Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Sabathia solid as Yankees complete sweep of White Sox, 6-5

Thanks to 7.1 innings of three-run ball from CC Sabathia, and a four-run fourth, the Yankees were able to complete a sweep of the White Sox tonight pretty easily, 6-5. Now CC and Robertson did combine to give up 4 earned runs in just the eighth inning, but that doesn't matter. They still outscored the other team. 

The Yankees six runs in this one came on a solo home run and an RBI Single from Robinson Cano, an RBI Double from Lyle Overbay, a two-run triple from Brett Gardner, and an RBI Sac Fly from Alfonso Soriano. With this win, the Bombers record on the year is now 75-64, somehow just two games behind the Rays for the final wild card spot. I can already tell that these next few weeks will be stressful as hell. 

RiverDogs Receive Multiple South Atlantic League Awards


CHARLESTON, SC - The Charleston RiverDogs are once again well represented on the list of winners of the 2013 South Atlantic League Outstanding Achievement Awards. All 14 teams, along with the field managers and umpires participated in the voting for these awards, and the RiverDogs took home a trio of top honors for the second consecutive year.
The RiverDogs, the Class A affiliate of the New York Yankees, were recognized for the third time in four years with the Excellence in Marketing Award, and will be the SAL's nominee for the prestigious Larry MacPhail Award that is awarded by Minor League Baseball.
Dave Echols captured the General Manager of the Year Award for the second time in three years while longtime Assistant General Manager Andy Lange was recognized for the first time as the Sales Executive of the Year.
"We are honored to receive these three awards, and it is a true testament to how hard each and every one of our front office staff members, game day staff and interns work every day," said Echols. "I thank our peers around the league who bestowed us with these honors, and we could not be more honored to receive these awards.
"These citations are wonderful to receive and we're proud of the accomplishments, but we're more proud of our on-going positive relationship that we have fostered with our many fans who continue to enjoy RiverDogs Baseball," said Echols. "It is also a tribute to the outstanding staff that we've assembled.
"We are also quite proud our of nine-year formal relationship with the New York Yankees, truly one of the best organizations in professional sports," Echols added. "They are simply wonderful to work with."
The awards will be presented at the South Atlantic League Fall Meetings on October 15 in Tampa, Fla.
The complete list of the 2013 SAL Outstanding Achievement Award winners:
  • Excellence in Marketing Award: Charleston RiverDogs
  • Club Merit Award: Greensboro Grasshoppers
  • Community Service Award: Lexington Legends
  • General Manager of the Year: Dave Echols (Charleston RiverDogs)
  • Sales Executive of the Year: Andy Lange (Charleston RiverDogs)
  • Female Executive of the Year: Kathryn Bobel (Hickory Crawdads)
  • Media Relations Director of the Year: Greg Giombarrese (Lakewood BlueClaws)
  • Sports Turf Manager of the Year: Greg Burgess (Greenville Drive)
  • Best Playing Field Award: Fluor Field at the West End (Greenville Drive)
  • Visiting Clubhouse Manager of the Year: Matt Sanchez (Augusta GreenJackets)

Game Thread: White Sox @ Yankees 9/4


The New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox finish their three game set at Yankees Stadium tonight at 7:05 pm ET. The pitching match up is CC Sabathia for the Yankees and Erik Johnson making his major league debut for the White Sox and it can be seen on the YES network and MLB TV. CC needs to take the step forward to trying to get his season back on the rails and lead his team to the post season. If the Yankees have any hopes of making the playoffs they absolutely need to beat the teams they should beat and the White Sox are that team today. This has all the makings of a trap game as Johnson is making his major league debut, and we know how the Yankees struggle against pitchers they have never seen, and with a huge series looming for the Yankees starting tomorrow with the first place Boston Red Sox.

Here is the Yankees lineup

Brett Gardner CF
Derek Jeter SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano DH
Curtis Granderson LF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Lyle Overbay 1B
Austin Romine C


Follow us on twitter by following @GreedyStripes. Get your Yankees tickets for this game or for any of the Yankees home games left this season right here on The Greedy Pinstripes.

Ivan Nova Is August Pitcher Of The Month


Ivan Nova of the New York Yankees has been named the American League Pitcher of the Month for the month of August. Nova is the first Yankee to win the award since CC Sabathia won it way back in July of 2011 after putting up a 2.08 ERA and a 3.08 FIP in 43.1 IP in six starts. Congratulations to Ivan and hopefully he can keep this going all the way through September and into the post season.

Chicago White Sox @ New York Yankees 9/4


The New York Yankees host the Chicago White Sox tonight for the final time in this three game set at Yankees Stadium. The Yankees will send CC Sabathia to the mound looking to be the ace of the staff for more than four or five innings at a time while the White Sox will send rookie Erik Johnson to the mound to make his major league debut. We have obviously never seen Johnson so we will either get bombed or knock him out after a couple innings. The game will be televised at 7:05 pm ET on the YES Network and MLB TV.

5-run eighth lifts Yankees to 6-4 win over White Sox

Despite 6.1 innings of four-run ball from Hiroki Kuroda, and a pretty slow offense throughout the game, the Yankees were able to win last night's game in thrilling fashion over the White Sox, 6-4. The White Sox really did play better in the one, but it's always all about the runs. Fortunately tonight, the Yankees got a couple more of those. 

Those five eighth inning runs came on a two-single from Soriano, a game-tying single from Granderson, and a go-ahead, two-run double from Eduardo Nunez. Like I said, the offense wasn't very good in this one. But at least they had one good inning.  

Making The Case For David Huff Again


UPDATE: I know Huff is starting Saturday so this point is moot but I had it typed out and scheduled so this will just show how much of a good decision this was.

First of all apparently we missed David Huff's birthday judging by the picture so happy belated birthday goes out to you David. The Greedy Pinstripes birthday present to you is to once again make the case for you to take the starting rotation spot from Phil Hughes. This case shouldn't have to be made once let alone multiple times but here we go again. We will only look at the stats since Huff came up as a reliever and try to remember the whole sample size, starter vs. reliever, blah blah blah comparisons. Just for a reference point Huff made his first appearance with the Yankees on May 26th but was quickly sent back down and designated for assignment before coming back up to relieve on August 16th. Since Hughes starts every 5th day and started on August 15th I will play with the numbers a little and include his August 15th start in this look at the stats.

August 16th - Today

Huff

15 IP, 6 hits allowed (5 allowed on Labor Day), 1 run allowed, 10 K's, 5 walks allowed (4 allowed on August 21st), 2 wins. 

August 15th - Today

Hughes

18 IP, 21 hits allowed, 10 runs allowed, 14 K's, 6 walks allowed, no wins since July 2nd.


Enough said? I hope so. 

Minor League Deal Options For 2014: Corey Hart



Corey Hart started off the 2013 year with a left knee surgery that would have originally kept him out of the Milwaukee Brewers lineup until around the All Star Game. On June 28th of the same year the Brewers learned that they would be without their third basemen for the rest of the 2013 season with a surgery to his right knee. What major league team is going to want to shell out a guaranteed major league contract to a guy coming off of a missed season and two knee surgeries? I am hoping nobody and that Corey Hart decided to sign a minor league deal with us to rebuild some value. I'm dreaming and I know it because some team will give Corey the low value one year deal with performance bonuses but call me optimistic anyway. 

The third base market this off season is especially thin with guys like Mark Reynolds, a 37 year old Michael Young, and Kevin Youkilis coming off of another back injury and subsequent surgery on the back leading the pack. With the Yankees being without Alex Rodriguez for the entire 2014 season the Yankees are really going to need a man at the hot corner so could Corey Hart be that man?

Corey Hart has a 162 game average in his career with the Brewers of .276/.334/.491 with 26 home runs and 87 RBI's from the right side of the plate. Hart can also play first base and has dabbled in right field as well adding some much needed versatility to an aging Yankees squad. Hart is a first basemen by trade but I think the transition to third base would come easily to Hart as he has shown good feet and mechanics at first base and an athleticism that cannot be taught. He would obviously not be the ideal third basemen but him learning a new position may be better than all the options on the market and David Adams at this point.

Do I think Corey Hart will agree to be a third basemen? Probably not. Will he then decide to sign a minor league deal with a legit shot at the majors and a World Series? Maybe. Do I care? Absolutely not! That's what makes the off season and free agency the best part of the baseball season for some people. It's fun, hopes are never higher, and sometimes your dreams fly off the paper or your computer screen and they sometimes come true. 

Phil Hughes Should Start The Game Tonight


I know that the announcement has been made that David Huff will make the start on Saturday and Hughes will be in the bullpen but I took the time to type this out and schedule it so I am just going to post in anyway and show you guys how smart I am! #sarcasm

The story of Phil Hughes has been an interesting one in his contract season. Hughes was pushed back over the weekend to miss the Baltimore Orioles in a game that the Yankees had to have in favor of starting against the last place Chicago White Sox. Mother nature is not one to make it easy apparently because Hughes did not last two innings before a lengthy rain delay ended his day. The Yankees have two options now, well three if you include swapping David Huff into the starting rotation and taking Hughes out but I cannot see manager Joe Girardi having the gall to do that, they can let Hughes take his regular turn on Sunday at home against the Boston Red Sox in another game that they must have or they can start him tonight against the White Sox. Hughes did not expend himself much at all on Monday before being taken out and could easily give us 90 or so pitches tonight against a rookie making his major league debut in Erik Johnson. What should the Yankees and Girardi do?

Well if you read the article title you obviously know what I am thinking here, the Yankees need to push CC Sabathia back a day to start on Friday and let Hughes pitch tonight against Chicago. Hughes has his lowest ERA against the White Sox of any opponent in baseball and their offense seems like a much easier task then the first place Red Sox. That also allows the Yankees to send CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, and Andy Pettitte to the mound in three games they must have rather than skipping a red hot Pettitte in favor of Hughes. CC will not complain about an extra days of rest and I do not think that Nova or Pettitte would either so this move would make a lot of sense for Girardi and the Yankees if they are serious about making the post season this year.

It makes sense and it should be done so will it? Probably not. #BinderLoyalty


Interesting Stats From The RailRiders Season


I was reading Donnie Collins blog earlier today and he had a nice little post titled "that's a lot of beer" that caught my attention, does that make me an alcoholic? Anyway Donnie went over some of the stats that we saw at the RailRiders newly renovated PNC Field this season and I thought they were worth a share. I will hit the high spots here but click the links provided to check out Donnie's blog and the post.

- More kids came through PNC Field’s Family Fun Zone in 2013 than from 2007 to 2011 combined

- There were 28,442 $1 Bud Lights/Pepsis sold this season over 11 home games on Budweiser Thirsty Thursdays

- The team gave away 46,500 free items through its 18 giveaways

- 2,784 kids ate free over five Kids Eat Free Wednesday games

- Dollar Dog Nights led to 14,626 $1 hot dogs getting sold over six such dates

- The team shot off two hours and 20 minutes worth of fireworks

In all, the team had 61 special-events nights — a franchise record and drew 462,052 (a 6,409 average). That’s the most since the 2008 season, which was Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s second as the Yankees’ Triple-A affiliate and it came the year before the now-infamous Drain-Outs when the field was soaked in 2009. That was the moment many point to as the beginning of the end for the prior regime in charge at PNC Field.
For the first time since the 2005 season the RailRiders finished with a losing season and it seemed like nothign went right all season long. The RailRiders, much like the Yankees, were bit by the injury bug and saw all their good players coming up to the majors so it was just one of those tough pills to swallow. The Yankees and the RailRiders will be back next season so I am not worried just as long as all those children and fans that attended the games had a good time. Thank you Scranton for a great season.

New York Yankees Wild Card Update


Three games down in the loss column but now only ONE team to catch in the standings....

David Huff To Start Saturday, Phil Hughes To The Bullpen


Manager Joe Girardi has announced that Phil Hughes has been designated to the bullpen and lefty David Huff will make his start and take his spot in the rotation on Saturday against the Boston Red Sox. Hughes could be available as early as tonight in the finale with the Chicago White Sox out of the pen. I think the picture says it all!

Miraculous 8th Inning Comeback Propels Yanks To 6-4 Win

APTOPIX White Sox Yankees Baseball.JPEG-01d77

Despite going up against arguably the best pitcher in baseball in White Sox ace Chris Sale, it still would've been a disappointment had the Yankees lost last night. There's no need to explain that the team has to go on a 2011 Cardinals-esque run to even have a shot at the playoffs in a few weeks, so any loss against a lesser team is simply unacceptable.

Unfortunately, it looked like the Yanks had accepted their fate in last night's game, as Sale had gone out and completely dominated the lineup. If it weren't for yet another defensive miscue by Chicago that allowed Vernon Wells to steal home in the 2nd inning, the 24-year old lefty would've been working on a shutout as  he started the 8th inning after allowing just three hits.

After recording an out, Sale surrendered a single to Derek Jeter and a double to Robinson Cano that put runners on second and third. Manager Robin Ventura elected to bring in Nate Jones to face Alfonso Soriano with Chicago's  4-1 lead still in-tact.

But, it probably shocked no one who was on the field when Soriano poked a single into center field, scoring Jeter and Cano to make it a 4-3 game. Even on nights when he may not have his A-game, Sori just keeps on producing and coming through in the clutch. It's pretty remarkable.

Anyway, Jones stayed in there to face Alex Rodriguez who singled to center as well, putting runners at the corners. As Joe Girardi went to his bench and pinch-hit Curtis Granderson for Vernon Wells, Ventura did some match-making of his own by bringing in Donnie Veal.

Yet, it was Joe who won this battle of the skippers as Grandy picked up the Yankees' fifth straight hit of the inning with an RBI single. The game was now tied up at 4, and fans who were watching could swear a DeLorean picked them up and brought them back to 2009. It was that magical of a comeback, and the best part was that it was far from over.

Mark Reynolds struck out, but Ventura again went to the bullpen, bringing in Matt Lindstrom. Although it really didn't matter who was on the mound, because the momentum had shifted completely. People knew that the Yanks were going to find a way to get it done no matter what.

So when Eduardo Nunez laced a two-run double down the left field line, the Yankees had a 6-4 lead and it was time to "put it on the left side", as Michael Kay once said. In came Mariano Rivera and in a matter of minutes the ballgame was over, as Mo racked up his 40th save of the season.

While the Yanks may not have gained any ground as the Rays defeated the Angels, they luckily did not lose any. The team was well on its way to a well-deserved loss through the first 7 1/2 innings, but luckily they found a way to claw back in what may turn out to be their best game of the season.

But as is the case during a playoff chase like this, last night's likely Yankee Classic is exactly that - in the past - and the Yanks have to focus on winning TODAY. It'll be our former ace CC Sabathia going up against right-hander Erik Johnson, who is making his Major League debut. Game time is 7:05pm, and it's can't-miss television, folks. Now is the time to be fully invested in this Yankee team. It's got talent, it's got heart, it's got pride, and it's got the mentality Mariano Duncan and the 1996 world championship team had - that "We play today, we win today, das it!"

This Day In New York Yankees History 9/4


On this day in 1941 the Yankees beat the Red Sox 4-1 clinching the American League East division earlier than any team had ever won their division in major league history.


On this day in 1991 Major League Baseball and commissioner Fay Vincent remove the distinction between the home run record and the amount of games played removing the asterisk associated with Roger Maris and his 61 home run season. Babe Ruth would move into second place with his 60 home run season.


On this day in 1993 Jim Abbot threw a no hitter with only one hand against the Cleveland Indians at Yankees Stadium. Abbot would be the first pinstripe pitcher to throw a no hitter in over a decade when he blanked the Indians 4-0.


On this day in 1998 the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 11-6 to win their 100th game of the season. This would be the quickest that any team would reach the century mark in wins in a season in Major League history.