Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox 9/27

The New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox are just about ready to finish off their four game set this weekend in the Bronx with one last head-to-head mathcup this afternoon. In the contest the Yankees will send Luis Severino to the mound to make the 10th start of his young Major League career while the White Sox pushed Jeff Samardzija back in favor of Erik Johnson. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

The Yankees trade in their Sox from White to Red after this contest as the team plays their final four regular season games inside Yankee Stadium this season. Click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog to see any of these four remaining games or the Wild Card game in the Bronx. Also be sure to head over to Twitter and give @GreedyStripes a follow to interact with us during each and every Yankees game left this season.

Severino is ready and the Yankees offense is ready to break out for 15. Go Yankees!

My Fondest Derek Jeter Memory

Set the stage, a hot and muggy night in Atlanta, Georgia the date was June 14, 2012 and the New York Yankees were in the ATL to take on the Atlanta Braves in Interleague play. This was the night after Alex Rodriguez hit his 23rd grand slam of his career tying the great Lou Gehrig for first on the all-time list and it was about an hour before game time. I had been at the ball park since the gates opened at 5:00 pm and I watched the Yankees take batting practice, I watched the team stretch and joke and have fun and I saw what would become my greatest Derek Jeter moment of my life.


As you know I was born in the Bronx, New York and moved to Atlanta with my mother in 1999. I was in New York for the 1996, 1998, and 1999 World Series and the 1997 and 1995 playoffs so I got to see plenty of Jeter first hand. When I moved here to the south the thing I missed most was my Yankees and seeing them, Jeter specifically, play live. That’s weird that I didn’t miss my childhood friends that I had made in my 14 years as a New Yorker, my school, etc., all I missed was my Yankees. With this in mind when the Yankees come down to Atlanta I always purchase my tickets well in advance for the best seats in the house as close to the Yankees dugout as I can get.


On this day I had second row seats directly to the left of the Yankees dugout, you could see inside the dugout the entire game. The game was not my fondest memory though, it was when the Yankees came off the field shortly after 6:00 pm ET and Derek Jeter walked over to the stands to say hello and to sign autographs. Immediately my section was flooded with fans but I didn’t mind and neither did Jeter. I tried to get an autograph that day but obviously all the children went first and we were so swarmed I never got close enough to but that was okay too. I was more than content watching Jeter sit there and sign autographs and interact with fans, Yankees and Braves alike, until the 7:00 hour when the National Anthem was played in Atlanta. Derek sat there and signed autographs and took pictures and interacted with us for right at an hour.


These are the kinds of moments that most of the casual fans will never know about or hear about because MLB Network and ESPN aren’t talking about it. This is something that all true Yankees fans know, love, and appreciate about Jeter and this is just a sliver of what made him truly unique and special to not only the fans but to the game of baseball. Jeter played the game like a kid and acted like a fan and we love him for it. Thank you Derek and if you see AJ Burnett around, who snubbed thousands of fans more than once on that night, tell him I said hello.

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox 9/27

The New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox will play for the final time this weekend and the final time this season this afternoon when the two face off head-to-head. Theoretically the New York Yankees should have swept this series on their way to the postseason but as we all know that didn't happen. I'd settle for another victory today and some momentum heading into the final series against the Boston Red Sox but maybe that's just me. Anyway, the Yankees will send Luis Severino to the mound today to face off against the White Sox starter Erik Johnson. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

• Severino will make his 10th career MLB start this afternoon and is fresh off a no-decision against the always tough Toronto Blue Jays. Severino held Toronto to just two runs and three hits in six innings of work and has allowed three runs or fewer in eight of his nine starts this season, the one time coming against the Blue Jays as well. 

• Johnson makes the start today instead of Jeff Samardzija after a late week decision by manager Robin Ventura. Both Johnson and Samardzija started last Monday during a double-header and the White Sox would rather the right-handed pitcher Johnson pitch over Samardzija, presumably after the Yankees bombed Samardzija in his only start against New York earlier in the season inside US Cellular Field. 

The game means nothing to the White Sox but it means everything to the Yankees so the pressure is all on New York. Everyone loves to be the spoiler, especially former Yankees in David Robertson and Melky Cabrera, so here's to New York not allowing that to happen and taking care of business today in the Bronx. Go Yankees.

Scoreboard Watching: September 27, 2015

The New York Yankees magic number is dropping by the day. Toronto is going to the playoffs and are probably going to clinch the AL East Division this week, and that's fine, so the Yankees need to clinch the Wild Card. It's a whole new season. Just get in.

Sunday, September 27

New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox

Toronto Blue Jays vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Houston Astros vs. Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers @ Houston Astros

Minnesota Twins @ Detroit Tigers

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Seattle Mariners

Cleveland Indians @ Kansas City Royals

This Day In New York Yankees History 9/27: 4 Million Fans

The New York Yankees continued to sell tickets and smash records in the 2000’s and on this day in 2006 the stadium in the Bronx saw its 4,000,000th fan enter the ballpark. This marked the second consecutive season that New York surpassed 4,000,000 fans in one season. The Yankees and the 1991-1993 Toronto Blue Jays are the only teams in major league history with 4,000,000 plus fans in more than one season.


Also on this day in 1998 the Yankees won their seventh straight game to end the 1998 season 114-48. The Yankees .704 winning percentage marked the first time a team finished a season with over a .700 winning percentage since the 1954 Indians who went 111-43.



Finally on this day in 1938 we finish on a somber note as Lou Gehrig would hit his 493rd and final home run of his career. Gehrig’s home run came off Dutch Leonard of the Washington Senators. It is also worth mentioning that one this day 15 years earlier Gehrig hit his first home run of his major league career off the Red Sox Bill Piercy.

Recap: Yankees 2, White Sox 1

Adam Warren tossed six innings of one-run ball and the Yankees uneventfully beat the White Sox, 2-1, on Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

It's How You Finish: Warren surrendered three hits and an earned run in the first, but bounced back from there for a much-needed quality start. In fact, his three walks in the fifth were the lone baserunners Chicago had in the last eight frames -- Warren having retired the side in order four times. 

Turning the Tides: The Yankees took their slim lead in the sixth on RBI doubles by Chase Headley and Alex Rodriguez, their only two hits with RISP on the day. The Yanks had reached second base just once in the first five innings, but after a Jacoby Ellsbury single and steal, were able to finally rally against John Danks.

Pure Dominance: The Yankees' relief core of Justin Wilson, Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller sat down nine consecutive White Sox from the seventh through ninth, sealing the win for Warren on just 32 combined pitches. Of that sum, 12 were thrown by Wilson and Miller and eight by Betances -- easy workloads that could affect the group's availability Sunday.

Rewarded for Their Efforts: The four strikeouts Wilson and Miller recorded brought the bullpen's total for the year to 573, the most by any pen in American League history. The unit can tie the 2012 Rockies for the all-time mark with 16 more, a seemingly achievable goal considering there's still eight games left in the season.

Should've Played Him in April: Surging prospect Rob Refsnyder went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles, one on a line drive to left and another on a grounder to right. Refsnyder also made a nice backhanded stop on a hotshot up the middle in the third, perhaps showing improvement on his shaky defense. 

Next Up: The series concludes with an early finale on Sunday, New York sending Luis Severino (4-3, 3.10 ERA) to the hill versus right-hander Erik Johnson (3-0, 3.52 ERA). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. ET, airing live on YES and WFAN.

Taking My Wife Out to Dinner Open Thread

So as many of you saw on Thursday I wished my wife a very happy birthday this week but until now I haven't been able to take her out to dinner. We went out on Thursday but it wasn't the birthday dinner I wanted to take her out to nor the birthday dinner that she deserved. We had inventory at work on Friday (which means early to work and LATE to leave) and inventory reconciliation on Saturday (rinse and repeat the early and late departures) so we're just now getting to do it right.

So while we eat, celebrate and be merry I leave you with an open thread for the night with one of my wife's favorite artists right now as the musical recommendation. The name of the song is Animals by Maroon 5. Enjoy.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox 9/26

The New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox will face off tonight for the third time in the team’s four-game series this weekend. The Yankees will send Adam Warren to the mound this evening to face off against the White Sox starter John Danks. The game will be played at 4:05 pm ET and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11 and MLB TV. You know nobody wants to watch a 4:05 pm ET start when the YES Network won’t even pick up the game at the end of September. Oh well.

These two teams face off one more time tomorrow afternoon before New York welcomes David Ortiz and the Boston Red Sox to town for the final four home games in this season’s regular season. Click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog to see any of these remaining five home games or the AL Wild Card Game at home inside Yankee Stadium. Also be sure to jump on Twitter and give @GreedyStripes a follow to root for the home team all the way until Rob Manfred says the Yankees have to leave the field, take their things and go home for the winter.

Warren is ready and so are the New York Yankees. Let’s get it, Go Yankees!

My Letter to Yogi Berra If He Were Still Alive

Yogi,

Mr. Berra, thank you for taking the time to read this letter from a fan that has only heard about your greatest accomplishments not only in the game of Major League Baseball but in your life. I wasn't alive when you were fighting for our freedom in World War II on the beach of Normandy, I wasn't alive when you were winning MVP Award and 10 World Series rings and I wasn't alive when you were managing teams to the World Series after your playing career. I've never been to the Yogi Berra Museum, the New Jersey Hall of Fame or Cooperstown, New York but I have been a Yankees fan all my life and I think I know enough.

While I fit the time frame I am the polar opposite of a bandwagon fan or a dynasty fan. I began watching full time in 1994, I was 9-years old, and was disappointed when the season ended in a strike. I watched as the Yankees won the first ever Wild Card in 1995, the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009 and I watched as George Steinbrenner built and reinforced a bridge between your home and Yankee Stadium.

When I was dragged into the blogging world kicking and screaming the first widget I placed on the bare bones website was a widget that cycled through your best "Yogi-isms." When Major League Baseball announced every team's Mount Rushmore I pleaded your case over Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle. When you needed signatures and votes for the Medal of Freedom award from President Obama I voted with every email address I had access to. When your World Series rings were stolen a part of me died and when you die I'll cry.

You hear the stories of how you were such a great ball player but even a better person and it bothers me that I will likely never meet you in person. Never get to show my admiration for you and never get to show the ultimate respect and appreciation for you. Instead I'll model my life after yours, especially the kindness and sincerity part of your character, and I'll never expect or ask for praise for it. I'll never go to the most popular places in town because nobody does, it's always too crowded. When I see a fork in the road, I'll take it. When I'm lost I'll look on the bright side because at least I'll be making good time. If I can 't imitate you I'm not going to copy you, but I can.

Thank you for everything you do and everything you have done. You are an ambassador to the game and a vision of success to the world. We love you Yogi, get well soon and we'll see you at Old Timer's Day.


Daniel Burch

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox 9/26

Who comes up with these start times and such? I really need to know so I can write a very detailed letter or email to this person asking why they though a 4:05 pm ET start would be a good idea. The game is right there in the middle of the day and it basically consumes the day, why? Anyway, the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox will continue their four-game set this afternoon in the third matchup of the weekend between these two clubs. The Yankees will send Adam Warren to the mound looking to turn his recent string of bad starts around against the White Sox lefty John Danks. The game will be played at 4:05 pm ET and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11, MLB Network and MLB TV.

• Warren will be making his third start tonight since re-entering the starting rotation from the bullpen and will look to vastly improve his performance. In his two starts against the Tampa Bay Rays and the Toronto Blue Jays Warren has compiled a 0-1 record with a 6.14 ERA. Warren should be able to give the Yankees 100+ pitches tonight as he will officially be fully stretched out.

• Danks has looked good for Chicago in the second half of this season posting a 3.72 ERA in 12 starts since the All-Star break and will look to keep that going tonight against a team he’s had his struggles with, the New York Yankees. Danks has made two starts inside Yankee Stadium and owns a 0-0 record.

The Yankees and White Sox have one more meeting tomorrow afternoon in the Bronx before the Yankees begin preparations for the playoffs and the White Sox begin preparations for the 2016 season. This is really a great feeling to have right now as we prep for at least a Wild Card playoff game in the Bronx rather than a long winter of shoveling snow and free agency trade rumors and hot stove watching beginning in October. Keep winning and you play until November! Go Yankees!