Cody Eppley Released From AAA Team

First off I want to apologize for the lack of posting lately as I have been back in New York for a funeral. I have a lot of catching up to do and it starts here.

Cody Eppley has been granted his unconditional release from the New York Yankees. Cody has been down with the AAA affiliate the Scranton Wilkes Barre Railriders before his release. Cody was already a 40 man roster axe as well as a 25 man roster casualty this season and will likely use this opportunity to nab a big league job. Good luck to Cody and we hope he bounces back soon.

These Yankees Are From The Island Of Misfit Toys

Being Posted From Pinstripe Bible As A Part Of Syndicated Sunday

Sometimes you see a lineup like the Yankees last night and just wonder how they are doing it. After last night they are one game back for the best record in the American League. We’re barely past a month into the season, but things looked pretty bleak not too long ago. I tried to answer this question last week in a more traditional article, but then it hit me a few days ago: This team might be the physical manifestation of the Island of Misfit Toys.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about then I’m sorry you’ve been neglected from one of the true social gems television has ever provided. Hear me out, though, because the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. Either that or it’s the nasal decongestant I’ve been using talking, but I haven’t been having any visual hallucinations yet. I take that as a green light.

In TV land, our heroes arrive at the island and are greeted by one of the most important misfit toys. He looks normal, but upon further investigation we learn that he’s been mislabeled. He’s, in fact, a Charlie-in-the-Box. In reality, I believe this to be none other than Vernon Wells. Who has been the most important misfit to date for the Yankees.He’s second on the team in total WAR (1.0) through 126 plate appearances. With the Toronto Blue Jays, he was an albatross of a contract producing .1 WAR in 2009 before rebounding in 2010. On the Angels he was a fourth outfielder with a bloated contract that couldn’t deliver even .5 WAR. With the Yankees he’s Charlie-in-the-Box. He’s one of King Moonracer’s Sargent-at-Arms and he’ll even fill in at third base in a pinch. I don’t know why Charlie couldn’t just call himself Jack, and I don’t know why Vernon fell off such a steep cliff after age 27.

Our next member from the island is Travis Hafner. He’s generated .8 WAR so far in only 98 plate appearances, and that’s all offensively since his legs might fall off if he ever wears a mitt again. This clearly makes Hafner the incarnation of the Bird-that-Swims.Yes, Hafner might not be able to move very well, but his stick still talks. With a limited bench, it’s not easy to find spots for him to pinch hit, but thankfully there’s the DH spot usually available for him to swim in. What’s the big deal anyway? Penguins are birds, and have you ever seen those guys swim? They’re real fast.

Next up is Francisco Cervelli and his .6 WAR produced to date in just 61 plate appearances. Currently back at the workshop for repairs, Cervelli brings a certain type of spunk with a taste of vinegar to his play. He must be the Water-Pistol-that-Shoots-Jelly.I don’t know how he does it. He can’t really do anything very well. He can’t throw, catch, or hit for power. He usually strikes out at almost twice the rate he walks. Heck, even the Yankees didn’t want him last year. Yet there he is, giving you nothing but jam to butter your toast with.

Add in Chris Stewart with his .4 WAR, and you’ve got a back stop that has produced at the same rate as Charlie-in-the-Box! Stewart is more of the traditional back stop, so he must be the Train-with-Square-Wheels. This WAR metric might need a lot of work, but it suggests the combined efforts behind the plate have been only usurped by our King Moonracer.

As lord over the island, King Moonracer searches the earth every night looking for abandoned and unloved toys. While that might sound like a title more fitting for Brian Cashman, I’m going with Robinson Cano and his team leading 1.3 WAR. We need a leader on the field, and he's our King Moonracer. He’s a good King to give a home to all of these misfit ballplayers and the guy is a lion that can fly. Seriously, that’s pretty cool. No wonder he’s going to get paid like a king. Cashman suffered a broken leg while skydiving.That doesn’t sound like a King Moonracer to me. That’s a pretty awesome name too: Moonracer. King Moonracer and the Misfits would be a decent band name. Don’t steal that it’s mine!

With my thesis thoroughly proven by this point, here’s the quick list of the rest of the misfits. May all live in happiness, and with someone who loves them forever.

King Moonracer	Robinson Cano, 1.3 WAR
Charlie in the Box	Vernon Wells, 1.0 WAR
Bird that Swims	Travis Hafner, .8 WAR
Water Pistol Shoots Jelly	Francisco Cervelli, .6 WAR
Train with Square Wheels	Chris Stewart, .4 WAR

Spotted Elephant

Lyle Overbay, .3 WAR

The current prototype of a defensive first baseman (which is usually an offensive description for that position), Overbay has still been able to reach a positive WAR to this point. Not bad for someone released just a few days before the start of the season. He’s our Spotted Elephant for sure.

Cowboy Rides an Ostrich

Brennan Boesch, (.5) WAR

You know, Ostriches are really fast as they can run up to 40 MPH. That’s as fast as the fastest horses, but I’m not sure how you get a cowboy on one. Likewise, Boesch has shown flashes of power in his short career, but with only 40 plate appearances so far, Girardi is having trouble finding opportunities for him.

Sinking Boat

Kevin Youkilis, (.1) WAR

It looked so promising at the very beginning, but his bad back as usual has been sinking his playing time and career.

Plane that Can’t Fly

Ben Francisco, (.3) WAR

No more Francisco bashing here. He hasn’t produced a positive WAR since 2010, and he hasn’t produced over 1 WAR since 2008. There is no discernible split to take advantage of in a platoon. This plane just can’t fly.

Doll with Psychological Disorder

Cody Eppley, 0 WAR

While this doll’s misfit status was not explained in the show, it was apparently revealed years later on an NPR broadcast that the doll was abandoned and suffered from depression from being unloved. Nobody loved him, so he was DFA’d.

Scooter with Unexplained Flaw

Shawn Kelley, (.1) WAR

He’s the only pitcher with a negative WAR. Yet he has a 32.7% K rate, a 7.3% BB rate, and an xFIP of 2.81. What gives? Well four homers has led to a 64.5% strand rate, but maybe we just haven’t learned what his flaw is yet. You’re the Scooter, Kelley.

Cody Eppley Outrighted To AAA Scranton

Just a few days after being designated for assignment Cody Eppley has cleared waivers and been sent down to AAA Scranton. Eppley will remain with the team but is no longer listed on the Yankees 40 man roster.

Cody Eppley DFA'd

It's not official, but word is that Cody Eppley has been designated for assignment. This will create room for Preston Claiborne to be added to the 40-Man roster.

Although his ERA at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre looks good at 2.89 so far this season, Cody's been getting hit around quite a bit. In 9.1 innings he's given up 13 hits, including three doubles and a home run. Eppley's strikeout rate, which is 10.3 K/9 during his time in the minors, is currently at 8.7.

That's not to say Cody Eppley stinks, as he did pitch well for the Yankees in 2012 (125 ERA+ in 46 innings of work). But if he's lost to another team, instead of returning like David Adams did after he was DFA'd, I won't lose any sleep.

What's Wrong W/ The Yankees Bullpen?

I know it is extremely early but the Yankees bullpen, which has been a strength since Joe Girardi took over the helm, is suddenly looking like a weakness. Granted five games is a terrible sample size but still some of these numbers, especially the innings pitched stats, are not looking too good right now.

Mariano Rivera

0-0 W/L
9.00 ERA
1 G
1.0 IP
2.000 WHIP


Cody Eppley

0-0 W/L
21.60 ERA
2 G
1.2 IP
2.400 WHIP


Shawn Kelley

0-0 W/L
6.75 ERA
3 G
1.0 IP
1.250 WHIP


Boone Logan

0-0 W/L
6.75 ERA
3 G
1.1 IP
4.545 WHIP


David Phelps

0-0 W/L
6.75 ERA
2 G
4.0 IP
2.250 WHIP


Joba Chamberlain

0-0 W/L
21.60 ERA
2 G
1.2 IP
6.667 WHIP


Adam Warren

0-0 W/L
1.69 ERA
1 G
5.1 IP
1.125 WHIP


David Robertson

0-0 W/L
0.00 ERA
1 G
1.0 IP
0.000 WHIP

This is making the decisions to release David Aardsma and Clay Rapada really not sit well with me, not that they did to begin with. I know that David Aardsma's inability to pitch multiple innings has hurt him in his standings with the Yankees but Cody Eppley cannot get a left handed hitter out so I cannot justify the decision. Yes Clay Rapada is a LOOGY good for about one out a game and would have had to start the season in the disabled list but I cannot make a case for an Eppley or a Kelley over him at this point. I trust Girardi and I expect the Yankees bullpen to be one of the best in the league when it matters and the sample sizes are larger but right now I am a little worried...

Cody Eppley Sent Down For Phil Hughes

Cody Eppley, not Shawn Kelley or Adam Warren, was sent down to AAA to make room for Phil Hughes on the 25 man roster. Surprising move here because Shawn Kelley threw 43 pitches yesterday and would be unavailable today and Adam Warren was basically only promised the spot until Hughes came back. I guess the Yankees need for innings, no matter how those innings go, at this point was the ultimate decider.

Yanks drop second straight game to Sox in 7-4 loss

On Monday, the Yankees offense (besides Cervelli) was absent. Tonight, the Yankees hit two home runs but it wasn't enough to overcome the Red Sox, as the Yanks dropped their second straight game at Yankee Stadium by the score of 7-4.

Hiroki Kuroda was forced to leave the game in the second inning after a line drive hit him in his middle finger. The results came back as a finger contusion but the Yankees were going to send him to get x-rays just to make sure that's all it was. Cody Eppley came in afterwards, allowing four runs, who was then relieved by Adam Warren who only gave up one run. Shawn Kelley was the only Yankee pitcher who didn't give up a run to the Red Sox.

The Yankees had two home runs during tonight's game, one by Travis Hafner and one by Vernon Wells, both of those accounting for the four runs the Yankees scored; Hafner a solo shot. Wells a three-run shot.

Tomorrow the Yankees will send Andy Pettitte on the mound in order to break the losing streak, as they fear that they'll be behind 0-3 to start the season.

Update: Hiroki Kuroda's X-Ray's came back negative and he's day-to-day. However, Joe Girardi says it's too early to tell whether Kuroda will make his next start or not.

Eppley & Warren Make Final Roster Spots

Even though Cody Eppley got bombed much of the spring, although in his defense he did get better as the spring went on, he was told that he made the team out of camp this year. Adam Warren was also told that he has made the team out of camp, although probably just until Phil Hughes can make his first scheduled start on April 6th or April 11th.

I cannot make a case for Eppley over David Aardsma because where David lacks in the ability to pitch multiple innings Cody Eppley lacks in the ability to get left handed hitting out. Eppley's "stamina" because a moot point when you have three or four lefties in a row in a lineup late in a game or in extra innings.

Some notes to end the Spring: Hafner, Eppley, Warren, Boesch, Rodriguez, Gardner

Spring Training officially came to a close today after an exciting day with the Yankees playing (and winning) against Army. Here were some final notes from the Spring Training front on who got the last three roster spots for the Yankees.

1. Brennan Boesch made the team as the player on the bench but Boesch is the only player who doesn't really have a specific role. Girardi could DH him, start him in the outfield, pinch hit him. The possibilities for the Yankees and Boesch are endless.

2. Cody Eppley and Adam Warren both got the final two spots on the roster. The Yankees gave Eppley the benefit of the doubt after a bad Spring, but he looked sharp in his final outing, getting all four hitters he faced.

3. Travis Hafner was scratched from the lineup today due to some stiffness but it's nothing to worry about. The Yankees simply said Hafner didn't have enough time to loosen up. He should be fine for Monday's opener.

4. Alex Rodriguez is expected to be with the team on Monday for the Opening Day festivities.  Yankees however aren't sure if he'll address the media or not.

5. An interesting fact that I got from YES today. The only player that had actually faced Army (However, not the current 2013 team) was Brett Gardner. In 2005 he was apart of the NCAA with the College of Charleston and one of their opponents was Army.

6. One final note: the Yankees start the home opener on Monday, but there are only two players that are expected to start Opening Day that played last season: Brett Gardner and Robinson Cano. So we lost 7 of the guys to either the DL or to other teams.

Enjoy your night everyone and I will see you back here Monday morning where I will be blogging (and tweeting) about the home opener with the Yankees against the Red Sox!

Predicting The New York Yankees Opening Day Roster

Obviously a lot can change between now and the Yankees opener on April 1st at home against the Boston Red Sox because a lot has changed since the last time I typed up this post. I had Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira penciled into the middle of the line up, had Dan Johnson winning a bench spot, Clay Rapada winning a bullpen spot, and Brennan Boesch was no where to be found. Let's try this again, shall we?

C - Francisco Cervelli
1B - Juan Rivera
2B - Robinson Cano
SS - Derek Jeter
3B - Kevin Youkilis
LF - Brett Gardner
CF - Melky Mesa
RF - Ichiro Suzuki
DH - Travis Hafner

BN - Chris Stewart
BN - Brennan Boesch
BN - Eduardo Nunez
BN - Jayson Nix

SP - CC Sabathia
SP - Hiroki Kuroda
SP - Andy Pettitte
SP - Phil Hughes
SP - Ivan Nova

LR - David Phelps
MR - Boone Logan
MR - Joba Chamberlain
MR - David Aardsma
MR - Jim Miller
SU - David Robertson
CL - Mariano Rivera

Jim Miller has pitched well enough to earn a spot, albeit not a huge spot, in the Yankees roster. Joe Girardi has already said that he plans to use a veteran righty in place of Clay Rapada so I think that guy will be Jim Miller. Cody Eppley and Shawn Kelley are also vying for that spot but they have minor league options remaining where Jim Miller does not and I think that is the ultimate decision maker.

Brennan Boesch was basically guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster when he signed a minor league contract last week. He will platoon with Ichiro Suzuki in right field if I had to guess and will fill in whenever Melky Mesa is not playing and Brett Gardner is in center field.

No other big surprises here if you ask me. It is a forgone conclusion that Juan Rivera will win the first base job, Melky Mesa will win the center field job, and I think the Yankees will carry both Jayson Nix and Eduardo Nunez out of camp. This is not a common occurrence in Yankees camp having a prospect and a guy on a minor league job winning big spots out of spring but I guess when injuries pile up the depth is tested. I just hope the Yankees can survive a touch early schedule with a 25 man roster like this...

Yankees Spring Training In Pictures Part 9

A member of The Greedy Pinstripes family has been spending his time down in Tampa at George M. Steinbrenner Field watching the Yankees Spring Training. Our friend, @RobbinsDynasty, has recently started his own blog Draft 2 Dynasty so click the link and give his site a view and follow him on twitter @Draft2Dynasty. We want to thank him for these pictures of the Yankees Spring Training and hope that we see many more from him to share with out readers.

- Joba Chamberlain-

-Ichiro Suzuki the comedian-

-Jose Ramirez dominating-

-Enter Sandman, Mariano Rivera-

-David Wells, Reggie Jackson, Cody Eppley, and some guy in glasses-

Dominican Republic Beats Up On The Yankees

The Yankees played Team Dominican Republic today and Robinson Cano and it did not bode well. The Yankees did not have a hit headed into the 7th inning. Robinson Cano went 1-3 with an RBI against his big league team. Yankees minor leaguer Vidal Nuno pitched four scoreless innings with 4 K's and a walk. Another Yankees minor league Juan Cedeno pitched a scoreless inning with a walk against his big league club as well. Former Yankee Jose Veras also pitched a scoreless inning with a K for Team Dominican Republic. Team DR would win the game 8-2.

"Ha! You Guys Suck!!"

The Yankees pitching struggled outside of starter Hiroki Kuroda against this powerful Dominican Republic team.  Kuroda pitched three scoreless innings with two hits allowed and while striking out four. It was all downhill from there when Cody Eppley allowed the first run while allowing two hits and a walk in one inning pitched. Clay Rapada came in and pitched 1/3 of an inning while allowing two hits, a run, and walked two batters. Jim Miller would replace Rapada and in his 1.1 IP of work he was charged with three runs allowed on two hits while walking three and striking out one. Tommy Kahnle came in to finish the bottom of the 6th and then start the 7th inning and allowed a run on two hits with a walk and a strike out in his 1.1 IP.

The Yankees offensive round up should be pretty quick. Francisco Cervelli, Dan Johnson, and Melky Mesa both drew a walk each for the only runners on base before Zoilo Almonte hit a two run home run in the bottom of the 7th for the Yankees first hit of the game. Bobby Wilson followed with the next at bat with a double that looked like it could have gotten out but a fan interfered with it in right field. Dan Johnson has continued to prove that he cannot play third base with yet another throwing error and he let another ball eat him up at the hot corner. Between him and Corban Joseph I do not see Kevin Youkilis getting much time off in a meaningful game this season. Team DR would win the game 8-2.

Meet A Prospect : Cody Eppley

I know that Cody Eppley is not exactly still a prospect but Cody Allen Eppley was born on October 8th, 1985 in Dillsburg, PA where he went to Northern High School in Dillsburg, PA. Cody spent his college years at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond Virginia. With a 6'5" 205 lb frame and a jerky delivery from the right side you can see why the Texas Rangers drafted Cody in the 43rd round of the 2008 MLB First Year Players Draft. With his very unusual sidearm delivery that allows him to hide his four seam fastball and sinker that sit in the high 80 mph range and slider and change up. After a surprise 2012 season for the New York Yankees where Cody continually handcuffed right handed batters he will look to improve and build on that in 2013.

Cody Eppley started his professional career in the 2008 season after the Texas Rangers drafted him and made his way from the Rookie League all the way to Class A for the Clinton Lumber Kings where he was named an Arizona League All Star. Eppley would spend the next three seasons in the Rangers Class A, Class A+, AA, and AAA affiliates between 2009 - 2011 before being promoted to the majors in April of 2011. He would be sent back down to the minors in May of that year where he spent his time with the Rangers new PCL AAA affiliate the Round Rock Express. Eppley would spend the rest of the 2011 season and ultimately his Rangers career down in AAA.

The Rangers designated Cody for assignment at the end of Spring Training in 2012 and the Yankees scooped him up and hid him in AAA with their Scranton Wilkes-Barre team. The Yankees called him up the first time on April 19th where he went 0-0 with a 1.69 ERA in 4 games before being sent back down to Scranton on April 29th. The Yankees would recall him again, this time for good, on May 15th when David Robertson went down with a strained oblique muscle. Cody would put up a 2012 pitching line of 1-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 46 IP while striking out 32 batters and putting up a 1.37 WHIP. Cody looks to be once again an integral part as a right handed specialist in one of the leagues stronger bullpens.

Yankees Spring Training Notes 2/14

Happy Valentines Day once again! The Yankees continued to have their pitchers and catchers work out down in Tampa and today all the talk seemed to be about the Yankees 5th starter competition. David Phelps was a sight for sore eyes last year especially when Freddy Garcia was getting bombed and Ivan Nova had a plus 7 ERA after the All Star Break. David Phelps is at a disadvantage though, according to Joe Girardi, because he has shown in the past that he can be successful out of the bullpen. Ivan Nova threw a 35 pitch bullpen session and told reporters that he does not plan on doing anything different this year to try and rebound from his horrible 2012 that he did not do last year. That is scary to think about and at the same time kind of reassuring that we will not have another AJ Burnett trying this pitch and scrapping it a month later scenario. Let's hope the fresh start and the clean slate can clear his mind and let him just go out there and pitch. David Phelps threw to live hitters today, about 30 pitches, and seems to be way ahead of schedule at this point in Spring Training. This seems like it will be a fierce competition all the way down the wire of Spring Training.

Michael Pineda full his first full mound bullpen session today since his major shoulder surgery that cost him the entire 2012 season and looks to have another one tomorrow. I know that Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi basically tell us not to get our hopes up and count on Pineda at all in 2013 but this news has got me kind of encouraged.

There was a Kevin Youkilis and an Eduardo Nunez sighting at Yankees camp today. Nothing major to report other than that but I felt like it was worth noting anyway. Joe Girardi does not think any positional players will be late to camp this year.

Joe Girardi and Brian Cashman had nothing but praises for newly acquired Shawn Kelley noting his swing and miss slider, ability to pitch late in ball games, and ability to go multiple innings. In typical General Manager fashion Brian Cashman was quick to point out that Kelley did have an option remaining so he could conceivably start the 2013 season down in AAA with Scranton. Either way I figure him and Cody Eppley are now in direct competition for one spot in the Yankees bullpen.

2013 Minor League Options & The Yankees

Chad Jennings over at Lohud had an interesting article earlier discussing who has options left for the 2013 season, who is out of options, and who has certain clauses in their contracts allowing them to opt out of minor league deals. I will direct everybody over THERE for the full write up but I wanted to touch on a few things that I thought were interesting.

Eduardo Nunez, Francisco Cervelli, Cody Eppley, and Ivan Nova all have one minor league option remaining and guys like Clay Rapada and Chris Stewart do not have any options left. David Phelps obviously still has options left and is a no brainer along with the rest of the guys on the 40 man that have not seen major league time outside a September call up. Theoretically the Yankees could start Nunez in the minors to work on being an every day short stop again, the Yankees could start Cervelli in the minors one more time if they decide to trade for a serviceable catcher, Cody Eppley could be sent down to make room for a guy like Mark Montgomery, and if Ivan Nova continues to forget how to pitch he can be sent down to Scranton as well. If the Yankees decide to upgrade either of Rapada's or Stewarts positions those two would have to clear waivers, and they probably wouldn't, before accepting a minor league assignment.

Matt Diaz and Juan Rivera, due to a clause in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement based on their MLB service time, can both opt out of their minor league deals at the end of Spring Training if they are not put on the 40 man roster. Obviously as it stands right now one of these two guys are going to make the club and the other will probably opt out so the competition should be interesting to watch this spring. Dan Johnson has a set opt out date that Brian Cashman would not recollect but if I had to guess I would say it is in late May as they usually are in that time frame. Dan Johnson is all but going to Scranton to start next season due to the Yankees 40 man roster crunch and the delay in the opt out. Thomas Neal, Bobby Wilson, and Gil Velazquez signed your run of the mill minor league deals and can and probably will be assigned to Scranton after Spring Training. Jayson Nix, Jim Miller, and Josh Spence were all designated for assignment and either outrighted to AAA or signed a split contract and can be sent down to the minors after Spring Training as well without having to clear waivers.

Cesar Cabral was the Yankees Rule 5 draft pick last season and a stress fracture kept him from making the big league club out of Spring Training last year so the same Rule 5 draft pick rules apply for 2013. If Cabral does not get added to the 40 man roster when he is activated off the 60 day DL then he will have to go back to the Boston Red Sox. The good news is he can be assigned to the minor leagues under a 30 day rehab assignment barring any set backs or new injuries. This will complicate things because unless a Boone Logan is traded or we decide to carry three left handed pitchers we will lose Clay Rapada or Cesar Cabral once the calendar turns to May 2013.

Nunez Out, Nix In

By now I'm sure you've read that the Yankees have removed Eduardo Nunez from the roster for the AL Championship Series, and placed Cody Eppley on it.

Get out!

The first thing this tells me is that the team feels good about the health of Derek Jeter, who was hit in the foot by his own foul ball in Game 3. Jeter was the DH in Game 4, before returning to his rightful spot at shortstop in Game 5. There's no way the Yankees would have gone into the ALCS with only one middle infielder on the bench, if they didn't think Jeter was 100%. Then again, it would take the entire cast of The Expendables to keep Derek down.

Speaking of injuries, it also tells me that perhaps Joba Chamberlain isn't "fine", as he said after Game 5. It could have nothing to do with bringing Eppley onto the roster, but Girardi may be playing things safe by having Cody around just in case Joba goes out and his elbow explodes after throwing a pitch. Knowing what Joba's gone through, though, I tend to believe that he'll be fine if called upon tonight to pitch.

Although it would be nice to have a second middle infielder on the bench in case the worst happens, and both Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter need to be removed from a game, that's hardly a great reason to keep Nunez around. Eddie has hit .286/.289/.429 over his last 38 plate appearances, and when you add that to his issues on defense, I don't think we're really going to miss him.

"Not to mention that I'm a bad-ass."

But was it necessary to add somebody to the bullpen? In my opinion... yes and no. I know, not a great answer, but bear with me.

With Joba Chamberlain, David Phelps, and Derek Lowe, I think the bullpen had enough righties to get by. But when you look at the extreme splits that Clay Rapada and Boone Logan have, you can't argue against having another right-hander in the bullpen against a righty-heavy Detroit lineup (Prince Fielder is the only lefty I'm concerned about, although Andy Dirks does have a .322 batting average this season). Left-handed batters hit .168/.257/.236 in Rapada's career, while righties hit .342/.459/.613. Meanwhile Logan has given up a line of .246/.317/.379 to lefties, and .302/.387/.477 to righties. So there's no way I'd trust Clay or Boone against a right-handed bat, be that Miguel Cabrera or even Omar Infante.

"You talking trash about me?"

When it comes down to it, if the Yankees needed to play either Eduardo Nunez or Cody Eppley, then chances are we aren't winning that game.

As a reminder, here is the Yankees roster for the ALCS...

PITCHERS
CC Sabathia
Andy Pettitte
Hiroki Kuroda
Phil Hughes
Rafael Soriano
Dave Robertson
Boone Logan
Joba Chamberlain
Clay Rapada
Cody Eppley
David Phelps
Derek Lowe

CATCHERS
Russell Martin
Chris Stewart

INFIELDERS
Mark Teixeira
Robinson Cano
Derek Jeter
Alex Rodriguez
Eric Chavez
Jayson Nix

OUTFIELDERS
Curtis Granderson
Nick Swisher
Ichiro Suzuki
Raul Ibanez
Brett Gardner

Brian Cashman 2012 GM Of The Year

Let's make one thing clear before I even begin writing. I do NOT think Brian Cashman is going to win the 2012 GM of the Year award and no I do not think he will even be in the conversation. If his name if brought up all you will hear is how anyone could win with a $200 million payroll, going over slot on the draft, buying International Free Agents, etc etc etc. All these "unbiased" news people and people with votes will ignore all the under the radar gems we continue to find year in and year out.

Eric Chavez

Eric Chavez was signed to give guys like Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira days off in the field. Chavez was a risky signing, especially last season, because of all the injuries but has managed to *knock on wood again* stay off the DL all season long. He has also filled in with great glove work, power shots, and a great presence in the clubhouse. All for under 1 million bucks (900K)

Raul Ibanez

Raul Ibanez, even at age 40, has been nothing more then stellar all things considered. Cashman signed Raul to split time against right handed pitching over Johnny Damon even though Damon had better splits against right handed pitching and was very familiar with New York and loved by the fans here. Granted Johnny Damon wanted more money then Raul Ibanez but Cashman did not falter. Raul has done nothing but come up with big hit after big hit and fill in for injured guys like Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner better then any of us could have hoped for or expected. All for $1.1 million bucks.

Chris Stewart

Chris Stewart, not fist pumping and energetic Francisco Cervelli, has been our back up catcher this season. Despite rumors and denials he has also pretty much been CC Sabathia's personal catcher all of this season. He has filled in admirably behind the dish calling games, throwing out runners, with the bat setting career highs almost all the way across the board, and even done some things on the base paths. All for George Kontos and $482K.

Derek Lowe

Yes I know it was one game so that is why I am listing him last but signing a guy on a pro rated league minimum salary and having the Braves and the Indians pay his salary for us while he pitches four shut out innings and gets a save while also saving our bullpen was ingenious. Do not get me wrong I was leading the "WTF" charge on twitter when we signed him but we all looked pretty dumb last night, including a prolific Texas Rangers offense, when Lowe walked off the mound with his shirt tucked in. If we can get any semblance of the guy that pitched last night then this bullpen just got all the more nastier and maybe even sealed the fate of Freddy Garcia... finally.



I think I have said enough here to show the value that Brian Cashman has brought us this season. I did not even mention the Clay Rapada and Cody Eppley signings that have really solidified our bullpen and made it once again a strength for us even without Mariano Rivera. I also have not mentioned the trade that brought us Ichiro and CASH for basically nothing useful or the Casey McGehee for nothing trade. Andruw Jones for $2 million was not the worst deal that we have ever signed either *cough Carl Pavano cough*. Bringing back Andy Pettitte seemed like a no brainer but Cashman could have said no I guess and NOT giving Russell Martin a big extension looks rather genius right now as well. Granted for every Ichiro trade there is a Michael Pineda trade that does not work out the way you liked it to but it is not like Jesus Montero or Hector Noesi are doing anything special anyway. Hell the Mariners already have Mike Zunino in AA because they are rushing him to the majors to be behind the plate but I digress.

Brian Cashman does have a $200 million payroll, we all know that, but it is the little things that he has done that have kept this team together. It is the minor little signings and such that kept our heads above water while we have $100 million bucks or more (slight exaggeration but with Arod and CC on the DL making around $50 million combined you get my point) sitting on the disabled list. I know Brian Cashman will not even be considered for GM of the Year and that is a damn shame in my very humble and biased opinion but you have our appreciate Brian. Thank you Ninja Cash!

Who Is In... Who Is Out?

Today being another off day got me thinking just what the Yankees are going to do when all of their current disabled and DL'd players come back to action. The Yankees have quite an impressive list of players on the DL currently including Brett Gardner, Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, Joba Chamberlain, David Aardsma, and some other guys that we do not expect to see this year. The 40 man roster is full... what do we do?

Let us start with Joba Chamberlain who just got off of an ankle surgery after a freak trampoline accident and a tommy john surgery. He threw his first rehab game pitching 1 IP with 2 K's and an unearned run. The most important part, to me, was the 97 mph. We have not seen that kind of velocity since he was a dominant set up man for Mariano Rivera. Who goes down when Joba makes it all the way back to the majors? If you ask me today, and I know I am going to shock some people, but I say DJ Mitchell will go back down to AAA Empire State Yankees. I know a lot of people think Chad Qualls was just keeping the seat warm for Joba but he has pitched very effectively in a ROOGY kind of position. I like his veteran leadership and I love matchups in the pen. That is why Rapada stays for me and keeps me two left handers in the bullpen. Do not get me wrong I love what I see out of DJ Mitchell but he is a young guy and has plenty of time to make the pen out of spring training next season.

Brett Gardner has played a total of nine games this season to the tune of 28 at bats. He has been battling an elbow injury and elbow setback after elbow setback. The Yankees really "need" his speed and presence in the lineup, if anything to get Raul Ibanez back on the bench where he belongs. We currently are carrying 6 outfielders because of the lack of need of a 5th starter right before and right after the All Star break. We will not have five when Gardner comes back, which is slated to be in late July. I expect that Darnell McDonald be cut and David Phelps to be called back up, now fully stretched out and dominating AA batters, to fill the starting spot for Andy Pettitte or long man spot for Freddy Garcia. DeWayne Wise has been a pleasant surprise for the Yankees this season and some even say that he may have turned the Yankees season around... but when Brett Gardner comes back he is going to be DFA'd.

I do not expect Mariano Rivera to pitch again this season after tearing his ACL shagging fly balls in the outfield. Even with a partial tear it will still be tough after sitting and waiting for about a month to get rid of a blood clot and reduce swelling before he even had surgery. Also the fact that it would be a September comeback anyway means the rosters would be expanded so we would not need to make a roster move. My question is what do we do, saying he comes back and is healthy and effective, come playoff time? I would have to think that Clay Rapada , as of today, would have to lose his roster spot and we keep Qualls, Joba, and co. This is probably all wishful thinking though.

If David Aardsma can get good news from his little set back and fully come back from tommy john surgery and be healthy then we have a cluster and a big "problem" in our bullpen. That means with Joba back, assuming anyway, that someone who is very effective would have to go down. I mean I guess we could push him back till September when the rosters expand but that is no fun to speculate about. Would a very effective and big surprise in Cody Eppley be sent down? This is certainly a good problem to have.

The Yankees do not really need to make any moves in this years July 31st trade deadline. The Yankees have an ace, a #2 starter, a dominant closer, a dominant (at times) set up relief pitcher, and an all star caliber speed demon of a left fielder coming off the DL soon in reserve. All the Yankees have to do is get healthy and they will add more to their team then any team will at this year's trading deadline.

Mariners @ Yankees 5/12/12

UPDATE:

Andy Pettitte allowed a two run home run to Justin Smoak, scoring former Yankee Jesus Montero, to put the M's up 2-0 early. 

Russell Martin drew a bases loaded walk to put the Yankees on the board, 2-1 M's. 

Casper Wells hit a two run home run off Andy Pettitte as well to make it 4-1 M's.

Andy Pettitte done after 6.2 IP allowing 4 runs.


Derek Jeter, with a single in the bottom of the 8th, hit his 3142nd career base hit. He passed Tony Gwynn and tied Robin Yount on the all time hit list. 


Rapada allows two more runs in the 9th to put the game out of reach at 6-2 Mariners. 


Yankees lose 6-2.

A Year Off... Good Or Bad?

First off I want to say Happy Mothers day to all those mothers out there reading this. To all the guys reading this with their heads in their hands right now... Shame on you, lol.

Andy Pettitte takes the mound for the Yanks today and is looking for the sweep against the Seattle Mariners in Yankee Stadium. The game will be on MLB Network and YES at 1:00 pm ET and I am sure there are plenty of other stations that will be picking it up and/or viewing the game whenever they can.

Early reports say that, as expected, David Phelps will lose his rotation spot now that Andy Pettitte has returned. Cody Eppley was sent down to make room on the 25 man roster for Andy and Mariano Rivera was moved to the 60 day DL to make room on the 40 man roster.

Let's go for that SWEEP!!!!

Here is the lineup:

Jeter SS
Granderson CF
Rodriguez 3B
Cano 2B
Teixeira 1B
Swisher RF
Ibanez LF
Chavez DH
Martin C

New New York Yankees

According to Pete Caldera, the Yankees have called up Dewayne Wise. This was confirmed as Chad Jennings at LoHud said that Wise is listed as available tonight. Jennings also said that Cody Eppley was in Kansas City.

No word on the corresponding moves, although Mariano Rivera is clearly being sent to the DL. There's a chance that either Nick Swisher will join him there.

Update: Michael Pineda was moved to the 60-day DL, and DJ Mitchell was sent back to AAA.