Meet the 2019 Yankees: Domingo German

The New York Yankees caught some lightning in a bottle last season when the team called up a young started named Domingo German to make some spot starts for the team. German was consistently inconsistent, but when he was on the Yankees young right-hander showed flashes of absolute brilliance and dominance at the Major League level. If German can put it all together and pitch like that 25-30 times a season the Yankees starting rotation may be borderline unfair, in the very best way possible, so let’s meet the man that will look to take that next step this season towards greatness. Domingo German, come on down.

Domingo German, 26-years old, is a right-handed starting pitcher inside the New York Yankees organization that relies on five pitches to keep opposing hitters off-balanced. German possesses an 82 MPH curveball, a 95 MPH four-seam fastball, a 95 MPH sinker, an 88 MPH changeup, and a rarely thrown 93 MPH cutter. German’s curveball is a 12-6 curveball that generates a ton of swings and misses on the pitch. German is prone to giving up the flyball, and subsequently the home run ball inside Yankee Stadium III, but also strikes out enough to get by when he is on.

Domingo German Polanco was born on August 4, 1992 in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic where he was signed as an international free agent in 2009 by the Florida Marlins. German made his professional debut in 2010 and was selected to represent the Marlins in the All-Star Futures Game in 2014. After the 2014 season the Marlins, along with Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Jones, traded German to the New York Yankees for Martin Prado and David Phelps. German would not pitch for the Yankees in 2015 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and was promptly non-tendered after the season. The Yankees signed German to a new minor league deal following the season and added him back to the 40-man roster following the 2016 season.

The Yankees promoted German to the Major Leagues on Jun 10, 2017 and watched as he made his MLB debut the next day against the Baltimore Orioles. German pitched out of relief for seven appearances for New York in 2017, posting an 0-1 record with a 3.14 ERA. German was back on the Major Leagues on May 6, 2018 as a starter against the Cleveland Indians, pitching six no-hit innings while allowing two walks and striking out nine. German made 13 starts for New York in 2018 and posted a 2-6 record with a 5.68 ERA before being optioned to Triple-A on July 21.

German will look to pitch much better in 2019 and could be an integral part to the Yankees bullpen and rotation going forward this season. We want “good” German in 2019, and not the German that seemingly struggled in every other start and appearance that we saw last season. Baby steps, I’m not worried and I am totally confident that we will see just that this season. Good luck!

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/30: Dwight Gooden's Final Walk

On this day in 2001 former Yankee Dwight Gooden announced his retirement from baseball. Doc finished with a 194-112 record playing for the Mets, Yankees, Indians, Astros, and Devil Rays and won a World Series and pitched a no hitter with the Yankees.

On this day in 1991 the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition game at Joe Robbie Stadium which drew 67,654 fans, a new spring training attendance record. The two day series between the two teams was a part pf South Florida's efforts to get a National League expansion team, soon to be named the Florida Marlins.

On this day in 1984 the San Diego Padres obtained Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles for pitcher Dennis Rasmussen and prospect Darin Cloniger.

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/30: Dwight Gooden's Final Walk

On this day in 2001 former Yankee Dwight Gooden announced his retirement from baseball. Doc finished with a 194-112 record playing for the Mets, Yankees, Indians, Astros, and Devil Rays and won a World Series and pitched a no hitter with the Yankees.

On this day in 1991 the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition game at Joe Robbie Stadium which drew 67,654 fans, a new spring training attendance record. The two day series between the two teams was a part pf South Florida's efforts to get a National League expansion team, soon to be named the Florida Marlins.

On this day in 1984 the San Diego Padres obtained Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles for pitcher Dennis Rasmussen and prospect Darin Cloniger.

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/30: Dwight Gooden's Final Walk

On this day in 2001 former Yankee Dwight Gooden announced his retirement from baseball. Doc finished with a 194-112 record playing for the Mets, Yankees, Indians, Astros, and Devil Rays and won a World Series and pitched a no hitter with the Yankees.

On this day in 1991 the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition game at Joe Robbie Stadium which drew 67,654 fans, a new spring training attendance record. The two day series between the two teams was a part pf South Florida's efforts to get a National League expansion team, soon to be named the Florida Marlins.

On this day in 1984 the San Diego Padres obtained Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles for pitcher Dennis Rasmussen and prospect Darin Cloniger.

The Boring Winter Ahead: Watch the 2003 World Series Game Five HERE

Game Five of the 2003 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Florida Marlins.

The Boring Winter Ahead: Watch the 2003 World Series Game Four HERE

Game Four of the 2003 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Florida Marlins.

The Boring Winter Ahead: Watch the 2003 World Series Game Three HERE

Game Three of the 2003 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Florida Marlins.

The Boring Winter Ahead: Watch the 2003 World Series Game Two HERE

Game Two of the 2003 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Florida Marlins.

The Boring Winter Ahead: Watch the 2003 World Series Game One HERE

Game One of the 2003 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Florida Marlins.

MLB to Return to Mexico City in 2016

After spending the last 12 major league seasons outside of the city of Mexico City the league and its players are making a return to the Mexican capital. Major League Baseball is set to return to Mexico City, Mexico for two spring training games between the Houston Astros and the San Diego Padres.

MLB has not been in Mexico’s capital since March of the 2004 season when these same Astros faced off against the Miami Marlins in a two game exhibition series. This time around the games will be played on March 26^th and 27^th at Fray Nano Stadium home of the Red Devils of the Mexican Baseball League. The venue can hold about 5,000 people. 

Dave Dombrowski “Open to Trading w/ Yankees”

Dave Dombrowski has won everywhere he has gone in Major League Baseball and has swindled away some major Yankees prospects and players along the way, especially as the GM of the Florida Marlins and the Detroit Tigers. Remember when the Yankees traded Mike Lowell to the Marlins or Phil Coke, Austin Jackson and Ian Kennedy in that three team deal that brought back Curtis Granderson? Those were Dombrowski and those are just two of many examples we could have given of the Yankees getting the short end of the straw dealing with Dombrowski. When Dombrowski signed on to be the President of baseball operations in Boston many of us let out a sigh of relief finally figuring that the Yankees GM Brian Cashman was safe until this week when Dombrowski told the media he was open to trading with the Yankees as a member of the front office for the Boston Red Sox.

Ending the Cold War type standoff between the Yankees and Red Sox would be significant, and no I don’t consider the Stephen Drew (sucks) for Kelly Johnson trade from 2014 significant, in the way New York does business. Giving New York’s GM Brian Cashman a new trading partner could open up a whole new realm of possibilities for New York, for better or worse, and could really make things interesting in the American League East.

Just for fun here is what I believe to be a complete list of every significant trade between these two clubs in their history in Major League Baseball:

 Source: Boston Red Sox

August 13, 1997: 

The New York Yankees traded a player to be named later and Tony Armas to the Boston Red Sox for Randy Brown (minors) and Mike Stanley. The New York Yankees sent Jim Mecir (September 29, 1997) to the Boston Red Sox to complete the trade.

March 28, 1986: 

The New York Yankees traded Don Baylor to the Boston Red Sox for Mike Easler.

March 22, 1972: 

The Boston Red Sox traded Sparky Lyle to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later and Danny Cater. The New York Yankees sent Mario Guerrero (June 30, 1972) to the Boston Red Sox to complete the trade.

August 3, 1967: 

The New York Yankees traded Elston Howard to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later and Pete Magrini. The Boston Red Sox sent Ron Klimkowski (August 8, 1967) to the New York Yankees to complete the trade.

December 26, 1919: 

The New York Yankees purchased Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox for $100,000.

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/30

On this day in 2001 former Yankee Dwight Gooden announced his retirement from baseball. Doc finished with a 194-112 record playing for the Mets, Yankees, Indians, Astros, and Devil Rays and won a World Series and pitched a no hitter with the Yankees.

On this day in 1991 the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition game at Joe Robbie Stadium which drew 67,654 fans, a new spring training attendance record. The two day series between the two teams was a part pf South Florida's efforts to get a National League expansion team, soon to be named the Florida Marlins.

On this day in 1984 the San Diego Padres obtained Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles for pitcher Dennis Rasmussen and prospect Darin Cloniger.

Meet a Prospect: Andrew Miller

Andrew Mark Miller signed a four year deal with the New York Yankees taking less money and less years over teams like the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros. Miller will join a Yankees bullpen that already has the likes of Shawn Kelley, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances, Justin Wilson and others but not before he is introduced right here on the blog. Let’s meet a prospect, the Andrew Miller edition.

Miller was born on May 21, 1985 and had spent time with the Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles before coming to New York. Miller played his college ball at the University of North Carolina and even won the Baseball American National Player of the Year and Roger Clemens Award in 2006.  When Miller left UNC he was the single season record holder for the school in IP (133) and strikeouts (325) while finishing his career with 27 wins.  That warranted Miller with being the sixth overall pick in the 2006 MLB First Year Players Draft when the Tigers selected him.

Miller wasted no time in making his debut as the big lefty was already in the show in 2007 conveniently making his major league debut against the New York Yankees. It was after he made his debut in that season that the Tigers traded him along with Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo, Dallas Trahern, Eulogio de la Cruz and Burke Bradenhop to the (then) Florida Marlins for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera.  Miller’s stay in Florida was overall an uneventful one that led up to him being traded to the Boston Red Sox before the 2011 season.

It was in Boston that Miller scrapped the idea and dream of being a starting pitcher in lieu of being a relief pitcher and the idea stuck. While it didn’t happen right away, Miller won three of his first four starts with the Red Sox, it was an injury before the 2012 season that eventually caused the move. Miller battled injuries in 2012 and torn ligaments in his foot in 2013 that caused him to miss half a season before really breaking out and taking a step forward in 2014. Miller would begin the campaign with Boston before being traded to Baltimore on July 31^st before the trading deadline. Miller did nothing but post a 1.04 ERA with Baltimore and was on the mound in the game where the Orioles clinched their first American League East division title in 17 years. The Orioles were defeated in the ALCS by the Kansas City Royals but not before the team swept the Detroit Tigers behind 3.1 IP from Miller not allowing a hit or a run to score with three strikeouts.

Welcome to New York Andrew and welcome to the family! 

Meet Joe Espada

Joe Espada has been named as the infield coach for the New York Yankees for the 2015 season. Espada will be the teams third base coaching replacing Rob Thomson as he moves to the bench coach position. Let's take a quick look at where Espada has been, what Espada has done and what Espada can bring to the table in the Bronx in 2015. 

Espada was actually in the Yankees organization during the 2014 season as a special assistant to Yankees GM Brian Cashman after turning down a managing position for the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Class A Advanced Florida State League. Espada is a resident of Jupiter, Florida so for him to take the job with the Yankees over the head coaching job shows a bit of loyalty if you ask me, but that’s just if you ask me. Espada was also a third base coach with the Miami Marlins before joining the Yankees organization so he definitely has experience coaching at the major league level.

Espada also played some professional baseball after being selected by the Oakland Athletics in the second round (45^th overall) of the 1996 MLB First year Players Draft. Espada was left unprotected in the 1998 Rule V Draft and was selected by the Minnesota Twins before failing to stick and being returned to Oakland. Espada bounced around the minor leagues before signing a minor league deal with the Florida Marlins in 2001 only to be traded to the Colorado Rockies. Espada bounced around the minors until 2005 when he retired having never made the major leagues after stops with the Royals, Cardinals, Rangers and then Devil Rays.

Espada retired and joined the Florida Marlins organization as the hitting coach for their Class A affiliate in 2006 before being bumped up to Class A+ in Jupiter in 2007 for the same position. Espada spent the 2008 and 2009 seasons as the Marlins minor league infield coordinator which led to being named the Marlins third base coach for the 2010 season. Espada stayed as the Marlins third base coach through the 2013 season before being reassigned to manage Jupiter while also managing the Puerto Rican national baseball team during the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Obviously Espada turned down the managerial job to join the Yankees front office and is now New York’s major league infield instructor. Congratulations to Mr. Espada and a warm welcome to the family from everyone here at The Greedy Pinstripes.

Meet a Prospect: Andrew Miller

Andrew Mark Miller signed a four year deal with the New York Yankees last week taking less money and less years over teams like the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros. Miller will join a Yankees bullpen that already has the likes of Shawn Kelley, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances, Justin Wilson and others but not before he is introduced right here on the blog. Let’s meet a prospect, the Andrew Miller edition.

Miller was born on May 21, 1985 and had spent time with the Detroit Tigers, Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles before coming to New York. Miller played his college ball at the University of North Carolina and even won the Baseball American National Player of the Year and Roger Clemens Award in 2006.  When Miller left UNC he was the single season record holder for the school in IP (133) and strikeouts (325) while finishing his career with 27 wins.  That warranted Miller with being the sixth overall pick in the 2006 MLB First Year Players Draft when the Tigers selected him.

Miller wasted no time in making his debut as the big lefty was already in the show in 2007 conveniently making his major league debut against the New York Yankees. It was after he made his debut in that season that the Tigers traded him along with Cameron Maybin, Mike Rabelo, Dallas Trahern, Eulogio de la Cruz and Burke Bradenhop to the (then) Florida Marlins for Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera.  Miller’s stay in Florida was overall an uneventful one that led up to him being traded to the Boston Red Sox before the 2011 season.

It was in Boston that Miller scrapped the idea and dream of being a starting pitcher in lieu of being a relief pitcher and the idea stuck. While it didn’t happen right away, Miller won three of his first four starts with the Red Sox, it was an injury before the 2012 season that eventually caused the move. Miller battled injuries in 2012 and torn ligaments in his foot in 2013 that caused him to miss half a season before really breaking out and taking a step forward in 2014. Miller would begin the campaign with Boston before being traded to Baltimore on July 31^st before the trading deadline. Miller did nothing but post a 1.04 ERA with Baltimore and was on the mound in the game where the Orioles clinched their first American League East division title in 17 years. The Orioles were defeated in the ALCS by the Kansas City Royals but not before the team swept the Detroit Tigers behind 3.1 IP from Miller not allowing a hit or a run to score with three strikeouts.

Welcome to New York Andrew and welcome to the family! 

Can't Predict Baseball: 9 Pitches, 3 Strikeouts

The New York Yankees spent heavily in the offseason before the 2009 season bringing in the likes of CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Nick Swisher via trade, and AJ Burnett to make an eventual run at the World Series. AJ Burnett is my favorite pitcher and I was ecstatic when the Yankees signed him to a big time deal and was beyond ecstatic when on this day in 2009 AJ faced his former team, the Florida Marlins.

AJ would strike out the side in the nine pitches in the third inning of a 2-1 loss to Florida. Burnett would get Josh Johnson, Chris Coghlan, and Emilio Bonifacio to all strike out swinging inside Land Shark Stadium. This is especially rare since AJ was the pitcher who had a no hitter in 2001 and nine walks. Control was never his thing, but today he was especially strong.

Sometimes you really just can't predict baseball.

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/30

On this day in 1984 the San Diego Padres obtained Yankees third baseman Graig Nettles for pitcher Dennis Rasmussen and prospect Darin Cloniger.

On this day in 1991 the Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles played an exhibition game at Joe Robbie Stadium which drew 67,654 fans, a new spring training attendance record. The two day series between the two teams was a part pf South Florida's efforts to get a National League expansion team, soon to be named the Florida Marlins.

On this day in 2001 former Yankee Dwight Gooden announced his retirement from baseball. Doc finished with a 194-112 record playing for the Mets, Yankees, Indians, Astros, and Devil Rays and won a World Series and pitched a no hitter with the Yankees.