Monday, April 13, 2015

Brett Gardner Injured?

UPDATE: Gardner has a stiff wrist but the X-Rays were negative. We probably should expect Gardner to miss at least the rest of this series if I know Joe Girardi the way I think I do.

Brett Gardner took a fastball for the second time this week off his wrist/forearm and was lifted for a pinch hitter tonight against the Baltimore Orioles. Thankfully for the Yankees Stephen Drew pinch hit for Gardner and hit a grand slam but the bad news is that is because Gardner is set for an X-ray. Everyone hold your collective breath that Gardner is not hurt because that hurts not only the Yankees offense but the defense as well.

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles 4/13


Another day and another series for the New York Yankees as I cannot say I'm sad to see the Boston Red Sox go on for a little while. New York is still looking for their first series win of the season and it begins tonight in Camden Yards and Oriole Park with Michael Pineda on the mound for the Yankees and Wei-Yin Chen on the mound for the home team Orioles. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on WPIX, ESPN and MLB TV.

Get your Yankees tickets right here on the blog for this series or any Yankees game home or away through our partners at Ticket Monster. Ticket Monster will not charge you those bulky fees or costly shipping costs and will even give you a bigger discount just for being a Greedy Pinstripes reader. If you're a transplanted Yankees fan or you would rather watch from the comfort of your own home be sure to follow us on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) or jump on our comments section to chat during each and every game.

Enjoy the game Yankees family and let's go to bed tonight with a victory. Go Yankees!!!

Yankees Select Joel De La Cruz, Designate Kyle Davies

And the revolving door of scrub relief pitchers for the New York Yankees continues as the team made another roster move for a fresh arm in the bullpen. On Friday the team bought the contract of Matt Tracy only to designate him for assignment the next night in favor of Kyle Davies. Davies lasted a day as well and has now been designated for assignment in favor of Joel De La Cruz who will be with the team tonight in Baltimore.

De La Cruz is a right handed starting pitcher that was on the Double-A Trenton Thunder roster before the call up.

ICYMI:Ty Hensley. My Role Model. My Inspiration


Many of my friends have always wondered why I laugh in the face of Karma. Karma is not a real thing it’s just something they tell you to try and keep you in check, to keep you in line and to make you at least think about being a good person. If karma were a real thing how do the biggest liars, cheats and crooks go on to live these seemingly luxurious and simple lives? Why does it always seem like the best people in the world and the people who do everything right because that’s the way they were brought up, people like Ty Hensley, continue to get crapped on day after day?

This post is going to be half rant and half raising up for Mr. Hensley because this young man, his mother and his entire family are truly incredible. They are role models and they are my inspiration for how you should be, not because karma dictates it. Ty has been dealt a crap hand since being drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees and has done nothing but keep his head down, keep on working and keep that smile on his face. From the abnormality in his shoulder, to the hip injuries and surgeries, to being attacked brutally to now his Tommy John surgery Ty has never held a pity party or even questioned why, he’s taken what he has been dealt and has actually been thankful for it.

I got actual goosebumps reading his statement on Facebook when he said that he was grateful that he had the Tommy John surgery and not somebody else because he knew he could handle it and that he could and would come back for it. That’s like the ultimate selfless attitude and after interviewing him for the blog and checking in from time to time with him on Twitter and such you know it’s not just because a camera is watching. Ty is genuine and you can tell he gets a lot from his awesome mother Marci. They are such kind souls and don’t ask for anything and in turn get a ton of prayers and support from everyone, Yankees fans or not.


So I leave you with this. If you’re looking for a true inspiration or a role model in sports for your children to follow, Ty Hensley is your man. He is so Derek Jeter except for he’s better in one area, he’s accessible by the fans. He’s never not once answered or at least acknowledged a tweet, a message, whatever and has always shown nothing but respect and a humble nature through it all. Ty, I look up to you and I adore you as a person and as a member of the New York Yankees family. If I can be half the person you are and bring my children up half as well as your mother did with you then I think I’m going to be pretty blessed in the world. Once again my thoughts, my prayers, warm wishes and my sincere gratitude goes out to you. You are truly a warrior, you are truly a role model and you are truly my inspiration for life. Keep on fighting Ty and we’ll see you in the Bronx before you know it! 

Sincerely, 

Daniel Burch

Most Popular Article of the Week: Romine Clears Waivers, Outrighted to Triple-A


The New York Yankees may be smarter, or luckier, than we may have originally thought. The Yankees chose John Ryan Murphy as their backup catcher for the 2015 season and ultimately designated Austin Romine, who is out of options, for assignment at the end of spring training. Many thought that Romine would at minimum be claimed by a team and hidden on the 25 man roster all season while many thought he would be traded to the San Diego Padres, the Philadelphia Phillies or another mystery team. Well if you had none of the above when you made your prediction you would be correct as Romine cleared waivers today and was outrighted to Triple-A Scranton with the RailRiders. Romine could not refuse his assignment and elect free agency so it looks like the 26 year old will be a Yankees player at least one more season. Romine is likely to be the every day guy in Scranton with Eddy Rodriguez backing him up while standing at the top of the totem pole if something were to happen to Brian McCann or Murphy.

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles 4/13


The New York Yankees will begin their first road series of the season tonight when the team travels to Oriole Park and Camden Yards to face off with the Baltimore Orioles. The team is still searching for their first series victory of the season after losing their first two series to American League East foes in the Toronto Blue Jays and the Boston Red Sox. Donned with the task of getting the Yankees first series win tonight is Michael Pineda who will be making the start for New York and he will face off with Wei-Yin Chen and the Baltimore Orioles. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11, ESPN and MLB TV.


  • Pineda is coming off his first start of the season in which he lasted 6.0 IP allowing two runs while striking out six and walking one in a no decision for the Yankees right hander. Pineda did enough to win for New York in his start but he, like all his starting rotation mates, fell victim to the lack of run support that the Yankees offense is putting out this season. 



  • Chen is coming off his last start in which he took a no decision against the Tampa Bay Rays last Tuesday. Chen allowed three runs, four hits and one home run while walking two batters and striking out four batters in 4.1 IP. If Chen could do that tonight against the Yankees you have to feel like the team has a great chance to win with Pineda on the mound. 


The Yankees will send Pineda, CC Sabathia and Nathan Eovaldi to the mound this series to face off with Chen, Miguel Gonzalez and Bud Norris. The Yankees are always played tough by the Baltimore Orioles and Buck Showalter so I expect nothing different from this series. It's going to be another tough series for New York but they have to start winning series now because it's getting late awfully early in the Bronx. With that said, go Yankees!!!

Recap: Yankees 14, Red Sox 4

Masahiro Tanaka surrendered just three earned runs in five innings and the Yankees scored seven times in the bottom of the first alone Sunday as they beat the Red Sox, 14-4, in a quickly-decided affair at Yankee Stadium.

Tanaka Rusty But Solid: Tanaka cruised through this one's first three frames, retiring nine of 11 hitters before suddenly allowing three runs in the fourth. In all, he gave up four hits and four total runs on the night -- walking three and striking out four in his first win of the year. 

Offense Comes to Life: The Yankees' bats got off to a fast start against Clay Buchholz in the first, scoring seven early runs off the Boston right-hander to take a seemingly-insurmountable advantage. A three-run double from Alex Rodriguez and a two-run home run from Chase Headley highlighted the onslaught, with a solo shot from Stephen Drew and an RBI forceout from Carlos Beltran also contributing notably.

Offense Keeps Pooring it On: The Yankees then put up three spots in the fourth and sixth to pull even further ahead -- a Brett Gardner two-run single and a Mark Teixeira sac fly helping them reach double-digits in the fourth. Now for all intents and purposes, the game was over there -- though A-Rod, Headley and Drew still plated runs later on for insurance.

Bullpen Rebounds from Rough Saturday: Following Tanaka's removal, the Yankees got four combined scoreless innings of relief from David Carpenter and Kyle Davies -- Carpenter recording the first five outs and Davies the final seven. Davies also escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth with a double play from Xander Bogaerts, a sharp one-hopper to Drew that set up an easy 4-3 putout at first.

McCann Goes Deep: Leading off the eighth with the Yankees still up 13-4, Brian McCann laced a solo homer to right off the struggling Edward Mujica -- a low line-drive that originally bounced on top of the wall. It was McCann's first long ball of the season, but perhaps more importantly the 200th of his career.

Next Up: Michael Pineda will look to keep the Yankees' newfound momentum going Monday when the team heads to Baltimore for a 7:05 p.m. ET meeting with the Orioles -- the Yankees' first road contest of 2015. Pineda will be hoping to build off a nice first start against the Blue Jays when he battles it out with the O's Wei-Yin Chen -- a lefty who lasted just 4 1/3 innings in his previous outing on Tuesday.

Would Josh Hamilton Be Worth the Trouble?


It seems more and more likely that Josh Hamilton will never play a game again for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as long as the team has their say so. Hamilton relapsed over the winter using drugs and has recently found out that the league would not punish him under their drug prevention program but the Angels still want nothing to do with the aging outfielder. Should the Yankees pull off what has become a Yankees special type trade and give Los Angeles absolutely nothing but salary relief in exchange for possibly a huge upgrade in their outfield in the Bronx?

First things first is the contract New York would be acquiring. Hamilton is currently under contract for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons in his age 34 (in May, 2015), 35 and 36 seasons. Hamilton would earn $23 million this season and $30 million in each of the next two seasons making him a very expensive and very costly acquisition for any team who acquires him. Whichever team acquires him would also be on the hook for a $2 million donation annually to his charity and possibly as much as another million in incentives including winning the MVP award, each Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award and winning the World Series MVP. The more you look at the finances for Hamilton the more you want to look away from the left handed hitting outfielder but like any case there are also pro's to making a potential trade.

Hamilton still averages 32 home runs a season and 112 RBI per season despite only hitting 10 home runs in 89 games in 2014 with the Angels. Hamilton has not had an MVP vote in his two seasons in Anaheim but he did garner votes in four of the last five votes before including winning the MVP Award in 2010. Hamilton loves hitting in New York and Yankee Stadium, especially the old Stadium as we all saw at the Home Run Derby there in 2008, and could add a dynamic to the team that none us have seen in quite a few years.

So how do the Yankees and the Angels make this work? There are two options for the Yankees assuming that New York actually wants to make the trade and take on the risk. One of those options are simply trading away a couple of Low-A prospects and eating most or all of the remaining contract on the deal while this is obviously contingent on Hamilton waiving his no trade clause in the deal. Speaking on no trade clauses you have to wonder what the interest in Carlos Beltran would be for the Angels and what Beltran's interest in heading back to the West Coast would be. If the Yankees could trade Beltran straight up, FYI Beltran also has no trade protection, for Hamilton you have to think that deals works well for both sides. New York would presumably get an offensive and defensive boost while getting a little younger and the Angels would get something in Beltran for the nothing they planned on having with Hamilton. With this trade Los Angeles may even be willing to throw in some money to off set the $30 million annually in salary in 2016 and 2017.

I honestly don't believe either of these trade scenarios are very realistic as Hal Steinbrenner continues to attempt to get under the luxury tax after the 2016 and 2017 seasons but I do believe the trade makes the team better. I guess that's why I am a fan with a blog and Hal is the owner of the team, he knows more than I. Stay tuned to see what happens, if anything, because you know we'll have it here first.

TGP Daily Poll: Pineda FINALLY Gets Some Run Support


Michael Pineda has been one of the best starting pitchers for the Yankees when he has been healthy enough to be on the mound but has fallen victim to a consistent lack of run support. That changes tonight with at least five runs of support in Baltimore.

Vote in our prediction poll on Knoda.com

RiverDogs’ 10th Annual Golf Tournament Set for April 28


Parks Auto Parts sponsors unique Midweek “Zombie Land Golf”


CHARLESTON, SC – Be wary of the holes that have hazards, traps, water and the deceased walking about as the RiverDogs’ 10th Annual Charity Golf Tournament features food, drink and fun as the club introduces its Zombie Land theme.

Serious and not-so-serious golfers will head to the links on Tuesday, April 28, at Wild Dunes Resort for an 11 am shotgun start. The event is once again presented by Parks Auto Parts and benefits the Medical University of South Carolina’s Storm Eye Institute.

The four-man Captain’s Choice format is not a typical golf outing as the Zombie Land themed tournament will feature walkers staggering through the fairways and tee boxes in search of their next meal. Golfers can ease their anxiety by enjoying Bloody Marys from Charleston Mix, live music by the V-Tones, pizza from Zombie Bob’s Food Truck and ribs for dinner.

“Who isn’t a fan of fun?” asks Vice President of Special Events Melissa Azevedo. “This tournament not only offers a day full of light-hearted entertainment at a beautiful golf course, it also provides an afternoon of networking while raising funds to help fight blindness.”

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place teams, and in typical RiverDogs fashion, there will also be prizes given for best cart decor, best costume and to those who are lucky enough to survive the course.

The $600 per foursome entry fee includes green and cart fees, range balls, an exclusive golfer gift and goodie bag, a box lunch, unlimited beverages, awards ceremony and dinner.

Hole sponsorships are also available for $350. Each hole will be named after the Zombie Land “Rules to Stay Alive”, and will feature themed contests that include bobbing for eyeballs, pin the brain on the zombie, and teeing off on one leg, to name a few.

For registration or additional information, please contact Melissa Azevedo at 843/577-DOGS (3647) or log on to www.RileyParkEvents.com.

The Daily Dozen: April 12th Edition

The Daily Dozen: April 12, 2015 Edition (sans pictures since I'm tired)

Twelve Takeaways from Tonight's Game:

1. #TanakaTime.  He's back! Okay...he was back for the 1st inning.  He goes 3 up 3 down with only 9 pitches.  Contrast that to the 1st inning by Buchholz (25 pitches) with the Yankees were up 7-0.

2. Jacoby is Patient in the First.  Lo and behold!!! He draws a walk...the rest was history.  As goes Ellsbury, goeth thine Yankees...we've been saying it all season so far!

3. What was that? A hit and run??  And it was actually executed well???  With Ellsbury's speed he actually went 1st to 3rd on Gardner's H & R.  Speed kills if used correctly (as in not like Gardner the last 2 days).  In the bottom of the 4th, Didi, Ells, and Gardy just plain killed it...NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!!

4. #NAPPYBEARD was looking like Buckner Tonight.  He had a low throw to Short that could have been a double play if executed propertly and then botched another play in the 1st inning.  He ended up doing decently at the plate, what with 2 walks and ending his 0 for 18 beginning of the season with a base hit in the top of the 8th.  Congratulations on being 1 for 19 #NappyBeard!

5. I told you A-Rod would begin to rake!  The 3-run double in the 1st won the game for the Yankees.  Not only that, but it busted a previously held .167 for the Yankees with RISP.  Once one guy (and presumably the new Yankees clubhouse leader) gets it going, the rest will follow.  Alex is also seeing the ball really well right now and had 2 walks...the one in the 6th with the bases loaded after fighting off several inside pitches.  John Kruk swore he was just guessing at pitches, but then again Kruk is fat and slow and probably smells like a Philly Cheese Steak that has sat on a hot NY sidewalk during the entire month of July....just guessing.

6. ESPN's crew voted for the Yankees' Franchise Four.  The end result:  Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and....Mickey Mantle.  I can't disagree with that result; however, the Yankees are probably the only team that an argument could be made for about 7 guys to be the 4th on that list: Jeter, Rivera, Ford, Berra, Maris, Mattingly, Clemens...?

7. David Ortiz...the speedster.  Tanaka needs to learn to pitch like an American.  When you have a big lead you just pitch to contact to get the game over quicker...but nooooo! He has to try to finesse pitches in there.  The result?  David Ortiz gets a walk with the Yankees up 7-0...two wild pitches later and David "El Speedo" Ortiz is on 3rd base.  He promptly scored on a sac fly making it 7-1.  Tanaka would go on to give up an additional 3 runs before hitting his magical pitch count after 5 innings (presumably 97 pitches).  You know what #Binder?  Either give him the green light to go 100% or get the guy elbow surgery already...because giving up 4 runs in both starts so far while only lasting 1/2 a game is going to KILL your bullpen.  #PUTTHATINYOURBINDER

8. Nine Errors.  The Yankees have 9 errors so far this season with at least 1 each game to lead the majors.  This is not acceptable.  Especially with how touted this defense was supposed to be.  Maybe the #BINDER should have them do fielding and throwing drills tomorrow before the game?

9. Clay Buchholz.  3 1/3 innings. 9 Hits.  10 Runs.  9 Earned Runs.  2 BB, 3 K, Sox #1 Starter.  This is like McDonald's...I'm LOVIN it!

10. Stephen Drew had a game.  Despite the error (the NINTH Yankee error of the season), Mr. Drew did alright getting a Home Run, making a GREAT defensive play in the 6th, hitting a sac fly in the bottom of the 6th (all 3 runners tagged up on the play by the way, which was my favorite part of the game), and turned a double play.  Nicely done.  We will probably go back to hating on you tomorrow night, so enjoy the props tonight!

11. Teixeira just needs to bat right-handed.  His hit tonight from the right side just looked better coming off the bat than anything he hits on the ground lefty.  If there is someone on base, he should bat right-handed.  I'm not going to look into the statistics of it like the #BINDER, it's just a feeling I'm getting.

12. Best AL Teams after one week of MLB play?  1. Detroit Tigers, 2. Kansas City Royals, 3. Boston Red Sox, 4. Toronto Blue Jays???


--- Thanks for reading the Daily Dozen this first week of the season.  I look forward to filling your inbox with wit, wisdom, and sarcasm for the full 162! --- dm23HOF

This Day In New York Yankees History 4/13: Nick Swisher the Pitcher


On this day in 2009 Nick Swisher was brought in as a relief pitcher throwing 22 pitches and allowing one hit and surrendering one walk in an inning of work. Swisher also struck out Gabe Kapler on a swinging strikeout and retired three consecutive batters to become the first positional player to pitch for the Yankees since Wade Boggs did it in 1997. Swisher volunteered to pitch an inning to save the bullpen in a 15-5 loss at Tampa Bay after Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang only lasted one inning.



Also on this day in 2008 construction workers at the new Yankee Stadium dug up a tattered David Ortiz Boston Red Sox jersey in the concrete of the new ballpark. The jersey was auctioned off to raise money for the Jimmy Fund. The New York construction worker, obviously a Boston fan, put it there hoping to put a curse on the new stadium.


Also on this day in 2005 a near by pedestrian saved the life of eight year old Patrick McCarthy by preventing him from walking out into a Boston road and getting hit by a truck. The hero who prevented the accident put his arm out and said "Whoa, watch out buddy" and caught the boys attention since he was his favorite baseball player, Alex Rodriguez.

Also on this day in 1998 a beam fell at Yankee Stadium and forced two Yankees home games to be postponed and one to be played at the New York Mets Shea Stadium.

Also on this day in 1978 Roger Maris returned to Yankee Stadium for the first time since the team traded him to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1966. Maris came back to help former teammate Mickey Mantle hoist the World Series flag after a promise was made to Maris by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to install sod and lights at a baseball field at Maris' children's school in Gainesville, Florida.

Also on this day in 1978 Reggie Jackson hit a home run in the first at bat of his season at Yankee Stadium. This is important because Reggie's final three at bats at Yankee Stadium in 1977 were home runs making this a fourth consecutive Yankee Stadium home run for Mr. October.

Also on this day in 1962 the Detroit Tigers pitcher Frank Lary pulled a muscle in his leg running out a triple, which he overcompensated with in his arm and ultimately injured himself and ended his career. This is Yankees news because Lary was always known as one of the original "Yankee Killers."

Finally on this day in 1939 Lou Gehrig, with apparent muscle loss around his shoulders, hit two home runs in an exhibition game against the Dodgers. These two home runs will be the last that the "Iron Horse" would ever hit in his major league career.