Friday, August 29, 2014

Yankees Rally in Seventh to Beat Blue Jays in Opener

Chris Capuano cruised through 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball and Brett Gardner got the offense started with a top of the seventh double tonight as the Yankees excitingly beat the Blue Jays, 6-3, in the series opener at Rogers Centre. 

For the majority of this contest, strangely, the Yanks' bats couldn't do anything against Mark Buehrle, never scoring or threatening in frames 1-6. 

Nonetheless, in the aforementioned seventh their inconsistent offense randomly caught fire, crossing home five times in an unconventional way.

How unconventional, exactly? Well, after Brian McCann doubled and Carlos Beltran walked to start the at-bat Brett Gardner lined said double off the right field wall, driving in McCann and getting Beltran to third. 

However, surprisingly Beltran actually wouldn't have to stop 90 feet short on that play, jogging home easily following an into-the-crowd throw by Steve Tolleson, an error that also moved Gardner to third.

Then after the infield was brought in, Ichiro reached on an infield single and Dioner Navarro let Gardner score by putting a snap throw into left field, setting up a line-drive two-run home run by Jacoby Ellsbury to make it 5-1.

No, the game wasn't over at that point, but once Adam Warren got out of a jam in Toronto's next chance the circumstances were definitely in the visitors' favor, with another homer by Chase Headley in the ninth only making things better.

8/29 Yankees Open Game Thread vs. Toronto Blue Jays


Welcome to the weekend edition of the open thread for the game between the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. Both teams are in the hunt for the second Wild Card and last playoff spot in the American League so these three games should be very interesting to watch. The Yankees will send Chris Capuano to the mound to face off with the Blue Jays Mark Buehrle. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Grab some Yankees tickets and get ready because the Yankeescome back to the Bronx and Yankee Stadium next week for Derek Jeter’s final regularseason month of his career. Also be sure to follow us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes and like our Facebook page by searching for The Greedy Pinstripes.


It’s an open thread, it’s Friday, you ain’t got no job, and you ain’t got anything to do. You need to comment today (“Friday” reference there for whoever is thoroughly confused and/or questioning my writing and grammar abilities). Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy the weekend. Go Yankees!

Masahiro Tanaka Sent Back To New York w/ Arm Soreness


Masahiro Tanaka is being sent back to New York after reporting some general arm soreness after his 45 pitch simulated game yesterday. Even after the game Tanaka reported some general soreness, not pain, since he has not thrown much in so long and today the team sent him back to New York. Tanaka says that he will not see a doctor when he gets back to New York, which I flat out don't believe, and will work out in the team's facilities.

Tanaka is expected to do some strength building exercises after experiencing the soreness in his arm. Tanaka reports no pain in his elbow or forearm and says the soreness is through his whole arm, not secluded to one problem area. I guess that's good news if you can take any good news out of this setback for Tanaka.

Tanaka Experiencing Arm Soreness; Still Hopeful He Can Return

In an event that could prove to be disastrous in how the Yankees' season plays out, injured team ace Masahiro Tanaka is experiencing "general arm soreness."

According to YES Network's Jack Curry, Tanaka will now head back to New York to do strengthening exercises, an unfortunate necessity that apparently hasn't killed the rookie's spirit. 

"We still have a whole month," Tanaka said earlier today, via the NYDN's Mark Feinsand. "I'm going to do my best to get back."

Prior to this sudden and discouraging news, Tanaka threw alright in a 49-pitch simulated game at Comerica Park, definitely making this announcement scary.

No, Tanaka didn't look perfect in yesterday's rehab appearance, but since he still didn't report any serious problems after it you can't help but get put down by this development, as it essentially adds one more worry to the front office's already-long list. 

Yankees Officially Activate Outman; Designate Hill For Assignment

One day after acquiring him from the Indians for a player to be named later, the Yankees have unsurprisingly activated LHP Josh Outman onto their 25-man roster, The LoHud Yankees Blog's Chad Jennings reports.

In responses to the adding, as expected, the Yanks designated fellow lefty Rich Hill for assignment. Hill, a 34-year-old veteran who began the year at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, threw 2 1/3 shutout innings with the team this month, a line that greatly helped New York after they dealt Matt Thornton. 

Still, since Outman, a man with probably the best last name in baseball, also looked pretty good during his time with the Tribe it seems obvious that he's the better option at this point, as the specialist put together a solid 3.28 ERA before yesterday's trade.

8/29 Yankees Game Preview vs. Toronto Blue Jays


The New York Yankees will finish out the month of August with a three game set starting tonight in Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Toronto Blue Jays and the Yankees are chasing a common goal, the second Wild Card spot in the American League, and go head to head tonight in what could ultimately decide the standings for both teams. The Yankees will send Chris Capuano to the mound tonight to face off with Mark Buehrle. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Capuano continues to give the Yankees gritty performances and continues to keep the team in games that he starts. Capuano once again went into the sixth inning in his last start but is still looking for his first victory in a Yankees uniform tonight. Capuano's first start in a Yankee uniform was against the Toronto Blue Jays where he took a no decision after throwing six innings and only allowing two runs. 

Buehrle has nightmares about facing the New York Yankees in his career, especially this season. Anyway, Buehrle is coming off a start in which he received a no decision in a Blue Jays walk off win against the Tampa Bay Rays. 



Go Yankees!!

List of Major League Players To Be Drafted And Make Their MLB Debut In The Same Season


September is just around the corner and the Yankees Universe is awaiting the potential call up of their first pick, second rounder, in this year's draft Jacob Lindgren. The potential Lindgren call up got me thinking, how many notable players have actually made their MLB debut's in the same season that they were drafted? The quick answer, not many.

Chris Sale was drafted in the 2010 draft and made his debut on August 6, 2010 working out of the bullpen for the Chicago White Sox. Sale pitched in 21 games that season for Chicago.

Paco Rodriguez of the Los Angeles Dodgers was drafted in the second round of the 2012 Draft and made his MLB debut on September 9 of that season. Rodriguez pitched just 6.2 innings of relief that season for the Dodgers.

Ryan Wagner, Chad Cordero, Rickie Weeks, Joey Devine, Ryan Zimmerman, Craig Hansen, Andrew Miller, Ross Detwiler and Conor Gilaspie are the other nine players to make their debuts in the same season they were drafted in the last 11 drafts. While Zimmerman and Miller are probably household names you don't see the David Price's or Mike Leake's of the world on the list who waited until the next season to make their debuts.

Just as an FYI before the last 11 drafts there were only five players to make their debuts in the same season they were drafted, Brian Anderson, Jeff Granger, Ariel Prieto, JD Drew, and Xavier Nady.

What does this mean for Lindgren? Absolutely nothing but it does make you, well it makes me anyway, step back and really control my expectations for the young left hander.

Discussing a 2015 Contract for David Robertson


David Robertson has only been the closer in New York for one season but has been one of the game’s best set up men in all of baseball while setting up for the great Mariano Rivera. Robertson has gone through arbitration and will be a free agent for the first time in his career after the Yankees season ends in a month or so. What kind of contract will D Rob want after being willing to give the club a hometown discount this winter only to not receive any interest from New York?

Robertson is finishing out his arbitration years by making $5.2 million before racking up any meaningful saves in his career. The Yankees, Robertson, and everyone around baseball expect that to double if not more for 2015. Robertson is in his age 29 season and will be 30 early in 2015 meaning he will look to get the biggest contract of his career this winter, both in dollars and in years.

I wouldn’t have to look twice if Robertson asked for a four year deal from New York or longer and an AAV of $12 million and you know what? He deserves it. Sure the Yankees have Dellin Betances waiting in the wings but even with Robertson “replaced” in the pen next season you still have to find a way to replace Betances which will be no easy feat. The Yankees bullpen would take a huge hit by letting Robertson walk next season and may have to bite the bullet and give into Robertson’s demands.

If this was the Yankees of even 2013 or earlier with loads of “failed” starting pitchers waiting in the wings that could be power bullpen arms New York may be inclined to pull a John Wetteland circa 1996 and let Robertson walk for the multi-inning fire baller in Betances. Manny Banuelos is a starting pitcher and so is Luis Severino while Bryan Mitchell, Mark Montgomery, Jose Ramirez, etc. don’t exactly instill a whole lot of faith in the bullpen going forward for me.


The Yankees had a chance to lock up Robertson to a team friendly and well deserved extension much like they did with Brett Gardner this winter and passed up and may have to pay for it in the end. The end being this winter. Four or five years and around $12 million a season sounds right for Robertson, what say you?

Kuroda Avoiding Third Consecutive End of Season Breakdown


I don't want to be a jinx or anything here but Hiroki Kuroda may be avoiding a third consecutive season in which he falls off the face of the Earth in August and September, a great sign for the Yankees and their playoff push. Kuroda has a 3.28 ERA in his last nine games, although July is always his strongest month, but his August numbers tell an entirely different story from 2012 and 2013.

In August 2014 Kuroda has thrown 24.1 innings in four starts and has seen his ERA fall from 3.97 to 3.94. Kuroda has pitched into the sixth in three of his four starts and has allowed three runs or less in all four starts. Kuroda is 2-1 in the month with a no decision, a game the Yankees lost.

In August 2013 Kuroda threw 31.2 innings in five starts and saw his ERA rise from 2.45 to 2.89. Kuroda pitched into the sixth inning three times but allowed at least three runs in four of his five starts. Kuroda went 1-4 in his August starts last season.

In August 2012 Kuroda threw 46 innings in six starts but actually saw his ERA drop from 3.19 to 3.04. Kuroda pitched at least eight innings in four of the six starts including a complete game and pitched at least 6.1 innings in all six starts. Kuroda only allowed more than three runs once in the month but went 3-3 during the month. This month was not terrible for Kuroda, his breakdown was more in September than August in 2012, but all those innings definitely took its toll on Kuroda.

Kuroda seems to be primed to finish the season strong and the Yankees cannot accept anything less if they want to make the playoffs in 2014. Let's hope Kuroda keeps it together for September and beyond.

Quick Hit: Things Aren't Looking Good In New York


It's never too early to start scoreboard watching and I don't exactly like what I have been seeing lately from the New York Yankees. I understand that the team cannot win every single game but .500 teams don't tend to make up any ground in the standings. The Yankees margin for error is small and it's growing smaller with every passing day.

As of yesterday afternoon the Yankees are 69-63 and 6.5 games behind Baltimore in the AL East division. New York has a -27 run differential and a 6-4 record in their last ten games. New York is on pace to finish with a 85-77 record assuming they finish the season 16-14 as predicted by Fangraphs. New York's chances of making the playoffs according to ESPN has dropped to a meager 7.0%.

Do the Yankees have one more good run in them or have they done just enough to break our hearts once again? Stay tuned...

Yankees Acquire Josh Outman For PTBNL

I guess that's what I get for going to bed a little early last night, I missed all the fun. The New York Yankees acquired Josh Outman from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later. 

More details to follow. 

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This Day In New York Yankees History 8/29: Derek Jeter Sets Mark For Yankees Shortstops


Derek Jeter has set many marks and records not only in New York Yankees history but in baseball history as well but on this day he was making his mark for shortstops in Yankees history. Jeter would connect for his 17th home run of the season on this day in 1998 setting a new Yankees record for home runs from a New York shortstop. The 24 year old would pass Roy Smalley's previous record set in 1982 when he hit a home run off Bob Wells in an 11-6 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Also on this day in 1985 Don Baylor was hit for the 190th time of his career. The Yankees DH would pass Minnie Minoso for the most hit by pitches in the history of Major League Baseball when the Angels' pitcher Kirk McCaskill kit him in the first inning.