Friday, January 31, 2014

Yankees Fans All Owe Senator Schumer A Thank You


The New York Yankees have used political contacts in New York Senator Chuck Schumer who helped Masahiro Tanaka obtain his visa. With pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training camp in about two weeks Tanaka needed his visa so he could join the team on time, something that can be a lengthy thing to do at times. The paperwork was "handled properly" and Tanaka now has his visa and will be in Yankees camp on time. Here is the quote from Mr. Schumer:

“My office works tirelessly to help constituents every single day, but it’s not often you get a call from a constituent like the New York Yankees,” Schumer said. “You see, the Yankees called me a couple of days ago to say they were worried about Masahiro Tanaka getting to Spring Training on time due to the length of time it can take for foreign players to get a visa.
“Foreign baseball players apply for something called a P-visa and the whole process can take up to a month; but with pitchers and catchers reporting on February 14th, it was very possible he wasn’t going to make it. So I made sure we had someone go to the mailroom at USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services), pull his application and get it processed quickly – something I have done in the past for the Mets as well, when they had a similar issue with Jose Reyes.”
“Now the Yankees’ star free agent will be able to join the team at spring training with everyone else,” Schumer added. “As a lifelong Yankee fan who is hoping for another World Series this year, I could not be happier.”

Reminder: Prospects Month Starts Here Tomorrow


If you guys haven't noticed I have been unusually quiet on the blog and on Twitter especially lately and that is because I have been working really hard on our second annual Prospects Month here on the blog. Prospects Month starts tomorrow and will go all the way through February. We will introduce you to more than a few of the Yankees prospects, look back at the Yankees stars when they were prospects, interview a guy or two, and bring you everything you need to know about the Yankees farm.

Prospects Month is my baby and I have been putting everything I have into it this season so I hope you all check in often, hopefully daily, and really enjoy what I have put into this month. I am a huge prospects guy and this is honestly my favorite time of the year, enjoy and don't forget to join the discussion we have going on in our comments section of the site. We have a great nucleus growing and it can only get better with you guys coming and joining the discussion.

Check in tomorrow and every day in February for Prospects Month here on The Greedy Pinstripes.

Yankee Stadium Legacy: #60 Lou Piniella


During his 11 seasons playing for the New York Yankees Lou Piniella helped the club reach the World Series four times, winning the series twice. In the 1981 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Piniella had seven hits, put up a .438 batting average, and raised his career World Series batting average to .319. Piniella played in a total of 43 postseason games and hit .300 with 15 runs and knocked in 18 RBI's.

60 days until Yankees Opening Day

This Day In New York Yankees History 1/31


On this day in 2007 Major League Baseball announced that the 2008 All Star Game would be played at Yankee Stadium. The announcement was made at New York's Gracey Mansion and would mark the fourth time that the All Star Game would be played in the Bronx, the other three times in 1939, 1960, and 1977. This was also especially special because this would be the final season of Yankee Stadium before it was torn down for Yankee Stadium III.