Wednesday, August 3, 2016

Yanks Trounce Mets in Game Three, 9-5

On a beautiful night in the Bronx, as the Subway series shifted to Yankee Stadium, the Yankees pounded the rival Mets in the third game of the four-game series. Although Chad Green got the start for New York, it was Luis Severino's exceptional bullpen work that was the story of the game tonight. Getting the call for the Mets was young left-hander Steven Matz, who struggled early in the game bad enough to earn the loss, falling to 8-8 with his rough outing this evening.

Trouble for Green, just as it did in his last start, began on the very first pitch of the ballgame when Curtis Granderson smacked a first pitch fastball into the bleachers in right, giving the Mets a very early 1-0 lead. Following the long ball, Neil Walker and Yoenis Cespedes hit back to back singles, followed by a Jay Bruce walk to load the bases with still no one out. James Loney then hit a broken bat single to center field that scored Walker and extended the Mets lead to two. Michael Conforto then struck out and had it not been for Wilmer Flores's inning ending double-play, both the inning and the game could've got very out of hand very quickly.

Unlike last night, however, the Bombers came back in the bottom of the first to take the lead on young Matz. With one out, Rob Refsnyder singled and Mark Teixeira followed with a walk, both scoring when the surprising cleanup hitter Chase Headley drilled a double to left, tying the game at two. After a Starlin Castro backwards K, the most productive offensive player for the Yankees Didi Gregorius stayed hot by drilling a double of his own that scored Headley and put the Yankees up by one.

With five total runs having scored in the first inning alone, you could just tell that it wasn't going to end there and it didn't as Green allowed the Mets to tie the game in the top of the second. Kelly Johnson started the frame with a double, coming around to score when the next batter Renée Rivera singled up the middle, tying the game at three. Curtis Granderson followed with a walk, but it was another double-play ball, this time off the bat of Neil Walker, that saved Green's beans for a second straight inning. The young righty needed 51 pitches to get through the first two frames.

The back-and-forth nature of the game continued in the bottom of the frame as the Yankees would retake the lead against the struggling young left-hander. With two outs, Jacoby Ellsbury and Refsnyder hit consecutive singles past the shortstop, both coming around to score when the next batter Mark Teixeira belted a three-run homerun just over the wall in right field that put the Yanks up 6-3.

After tossing a very stressful 3.2 innings, Chad Green was pulled in the top of the fourth after throwing 85 pitches. With two outs, Granderson drew another walk and Neil Walker followed with a single, Girardi went to the bullpen to get Luis Severino to face Cespedes, who was representing the tying run. Severino proceeded to strike out the Met slugger on three pitches, ending the threat and the frame with the three-run lead still intact.

Although there were no runs scored in the bottom of the fifth, there was definitely some shady nonsense a foot. The first pitch that Mark Teixeira sought after building his three run shot ended up plunking him in his already ailing left knee, sending the slugger to the ground. Tex immediately popped up as if to charge the mound and both benches cleared. Although Matz pled his case that the HBP was unintentional, it sure as hell did not look that way.

Severino found himself in some trouble in the top of the sixth but made a case that he should be inserted back into the rotation with his electric performance. Granderson led off the frame with yet another walk, Neil Walker caught the Yankees shift offguard by laying down a perfect bunt and Cespedes smoked a ground ball to third that was misplayed by Headley, loading the bases for the cleanup hitter Jay Bruce. After a HUGE strikeout by Bruce, the Yankee killer James Loney grounded out to first, scoring Granderson and pulling the Mets back to within two. But then Severino got Michael Conforto to strike out with the tying run on second base, ending the threat and walking off the field to a chorus of cheers that hasn't been heard in Yankee Stadium in quite some time.

Gary Sanchez was called up from AAA today and was able to record his first big league hit in the bottom of the seventh. Sanchez started the inning with a ground ball single up the middle off of reliever Hanzel Robles, advancing to third when the next batter Aaron Hicks drilled a double off the right-field wall. After Ellsbury struck out, Refsnyder then hit a sac fly that allowed Sanchez to score his first big league run, pushing the Yankee lead back up to three. After consecutive walks to Teixeira and Headley to load the bases, Starlin Castro hit an infield single that scored Hicks, 8-4. And then Gregorius drew another walk that forced in Teixeira from third to push it to a 9-4 score.

Severino's performance tonight cannot be understated enough as the young righty pitched 4.1 brilliant innings, allowing just the one run on one hit(the bunt single) while striking out five. Girardi, Rothchild and the rest of the Yankee brass, I believe, will have to strongly consider having Severino start five days from now.

Neil Walker hit a solo shot in the top of the ninth off Tyler Clippard that pulled the Mets back to within four, but no more damage would be done as the Yankees notched their second victory in the past three games.

Tomorrow, Eovaldi takes the ball for the Pinstripers in hopes of locking down another four game series win in the final game of the Subway series, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM/EST.

Subway Series Game Three Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. New York Mets 8/3


The New York Yankees and the New York Mets continue their annual Subway Series with the third game of the four game set tonight. The first two games came in Queens inside the home of the Mets, Citi Field, but for the final two games the Bleacher Creatures get to remind Mets no matter what the standings say and no matter who the Yankees trade away that it’s the team in the Bronx than runs this city. Always has been that way and always will be that way, deal with it. In the contest tonight the Yankees will send Chad Green to the mound replacing the recently traded Ivan Nova while the Mets counter with Steven Matz. The game will played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, SNY, ESPN and MLB TV. 

Let's get it. Go Yankees!

Post Trade Deadline Top 16 Prospects List


The New York Yankees got an absolute haul from other teams before the August 1st trading deadline thus restocking their farm system and speeding up their inevitable rebuild. The Yankees organization and franchise has been shaped for years to come thanks to the trades of Carlos Beltran, Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller and that all begins with their farm system. I wanted to do a Top 10 prospects list but I couldn't contain myself to just 10 so I decided to go 15. Well, 16 because how can you leave off my #16 prospect pick, right?

What's your list? Leave it below in the comments or tweet us @GreedyStripes.

1. Clint Frazier
2. Gleyber Torres
3. Jorge Mateo
4. Aaron Judge
5. Gary Sanchez
6. James Kaprielian
7. Billy McKinney
8. Blake Rutherford
9. Justus Sheffield
10. Dillon Tate
11. Dustin Fowler
12. Ian Clarkin
13. Wilkerman Garcia
143. Miguel Andujar
15. Tyler Wade
16. Domingo Acevedo

So many good prospects I wanted to put here or near here. Chance Adams, Drew Finley, Brady Lail, Ben Gamel. #TooManyDamnProspects.

Remembering Game Three of the 2000 Subway World Series


The 2000 World Series featured the New York Yankees and the New York Mets facing off in the World Series for the first time in their history. This was the first Subway Series since 1956 when the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Yankees faced off. Let's take the time to remember Game 3 of the 2000 World Series.

The Yankees would send Orlando Hernandez to the mound to face off with the Mets Rick Reed in Game 3 of the Subway World Series. The game would go into the 8th inning tied at 2-2 when Orlando Hernandez gave up two runs to break the game open and give the Mets a 4-2 lead. The Mets would win the game by that same score breaking Orlando Hernandez's perfect playoff record of 6-0 and ending the Yankees 14 consecutive World Series victories dating back to the 1996 World Series. John Franco would take the victory and Orlando Hernandez would take the loss with Armando Benitez notching the save to make the Subway World Series 2-1 in the Yankees favor.

Subway Series Game Three Preview: New York Yankees vs. New York Mets 8/3


The New York Yankees and the New York Mets will get on the Subway and make the trip across New York City boroughs to the Bronx as the Subway Series shifts to Yankee Stadium and the home of the Yankees. How awesome is this series no matter how the teams are doing in the overall standings? These games are always well contested and always well played, see Monday night’s game as an example of this as the Yankees come storming back after trading away almost half their roster just hours before, slight exaggeration. Tonight I expect no less of a scrappy and gritty type game as the Yankees send Chad Green to the mound taking Ivan Nova’s rotation spot and turn in the order to face off against the Mets starter Steven Matz.


Green steps back into the Yankees rotation to replace the recently traded Ivan Nova while Luis Severino remains in the bullpen. Questionable move but Green could shut up me pretty easily.



Matz heads into this start tonight having lost six of his last seven decisions including four of five during the month of July. This is August thought and if he wanted to take anything positive from last month it is that his ERA for the month was only 3.19. This will be Matz’s second Subway Series start in his career, he beat these Yankees in September of 2015 but then again, who didn’t?



The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, ESPN, SNY and MLB TV. The Yankees have owned the Subway Series ever since Interleague Play made this a yearly occurrence and they have owned their small sample size against each other in the postseason so there is no reason the Yankees dominance cannot continue tonight in the Bronx. Go Yankees!

Meet a Prospect: Justus Sheffield


The New York Yankees have shaken up the organization as of late with many key trades before the August 1st trading deadline but no trade brought in more in terms of prospects, future potential and players than that of the Andrew Miller trade. We’ve already met the centerpiece of that trade Clint Frazier but just because Frazier was the centerpiece that isn’t meant to take anything away from the other Top 10 Cleveland Indians prospect that was included, Justus Sheffield. Sheffield is a great addition to any team and any farm system as well by himself let alone with Frazier so let’s meet him. This is Meet a Prospect: The Justus Sheffield Edition.

Sheffield has only spent a full season in the minor leagues but he has already been impressive enough to snag a Top 10 prospect spot in a loaded Cleveland Indians system. That shows talent and that shows ceiling and upside despite a small pitchers frame of 5’10”. Sheffield is not the type of pitcher that is going to throw 105 MPH like Aroldis Chapman and simply make hitters look silly but he is a pitcher that is going to keep you off-balance with a great curveball and slider that compliments his fastball. Sheffield is also developing a changeup that could make him a devastating starting pitcher in his future if he can harness it and use the pitch efficiently.

Sheffield projects to be a middle-of-the-rotation type starter with some calling him a potential #2 starter, best case scenario, or likely a #3 type starter. Sheffield garners enough strikeouts to make him lethal while limiting his walks effectively, think Michael Pineda when he is firing on all cylinders. Sheffield is not without his character flaws, which may have motivated Cleveland to include him in the deal, after pleading guilty to underage drinking and breaking into a house last year (he thought the person’s home he broke into was a man who was messing around with his girlfriend) but if he can put the off-the-field crap behind him (again, like Michael Pineda… remember his DUI and mugshot?) then he could be a valuable Yankees starter and valuable member of the organization.

Welcome to the family Justus!


ETA: Mid-to-late 2018

Weekly Prospects Check In: Clint Frazier





The New York Yankees trading before the non-waiver trade deadline is done and for now the Yankees top prospect is named Clint Frazier. Now the Yankees could add another significant piece before the waiver trade deadline of August 31st and Frazier could be potentially pushed to second, I’m not counting out Brian Cashman at this point, but for now he’s the Yankees top prospect.


Yesterday we got to know him in our Meet a Prospect series and today we check in with him and see what he brings to the table stats wise. Enjoy.

YearAgeLevGPARH2BHRRBISBBBSOBAOBPSLGOPS
201621AA-AAA944125899251348134192.273.350.461.811
201621AA893915694251348134186.276.356.469.825
201621AAA52125000006.238.238.333.571

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/3: The Thurman Munson Memorial

On this day in Yankees history yesterday we remembered the great Thurman Munson as he was killed flying an airplane near his home in Ohio. Today in 1979 well over 51,000 mourners attended a memorial service for Mr. Munson at Yankee Stadium.

Also on this day in 1998 the Yankees continued to show their dominance of the league as they routed the Oakland Athletics by the score of 14-1. A's pitcher Mike Oquist gave up all fourteen earned runs becoming the first pitcher in 22 years to give up that many runs in a single game. Oquist was left in to take one on the chin and protect the Athletics bullpen since the next day Oakland and New York had a double header planned.

Also on this day in 1967 the Yankees traded catcher Elston Howard to the Boston Red Sox for cash and two players to be named later. The two PTBNL were Peter Magrini and Ron Klimkowski, both pitchers.

Finally on this day in 1933 the Yankees were shutout for the first time in 309 games as the Athletics beat the Yankees 7-0. The last time the Yankees were shut out before this day was August 2, 1931.