June, I think it may be safe to remove one player particularly from the Yankees wish list. His name is Cole Hamels and he was the starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers last night against the Yankees.

Cole Hamels is intriguing. Hamels is a veteran pitcher now pitching at 34-years old, and a pitcher with a ton of postseason experience including the 2008 World Series where Hamels won the MVP award. Hamels can still be an elite pitcher, not every fifth night but from time-to-time and is still throwing in the low 90 MPH with a devastating changeup. The Yankees would presumably love to add Hamels to their postseason push and to the mix, but Hal Steinbrenner is not likely to sign off on any acquisition for the Rangers left-hander. Why? Money.

Steinbrenner has stated the Yankees will keep payroll under the $197 million luxury tax threshold this season no matter what. Hamels is due to make $23 million in 2018 and would come with a $20 million club option or $6 million buyout for the 2019 season. Sure, with a trade the Yankees would only be on the hook for around $13.7 million of that, a prorated $7.7 million if the trade were to happen on July 31 plus the $6 million buyout, but that leaves New York a lot closer to the threshold cusp than they would like to be. The Yankees would have to pay more if they were to acquire him before July 31, that’s the way prorating works, and there will be plenty of competition for him making him equally as expensive in terms of prospects.

This is all before you remember that Hamels can veto ANY deal to 20 teams this July, including the New York Yankees. Hamels may make the financial decision a moot point, who is to say that Hamels even wants to come to New York? Hamels has his World Series ring, so he may or may not be chasing a ring, or another shot in the postseason. Hamels may be content just pitching the rest of the season in Texas for all we know. Hamels may want to return to Philadelphia. We just don’t know!

Thankfully NJ.com did an interview with Hamels this week while the team was in Texas and there were a few nuggets that came out of the Q&A. Here are a few questions and answers, for the entire list head over to NJ.com and read their amazing write up on Hamels and his potential trip to the Bronx.

Q: Are you aware that a lot of Yankee fans are bringing your name up quite a bit thinking that you're going to the final piece to their next championship?

Hamels: “Shoot, I helped them get a World Series in ‘09, so I’m sure they like me! … No, no. I understand it. It’s kind of the nature of what happens, and I think anytime you get traded once, you understand that the possibilities are there. And as you get older if you’re able to play well and keep of what I know I’m capable of doing, then it’s each year you could be on a different team hunting down a postseason. So, it’s kind of the nature of where I think I am in my career and in the contract and in the situation. (The Yankees) have a tremendous team. So really looking at them, it’s some of the best baseball is now being able to watch the Yankees and Boston and I think that’s just exciting for baseball fans in general and the game and the scope of it now creates with that drama that they’ve always had in their history. It’s been good to see.”

Q: You've always been super competitive. How important is it for you to be in a playoff race as opposed to just pitching?

Hamels: "I think you always look at it as you want to win every game that you go out and play. And then there’s a lot of games that I don’t get to play in, and you want to be able to see the sort of winning environment, that sort of atmosphere, the excitement from everybody. I think that’s kind of the energy that now has being created over in the AL East with those guys."

Q: Cliff Lee chose the Phillies over the Yankees when he was a free agent after the 2010 season. (Lee brought up his wife being harassed at Yankee Stadium in his signing presser with the Phillies). How do you feel about New York?

Hamels: “Actually, that’s not really the truth. I think it was between the Phillies and Texas truthfully. I don’t think the Yankees really had that sort of opportunity (to sign Lee in 2010). Knowing Cliff, it was Phillies and Texas. For me, it’s to play baseball. This is where I wanted to be. I’m fortunate enough to be here, and we made pretty good runs in ‘15 and ‘16. Last year was kind of tough. This year we’re working through some things. But for me, it’s just to go out there and play. This is the team I enjoy the most to be a part of. But I think you just have to look at it and it is what it is. I don’t really necessarily make the decisions or point the direction of what we’re trying to do or what ownership and management is trying to do. I’m just one piece that’s trying to help win ballgames. It’s a matter of being here and doing what I can until there’s a different situation or the time has come. So, I don’t really get to affect it as much as I think people think.”

Q: Why did you pick the Yankees as a team that you could block from trading for you?

Hamels: “It’s just a list. Really, it’s just kind of like heads up. So, I think what it really comes down to is it’s something that’s there. It just kind of provides a little bit more information, a little bit more bargaining power. That’s kind of really what that entails. But at the end of the day, situations kind of come up and I think everybody understands what can transpire. It’s just kind of a formality. I don’t think it’s anything that kind of needs to be looked into too deeply. I love it here (in Texas) and I’d love to be able to win here. But if management changes the direction, (getting traded) is just an opportunity to win and get to October. I think that’s the real baseball. That’s kind of where you test your skills the most.”

Q: Did you get to know Yankees manager Aaron Boone from his days at ESPN? Have you been interested to see how he's doing with no manager experience?

Hamels: “I think knowing his personality, and I know with him being around baseball so long, I don’t think you have to look at it as inexperienced. I think he was born and bred into baseball, so I think he would know better than anybody you don’t need a college degree to move around lineups and know momentum and who’s better matching up. The initiative of just being who he is has been pretty good. And he’s got a pretty good team to be able to manage too, so I think that helps."

Q: What's it going to be like facing the Yankees with Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge?

Hamels: “I didn’t get to face them last year. I think I was on the DL during the two times we played the Yankees. It was unfortunate because it’s always fun to pitch against the Yankees and especially in that sort of (atmosphere). But they do have a lot of power, so you just have to limit the damage. Solo home runs are probably the key. If you’re going to give up 500-foot home runs, try to make sure they’re solo and they’re not bunched together in fours and fives. Like anybody, there’s holes (in their lineup) and you just have to exploit it and you have to be able to locate. I think really what it comes down to, it’s a chess match and you try to study up as possible. But really at the end of the day you have to execute, and whoever executes the best and the most often comes away with the win.”

Q: You joked about blowing the 2009 World Series. Does your (five-run, 4 1/3-inning) performance in Game 3 still bug you?

Hamels: “The opportunity that I was given … I was a lot of runs early and to not be able to hold that (3-0) lead. The series was even. To not be able to hold that lead, I think it as kind of a pivotal moment and that kind of changes the tide in a series, especially when you’re home. So, I think that kind of always leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, especially against the Yankees. You always want to go to the postseason and beat the Yankees. I think that was kind of how I grew up (in San Diego). I got to watch all those (1990s and 2000) Yankees teams win as a kid, especially when they took down the hometown Padres (in 1998). You always want to try to get one on ‘em, but they got me (in 2009). I wasn’t able to solidify the job and then I didn’t have an opportunity for a Game 7 (because the Yankees won in six games). Who knows what would have happened if I had even been there (in Game 7). It wasn’t a very good postseason for me. It definitely taught me a lot. If that didn’t happen, I wouldn’t have the type of pitches that I have (now) and the repertoire and obviously that toughness.”

So, will Hamels end up in the Bronx? Maybe. Stay tuned.

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers 5/23

Good morning everyone and welcome back to Arlington, Texas, the location of the third and final game of a three-game set between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers. The Yankees offense has remained hot and the pitching has done enough to keep the team rolling and they will look to do so again tonight with CC Sabathia toeing the rubber for New York. The Rangers will counter with Doug Fister for the finale. Let’s get to it here in Arlington, Texas.

Sabathia finally took his first loss of the 2018 season in his last start against the Kansas City Royals. Sabathia pitched well enough to win but his start was foiled by shaky defense behind him including two errors by Gleyber Torres.

Fister does not have a win for the Rangers since March 30 despite having his best start of the season last time out. Fister pitched seven scoreless innings last time out against the Chicago White Sox striking out four while allowing six hits, but the start ended in a no-decision for the Rangers right-hander.

The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Globe Life Park in Arlington and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB 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 with the legendary duo of John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Enjoy the game, like a good Gleyber… Torres is there, and go Yankees!!

Hello… How the Mighty Have Fallen

Good morning everyone and Happy Hump Day to all. We are halfway there, and former Yankees right-hander and phenom Phil Hughes is presumably halfway to finding himself on a new team for the 2018 season. Phil Hughes was designated for assignment by the Minnesota Twins this week, how the mighty have fallen.

Hughes is making $13.2 million this season and will make another $13.2 million for the 2019 season, a total that the Twins will presumably be obligated to pay after the DFA. Hughes has pitched just 12 innings this season for the pitching-starved Twins and sports a 6.75 ERA as both a starter and as a relief pitcher.

The New York Yankees drafted Hughes with their first-round pick in 2004 and subsequently let him walk via free agency before the 2014 season. Hughes signed a three-year deal worth $24 million with the Twins before the 2014 season and posted a 16-10 record with a 3.52 ERA in 32 starts and 209.2 innings pitched. That was a high for Hughes, it was all downhill from there. Hughes dealt with back issues in 2015, a broken leg in 2016, a surgery to remove a rib, a bout with thoracic outlet syndrome, arm fatigue, hand numbness, and shoulder discomfort.

The Twins now have a week to trade him or let him walk with his $26.4 million. Must be nice to suck and make more than I will ever make over the course of my life while being awesome. And humble too. Former Yankees update, Phil Hughes sucks! The end.

And my baby, I love you. Seven more days. Lucky number seven. I’ve always loved you, and I will always love you.

This Day in New York Yankees History 5/23: David Wells First Start Since Perfection

On this day in 1998 the Yankees David Wells extended his American League record for consecutive outs to 38 when the Red Sox leadoff hitter Darren Lewis grounded out to start the game. Wells was coming off his perfect game in his previous start and retired the last ten batters he faced in Kansas City in the start before setting history.


Also on this day in 1962 the Yankees Joe Peptione hit two home runs in the same inning to become the second player in Yankees history to do so. The Yankees scored nine times in the eighth inning and would beat Kansas City 13-7. Joe DiMaggio became the first Yankee to do it as a rookie in 1936.


Finally on this day in 1948 the Yankees Joe DiMaggio would hit three consecutive home runs with the first two coming off the Indians Bob Feller. The Yankees would beat the Indians 6-5 on this day behind DiMaggio's offensive outburst.