London is Calling to the Faraway Towns...

Photo Credit: Frank Augstein, AP

Yankees-Red Sox Live from Across the Pond…

The title is the first line from the song by The Clash but it seems appropriate on this Saturday morning.

I am unsure of how I feel about the London Series that begins in a few hours in London. The Yankees were playing so well and had just completed a highly successful home stand (winning 9 of 10 games). Then, two days of nothing while the Yankees made their way to London and participation in subsequent events upon their arrival. The Tampa Bay Rays had a chance to make up a game on the Yankees over the last two days but fortunately their loss to the Texas Rangers last night dropped them back to 7 games behind the Yankees. The Yankees should go into the All-Star Break holding the lead in the AL East but I hope the disruptive travel schedule doesn’t sidetrack momentum. 

The next 8 games, including these two in jolly ol’ England, are not exactly a cake-walk. The Boston Red Sox may be trailing the Yankees by 9 games, but they are still the defending World Series champions and they have the talent to make a second half run despite their World Series hangover. I am not sure what is going on over in Queens but even at their worst, the New York Mets, the Yankees’ next opponent, always seem to bring their “A” game against the Yankees in the fight for the intra-city championship. Then, the Yankees conclude the first half with four games in St Petersburg, FL against the second place Tampa Bay Rays. I really dislike that warehouse of a stadium and all those empty seats yet it won’t stop the Rays from being a thorn in the Yankees’ side.   

But for now, the focus is the Boston Red Sox. With Masahiro Tanaka set to take the mound later today, I am a little worried that the dimensions of London Stadium (330’ from home plate to the foul poles and 385’ to center field with 16’ fence) will cause Tanaka to give up more than just his usual obligatory home run. Of course, Boston pitching is faced with the same dilemma and last time I heard, the Yankees have a few mashers in their lineup even with Giancarlo Stanton sidelined. I’ve heard the air is heavier, but I guess we’ll see whether or not these games turn into slugfests like hot summer nights at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado.  

If the Yankees can sweep the two-game series, the Red Sox will be 11 games behind in the AL East, making it much harder for them to overcome in the second half for their defense of the AL East championship. At the very least, I’d like to see the Yankees win at least one of two before they return stateside. A sweep by the Red Sox would be awful and no doubt our social media feeds would be filled with Jared Carrabis tweets.  

@aaronboone (Twitter)

I really wish people would lay off Giancarlo Stanton. I’ve seen so much hate directed at him for his latest injury that has potentially sidelined him until August.  Some people are already calling his contract the worst in Yankees’ history. Did everyone forget that Stanton slugged 38 home runs and drove in 100 runs last year when Aaron Judge missed so much time, helping the team win 100 games? Injuries happen. It sucks but it is not Stanton’s fault that he is currently unable to play. I guess if he would just strike out every bat, he’d save his body from harm. Get real. The guy is a great player and he’ll be back. This is not Jacoby Ellsbury revisited.

Like many, I was surprised the Yankees called up outfielder Mike Tauchman to replace Stanton on the roster instead of Clint Frazier. I get that you’d prefer to have Tauchman’s ability to play all three outfield spots with above average defense, while Frazier is a roller coaster with the glove. The Yankees used the defensive advantage as the reason Tauchman was called up, but that’s the easy answer. There seems to be more at play. Maybe it’s nothing and the Yankees just wanted Frazier to continue playing every day with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. I guess , as the saying goes, time will tell as it often does. The Yankees would be foolish to trade Frazier for a “rental” and they’ve indicated they will not. I also have a hard time believing they’d trade him to an AL East rival. It appears the relationship between Frazier and the Yankees is fractured but honestly we don’t really know. Nobody has given us a seat at the table with Hal Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman and other Yankees brass so we don’t know what they are thinking.  

Personally, I’d really like for Frazier to be the starting left fielder in 2020. Brett Gardner has been a great Yankee and we’ve been saying it for several seasons now, but he should really be no more than a fourth outfielder at this stage of his career. If Gardner wants to continue his career beyond this season, I have doubts it will be in Pinstripes. I do not expect Edwin Encarnacion to return next season. I think the Yankees will pay the $5 million buyout versus paying the $20 million salary. The Yankees, after all, have to save those pennies to make a run at Gerrit Cole in the off-season. So, Giancarlo Stanton will move back into the full-time DH slot. I hopeful that the Yankees and Frazier can repair their relationship for the good of the organization. Or if the relationship is not broken, they can change the perception that it is.

If the Detroit Tigers are leading off by asking for Gleyber Torres in trade talks for lefty Matthew Boyd, I’d call it game over. On one hand, if I was the Tigers GM, I’d shoot for the moon too and then work my way back down to reality. On the other hand, if the Tigers remain steadfast in their demand for a King’s Ransom, then the Yankees should pursue other options. It’s great the Yankees could have Luis Severino back in the second half, but there’s no denying they need more than just the returns of Severino and Domingo German to make a deep run into October.  We continually hear the names of Madison Bumgarner, Max Scherzer, Marcus Stroman, and lately, Luis Castillo, but inevitably, Brian Cashman will make a move that we never saw coming. I don’t really want to lose top prospects but Casey Stern’s line of “Prospects are Cool, Parades are Cooler” is so true. If the move(s) Brian Cashman makes over the next four weeks pay off in October, it will have all been worth it.

I thought it was funny this week when the Chicago White Sox designated first baseman Yonder Alonso for assignment. Not funny for Alonso, but given the fact it was perceived the White Sox had acquired Alonso last off-season to give them an edge to sign Alonso’s brother-in-law, Manny Machado, the situation is a little humorous. Alonso’s performance (slash line of .178/.275/.301 with 7 homers and 27 RBIs) led to the move, but this would have been very awkward had Machado signed with Chicago. I hope Alonso can rebound. He’s a former Padre so perhaps he can find his way back to San Diego to back up Eric Hosmer and join up with his sister’s hubby. 

Congratulations to Gary Sanchez and D.J. LeMahieu for winning the votes as starters to represent the American League in the All-Star Game at catcher and second base, respectively. Hopefully, the other Yankees in the final voting (Gleyber Torres, Luke Voit and Aaron Judge) can make the All-Star team as backups.  Of the three, I feel most strongly about Torres. He should be a fixture at All-Star games for years to come. Not that Judge shouldn’t be too, but Judge has missed too much time this season, in my opinion. I believe All-Star recognition should be about performance this year and not be based on past performance or simply be a popularity contest.  

@gleyberdavid (Twitter)

As great as LeMahieu has been this year, I read that the majority of his votes came from the Colorado market. I guess you could put me in that category since I live in Denver even though I am not a Rockies fan. My friends who are Rockies fans absolutely hate me talking about how great LeMahieu is. I can’t help his play every game excites me. I don’t care what anybody says…the quiet infielder has been the greatest free agent signing of last off-season. I truly hope LeMahieu is as excited to be Yankee as we are that he is.  

Photo Credit: Noah K Murray, USA TODAY Sports

As always, Go Yankees!

The Joy of Winning...

Photo Credit: Kathy Willens, AP

Yankees on 7-Game Roll…

The “fun” is back in the New York Yankees. After a highly successful May, June just didn’t start like it would be enjoyable but now the team is on a seven-game winning streak after last night’s 4-1 victory over the Houston Astros and the ‘fun’ is certainly back in style around Yankee Stadium.  

When the Friday night lineup was posted featuring Aaron Judge atop the order, there were so many dissenting fans. Since it was a scheduled game off for early season MVP D.J. LeMahieu, I had no problem with Aaron Boone’s decision to put Judge in the leadoff spot. ‘Nothing ventured, nothing gained’ as the saying goes. Boone could literally put all the names in a bag and shake them up to determine the lineup order and he wouldn’t be wrong. From top to bottom, even on days when Luke Voit and D.J. LeMahieu take a blow, the Yankees are scary good.  

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton may have been a combined 0-for-8 last night with five strikeouts, but the one thing that stood out to me is how incredibly talented Gleyber Torres is. It’s not like it was a revelation yesterday but I continue to be amazed by the play of the 22-year-old.  He homered for the third consecutive game (a feat matched by Gary Sanchez, making them the first Yankee teammates to hit home runs together for at least three straight games) but the cherry on top was the incredible glove flip in the top of the 8th inning which started an inning-ending double play when it looked like the Astros were in position to add a few runs against Zack Britton. I’ve seen a few Yankee fans post on Social Media that the Yankees should include Torres in a trade to acquire an ace like Max Scherzer.  No, thank you. Torres, I hope, will be a Yankee for the rest of his career. To me, he is in the same untouchable category as Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and Luis Severino. I don’t realistically think GM Brian Cashman would ever trade him, but it’s foolish there are fans who believe he should. 

Photo Credit: Paul J Bereswill, The New York Post

I think if there is an infielder I am worried about, it is Didi Gregorius. A free agent at the end of the year, I could see the Yankees letting him walk and inserting Torres as the team’s starting shortstop. D.J. LeMahieu provides a superior bat and glove at second base and the role of super-sub could certainly be filled by Thairo Estrada. I don’t want to see Gregorius leave and I’d like to see the team lock him up on an extension but until it happens, there is a chance Sir Didi could be moving on after the season. Didi’s throws don’t seem to have the same zip as they once did. It could just be a time process as he further distances himself from last fall’s Tommy John surgery but I don’t like any potential excuses that might allow Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner to save a few pennies.

Our happiness that Cameron Maybin’s roster spot was safe with the activation of Aaron Judge and the demotion of a pitcher (Nestor Cortes Jr) instead of Maybin sure was short-lived. After suffering a calf strain last night while running around third base on Gary Sanchez’s homer, Maybin has been placed on the Injured List. After the game, Aaron Boone said that his stay on the IL could be awhile. Bummer. He’s been playing so well for the Yankees and I like how he mixed into the team’s chemistry. Although the Yankees have not announced who will be taking Maybin’s spot as I type this post, it is expected to be outfielder Mike Tauchman (not Clint Frazier) for defensive purposes. Nothing against Tauchman, but it’s a huge drop-off from Maybin to him if for no other reason than clubhouse presence.

Photo Credit: Al Bello, Getty Images

I am a little worried about Aaron Hicks’ shoulder. He was forced to play center field last night after Maybin left the game. After having a couple of games off for inflammation in his right shoulder, Aaron Boone hadn’t planned to insert Hicks back into the lineup until today. Hopefully the cortisone shot helps and the inflammation is not indicative of greater problems. It’s been such a challenge to keep Hicks on the field this year (even if he’s played more than Stanton or Judge).  

Six Yankees have moved into the final voting phase for the MLB All-Star Game which will be held on Wednesday and Thursday.

First Base: Luke Voit

Second Base: D.J. LeMahieu

Shortstop: Gleyber Torres

Third Base: Gio Urshela

Catcher: Gary Sanchez

Outfield: Aaron Judge

While I think Gary is a shoo-in, I really hope that Voit, LeMahieu and Torres are named American League starters. I like the job Urshela has done but I honestly cannot say he is the best third baseman in the league. Judge, to me, has missed too much time this year. All-Star recognition should be based on this year’s performance and not merely be a popularity contest. So, as much as I love Aaron Judge, he is not one of the three best outfielders in the league this year (so far anyway).

I think I am officially tired of the Max Scherzer trade rumors. The Washington Nationals and the Lerner family are not going to trade their ace. It simply is not happening. The Nationals have won five games in a row and are currently 2 1/2 games out in the NL Wild Card chase. Even if the Nats were to fall out of contention, I feel Scherzer will remain a Nat. He will not be a Yankee. In my opinion, the more likely trade targets are Matthew Boyd of the Detroit Tigers or Mike Minor of the Texas Rangers. The Rangers are only 1 1/2 games out in the AL Wild Card chase so Boyd, to me, stands as the most probable target. I can’t say that he is the pitcher I want most, but he’s the one I feel could be trying on the Pinstripes within the next month.  

In 16 starts, Boyd, a lefty, is 5-5 for the lowly Tigers. His K/9 is 11.22 (striking out 118 batters in 94 2/3 innings), with 3.61 ERA and 3.36 FIP.  He is currently carrying the best WAR of his career at 2.6. Boyd, 28, was acquired by the Tigers in the 2015 trading deadline deal that sent David Price to the Toronto Blue Jays. I know that we went a few years with speculation the Yankees would acquire another Tigers starter (Michael Fulmer, currently recovering from Tommy John surgery) and that has turned out to be the best trade never made, but I think the odds are greater the Yankees can consummate a Boyd deal. 

I like Toronto’s Marcus Stroman but I don’t want the Yankees to keep sending talented prospects to the Blue Jays to supplement the great young talent they have already accumulated. I guess it’s inevitable somebody will, but I’d rather not see multiple former Yankees helping the Blue Jays become a beast in the AL East.  

It was reported yesterday that former Yankees manager Buck Showalter is in talks with the YES Network for a “fill-in” analyst role that could lead to a permanent gig next season. I went through my years where I despised Showalter but I’ve grown to have an appreciation of him over the last few years. I think I realized that Showalter’s intense desire to beat the Yankees was driven by his “love” for the organization. He knows and understands Yankees history as well as anyone, and I think he’d be a good voice in the booth for Yankees telecasts. Willie Randolph is also expected to be a guest analyst before the end of the season. Of the fill-in’s we’ve seen so far, I think David Wells has been my favorite. With the loss of Al Leiter who left YES earlier this season and Ken Singleton’s winding down of his broadcast career, the YES Network lineup could certainly use new blood. I like the names we’re hearing and I hope that one or more join the broadcast team. 

I think it would be awesome if the Yankees can win at least one of the next two games against the Astros. A sweep would be incredible but I will set expectations at a more realistic level. The Astros, despite their current six-game losing streak, remain one of the AL’s best teams. They’ve fought back in both of the past two games and put themselves in position to tie or win those games. The Astros are simply too good to keep losing. Nevertheless, I hope their losing streak is extended for at least one more game today. It is a great day to see Edwin Encarnación walk the parrot and/or for Aaron Judge to give the Judge’s Chambers reason to exuberantly wave their gavels. If the Yankees get a homer today, they will match the team record of homers in 25 consecutive games set by the 1941 New York Yankees who were led by a trio of thirty-homer plus outfielders, Charlie Keller (33), Tommy Henrich (31) and Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio (30). It could be a history making kind of day…another great story for baseball’s most storied franchise. 

As always, Go Yankees!

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers 4/3

Game six of the young 2019 campaign will be an afternoon game in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. In the finale of this three-game set inside Yankee Stadium the Yankees will send Jonathan Loaisiga to the mound to face off with Matthew Boyd of the Tigers. The game will be played at 4:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV and on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. Enjoy the game and go Yankees!!

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Detroit Tigers 4/3

The New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers will finish off their three-game set this week in the Bronxc with the rubber match this afternoon. In the finale the Yankees will send --- to the mound to face off with Matthew Boyd for the Tigers. These are not must-win games for the Yankees, but these have the potential to be games you look back at in September and October and wish you had, so let’s get to it here in the Bronx.

Loaisiga will make his season debut for CC Sabathia, the veteran Yankees lefty that served a five-game suspension before being placed on the 10-Day injured list to start the season. Good luck, Johnny Lasagna. 

Boyd is a fly-ball pitcher. Mix that in with the fact that the ball travels inside Yankee Stadium, especially during the day, and this could make for a long day for the Tigers left-hander. Boyd allowed three runs on five hits in six innings of work in his last start in the Bronx in September, including two home runs allowed. Boyd did not pitch well in his first start of the season, a loss against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The game will be played at 4:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV and on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. Enjoy the game and go Yankees!!

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers 8/22

Ladies and gentleman it is game time inside Comerica Park between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers. In the opener of this three-game set the Yankees will activate and welcome Masahiro Tanaka back off the disabled list, Happy Tanaka Day ladies and gentleman, while the Tigers will counter with Matthew Boyd. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Comerica Park and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. You can also follow along in your cars and on the radio by tuning into the WFAN broadcast.

Follow us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes and enjoy the game. Aaron Judge needs to wake up because “we need a win, so get a win.” Go Yankees!

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers 8/22

The New York Yankees needed a day off yesterday to lick their wounds after being pounded by the Red Sox in two of their three games over the weekend and the team got just that before heading to Detroit to take on the Detroit Tigers in a three-game series. In the opener tonight the Yankees will activate Masahiro Tanaka off the disabled list to take the ball against Matthew Boyd for the Tigers. The Tigers are a rebuilding team and the Yankees need to beat the teams they are supposed to beat on paper if they want to make the postseason in 2017… so do it. Sounds easy enough, right?

Tanaka comes off the disabled list tonight after taking a rest due to some shoulder inflammation. In Tanaka’s last start the right-hander lasted just four innings against the Toronto Blue Jays before being removed from the contest. Tanaka allowed three runs in the start, two of them earned, before being replaced by the strong Yankees bullpen.

Boyd struggled against the Minnesota Twins in his last start in which he lasted just 5.2 innings on Sunday. Boyd allowed two early home runs in the contest which doomed him from the start and will be facing another strong home run hitting team tonight in the Yankees.

The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Comerica Park, home of the Tigers, and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. You can also follow along in your cars and on the radio by tuning into the WFAN broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. Need a win, get a win. Go Yankees!!