Thursday, June 30, 2016

Will Randy Levine Please Shut Up?


Am I the only one that cringes every time I hear Randy Levine open his mouth? I can’t be, right? Will Randy Levine please shut up already? No really, he needs to. In his latest sound bite Levine was bashing the media when asked the question about whether the New York Yankees should be “sellers” at this year’s trading deadline. Now myself, as a person who has watched at least 90% of the games this season with the exception being day games while I’m at work and many of the west coast games, I think the Yankees should be sellers. You know why? Because I watch the games and I look at the schedule and I know that the Yankees being within striking distance of the second Wild Card is a fallacy that will correct itself once the Yankees stop playing teams like the Minnesota Twins. Randy Levine on the other hand? He’s either dumb, delusional, ignorant or a combination of the three.

Here is the exact quote from Levine from the StubHub press conference earlier in the week regarding the idea of the Yankees trading away pieces at the trade deadline:

“You (reporters) obviously have nothing more important to write about than to write nonsense about that,” Levine said. “When we decide to become sellers, if we decide to become sellers, or if we decide to become buyers, you’ll know about it. I guess the difference is most of you guys have never run anything. We have a lot of history here of knowing what we’re doing and a lot of confidence in our baseball operations people, so we’ll see what happens.”


The Yankees should sell and they should start with the team president first and work their way down. Idiot. Just another ignorant and condescending statement from another ignorant and condescending person who rode the coattails of George Steinbrenner and now thinks that their crap doesn’t stink. Well it does because I smell it every time you open your mouth, please shut up. Thank you and have a great rest of your night. 

Yankees Options to Replace Ivan Nova in their Rotation


Ivan Nova Sucks! Not really but if you follow along on Twitter you know that has kind of become my thing since Stephen Drew was manning second base for the New York Yankees. While nothing short of an act from God was going to save or help Drew it has seemed this season that the more I rag on a player and the more I tell them they “suck” the better they do. It’s a reverse psychology thing that I’ve been reluctant to say out loud but I feel like I have to in the curious case of Nova. He’s been terrible lately and in his last seven outings the right-hander has posted a 2-4 record with a 6.92 ERA with an ugly .313 batting average against him. If this post doesn’t work and turn Nova around here are a few options the Yankees could use to replace him in the starting rotation. 

Luis Severino. Any list that doesn’t start and end with Severino is an uninformed list and is wrong. Sure Severino has had his struggles this season but as a man that preaches sample size I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there is a much larger sample size of Severino dominating hitters from A-Ball to the MLB level than there is a sample size of him struggling. Since coming off the disabled list Severino has posted a 3-0 record with a 3.19 ERA down in Triple-A but more importantly than that he has been tweaking things and building confidence with strong starts and victories. He already has a 40 man roster spot and his option has already been used for the 2016 season. If anyone should come up in my opinion it should be Severino. 

If it’s not Severino then Plan B in my eyes is Chad Green who has also been opening up some Yankees fans eyes down beside Severino in the Scranton rotation. Green has flown under the radar after a bad start in his MLB debut which has covered up his (at the time of this writing) 0.98 AAA WHP and his 82 K’s in 81.2 innings pitched. At the time of this writing Green is leading the International League in ERA, is third in WHIP and is sixth in strikeouts. Green has also used his minor league option already for the 2016 season and already has a 40 man roster spot. If you’re not convinced Severino is back then Chad Green may be the best option of the bunch. 

We’ll lump the last two options together because honestly they may both be better off as bullpen pieces at this point. Luis Cessa and Phil Coke are both pitching well down in Scranton and both have made cameos this season with the big league club. Cessa owns a 40 man roster spot while Coke does not. Cessa is stretched out as a starter while Coke is in the process of being stretched out as a starter. Remember when I bragged about how good Chad Green’s WHIP was this season? Phil Coke’s is better as 0.96 and International League batters are batting a meager .202 against him as a starter. If all Nova is going to give you is five innings and six runs allowed what’s the harm in bringing up Coke for five innings and hoping that he can give up three runs or less? I don’t see one.


Walk Off Wild Pitch Pulls Yanks Back Up to .500

     A day after their biggest win of the season, the Yankees and Rangers faced off in the final game of the four-game series. Looking to build off a strong June and earn a series split, big right-hander Michael Pineda took the bump to try and quiet the potent Ranger offense. Pineda's been really good recently, with a 3.00 ERA in a string of five consecutive quality starts. The Rangers countered with right-hander A.J. Griffin, making his second start since returning from the disabled list. Griffin, before the shoulder injury, was having a comeback player of the year type season for Texas. going 3-0 in seven starts with a 3.08 ERA. And on a beautiful afternoon in the Bronx, both Yankee fans and Ranger fans were treated to a phenomenal pitchers duel.
     Texas got off to a real early start, and by early I mean the first batter of the game. Pineda served up a middle of the plate fastball to Shin-Soo Choo that was belted into the right field seats, giving the Rangers a first inning one run lead. Big Mike would settle in after the first inning long ball, retiring seven of the first nine outs of the game via the strikeout, with six of the seven coming against consecutive batters. Griffin also settled in nicely to begin the game, keeping the Bombers scoreless through the first four frames, retiring eight consecutive batters at one point.
     The Yankees didn't record their second hit until the bottom of the fifth, but, it sure was a big one as the Pinstripers came back to tie the game. After getting Headley to strike out looking, Griffin served up a full count cutter to last night's walk off hero Didi Gregorius who promptly deposited the ball into the right field seats, tying the game at one. And once again, despite the homerun, neither starter looked like they were going to budge as the tone of the game would change once both bullpens were In action.
      Neither starter would factor into the decision, as A.J. Griffin was lifted in the bottom of the sixth, giving way to Sean Tollison. Leaving it up to their weakest link, the bullpen, Griffin left with a final line of five innings pitched, allowing one run on two hits while walking two and fanning eight. Michael Pineda was absolutely tremendous today, recording his sixth consecutive quality start. Pineda left it in the top of the seventh, leaving the games in the hands of No Runs DMC. Big Mike's final line was excellent, going six innings while allowing one run on just two hits, walking three and striking out a season-high 12 Rangers.
      With both bullpens keeping the game tied, the ninth inning is where the drama really began to unfold as the Yankees collected their second consecutive victory and earned the series split. Rangers reliever Tony Barnett led off the bottom of the ninth by walking Chase Headley, who was bunted over to second by Didi Gregorius. After walking Aaron Hicks with one out, Barnett slung a slider into the dirt against Jacoby Ellsbury that got through catcher Robinson Chirinos and chased Headley home from third on the walk-off wild pitch. Not exactly the same tamber of drama as last night's walk off, but, kept the momentum going for the Yankees as they got back to .500.
     New York travels to San Diego tonight, facing off against the San Diego Padres in a three-game series, with first pitch scheduled tomorrow night for 10:40 PM ET.
   
   

Live Game Updates: Rangers at Yankees - 6/30

1:23 p.m., Mid 1st: Shin-Soo Choo leads off the game with a solo shot to right. For the fourth straight game, the Rangers score first.

1:36 p.m., End 1st: Yankees strand two on base in the first. A.J. Griffin's not exactly getting his curveball down, but he still manages to escape trouble.

2:21 p.m., Mid 4th: Pineda strikes out two more in a scoreless fourth inning. He's already fanned nine today, but the Yankees still trail 1-0.

2:49 p.m., End 5th: Didi evens it up with a solo blast. Griffin had retired 12 straight prior to the long ball, but at least the Yankees are showing some life now.

3:40 p.m., End 7th: Yankees squander a bases-loaded opportunity in the seventh. Heading into the eighth, this one's still tied 1-1.

4:23 p.m., End 9th: Another walk-off! With runners on second and third and two out in the ninth, Headley races home on a passed ball, giving the Yankees their second straight win. Just like that, the Yanks earn a split in this four-game series and improve to 39-39 on the year.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers 6/30


Today is the perfect day to lay out from work. Lay out, head down to the Bronx and enjoy an afternoon inside Yankee Stadium watching a getaway game between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers. You know what I always say “a bad day off of work is still better than a good day at work” and I truly mean that, especially when Yankees baseball is involved. So in the finale of the four-game set the New York Yankees will send Michael Pineda to the mound to face off against the Texas Rangers starter AJ Griffin. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

I will be at work unfortunately for this game but I will follow along on Twitter. If you want to follow along with us head over and give @GreedyStripes a follow or you can always like us on Facebook as well. We’re always around and always interacting with you guys so check us out. Also check out the TGP T-shirts link at the top of the blog to snag a Jacoby Ellsbury milk carton shirt or any of the other shirts posted on the site. They are awesome, I’m actually wearing mine as I type this.


So with that said let’s get to this game. Good luck boys. Go Yankees!

My Book Review of Mike DeLucia’s “Boycott the Yankees”


About a month ago or so I received an email and a comment on the blog from a Mike DeLucia asking if we would like to read a book that he had written titled “Boycott the Yankees.” For obvious reasons I was a little reluctant at first but as an avid reader and someone who is constantly searching for new types of literature to expose myself to I accepted. I received the book maybe two weeks ago and for two weeks it sat on my desk at home unopened and untouched. I decided to pick up the book on Tuesday and by 8:00 am Wednesday morning I had read the entire thing. Now for some that may not be much of an accomplishment but between my job, my two children who I adore, my wife, this blog and a little thing called “me time” it usually takes me a good week or more to read a book. That should tell you how absolutely hooked I was once I started reading.  

The basic premise of the book is the idea to boycott the Yankees and it’s something I have found myself saying since the end of the 2012 season. Hit the Yankees where it hurts, in the wallet. This is no longer OUR stadium and this is no longer OUR team. The team has forced Bald Vinny into the workforce and out of the stadium, the Bleacher Creatures back from the field and the real fans out of the building entirely. In its place are men in suits and like I like to say on twitter, suits don’t cheer. Mr. DeLucia has a plan to send a message to the Yankees and maybe take back what is rightfully ours, the New York taxpayer did foot the bill for the stadium and the Yankees fans everywhere pay the salaries for the players and the employees and not the Steinbrenner family direct, the New York Yankees.  

The book was not all doom and gloom though. Much of the book touched on key aspects and players from the team’s history and DeLucia’s personal time being a fan. DeLucia did not think we could get behind his ideas without knowing who we were following for lack of a better word and in the book he shared his personal opinions on everything from George Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Shane Spencer, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, David Ortiz, Yankee Stadium in general and Fenway Park, Johnny Damon and a slew of other topics. 

The book can be an eye-opener for some if you don’t know or don’t truly care about what is truly going on and the book can be a call to arms if you have been. Like I said I’ve been saying much of what Mr. DeLucia said in this book since the 2012 season and this has reinvigorated me and reenergized me because what he says in this book makes a whole lot of sense. The Yankees don’t like sense, they like money, and it’s time we give them more of one and less of the other. That’s the only way to get OUR stadium back and OUR team back. 


This book comes highly recommended by me and just as an FYI I receive nothing if you buy it. This is not a paid advertisement or anything like that but just a genuine opinion on a great piece of literature. If you want to join Mr. DeLucia and other visit BoycottTheYankees.com on the web, give him a follow on Twitter @DeLuciaBoycott or shoot him an email at GreenTBooks@hotmail.com. Purchase the book, it is well worth the read and well worth the money. Enjoy Yankees family!

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers 6/30


Well Yankees fans here we are again one last time in the Bronx for one last game with the Texas Rangers. To be completely and brutally honest this series has gone about the way you would have thought it would have gone thus far. When I read that Ivan Nova, who has struggled immensely lately, was starting the first game and that Cole Hamels was starting the second game I immediately went to the mindset that those two games were going to be frustrating. When I saw that it was Happy Tanaka Day yesterday I thought the Yankees would have a fighting chance at a victory and I truly believe they have another fighting chance today in the Bronx in the finale with Michael Pineda on the mound. The Rangers will counter with A.J. Griffin though who may have something to say about that.

Pineda has been improving with every start lately and has had a much better June than he had an April or May. Pineda pitched to a 3.00 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP in four June starts and will make his final June start this afternoon in the Bronx. In Pineda’s last start he held the Twins to one run and two hits in six innings of work while striking out eight.

Griffin heads into this afternoon’s start after lasting just 4.1 innings last time out against the Boston Red Sox. This was Griffin’s first start since coming off the disabled list with shoulder stiffness and in the start he allowed two runs while striking out six Boston Red Sox players.


The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV. The Yankees head west after this game to start a weekend series with the San Diego Padres while the Texas Rangers go anywhere but here. I know I’ve said it a million times so after a million you likely won’t mind a million and one but I hate west coast games. Who in their right mind stayed up until 2:44 am to see the end of the Yankees and Rangers game on Monday? I sure didn’t, I couldn’t. On the weekends these west coast games can be afternoon games. Come on MLB schedule makers, you can do better than this. Oh well, we have to win today before we worry about tomorrow. Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Ian Clarkin


The New York Yankees received terrible news this week and I think I have to take partial blame for it. A couple weeks back now I asked the question “where the hell is James Kaprielian?” and this week I received my answer. He was flown to New York to visit the team doctor after presumably suffering a setback with his elbow while ramping up his rehab down in Tampa. That is never a good sign and one guy that can tell you that from personal experience is today’s prospect check in Ian Clarkin.

As you all know by now Clarkin missed the entire 2015 regular season with a mystery elbow injury and the fear now is that Kaprielian may follow in Clarkin’s footsteps. I know this is all premature at this point and pure speculation but if Kaprielian was to take anything from Clarkin’s experience it would be this. The Yankees left-hander was able to make it back for the Arizona Fall League last season and thus far he’s been throwing well this season.


Get well soon Kaprielian and keep on keeping on Clarkin. You never know who is watching.

YearAgeTmWLERAGGSCGIPHRERHRBBSOWHIPH9HR9BB9SO9
201621Tampa563.291414279.1803529325581.3249.10.32.86.6

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/30: Yankees Pull a Kansas City in All-Star Game


On this day in 2002 the Yankees became the first team in the American League since the 1956 Chicago White Sox to have four infielders and a catcher on the All Star roster. Jason Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, and Jorge Posada were voted in by the fans and Derek Jeter and Robin Ventura were chosen by the AL manager Joe Torre.


Also on this day in 1961 Whitey Ford became the first American League pitcher to win eight games in one month. Ford would throw a complete game win over the Washington Senators as the Yankees would win 5-1. This would be the Yankees 22nd team victory in June, a great month.


Finally on this day Cy Young showed why Major League Baseball would soon name their prestigious pitchers award after him, well that and leading the majors in wins and losses in his career, on this day in 1908 as Young no-hit the Highlanders 8-0. The 41 year old Red Sox pitcher would pitch his third no hitter of his career against the team that would soon be the New York Yankees.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

McCann Homers Twice, Gregorius Walks Off Rangers, 8-7

     After dropping the first two games of the four-game set, Masahiro Tanaka and the New York Yankees took on Nick Martinez and the Texas Rangers in game three tonight. Tanaka is in either the top five or the top ten in every major statistical pitching category in the American League. On the other side of the field, Nick Martinez has struggled for Texas in 2016, with a 5.54 ERA and a .308 batting average against. Although the two starters did somewhat of a "role reversal", a big night for the Yankee backstop led to New York stealing game three. 
     Prince Fielder got the Rangers off to an early one run lead, coming in the top of the second. Cecil's son led off the inning by smoking a double off of Tanaka, advancing to third base on a ground out by the next batter Rougned Odor. Elvis Andrus then smacked a single into left that scored Fielder from third. But, Chase Headley would tie the game in the bottom of the frame when he drilled a long solo homerun to right center, driving in the 500th run of his career. 
     Tanaka got himself into sone serious trouble in the top of the third as he gave the lead back to the Rangers. He began the frame by allowing back to back singles to Robinson Chirinos and Shin-Soo Choo and then walked Ian Desmond to load the bases. The youngest position player in Major League Baseball Nomar Mazara then ripped a double into the right-center field gap that plated all three runners, making it a 4-1 Rangers lead. Prince Fielder drove in the fifth Ranger run when he followed with a single that ricocheted off the glove of Rob Refsnyder that scored Mazara. 
     Rougned Odor scored the Rangers sixth run of the game with a solo shot in the top of the sixth as they knocked Tanaka out of the ball game. He would go on to finish the sixth but would be lifted for Luis Sessa in the top of the seventh. Tanaka struggled with control all night long and departed with a final line of six innings pitched, allowing six runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out seven. 
     Martinez, too, would be pulled in the sixth as he allowed two baserunners to reach to lead off the inning. Brian McCann walked, Starlin Castro singled and Martinez was lifted for left-handed reliever Cesar Ramos. After Gregorius grounded out, Chase Headley hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored McCann, making it a 6-2 contest. Martinez finished the night going five innings, allowing two runs on three hits while walking five and striking out two. Adrian Beltre would get that run back when he extended his hit-streak to 11 games as he belted an opposite-field solo homerun in the top of the eighth. 
      Brian McCann and Didi Gregorius put on their "Superman" capes as they made their unlikely come back in the best Yankee win of the season. McCann retaliated Beltre's shot in the bottom of the frame as he hit an almost identically located solo shot that inched the Yankees back to within four. In the bottom of the ninth, Refsnyder smacked a leadoff single and advanced to second base when the next batter Jacoby Ellsbury walked. After a Texas pitching change, Rangers closer Sam Dyson served up a single to Brett Gardner that was mishandled by centerfielder Ian Desmond, allowing Refsnyder to score, 7-4. After Alex Rodriguez lined out, Brian McCann came up enormous yet again, unloading on a Dyson fastball that soared into the right field stands, tying the game at seven. Starlin Castro walked and then Didi Gregorius sent Yankee fans home happy as he blasted a two run shot into the Bronx night that sent the stadium into a frenzy and put an end to the Yankees losing streak. 
     The Yankees will try to earn a split with Texas tomorrow in the fourth and final game of the series, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 PM ET. 

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers 6/29


The New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers are back in the Bronx and readying themselves for the third game in their big four-game set this week. This series has been an especially frustrating one for the Yankees and their fans but that can all be turned around tonight with a big offensive outburst and an even bigger win. The Yankees have the right man on the mound to get that victory too as New York sends Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to face off with the Rangers starter Nick Martinez. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network locally and MLB TV wherever you are.

The Yankees have one more game in the Bronx tomorrow night before making the long trip out west to face off with the San Diego Padres over the weekend. If you want to see that game live or if you just want to get your tickets secured now for the next time the Yankees are back in town click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog to get your tickets now. Also I’m working on a review of my Jacoby Ellsbury milk carton shirt that I got and that we now sell on the blog (TGP T-Shirts link at the top of the blog) so if you want to get one you can get one now or simply wait for the review. It’s up to you.


Follow along during this game and every game this season while interacting with us by liking us on Facebook or by giving @GreedyStripes a follow on Twitter. We’re always around. Happy Tanaka Day ladies and gentleman and Go Yankees!

Live Game Updates: Rangers at Yankees - 6/29

7:30 p.m., End 1st: Yankees find a way to leave a couple on in the first despite a lot of hard-hit balls. Heading into the second, this one's still scoreless.

7:42 p.m., Mid 2nd: Rangers make the Yankees pay for their wasted opportunity. After Prince Fielder leads off the second with a double, Elvis Andrus drives him in with a single to left, as the Yankees fall behind early for the sixth consecutive game.

7:55 p.m., End 2nd: Headley evens it up with a solo shot to right. Fair to say Nick Martinez, whose pitch count has already reached 44, is struggling tonight.

8:16 p.m., Mid 3rd: Well, at least Tanaka looked okay in the first. The Yankees' ace implodes in the third, allowing four runs to score. Just like that, it's 5-1 Texas and with the way the Yanks have played lately a loss here seems pretty much definite.

9:32 p.m., End 7th: Things have remained pretty stagnant at Yankee Stadium since the third inning. Both teams scored a run in the sixth, but the momentum has certainly stayed on Texas' side. 

10:30 p.m., End 9th: Unbelievable. Trailing 7-3 with three outs remaining, the Yankees rally to win with a six-spot, highlighted by a game-tying three-run shot by McCann (his second long ball of the night) and a walk-off two-run blast by Didi. Just like that, the Yankees win 9-7. 

Press Release: Riverdogs Celebrate July 4th All Weekend Long!

Duke, BUSH’S Beans Help RiverDogs Celebrate America’s Independence All Weekend at the Joe
Three days of fireworks, appearances by popular BUSH’S mascot highlight the RiverDogs’ Independence Day weekend festivities




CHARLESTON, SC – The Charleston RiverDogs will celebrate America’s Independence with three days of postgame fireworks festivities fromJuly 1-3 at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park with some help from BUSH’S Beans. Nothing says America’s birthday like a backyard cookout and the RiverDogs will get plenty of help from ‘Duke,’ the lovable golden retriever made famous by BUSH’S who will be making appearances all weekend.

In conjunction with BUSH’S Beans, the Charleston RiverDogs present a three-day long fireworks extravaganza, and fans can snap a picture with ‘Duke’ and see if he’ll finally ‘spill the beans’ about the secret family recipe. ‘Duke’ will also be visiting kids at the MUSC Children’s Hospital on Friday starting at 10am, before taking in all three days of baseball action.

“Nothing says Independence Day like fireworks and a baseball game,” said RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols. “We’re excited to partner with BUSH’S to kick off the holiday weekend festivities with a bang, and Charlie T. RiverDog might have some competition on who will be the favorite dog at The Joe this weekend.”

It all starts on Friday, July 1 at 7pm as the RiverDogs begin the weekend with another Home Telecom postgame fireworks show on an ISHPI Red Shirt Friday. The RiverDogs will wear specialty red uniforms to honor our military, and all fans that wear red can save a buck at the gate with option to donate that dollar to the Wounded Warrior Corps. Adding in another summer staple, the RiverDogs will also celebrate National Watermelon Day at the ballpark.

On Saturday, July 2 at 6:05 pm celebrate America on “Red Neck Night” at Riley Park with another postgame fireworks showcase presented by BUSH’S Beans. Fans can join in on toilet bowl horseshoes and other redneck activities throughout the game. BUSH’S Beans will present the second straight night of fantastic fireworks as the RiverDogs take on the Augusta GreenJackets.

On Sunday, July 3 at 6:35pm show off your patriotism and your Charlestonian pride as the RiverDogs celebrate a Holy City Sunday and cap off the weekend with the third postgame fireworks spectacular presented by BUSH’S. The club will wear specialty uniforms that proudly display the "Holy City" namesake across their pinstriped tops with a new 'HC' emblem on the caps. It's also a Kids Club Sunday where all Kid's Club members get in free. In association with Charleston County Parks & Recreation, and Y102.5, Sunday features free parking and Lowcountry youth eat free, and enjoy pregame catch on the field.

Ticket information for the RiverDogs’ homestand can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online atwww.riverdogs.com. Playoff tickets for game two of the South Atlantic League Divisional Series on Friday, September 9 at The Joe are now available. Those that can’t make it to the park can follow every pitch of the RiverDogs season on WTMA 1250 AM and streaming online atriverdogs.com.

Don’t Be Fooled, the StubHub Agreement is NOT a Good Thing for Fans


The New York Yankees reached an agreement with StubHub to let the ticket reseller become the official place to go to buy your New York Yankees tickets. The Yankees Ticket Exchange is a thing of the past, and good riddance, but don’t be fooled into thinking the StubHub agreement will be a good thing for the fans either. In fact, this may hurt the fans even more and is a deal that was put into place simply to line the pockets of the Steinbrenner family. Imagine that, right?

The deal with StubHub was made for six-and-a-half years and a cool $100 million and that deal starts on July 15, 2016. In the deal the Yankees have taken away the option to get a last minute ticket for well under the retail and face value of the ticket, the Yankees couldn’t have that no, and have replaced it with a “floor” or a minimum purchase price for said ticket. So the Yankees would rather the ticket go unsold and miss out on potential merchandise, vending, parking and other sales inside the stadium and would rather set the floor at 50% less of the season ticket holders price. So if a ticket is $100 you’re not paying any less than $50.

The Yankees saw another 6.5% drop in attendance last year, and that was with Joe Torre Day and Bernie Williams Day and this day and that day which they will not have in 2016, in a year where overall attendance was once again up in Major League Baseball. The YES Network ratings, which the Steinbrenner are still minority owners in, are down too. Now the Yankees are making it even more expensive and even more of an inconvenience to head to the stadium to see a last place or second-to-last place team struggle to score runs and blow leads left and right on days where the three-headed monster are unavailable. Sounds legit to me.


The Yankees also didn’t lift their ban on print-at-home tickets in the deal. Why? It’s not fraud, the Yankees honored an average of five fraudulent tickets a game last year which is what Hal Steinbrenner spent on drinking alone this weekend, but it’s because they wanted to screw StubHub and force people to their Ticket Exchange. The ticket exchange is gone and the fans still suffer. But hey, Lonn Trost can sleep well at night knowing that people who can’t normally afford premium seats in the stadium aren’t sitting there. Because no one is sitting there. Idiot. 

Blake Rutherford Is A Yankee!

Some people didn't think it would happen, as they thought the Yankees had taken too big a risk, but it's true.

Blake Rutherford, the Yankees' first round pick in this past draft, has signed for $3.282 million. He was taken at #18, which is slotted for just $2.4416 million, but the Yankees were able to save a lot of money elsewhere in the draft in order to sign Rutherford.

Blake was the #10 prospect according to Baseball America, but was passed up on by many teams possibly due to concern that he was going to follow through on his commitment to play baseball at UCLA.

I'm very happy that the team was able to sign Rutherford, who could turn out to be a very nice piece of the puzzle in New York.

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers 6/29


The New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers continue their four game series this week in the Bronx with the third game taking place tonight inside Yankee Stadium. These two teams have battled back and forth for much of the series already both pitching wise and offensively speaking and I expect nothing but the same tonight between these two clubs. The Yankees will send their ace and stopper Masahiro Tanaka to the mound tonight looking to get back on track and looking to deliver another “W” for the Yankees while the Rangers will counter with Nick Martinez.

Tanaka earned a victory last time out against the Minnesota Twins despite giving up three runs and seven hits in just six innings of work. Tanaka has been consistent though allowing three earned runs or fewer in sox of his last seven starts. With that Yankees bullpen behind him that’s all he really needs to do is six innings and three runs or less and it will usually result in a Yankees victory.

Martinez has just one victory this season as a starter for the Rangers and will be looking for his second tonight in the Bronx against the Yankees. Martinez presumably thought he had his second win last time out against Boston despite giving up four runs in six innings but the three-run lead he left the contest with was not enough in a loss for Texas.


The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. It’s not Cole Hamels tonight in the Bronx and this is usually the spot occupied by the now injured Yu Darvish for Texas so have the Yankees caught a break? And if they have can they take advantage of it and bring themselves a victory? Stay tuned tonight to find out. Go Yankees!

Have We Heard the Last of Alex Rodriguez?


The New York Yankees have done something over the past week or so that I have said on Twitter and on this blog many times that they would never do, the team has benched Alex Rodriguez due to production. As a fan of Alex’s and as a fan that has stood up for his forgiveness and playing times many times here, maybe more than anyone and certainly before it was “cool” back in 2015, it’s bittersweet for me because I know he’s hurting the team as an automatic out and as a black hole in the middle of the lineup but at the same time it still hurts to see the players you have watched all your life grow old and let father time catch up to them. Rodriguez is saying all the right things though including a statement that resonated with me. Alex said that “you haven’t heard the last of me” so I beg the question, have we heard the last of Alex Rodriguez?

Honestly I don’t think so. So many times we’ve heard the stories of Alex being done and that Alex needs to retire only to take a few games off and come back hitting like a 31-year old again instead of a 41-year old. That may not be the case this time around but I don’t think we’ve heard the last of him regardless. He’s a proud man and a loyal student to the game and he will not simply ride off into the sunset because of a bad stretch. Michael Kay told a story on the YES Network the other day that really cemented this thought process home for me. He said he was driving home from the stadium and he was listening to Suzyn Waldman on the radio and in the background a “crack” could be heard every 10 seconds or so. Suzyn commented that the sound they were all hearing was Alex Rodriguez taking batting practice in the cage. Forty five minutes after the game had come to an end Alex was still in the cage working, tweaking and adjusting with hopes of getting back into the lineup and making a contribution.

This really stuck with me because I am currently reading a book called “Boycott the Yankees” by Mike DeLucia (have no fear, when I am finished I fully plan on doing a review of the book) and in the book DeLucia mentions what I have mentioned many times on this blog. A lot of players don’t have the incentives to do well or to even give a crap in the world of guaranteed contracts and bloated MLB salaries. What does Alex have to gain? He’s five home runs away from the 700 home run club and despite anything he says he wants that in the worst way. In fact he wants Barry Bonds all-time home run record but I don’t think taking batting practice before, during and after a game is driven by his own personal goals and admirations. It’s not because he’s working towards a salary either. It’s because he loves the game, he loves New York and he wants to help his teammates. 


Alex could ride off into the sunset if he wanted to with his millions and live happily ever after. But he won’t. He’s too proud to go out like that and he wants to help this team win so no, we haven’t heard the last of Alex Rodriguez. Not by a long shot. Given the next opportunity he will prove to you all once again what I already know and understand. He’ll be back, mark my words. 700 home run club here we come. 

Weekly Prospects Check In: Aaron Judge


The Judge, or Aaron Judge as he’s known on his birth certificate, has returned from his short recess in Triple-A and has begun his ruling on the entire league. And it’s not good for the entire league but it’s great for the Yankees. Judge won the Player of the Week Award last week for the Eastern League after crushing home run after home run and he’s not slacking off this week thus far.

There are a few obstacles in the way of an Aaron Judge call up though before anyone gets too excited. He’s not on the 40 man roster and I don’t believe he has to be after this season anyway. Given the Yankees 40 man roster crunch this presents itself as a problem and the solution to this problem is at least two injuries to Yankees outfielders. One injury can be replaced by Aaron Hicks and the other can be replaced by Robert Refsnyder but it’s taking Ref off the bench that creates the spot for Judge or vice versa.


Either way the Judge is handling Triple-A pitching finally and it is a damn sight for sore eyes. 

YearAgeLevGPARH2BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
201624AAA73324487514164653477.266.352.493.845

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/29: David Justice the Yankee

On this day in 2000 the New York Yankees tried multiple times to bolster their offense in trades and failed to get Juan Gonzalez and Sammy Sosa before settling for David Justice from the Cleveland Indians for Ricky Ledee and two players to be named later. That trade kind of worked, no?


Also on this day in 1941 Joe DiMaggio and the Yankees played in a double header with the Washington Senators. The wins and losses didn't matter as much as the fact that DiMaggio tied and then broke the American League record for consecutive games with a hit, previously held by George Sisler with 41 straight games with a hit. DiMaggio had a seventh inning single off Walt Masteron to break the tie with Sisler.

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Sanchez, Mateo Represent Yankees in Futures Game



The New York Yankees will send two members of their farm system to the MLB All-Stars Futures Game on July 10th inside Petco Park and those two players will be catcher Gary Sanchez and shortstop/second baseman Jorge Mateo. This will be Mateo's first appearance in the game while this will be Sanchez's second consecutive trip to the Futures Game.

Both will represent the World Team.


Live Game Updates: Rangers at Yankees - 6/28

7:29 p.m., End 1st: A lot of stuff happens in the opening frame. After Adrian Beltre gives Texas the lead with a two-run shot to right, Beltran leaves the game with an apparent leg injury, causing him to be replaced by Rob Refsnyder. Definitely not a good start for the Yankees.

8:11 p.m., Mid 4th: CC's starting to look better. He retires the Rangers in order in the fourth, but the Yankees still trail 2-0.

8:48 p.m., End 6th: Still no score change. Nothing really to say other than that the Yanks' bats have no clue how to hit Hamels.

9:23 p.m., Mid 8th: Rangers break out for five runs in the eighth (four off CC) to essentially finish this one. With their offense struggling the way it is, a 7-0 deficit certainly doesn't look good for the Yankees.

9:47 p.m., End 9th: Game over. Yankees lose 7-1.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers 6/28


The New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers will kick off their second game of this big four game set this week in the Bronx with another tough matchup for the Yankees. Right now the Rangers are a tough draw for anyone truth be told as the team has come out of the gates firing on all cylinders and looks to be the team to be reckoned with in the American League. This is all before they get Yu Darvish back off the disabled list again and throwing consistently and without pain. This team could be scary and that is due in large part to a great offense and tonight’s starter for the Rangers, Mr. Cole Hamels. Opposing Hamels will be another tough lefty for the Yankees in CC Sabathia. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

You have two more chances to see the Rangers here in the Bronx and two more chances to see the home team inside Yankee Stadium so don’t delay, act now and click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog to secure your seat now. Also be sure to check out our TGP T-Shirts section so you look good while at the game. I just got my Jacoby Ellsbury milk carton shirt in last night and I have to say I absolutely love it. Totally worth the investment and it’s a unique shirt so you won’t see a million of them at the stadium (unless they are Greedy Pinstripes readers, then that’s okay).

Follow along during this game and interact with us during every game this season by either liking us on Facebook or giving @GreedyStripes a follow on Twitter. We’re social, both on and off social media. Sabathia is ready to get back to what has made him so successful this season and the Yankees offense is ready to scrap a couple runs across the board and get a victory. We hope anyway. Go Yankees!


The Nathan Eovaldi Twitter Poll: My Take


Hello again Yankees family. This morning and for most of the day yesterday we discussed the idea brought forth by a commenter on the blog that suggested moving Nathan Eovaldi to the Yankees bullpen rather than watching him give up home runs like a Little League pitcher in the Yankees starting rotation. I thought the idea and comment was so interesting that I turned it into a Twitter Poll this morning giving you, the fans, your say and your take on the matter. Now it’s my turn. Should the Yankees consider moving Eovaldi to the bullpen giving New York four potential relief pitchers that can throw 100 MPH? Why or why not? 

In a word, no. Not right now anyway so I leave that word with an asterisk. The New York Yankees need starting pitching help much more than they need bullpen help at this particular moment and taking from a weakness to build on a strength doesn’t make sense to a team that states they are in it for the long haul with this team. Sure Eovaldi sucked it up in the month of June, I’m sorry to be so blunt but there’s no better way to say it or sugar coat it, but lest we forget how great he was during the month of May and for much of the second half in 2016. Pitchers go through spells and phases and sometimes they just lose complete control of a pitch and then complete control of their confidence resulting in a snowball effect. We just have to hope Eovaldi is now at the bottom of the hill.  

I am not one to talk up Larry Rothschild like the second coming of Jesus by any means but he has done a lot of good things since being hired as the Yankees pitching coach under Joe Girardi. Look at just recently this season when Michael Pineda was struggling and posting the highest ERA of any starting pitcher who qualified not only in the American League but in all of baseball. It was Larry that made the suggestion to alter the arm angle and slot a bit and the results have been encouraging. Hell, they have been more then encouraging. They have been great and Pineda is back to being the Pineda that Brian Cashman saw all that potential in all those years ago and the Pineda that we all saw the potential in as recently as this spring training. Why couldn’t or won’t Larry do the same the Eovaldi? 

Could the Yankees move Eovaldi to the bullpen eventually? Sure. Not before this current contract is up though. New York has to fix him and they have to fix him now. They have to in order to compete and potentially keep him and extend him and if they don’t compete they have to fix him in order to trade him for a useful piece or two to plug in at a later time. Now if the Yankees extend him and this continues then the option should be on the board, much like it was with Dellin Betances in a totally unrelated situation, to get something out of Eovaldi rather than nothing but we’re not there yet. Not even close. 

So for now Eovaldi is staying in my rotation for better or worse and I stand behind the decision and the potential repercussions that come along with it. It just makes too much baseball sense not to make the move at this time. Shake your magic 8-ball and ask me again later though and I may be singing an entirely different tune. 

USA Today’s Weekly MLB Power Rankings


The New York Yankees had a week similar to their week last week but would they have another stagnant and similar week in these power rankings? Once again the Yankees week was dominated by a series with the Twins, which they won, and a series with the Colorado Rockies, which they struggled in. Last week the Yankees position did not move despite winning three-of-four from the lowly Twins so what would two-out-of-three (ain’t bad) get them? Keep reading.

The Yankees fell one spot this week from the #17 position to the #18 position. I guess struggling against the Rockies and beating up on the #30 team in the rankings isn’t enough to convince anyone that they are for real. Meanwhile the rest of the American League East went as follows. The Boston Red Sox finished the week 7th while the Baltimore Orioles finished the week with the #4 ranking. The Toronto Blue Jays are climbing a bit in the AL East and they are climbing a bit in these rankings as well finishing with the #9 position while there may be no hope for the Tampa Bay Rays after finishing the week with the #23 position in the rankings.

The Top Five teams according to the USA Today this week are the Chicago Cubs, the Texas Rangers, the San Francisco Giants, the Baltimore Orioles and the Cleveland Indians. The five teams no one wants to be are the #26 Philadelphia Phillies, the #27 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the #28 Cincinnati Reds, the #29 Atlanta Braves and the #30 Minnesota Twins.

The biggest rise of the week went to the Houston Astros who rose seven spots to finish with the #11 while the biggest fall of the week went to the Kansas City Royals who fell four spots to finish 14th overall.

There you have it. Another week of the MLB season in the books and another week of Weekly MLB Power Rankings released by the USA Today. These rankings are now painting a picture. Those outside the Top 15 should probably be thinking about and at least preparing for the possibility to sell at this year’s trading deadline while the Top 15 or so should quietly be looking ahead to the deadline as a way to solidify their teams to make that final push. The Yankees by this logic the team should be ready to sell here in about a month or so. 

But will they? Stay tuned.



Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers 6/28



The New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers continue their four game set this evening in the Bronx with another great, yet tough, pitching matchup. Tonight the Yankees will watch as CC Sabathia tests out his ankles after rolling them not once but twice in his last start while the Texas Rangers counter with their ace and stud Cole Hamels. I’m never confident against Hamels no matter what uniform he’s wearing and I’m especially not betting the house against him when he’s wearing the uniform of the hottest and the best team in the American League this season. This could be a tough matchup for the Yankees tonight and a frustrating night for the fans.

Sabathia left his last start after rolling his ankle on two separate occasions but all signs point to Sabathia being healthy and ready for the start tonight in the Bronx. This is a good sign for New York as Sabathia had posted an anemic 0.82 ERA in his seven starts before the injury-riddled and bad start he had last time out against the Twins.

Hamels heads into his final start of the month not ready for the calendar to change from June to July. In five June starts Hamels has posted a 3-0 record with a 1.82 ERA and has posted a quality start in seven of his last eight outings. Hamels has not pitched exceptionally well in his career against the Yankees though posting a career 0-2 record and 4.50 ERA in three regular season starts against them.

The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. As we inch closer to the All-Star Game, I believe today is the last day to vote by the way so if you haven’t be sure to get your votes in now, and as we inch closer to the August 1st trade deadline it’s game like tonight that will define these Yankees. If they come out tough against a tough team and an even tougher pitcher then you can get behind buying a player or two at the trade deadline to push for a Wild Card but if they come out flat or uninterested you almost concede the season and wish for a fire sale. Don’t you? Or maybe it’s just me. Eternal optimist. Go Yankees!


Twitter Poll: Time to Evolve Eovaldi into the Bullpen?


When I awoke on Monday morning I checked my phone like I do every morning and I found a very interesting comment on the blog. A commenter by the name of Donnie Passmore commented on the game thread from Sunday afternoon that the Yankees needed to move Nathan Eovaldi from the starting rotation to the bullpen to give the Yankees a fourth reliever that can throw 100 MPH on the mound. Now I have my own opinion on the matter which I will share with you later but I found the idea to be an interesting one and one worth discussing with you, our readers, our fans and our friends. In response I put out this Twitter Poll for you to be heard. Should the Yankees move Eovaldi to the bullpen or should they keep him as a starter? Why or why not?





To be involved in our next Twitter Poll give us a follow on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and look out for the next Twitter Poll tweet from us. We have been a bit absent of late on Twitter and for that I personally apologize. Between the Yankees losing and the usual hate and “sky is falling” mentality that comes along with that we have also been bombarded with political debate and hate and we decided to take a step back from it all. Twitter was what the Republican debates used to be before Donald Trump won the nomination, it had nothing to do with what was going on and what mattered and all about what you could say to bring the other person down a notch or two. I’m not all about that and that’s not why I got into blogging, Twitter Polls like this is why. So enjoy and if we didn’t catch you on this Twitter Poll we’ll try to catch you on the next one. Enjoy the day and look out for my take later.


Weekly Prospects Check In: Gary Sanchez


The Sanchez, or El Gary Sanchez as he likes to be known as on Twitter, is back from the crack in his thumb that cost him a couple weeks on the disabled list and is back behind the plate as well for the RailRiders. Shortly after cracking his thumb the Yankees started working Sanchez out at first base and in true Minor League Baseball fashion updates on how he has looked and such are hard to come by. Maybe our friends over at Pinstriped Prospects have the update, check them out.


Either way Sanchez is back and healthy and may focus more on catching now that Mark Teixeira is back, Chris Parmelee is on the mend and the first base situation may have plateaued for a while. Sanchez has already used his minor league option for the 2016 season though so at the first sign of trouble the Sanchez could be back in the Bronx, he’s just a phone call away. 

YearAgeLevGPARH2BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
201623AAA4720425531683131028.279.324.500.824
201623MLB1400000001.000.000.000.000