ICYMI: Troy Tulowitzki Just Wants to be the Good Guy

There will be no “Scarface” type scene in Colorado this season when Troy Tulowitzki is screaming at the fans and the Rockies ownership and front office to “say goodnight to the bad guy” as Tulo announced he would not be requesting a trade from the team this season. It was brought up earlier in the week that the Rockies shortstop may request a trade from the team after four straight losing seasons and a losing streak this season that has already surpassed ten games in a row. Tulo eventually announced that he met with his agent and decided he would stick it out with the only professional team he has ever known but I personally think that was only because Tulowitzki wants to be the good guy in the situation.

Tulo is the face of the Colorado Rockies franchise but has made it abundantly clear that he is a fan of former Yankees captain Derek Jeter and the whole New York Yankees organization as a whole and would love to play in the Bronx. With Jeter’s former position and Tulowitzki’s current position, the shortstop position, in limbo with Didi Gregorius not yet living up to expectations some fans, including myself, have begun clamoring for Tulowitzki in the Bronx. Tulo wants to be in the Bronx, he has said as much in not so many words, but he does not want to disappoint the fans, the teammates, the friends and the relationships he has built in Colorado and who could blame him. He’s a selfless guy, I like that in a Yankee.

The casual fan does not want Tulowitzi because of his health concerns, his contract and what the team would have to give up to get him but I don’t think it’s going to be as bad as many think it will be if he is traded. Because of the injury concerns, which would be alleviated I think with a move to the American League and a move period out of the high elevations inside Coors Field, I think either the price tag will be lower than expected or the prospect haul will be lower than expected. If Colorado makes Tulo available they will either have to eat some of the salary to accommodate a trade, and in turn get more in return player wise, or trade him for substantially less than he is worth to completely get the contract off the books. Not many teams can, or will, take on the entire contract, for example the Mets are not going to be able to justify that contract on their end of year spreadsheet even with the added revenue, but the Yankees can. The Yankees ability to eat the contract, which if he was a free agent right now he would command much, much more than his current contract pays him at an offensively anemic position, will help them hold onto some of their top talent and still get a deal done if the discussions were ever to take place.


The stars are aligning for Tulo to be the good guy like he wants to be, the Rockies to be the villain like they have to be and for the New York Yankees to be the winner after six seasons. Get it done Cash, bring me the good guy.

Most Popular Article of the Week: The Worrying about Robert Refsnyder Begins

I know what many of you are thinking, what in the wild, wild world of sports is Daniel Burch talking about? He’s seriously worried about Robert Refsnyder? Really? Hear me out people before you click off the site, un-bookmark us and never return to read any of my content again. If anyone is well aware of his week last week where he hit .400 it’s me. If anyone is well aware that he hasn’t had an error in over a week, an achievement for him, and two errors in his last 20 games it’s definitely me. I’ve been beating the drum for Refsnyder in the Bronx since last season and no one has beat it more than I have since his drafting from Arizona. I’m worried Yankees fans and one little quote in an interview put this overwhelming worry in my heart. “I was trying to hit my way out here (Scranton Wilkes-Barre)” and that he, to paraphrase, is no longer trying to be perfect. Keep reading.

When a prospect is ready and is essentially wasting away in the minor leagues no one knows it more than he does. We have seen it far too many times, a prospect is ready but is blocked by an aging veteran or another player and continues his minor league career until his development takes a tumble in the wrong direction. We saw it with Jesus Montero, and he never recovered, and we saw it with Austin Romine, who may never recover, and my worry is that we may start to see the effects of it soon with Refsnyder. When a player gets bored or when a player knows he has done all he can to warrant and earn a shot and when he still doesn’t he gets discouraged. It’s human nature. When you get discouraged you get bored and when you get bored you get unmotivated. When you’re unmotivated, well I don’t have to show you how deep the rabbit hole gets.

I’m not saying that if the team doesn’t call up Refsnyder like yesterday then he will be a bust of a prospect but I am saying if something doesn’t happen soon, especially with Drew petitioning to move to Mendoza Line down and rename it to the Drew Line, then the team may have a problem on their hands now and for the future. Refsnyder seems like a great player with a good background and upbringing that left him with a good head on his shoulders but even the most patient person can only wait for so long before human nature kicks in and based off his comments after winning Offensive Player of the Week and after disappointment after disappointment this winter Refsnyder may be closer to that invisible line then we think.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals 5/25

Memorial Day baseball between the New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals is about to jump off. No one does these ceremonies like the New York Yankees and between the Bernie Williams ceremony of last night and this Memorial Day pre-game ceremony the Yankees have done it once again. Now that the ceremonies are over it's time for the game with Nathan Eovaldi and Jeremy Guthrie facing off this afternoon in the Bronx. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, ESPN and MLB TV. 

You only have two more shots to see the Yankees live in the Bronx before the team heads out West to face off with the Oakland Athletics in a four game set inside the Oakland Coliseum. Get your Yankees tickets now while you still can by clicking the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog. If you can't make it out to see the team live then join us on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) and/or the comments section of the site to interact with us during the game. 

Will we see Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Eovaldi this afternoon? I'm hoping for Mr. Eovaldi, Go Yankees!!

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day everyone! While many people simply think this is just a paid day off from work that gives you an excuse to grill out hamburgers and hot dogs on your grill many others know the true meaning of the holiday. There are so many out there giving the ultimate sacrifice for this country both on the battlefield abroad and here at home worrying about those brave ladies and gentleman. For this, I thank each and every one of you personally. You and your sacrifices are appreciated more than you could ever know.

If you see a veteran shake his or her hand and thank her. It's because of them you can be in your shorts reading this right now and it's because of them I can express myself freely on this blog every single day. So with all that rambling behind us enjoy the day and once again, thank you.

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals 5/25

The New York Yankees did not have a great series against the Texas Rangers when returning to home to Yankee Stadium and will look to turn things around this afternoon in the Bronx against the Kansas City Royals. These two teams faced off last week with the Royals taking two games out of three winning the series over New York forcing the Yankees into an extended series losing streak. The team will look to start a new winning streak this afternoon on Memorial Day with Nathan Eovaldi taking the mound against Jeremy Guthrie for the Royals. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, ESPN and MLB TV.

• Eovaldi is coming off a bad start against the Washington Nationals last time out where he allowed five runs and seven hits in 4.1 IP. Eovaldi has never faced off with the Royals in his career and will look to blow away the Kansas City offense today.

• Guthrie is coming off a start in which he threw six innings against the Cincinnati Reds for his third straight victory this season. Guthrie had to pitch himself out of a first-inning jam to get the victory but was still able to shut out Cincinnati. 

The Yankees will presumably be tired this afternoon after playing a Sunday night game on ESPN last night against the Texas Rangers. The Yankees have two more games in the Bronx this week before heading out to the West Coast to face off with the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners. The Yankees need a victory before heading out so here's to hoping that victory comes today. Go Yankees!!

TGP Daily Poll: Tired of Being Optimistic

I have been the optimistic one all season long ans I have been let down a lot more than I haven't been lately. I'm tired of being optimistic, the Yankees are going to lose on Memorial Day when they host the Kansas City Royals.

Vote in our prediction poll on Knoda.com

Weekly Check In: Miguel Sulbaran

Good morning Yankees family and Happy Monday! Now normally in this Monday morning check in spot we would see Jacob Lindgren wasting bullets in Triple-A but with him finally being called up to the major leagues before last night's game we were forced to go in a new direction this morning. Instead we will cover a pitcher that is not getting the publications and attention he deserves with a strong season in 2015. If you don't know the name Miguel Sulbaran by now you will very, very soon.

Year	Age	Lev	W	L	ERA	GS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	BF	WHIP	H9	HR9	BB9	SO9
2015	21	AA	3	2	3.70	8	41.1	35	21	17	2	13	23	176	1.161	7.6	0.4	2.8	5.0
2015	21	AAA	1	0	0.00	1	5.0	5	0	0	0	2	3	21	1.400	9.0	0.0	3.6	5.4

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

This Day In New York Yankees History 5/25: Mariano 1K

On this day in 2011 Mariano Rivera became the first pitcher to appear in 1,000 games for the same team. The 41 year old right handed pitcher compiled 572 saves and 75 wins during his 17 seasons in New York at the time.


Also on this day in 2002 former major league pitcher and former Yankee David Cone was hired as a part time television analyst by the YES Network. Cone'd deal included covering five games for the Class A Staten Island Yankees, he would be a radio announcer with WCBS for the June 14th game between the Yankees and the Mets, and would be a pregame and post game show announcer.


Finally on this day in 1922 Babe Ruth was called out at second base trying to stretch a single into a double and started a tirade. Babe Ruth threw dirt in an umpire's eyes and then went after a heckler in the stands. Ruth finished by standing on the roof of the dugout and calling the crowd yellow cowards. Ruth would receive a one game suspension, a $200 fine, and would lose his captaincy.