End of Astros' Two-Game Winning Streak...

Credit:  Los Angeles Times: Wally Skalij

2017 World Series

Dodgers 3, Astros 1...

Dodgers lead Series, 1-0

Powered by the arm of Clayton Kershaw and the bat of Justin Turner, the Los Angeles Dodgers captured Game 1 of the World Series. It was a bittersweet game for Yankees fans as we were left to wonder what could have been. Nevertheless, the Yankees turn will be here soon enough. For now, it's about the Dodgers and Astros.

After Kershaw easily set down the Astros in the top of the 1st, Chris Taylor jumped on the first pitch from Astros starter Dallas Keuchel to send it 447 feet over the left field wall. The Dodgers led 1-0 on a very hot Los Angeles evening. It seems like every time I watch the Dodgers play, Taylor is coming up big.  He filled in for shortstop Corey Seager during the NLCS when Seager was left off the roster to recover from a lower back sprain. Back in center field, Taylor hit 21 home runs and drove in 72 RBI's in 140 games for the Dodgers this year, batting .288. It's incredible to think the Dodgers acquired Taylor from the Seattle Mariners in June 2016 for a pitcher (Zach Lee) who has been released two times since the trade.  

Credit:  Los Angeles Times:  Gina Ferazzi

The 1-0 score held up until the top of the 4th inning when Astros third baseman Alex Bregman took Kershaw deep with a solo shot to left leading off the inning. It was not as far as Taylor's blast but it still counts the same. It got Kershaw's attention...he responded by striking out the side.  Say what you will about Kershaw but he's arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He has not had great post-season success to add to his resume...until now. With Kershaw pitching as well as he did, the Astros didn't really have a chance.

With both starting pitchers still on the mound, the game stayed tied until the bottom of the 6th inning. The Dodgers recorded two quick outs when both Austin Barnes and Kershaw grounded out to shortstop Carlos Correa. But then Keuchel issued a two-out walk to aforementioned Chris Taylor. Justin Turner, the one-time Mets cast-off, strolled to the plate with long red hair and beard flowing. Dallas Keuchel tried to slip a 1-2 cutter past Turner. Boom! Over the wall in the left center and the Dodgers led, 3-1.  

Credit:  Los Angeles Times

Kershaw was done after seven innings, receiving congratulations and hugs from Manager Dave Roberts and others in the Dodgers dugout while the Dodgers were preparing to bat. It was a tremendous performance by the big Texan left-hander. He was never in trouble despite the game-tying home run in the 4th inning, limiting the Astros to three hits and one run. He struck out eleven batters and didn't walk anyone. A big game performance by the game's elite.  

Credit:  Los Angeles Times: Robert Gauthier

From there, it was time for the trusted Dodgers bullpen. Despite scoreless relief from Houston's Brad Peacock and Chris Devenski to hold Los Angeles in check, the two-run Dodgers lead was a canyon with Brandon Morrow and Kenley Jansen setting down the Astros in order for the final six outs. Jansen may have gotten a few dollars less than Aroldis Chapman last off-season when he re-signed with the Dodgers in free agency, but right now, it's Jansen and not Chapman that you would want for that big final out. He has been Mr Consistency all season long.  

This was a great win for the Dodgers and a wonderful way to start the World Series. The 2017 post-season has been punctuated by home field advantage which certainly works to the favor of the Dodgers.  

Former Yankee Rich Hill gets the Game 2 start tonight for the Dodgers. He'll be opposed by Houston's Justin Verlander. I look for the Dodgers to grab a two-game cushion before the series heads to Minute Maid Park in Houston. My prediction is Dodgers 7, Astros 4.  

Credit:  Stephen Dunn-Getty Images

Prior to yesterday's game, I was saddened to see that former Yankee Curtis Granderson was left off the World Series roster for the Dodgers. Based on performance, it was an easy decision for Dave Roberts. The Grandy Man was 1-for-15 in the post-season and he only hit .161 in 36 games for Los Angeles after being acquired from the New York Mets on August 19th (after that tremendous grand slam against the Yankees at Citi Field).  Still, it would have been nice to see Granderson, one of the game's classiest guys, on the roster after such a good career. The Dodgers made room for 12 pitchers on the World Series roster including oft-injured former Yank Brandon McCarthy which cost Grandy his spot.  

It was great to see Corey Seager back on the field after his absence in the NLCS. Kyle's brother is one of the game's best young talents and the Dodgers are clearly a better team with him in the lineup.  Seager will most likely see time at DH when the series shifts to Houston to limit the wear and tear on his back.  

Credit: Los Angeles Times: Wally Skalij

Editor's Note:  This writer is pro-Dodgers.  

Odds & Ends...

The World Series means very quiet news for other MLB teams.  The only meaningful day for potential news will be Thursday since it is a travel day for the World Series teams.  

Yankees manager Joe Girardi made a one hour visit to Yankee Stadium yesterday which drew tremendous speculation on social media but no news from credible Yankees beat writers.  It's also being reported that the Houston Astros are looking at Yankees third base coach Joe Espada for the bench coach vacancy created when current bench coach Alex Cora accepted the managerial gig in Boston effective at the end of the World Series.    

I was glad to see former Cardinal great and one-time Yankees prospect Willie McGee added to the coaching staff for the St Louis Cardinals.  I can still remember feeling so underwhelmed when the Yankees traded McGee, a highly touted young prospect, to St Louis for the forgettable Bob Sykes in October 1981.  McGee went on to have a tremendous career for the Cardinals including the 1985 NL MVP Award.  He was elected to the Cardinals Hall of Fame in 2014.  His specific role on the coaching staff has yet to be announced.  

Have a wonderful Wednesday!  Their season may be over, but Go Yankees!

Yankees Announce 2016 Coaching Staff

Mike Harkey is back as the bullpen coach of the New York Yankees. Harkey, a close friend of manager Joe Girardi, was recently relieved of his duties as the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks after a losing season in 2015. Harkey replaces the man that replaced him, Gary Tuck. Tony Pena will take over the duties of working with the catchers now that Tuck is gone.

Manager: Joe Girardi
Bench Coach: Rob Thomson
First Base Coach: Tony Pena
Third Base Coach: Joe Espada
Bullpen Coach: Mike Harkey
Pitching Coach: Larry Rothschild
Hitting Coach: Alan Cockrell
Assistant Hitting Coach: Marcus Thames

Quick Hit: Mark Teixeira Needs to Calm Down

Can someone, anyone reading this, please give Mark Teixeira a chill pill please? This guy is completely out of control right now, not that I have an issue with it. Back last month the Yankees third base coach Joe Espada sent Teixeira home on what should have been a routine scoring chance for the Yankees. Long story short, Teixeira was thrown out after being told to take it easy and Mark took offense to it. Mark had a point, he could have gotten hurt, but the way he reacted was a bit outlandish in my opinion. He stood there staring down at Espada mouthing something that we will probably never hear and even threw a water cool Paul O’Neill style in the clubhouse. Then Sunday came…

On Sunday Teixeira was heading over into the stands to catch a foul ball against the Toronto Blue Jays. Again, long story short the ball fell into the stands and contact was made between Teixeira and the fans. If you watched the game or even the replays you can see that the fan gave Teixeira a chance to catch the ball, something the fan did not have to do since the ball was in HIS part of the stadium. The contact with Teixeira was minor and obviously and blatantly accidental, however Teixeira alluded to being “assaulted” in an interview after the game.

Mark, again with good reason, was worried about his health and his safety on the play but again, it was accidental. The ball was in the stands, that’s fair game for the fans, and the fan gave him a chance to catch the ball. The fan did not move until the ball had hit the ground and was called a foul ball basically being the anti-Steve Bartman. The fan did what he was supposed to and if you did what you were supposed to the out would have been made and the contact would have never been made, calm down Mark. 

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.

Former Yankees player Randolph disappointed team didn't hire him as infield coach

Willie Randolph is disappointed the Yankees didn't hire him to be their infield coach.

The 60-year-old former second baseman said so during a phone interview Monday, a day after the Yankees passed him up for the opening in favor of Joe Espada. Randolph was reportedly interviewed for the job by the Yankees earlier this month, but was informed by GM Brian Cashman last week he wouldn't be getting it.

"I was disappointed because I wanted that opportunity to come back to the team that I love and help them get back to a world championship, like I've always done," Randolph told ESPN New York's Andrew Marchand. "Anytime you put your name in the pot for a job like this, you hope that you get it. So when it doesn't happen, you are a little disappointed."

It would be understandable if Randolph was upset about being rejected by the Yankees, seeing as he's spent 24 of his 36 years in baseball with them. 

He played for the Yankees from 1976-1988, and was their bench coach from 1994-2004. During his 13 seasons on the field with New York, Randolph hit .275 with 48 home runs and 549 RBI, including a .305 batting average in 1987.

He said he was the one who initiated the interview with the Yankees, and wants to work in the game again.

"I'm always doing my due diligence," Randolph said. "I'm always trying to make everyone aware that I would like another opportunity [to get] back in the game that I love."

Randolph left the Yankees in 2005 to manage the Mets, who would fire him four years later after the club missed the playoffs. He then served as the bench coach of the Brewers from 2009-2010 before occupying multiple positions with the Orioles in 2011. 

He hasn't worn a uniform since, but said he would like to return to managing someday. 

Yankees Announce Staff.. Finally

Press release from the Yankees:

The New York Yankees today announced Joe Girardi’s coaches for the 2015 season, with Jeff Pentland (hitting), Joe Espada (third base) and Alan Cockrell (assistant hitting) joining the staff. Larry Rothschild (pitching) and Gary Tuck (bullpen) will each return to the roles they served in 2014, while Rob Thomson will now be the club’s bench coach and Tony Pena will serve as first base coach.

Pentland, 68, begins his 17th season as a Major League hitting coach, having previously served in that role for the Marlins (1996), Cubs (1997-2002), Royals (2003-05), Mariners (2006-08) and Dodgers (2008-11). In 2012, he was the hitting coach for Seattle’s Triple-A club in Tacoma and during the 2014 season, Pentland held the position of hitting coordinator in Miami’s player development system. He was a scout for the Marlins from 1992-93 before becoming a minor league hitting coach from 1993-96. In 1997, he was a minor league hitting coordinator for the Mets before joining the Cubs.

Prior to coaching at the professional level, Pentland was an assistant coach at Mesa Community College (Ariz.) in 1972, Arizona State University from 1983-91 and the University of California, Riverside in 1974. He was also the assistant athletic director for Wichita State University in 1973.

Born in Hollywood, Calif., Pentland earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arizona State University where he was a member of the school’s 1967 NCAA championship team and was later inducted into the University’s Hall of Fame in October 2002. He also spent three seasons in the Padres’ minor league system (1969-71) as a left-handed batter, playing first base, outfield, catcher and pitcher.

Espada, 39, will begin his fifth season as a Major League third base coach, having held the same position for Miami from 2010-13. Prior to joining the Major League club with the Marlins, he was the hitting coach for Single-A Greensboro in 2006 and Single-A Jupiter in 2007. From 2008-09, he was Miami’s minor league infield coordinator. His current position is his second in the Yankees organization, having been a professional scout for the club in 2014. This offseason, he is managing the Gigantes de Carolina of the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League.

The Santurce, Puerto Rico, native was selected by Oakland in the second round of the 1996 First-Year Player Draft. He played in nine minor league seasons (1996-2004) in the Athletics, Marlins, Rockies, Royals, Cardinals, Rangers and Rays organizations, as well as one season with independent-league Pensacola (2005), combining to bat .286 (811-for-2,838) with 24HR and 287RBI in 779 games.

Espada attended the University of Mobile, where he still ranks among the offensive leaders in several categories, owning the school’s top two single-season batting averages (.468 in 1995 and .446 in 1996) and top career batting average (.442). From 2004-05, he was the school’s assistant hitting coach.

Cockrell, 52, will begin his fourth stint as a member of a Major League coaching staff, having served as hitting coach for Colorado (2002 and ’07-08) and Seattle (2009-10). In 2007, the National League-champion Rockies led the NL in batting average (.280), hits (1,591) and on-base percentage (.354). He was also a minor league roving hitting coordinator for Colorado in 2001 and hitting coach for their Triple-A affiliate from 2003-06. He served as manager for rookie-level Portland in 1999 and Single-A Salem in 2000. He most recently served as a roving hitting coordinator in the Diamondbacks organization, holding the position from 2011-13.

Cockrell was born in Kansas City, Kans., and attended the University of Tennessee, where he was an All-American baseball player. He was also the Vols’ starting quarterback for two seasons (1982-83) and helped lead the team to a Citrus Bowl victory in 1983.

The former outfielder was selected by San Francisco as the ninth overall selection in the 1984 First-Year Player Draft. He played in 1,414 career minor league games from 1984-96, batting .278 (1,322-for-4,760). Cockrell made his Major League debut with the Rockies in 1996, playing in nine games and batting .250 (2-for-8) in his final professional playing season.

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Pena, 57, will enter his 10th season on the Yankees’ Major League staff and fourth as first base coach, having also held the position from 2006-08. He served as the club’s bench coach from 2009-14 and was the Yankees’ catching instructor from 2006-13. Prior to the 2013 regular season, he managed the 2013 World Baseball Classic-champion Dominican Republic team and became the first WBC manager to lead his team to an undefeated record (8-0).

Rothschild, 60, will begin his fifth season as Yankees pitching coach and his 41st in professional baseball as a player, coach or manager. Since joining the Yankees in 2011, the club’s pitchers own a 2.90 strikeout-to-walk ratio (5,143K/1,773BB), the best such mark in the Majors over the four-year span. In 2014, Yankees pitchers posted a 3.44K/BB ratio (1,370K/398BB), the second-highest such mark in the Majors since 1900, trailing only the 2014 Nationals (3.66). The 1,370K by Yankees pitchers set a single-season franchise record, surpassing their 2012 mark (1,318). Prior to joining the Yankees, Rothschild spent nine seasons (2002-10) as the Cubs’ pitching coach.

Thomson, 51, will enter his 26th season as a member of the Yankees organization and eighth on the club’s Major League coaching staff. The 2015 season will mark his second as the Yankees’ bench coach, having also held the position in 2008. From 2009-14, he served as the club’s third base coach. The Ontario, Canada, native also oversees the Yankees’ outfielders.

Tuck, 60, will begin his second season as Yankees bullpen coach and 33rd year in professional baseball as a player, coach or scout. Prior to joining the Yankees, he served as Boston’s bullpen coach for six seasons (2007-12) and as Joe Girardi’s bench coach for the Florida Marlins in 2006. Tuck’s current assignment with the Yankees marks his fourth stint with the club, having served in various other roles for the organization from 1989-90, 1996-99 and 2003-04. Overall, he has coached or scouted for seven teams that have reached the World Series, with five of those clubs—including the 1996, ’98 and ’99 Yankees—going on to become world champions.

And An Infield Coach Too!!!

Source: Joe Espada will be Yankees' infield coach. He was major league scout for the Yanks last year. Before that, was 3B coach for Marlins.
— Jack Curry (@JackCurryYES) January 11, 2015

Earlier in the day the New York Yankees finally announced the signing of not one but two hitting coaches and now the team has an infield coach. His name is Joe Espada who was most recently a scout for the Yankees and a third base coach for the Miami Marlins. Notice I said infield coach and not necessarily the first base coach. Mick Kelleher had served as New York's first base coach and infield coach but conceivably this could be made into two jobs. Also it's worth mentioning that Rob Thompson could, and should, be moved off the third base coach job and moved to first base while Espada takes over at third base.

Either way it looks like the Yankees coaching staff is finally decided and not a second too soon.

New York Yankees Sign Joe Espada

The first signing since the Derek Jeter contract has been announced today when the Yankees signed Joe Espada. Who? Espada is signed to be a special assistant and scout possibly taking the place of the recently departed Don Wakamatsu. Last anyone saw Espada was when he was the third base coach and minor league manager in the Miami Marlins organization. This is obviously a behind the scenes kind of signing but if it helps us get back to the promised land then I am all for it. Welcome to the family, Joe.