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Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Despite Pettitte's nice game, Yankees fall to Rangers without a fight
Despite Andy Pettitte giving up just two earned runs over six innings of work, the Yankees lost another boring, noncompetitive, game tonight to the Rangers, 3-1. The Yankees only run in this one came in the sixth, when Robinson Cano tied the game with an RBI Single. But that would be it for the good part of the night as the Rangers would break the tie in the bottom of sixth and tack on another in the eighth to seal the victory. Overall, the Yankees pitching staff had another nice night. But this offense simply isn't good enough to compete at the level they're being asked to. This is getting ridiculous.
Trenton Thunder Game Recap For 7/24
Press Release - July 24, 2013
Early Run Not Enough in 4-2 Loss
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Morales or Morneau: If both are available, who do you want?
I've been doing a lot of wedding planning lately and not enough Yankee planning. With rumors abounding around and the repors that the Yanks have inquired about Justin Morneau, I offer a comparison between him and the Mariners Kendrys Morales.
According to Baseball Reference.com:
Age:
Morales: Just turned 30 in June
Morneau: Turned 32 in May
Contracts:
Both are in the final years of their deals. Morales was making $5.25 mil and Morneau making an average of a little over $14 mil.
BA this season:
Morales: .282
Morneau: .272
HR this season:
Morales: 15
Morneau: 7
RBI this season:
Morales: 57
Morneau: 52
BB/K this season:
Morales: 28/69
Morneau: 28/64
WAR this season:
Morales: 2.1
Morneau: 0.9
Both can play first base and DH. Morales is a switch hitter which gives Girardi some lineup flexibility and Morneau would add to an already stacked left-handed batting lineup.
Rumor has it that the Mariners do not plan on being sellers this year but have a first baseman in Justin Smoak and a DH in Ibanez. Should this really be a hard question if the Yankees are seriously considering adding a piece to the struggling lineup?
Game Thread: Yankees @ Rangers 7/24
The Yankees and the Rangers play tonight in Arlington as the Yankees send Andy Pettitte to face off with Matt Garza. Andy is 2-4 in his last seven starts with a 5.04 ERA even though he says he feels completely healthy and okay mechanically and physically. Matt Garza is making his first start since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees need this game in a big way so go Yankees!
Here is the Yankees lineup
Brett Gardner CF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Lyle Overbay 1B
Vernon Wells DH
Eduardo Nunez SS
Brent Lillibridge 3B
Melky Mesa LF
Chris Stewart C
Follow us on twitter by following @GreedyStripes
Last Night's Win Will Be The Beginning Of A Comeback
Last night's win took and showed a lot of heart and I really think it may be the turning point in this season for us. With the Yankees inching closer to get healthy with possible returns of Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Jayson Nix, Curtis Granderson, and Francisco Cervelli in the next two to three weeks mixed in with a potential Alfonso Soriano trade and a Travis Hafner benching this team may finally get the offensive push it needs to make a run at the playoffs. Currently we are seven games back in the AL East but have plenty of head to head games left with the teams in front of us, the Tampa Bay Rays, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Boston Red Sox.
The Rays will be tough as always and the Orioles pitching looks like it is getting better with the additions of Scott Feldman and Wei Yin Chen off the DL but the Red Sox is the team I can see collapsing a little. The Red Sox bullpen is getting thinner and thinner by the day with injuries to the likes of Andrew Bailey, Scott Hanrahan, and Andrew Miller, and barring a trade may not have enough in the back end of that pen to last all season long. Not saying that the Red Sox would not make the playoffs but they may not have enough to hold on to the AL East lead. I said all that to say this, the comeback trail started last night and I am officially leading the bandwagon back to the good side. If you're not down to be on board then get out of the way but everybody just remember that you heard it here first. Now Go Yankees!!
Alfonso Soriano Willing To Accept A Deal To New York
Alfonso Soriano, in a interview with Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Times and others, told reporters that he was ready to move on from the Cubs and would be willing to go to New York. While Soriano did say that he wants to finish his contract with the Chicago Cubs he also pointed out that he is 37 years old and wants to compete for a World Series one more time before he calls it quits. The Yankees give him a much better chance at that right now then the Cubs do. Now if the Yankees could just get the deal done already.
Curtis Granderson & Jayson Nix Start Rehab Tomorrow
Both Curtis Granderson, who is rehabbing a broken pinky, and Jayson Nix, who is rehabbing a groin injury, will begin their 20 day rehab assignment with the Tampa Yankees tomorrow. Both players have been taking simulated at bats so the process may go quick for both players. Nix is obviously a lot closer to returning to the big league club then Granderson is and may be back by the time the calendar says August. Granderson may be back in the first week of August which is not a total loss of the season if he can come back strong and healthy.
Alex Rodriguez Starring In The Bronx Is Burning II
This whole season with the New York Yankees and Alex Rodriguez has seemed like something thought up from ESPN and the writers of The Bronx is Burning. We all know about the hip injury and subsequent surgery, we all know about the Biogenesis bombshell and the possible lifetime ban from baseball, and we all know that A Rod hurt his quad in the game before the last rehab assignment game he would be in before rejoining the Yankees and the media crap storm, or did he?
Alex Rodriguez was diagnosed with a grade 1 strain of his quadriceps muscle and was kept on the 60 day disabled list rather then being activated this Monday for the series with the Texas Rangers. Alex Rodriguez went to get a second opinion on his own, which is apparently a violation of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement but hell so is steroid use, from Dr. Michael Gross and he testifies that there is no quad injury. To clarify the player can get a second opinion if they so chose but they have to inform their team in writing and naturally Alex did not do that much like he did not just show up to minor league games when he pleased.
Naturally the doctor did not examine Alex himself nor did he give him an MRI all he did was look at the existing MRI that Alex provided. Gross also went on to admit that a slight grade 1 strain may not even be present in an MRI but still speculates that Alex could play tonight if he really wanted to. This is going to get rally ugly REALLY fast. Stay tuned.
Luis Cruz Sent To DL, David Adams Called Up
Luis Cruz has been added, as expected, to the 15 day DL with what is being called a knee sprain. This morning we reported that it was an MCL injury so that report seems acurrate. To take his spot on the 25 man roster the Yankees have called up David Adams. Adams has been crushing AAA pitching so the call up seemed obviously, especially considering the fact that he is already on the 40 man roster. As bad as Adams has hit this year in the majors he is still an upgrade offensively over Luis Cruz. Defensively maybe not so much and definitely not in the versatility role but it is what it is at this point in the season.
New York Yankees @ Texas Rangers 7/24
The New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers will continue their four game series tonight as they will play game three of this four game set. The Yankees will send Andy Pettitte to the mound trying to avoid those early inning run blues. The Texas Rangers will show off their new toy in Matt Garza making his first start back in the American League. The game will be televised at 8:05 pm ET on YES and MLB TV.
Game 101 - Rangers vs. Yankees
Regular Season Game 101
Texas Rangers (55-45) vs. New York Yankees (53-47)
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington - Arlington, Texas
TV/Radio: YES/WCBS 880
8:05pm EST
YANKEES:
Brett Gardner CF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Lyle Overbay 1B
Vernon Wells DH
Eduardo Nunez SS
Brent Lillibridge 3B
Melky Mesa LF
Chris Stewart C
Pitching: Andy Pettitte, LHP
RANGERS:
Ian Kinsler 2B
Elvis Andrus SS
Nelson Cruz RF
Adrian Beltre 3B
A.J. Pierzynski DH
Jeff Baker LF
Mitch Moreland 1B
Geovany Soto C
Craig Gentry CF
Pitching: Matt Garza, RHP *Rangers debut
Now for some news + notes...
- Curtis Granderson (broken pinky) is set to begin a rehab assignment tomorrow with the High-A Tampa Yankees. Jayson Nix (oblique) played five innings at third base today with them, going 0-2. It is believed both will return soon.
- Outfielder Alfonso Soriano was is not in the Cubs' lineup tonight in an effort to "clear his head", amid all the trade rumors. The Yankees are still trying to work out a trade for their former second baseman, and it appears Soriano is willing to return to New York should a deal go down. When asked if he would use his no-trade clause to prevent being dealt to the Yanks, Sori said, "No, no, no, no." Chicago reporters are putting the chances of a deal happening at 75%.
- Finally, as it is too big of a story to ignore, here is a statement from Yankees GM Brian Cashman on the latest news regarding Alex Rodriguez.
RailRiders, Brett Marshall win afternoon game
More than 5,750 fans saw a rare occurrence Wednesday — a quality start by Brett Marshall.
Actually, even better, it was one of Marshall's best starts in his professional career, as he tossed eight innings, allowing just five hits and one walk.
Powered by the struggling 23-year-old pitcher, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders improved to just four games below .500, defeating the Toledo Mud Hens, 4-1.
The RailRiders' bats went silent the last seven innings of the game, but that was OK, as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's first inning — highlighted by a Randy Ruiz home run — provided all the support Marshall needed.
Dellin Betances, the RailRiders' brilliant starter-turned-reliever, closed the game out in shaky fashion, throwing as many balls as strikes and walking two batters.
Catch up with the full box score of today's game by clicking this link.
Catch up with the full box score of today's game by clicking this link.
A-Rod's Doctor Denies Quad Injury
Dr. Michael Gross, the personal doctor for Alex Rodriguez, went on with Mike Francesa of WFAN 660 and said that he saw nothing wrong with Rodriguez's quad on the MRI.
Rodriguez clearly tried to force the Yankees' hand because he believes that they are doing everything in their power to keep him from playing. He went against the wishes of the Yankees to get a second opinion from Dr. Gross against their wishes to put the ball back in their court. Rodriguez is trying to prove that he wants to play and any reports of him wanting to retire before MLB can suspend him ans cash out are false.
Right now the Yankees are looking very bad in this. Their reaction to Rodriguez being ready to play should be joy considering the trash they have had playing third base this year. However, their have been reports that the Yankees are looking to discipline him for getting a second opinion against their wishes. It should be about putting the best players on the field, but right now that does not seem to be the first priority.
Here is the audio of Dr. Gross with Francesa courtesy of @WFANAUDIO. This seems to be only the beginning of this.
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otKj7tH1JCY&feature=youtu.be
Trenton Thunder Welcome 8,000,000 Fans
Press Release - July 23, 2013
THUNDER WELCOME THE EIGHT MILLIONTH FAN IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
Tuesday's Crowd Of 8,213 Is The 10th Largest In Team History
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Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap For 7/23
How Sweep It Is
Charleston takes all four games in Hickory and extends winning streak to six games
HICKORY, NC – Charleston starter Cesar Vargas starred on the mound for the RiverDogs propelling them to a series sweep of the Hickory Crawdads with a 5-1 victory at L.P. Frans Stadium in South Atlantic League action. The win is Charleston's sixth consecutive victory.
With the win, the RiverDogs improve to 18-11 in the second half and 57-40 overall. Charleston sits just 1.5 games behind the Lexington Legends. With the loss, the Crawdads have now dropped their sixth straight taking their record to 16-15 in the second half and 55-46 overall.
Vargas (4-3) gave the RiverDogs seven strong innings Tuesday night as he allowed just one run on four hits with four strikeouts to earn the win. The lone run Vargas allowed didn’t come across until his final inning of work. He sat Hickory down 1-2-3 five of his seven innings pitched.
Vargas was relieved to start the bottom of the eighth by righty John Brebbia who retired all three men he faced. Lefty James Pazos closed the door on the Crawdads by pitching a perfect bottom of the ninth with one strikeout.
Offensively, Charleston got on the board for the first time in the third inning on an RBI single by Cito Culver to score Danny Oh. Culver finished the game 2-for-5 with two singles and an RBI. Eight of the nine RiverDogs starters recorded at least one hit Tuesday night.
The RiverDogs were back at it in the top of the fourth inning. Dante Bichette Jr. drew a leadoff walk and advanced all the way to third two batters later on a double by Jake Cave. Bichette Jr., then came around to scored with Wes Wilson at the plate on a wild pitch by Hickory’s starter Luis Parra.
Wes Wilson scored the ‘Dogs third run of the game in the sixth inning. The catcher reached base on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second on an error by the second baseman and then came all the way home on two straight wild pitches. Charleston’s final two runs came across in the eighth inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Jake Cave and Wes Wilson.
Cave was 2-for-4 on the night with a single, double, a run scored and an RBI. Wes Wilson went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored as he reached base three times on the evening.
Hickory starter Luis Parra (5-4) took the loss Tuesday as the lefty went six innings and allowed three runs, two earned on seven hits to go along with six strikeouts, two walks and three wild pitches.
The Crawdads lone run came in the bottom of the seventh inning. Following a one out triple by Nick Williams, Ryan Rua came to the plate and singled Williams home to avoid being shutout.
Charleston will take Wednesday off before starting an eight game homestand that features the Greensboro Grasshoppers and these same Hickory Crawdads. Thursday marks the series opener of four games against the Grasshoppers. Charleston will send LHP Evan Rutckyj (8-6, 4.72 ERA) to the mound as Greensboro counters with RHP Daniel Oliver (2-3, 5.05 ERA). Tickets for Thursday’s game may be purchased by visiting www.riverdogs.com or by call (843) 577-3647. You can listen to each and every game live locally on
ESPN 910 AM or online at www.riverdogs.com.
Box Score: http://atmilb.com/ 1dTw3FO
--RIVERDOGS--
Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs organization. The original article can be seen HERE.
Trenton Thunder Game Recap For 7/23
Press Release - July 23, 2013
Thunder Take Twin Bill from Altoona
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Interview With 34th Round Draft Pick Hector Crespo
Hector Crespo was drafted in the 34th round of the 2013 MLB First Year Players draft and at the time of this writing has already made it to AAA Scranton Wilkes Barre with the RailRiders. Hector has thankfully found time to do this interview for us and we are excited to be bringing this to you. I hope that you guys enjoy this as much as I enjoyed interacting with Hector while doing it. Time to get down to business, enjoy!
The Greedy Pinstripes: Describe your draft experience for us? Stressful? Who did you speak with in the Yankees organization? etc
Hector Crespo: The draft experience was a bit stressful, but once I heard my name called it became one of the best days of my life. Adam Czajkowski was my scout.
TGP: In honor of Ian Clarkin we have to ask who your favorite team was growing up?
HC: I never really had a favorite team growing up, but I've always been a fan of the Yankee tradition.
HC: I never really had a favorite team growing up, but I've always been a fan of the Yankee tradition.
TGP: Were you disappointed to go in the 34th round?
HC: I was at first disappointed falling to the 34th round, but soon I realized it was a blessing just to be drafted and especially by the Yankees
TGP: Did you play any other positions coming up?
HC: I've played just about every position coming up except pitcher and catcher. I feel comfortable in just about every position on the field and I take pride in that.
TGP: What has been your biggest inspiration in baseball??
HC: Definitely my father, he's pushed me to be the best baseball player I could be and I wouldn't be here today without him
TGP: What is your best asset you think you bring to the table?
HC: I feel the ability to play multiple positions is an asset I bring, as well as my speed and hitting ability
TGP: What do you think you will specifically work on this year?
HC: Getting a feel for professional baseball and the lifestyle. Other than that just having fun and playing the game the way I know how.
TGP: Do you consider yourself to be a stolen base threat?
HC: I do consider myself to be a stolen base threat and take pride in my base running ability and speed
TGP: Where will you be starting your Yankees career?
HC: I started in Staten Island, but I have been promoted to Triple A Scranton
TGP: What position do you think you will play when you start down in the Yankees system?
HC: Any spot in the infield 3B, SS, 2B
TGP: Do you think your size will impact you as an every day player?
HC: I feel like I can be an every day player regardless of my size. As long as I go out and compete and do my job, things will fall into place
TGP: Do you have any regrets in your baseball life?
HC: No regrets in my baseball life
TGP: What current major league player would you compare yourself and style of play to?
HC: Michael young because his ability to play multiple positions and be a consistent hitter. Love the way he plays the game
TGP: Tell us about the "Hecky's Hit and Run" organization you founded in High School.
HC: Hecky's Hit and Run is an organization me and my mother put together to send new and used baseball equipment and send them to less fortunate Countries like Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. It's been a great success so far and the ability to give back and bring joy to kids is an amazing feeling.
TGP: Most famous person in your cell phone?
HC: Not sure if he has the same number anymore but Manny Machado and I were good friends in high school from playing summer ball together
TGP: Any embarrassing songs in your iPod?
HC: Firework by Katy Perry
We want to once again take the time to thank Hector for making time in his busy schedule to do this for us because we appreciate it more than he knows. Follow Hector on twitter by following @HeckyCrespo and follow us on twitter by following @GreedyStripes. Good luck in everything that you do Hector both inside and outside of baseball because you are truly a good person and you deserve everything that this world has to offer and so much more. Go Yankees!
Luis Cruz Likely Headed To DL With MCL Injury
Nothing has been officially announced yet but Yankees infielder Luis Cruz is likely headed to the DL after that awkward fall on Monday in Texas. The Yankees are calling it an MCL injury and it should side line him for a little while. Luis is headed this morning back to New York for an MRI and the determination will be made after that. With Alberto Gonzalez off the 40 man and 25 man roster again I can see him coming right back unless the Yankees acquire Alfonso Soriano sometime today.
David Phelps First Trenton Thunder Rehab Game Recap
David Phelps made his first rehab start for the Trenton Thunder last night and finished the night with allowing two runs and two hits on one home run with 6 K's and three walks in 3.2 innings. Phelps has been on the DL since before the All Star break with a slight forearm strain and has until August 22nd to rehab it. I do not think he will need the full 30 days to recover and rehab from this.
Yankees score twice in ninth to beat Rangers 5-4
Despite Phil Hughes and Boone Logan combining to give up four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to blow a 3-0 lead, the Yankees won tonight's middle game over the Rangers in thrilling fashion, 5-4. The Bombers, as mentioned earlier, blew a big lead tonight and trailed 4-3 heading into the ninth inning. But in that ninth inning, the Yankees rallied and took a 5-4 lead after Eduardo Nunez tripled home Vernon Wells and Brett Lillibridge singled home Nunez. That single was a very exciting one and one that could potentially keep Lillibridge on the roster if the team does in fact acquire Alfonso Soriano. Anyway, this win was fun. Let's hope they do it again tomorrow.
This Day In New York Yankees History 7/24
On this day in 1983 the Kansas City Royals and George Brett had the pine tar incident in Yankees Stadium,m. Butler hit the go ahead home run but it was disallowed after the umpire said there was too much pine tar on Butlers bat.
On this day in 1999 the Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians 21-1 matching their biggest margin of victory in 46 years.
On this day in 2004 Yankees star Alex Rodriguez was hit by a pitch by the Boston Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo after hitting a home run the night before. This was when Jason Varitek, the Red Sox catcher, pushed his glove into A Rod's face and cleared the benches.