Yankees blown out in A-Rod's return by White Sox, 8-1

From now on, I will no longer make excuses. This Yankees team simply isn't going to win much this year. In tonight's opener in Chicago, they went down without any kind of a fight, 8-1. Andy Pettitte, a man who has had a great career up to this point, gave up 7 runs in just 2.2 innings, causing his record to fall to 7-9. In his career, Pettitte has never had a record worse than 12-12, but this year things have been different, very different. 

In his 2013 debut tonight, Alex Rodriguez went 1-for-4 with a single. Besides that, there is nothing I consider worthy of reporting. 

Derek Jeter To The DL & The Flurry Of Roster Moves

Derek Jeter has been placed on the 15 day DL for the 3rd time this season, retroactive to Friday August 2nd, with a grade 1 strain in his calf. With this move came a flurry of roster moves for the Yankees including activating Alex Rodriguez off of the 60 day disabled list, designating Brent Lillibridge for assignment, and calling up David Adams. Lillibridge getting the DFA cleared both a 25 and 40 man roster spot for A Rod and Adams came up to essentially replace Jeter.

I do not understand this as we could have simply added Corban Joseph, who is out with season ending shoulder surgery, to the 60 day DL and added Derek Jeter to the 15 day DL and have enough roster spots without losing anybody. We should have considered this especially since A Rod is playing on borrowed, and appealed, time with the Biogenesis suspension.

Game Thread: Yankees @ White Sox 8/5

The Yankees and the White Sox start a three game set tonight in Chicago on YES and MLB TV. The pitching match up is Andy Pettitte facing off with former Yankees farm hand Jose Quintana. Andy Pettitte has pitched better of late but does not have a win to show for it. Quintana has 14 no decisions this year already so he has had some tough luck this season. Hopefully the Yankees can take advantage of this lesser schedule and make up some ground in the Wild Card race.

Here is the Yankees lineup

Brett Gardner CF

Alfonso Soriano DH

Robinson Cano 2B

Alex Rodriguez 3B

Vernon Wells 1B

Curtis Granderson LF

Ichiro Suzuki RF

Eduardo Nunez SS

Chris Stewart C

Follow us on twitter by following @GreedyStripes. Go Yankees!

New York Yankees @ Chicago White Sox 8/5

The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox start a three game set tonight in Chicago at US Cellular Field. The Yankees will send Andy Pettitte to the mound to face off with former Yankees farm hand Jose Quintana, The game will be televised at 8:05 pm ET on YES and MLB TV.

Francisco Cervelli's 2013 Season Is Over With 50 Game Suspension

Lost in the whole Alex Rodriguez debacle is the fact that the Yankees Francisco Cervelli was also lost for 50 games due to his Biogenesis suspension and will miss the rest of the 2013 season. Fernando Martinez signed a minor league deal for us as well and will miss 50 games as well but does not factor into our plans so we will not miss him much. Cervelli may catch a break with his suspension because most of his suspension will be served while on the DL. Either way today is a black eye for all of baseball and for the New York Yankees organization. 

Former Yankee Update Thomas Neal

Thomas Neal was designated for assignment when the Yankees got Curtis Granderson off the DL and was claimed by the Chicago Cubs today. Neal will join Theo Epstein and company in Chicago and be part of that rebuilding squad over there so goo luck to Mr. Neal. 

Alex Rodriguez Suspended For Remainder Of 2013 & All Of 2014

As expected Alex Rodriguez has been suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season and for all of the 2014 season. Alex will appeal the decision and will be in the starting lineup tonight against the Chicago Whitesox. The appeal should be heard and a decision should be passed down by August 8th. If the decision to suspend is upheld we will see A Rod receding a 211 game suspension for his ties to Biogenesis. With Ryan Braun only receiving a 60 some game suspension the idea to appeal does not look to smart now does it?

Game 110: Yankees @ White Sox

Regular Season Game 110
New York Yankees (57-53) vs. Chicago White Sox (40-69)
U.S. Cellular Field - Chicago, Illinois
TV/Radio: YES/WCBS 880
8:05pm

YANKEES

Brett Gardner CF
Alfonso Soriano DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Vernon Wells 1B
Curtis Granderson LF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Eduardo Nunez SS
Chris Stewart C

Pitching: Andy Pettitte, LHP

WHITE SOX

Alexi Ramirez SS
Jeff Keppinger 3B
Alex Rios RF
Paul Konerko 1B
Adam Dunn DH
Gordon Beckham 2B
Dayan Vicideo LF
Casper Wells CF
Josh Phegley C

Pitching: Jose Quintana, LHP

Now for some news + notes...

- Surprise! Alex Rodriguez has been suspended. However, as you can tell, he will appeal and likely play out the remainder of the season, should he stay healthy. The best us Yankees fans can do is just hope he plays well and isn't too much of a circus after tonight.

- Word just broke that Derek Jeter is going back on the disabled list with a Grade 1 calf strain. This will be his third DL stint of 2013, as yesterday Jeter himself called this season "a nightmare". Ironically, activating A-Rod will be the corresponding roster move.

- To a somewhat random degree, Brent Lillibridge has been designated for assignment, and David Adams has been called up.

- And finally, the Chicago Cubs claimed Thomas Neal off waivers from the Yankees today. He had two stints with the team this year for a grand total of four games, picking up 2 hits in 13 plate appearances. Happy trails.

The Lineup With Alex Rodriguez In The Middle Of It

Alex Rodriguez is back so let's look at what the lineup could look like tonight in Chicago when the Yankees take on the White Sox.

1. Gardner

2. Ichiro

3. Soriano

4. Cano

5. Rodriguez

6. Granderson

7. Overbay

8. Nunez

9. Romine

MLB Suspends Rodriguez, Cervelli for Biogenesis link

[caption id="attachment_14870" align="alignright" width="300"] Alex Rodriguez has been suspended by MLB for the rest of the 2013 season and all of 2014.[/caption]

Well, the moment that we all were waiting for since early last week has finally arrived: Major League Baseball has suspended Alex Rodriguez for the rest of the 2013 season and all of 2014. However there is a catch: Rodriguez has appealed the suspension and can play until otherwise.

MLB suspended 13 players today just after noon but the announcement wasn't made official until 3 p.m. Here is the press release, clarifying Rodriguez's charges:

Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig announced today that third baseman Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees has been suspended without pay for the remainder of the 2013 Championship Season and Postseason and the entire 2014 Championship Season for violations of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program and the Basic Agreement.

Rodriguez's discipline under the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program is based on his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including Testosterone and human Growth Hormone, over the course of multiple years.

Rodriguez's discipline under the Basic Agreement is for attempting to cover-up his violations of the Program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation. The suspension, which will become effective on Thursday, August 8th, will cover 211 Championship Season games and any 2013 Postseason games in which Rodriguez otherwise would have been eligible to play.

Under the terms of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, Rodriguez’s suspension will be stayed until the completion of his appeal if Rodriguez files a grievance challenging his discipline.

However, Rodriguez wasn't the only New York Yankee that was suspended this afternoon. Catcher Francisco Cervelli was suspended for 50-games due to his link of the Biogenesis clinic. Unlike Rodriguez, Cervelli has accepted the suspension and will not play for the rest of the 2013 season.

With Rodriguez's suspension taking effect until Thursday, he's able to play the Chicago series from Monday through Wednesday at Cellular Field against the White Sox. Joe GIrardi made a note that he had 'penciled in' Rodriguez for the lineup yesterday before a 6-3 loss to the San Diego Padres.

Well, it looks as if it's a brand new season of "As The World Turns On A-Rod." So grab your popcorn, sit in front of the T.V. tonight...and let the A-Rod circus continue. Oh joy.

Augusta Completes Sweep of RiverDogs on Walkoff Error

Augusta Completes Sweep of RiverDogs on Walkoff Error

GreenJackets take six games in four days over Charleston

AUGUSTA, GA – In one of the strangest final innings of a ballgame you will ever see, the Augusta GreenJackets swept the Charleston RiverDogs out of town with a 6-5 walk-off victory at Lake Olmstead Stadium in South Atlantic League action on Sundayafternoon.

With the loss, the RiverDogs drop to 22-21 in the second half and 61-50 overall. It’s Charleston’s sixth loss in the past four days. With the win, Augusta completes a six game sweep of the RiverDogs and improves to 24-18 in the second half and 62-49 overall.

The Augusta GreenJackets struck early Sunday afternoon. The GreenJackets plated two runs in the bottom of the first on two walks, a hit batsman, a ground out and a wild pitch.

Augusta scored their third run of the game on a solo blast from Mitchell Delfino to lead off the bottom of the third. For Delfino, it was his tenth homer of the season. He finished 2-for-2 with a single, homer and two walks.

Augusta’s fourth run came across in the bottom of the fourth when Shawn Payne doubled in Alberto Robles who walked earlier in the inning. The GreenJackets added a fifth run in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double by Andrew Cain which scored Chuckie Jones.

GreenJackets starter Matthew Lujan continued his excellence in the SAL with a solid start going 6.2 innings that saw him allow a run on four hits with eight strikeouts and four walks.

Jacob Dunnington came in to close out the game in the top of the ninth for Augusta but after getting two quick outs, he allowed a double and a walk before he was yanked from the game by manager Mike Goff. With lefty Greg Bird stepping to the plate, Augusta went to the bullpen and called upon lefty Steven Okert who allowed a four pitch walk to Bird. Okert then was relieved by right-hander Ian Gardeck to face righty Angelo Gumbs. Gardeck threw two wild pitches scoring both Jake Cave and Cito Culver and eventually walked Gumbs. With Gumbs and Bird at the corners, Augusta decided to bring in their fourth pitcher of the inning in the form of Edward Concepcion (1-0). It was just his second appearance this year with the GreenJackets and he walked Danny Oh on four straight pitches to load the bases with two outs. Concepcion then tossed an errant pitch to the backstop scoring Greg Bird from third to tie the game at five in the top of the ninth.

In the bottom of the ninth, Augusta went right out and won the game. Reliever Adam Smith allowed a single to start the ninth to Shawn Payne. He then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on a throwing error by catcher Nick McCoy to send Augusta to the 6-5 win.

Charleston’s first run of the game came across in the top of the sixth inning when Greg Bird began things with a double. Bird scored later on a two out single by Ericson Leonora.

Leonora was back at it in the top of the eighth inning when he singled in Angelo Gumbs for the second run of the afternoon for the RiverDogs. Leonora finished 2-for-5 with two singles and two RBI’s. Jake Cave was the only other RiverDog to finish with multiple hits as he went 2-for-4 with two doubles giving him 29 doubles now on the season.

Charleston starter Evan Rutckyj lasted just five innings and allowed four runs on four hits with two strikeouts and five walks. Rutckyj was a bit wild Sunday and came just a walk shy of tying his season high of six walks in one game. Adam Smith (4-2) took the loss as he went 1 inning and allowed one run.

RiverDogs manager Al Pedrique was tossed in the fifth inning after arguing a double play called by the bases umpire.

Charleston stays on the road for three more games as they travel south to take on the Savannah Sand Gnats at Historic Grayson Stadium in Savannah, Georgia starting Monday night. Starters for both Charleston and Savannah are TBD for Monday’s series opener. 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/1elmgc7

--RIVERDOGS--

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

Robinson Cano Appreciation Thread

What could I possibly say about Robinson Cano and what he has meant to the Yankees both on and off the field this season? With the Yankees having seemingly no offense this year Cano has been one of the only bright spots in the lineup and may even get fellow blogger Benjamin Kabak to "eat his hat" by drawing 80 walks this season. With the Yankees having to run out their AAA team because everybody was injured and on the disabled list Cano has been in the lineup and in the field basically every day this season. With the media having a field day with Alex Rodriguez and his contract, his steroid suspension, etc we have not heard much out of Robinson Cano and his contract demands. Robby has been the walking, talking version of what a Yankees player should be. Robby, much like Derek Jeter, has been the quiet leader of the team choosing to lead by example rather than his words. Thank you Robbie for everything that you have given to baseball and the New York Yankees not only this season but ever since you broke into the major leagues. Thank you!

Love It Or Hate It Alex Rodriguez Is Back

The title of the article says it all because love him or hate him, barring some kind of a phantom injury, Alex Rodriguez will be back with the Yankees tonight when they play the Chicago White Sox. With the news that Bud Selig will allow Rodriguez to play while appealing the suspension we should see a roster move announced later on today. I fully expect Derek Jeter to be added to the 15 day DL to make room on the 25 man roster for Rodriguez and Corban Joseph to be added to the 60 day DL to clear a spot on the 40 man roster. 

Welcome back Alex Rodriguez. 

Thunder Sweep Reading out of Town, 4-3

TRENTON, NJ – Trenton took Sunday’s Game 3 over Reading to secure their fourth series sweep of the season- a 4-3 win over the Reading Fightin Phils.

The game was tied 3-3 into the 6^th inning, when Shane Brown grounded out on a dazzling sliding pick-up and throw by shortstop Edgar Duran. The next batter, Ramon Flores, walked and advanced to second base when Reegie Corona grounded out to first. So with two outs and a runner at second base, Slade Heathcott ripped a single to right-centerfield to break the tie.

Neither team would score the rest of the way, as Zach Nuding and Tommy Kahnle came out of the bullpen to shut down Reading over the final three innings. For Nuding, he picked up the hold in his second appearance in 2013 out of the bullpen while Kahnle collected his 14^th save of the season with three strikeouts over two innings.

New York Yankees mega-prospect Gary Sanchez (No. 3, Baseball America) made his double-A debut for the Thunder following his promotions from High-A Tampa Saturday. The 20-year old smoked a double to left-center field in his second at-bat to give Trenton the early 1-0 lead. He was also hit by a pitch in the 5^th inning to reach base in two of his four plate appearances Sunday.  

Casey Stevenson (3-for-3,2 2B, R, BB) and Ramon Flores (2-for-4, 2B, R, BB) paced Trenton’s eight-hit night offensively.

The Thunder get the day-off Monday before returning to action in Erie, PA starting Tuesday. The three-game series against the Sea Wolves begins Tuesday evening at 7:05 p.m. with LHP Nik Turley (8-6, 3.99) pitching for the Thunder against LHP Ramon Garcia (0-2, 6.11). Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and streaming online begins at 6:50 p.m.

--THUNDER--

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE. 

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/5

On this day in 2007 Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina won his 246th career game and became the winningest pitcher in major league history without winning 20 games in a season. Mike would finally get the 20 game winning season with a 20-9 record in his final season before retiring.