Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Looking For A Writer To Cover The Trenton Thunder


The Greedy Pinstripes have a possible opportunity to expand our coverage and our media credentials that we would like to share with somebody. Unfortunately none of us on the staff live in close proximity to the Trenton Thunder but we have the opportunity to receive credentials for a full season. That is where you, the readers, come in. We are looking for one or two members that live near the Thunder, attend games, and would be willing to report back and write for the blog.

Please send all requests and such to The Greedy Pinstripes at gmail. We need these in pretty quick as the deadline for the application is next week. We will also need a sample or two of writing to make sure before we sign you up. If you're interested and want to join one of the fastest growing blogs in the Yankees Universe contact us now.

Thank you all for reading and your continued support, without you guys posts like this would not be a reality.

Alfonso Soriano Is Taking Ground Balls At First Base


Alfonso Soriano is a Yankee, he bleeds pinstripes, and he loves this game of baseball. Soriano loves the game so much he is preparing to play anywhere and everywhere this season just to get into the lineup. Soriano is prepared to DH for the majority of the 2014 season but has also been shagging fly balls in both left field and right field as well as taking ground balls at first base. Soriano expected to as he brought a first basemen's glove with him to camp, obviously this was his idea and not the Yankees. He could be a valuable backup for Mark Teixeira if the wrist is not as healed as he would like us all to believe.

You have to love Soriano and his dedication to the game, to the team, and to winning. I look forward to seeing many more finger points this season, even at first base.

Brewers, White Sox, & Mariners Scouting Yankees Players


Via George A King the Yankees had a few visitors recently scouting their players for potential trades. The Seattle Mariners recently had a scout at last night's loss against the Baltimore Orioles scouting Yankees starting pitcher David Phelps. Phelps may be expendable with so many arms, Adam Warren, Vidal Nuno, and Michael Pineda to name a few, vying for that last rotation spot and for open spots in the Yankees bullpen. I can't see the Mariners having anything we would necessarily want unless they are willing to give up Tijuan Walker, I'd take that. It's a Nick Franklin for Phelps trade that is more likely to happen but you have to have dreams, right?

The Chicago White Sox were also in attendance last night at George M. Steinbrenner Field keeping their eyes on Yankees players. The White Sox are said to have a few infielders available for young catching depth. The Milwaukee Brewers are also said to be in the backup catcher market making John Ryan Murphy, Francisco Arcia, and Austin Romine especially attractive. The Brewers are said to be dangling Rickie Weeks and Aramis Ramirez while Chicago is willing to part with Gordon Beckham and Jeff Keppinger.

I personally want no part of either Keppinger and Beckham but Weeks and especially Ramirez intrigue the hell out of me. Both are owed a ton of money, so you would think they come cheap in terms of players acquired, and both may be better than what New York currently has. Ramirez has surprisingly been the 6th best third basemen in all the league using wRC+ with his 136 wRC+ over the last three seasons. Even if Ramirez is a shell of his former self he would be a huge upgrade as a right handed platoon over Eduardo Nunez.

Get it done Cash, you have my approval, just make it for Romine and not Murphy, I'd like to keep him a bit longer.

New York Yankees Spring Training News & Notes 3/5


Anyone notice Francisco Cervelli's incredibly early and probably meaningless batting average this spring after last night's home run and walk? If you didn't it's .556, chew on that for a minute. That's nothing though when you remember that Yangervis Solarte is batting .778 with two home runs heading into today.

I missed it but Tyler Austin resumed baseball activities yesterday after a sore wrist has derailed his spring to date. He took dry swings and played catch and said the wrist felt better than expected, no soreness at all. Great news.

Mark Teixeira took live batting practice against David Herndon today on the one year anniversary of hurting his wrist in the World Baseball Classic.

Chad Jennings as always with the assignments from today:

Batting practice groups in Tampa:
Group 1: Derek Jeter, Brian Roberts, Francisco Cervelli, Brian McCann, Alfonso Soriano
Group 2: Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brendan Ryan, Scott Sizemore, Mark Teixeira
· Bullpen sessions in Tampa:
Jose Campos
Manny Banuelos
Ivan Nova
Dave Robertson
Shawn Kelley
· Today’s second string: C Pete O’Brien, 1B Jose Gil, 2B Corban Joseph, SS Dean Anna, 3B Zelous Wheeler, LF Antoan Richardson, CF Mason Williams, RF Adonis Garcia, DH Jose Pirela
· Today’s available relievers: Dellin Betances, Matt Daley, Yoshinori Tateyama, Robert Coello, Jim Miller
· Tomorrow’s travel squad to Clearwater:
Pitchers: Bruce Billings, Dan Burawa, Cesar Cabral, Preston Claiborne, Brian Gordon, Chris Leroux, Fred Lewis, Mark Montgomery, Masahiro Tanaka, Chase Whitley
Catchers: Francisco Arcia, Jose Gil, Brian McCann, John Ryan Murphy, Pete O’Brien, Gary Sanchez
Infielders: Derek Jeter, Kelly Johnson, Corban Joseph, Jose Pirela, Brian Roberts, Brendan Ryan, Scott Sizemore, Yangervis Solarte, Mark Teixeira
Outfielders: Carlos Beltran, Ramon Flores, Adonis Garcia, Brett Gardner, Antoan Richardson, Alfonso Soriano, Mason Williams

Gardner drives in two in 5-4 loss to Rays

Despite getting a clutch, two-out, two-run single from Brett Gardner, an RBI Fielder's Choice from Kelly Johnson, and a decent 2.1 innings of one-run ball from starter Adam Warren, the Yankees were beaten today by their division rivals from Tampa, 5-4. Going into this one's bottom of the fourth, the Yanks had a comfortable 4-1 lead, but then some guy named Robert Coello came in and completely ruined everything, giving up 4 runs (a three-run home run and a solo home run) while getting just one out. 

So yea, the Bombers probably should've won this game, but, like with yesterday's loss, they didn't due to one bad inning. That kinda sucks, but, you know, this is just Spring Training. Wins and losses aren't the most important thing.

New York Yankees @ Tampa Bay Rays 3/5


The New York Yankees will travel to Port Charlotte today to play the Tampa Bay Rays in their latest spring training game in the Grapefruit League. The Yankees are playing and pitching well as of late and it's always nice to beat our American League East foes, even in the spring. The game will be televised on MLB.tv at 1:05 pm ET and not on any of the major networks.

Adam Warren will be on the mound facing off with the Rays. Enjoy the day New York fans and go Yankees!

Hey Guys, Ervin Santana Is Still Out There


I have all but given up on the idea that Stephen Drew will be a member of the New York Yankees but I refuse to give up on Ervin Santana. It is March 5th, unless the guy is more of a pre-madonna douche than Alex Rodriguez is or blinder than Helen Keller the stories of his demands not coming down have to be false, they have to be. Somebody is going to get Santana either on a high AAV short term deal or for a steal so why can't it be the Yankees?

Having too much pitching is not a problem especially when one of the guys in the running for the fifth spot has not pitched in two years, Michael Pineda. Is he really ready and stretched out to go a whole season, even being skipped occasionally as a fifth starter? I have my doubts, serious doubts. Ervin Santana is probably, even in a hitting friendly stadium, better than David Phelps and Adam Warren over 30-35 starts and is the guy I trust the most to make that many starts. Same goes with Vidal Nuno who continues to pitch well but had a pretty serious groin injury last season.

Listen, I'm a self professed prospect humper and a Yankees fan first and foremost so I just want the guy who will give us the best chance to win. If that is Pineda, Nuno, Phelps, Warren, or anyone else I am missing then fine, pass on Santana, but I don't think it is.


Yankee Stadium Legacy: #26 Vic Raschi


Vic Raschi is not a household name while pitching for the Yankees but he averaged over 20 wins a year for four seasons starting in 1948. Raschi was always down for going the distance completing 71 games during that span while tossing 15 shutouts. The big right hander also had a 2.24 ERA in the postseason in his career and six World Series rings to show for his efforts.

26 days until Yankees Opening Day.

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/5


On this day in 1922 Babe Ruth signed a three year deal with the New York Yankees for $52,000 per season. This was an, at the time, unheard of $1,000 a week to play the game. In November the Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and Ruth agree to a contract addendum to limit the Babe's off the field behavior. No more "excessive consumption of alcohol" or "late night carousing" for the Bambino.


On this day in 1973 Yankees teammates Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich announced that they traded their families, including wives, children, and dogs. The first ever episode of Wife Swap worked out well for Peterson who eventually married his best friend's former wife and had four children with her. Kekich and Marilyn Peterson broke up shortly after the swap.