Can you scratch this ICH off my back?

I'm not an A-Rod fan. You probably won't see me wearing #13 on my back anytime soon. But Yankee fans, admit this: it was kinda sweet when A-Rod pointed to the sky after his home run Sunday and pissed the Sawx fans royally. That's his routine after every home run--circle the bases, clap and point to the heavens. But that last one Sunday night was as sweet as cheesecake (one of my favorite desserts), particularly since it sparked a four-run rally in the sixth, giving the Yankees a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Saturday's loss though was really aggravating--one of the laws of baseball is, "Give the Sawx an opening, in that baalpahk, and you're doomed." Overbay's horrible high throw to second on a double-play grounder and the terrible call at third base did just that; it helped the Sawx smack the game out of Kuroda's hands.

But, with this team, it would've been an insane Al Michaels-esque miracle to sweep the Sawx in Fenway, or at all for that matter. What Sunday's tremendous win provided was just what I was talking about last time--that high point. The Yankees now have a new high point to the season. The old, banged up Yankees of mid-June would've folded and died with a 6-3 deficit after five innings; they would've made it 12-3 as a matter of fact. But with the regulars filing back in, with Soriano (who's been tremendous--look at highlights of the Angel games), with Mark Reynolds (who in one weekend is like God to us desperate Yankee fans; especially since I felt it was a ho-hum signing), and ESPECIALLY with A-Rod putting some pop on the ball. Just A-Rod getting base hits has been so huge because while he wasn't in the clubhouse, and going into his first couple of days as a Yankee in Chicago, he was an ENORMOUS distraction. After he hit that first home run against the Tigers, he wasn't so much of a distraction as a need. He's been working walks and getting base hits--hell, he even grounded out for an RBI Sunday night.

One more thing I want to touch on is this ridiculous 4,000 hit countdown that I'm pretty sure YES started. The cronies at YES are just absolutely pissed the Yankees aren't in first, and for the most part, haven't had much to root for this year. Ichiro got his 3,999th hit today, but not all of them were in the Major Leagues. If Ichiro wants to keep track of the record for himself, that's fine, but saying to baseball fans he has 4,000 hits sounds silly to me. Why not count every Major Leaguer's minor league, Venezuelan winter league and Cape Cod League hits. YES, stop barraging me with the Ichi-Meter. He's a great hitter--he's not Rose or Cobb.

'Till Next Time!

Neil Dwyer @neildwyer1993

Game Thread: Blue Jays @ Yankees 8/20 Game Two

The Blue Jays and the Yankees face off for the second time today in their day and night double header at Yankees Stadium. Mark Buehrle for the Blue Jays and Phil Hughes for the Yankees is the pitching match up and it can be seen at 7:05 pm ET on MY9 and MLB TV. Hughes looks to keep the line moving and keep the ball in the ball park which coincidentally will keep the Yankees in the playoff hunt. Buehrle has allowed five runs every time he has pitched in Yankees Stadium this year and that was before the Yankees had a credible offense so this may be a fun game to watch for the fans.

Here is the Yankees lineup

Brett Gardner CF
Vernon Wells RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Reynolds 1B
Eduardo Nunez SS
Jayson Nix 3B
Austin Romine C

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

A Rod Tells Cano To Leave As A Free Agent In 2014

Alex Rodriguez is probably the last person to be giving anyone advice about free agency, chasing money, etc etc etc but A Rod has been reportedly giving advice to Robinson Cano lately. First reported by the NY Daily News supposedly A Rod told Cano to play the field and sign with a new team when he becomes a free agent after the 2013 season.

Let's just say Cano is willing to leave and play somewhere else where in the world would he go and get the kind of money that he is commanding? The Red Sox just signed Dustin Pedroia to a big time extension, the Dodgers are apparently out on the bidding already, the Detroit Tigers have to be tapped out or close to tapped out, and the Angels don't have another big signing in them, do they? Cano knows that the Yankees are probably the only team that is going to give him not only the cash he commands but also the years that he will likely request.

Cano is staying with the Yankees, bottom line. A Rod is bitter with the Yankees organization as a whole right now, and who can really blame him for it, but A Rod needs to shut the hell up. Now I know that A Rod has denied the allegations and says he wants his close friend next to him for the final four seasons of his career but what would you expect him to say publicly? All we can hope for now is that Cano listens to his advisers, agent, and friends and not a guy who signed the two biggest contracts in major league history and is robbing the Yankees at the end of them.

Ryan Dempster Suspended For Five Games

Joe Girardi throwing this temper tantrum after Ryan Dempster threw inside or at Alex Rodriguez four times before he hit him in Sunday nights game got Dempster a five game suspension today. If Dempster does not appeal the suspension will begin tonight which would either make Dempster miss a start or get pushed back on two days extra rest. It's not enough but it is what it is at this point and we're not going to be getting any favors from the MLB so just live with it and move on. Just stay classy Boston, that's all that I ask.

Derek Jeter Expected To Run The Bases Today

Derek Jeter is penciled in to play in another simulated game today but this time will run the bases for the first time since his calf injury landed him on the DL for the third time this season. The Yankees have a plan for Jeter but are not revealing that plan in any shape or form so we will just have to wait and see. That secrecy includes whether or not Derek will have to go on another rehab assignment this time around. No word on how he came through that but one would have to think that if he re-injured himself we would have heard something by now so I'm going to take the optimistic road and say that Derek should be back for the Tampa series this weekend. The realist in me though says the Yankees will hold him back until September call ups on September 1st.

Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees 8/20 Game Two

The Toronto Blue Jays travel to play the New York Yankees for the second game of their double header tonight in Yankees Stadium. The Yankees are trying to mount a historic comeback not only in the AL East but in the wild card and playoff race as a whole and they need to beat the teams they should beat like the Blue Jays. The Yankees will send Phil Hughes to the mound so expect at least one solo home run in the stadium tonight. The Blue Jays will counter with Mark Buehrle who has struggled in his career against the Yankees. The game can be seen at 7:05 pm ET on MY9 and MLB TV.

Nova bounces back after rough second inning to beat Blue Jays, 8-4

Ivan Nova gave up 4 earned runs in 6.1 innings of work this afternoon as the Yankees took the first game of this day-night double header over the Blue Jays, 8-4. Nova gave up all 4 of those runs in the second inning before finally getting on track, which allowed the Yankees to come back to win this one. 

The Bombers two biggest hits of the game definitely came in the third and sixth innings, when Robinson Cano and Chris Stewart each hit three-run home runs. After the Pinstripes took the lead, they would score additional runs in the seventh and eighth innings to bring the score to what it would be after the final out was recorded. With this win, their record on the year is now 65-59, 6 games out of the AL Wild Card. 

Game 125 Lineup: Blue Jays vs. Yankees

Game 1 went our way! Let's hope Game 2 does the same. Here's the lineup!! 

Brett Gardner CF
Vernon Wells RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Alex Rodriguez DH
Mark Reynolds 1B
Eduardo Nunez SS
Jayson Nix 3B
Austin Romine C

Phil Hughes RHP

Game Thread: Blue Jays @ Yankees 8/20 Game One

The Blue Jays and the Yankees play a day and night double header today at Yankees Stadium with the first game starting at 1:05 pm ET. Ivan Nova for the Yankees and Esmil Rogers for the Blue Jays is the pitching match up and the game can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. Ivan Nova looks to keep the Yankees playoff hopes alive by continuing to dominate hitters since coming back from the minors in late June.

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

Preston Claiborne Added As 26th Man For Double Header

Preston Claiborne has been called up to be the 26th man on the roster for today's double header with the Toronto Blue Jays. A wrong has at least temporarily been righted. Expect him to be the first guy out of the pen today. 

Toronto Blue Jays @ New York Yankees 8/20 Game One

The Toronto Blue Jays and the New York Yankees will play a day/night double header today at Yankees Stadium with the first game being played this afternoon. The Yankees will send Ivan Nova to the mound to try and keep the Yankees pitching line and winning ways moving. The Blue Jays will send Esmil Rogers to the mound to try and play spoiler. The game will be televised at 1:05 pm ET on the YES Network and MLB TV.

Looking At The September Call Ups

September baseball is less than two weeks away where rosters expand from 25 man rosters to 40 man rosters. Everyone that is already on the 40 man roster is eligible to come up to the majors without a roster move or using a minor league option. If a player is not on the 40 man roster they can be added to the roster and come up but will not be eligible for the playoff roster if they have not made the roster before September 1st of this year. With that said let's look at the people on and off the 40 man roster that will probably be up within the first week of September.

Derek Jeter

I think he will be held out until September while rehabbing this latest leg injury not only to make sure he is healthy but to also save Eduardo Nunez or Jayson Nix from being designated for assignment.

Dellin Betances

Dellin got his feet wet with a couple strike outs, four runs given up, and a lengthy rain delay in his season debut. With Dellin already on the 40 man I can see him being a day one call up especially with Scranton's playoff hopes dwindling.

Preston Claiborne

Preston was sent down to make room for Mark Reynolds with the promise that he will be back on September 1st and he will be. He has earned his spot on the roster and in the bullpen and he will be there as soon as he can be without losing anybody.

Michael Pineda

At this point any kind of innings that Pineda can get is a step ahead for him in his 2014 season so why not call him up to the majors? If he gets his feet wet in mop up duty I cannot see the harm in it.

JR Murphy

Murphy is our best catcher not named Gary Sanchez in the system but the only problem is he is not on the 40 man roster. A roster move will need to be made to accommodate Murphy but that is as easy as a Corban Joseph transfer to the 60 day DL away.

Nik Turley

Nik is left handed and has a fresh arm and both of those are something that the Yankees are in need of this season. While Nik only has one appearance in AAA and has an ERA north of four while pitching for the Trenton Thunder but he is on the 40 man roster so why not.

David Adams

David has had a couple cups of coffee in the majors this season and while he has not had much success in the majors I can see him being a September call up. He is already on the 40 man and can give the Yanks some much needed depth at third base, second base, and first base.

Melky Mesa

Melky can play all three outfield positions and be a late inning base running replacement while already on the 40 man roster. This would be his second cup of coffee this season and while he is very strike out prone he looks to be the only outfielder we have to call up this September unless Zoilo Almonte gets healthy fast.

Game 124 Lineup: Blue Jays vs. Yankees

Like I've been saying all morning, let's play two! Here is your Game 1 Lineup!

Brett Gardner CF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Curtis Granderson LF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Jayson Nix SS
Chris Stewart C

Ivan Nova RHP

Notes and Transactions:

-- Preston Claiborne is the one day call up for the doubleheader since there is a rule you can bring a 26th player for the two games. He'd have to go back to Triple-AAA once the games are over.

RHPs Bryan Mitchell & Manny Barreda Join Thunder

The Trenton Thunder, Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, announced Monday that right-handed pitchers Bryan Mitchell (starter) and Manny Barreda (reliever) have been promoted to the team from Class A-Advanced Tampa. Infielder Saxon Butler has been transferred back to Tampa and LHP Aaron Dott has been placed on the team's disabled list with a left groin injury.  

Mitchell is slated to start for Trenton tonight at New Britain (7:05pm). He is the second starting pitcher to be sent to Trenton from Tampa in the past two days, as RHP Scottie Allen joined the squad Sunday and pitched 6.1 shutout innings at New Hampshire.

Mitchell, 22, was rated by Baseball America as the 13th-best prospect in the Yankees farm system entering 2013. In 24 appearances with Tampa (23 starts), the right-hander went 4-11 with a 5.12 ERA. He struck out struck out 104 batters but walked 53 in 127 innings pitched.

Barreda, a 12-round draft pick in 2007 by the Yankees from high school in Sahuarita, Arizona, pitched in 33 relief appearances with Tampa this season. He went 2-2 with three saves and a 3.96 ERA, recording 58 strikeouts in 52 innings of work.

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

Charleston RiverDogs Host Military Appreciation Night

RiverDogs Second to Last Homestand of the Season Features Final Thirsty Thursday and Military Appreciation Night

Quick three game series packed with fun promos 

CHARLESTON, SC - The Charleston RiverDogs return home to Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park for three games starting Tuesday, the second to last homestand of the season. Charleston welcomes in the West Virginia Power for the second and final time this year. The finale of the three game series will also be the final Thirsty Thursday of 2013 at Riley Park. The RiverDogs are trying to continue their hot play as of late and stay alive in the playoff chase in the South Atlantic League Southern Division.

Tuesday, August 20, 7:05 pm: Healthy Challenge Tuesday / Two-for-$20 Date Night: Each Tuesday the RiverDogs team with MUSC Wellness to promote healthy lifestyle choices. Tuesdays at The Joe feature a healthy menu item and lifestyle tips throughout the game. The new 2-for-$20 Date Night includes two tickets, two slices of pizza, two sodas and one bag of popcorn all for $20. Also, local Italian restaurant La Fontana presents the "Lucky Couple of the Game" as one fortunate pair will be selected at random to win a free and romantic Italian dinner. The restaurant will bring in two specialty dishes and the couple will enjoy that dinner in a singular seating arrangement down the right field line while enjoying the game.

Wednesday, August 21, 7:05 pm: Senior Wednesday / Dogs With a Cause: Charleston 9/11 Heroes Run / Military Appreciation Night: It's another Senior Wednesday presented by AAA Carolinas. All seniors who enter the gates will get a free hot dog, soda and bag of chips (must 65 and older). Show your AAA card at the box office to buy one ticket and get one ticket free. It is also Dogs With a Cause night presented by Charleston 9/11 Heroes Run. Military Appreciation Night presented by General Dynamics gives active and retired military members FREE entrance for themselves and family members by showing Military ID at the box office!

Thursday, August 22, 7:05 pm: Budweiser Thirsty Thursday: Enjoy the best Happy Hour in the Lowcountry for the final time in 2013 as DJ Natty Heavy spins the tunes in the Ashley View Pub with $1 drafts for the always-popular Budweiser Thirsty Thursday presented by 95SX!

For tickets or information, please contact the Riley Park Box Office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com.

--RIVERDOGS--

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

Yankees Sign Edwin Fierro Out Of Mexico

The New York Yankees have announced that they have signed 19 year old pitcher Edwin Fierro out of the Mexican League. Fierro has posted a 3.03 ERA this season in a league that translates to about AA or AAA over here in the states so that is impressive for a 19 year old. The Yankees have a knack for signing people out of the Mexican League, see Manny Banuelos and Alfredo Aceves most recently, so the Yankees may have something here with Fierro. Stay tuned.

Let's Play Two!: Yanks hope to carry momentum into twin-bill

[caption id="attachment_16449" align="aligncenter" width="300"] The Yankees have been gaining momentum over the past week or so.[/caption]

There was no doubt that this last week has been a magical time for the Yankees. For the last week the Yankees looked to be the Yankees of old, bringing power into their lineup, scoring more than six runs multiple times, when they've barely scored more than six runs most of the year. They had the home run power of Alfonso Soriano, Alex Rodriguez, Curtis Granderson and Mark Reynolds. Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano no longer had to feel like they were carrying the team on their backs. There was more than just those two. Yes, the Yankees are missing their captain, but they are also in a position where they can finally gain ground in the AL East. They play against their AL East opponents for the remainder of the season (minus the 3 game sets between the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros) and if the Yankees play their deck of cards right, they can be in a position to take the second wildcard spot. They have their own future in their hands with a little more than a month to go, and a team that looked like sleeping dogs suddenly came barking back, and the offense isn't much of an issue as it was before.

Sunday night was a prime example of the Yankees magic returning. Being down 2-0 in the second, Ryan Dempster intentionally hit Alex

[caption id="attachment_16450" align="alignright" width="218"] Brett Gardner and the Yankees will try to extend their momentum into today's twin-bill vs. the Blue Jays[/caption]

Rodriguez. Something snapped in that Yankees dugout. Brett Gardner and Joe Girardi showing their evident anger, the latter getting tossed from the game although it should have been Dempster. A-Rod was assured by Gardner and his other teammates that they could still get the Red Sox back by using HR power, and that was exactly what A-Rod did. He got the Red Sox back by hitting a HR off Ryan Dempster later in the game.

There was something that changed in that night in the Yankees. The pack of sleeping dogs suddenly awoke and came back with a vengeance vs. the Red Sox.

The Yankees have been playing well for the past week, taking 2-out of -3 from the Tigers, taking 3-out of-4 from the Angels and taking 2-out of-3 from the Red Sox. This is the way the Yankees have to play if they want to further their chances at a wild card spot. They are in the drivers seat of their destiny. They are the ones that can change the game and hope the game plan for the other teams fall apart. The Yankees cannot afford to lose anymore games, so hopefully the momentum from the past week builds on vs. the Toronto Blue Jays as they attempt to become one step closer to their dreams of contending in the play-offs. So let's play two today and hope in the end, it all works out.

RiverDogs Come Up Short, Drop Third Straight

RiverDogs Come Up Short, Drop Third Straight

Braves use five run fifth inning to cruise to series clinching win

ROME, GA - The Rome Braves scored five runs in the third inning and coasted to their third straight win over the Charleston RiverDogs 5-3 on Monday night at State Mutual Stadium in Rome, GA in South Atlantic League action. The Braves took the series three games to one from the Dogs.

Charleston got the scoring started in the first inning thanks to a single and stolen base by leadoff man Jake Cave and a two out, RBI single by Dante Bichette, Jr. to take a 1-0 lead after half an inning.With the loss, the RiverDogs fall below .500 to 28-29 in the second half and 67-58 overall. Rome advances to 29-28 in the second half and 65-61 overall with the victory. Rome moves into sole possession of fourth place in the Sally League Southern Division standings while Charleston falls to fifth place.

The game stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth inning where the Braves exploded for five runs on five hits, one walk, and a hit batter. Edison Sanchez provided the big blow with a bases clearing double to knock in three runs and put Rome up 4-1.

Sanchez finished the series on fire reaching base safely in his final 11 plate appearances. On Monday he was a perfect 3-3 and got hit by a pitch.

The RiverDogs had a golden opportunity in the top of the sixth to get right back in the game, but failed to take advantage. Angelo Gumbs knocked in a run with a one out RBI single to load the bases, but reliever Matt Chaffee came in and struck out Reymond Nunez and Danny Oh to end the inning and strand the bases loaded for Charleston with Rome up 5-2.

In the top of the ninth inning Charleston loaded the bases with only one out, but a sacrifice fly by Jackson Valera and strikeout by Greg Bird ended the ballgame with the tying run at first base.

Bird went 0-1 with four walks in the contest to move his league leading total to 95 walks on the season.

Brett Gerritse started for the Dogs and allowed five runs on six hits, walked one, and fanned four. Gerritse earned the loss to fall to 8-7. Charleston's bullpen was dynamite with Adam Smith tossing two perfect innings, and James Pazos not allowing a run in his lone inning of work.

Mauricio Cabrera earned just his third win of the year for Rome to advance to 3-7. He threw 5.1 innings and allowed six hits and two runs with three walks and two strikeouts. Chaffee walked one and allowed no hits in his 2.2 scoreless innings. Zach Jadofsky gave up one run on two hits and struck out two in the ninth to collect his third save of the season for the Braves.

COMING UP: Charleston returns home to Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park to kick off their second to last homestand of the season on Tuesday. The West Virginia Power come to town for three games. Game one will feature a pitching matchup of RHP Luis Severino (1-1, 4.08 ERA) for the RiverDogs and RHP John Kuchno (8-5, 4.01 ERA) for the Power. Each Tuesday the RiverDogs team with MUSC Wellness to promote healthy lifestyle choices. Tuesdays at The Joe feature a healthy menu item and lifestyle tips throughout the game. The new 2-for-$20 Date Night includes two tickets, two slices of pizza, two sodas and one bag of popcorn all for $20. Also, local Italian restaurant La Fontana presents the "Lucky Couple of the Game" as one fortunate pair will be selected at random to win a free and romantic Italian dinner. The restaurant will bring in two specialty dishes and the couple will enjoy that dinner in a singular seating arrangement down the right field line while enjoying the game. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05pm on Tuesday. Fans can listen to the game live locally on ESPN Radio 910AM or online at www.riverdogs.com.

Box Score: http://atmilb.com/19FjHVB

--RIVERDOGS--

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

(New Britain, CT) - After being shutout for 6.2 innings, the Trenton offense exploded for ten runs over the final 2.1 innings of the contest and the Thunder snapped a four-game skid with a 10-3 win over the New Britain Rock Cats Monday night at New Britain Stadium. 

With the win, coupled with a New Hampshire loss at Portland, the Thunder's (66-61) lead for the Eastern Division Wild Card spot increased to 3.5 games over the third-place Fisher Cats (62-64) with 15 games remaining in the regular season. Portland (61-66) remained 5.0 games back in fourth.

Jose Pirela went 5-for-5 with a sacrifice fly and four RBI to pace Trenton's 16-hit attack. It was the first five-hit game of the season for any member of the Thunder. The second-baseman is now 17-for-36 (.472) over his last eight games played.

With New Britain leading 2-0 in the seventh, Trenton put runners on 2nd and 3rd with two outs and the Rock Cats brought in reliever Dan Turpen (1-1) to face Gary Sanchez. Sanchez walked on four pitches to load the bases.

The next batter was Kyle Roller, who hit a ground ball that glanced off the glove of the first-baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez, scoring Yeral Sanchez from third and opening the door for a big rally. Pirela followed with a two-run hit to right to put the Thunder in front, and Carmen Angelini later grounded an RBI single to make it 4-2.

Trenton scored two more in the eighth against Turpen on a wild pitch and Pirela's fifth hit of the night. The Thunder then scored four more times in the ninth against lefty Jose Gonzalez spurred by five singles. Trenton was credited with 16 hits on the night.

Diego Moreno (1-0) retired all six batters he faced in relief of starter Bryan Mitchell to earn the win. Mitchell, making his EL debut, allowed two runs on four hits in five innings. Reliever Manny Barreda, also making his first Thunder appearance, finished the win by allowing one run over the final two innings.

Game two of the series is slated for a 7:05 pm first pitch on Tuesday night. Thunder right-hander Mikey O'Brien (7-6, 3.86) will pitch against right-hander Trevor May (7-9, 4.75). Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and also streaming online begins at 6:50 pm.

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

Yankees Release Luis Cruz

The Yankees have released infielder Luis Cruz after designating him for assignment last week. The Yankees will not be missing much as Cruz gave them a triple slash of .145/.190/.179 splitting time between them and the Dodgers in 2013. Good riddance and adios.

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/20

On this day in 1938 Lou Gehrig hit his 23rd, final, and major league record setting grand slam in his career in a rout of the Philadelphia Athletics. Alex Rodriguez has since tied Lou Gehrig for the major league record.

On this day in 2000 the New York Yankees held Whitey Ford Day at Yankees Stadium to honor their winningest pitcher at the time in their history. Whitey finished his Yankees career with 236 victories, 3,170 innings pitched, 1956 strike outs, and 45 shut outs.

On this day in 2012 Major League Baseball issued their MLB All Stars Forever stamp collection including hall of fame players Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees, Larry Doby of the Indians, Willie Stargell of the Pirates, and Ted Williams of the Red Sox.