Yankees Take Another Day Off; Lose Embarrassingly to Rays 1-0

Chris Capuano tossed an impressive 6 innings of two-hit ball and Adam Warren followed him by getting six more outs, but since the offense never reached third and Shawn Kelley struggled in the ninth the Yankees fell in walk-off fashion tonight to the Rays, 1-0, the third time in the last five games they've done so. 

Now in his outing this evening, though he threw 101 pitches, Capuano looked really good, allowing just a pair of singles while walking and striking out four to keep the contest in a scoreless tie.

Nonetheless, since the Yanks' already-bad offense somehow got even worse the veteran left-hander eventually had to settle for a no-decision, an unfairness that only got worse in the aforementioned ninth.

And yes, that frame was just as bad as yesterday's.

After surrendering two one-out knocks to put the winning run in scoring position in the at-bat, Kelley uglily walked PH Matt Joyce, loading the bases and appearing to be enough of a reason for Joe Girardi to take the reliever out.

Nonetheless, Girardi again refused to acknowledge that the other team was threatening to cross home, leaving Kelley in to face the 1-for-4 Ben Zobrist, who lined a 1-1 fastball into right field to end the night and hopefully wake Girardi up from his no-problems-here delusion.

9/15 Game Thread vs. Tampa Bay Rays

Welcome to tonight’s open thread for the game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Yankees will play tonight in the first of a three game set in Tropicana Field, the final time New York will travel to the state of Florida this season. The Yankees will send Chris Capuano to the mound to face off with the Rays Alex Colome. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

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It’s an open thread so crazy and talk about whatever you want. Enjoy the game Yankees family, Go Yankees!

Tanaka "Feels Good" After Throwing Simulated Game; Could Return Next Weekend

In a move that could finally give their fans something to look forward to, Yankees' ace Masahiro Tanaka threw a 65-pitch simulated game today at George M. Steinbrenner Field, saying he felt good afterwards. 

Tanaka, a 25-year-old rookie who's been out since July 8, gave up six hits and struck out four in the five-inning outing against some of the team's minor leaguers, citing his inability to motivate himself in a non-regular season atmosphere as the reason for his struggles. 

"I feel good," Tanaka told the New York Daily News through an interpreter. "As far as my performance goes, I think it's gradually getting better. It's not really a regular-season game atmosphere, so it's harder to get myself up there. But I do feel good."

Over the last few weeks, the Yankees have often stated that they want Tanaka to appear in at least one contest before the year ends. So when asked if he thinks he'll be able to return by next weekend, the right-hander admitted his uncertainty, but said he'll see how he is tomorrow.

"It's hard to say right now," Tanaka said. "We'll look and see how I feel tomorrow and I'll be talking with Joe (Girardi) and Larry (Rothschild)."

9/15 Game Preview vs. Tampa Bay Rays

The New York Yankees will travel to Tropicana Field for the final time this season to take on the Tampa Bay Rays in a three game series. The Yankees will send Chris Capuano to the mound to face off with the Rays Alex Colome. 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 faced this same Rays team last time out and got a no decision after giving up four earned runs to the Rays bats. Capuano only lasted one third of an inning in his third start of the season against the Rays. This will be Capuano's fourth start of the season against Tampa Bay this season and he is still looking for his first victory against them this year.

Colome is making only his second start of the season and currently sports a 1-0 record with a 2.79 ERA in two appearances (one as a relief pitcher) for the Rays this season. Colome is up from Triple-A where he posted a 7-6 record and 3.77 ERA this season.

Get your Yankees tickets as New York readies themselves for their final home stand of the season this week. We are still offering no fees and no shipping costs with our ticket sales so grab a pair now. 

Go Yankees!!

Looking At The Remaining 2014 Schedule

Let's take a look at the remaining 2014 schedule as we wait on the final series in Tropicana Field to begin. While the schedule looks favorable if the Yankees can't score this could get ugly fast.

9/15-9/17 @ Tampa Bay Rays

The team tends to struggle in Tropicana Field so this could be the beginning of the end for the Yankees.

9/18-9/21 vs. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays have struggled in Yankee Stadium so you would think a sweep would be in order but Toronto took two of three in the Bronx earlier in the season. Both teams will likely have nothing to play for.

9/22-9/25 vs. Baltimore Orioles

The last time we see Derek Jeter inside Yankee Stadium, do you really need to know anything else?

9/26-9/28 @ Boston Red Sox

The end of Derek Jeter and the end of the 2014 Yankees.

Bryan Mitchell Should Keep Starting

Bryan Mitchell made his first career major league start last week in the second game of a big double header with the Baltimore Orioles and pitched extremely well. Mitchell held a powerful Orioles lineup down for five innings allowing just two runs, two runs too many, in his first major league loss as a starter. Mitchell allowed six hits and walked two while striking out two lowering his ERA to 2.57.

The Yankees have nothing left to play for this season and it should be inventory time for New York and their prospects. Chris Capuano has seemingly hit a wall this season as he has allowed four runs in each of his last two starts in September. Capuano was brought in to help the Yankees reach the playoffs and since that is not happening for the second consecutive season New York should use the rest of the season to evaluate what Mitchell has.

The Yankees are in a similar situation with Mitchell as they were with Shane Greene as the team refused to use Greene in any big spots or situations before injuries forced New York's hand. The team does not need to make that same mistake again and should let Mitchell figure it out in the majors now rather than rotting in the minor leagues for yet another season.

It's inventory time Yankees family, that's what September call ups are for, and it should be Bryan Mitchell's turn.

TGP Daily Poll: Carlos Beltran Should Get Surgery Now

Carlos Beltran is hurting the team right now by not getting his elbow surgery. Even if the Yankees get to the postseason Beltran has been reduced to an automatic out and a liability in the outfield. Get the surgery now rather than later.

Quick Hit: Chase Headley Expected Back Tonight

Chase Headley is expected back in the Yankees lineup tonight when they face off with the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field. Headley took a 98 MPH fastball off the chin from Rays close Jake McGee and immediately left the game and went to the hospital. Tests came back negative with no fractures or breaks, Headley even kept all his teeth, but Headley did need some stitches in his chin.

Headley was sent to a neurologists to make sure he was not suffering from any kind of concussions symptoms and all tests came back negative there as well. Headley should be back in the lineup tonight and playing third base. Welcome back Chase.

This Day In New York Yankees History 9/15: Derek Jeter Deserves An Oscar

Derek Jeter has had an illustrious career with the New York Yankees including 14 All Star appearances, a 1996 Rookie of the Year award, 2000 All Star Game MVP award, 2000 World Series MVP award, Hank Aaron awards, Babe Ruth award winner, Roberto Clemente award winner, Lou Gehrig Memorial award, five Gold Glove awards, five Silver Slugger awards, and many other notable achievements and awards in his career but on this day in 2010 Jeter gave an Oscar worthy performance.

Jeter was awarded first base by the umpires after what appeared to be a hit by pitch by pitcher Chad Qualls. Video replay showed that the ball clearly hit the knob of the bat but Jeter's acting got the shortstop on base in a close game with the Tampa Bay Rays. After the game, a 4-3 loss to the Rays, Jeter admitted to pretending to get hit by the pitch to get on base. So much for Jeter's squeaky clean persona.