Saturday, June 24, 2017

New Lou Gehrig Movie in the Works


Color me “EXCITED!!!!!!” for this one Yankees fans, there is a new movie in the works and it will center around the Yankees former captain and the Iron Horse, Lou Gehrig. Jay Russell will direct the movie “The Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth.”

The movie will be based on the biography “Luckiest Man” by Jonathan Eig.

Lou Gehrig’s life was portrayed once already in the movie Pride of the Yankees which starred Gary Cooper and released in 1942. That movie was nominated for 11 Oscars. Russell states that this will not simply be a Pride of the Yankees remake but instead will be a “new depiction with a more contemporary style and approach” according to a report by Deadline.com.

Gehrig was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939 after playing 17 seasons with the New York Yankees. While with the team Gehrig won seven American League pennants. Gehrig also played in 2,130 consecutive games before falling to ALS, or what is more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Gehrig dies on June 2, 1941 almost two years after giving his famous “Luckiest Man” speech at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939.


Russell has also directed the movies “My Dog Skip” and “Ladder 49.” I got goosebumps just writing this article so I can only imagine the emotions when I actually get to watch it. Stay tuned and enjoy the rest of your Saturday and your weekend. 

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers 6/24


And just like that it is game time here in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers, let’s get to it. If it feels like these two teams just did this there is probably a good reason for it, because a mere 18 hours ago Game One of the series started. You have to love those day games after night games in the middle of the summer, don’t you? In the start the Yankees will send Luis Cessa to the mound to square off with Austin Bibens-Dirkx for the Rangers. 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. You can also follow along in your cars and on the radio by tuning into WFAN.

Follow us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes. Enjoy the game Yankees family and as always, Go Yankees!


Step Aside Boys, Toe's Got This...

Credit:  Julie Jacobson-AP
Yankees 2, Rangers 1...

It's a bird, it's a plane...no, it's Ronald Torreyes!  The unlikely hero delivered in the 10th inning with a walk-off run-scoring single as the Yankees took the first game of a three game set from the Texas Rangers.  

The game, delayed for an hour and forty minutes by rain, was a classic pitcher's duel between Japanese greats Yu Darvish and Masahiro Tanaka.  The duel may have ended with goose eggs and no decisions for both pitchers, but they were incredible as the game did not see its first runs until the 9th inning.  Worried about Tanaka prior to the game, he showed that he was anything but a concern as he pitched 8 innings of three-hit scoreless ball,  Walking just two, he fanned nine.  Darvish went 7 innings with no runs and two hits, and did one better than Tanaka with strikeouts (10).  I am not sure what we'll see the next time Tanaka takes the mound but with Darvish as his motivation on Friday night, he was magnificent.  

Credit:  Julie Jacobson-AP
I was worried that Rangers slugger Joey Gallo would torch Tanaka pitches but he struck out with two runners on in the third inning, and grounded out in a similar situation in the eighth as the last batter Tanaka faced.  Gallo finished 0-for-4 and 3 strikeouts.  

The Yankees brought Aroldis Chapman in for the 9th inning of the scoreless game.  He struck out the first batter, Shin-Soo Choo, but Elvis Andrus followed with a single.  Struggling with his command, Chapman, who was sweating profusely, hit Nomar Mazara with a pitch in the shoulder.  With Adrian Beltre at the plate, Andrus stole third.  A great defensive play by third baseman Torreyes in stopping a wide throw from Gary Sanchez prevented more damage at that point.  But when Beltre struck out, the ball got away from Sanchez and Andrus ran home for the game's first run.  

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the 9th, Torreyes went down on a groundout for the first out.  But no worries, Brett Gardner came up and delivered with a game-tying home run to right.  Aaron Hicks grounded out for the second out.  Aaron Judge singled to put the potential winning run at first.  Unfortunately, Matt Holliday struck out to send the game into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th, the Rangers loaded the bases against Chad Green and Chasen Shreve with two outs but Shreve got Andrus to pop out to end the threat.  This set the stage for the home half of the 10th.  With one out, Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorius singled, with Sanchez taking third.  Chris Carter struck out on four pitches (surprise, surprise).  But no fear, Ronald Torreyes stepped up to the plate.  The little man with the big stick.  A line drive single to center scored Sanchez with the winning run.  The Yankees win.

Credit:  Randy Miller-NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
The victory allowed the Yankees (40-31) to keep pace with the Boston Red Sox atop the AL East Standings.  The Red Sox had defeated the Los Angeles Angels 9-4 earlier in the evening.  The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 15-5, to remain 2 1/2 games back.  

After the game, the Yankees mercifully ended the Chris Carter experiment.  He seemed lost at the plate, with another 0-for-4 performance and three strikeouts.  

Credit:  Paul J Bereswill-The New York Post
Carter had a chance to be a hero in the bottom of the 8th with Gary Sanchez on first and two outs.  But he feebly struck out swinging.  There was something about that weak final swing that gave me an "I'm done" feeling. It was reinforced in the 10th when Carter struck out with a huge opportunity to be the game's hero.  Apparently, GM Brian Cashman felt the same way as Carter was designated for assignment immediately after the game.  Tyler Austin, who has homered in his last three of his last four games, was recalled to take Carter's place.  In the 27 games at Triple A after his reactivation from the DL in late May, Austin has hit .300/.366/.500 with 4 HR's and 21 RBI's for the RailRiders. Of his 30 hits in 100 at-bats, 17 have gone for extra-bases.  The alarming statistic is 32 strikeouts but Austin has really been heating up with the bat over the past week.  He has played error-free baseball at first.  Welcome back, Tyler!  Trust us, we are very glad to see you.

Big Papi, The Man Among Boys...

The Boston Red Sox retired the number of David "Big Papi" Ortiz last night in their game against the Los Angeles Angels at Fenway Park.  Big Papi was a thorn in the Yankees' side for many years.  Time and again, a game was ended with a Big Papi blast.  I am very glad that #34 will no longer be an active number worn when the Red Sox come to town.  My biggest fear was that he would "un-retire". 


Credit:  Stuart Cahill
Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr expressed it well when he said, "That just lets you know what a special impact he's made in the community and the organization and all of baseball.  What he's done for the city, the team, people around him, it's well deserved.  I know we couldn't be any happier for him."  I agree.  As a Minnesota Vikings fan, I couldn't wait for the Chicago Bears' Walter Payton (may he rest in peace) to retire, and I felt the same about Papi.  More than anything, it is a sign of how much respect I held for those men.  

A close friend of mine who is a lifelong, die-hard Red Sox fan, and Boston-area resident, did post this comment on Social Media:  "This is just my humble opinion, but I think it is much too early for the Red Sox to be retiring Ortiz's number.  With the exception of Johnny Pesky, the honor of having a number retired by the Red Sox was reserved for those players who entered the Baseball HOF."  My response...whatever it takes to keep him from coming out of retirement.

Odds & Ends...

Chance Adams is a friggin' rock star.  In Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's 11-1 win over the Pawtucket Red Sox on Thursday, the RailRiders' ace was magnificent.  Pawtucket didn't get their first hit until the sixth inning.  Adams (5-2) finished six innings strong, allowing just the one hit and no runs.  He issued two walks, while fanning eight.  The outstanding performance lowered Adams' season ERA to 2.12.  At some point in the not-so-distant future, it will be determined that Adams has nothing left to prove at the Triple A level.  In my mind, he's just a couple of Luis Cessa bumps and bruises away from stepping on the main stage (or the potential first call if another starter...I hope not...is injured).  Why not take a Chance?...

The Boston Red Sox are going hog wild in an attempt to find help.  Yesterday, they signed pitcher Doug Fister, released by the Los Angeles Angels, and shortstop/third baseman Jhonny Peralta, who was cut by the St Louis Cardinals.  Injuries to their pitching staff forced the Fister move.  The disaster known as Pablo Sandoval brought in Peralta.  I still think the Red Sox will be heavy players for Kansas City's Mike Moustakas at the trading deadline. The Boston Globe is reporting that the Sox should have about $9 million to play with before they risk crossing the luxury tax threshold.   

Happy Saturday!  Let's Go Yankees!

Hal Steinbrenner is Talking Again…


The Greedy Pinstripes isn’t the only publication or figure already talking about the July 31st trade deadline, the fever is spreading as we inch closer to July baseball here in 2017. The New York Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner is also talking about the July 31st trade deadline and the Bronx Bombers chances at making the postseason this season. Last time we checked in with Hal the Yankees owner stated that the team would be willing to acquire players at the deadline but not at the expense of top prospects and that the team would either stand pat or buy, they would not be sellers this time around. Hal was asked again this week and here is what Steinbrenner had to say while he was a guest on Mike Francesa’s WFAN show.

Steinbrenner was quoted as saying “The same approach as it always is, which is we’re going to leave no stone unturned” when asked about the Yankees approach to the trade deadline in 2017. Steinbrenner went on to say that “We’re going to look at anything that comes our way. If it fills a need that we certainly have we’re going to consider it. But I have been hesitant the last few years to give up our top prospects. Everybody knows that. And here we are because of it. You know? One of the reasons anyway. So it’s going to have to be the right deal, it’s going to have to be a glaring need and it’s going to have to be the right fit for that need to consider it. But we’re going to consider anything. We do every July. There’s a lot of work to be done in the last two weeks of July.”

Steinbrenner then went on, like he always does, to praise top prospects like Chance Adams, Clint Frazier and Dustin Fowler which really impresses me. I know I was young when George Steinbrenner was at the top of his tyrant days, and I use that word as sarcastically as I possibly can, but I cannot remember Steinbrenner, senior, ever being able to hold his own in a discussion regarding prospects. Ever. Never ever. The fact that Hal has taken a true interest in the farm system is encouraging to me, even if he is a cheap bastard. Not sarcasm that time. Sorry but it’s my opinion.


So what will the Yankees do at this year’s July 31st trade deadline? Did Hal drop any hints? Honestly, I don’t think so. The Yankees may take on a salary dump that is a free agent at the end of the season or an aging veteran that they hope they find lightning in a bottle with but New York is not going to be able to have their cake and eat it too. They aren’t going to find young, good and controllable players without giving up some of the prospects that they refuse to give up. It just doesn’t work like that, period, so don’t get your hopes up too far for this season’s trade deadline. 

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers 6/24


The New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers are back at it again today with the second of their three-game series here in the Bronx. Last night’s game had a bit of an international flair and feel to it but today it’s back to the good ole US of A as the Yankees send Luis Cessa to the mound to face off with the Rangers Austin Bibens-Dirkx. Say that three times fast.




Cessa will make his second start of the season filling in for the injured CC Sabathia. Cessa will look for a much better start the second time around than the first after taking the loss against the Oakland Athletics last time out. Cessa allowed four runs in four innings which, in the immortal words of Joe Girardi, is “not what you want.”




Bibens-Dirkx last pitched on Monday against the Toronto Blue Jays where he gave up five runs on five hits in five innings of work. Bibens-Dirkx got a no-decision in the start in an eventual 7-6 loss for the Rangers after a rocky fourth inning saw four runs plate in the frame.





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. You can also follow along on the radio and in your cars by tuning into John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN. It is High…. It is far…. It is caught by the pitcher Cessa to end the inning. Yeah, something like that. Enjoy the game and Go Yankees!

So it Seems Another Saturday and Another War


War, what is it good for? It depends on what side of the war you’re standing on and what you’re fighting for. It depends on how you’re fighting the war and whether the war is literal or figurative. War is war and war is hell but so if life and life can be great. Have I lost you yet? That’s probably war’s fault too.

I know what I am fighting for and I know who I am fighting for and I know what the endgame here is for me. Those who get in the way can and will get run the hell over. Those who oppose us will be crushed in defeat. I may face many defeats in my life but I will never be defeated, not as long as you’re by my side.

The trolls can go live under their bridges in misery never to be heard from again as far as I’m concerned. Some people shouldn’t breed and some people shouldn’t be allowed to hurt other people anymore just to build themselves up. I’m sick of it and when I get sick of it I react. This means war. I know what I am fighting for, what are you fighting for?


I’m fighting for you. Hey you. I love you to the mailbox and back. 

This Day in New York Yankees History 6/24: Burnett K’s Four in One Inning


On this day in 2011 the Yankees AJ Burnett became the first Yankees pitcher to strike out four hitters in one inning when he did it against the Colorado Rockies. AJ Burnett started his sixth inning by striking out Chris Iannetta and followed it up by striking out Carlos Gonzalez and Chris Nelson, only Nelson reached first base after the pitch went wild. Todd Helton would come up next with a runner on before AJ struck the future Hall of Famer out swinging.


In that same game in 2011 a veteran of the conflict in Afghanistan, 29 year old Michael Kacer, catches a foul ball off the bat of Curtis Granderson in Yankee Stadium. This was significant and eventually went viral and was all over ESPN because Kacer lost an arm during a rocket attack and made the catch with one arm. The catch was the top play in SportsCenter's Top Plays segment.


Also on this day in 2005 when Bernie Williams dropped a ball in center field allowing the New York Mets to become the first National League team to hit three sacrifice flies in one inning. Catcher Ramon Castro's sac fly tied the game at 1-1 before Jose Reyes' fly ball was dropped by Williams. Mike Cameron then flied out to right field allowing a third run to score.


Also on this day in 1992 Fay Vincent permanently suspended the Yankees pitcher Steve Howe for repeated drug offenses. Howe was caught buying a gram of cocaine in the last straw for the commissioner. In November of that year an arbitrator overturned the lifetime ban and allowed the former Rookie of the Year to enjoy one of his best seasons in 1994 when he saved 15 games and had a 1.80 ERA for the Yankees.


Also on this day in 1970 the Yankees pitcher Steve Hamilton throws what is now known as an eephus pitch, maybe the first I don't know, to the Indians Tony Horton and Horton fouled it off. Horton was shocked by this pitch and asked Hamilton to throw it again. Hamilton obliged and the second foul ball ended up in Thurman Munson's glove. The eephus pitch is born? Maybe! The Folly Floater was born.



Finally on this day in 1962 the longest game in New York Yankees history was played between the Bronx Bombers and the Detroit Tigers. The Yankees Jack Reed hits a home run in the 22nd inning, his only home run of his career, to help the Yankees beat the Tigers in Tiger Stadium 9-7.