The Three Yankees Likely Lost To The Rule 5 Draft

The Yankees finalized their 40 man rosters earlier in the week by acquiring Dean Anna from the San Diego Padres, outrighting Corban Joseph off the 40 man roster and assigning him to AAA Scranton with the RailRiders, and adding their own prospects Slade Heathcott, Gary Sanchez, Shane Greene, Jose Campos, and Bryan Mitchell to the 40 man for protection from the Rule 5 Draft. The most notable names that have been left unprotected, and are extremely like to be selected, are Danny Burawa, Chase Whitley, and Tommy Kahnle.

Kahnle was part of a number of trade rumors this season so that seems to show the Yankees line of thinking, that he is fringe enough to leave unprotected but good and polished enough to get taken. Kahnle spent his first full season at AA with Trenton this season and struck out over 11 batters per nine innings, posted a 2.85 ERA, and a 3.85 FIP. Kahnle is left off the roster because of his 6.75 walks per nine innings.

Chase Whitley spent his season in AAA with the RailRiders while striking out over eight batters per nine innings. Whitley posted a 3.06 ERA and was on the short list at the end of the season of guys to be called up if someone went down with an injury so he is clearly polished and ready for the big show. I cannot see a scenario where a team does not take him and stash him as the last man out of the bullpen, he is that young and that good.

Burawa missed the 2012 season with an injury and reached as high as AA with the Thunder in 2013 so he may represent our best chance of not losing out of the three. Burawa struck out nine guys per nine innings on the nose, although he walked nearly six batters per nine innings, posted a solid 2.59 ERA, and is still only 25 years old.

I think Whitley is gone, Kahnle is more then likely gone, and I would not be surprised if Burawa is taken too. I could not see Burawa sticking on a 40 man roster all season and being returned but I could see Kahnle and Whitley so they are all but gone in my opinion. The Rule 5 Draft is next month so all we can do is speculate until then.

World Series Game 1: Open Thread

Tonight we have Game 1 of the 2013 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox, thanks in part to Mariano Rivera, have home field advantage for this World Series after the American League won the All Star Game this year. Adam Wainwright and Jon Lester is the pitching match up for tonight and the game can be seen on FOX.

Check back on the blog from yesterday and today to see the predictions from all of our writers on who will win the 2013 World Series. They are well written, in my humble and biased opinion, and offer a varying assortment of opinions to pass the time while you listen to Joe Buck and Tim McCarver babble on for the next 45 minutes before the game even starts.

Post your comments in the comments section here or follow us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes to keep the conversation going for the entire World Series.

My Predictions For The 2013 World Series Winner - Can I Pettitte?

The Fall Classic, or World Series, begins Wednesday October 23rd although it should have been cancelled in my opinion. I have tried hard to avoid MLB this post-season because my beloved Yankees are not a part of it, but unfortunately I have been unsuccessful. Throughout the post-season I have watched EACH team I hoped would win fall short: Indians, Rays, Pirates, Dodgers, Tigers… so my prediction truly has nothing to do with my loyalty or personal feelings. 

While it is true that "the best offense is a good defense," Yankee fans (and other fans) are all aware that teams need to be able to drive in runs in order to win games. Both the Cardinals and the Red Sox have a strong pitching rotation (some may argue that the Cardinals pitching rotation is stronger) but the Red Sox seem to have the magic with them this year (David Ortiz, Shane Victorino). The Red Sox have proven that they have reliable pitchers as well as a strong lineup that comes through in clutch situations (one that resembles the 2009 Yankees Comeback Kids) and it is for this reason that in the end I unfortunately see Duck Dynasty… I mean the Red Sox… winning the 2013 World Series in 6 games, at Fenway Park. 

Also… shout out to Mariano Rivera for helping the Red Sox get home field advantage. 

And to those of you saying that this series will be a pitcher's duel... another shout out to the winningest pitcher in post-season history, ANDY PETTITTE. 

I will be a good sport and say that I wish the best of luck to both the Cardinals and the Red Sox. However, if it is possible for both teams to lose… I'm rooting for that. 

Who You Got?

With the Yankees eliminated from the postseason, I was curious who everybody was going to root for.

I understand that when it comes to some fans, it's Yankees or bust. Meaning that once the Yankees' season is done, they are done with baseball. However, personally, I'm a huge baseball fan, and will therefore be watching and rooting for somebody. Who that "somebody" is has yet to be determined.

I have friends that are Reds fans (I live in central Ohio, so that's inevitable), my best friend is a Cardinals fan, and I'd like to see a small-market team like the Athletics or Pirates win it all. So I'm torn.

However, one thing's for sure... I'm not rooting for the Red Sox.

Who are you rooting for in the postseason?
	Detroit Tigers
	Oakland Athletics
	Atlanta Braves
	LA Dodgers
	St. Louis Cardinals
	Pittsburgh Pirates
	Cincinnati Reds
	Tampa Rays
	Cleveland Indians
	Texas Rangers
pollcode.com free polls