Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Yankees Spring Training News & Notes 2/18/14


The Yankees were back down at the minor league complex for Spring Training today and here are a few news and notes for you to get you caught back up:

Ivan Nova and Bruce Billings threw live batting practice early this morning to hitters in Tampa today. Nova faced Gary Sanchez and Billings pitched to Peter O'Brien. The Yankees four starters all threw side bullpen sessions today including Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, and Hiroki Kuroda.

Brendan Ryan is expecting a lot of boos this season when he comes in to replace the retiring Derek Jeter. At least they aren't booing you because you suck Brendan, always look on the bright side.

Chad Jennings asked a Yankees talent evaluator about some of the talent he has seen thus far and Chris Leroux of all people is getting rave reviews. His fastball has shown "impressive life" and is drawing comparisons to AJ Burnett without as much velocity. With AJ being my favorite pitcher of all time you know I like these comparisons and just became an immediate Leroux fan.

Another thanks to Chad Jennings for the pitchers side session list which also includes a video of Masahiro Tanak throwing his bullpen session next to Hiroki Kuroda:

 Today’s sides:
CC Sabathia (to Austin Romine)
Masahiro Tanaka (to John Ryan Murphy)
Hiroki Kuroda (to Brian McCann)
David Herndon (to Francisco Cervelli)
· Among the listed guest instructors for this year: Willie Randolph, David Wells, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, Reggie Jackson, Ron Guidry, Goose Gossage

The Greedy Pinstripes Are Now A Member Of The IBWAA


We are proud to say that we are now a lifetime member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America, more commonly known as the IBWAA. Rather than me trying to tell you what the IBWAA is and how it will help the site for you guys, the readers, I will just let the owner and founder Howard Cole himself tell you what it's all about.

The Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) was created July 4, 2009 to organize and promote the growing online baseball media, and to serve as a digital alternative to the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).
The IBWAA seeks neither to replace nor disparage the BBWAA, but does offer distinctions. While the BBWAA requires ten years and hundreds of dollars of paid membership for writers to earn a Hall of Fame vote, the IBWAA has no waiting period, with a $10 annual membership fee ($20 lifetime).
In the vast majority of cases, the BBWAA requires the tying of a writer’s online work to a print publication for admission; the IBWAA does not. The IBWAA believes that the hoops an applying writer has to jump through to join the older organization are too many and too narrow, and welcomes all Internet baseball writers. Those with his or her own baseball website of any kind or scope are invited to join, as are those who contribute the written word anywhere within the baseball blogosphere.
The IBWAA votes for Cooperstown in December, and during September of each championship season holds elections for the Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year Awards. In 2010, the IBWAA began voting in its own relief pitcher category, establishing the Rollie Fingers American League Relief Pitcher of the Year and the Hoyt Wilhelm National League Relief Pitcher of the Year Awards.
The IBWAA endeavors to be nimble and inclusive, and encourages members to participate as much or as little as they like. All suggestions are welcome always. Group discounts and scholarships are available.

You can read more about the IBWAA by heading to ibwaa.com, following them on Twitter by following @ibwaa, and you can also join yourself at the website. This may add very little to nothing to the site right away but this is just a stepping stone for us to bring you more and better content each and every day.

Meet A Prospect: Zoilo Almonte


Zoilo Almonte was born on June 10th, 1989 in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic. Zoilo has been in the Yankees system since 2007 when he signed as an International Free Agent at age 16. He has consistently flown under the radar for the Yankees in their system being overshadowed by a deep outfield class but had a coming out party in the 2011 season, his age 22 season. In that 2011 season Zoilo put up a triple slash of .298/.373/.522 and has instantly put himself on the Yankees radar as far as potential bench players and mid season call ups as soon as this season. 


Almonte is considered to have a plus arm with a very athletic build at 6'0" and 200 lbs and has been called a great defender. He is also a switch hitter who has shown great plate discipline for such a young player and is considered to be mature beyond his time when it comes to his baseball skilss. He has great BB% and power numbers in his career despite his smallish frame. This will be Zoilo's third season on the 40 man roster and under Rule 5 Draft protection and will start the season in Scranton after taking the Bronx by storm for about a month in 2013.

Yankee Stadium Legacy: #41 Bobby Richardson


Bobby Richardson was a double play maestro for the New York Yankees. Richardson spent his entire 12 season career in pinstripes from 1955-1966 and took home the American League Gold Glove Award at second base every season from 1961-1965. In 1962 Richardson had an AL best 209 hits finished second in the AL Most Valuable Player voting.

41 days until Yankees Opening Day

Prospects Month: Top 28 Yankees Prospects List #11


Continuing our look at The Greedy Pinstripes Top 28 prospects list as a part of Prospects Month we name our #11 prospect, Jose Campos!

Here is the complete up to date list. Check back every day as the list fills out and we continue our look at the prospects in the New York Yankees system during Prospects Month here on TGP.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11. Jose Campos
12. Gosuke Katoh
13. Shane Greene
14. Jose Ramirez
15. Peter O'Brien
16. Aaron Judge
17. Ty Hensley
18. Luis Severino
19. Abiatal Avelino
20. Rob Refsnyder
21. Nik Turley
22. Cito Culver
23. Ramon Flores
24. Mark Montgomery
25. Rookie Davis
26. Jake Cave
27. Ben Gamel
28. Angelo Gumbs

Exclusive Interview With Yankees Jordan Barnes


We are very excited to bring you another interview today as a part of Prospects Month, this time with Jordan Barnes. This is the second time we have been able to interview Mr. Barnes, my wife's favorite player since Barnes is her maiden name, and are excited to catch back up with him. Enjoy!





The Greedy Pinstripes:  Kudos for being so open about your faith, how do you think that has helped you in your life and your career?

Jordan Barnes: I believe my open faith has had a tremendous amount to do with why I have been so successful in life and my career. I put God first in everything that I do and I give him glory for everything that he has blessed me with.

TGP: What are you listening to these days?

JB: I listen to a lot of Rap and Hip Hop music.


TGP: Thoughts on the Yankees losing Robinson Cano?

JB: I think it was a tough decision because he is such a talented player but it is all a part of the business. We have many talented guys in our organization that can step into his place.

TGP: What are you doing this offseason to improve on your 2013 season?

JB: I train heavily. I Workout 7 days a week most of the time twice daily. A lot of weight training , speed training, defensive work and hitting.

TGP: What do you do during the offseason to keep yourself occupied?

JB: Training & spending time with my friends and family and spending time with my girl.

TGP: I see you like Lone Survivor, that movie is freaking intense no? Kind of makes me never want to go to war. Great movie though. 

JB: Yeah I’ve watched it about 10 times. It was a great movie.



TGP: Favorite restaurant to eat at?

JB: Cheesecake Factory
 
TGP: How tough is it to be on the road so much and know your girlfriend is at home waiting for you?

JB: It isn’t too bad. She understands the game and is a huge supporter of me and my career and she knows that baseball comes first and that’s my main focus when I’m away playing.

TGP:  Your girl can cook, what time is dinner?


JB: It's usually around 7 but Yes she is a great cook. She lives up to her last name quite well. I have it pretty good.

TGP: Is that old woman with the wrong number looking for her daughter still calling you all the time? lol

JB: haha she occasionally does it .

TGP: Your a Yankees guy and a speed guy, I assume your a fan of the "speed kills" mentality that the Yankees are likely to throw out there with Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury in the outfield?



JB: Yes that’s the mentality that I play with. You cant teach speed.


TGP: I think this answer may be obvious but in my time around social media I have noticed there are two kinds of fans when it comes to prospects. You have the "prospect humpers" (myself being a self professed prospect humper) and a name yet to be determined (due to my lack of creativity) describing those who want to sell all the prospects off for the 37 year old "sure thing." Which category do you think yourself as a fan falls into?

JB: The second one

TGP: What current Major League player do you think you compare to the most?

JB: Torii Hunter

TGP: I know you probably don't think of things like this but how long before you think we could see you in the Major Leagues? I have your ETA down as late 2017, is that accurate?

JB: I’ll say around 2017-2018.

TGP: If you could be the Yankees GM for a day what would you do? Don't have to really be realistic here.


JB: Have Ken Griffey Jr. make a comeback and play for the Yankees. 

TGP: Most famous person in your cell phone?


JB: Bill Selby my former Northwest Mississippi Community College Coach he hit a walk off grand slam off of the greatest of all time Mariano Rivera when he was playing with the Indians.

TGP: Most embarrassing song in your iPod?


JB: Without a doubt beauty and a beat by Justin Bieber.

TGP: We'll finish with this one, where do you see yourself in life and your career in five years?

JB: Playing in front of thousands in Yankee Stadium.



Thank you Jordan for taking the time once again for us to do an interview, we really appreciate it. We hope you have a great season and can't wait to see you moving through this system. You can follow Jordan on Twitter by following @J_Barnes213

This Day In New York Yankees History 2/18


On this day in 1999 the Toronto Blue Jays traded pitcher Roger Clemens to the New York Yankees for David Wells, Graeme Lloyd, and Homer Bush. The rest is history, no pun intended.