Monday, June 2, 2014

Yankees Blown Out By Mariners in Make-Up Game, 10-2

Coming off yesterday's disastrous loss to the Twins, the Yankees looked deflated.

The Bombers, now 29-27 on the season, had led going into the ninth inning, yet lost due to a bullpen meltdown.

Going into tonight's make-up game against the Mariners, it's safe to say that they weren't expected to win, although you gotta think nobody predicted this, as the AL's richest team was blown out by Seattle's weak offense, 10-2.

Considering that Felix Hernandez (Win; 7 IP, 2 ER) was starting for the M's, I guess you could say a loss would be tolerable, but this just was too bad, as the Bombers' pitching staff surrendered four runs in both the seventh and the ninth to break a 2-2 tie.

Overall, New York's David Phelps was good in his outing tonight, giving up just 2 runs threw his first six frames, but in the top of the seventh the youngster snapped.

In that AB, Phelps loaded the bases with nobody out, before leaving a ball over the plate that Mariners' number nine hitter Brad Miller lined to center for a go-ahead 2-run single.

Immediately following that play, Phelps (1-3) was relieved by Matt Thornton, who allowed the other two runners to score to bring #41's final line to a tough, 6 earned runs in 6+ innings. 

Now while that was bad, it should be acknowledged that the Yankees probably didn't deserve to be tied in the first place, as the Pinstripes had originally trailed 2-0 due to a pair of triples-turned-runs from Seattle 3B Kyle Seager.

Despite that, the Bombers had rallied to even it up in the bottom of the fourth, when Ichiro Suzuki knocked in a pair with a pitcher-deflected 2-run single.

On that play, the earlier-mentioned Brad Miller should've been able to field the ball to keep the second runner from scoring, but since the official scorer didn't think so Ichiro was in fact credited with 2 RBIs.

Game Thread: Yankees vs. Mariners 6/2


The New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners both lose an off day today as they make up the rained out game from 4/30 tonight at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will send David Phelps to the mound to face off with the Mariners ace Felix Hernandez. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Get your tickets for the latest return to Yankee Stadium for Robinson Cano right here on the blog through our friends at Ticket Monster, CLICK HERE. Also give us a following on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, to talk during the game and maybe get banned by Cano on Twitter. When we get banned we can always move over to the comments section of the site which is always open.

Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy the rest of your evening and our "off day."

Injury Updates: Kelly, Beltran, CC, Teixeira, Cervelli


Nothing new on the Mark Teixeira front, the big test will be tomorrow when they check on how much good the cortisone shot did. The cortisone shot, which contains "legal" steroids FYI, did wonders for Carlos Beltran so there is always some hope.

Speaking of Beltran he played in an extended spring training game and went 0-3 with no pain in his elbow as the DH. Beltran is expected to play in two more extended spring training games and will join the Yankees when they travel to Kansas City this weekend.

The catcher in that game today was Francisco Cervelli, remember him? Cervelli caught three innings and went 1-2 at the plate. Apparently this was Cervelli's third extended spring training game, thanks for the updates Yankees.

Shawn Kelley plans to throw a simulated game on Wednesday as he inches back to the Bronx. Kelley will go on a minor league rehab assignment if he comes through that pain free.

CC Sabathia is alive and plans to play catch sometime next week after receiving a stem cell injection in his degenerative knee. CC hasn't done much but walk on a treadmill and throw batting practice to his son since the injury.


Managing The Yankees Can Take It's Toll On You


Apparently being the manager of the New York Yankees can take it's toll on you over the years. The left picture is obviously Joe Girardi when he began managing the Yankees and the picture on the right is him today. Wow, all that money spent on braces and no more smiling for Girardi. No more tan, no more color in his hair. Girardi looks sick.

New York Yankees vs. Seattle Mariners 6/2


The New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners will play their makeup game after the game on April 30 was rained out. Both teams lose an off day unfortunately but what can you do, Mother Nature sucks. The Yankees will send David Phelps to the mound to face off with Felix Hernandez for the Mariners. I have always made the joke that it seemed like if the Yankees played a one game series with the Mariners they would still get Hernandez, until now I didn't know how true that joke was. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Phelps is making his fifth start of the season replacing Michael Pineda and looks like he will be here a while after Pineda's inflammation setback. Phelps allowed five runs, three earned, in six innings in his homecoming against the St. Louis Cardinals last time out taking the loss on Memorial Day. Phelps has pitched at least six innings in his last two starts.

Hernandez is coming off his fourth straight victory when he beat the Angels 3-1. Hernandez is 7-1 with a 2.57 ERA this season on a team with little offensive help, cementing his amazing start. Hernandez loves the Stadium that the Boss built with a career 4-1 record and a 1.18 ERA in six starts at the new Yankee Stadium.

Go Yankees!!

Kyle Roller... Come On Down?


Just about two hours ago I put up a post asking for Kendrys Morales to be signed and added to the club as insurance for both Mark Teixeira and Carlos Beltran but if anybody knows me I always have a Plan B. That Plan B is currently playing first base in Scranton with the RailRiders and his name is Kyle Roller.

Roller is old for a prospects at age 26, although its not like the Yankees exactly rush their prospects, but has consistently put up big numbers in the minor leagues. Roller has crushed both Double-A and Triple-A pitching in recent seasons and is the only true first basemen we have anywhere close to being able to help us. Roller's chance may be now.

Just a quick look at what Roller has done in Trenton and Scranton:

Trenton: 90 PA, .385/.456/.808, 239 wRC+
Scranton: 80 PA, .286/.386/.514, 152 wRC+

Yankees in "Wait-and-See" Mode with Injured Teixeira

When power hitting infielder Mark Teixeira isn't in the lineup, the Yankees' bats usually struggle.

Teixeira, currently listed as day to day after receiving a cortisone shot in his injured right wrist Saturday, currently leads the team with 9 home runs, despite hitting a pretty low .242.

As of now, when the veteran will return to the field is unknown, something Manager Joe Girardi freely admitted yesterday. 

"(We're) in a wait and see for today and tomorrow," Girardi told The Newark Star Ledger's Brendan Prunty before the Yanks collected just 3 hits in a tough rubber game loss to the Twins. "Just see where he's at Tuesday when (we) come in."

Shortly before exiting Saturday's contest, Teixeira routinely turned a 3-6-1 double play, making what happened to him a mystery.

The Bombers First Basemen, who missed last week's interleague series in St. Louis due to the soreness, seemed fine up until that point, making the injury that much more frustrating.

Still, if all goes right, Tex should be able to return for tomorrow's opener against the AL West-leading A's, in which the struggling Pinstripes will face off with ex-Ray/Angel Scott Kazmir, who currently possesses a dominant 6-2 record.

I've Asked For Kendrys Morales Since January 2012


I posted THIS article in January of 2012 asking for the Yankees to go ahead and get Kendrys Morales.

Then I posted THIS article in July of 2013 asking once again for Morales.

Finally I posted THIS article in January of 2014 once again asking for Morales.

Mark Teixeira is missing time for the second time this week and third or fourth time this season due to soreness and pain in his surgically repaired wrist. Carlos Beltran is ailing, although attempting a comeback, with a bone spur in his elbow.

The Yankees backup option for Teixeira has been everyone from Beltran, Brendan Ryan, Brian McCann, and Kelly Johnson to name a few(yes I realize none of them are traditional first basemen).  The Yankees have plugged in Alfonso Soriano into right field and have left a hole in the DH spot, which is important with the team scuffling offensively and struggling to score runs.

Want to kill two birds with one check? Sign Morales, for real this time.


2013 Yankees Better Than 2014 Yankes Through May


This is a bit of a disconcerting post and I hated writing it but it must be seen, and cannot be unseen. The 2013 Yankees were a better team through May then the 2014 Yankees team was, unfortunately that is fact.

The Yankees record through May 2013: 31-23 (2nd place)
The Yankees record through May 2014: 29-25 (2nd place)

2013 Run Differential: +18
2014 Run Differential: -10

You can argue that the Yankees were running high off contributions from Vernon Wells that nobody expected to last a full season and that's why the team was better, uh hello? Yangervis Solarte anyone? No one knows how long the Solarte fire will burn, although I hope for all season long.

The Yankees had an excuse last season, they don't this season. Unacceptable.

Can't Predict Baseball: Baltimore Reaches 3,000 Wins


On this day in 1989 the Baltimore Orioles joined teams like the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, and San Francisco (New York) Giants by winning their 3,000th game. The Orioles were also known as the St. Louis Browns before making the move to Baltimore. Awesome news for the city of Baltimore and the Orioles fans.

Quick Hit: Rest In Peace Lou Gehrig


Just a quick reminder to everyone that today was the day the New York Yankees All Star slugger Lou Gehrig lost his battle with ALS. ALS would soon be renamed Lou Gehrig's disease after the Iron Horse lost his battle with the deadly disease. The Yankees arrived in Detroit on this sad day in 1941 when they learned of their captain passing away seventeen days prior to his 38th birthday.

Gehrig died in his sleep in his Riverdale home due to complications with ALS. It was on this day exactly 16 years ago that Gehrig broke into the Yankees lineup for the first time.

Rest in peace Lou.


Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap 6/1

Judge Homers Again as RiverDogs Fall to Tourists
Aaron Judge's seventh home run, his second in as many days, highlights Charleston's offense


CHARLESTON, SC - An early Charleston RiverDogs lead was wiped away by a six-run rally that helped the Asheville Tourists to a 7-5 victory and a series sweep on Sunday in front of 4,326 fans at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in South Atlantic League action. Aaron Judge hit his seventh home run for the RiverDogs and also tripled while scoring two of Charleston's runs.
Charleston drops to 27-29 after its fifth straight loss. Asheville is 32-23 following a four-game sweep at Riley Park.
Following three scoreless innings, the Tourists took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. Raimel Tapia opened the frame with a single. Ryan McMahon was hit by a pitch, and a pair of fly outs set up runners on the corners. McMahon started for second base while Tapia got a great jump for the plate. Tapia slid home on a stolen base for Asheville's first run.
The RiverDogs moved in front with a two-run spurt at the end of the fourth. Judge led off with a triple and tied the game by scoring on Miguel Andujar's single. With the bases loaded and two outs, Brandon Thomas bounced an infield single that allowed Andujar to score the go-ahead run and put Charleston up 2-1.
Asheville scored six runs in the fifth and took the lead for good. Wilfredo Rodriguez tied the contest with a one-out single that brought in Emerson Jimenez. Correlle Prime's two-out, two-run double broke the tie to give the Tourists a 4-2 advantage. Jose Briceno added his own double to score two more runs. Briceno closed the scoring later in the frame when he stole third base and went home due to a throwing error on the play for a 7-2 Asheville lead.
Judge went deep to trim the deficit to 7-3 during the bottom of the fifth. On a 2-1 pitch, Judge lifted a home run over the batter's eye in the center field. It was Judge's seventh blast of his professional career, all against right-handed pitchers as a member of the RiverDogs.
In the last of the ninth, Charleston attempted a comeback that brought the potential tying run to the plate. Dustin Fowler singled and would score from second base on a double by Gosuke Katoh. Tyler Wade drove in Katoh with a two-out single that pulled the RiverDogs within 7-5. With Judge in the on-deck circle, Asheville's Troy Neiman induced a game-ending groundout.
Antonio Senzatela earned the win for Asheville, climbing to 6-1 with only three runs allowed in five innings pitched. Charleston's Caleb Smith was tagged with the loss and is 4-4 after giving up six runs in 4.2 innings. Neiman claimed his third save in as many opportunities this season.
BALLPARK FUN: The homestand finale was preceded by the annual Bark for Your Brew event with fans enjoying a sampling of several craft beers alongside their dogs, which stayed for the game on Dog Day. Denny McLain, the last Major League pitcher to win at least 30 games in a season, was signing autographs and chatting with fans during Sunday's game. The Fire Circus performed on-field routines with flaming torches and hula hoops on Luau Night at The Joe.
COMING UP: Charleston starts a three-game road series at Hickory on Monday at 7pm. RiverDogs RHP Brady Lail (7-1, 3.19 ERA) will pitch against Crawdads RHP Cole Wiper (3-6, 4.15 ERA). Riley Park will host a four-game homestand against the Savannah Sand Gnats after the quick road trip, starting on June 5 with anotherBudweiser Thirsty Thursday, presented by 95SX. This includes $1 drafts and DJ Natty Heavy in the Ashley View Pub, along with a wing-eating contest from Wild Wing Café. Tickets may be purchased at the Riley Park Box Office, (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or on-line at www.riverdogs.com. If fans cannot make it to the ballpark, they are encouraged to tune in to all the action this year both home and away worldwide on www.riverdogs.com and locally on 1250 WTMA, the new radio home for RiverDogs baseball.

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs the original post can be seen HERE. 

Trenton Thunder Game Recap 6/1

Late Rally Good Enough for Win in Sunday Matinee

A five-run sixth inning turned a 3-1 deficit into a 6-3 lead en route to a 6-4 victory Sunday afternoon over the Portland Sea Dogs.

After starting pitcher Matt Tracy allowed three earned runs over 6.0 innings, the Thunder found themselves trailing in the ballgame. Portland, who entered with a 38-18 record and was looking for a four-game sweep of the Thunder, began the inning by allowing the first five batters of the inning to reach.

Included in Trenton's five-run outburst were RBI singles by Gary Sanchez, Peter O'Brien, Taylor Dugas and Dan Fiorito. Dugas, Mason Williams and Rob Refsnyder each had two-hit games for the Thunder who stroked 10 hits as a team.

Aaron Dott entered in the 7th inning with the 6-3 lead and tossed two scoreless innings to bring a 6-3 score to the 9th inning. Cole Kimball allowed two of the three batters he faced to reach, before Tyler Webb entered to record the final two outs. He allowed one inherited runner to score and trim the lead to 6-4, but he struck out Stefan Welch with the bases loaded to end the threat and notch his third save of the season.

The Thunder enjoy their third day off of the season Monday before hitting the road to Richmond, Va. for a three-game series against the Richmond Flying Squirrels. First pitch of Tuesday's ballgame is 6:35 p.m. with the Trenton Thunder Pre-Game Show beginning at 6:20 p.m. which can be found on 91.3 FM and www.trentonthunder.com.

Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder the original post can be seen HERE

This Day In New York Yankees History 6/2


On this day in 1935 the Boston Braves outfielder Babe Ruth finally announces his retirement from Major League Baseball. The 40 year old former Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees slugger wanted to retire three weeks prior to this announcement but was persuaded to stick it out by Braves owner Emil Fuchs. His reasoning was that Boston hadn't played in every National League park yet, whatever that has to do with anything.