Sunday, June 12, 2016

Weekly Prospects Check In: Cesar Puello

photo credit MLB.com

As you know we like to leave this last weekly check in of the week wide open as a revolving door but this prospect has quietly been having a great season which may force our hand to change our mind. Cesar Puello came over this offseason from the New York Mets with an absolute ton of baggage. First he couldn't cut it down on the farm with the Yankees sister team and he also was fresh off a minor league drug suspension after the Biogenesis scandal but all that may be behind him after a strong start to his 2016 season.

Look at this stat line, it's insane. It's insane because no one, but us of course, is talking about it:

YearAgeLevGPARH2BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
201625AAA291111228721441532.322.459.471.931

Yanks Lose Series As They Fall to Tigers, 4-1,

     On Old-Timer's Day in the Bronx, the Yankees and Tigers squared off in the rubber game of the three-game set. Michael Pineda and his 3-6 record took the ball for New York in hopes of taking the series this afternoon. For Detroit, rookie right-hander Michael Fullmer got the nod, pitching to an impressive 6-1 record in his first year in the Bigs. Fullmer was a part of the return package that saw Detroit send Yoenis Cespedes to the cross-town Mets at the trade deadline a season ago. The Bombers sure could've used some of those Old-Timer Yankee sticks today, as they wasted another Pineda quality start. losing the contest and series.
      Befitting of Old-Timer's Day in the top of the first, Yankee fans got to witness a bit of history. With two outs, Miguel Cabrera became the fifth-youngest player ever to reach 2,400 hits, lining a double over the head of centerfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. Number 2400 came in just the 2000th game of Cabrera's Hall of Fame bound career, making the feat all the more impressive.
     The Tigers hit the scoreboard first, coming in the top of the fourth. Michael Pineda loaded the bases with no outs, allowing three consecutive singles to Miguel Cabrera, Victor and J,D. Martinez. Detroit grabbed a one run lead when Nick Castellanos then hit a sacrifice fly to center. Pineda got out of that jam with no more damage but allowed the Tigers second run of the game in the top of the fifth. After walking Ian Kinsler and a hit to Cameron Maybin, Victor Martinez grounded out to second base with one out, scoring Kinsler and making it a 2-0 Tiger advantage.
    Despite a few tough innings, Pineda recorded his third consecutive quality start. He was pulled in the top of the seventh, departing with a final line of six innings pitched, allowing the two runs on six hits, while walking two and striking out eight. Pineda was lifted for rookie reliever Anthony Swarzak, who proceeded to give up a leadoff infield single to back up shortstop Mike Aviles. Ian Kinsler then launched a two run shot into the stands in left, extending the Tiger lead to four.
     Mike Fullmer was even more so impressive this afternoon, departing with a final line of six shut out innings, while allowing just two hits, with three walks and three punch outs. The Yankees did put a run on the board against the Tigers bullpen in the bottom of the eighth. Former Yankee Justin Wilson served up a two-out RBI single to Chase Headley, making it a 4-1 ballgame, where the score would remain.
     The Yankees have an off day tomorrow for the first time in 20 days, as they travel to Colorado to face off against the Rockies, with first pitch on Tuesday scheduled for 8:40 PM ET.
   

Remembering a Muggy Night in 2012


As many of you know, or you may not know, I moved to metro Atlanta, Georgia from the Bronx, New York back in 1999 and get to see the Yankees live very few times these days. The Yankees came down to Atlanta in 2009 and of course I attended as many games as I could so I was excited to see them come back down in 2012. I am a very superstitious person in my nature so my line of thinking was “the last time the Yankees came to Atlanta they won the World Series” in 2009 so that made me all the more excited for 2012 trip to Turner Field. We all know the history of that season, Derek Jeter's ankle, the offense going to sleep in October and the eventual loss in the American League Championship Series in 2012 but that's not what this story is about.


I remember a warm and muggy night on this day in 2012 when the Yankees were playing in the second game of a three game set at Turner Field in Atlanta. The Yankees had the bases loaded and Alex Rodriguez was at the plate while I sat in my usual box seats, fourth row Yankee side of the field. The Braves were winning 4-0 and my phone was blowing up with texts and Facebook posts about the Braves whooping the Yankees, the Yankees suck, omg Braves, Braves, Braves while I was there at the stadium and how the streak was ready to come to an end. That streak involves the Yankees win/loss record with me in attendance. I am 29 years old and I have seen tons of Yankees games live in the Bronx, in Tampa and now in Atlanta and the team has never lost a game while I was in attendance. While I have to admit my hopes were low at that point and my phone was one more #RISPFAIL away from being thrown onto the field before a funny thing happened, the Yankees rallied.


The Yankees loaded the bases with Rodriguez coming to the plate while I was wearing my A Rod jersey, something I was reluctant to do after the steroid admission but I was saving my Cano jersey for the next night, which seemed like fate to me. The Braves had shutdown reliever Jonny Venters on the mound which made me far from confident, Venters was awesome, which was only compounded when the count went full. Then something amazing happened, A Rod connected.... pandemonium.





Alex had hit his 23rd career grand slam tying a 74 year old major league record held by the Yankees Lou Gehrig. A Rod tied the game in the 8th inning and the Yankees ended up winning the game 6-4. The Facebook posts stopped, the texts went silent and I witnessed history. While I was at the next game the next night I ended up talking to the camera man at the stadium and he gave me the press release for the game the night before. Truth be told the only reason I think he gave us the release was because my wife was in a low cut dress and he thought she was hot, but hey I'll take it and took it as a compliment. I saw history and now have history in my hands and it all happened on a muggy night in Atlanta on this day in 2012. It was Craig Kimbrel bobblehead night as well which was awesome because my two sons now have a bobblehead of the Braves all-time saves leader.

Live Game Updates: Tigers at Yankees - 6/12

2:16 p.m., Mid 1st: Pineda works around a two-out double to put up a zero in the first. Let's see what the Yankees can do against Michael Fulmer.

2:22 p.m., End 1st: Yankees go down 1-2-3 in their first plate appearance. On to the second.

2:29 p.m., Mid 2nd: Pineda fans all three guys he faces in the second. He's off to a promising start.

2:37 p.m., End 2nd: Yankees still looking for their first hit after two innings of play. Fulmer could prove tough to beat.

2:56 p.m., End 3rd: Hicks leads off the third with a double, but the Yankees fail to drive him in. The Yanks have scored just once one run in their last 17 innings as this one remains scoreless.

3:13 p.m., Mid 4th: Tigers get four hits off Pineda in the fourth, but are limited to a single run. Looks like Pineda might've avoided a big inning.

3:20 p.m., End 4th: Yankees still struggling to get anything started against Fulmer. We head to the fifth.

3:37 p.m., Mid 5th: Tigers add another run in the fifth as Pineda's day draws to a close. His pitch count has already reached 100, so expect the bullpen to take over from here.

3:56 p.m., End 5th: Yankees leave the bases loaded in the fifth. Their rough day continues. 

4:01 p.m., Mid 6th: Pineda surprisingly comes back out for the sixth and retires the Tigers in order. He's clinched a quality start; now it's up to the offense to get him a win.

4:19 p.m., Mid 7th: Ian Kinsler deals a big blow with a two-run shot off Anthony Swarzak in the seventh. Tigers now lead 4-0 at stretch time.

4:52 p.m., End 8th: Yankees finally get a run in the eighth. Chase Headley grounds an RBI single to left off former teammate Justin Wilson, and the Yankees now trail 4-1.

5:06 p.m., End 9th: Ballgame over. Tigers win 4-1.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers 6/12


Another Old Timers Day in the books and now it's time to put another series win and another long home stand in the books this afternoon in the Bronx. In this afternoon's game the Yankees will play host to the Detroit Tigers for the finale of their three game set fresh off the heels of Old Timers Day. In the game the Yankees will send Michael Pineda to the mound to face off with Tigers rookie Michael Fulmer. The game will be played at 2:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

This is a getaway game for the Yankees with a long trip to Colorado looming after the contest. Don't look ahead or past this game or this rookie for the Tigers will look like Cy Fulmer and not Michael Fulmer by the end of the contest. Follow along during the game and all season long by giving us a follow on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and/or on Facebook .

Go Yankees!

ICYMI: Old Timers Day 2016 Roster


70th Annual Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium. Let's go!

The game will be held at Yankee Stadium, the eighth time the new stadium is playing host to the tradition, on June 12th and fans are asked to be in their seats by 11:30 am that morning.

Here is the list provided by Yankees.com:
  • Jesse Barfield
  • Brian Boehringer
  • Scott Bradley
  • Dr. Bobby Brown
  • Homer Bush
  • David Cone
  • Bubba Crosby
  • Bucky Dent
  • Al Downing
  • Brian Doyle
  • Mariano Duncan
  • John Flaherty
  • Whitey Ford
  • Oscar Gamble
  • Joe Girardi
  • Rich "Goose" Gossage
  • Ron Guidry
  • Charlie Hayes
  • Rickey Henderson
  • Arlene Howard (widow)
  • Helen Hunter (widow)
  • Reggie Jackson
  • Scott Kamieniecki
  • Pat Kelly
  • Don Larsen
  • Graeme Lloyd
  • Hector Lopez
  • Jill Martin (widow)
  • Hideki Matsui
  • Lee Mazzilli
  • Ramiro Mendoza
  • Stump Merrill
  • Gene "Stick" Michael
  • Gene Monahan (Trainer)
  • Diana Munson (widow)
  • Kay Murcer (widow)
  • Jeff Nelson
  • Paul O'Neill
  • Joe Pepitone
  • Lou Piniella
  • Willie Randolph
  • Mickey Rivers
  • Eddie Robinson
  • Tanyon Sturtze
  • Ralph Terry
  • Marcus Thames
  • Joe Torre
  • John Wetteland
  • Roy White
  • Bernie Williams

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers 6/12


The New York Yankees have a big day ahead of them this afternoon in the Bronx. First they play host to some of the greatest players to ever wear the Yankees uniform on Old Timers Day and then they finish off not only their three-game set with the Tigers this weekend but their home stand as well. After the Old Timers get done showing the current players how it's done the Yankees will send Michael Pineda to the mound with his mechanical adjustment in hand to face off with the Tigers starter Michael Fulmer.

Pineda may have finally turned around his season after a slight mechanical adjustment to his arm angle and will look to have his third consecutive effective start this afternoon in the Bronx. Pineda held this same Detroit offense down in one of those two aforementioned starts in a makeup game from April. 


Fulmer  is well into his rookie season now and has become just the fourth MLB rookie to win four consecutive starts since 1984. Fulmer has thrown 28.1 innings in those four starts allowing just one run total joining Chris Archer, Matt Cain and Orel Hershiser for the MLB rookie record.


The game will be played at 2:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and of course MLB TV. Check in before the Old Timers Game for the complete list of players who will be on the field and the head back for this contest. I have a feeling the Yankees are going to win both games in some capacity. Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Chad Green


When the New York Yankees officially got hit with the "First Base Curse" after losing Chris Parmelee (and Greg Bird, and Dustin Ackley and Mark Teixeira) they finally named Robert Refsnyder the every day guy. Refsnyder has "graduated" as far as these check in pots go though and instead we will check in with the man who took the roster spot of the injured Parmelee, Chad Green.

Green  has been up with the big league club once already this season and will look to make a better second impression than he did in his first impression as a starter. Here is what Green did while down in Triple-A with the RailRiders.

YearAgeLevWLERAGGSIPHRERHRBBSOWHIPH9HR9BB9SO9
201625AAA451.61111161.2521611117561.1197.60.12.58.2
201625MLB019.00114.08642152.25018.04.52.211.2

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/12: Lou Gehrig’s Final Game


On this day in 1939 Lou Gehrig plays his final game as a member of the New York Yankees while in an exhibition game. A record crowd of 23,864 fans filed into Ruppert Stadium to see the Kansas City Blues play the Yankees. Gehrig played three innings and batted eight while grounding out weakly to second base in his only at bat.


Alex Rodriguez did something pretty significant as well and it pertains to Gehrig as well but more on that later....


Also on this day in 1928 Lou Gehrig has a week of it by collecting fourteen total bases when he collected two triples and two home runs in the same game. The Yankees would beat the Chicago White Sox 15-7 in Comiskey Park behind Gehrig's outburst.


Finally the New York Highlanders, later to be named the New York Yankees, were never known for being a good team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. On this day in 1907 the Highlanders committed a total of 11 errors in one game, and that's not a typo. Eight different Highlanders committed an error in a 16-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The Highlanders shortstop Kid Elberfeld committed four errors by himself while playing in front of the home team at American League Park.


Also on this day in 1990 in a bit of non-Yankees related news Cal Ripken Jr. continued his attack of Lou Gehrig's consecutive games streak while playing in his 1,308th consecutive game. Ripken would move into second place on the all-time list ahead of former Yankees and Red Sox shortstop Everett Scott. Scott played consecutively from 1918-1925.