Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Ivan Nova & Chris Capuano Injury Updates


The New York Yankees have a pair of starting pitchers that are working their way back from various injuries in Ivan Nova who had Tommy John surgery and Chris Capuano who is battling a right quad  injury. Both are expected back sometime soon with Capuano possibly coming back in May and Nova finally coming all the way back sometime in June, if not sooner.

Nova threw a simulated game and has been facing live hitters for a few weeks now and seems to be ready to pitch in an extended spring training game as soon as this weekend. Nova threw against minor league hitters Monday and threw 15 pitches in an inning of work, 12 of those pitches were recorded as strikes. 

Capuano has been out since spring training when he strained his right quadriceps muscle but has already made his appearance in extended spring training. Capuano faced some minor league players from the Philadelphia Phillies and threw four shutout innings allowing one hit and striking out seven batters. This was Capuano's second extended spring game  and may be a little more than two weeks away at this point. 


Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays 4/29


There’s no better way to spend an afternoon in New York City than to be sitting in the Bronx at the beautiful and historic Yankee Stadium. This is especially true when the Yankees play host to one of their American League East rivals in the Tampa Bay Rays like they do this afternoon. The pitching matchup for this afternoon is Masahiro Tanaka  Michael Pineda for the Yankees and Drew Smyly for the Rays with Pineda pitching on his normal rest and Smyly making just his second start of the season. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

Get your Yankees tickets right here on the blog through our Yankees Tickets link on the top of the blog and have your tickets in hand for when the Yankees return home to the Bronx and Yankee Stadium. If you’re in Boston sleeping with the enemy you can also grab a pair of tickets for this weekend’s series right here on the blog without any fees or shipping costs associated with the purchase. If you’re going to stay home like I am then join me on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) and/or the comments section of the blog to interact during the game. We try and live tweet every single game so join us, we love being social.


That’s enough from me Mr. Pineda take it from here. Go Yankees!

Some of the Better Mustaches in Yankees History


Brett Gardner is leading a mustache growing team building movement inside the clubhouse of the New York Yankees which got me thinking about the history of the Stache' on the Yankees. As we know the Yankees still ban any facial hair besides a well kept mustache and that rule looks here to stay for at least the considerable future but that hasn't stopped some notable Yankees from growing some pretty incredible mustaches. This is not all the mustaches these are just some of my personal favorite, what are yours?

Randy Johnson

Joba Chamberlain

Jason Giambi

Goose Gossage

Jared Burton

Nick Johnson

Jeff Nelson

Reggie Jackson

Wade Boggs

Phil Hughes

Tom Selleck

Dave Winfield

Don Mattingly









Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays 4/29


The New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays will finish off their three game at Yankee Stadium this afternoon with a day game and a getaway game in the Bronx. New York looks to keep their strangle hold on the Rays as the Yankees have dominated Tampa Bay thus far this season, a trend that could continue this afternoon with Masahiro Tanaka Michael Pineda on the mound for the Yankees. Drew Smyly will be on the bump for the Rays as he and Tampa Bay looks to get out of New York with a victory. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

  • Michael Pineda is making the start on normal rest for the now injured Masahiro Tanaka.


  • Smyly has only made one start this season after starting the year on the disabled list and is still building up his pitch count. Smyly only lasted 4.2 innings against the Blue Jays in his season debut but does own a 1-0 record with a 1.17 ERA in three career appearances at Yankee Stadium. Hopefully the Yankees can ugly up that pitching line a little bit this afternoon.



The Yankees have a day off tomorrow before starting a 17 games in 17 days stretch that starts off on the road in Boston’s Fenway Park. It will likely be all hands on deck this afternoon in the bullpen although Joe Girardi would likely stay away from Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances if he absolutely could. Go Yankees!

TGP Daily Poll: Pineda Wins In Place of Tanaka



Michael Pineda wins this afternoon in place of Masahiro Tanaka. I had more but you know that whole Tanaka injury happened. Oh well. 


Vote in our prediction poll on Knoda.com

Weekly Check In: Greg Bird


This marks the second time that Greg Bird has been checked in on here on the blog as we struggled to get our stables of prospects situated but better late than never is what I always say. Bird has been struggling in the batting average department after winning the Arizona Fall League MVP Award honors but has been hitting his home runs and taking his walks. Most importantly Bird and that back of his have been healthy so let’s take a quick look at how far that back have allowed him to travel this season:

YearLevGPARH2B3BHRRBIBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
2015AA177412157028109.246.378.459.837

Recap: Yankees 4, Rays 2

Chase Whitley had a solid first start of the season, surrendering just one earned over a nice five innings to lead the Yankees past the Rays, 4-2, on Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium.

Whitley's W: Whitley held the Rays to just six hits in his five frames of work, impressively striking out six while walking one. He let the potential tying run reach third in the third and fourth, but escaped both jams unharmed thanks to some clutch punch-outs. 

McCann Still Can: A day after hitting his second home run of the year off Brandon Gomes, Brian McCann continued to swing a hot bat against Tampa Bay's Jake Odorizzi -- driving in three of the Yankees' four runs on a couple of hard-hit doubles. The latter of those knocks came with two on in the bottom of the fifth, when McCann easily plated a pair with a liner to the left-field gap. 

Esmil's Got This: Esmil Rogers pitched 2 2/3 shutout innings of relief for the Yankees to give the rest of the bullpen a much-needed break -- striking out five and allowing a hit. Rogers entered the contest with Logan Forsythe on third and one out in the sixth, quickly fanning Tim Beckham and inducing a Rene Rivera groundout to end the threat. 

Early Offense: Following a single to start off the Yankees' half of the first, Jacoby Ellsbury stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error -- setting up Brett Gardner favorably for a subsequent RBI groundout. It was the ninth time in their last twelve games the Yankees have scored first, likely contributing to the club's 10 victories during that stretch. 

Martin the Closer?: Due to their notable recent usage of Andrew Miller, the Yankees had Chris Martin close this one out instead -- a task Martin seemed to have no problem with. He retired three of the four Rays he faced to collect his first career save, clinching for New York a fourth straight series win.

Next Up: The Yankees will look to sweep this divisional set Wednesday when they meet the Rays for the finale in the Bronx -- beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET and airing live on the YES Network. Michael Pineda (3-0, 3.86 ERA) will get the ball for the Yankees now that Masahiro Tanaka's hurt, facing former Tigers lefty Drew Smyly (0-0, 3.86 ERA).

This Day in New York Yankees History 4/29: Blue Jays, Thumbs Down

On this day in 2006 the Yankees rout the Toronto Blue Jays 17-4 to become the sixth American League team to score in all eight innings that the team came to bat. The only other time a New York Yankees team scored in every inning of a full game was in July of 1939 when they beat the Browns 14-1 in Yankee Stadium.


On this day in 1939 Lou Gehrig came up to plate at Yankee Stadium in the fourth inning and laced a single off of Washington Senators pitcher Ken Chase for his 2,721st and last hit of his Major League career. Gehrig would finish with the Yankees franchise record for most in history, recently passed by Derek Jeter. The Iron Horse and the Yankee captain's record would stand for 70 seasons until another 35 year old captain passes him in 2009.