Friday, May 22, 2015

Game Thread: Texas Rangers @ New York Yankees 5/22


The Yankees are fresh off their second off day of the week and fresh off another road loss at the hands of the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. The team will look to rebound tonight in the Bronx when the Yankees play host to the Texas Rangers. Michael Pineda and Colby Lewis is the pitching matchup in a contest that will be played at 7:05 pm ET and televised on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

Just another friendly reminder that Bernie Williams night takes place on Sunday night when these two teams face off once again inside Yankee Stadium. Get your tickets for that game or any game this series right here on the blog by clicking the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog. If you can’t make it to the Bronx Sunday night or you have to be up early for work Monday morning then that’s not a problem just jump on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) or the comments section of the blog to chat with us during each and every single Yankees game.


Big Mike is ready, the Rangers are ready, let’s play ball. Go Yankees!

Can’t Predict Baseball: Can’t Strike out Joe Sewell


On this day in 1933 the Yankees third basemen Joe Sewell is struck out for the first time of the season. Cleveland's Wes Ferrell was the man to strike out Sewell and Sewell would only strike out three more times the entire season, his final season, in 524 at bats. That's insane by today's standards.

Also on this day in 1977 the Boston Red Sox (6) and the Milwaukee Brewers (5) combined for 11 home runs to tie a major league record. The 11th home run matched the Yankees and Tigers in 1950 and the Cubs and the Mets in 1967 who also had 11 round trippers.

Finally on this day in 1990 Andre Dawson for the Cubs was walked intentionally five times in one game to set a new major league record. The previous mark of four was held by the Yankees Roger Maris in 1962 and by the Padres Gerry Templeton in 1985.

You know what they say Suzyn, you cannot predict baseball. 

Didi admits he "doesn't feel it" at the plate

After limping through the first quarter of the season, Didi Gregorius is ready to admit it.

He's lost at the plate.

"I don't feel it, but who knows?" Gregorius, asked if he thinks he's getting closer to finding his swing, told The New York Post. "You never know. Maybe I start hitting all of a sudden. I just keep working hard in the cage. That's how it all starts."

The 25-year-old Yankees shortstop has hit just .214 with no home runs and 7 RBI in 112 at-bats this season, good for a .526 OPS and a 0.0 WAR. He has just four extra-base hits in 35 games, each of them doubles.

Gregorius says his slow start has been frustrating, but denies that his role as Derek Jeter's successor has contributed to it.

"Not at all," Gregorius said. "I've been comfortable here since spring training, so I'm not worrying about that. Everyone here has given me a lot of support."

Still, Gregorius doesn't know what's wrong.

He says he's been putting in extra work lately in an attempt to turn the year around, but only went 4-for-23 on the Yankees' road trip. Two of those knocks came on Wednesday, however, so maybe a surge is nearing.

Gregorius certainly hopes so.

"I didn't come here to fail," he said. "You always want to succeed."

Fantasy Baseball: The Closer Position


We are about 1/5 of the way through the Major League Baseball season and if you’re bullpen is in shambles in your fantasy league you may want to keep reading. I am by no means a Fantasy Baseball guru but I do like to think I know a thing or two about MLB in general so hopefully this post can help you shore up the back end of your bullpen and propel you to a victory in your league.

If you don’t already have Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel, Greg Holland, David Robertson, Andrew Miller, Glen Perkins, Trevor Rosenthal, Huston Street, Joakim Soria or Hector Rondon you may or may not be in trouble in your league right now. Every pitcher on this list with the exception of Kimbrel (flirting with a 6.00 ERA that has to come down soon) and Holland have been dominant all season long notching save after save and K after K but what if you weren’t lucky enough to get these players? I may have a few names that may be available via trade or even in the free agent market if you league size, team wise, is small enough to help you make your second half push.

Koji Uehara has bounced back from a slow start this season and a DL trip and looks more like the guy the Red Sox hoped they were getting when they signed him to an extension at 40 years old. Zach Britton, Drew Storen, Jonathan Papelbon, Santiago Casilla and Francisco Rodriguez seemingly have no one in their bullpens to challenge them for the jobs so it seems like even if the ERA’s and peripherals are inflated a bit these men are shoe-in’s for every save opportunity their respected teams get this season unless traded.

Jeurys Familia has done well with the New York Mets and you could snatch him up in a trade with someone thinking they got the best of his hot start and who are thinking they are selling high. The same can be said for A.J. Ramos who stole the job from Steve Cishek in Miami and has done well in a very limited sample size in the 9th inning.


The final list of players include a few that are shaky at best but are the walking poster child of high risk high reward type signings. Players like Cody Allen, Brett Cecil, Jason Grili, John Axford, Mark Melancon and whoever comes out on top of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers closing competition on the fly may get you above water just enough to do some damage in your leagues. If not I offer a money back guarantee on all my Fantasy advice, good thing it’s free right?

Game Preview: Texas Rangers @ New York Yankees 5/22


The New York Yankees are coming back down to Earth it seems and will either look to turn things around against the Texas Rangers this weekend or continue their slide in the American League East. The Yankees struggled in three consecutive series against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Kansas City Royals and the Washington Nationals and will send Michael Pineda to the mound looking to be the stopper and the ace for New York. Opposing Big Mike for the Rangers is Colby Lewis. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

  • Pineda is coming off possibly his worst start of the season last time out against the Kansas City Royals where the big RHP took his first loss of the season. Pineda only struck out one batter in the contest just one start after striking out 16 Baltimore Orioles on Mother’s Day. Pineda is 0-2 with a 4.74 ERA in his career against the Texas Rangers in three starts.


  • Lewis has been solid in his last month or so of starts going 2-1 with a 2.65 ERA in his last five starts. Lewis has posted a 2-2 record with a 2.55 ERA in four road starts this season showing many that the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium will not affect Lewis in this start. Lewis went 1-1 against the team last season posting a 3.38 ERA and also owns a pair of victories against them in his career in the 2010 ALCS.



The Yankees and Rangers play an afternoon game tomorrow before being showcased on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball Sunday where the team will honor Bernie Williams before the contest. The Yankees have a huge habit of losing these big time games where they honor their stars so let’s hope the team can turn that around this weekend in the Bronx. Go Yankees!

Twitter: What Place Does New York Finish In?


I can’t believe I haven’t done one of these all week, it’s crazy. Too much going on with the team and in my life right now I guess but I digress and I do apologize for leaving you guys out. Today I asked what place you thought the New York Yankees will finish in the American League East division this season and like I expected there was a mixed bag of answers. Some answers were optimistic, some were pessimistic and obviously some were probably realistic when we look back at this in October but for better or worse here are your responses:














To be involved in our next Twitter poll be sure to give @GreedyStripes a follow on Twitter and be on the lookout for our new Twitter poll tweet. Enjoy the day Yankees family. 

TGP Daily Poll: Michael Pineda Type Start


Michael Pineda seems like almost a lock for seven innings pitched and one run allowed donning the term a “Michael Pineda Type Start.” Pineda will throw another Pineda type start against Texas going at least 7 IP and allowing 1 run or less.


Vote in our prediction poll on Knoda.com

Weekly Check In: Robert Refsnyder


Stephen Drew Sucks. That is all. Well no, that’s not all but realistically I could end the post right there and feed the stats to you and walk away dropping the mic but that’s not my style. Drew has been horrible this season and no longer has the “I didn’t have a spring training” excuse to hide behind. He is the player he was last season with or without the spring training. The sample size is abundant enough to see that he is a complete waste of $5 million bucks and the sample size in both cases is enough to show that the Yankees are doing Refsnyder a disservice by keeping him down in the minor leagues with stats like these:

YearLevGPARH2BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
2015AAA3515716441221641425.312.378.440.818

The reigning Offensive Player of the Week for the minor leagues, Mr. Refsnyder ladies and gentleman. Here’s those defense stats for you as well. Anything look familiar? It’s probably that error total that hasn’t really changed in a couple of these posts…. 

YearAffGChPOAEDPFld%RF/G
2015NYY2B331807596919.9505.18

This Day in New York Yankees History 5/22: Roger Clemens Wins 18 Consecutive Games


On this day in 1999 after a disabled list stint and a rain out Roger Clemens finally breaks the American League record with his 18th consecutive win. Johnny Allen had the record previously with the Indians in 1936-1937 as did Dave McNally with the Orioles in 1968-1969. Clemens had ten no decisions mixed in with the 18 consecutive victories.

Also on this day in 1963 Mickey Mantle once again almost became the first person to hit one out of Yankee Stadium. Mantle hit the home run off the A's Bill Fischer and it was just a few feet below the facade down the right field line in an 8-7 Yankees victory.

Also on this day in 1962 Roger Maris is intentionally walked four times in a game to establish a major league record. Four different Angels pitchers intentionally walked Maris in New York's 2-1 victory in Yankee Stadium.

Also on this day in 1930 Babe Ruth tied a major league record by hitting five home runs in two games and six home runs in three games when he hit three homers in the second game of a double header the day before, two more in game one of this day's double header, and one more in the second game of the double header on this day. Lou Gehrig also went deep three times in the second game of the double header and the Yankees would beat the Philadelphia A's 20-13.

Finally on this day in 1922 The Yankees begin construction on Yankee Stadium after sharing the Polo Grounds with the New York Giants since 1913. The stadium will unofficially be called the "House that Ruth Built" due to Babe Ruth's popularity with the team in the early 1920's.