Friday, August 11, 2017

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox 8/11


Game time in the Bronx as the New York Yankees are back from their trip to Canada just in time to play host to the Boston Red Sox. Rivalry renewed. Tonight the Yankees and Red Sox will begin a three-game set in the Bronx that could potentially make or break the season for the Bombers as they chase the Red Sox in the American League East Division race. Jaime Garcia will take the ball for the Yankees tonight in the opener while Eduardo Rodriguez will toe the rubber to the Red Sox. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, NESN if you’re in the Boston area and MLB TV wherever you and your device are. You can also follow along in your cars and on the radio by tuning into WFAN.


Follow us on Twitter by giving @GreedyStripes a follow and enjoy the game. Let’s kick some Red Sox ass! Go Yankees!!!

The Weekend, The Playoff Push and the BYB Hub


If you work the stereotypical 9-to-5 job like myself you just clocked out and your weekend has officially begun. Congratulations, we made it! If not then just keep your head up, your weekend is coming. As we all approach the weekend in some capacity I wanted to take the time to share something with you all and plug something that I haven’t in quite some time, the BYB Hub. If this is the first time you’re hearing about the BYB Hub let me give you a quick overview. The BYB Hub was started up by Robert Casey of Bleeding Yankee Blue (BYB) to give writers the opportunity to showcase their work and talent on a bigger stage than they may normally be accustomed to. I can remember when Bryan Van Dusen and myself started this blog we didn’t have someone like Mr. Casey reaching out and publishing our work on a one-stop shop for all to see. We grinded, we worked hard and we tried to do things the right way and the only way we knew how. Now not to say that the blogs that are listed here aren’t doing that, they wouldn’t likely be listed here if they weren’t, but what I am saying is the Hub was designed to make that easier and beneficial to all.

As we gear up for the weekend here are a few posts and links from the BYB Hub. Go and check out the Hub at BYBHub.Blogspot.com where great sites like ours, Section36 (a great Red Sox blog for you to read just in time for the weekend series), BYB are located. This is just not for Yankees related materials and fans only either, eventually the hopes are that all 30 MLB teams are showcased in some capacity. So check it out and watch us grow. If you know of anyone who should be added to the hub then reach out to myself (@GreedyStripes) or Mr. Casey (@BleednYankeeBlu) on Twitter. Thank you in advance and enjoy your reading and your weekend!



















The Yankees Offense vs. Eduardo Rodriguez and the Red Sox Offense vs. Jaime Garcia


Here in a few short hours the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox will begin their head-to-head weekend series inside Yankee Stadium and these two teams will do so with an interesting pitching matchup. The Yankees will send Jaime Garcia to the mound to make his second start with the club after being acquired from the Minnesota Twins while the Red Sox will counter with Eduardo Rodriguez. If they say a picture is worth a thousand words than what do you think a picture of what each offense has done throughout their careers against the opposing respective pitcher tonight is worth? Two thousand words? If so it seems I have some work to do. For now though check out these career stats from ESPN.com while I get to working on those 2,000 words. Enjoy. 



Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox 8/11


The New York Yankees are back in town and back in town in a big way as they brought their biggest rivals in the Boston Red Sox along with them. Welcome to the weekend ladies and gentleman and rivalry renewed as the New York Yankees play host to the Boston Red Sox in a three-game set this weekend in the Bronx. It’s kind of a shame that the Yankees couldn’t wiggle their rotation around a bit to make Sonny Gray, who made the start for New York last night in Toronto, make the start tonight but the Yankees are in good hands tonight nonetheless with Jaime Garcia on the mound. Opposing Garcia for the Red Sox will be Eduardo Rodriguez.




Garcia tied a 122-year record in his debut with the New York Yankees after making his third consecutive start for a third different team this season. Garcia started with the Atlanta Braves and hit a grand slam before being traded to the Minnesota Twins for one start only for Paul Molitor and crew to flip him to the Yankees for two pitching prospects. Will Garcia make it to the start tonight or will a new record be made? Let’s hope for the former and not the latter.




Rodriguez has not faced the Yankees in 2017 but heads into the start after posting an impressive 3.31 ERA against the team last season. This is a new team and a new offense for E-Rod to face tonight though although the left-hander did make his best start since returning from the DL with a right knee injury last time out against the Kansas City Royals. In the start Rodriguez allowed just two runs on four hits in six innings of work in a Red Sox victory.





The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network, NESN if you’re behind enemy lines and of course MLB TV. You can also follow along on the radio and in your cars by tuning into John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN. You don’t want to miss this series as it has the potential to make or break the Yankees American League East Division hopes. Rivalry renewed and August baseball…. This series is going to be huge. Go Yankees!!!

Punchless in Toronto...

Credit:  The Associated Press
Blue Jays 4, Yankees 0...

So much for heading home with any momentum to face the AL-East leading Boston Red Sox.  The Yankees offense departed Toronto a day too early as the Yankees were blanked by the AL East cellar-dwelling Toronto Blue Jays.  Losing two of three to the division's worst is not exactly a recipe for October.  

Sonny Gray kept the Yankees in the game but he had no help.  

Credit:  The Associated Press
The first inning started with hope for a run.  With two outs, Aaron Judge walked and moved to third when Didi Gregorius doubled to right.  Unfortunately, Gary Sanchez struck out swinging as the Yankees continued to struggle with runners in scoring position.

Garrett Cooper doubled in the second inning with two outs but Ronald Torreyes flied out to right on the first pitch he was thrown by Jays starter Marco Estrada.  The Blue Jays didn't miss their chance in the bottom of the inning.  Ezequiel Carrera doubled to center with one out.  A failed pick off attempt by Sonny Gray allowed Carrera to move to third.  Ryan Goins hit a short grounder which Gray scooped and tossed underhanded with his glove to Sanchez, but Carrera slid in under the tag to score the Jays' first run.

Credit:  Fred Thornhill-The Associated Press
The third inning brought another two-out double, this time a line drive down the left field line by Aaron Judge.  But like the others, he was left stranded when Didi Gregorius flied out.  The Jays, unlike the Yankees, didn't miss their chances.  In the bottom of the third, Jose Bautista walked.  Russell Martin struck out on a ball that got past Gary Sanchez.  Sanchez's throw beat Martin to first, but Joey Bats had already stolen second on the play. Josh Donaldson singled to left to score Bautista.  It was 2-0 Jays.

After the Yankees went quietly in the 4th, the Blue Jays added another run in the bottom of the inning.  Steve Pearce opened with a single off Gray.  A sacrifice bunt by Ezequiel Carrera moved Pearce to second.  After Ryan Goins walked, Kevin Pillar singled to left (a bouncer between Todd Frazier and Didi Gregorius) to score Pearce.  

The fifth inning started with promise.  Garrett Cooper led off with a single to left and Ronald Torreyes walked.  But they didn't advance any further when Brett Gardner, Didi Gregorius, and Aaron Judge recorded outs.  For Judge, who struck out to end the inning, it was his 27th consecutive game with a strikeout (extending his own franchise record).  

Credit:  The Associated Press
It was more of the same in the 6th.  Gary Sanchez walked with one out.  He was followed by Todd Frazier who singled to right.  Sanchez advanced to second but there he would stay as Jacoby Ellsbury and Garrett Cooper failed to move the runners.

Manager Joe Girardi brought Chasen Shreve in to start the 7th inning.  While Shreve's performance overall was good, he allowed a home run by Jose Bautista, a solo shot to left.  The Blue Jays were up 4-0.  It was Bautista's 36th career homer against the Yankees, the most of any active player.

Credit:  Steve Russell-Toronto Star
The Yankees couldn't do anything with a Gary Sanchez single in the 8th.  For the 9th, the Jays brought in their closer, Roberto Osuna, even though it wasn't a save opportunity.  Jacoby Ellsbury led off with a walk.  Following strikeouts by Garrett Cooper and Chase Headley, Brett Gardner walked.  Aaron Judge came to the plate with a chance to bring the Yankees within a run but it was not to be as he struck out to end the game.  

Sonny Gray (6-7) took the loss.  He went six innings, giving up 4 hits and 3 runs.  Only 2 of the runs were earned due to Sonny's error on the failed pick-off attempt in the 2nd inning.  Throwing a total of 103 pitches, he walked 4 batters and struck out 6.

This was a very disappointing loss.  My morning started with a Red Sox fan posting the AL East Standings on my FaceBook page and laughing.  The Yankees (60-53) fell 4 1/2 games behind the idle Red Sox who watched the Yankees lose while sitting in NYC.  The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Indians, 4-1, to move back to 2 1/2 games behind the Yankees.  The Baltimore Orioles won too, 7-2 over the Oakland A's, so they're 4 games behind New York.  The Yankees still have the Wild Card lead (by two games) but this team is not playing like it wants to play in October.  It doesn't get any easier tonight...

Next Up:  Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, Bronx, New York...

With Boston's day off on Thursday, they arrived in New York City a day earlier than the Yankees.  So, they'll be rested and ready for the Bombers tonight.  The Red Sox bring an eight-game winning streak into tonight's game.

Here are the scheduled pitching match-ups.  It's a bummer that Sonny Gray will miss this series but he'll be ready next weekend in Boston.  

TODAY
Red Sox:  Eduardo Rodriguez (4-3, 4.08 ERA)
Yankees:  Jaime Garcia (1-1, 6.35)

SATURDAY:  
Red Sox:  Drew Pomeranz (11-4, 3.06 ERA)
Yankees:  Luis Severino (9-4, 2.91 ERA)

SUNDAY:
Red Sox:  Chris Sale (14-4, 2.57 ERA)
Yankees:  Jordan Montgomery (7-6, 4.05 ERA)

Monty, we need you to get back to New York to start on Sunday in place of CC Sabathia.  Who's on the mound for Boston?  Um, I'm not sure.  Just go out there and throw zeros and we'll be fine...  

Odds & Ends...

Clint Frazier has been placed on the 10-Day DL with his oblique tightness.  OF Aaron Hicks was activated off the DL a day earlier than anticipated as a result.  I guess this delays the decision of what to do with Red Thunder when Aaron Hicks returns.  Hicksie gets to fly from Trenton to Toronto and back to New York City in less than 24 hours.  I suppose it could have been worse if the Yankees had been playing in Seattle.

LHP Dietrich Enns, 26, made his Major League debut last night for the Minnesota Twins in their game against the Brewers at Miller Park in Milwaukee.  It didn't go so well.  Despite the Twins' 7-2 win, Enns was pulled after 2 1/2 innings and 53 pitches.  He allowed 5 hits and 2 runs (only one earned thanks to his own throwing error).  He walked a batter (with the bases loaded in the third) and gave up a home run to Keon Broxton. Enns went to Minnesota with Zack Littell in the deal that brought Jaime Garcia to New York.  

Credit:  Tom Lynn-The Associated Press
Have a great Friday!  Yankees-Red Sox.  It doesn't get any better than this.  Let's Go Yankees!

My Thoughts on MLB Players Weekend


Major League Baseball has drastically changed while under new Commissioner Rob Manfred but as redundant and contradictory as this sounds you probably can’t notice it too much unless you’re really looking for the change. Instant replay has been expanded, nets have been put down the first and third base lines, pace of play has been implemented, you can’t mow down the catcher at home plate as a runner anymore, spending restrictions have been implemented on teams who exceed the new international spending cap on free agents, draft pick compensation is now being bounced around for spending too much on your overall team payroll and a plethora of other changes we could talk about. Not all have been impeding though, some have been fun. Youth has been put back into the game and the game seems fun again and that will only continue later on this month when Major League Baseball has “MLB Players Weekend.” Here are my thoughts on the weekend.

From Friday, August 25 to Sunday, August 27 MLB will let the player’s personalities and passions shine like never before during MLB Players Weekend. We have already seen the new jerseys and hats being released this week as well as jerseys that will have nicknames on the back. Sonny Gray will sport the name “pickles” on his back during that weekend while Aaron Judge will be “All Rise” above his number 99 jersey number. All clubs will wear nicknames across their backs including the Yankees who haven’t had names on the backs of their jerseys in over 100 years which should be an odd change of pace, but a fun one nonetheless.

Also throughout the weekend players will be allowed to wear uniquely colored and designed shoes (which would normally violate some teams rules like the New York Yankees who only allow black spikes to match their uniforms), batting gloves, wristbands, compression sleeves, catcher’s masks and of course baseball bats. Players can also wear t-shirts and clothing to support their charities of choice during pregame workouts and postgame interviews, something else that is general frowned upon by the league any other time throughout the season.


The best part about the weekend for me, well besides bringing in new and younger fans to the game, is the patch on the right sleeve that all player’s jerseys will have on it giving the players the opportunity to write the name of a person or organization that helped in their development as a person and towards the game. I absolutely love everything about this idea and everything about this event and I truly think you should too. It gives back to the game, to the fans and to the communities in such a way that no other sport is doing right now which makes me extremely excited and proud to be a fan of not only the New York Yankees but of Major League Baseball as well. Check out MLB Players Weekend here in two weeks!

So it Seems…. The Hell w/ the Mets!!


I say this with the utmost respect and in a joking manner as a fan of the New York Yankees but seriously, the hell with the New York Mets. First the Yankees tried to acquire Lucas Duda before the July 31st trading deadline only for the Mets GM to refuse to trade him to the Yankees according to multiple reports and now we have reports that the Yankees weren’t even given a real shot at bidding on Jay Bruce. The Yankees were willing to give up two prospects to their crosstown rivals in exchange for Bruce and some salary relief yet the Mets, without giving the Yankees a chance for a counter-offer or proposal, traded the outfielder to the Indians for an A-Ball relief pitching prospect. Seems legit. Spiteful, but legit nonetheless.

I could rant and rave all morning long about the Mets, and if you haven’t grown up in New York then you likely don’t understand that it’s an unwritten rule that you have to only root for the Yankees or the Mets and there is no in between in most households, but then I just look at the standings and smile. Karma always wins. Oh and good morning everyone. Happy Friday.


Especially you my sweet Kari Ann. HEY YOU. I love you. Have a great weekend everybody. 

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/11: Reggie Jackson Hits #400


Reggie Jackson was only a member of the New York Yankees for a short time but he made the most of his time in pinstripes and even got his number retired. Mr. October made a bit of history on this day in 1980 as he connected for his 400th home run of his career. Reggie hit the milestone home run off the White Sox pitcher Britt Burns. Jackson would finish his career with 563 home runs which was good for sixth all time when he retired in 1987.

Also on this day in 1973 the Yankees held Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium and the crowd was treated to a show. Mickey Mantle would hit a home run off his good friend Whitey Ford during the exhibition game a pitch after he hit one foul into the upper deck.