Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox 7/17

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will face off tonight in the finale of their three-game set in the Bronx. At one point in my life I would have made the comment that the Yankees would be playing in the heart of Red Sox Nation despite being in the Bronx because the game is being broadcast on ESPN or I would have even gone the immature route and called the television channel "BSPN" but I have to give credit where credit is due. John Kruk and Curt Schilling are out, Aaron Boone and Jessica Mendoza are in and the experience is much more enjoyable these days. The experience will include the Yankees sending Masahiro Tanaka to the mound tonight in the finale to square off with David Price for the Red Sox. The game will be played at 8:15 pm ET and can be seen on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball.

Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Mandy Alvarez

Entering play Saturday night and at the time of this writing, which was before last night's game admittedly, Mandy Alvarez entered the ballpark on a 20 game hitting streak. That's impressive at any level from the Dominican Summer League all the way to the Major Leagues but it is especially impressive when you consider that Alvarez was just drafted a little over a month ago by the New York Yankees.

Here is what the 17th round pick is already bringing his new team:

Year	Age	Lev	Aff	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2016	21	A--A	NYY	23	109	15	37	7	1	23	0	4	5	.370	.376	.470	.846
2016	21	A-	NYY	13	66	11	20	4	0	11	0	4	3	.339	.364	.407	.770
2016	21	A	NYY	10	43	4	17	3	1	12	0	0	2	.415	.395	.561	.956

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

OFFICIAL 2016 MLB Draft Yankees Recap

The deadline has come and gone for each team to sign their draft picks from the 2016 MLB Draft and the Yankees did just that more times than not this season. New York signed each of their Top 10 draft picks this season including 18th overall pick Blake Rutherford and 3rd round pick Nolan Martinez which were part of an impressive haul by the Yankees this season. Here is what the Yankees got done before the draft signing deadline.

The top 10 picks for the Yankees were OF Blake Rutherford, 2B Nick Solak, RHP Nolan Martinez, RHP Nick Nelson, OF Dom Thompson-Williams, RHP Brooks Kriske, C Keith Skinner, 1B Dalton Blaser, 1B Tim Lynch and LHP Trevor Lane.

Outside the Top 10 rounds New York also signed 18 of their remaining 30 draft picks including every single player in the first 15 rounds of the draft. Pinstripe Alley has the complete list and it's awesome and well done so go check it out. HERE

When all was said and done the Yankees spent $7,123,000 in this year's draft.

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox 7/17

The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will continue and finish off their three game weekend set in the Bronx tonight on national television and in prime time. Tonight the pitching matchup will match the stage it is set on as the Yankees send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound for the first time since the All-Star break while the Red Sox counter with an old and familiar foe for New York in David Price.


Tanaka has a strong first half overall but the righty looked human the closer the team got to the All-Star break. Speaking of human that's exactly what Tanaka has been against the Red Sox in his eight career starts against them which is obvious when looking at his 4-2 career record and 4.79 ERA with 37 K's in 47 innings.


Price was not as consistent in this year's first half as he has been in his career and that is something he will look to turn around tonight. Last time Price saw the Bronx specifically the Red Sox left gave up six runs on seven hits in just 4.2 innings in a loss.


The game will be played at 8:15 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen as a part of ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball program. The Yankees ace against the Red Sox ace, all we need is both teams in contention and this would feel like old times. Well if Manny Ramirez was still roided up, if Derek Jeter wasn't a married and former Yankees captain and the annoying John Kruk and Curt Schilling were still in the booth anyway. Either way, Go Yankees!

Yankees Trade Partners: Aroldis Chapman Possible Destinations

The New York Yankees organization does not know whether they are buyers this season or sellers. That's because the people making the decisions aren't watching the games or even watching MLB Tonight, they just look at the standings and see the team is still mathematically involved in the second Wild Card playoff spot and see dollar signs. The team should eventually see that they need to sell and one of those players they are likely to move is Aroldis Chapman so here are a few potential landing spots for the current Yankees closer.

The Chicago Cubs have been the most vocal about already scouting the Yankees relievers and have specifically expressed interest in Chapman. Chicago prefers Andrew Miller but they prefer Miller without giving up their best prospects which seems like a pipe dream for the Cubs. Chapman may be more realistic for both sides.

The Rangers are another top team that needs a closer, unless they believe in Sam Dyson and they might,and Texas is a team not afraid to make the big trade. Joey Gallo would look awfully attractive in a Yankees uniform in more ways than one but New York could pull Jurickson Profar or Lewis Brinson if they played their cards right.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in on everybody every single year so it would make sense that they are involved in the discussions for Chapman as well. The Dodgers could do with a strong bullpen to take some of the pressure off their mediocre rotation and could give top prospects Frankie Montas or Grant Holmes in deals for the Cuban Missile.

The final team could be the Washington Nationals who have one of Chapman's former managers in Dusty Baker currently at the helm. The Nationals GM, Bob Miller, also signed Chapman out of Cuba so the connections are there and so is the need after the Jonathan Papelbon injury. Send me AJ Cole and you've got yourself a deal.

Weekly Prospects Check In: Tyler Austin

Tyler Austin still finds himself hitting the cover off the ball down in Triple-A yet Mr. Austin still finds himself down in Triple-A despite hitting the cover off the ball. Yankees logic. Well that and Mark Teixeira's knee has surprisingly held up to date, knock on wood. It's still a great sign to see Austin healthy and producing no matter what level or affiliate he's at after so many years and so much time lost to injuries and ineffectiveness.

Keep up the good work Tyler:

Year	Age	Lev	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2016	24	AA-AAA	85	359	49	86	26	14	64	4	47	81	.279	.373	.506	.880
2016	24	AA	50	210	22	46	10	4	29	1	30	46	.260	.367	.395	.762
2016	24	AAA	35	149	27	40	16	10	35	3	17	35	.305	.383	.656	1.039

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

This Day in New York Yankees History 7/17: The Streak Snapped at 56 & The Bronx is Burning

Reggie Jackson and Billy Martin was the epitome of the Bronx is Burning era and on this day in 1978 the feud only got worse as Jackson was suspended for five games by the New York Yankees. In a Yankees loss the future Hall of Fame outfielder was told to swing away by Martin and instead struck out while attempting to bunt.

And finally on this day in 1941 Joe DiMaggios' record streak of hitting in 56 straight games ended as the Indians third baseman Ken Keltner robbed DiMaggio more than once. DiMaggio batted .408 during the streak and would start another 17 game streak after this game hitting in 73 of his last 74 games.