Sunday, August 3, 2014

Yankees Rally Multiple Times to Win Rubber Game Over Red Sox

David Phelps surrendered five earned runs in just two innings and David Ortiz hit a two-run home run off Chase Whitley, but thanks to great offensive performances by Stephen Drew and Brett Gardner the Yankees found a way to beat the Red Sox, 8-7, in tonight's rubber game at Fenway.

In this evening's bottom of the first, Phelps, who hasn't lost consecutive starts in two months, gave up three trips around the bases, putting the Yanks in a rough position to start things.

Fortunetaly, though, they'd quickly come back in the next frame, bringing home a trio when the aforementioned Drew beat out a routine double play ball with the bases loaded and Brett Gardner tied it with a two-run double down the right field line.

Yes, Phelps would give most of that back in the bottom of the inning when Dustin Pedroia skied a homer over the green monster, but still, New York had established an offensive threat, something they'd use again against Clay Buchholz (5 IP, 7 ER) in the fourth, fifth, and sixth.

To begin their rally that was briefly interrupted on the aforementioned shot by Ortiz, the Yankees made it 5-4 on an RBI Double by Drew, before really coming to life with two outs in the top of the fifth.

After Jacoby Ellsbury and Mark Teixeira were retired to begin the at-bat, Carlos Beltran collected an extra-base hit and Brian McCann walked, bringing up Chase Headley and Drew, who contributed another RBI Double and evened the score with a two-run single, respectively. 

Then in the sixth, Brett Gardner took Craig Breslow deep to right, finally giving the Yanks the lead, an accomplishment that wouldn't end up going for nothing thanks to a three shutout frames from Esmil Rogers and the usual heroics from the Dellin Betances/David Robertson duo.

8/3 Yankees Open Game Thread vs. Boston Red Sox


Welcome to tonight's open thread for the game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Get your mute button ready as this game will be seen on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball which probably means John Kruk. The game will be played at 8:05 pm ET and will have David Phelps on the mound for the Yankees facing off with Allen Webster for the Red Sox.

Get your tickets for tomorrow night's game when the Yankees try to get to Max Scherzer of the Detroit Tigers early. Follow us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes and like our page on Facebook by searching for The Greedy Pinstripes.

It's an open thread, it's Yankees and Red Sox, and it's ESPN so we should have plenty to talk about so use the comments section on the site. Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy the rest of your evening. Go Yankees!

Best Rivalry in Sports, Still?

When someone mentions Red Sox and Yankees in the same sentence the word rivalry is not too far behind. Many memories fill the minds of fans as this once great rivalry was powered by thrilling fights, epic chases to the pennant and lots of money being thrown around. Today we see a Red Sox team that is fresh off a championship, and yet they are at the bottom of the division. Meanwhile, the Yankees, in Derek Jeter's final season, are struggling to stay alive in the playoff chase. Neither team is stacked with the same star power that once controlled the rivalry with their colorful personalities. Gone are the days of Pedro and Posada and here are the days of Holt and Headley. 


The rivalry has lost its luster, but those nostalgic sportswriters who cover the game everyday fail to see it. Jeter is the only member left of the Core Four and most of the roster for New York has never seen a true Red Sox/Yankee battle. It pains me to watch the rivalry as it plays out today. The aura may still resonate with the fans and throughout each respective city, but as far as I see it on the field, the rivalry is in remission. Hopefully someday we get a new crop of players to breathe new life into the rivalry but until that day we should accept the fact that it is just not the same. 

Some Fans Are Still Excited About The 2013 Red Sox


8/3 Yankees Game Preview vs. Boston Red Sox


The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox tonight will play in the finale of their three game set this weekend at Fenway Park with the Bronx Bombers desperately needing a victory. The Yankees will send David Phelps to the mound looking for that victory and will face off with Clay Buchholz of the Red Sox. The game will be played at 8:05 pm ET and can be seen on ESPN and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN. I'm not sure if the game will be available on MLB TV since it's nationally televised but I doubt it will be available.

Phelps is coming off a strong July in which he put up a 2-1 record with a 2.97 ERA in five starts for the Yankees. Phelps has not seen the Red Sox this season as a starting pitcher but did come out of the bullpen three times in April including notching his first career save on April 10. Phelps is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 10 career games against Boston, three of them being starts.

Buchholz has been roughed up in his last three starts since the All Star Break, a trend that the Yankees hope to continue tonight. Buchholz has allowed at least four runs in each of the three starts and has allowed eight walks as well.

The Yankees head home tomorrow for four games at home with the Detroit Tigers and three games with the Cleveland Indians befor heading back out to Baltimore. Get your Yankees tickets for this home stand now and avoid paying shipping costs or hidden fees associated with the ticket sales. Buy now.

Go Yankees!!

Pineda Solid in First Rehab Start

Injured Yankees Pitcher Michael Pineda was solid in his first rehab start with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier today.

According to WFAN's Sweety Murti, Pineda, who's been out since April 23 with a shoulder problem, threw 3 1/3 shutout innings in the Railriders' game this afternoon against the Syracuse Chiefs (the Washington Nationals' affiliate), allowing just 3 hits and a walk during those frames.

Also included in the 58 pitch/37 strike performance were four strikeouts, or 40% of all the outs the youngster recorded.

Pineda, who went 2-2 with a 1.83 ERA with the Yanks before getting hurt this season, begins his 30 day rehab program today, one that should have him return to the majors some time in early September.

No, that probable date isn't one to get too excited about, but since it does give a timetable for when New York's rotation can become reliable again you can't help but appreciate its existence.

I mean, in the last couple of weeks each of the Yankees' starting hurlers have had at least one bad outing, something that we should only expect to continue as long as guys like Chris Capuano and Shane Greene are appearing every fifth day.

Luis Severino Scratched w/ Oblique Soreness

Just the news the New York Yankees didn't need as their top prospect in Luis Severino was scratched from his third start for Double-A Trenton with oblique soreness. This according to Sweeny Murti of WFAN. Let's hope for the Yankees sake that Sweeny is right and the oblique injury is "very slight" and that the Yankees are "playing it safe" because this could be disastrous for the Yankees farm system if he goes down for any length of time.

Meet a Prospect: Martin Prado Edition


 You’re not officially a member of the New York Yankees until The Greedy Pinstripes say you are so in this post we would like to welcome Mr. Martin Prado to the Yankees family. Let us introduce the newest Yankee to the rest of the family. This is Meet a Prospect, the Martin Prado edition.

Martin Manuel Prado was born on October 27, 1983 in Venezuela and has spent time with the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, and now is a member of the New York Yankees. Prado was a last minute trading deadline deal which saw Peter O’Brien and a player to be named later or cash head to Arizona in exchange for Prado. Prado spent the 2006-2012 seasons in Atlanta and spent part of 2012, all of 2013, and half of this season in Arizona. Prado will spend the rest of this season, next season, and the 2016 season in New York after signing a huge contract with Arizona.

Prado made his major league debut on April 23, 2006 going 1-2 with a triple only to be sent down to Triple-A. Prado was eventually called back up to the show and hit his first career home run on September 14, 2006 off the forever young Jamie Moyer. Prado would start the 2007 back in Richmond with the Richmond Braves and would spend much of the season traveling between Richmond and Atlanta. Prado was called up to the Braves three different times during the 2007 season and was called up to stay on September 4. Prado was a third baseman by trade but during the 2009 season he learned a new position out of necessity in second base when former Yankee Kelly Johnson went on the disabled list at the midway point of the season. Prado took advantage of the opportunity and remained at second and as the team’s #2 hitter throughout the season even after Johnson returned from the DL. Prado finished 2009 with a .307 average with 14 home runs and 49 RBI in 450 at bats.

Prado would become the Braves leadoff hitter in 2010 and made the very best of it all season long. Prado was coming into the 2010 season after losing 14 pounds during the offseason after doing the P90X exercise program. Heading into the All Star Break in 2010 Prado led the majors in hits with 121 and led the National League in batting average with a .325 mark. Prado would make his first All Star Game that season backing up the Phillies Chase Utley. While the season started out great Prado would suffer a hip pointer injury and a torn oblique muscle that would end his season prematurely. Before the 2011 season Atlanta acquired second baseman Dan Uggla for Omar Infante and reliever Mike Dunn bumping Prado from second. Prado was moved to left field and never publicly complained about the move. 

Prado was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks before the 2013 season with Randall Delgado, Nick Ahmed, Zeke Sprull, and Brandon Drury for Justin Upton and Chris Johnson. Prado quickly agreed to an extension with Arizona on a four year deal worth $40 million. Prado had an up and down 2013 season with Arizona spending time at multiple positions. Prado was having a down season in 2014 until the calendar turned July and has hit better recently. On July 31st Prado was traded in a last minute deal to the New York Yankees for catcher Peter O’Brien and a player to be named later or cash. Welcome to New York Martin, we have been beating the drum for you all season long and finally someone listened. Make us proud sir.


Mariners Wanted Bryan Mitchell For Dustin Ackley


Brian Cashman did his due diligence this trading deadline and had conversations with just about everybody and ended up with Stephen Drew from the Boston Red Sox and Martin Prado from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Yankees GM called the Mariners Gm about the availability of Dustin Ackley before the deadline passed but the two sides were unable to hammer out a deal.

The Mariners wanted pitching prospects Bryan Mitchell from the Yankees in exchange for the outfielder/second baseman/first baseman. Obviously the Yankees found that price to be too steep and passed and who could blame them. Ackley has only hit .240/.303/.343 over the last three seasons. Ackley does have three more seasons of team control to Prado's two and for a lot cheaper as well but Prado is definitely the better player of the two. 

I wouldn't have necessarily been upset with giving up Mitchell for Ackley but it's not one of those deals I am terribly upset with either way. 

Quick Hit: Michael Pineda Returns To Mound Tonight


Michael Pineda will finally return to the mound today as he makes his first minor league rehab assignment start for the Scranton Wilkes Barre RailRiders. Pineda has been out for most of this season with a strained teres major muscle in his back and shoulder and has a setback sprinkled in as well to remember. Pineda is expected to throw around 60-65 pitches in this start.

Pineda is expecting to add 15-20 pitches in his next start and then will face the decision of whether to come to the Bronx or not. Manager Joe Girardi has mentioned wanting Pineda to be at at least 90 pitches before returning to the major leagues so barring any complications or set backs Pineda could be two or three minor league starts from being back with the big club.

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/3: The Thurman Munson Memorial


On this day in Yankees history yesterday we remembered the great Thurman Munson as he was killed flying an airplane near his home in Ohio. Today in 1979 well over 51,000 mourners attended a memorial service for Mr. Munson at Yankee Stadium.

Also on this day in 1998 the Yankees continued to show their dominance of the league as they routed the Oakland Athletics by the score of 14-1. A's pitcher Mike Oquist gave up all fourteen earned runs becoming the first pitcher in 22 years to give up that many runs in a single game. Oquist was left in to take one on the chin and protect the Athletics bullpen since the next day Oakland and New York had a double header planned.

Also on this day in 1967 the Yankees traded catcher Elston Howard to the Boston Red Sox for cash and two players to be named later. The two PTBNL were Peter Magrini and Ron Klimkowski, both pitchers.

Finally on this day in 1933 the Yankees were shutout for the first time in 309 games as the Athletics beat the Yankees 7-0. The last time the Yankees were shut out before this day was August 2, 1931.