Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 6/21

Attention All Yankees Fans! It is game time between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. In the second game of this three-game set between these two clubs the Yankees will send Jordan Montgomery to the mound to square off with Ricky Nolasco for the halos. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV. You can also follow along on the radio and in your cars by tuning into Mr. and Mrs. Baseball on the WFAN Network.

Follow us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes and enjoy the game. Go Yankees!

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 6/21

The New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from Orange County and the Mickey Mouse Club will continue their three-game set this week in the Bronx with the middle game of the series. In tonight’s matchup the Yankees will send their big lefty Jordan Montgomery to the mound looking to pitch better than he did last time out against Oakland while the Angels will counter with Ricky Nolasco. Home run prone Ricky Nolasco against the Yankees offense inside Yankee Stadium may be just what this team needs to get back on track, I’m just saying.

Montgomery battled in his last start against the Oakland Athletics finishing with four runs allowed on seven hits in just 5.2 innings pitched. Montgomery logged five strikeouts and just one walk in the contest against the Athletics as well. That start marked the third time in 12 starts that Montgomery has allowed at least four earned runs in a start but one must remember that Montgomery is a rookie and that these are growing pains. Color me “not worried.”

Nolasco has not won a start since April 27 of this season and that is due in large part to the home run ball. Nolasco, a right-handed starting pitcher, has allowed a whopping 21 home runs already this season which, as we alluded to in previous parts of this article, should not bode well for him or the Angels tonight in the Bronx. Nolasco, meet Aaron Judge.

The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV. You can also follow along with the game on the radio and in your cars by tuning into the WFAN broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman. Enjoy the game and as always… Go Yankees!

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 8/20

Here we go ladies and gentleman with the middle game of the three-game set between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the sunny and beautiful state of California. In the middle game of this three game set we will be entertained by the Yankees Luis Cessa who makes the first start of his MLB career tonight while the Angels counter with Ricky Nolasco. The game will be played at 9:35 pm ET inside Angels Stadium of Anaheim and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11, MLB Network and MLB TV.

The Yankees have one more date with Mike Trout and his Angels teammates before saying hello to Robbie Cano, don’t ya know, and the Seattle Mariners to start next week inside Safeco Field. It will be a little bit before the Yankees return home to the Bronx and return to Yankee Stadium which gives you plenty of time to click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog to secure your seats in the Bronx.

Ricky Nolasco and the kid, Luis Cessa. Let’s do it. Go Yankees! Follow along on Twitter (@GreedyStripes) or on Facebook by liking our page during the game and all season long.

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 8/20

Another late night out in Los Angeles tonight for both the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as these two teams continue with their three game set. The first set had the Yankees throwing their ace Masahiro Tanaka to the mound and tonight they send out another exciting arm in Luis Cessa. I’m excited to see what the kid can do when he is given more than a one or two week audition in the show. Sent to the mound opposing Cessa will be newly acquired right-handed starting pitcher for the Angels Ricky Nolasco.

Cessa makes his first MLB start tonight for the Yankees after spending time in the Triple-A rotation and the big league bullpen in 2016. Cessa’s ERA in the Major Leagues has not been impressive, it’s 5.30 this season, but again this has come in one or two week intervals and usually his appearances came as needed because of a short bullpen. Cessa can and will be better and he will look to prove that to everyone tonight in Anaheim.

Nolasco has not recorded a victory since being traded from the Minnesota Twins to the Angels, a streak that has spanned three starts, although his first win could come against the Yankees. Nolasco pitched them tough last time he saw them in June allowing just two runs to the Bronx Bombers.

The game will be played at 9:35 pm ET inside Angels Stadium of Anaheim and can be seen live on WPIX Channel 11, MLB Network and of course MLB TV. The future is now so why not throw guys like Chad Green and Luis Cessa out there, right? I mean I know Brian Cashman’s options are limited at this point, especially with the struggles of Luis Severino that have been well documented here and everywhere else on the web, but I’m glad to see him sticking to his guns rather than pulling off a dumpster dive move for a veteran. You know. Kind of like the Angels did in a losing season for Ricky Nolasco. Too soon? Here, apply this directly to the burn. Go Yankees!

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Minnesota Twins 6/24

The New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins begin a three-game set this weekend in the Bronx with the first game coming tonight. Now if you all thought you heard a collective “sigh” and an eye roll or two it was probably all the Twins fans checking their schedule and seeing the Yankees inside Yankee Stadium this weekend. If you checked in with the blog yesterday you saw that the Yankees have absolutely owned the Twins in the past 20 years only losing one season series in that time and tying a couple others. New York already has three wins to Minnesota’s one and can clinch the series victory tonight with a win. In the game the Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound on extra rest looking for that win while the Twins will counter with Tommy Milone.

Tanaka faced the Minnesota Twins in his last start and was very effective against the club hurling eight innings while allowing just one run on seven hits. Tanaka earned the win, his first since May 27^th, and will look for his second consecutive win tonight in the Bronx.

Milone is replacing Pat Dean in the rotation this turn since the Yankees offense had their way with Dean in his last start. Milone has been in Triple-A and had posted a 4-0 record with a 1.66 ERA in seven starts while striking out 41 and allowing just four walks.

The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. We have heard all season how much better Tanaka is on extra rest as opposed to a normal four days rest so with the extra rest heading into this start Tanaka has to be sharp. Facing off with Minnesota this is one of those games and series that the team absolutely must take. Make it happen boys. Go Yankees!

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 6/18

The New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins for the third time this series in the blistering hot afternoon in Minnesota. Some days I don’t feel for the players in the uniform despite what they get paid but anyway I digress. We’ve got a game to get to and in this contest the Yankees will send Michael Pineda to the mound looking to continue his recent string of good starts while the Twins will counter with one of their best in Ricky Nolasco. The game will be played at 2:10 pm ET inside Target Field and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

The Yankees are close to returning home so click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog to secure your seats now inside Yankee Stadium. You also want to look good when you get there so while you’re on the blog be sure to also click the TGP T-Shirts link as well to get a Jacoby Ellsbury milk carton T-Shirt for stealing home or any of the other great shirts on the site. Until then follow along with us on Twitter and interact with us by giving @GreedyStripes a follow or by “liking” us on Facebook.

Enough with the sales pitches, it’s time for baseball Go Yankees!

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 6/18

The New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins continue their four game series tonight when they face off head-to-head in Game Three inside Target Field. The offense has been lackluster for both teams for much of this 2016 campaign so once again tonight it will likely come down to the pitching and the Yankees hope they are sending one of their best out there again tonight. I say hope because the Yankees still don’t know what to expect when they send tonight’s starter Michael Pineda to the mound every five days and neither do I to be completely honest but I hope for the best. Opposing Pineda will be Ricky Nolasco for the Minnesota Twins.

Pineda has pitched much better in his last three starts and he is saying a slight mechanical adjustment and the return of his slider are to blame for the resurgence. Whatever the culprit the Yankees will take his 2.89 ERA in his last three starts after posting a 6.92 ERA in his first ten starts of the season.

Nolasco has been a quality start machine lately for the Twins delivering his latest on Monday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Nolasco won his third game of the season in the outing to lead the team but has not pitched well overall in June. Nolasco’s June stats are 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA.

The game will be played at 2:10 pm ET inside Target Field and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV. Saturday afternoon Yankees baseball in the dead heat of summer is like apple pie to me, it is part of being alive and part of being American. I love it and I love it more when the Yankees win… so win. Go Yankees!

Bring me Ron Gardenhire

I was scrolling around in the comments section of the site when one of our friends and daily frequenter patrick (always a little “p”) mentioned bringing the recently dismissed Twins manager Ron Gardenhire to New York. Why didn’t I think of that? What a great idea!

Gardenhire is a great baseball mind, a player’s manager, and is available for the low, low price of just a contract offer. The biggest issue here is Gardenhire is likely to, and deserves to, get a managing job elsewhere. The best we could theoretically offer him is a third base or first base coach job unfortunately with the promise that once Tony Pena gets the managerial job that he deserves that a promotion for Gardy would follow.

I don’t think I necessarily have to defend a Gardenhire signing to any one reading this but I will hit the high points just to be on the safe side. The Twins organization has shown a reluctance to spend money for quite some time now and instead have relied on their farm system to re-stock the big league club. When the Twins would get some star power in Minnesota they would either lock them up to financially crippling contracts (Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau come to mind) or trade them away for less than their worth (Denard Span comes to mind). When the Twins do decide to spend a little they throw money at players and hope that they stick, for every Phil Hughes they had three Ricky Nolasco’s as of late. None of this is or was Gardenhire’s fault. He did the best he could with what he had or what he got in return when the team traded a versatile Sam Fuld.

In my opinion the GM in Minnesota should have lost his job, not the manager. Minnesota’s loss should be the Yankees gain. Bring me Ron Gardenhire. 

Yankees' Bats Get Good Again in Series-Clinching Win Over Twins

In this weekend's series at Target Field, the Yankees' offense has been many things.

On Thursday, it was lazy for the contest's early going, before becoming a dominant force on Friday and a point of frustration on Saturday.

In other words, over these last few days the Yanks' bats have been inconsistent, something further proven this afternoon, with them taking an early 9-0 lead to eventually beat the Twins, 9-7.

Going into the game, it seemed likely that the Bombers would win due to their obvious pitching advantage, although you have to imagine that no one out there predicted this, with the suddenly-hot Pinstripes knocking Minnesota's Ricky Nolasco out after just 2 innings. 

And they didn't exactly do it in a merciful way.

To start things off, Mark Teixeira made it 1-0 with a top-of-the-first single to right, followed immediately by a long RBI Double from Brian McCann.

On that two-base knock from McCann, Teixeira was actually thrown out at the plate, but considering that the score was still 2-0 I'm sure that mistake can be forgiven. 

In their very next turn, similar to what they did Friday, the Yankees also got the best of Nolasco, crossing home four more times on a Derek Jeter Sac Fly and a Jacoby Ellsbury three-run home run, his fifth of the season. 

At that point, the up-by-six Yanks were in complete control, a positive sign they would add onto yet again in their half of the fourth, scoring another trio on a hit and a forceout from the aforementioned Jeter and Ellsbury as well as a balk by Twins' Reliever Anthony Swarzak.

As you probably expected, those nine runs ended up proving to be more than enough for team Starter Hiroki Kuroda, who evened up his record at 6-6 with a 5 2/3-frame, 4-run performance.

Yes, the Bombers' bullpen (consisting of Adam Warren, Jim Miller, and David Robertson - who got save #21 with a one-run outing in the ninth) did have some trouble in the contest's later moments, but since the team did still win to take the series you can't help but be happy with them right now, as the W got the now 44-43 club back over the .500 mark.

Three Home Runs Hurt Nuno, Yankees in 6-1 Loss to Twins

After taking two of three from the Cardinals earlier this week, the Yankees looked invincible.

The Bombers, who came into tonight's game against the Twins 4-1 over the last five days, had gotten the injured Mark Teixeira back in their lineup, to go along with a weak opposing starter in Ricky Nolasco.

Still, nothing went their way in the contest, causing them to fall in overall non-competitive fashion, 6-1.

For Yanks Pitcher Vidal Nuno, the game started out well, but with one out in the top of the second things began to fall apart.

At that time, Oswaldo Arcia homered on an 0-2 pitch, giving the Twins an early 1-0 lead.

It wouldn't last long, as Jacoby Ellsbury would tie the game in the bottom of the third with an RBI Double, but from then on it was all Minnesota.

To lead off the fourth, Josh Willingham homered to left-center, immediately followed by a bloop single from Arcia and another, two-run shot to Monument Park from Trevor Plouffe, quickly making it 4-1.

That would be all the Twins would get off Nuno on the night, although it was more than enough, knocking #57 out after 6.2 frames to drop his record to 1-2.

At that point, the game was over, although the Twins weren't quite done scoring yet, knocking in another two late off Preston Claiborne thanks to a duo of RBI Singles from former Yankee Eduardo Nunez and new Catcher Kurt Suzuki. 

Nunez, who was traded from the Bombers to Minnesota back in April, hit eighth and DH'd in this one, unsurprisingly not getting any cheers or jeers when he stepped up to the plate for the first time. Overall, Jeter's former replacement went 1-for-4 in the W, bringing his 2014 batting average down to a low .256.

We Can't Lean On CC Anymore

On December 11th of 2008 the Yankees and their fans thought they had their ace. That was the day the team signed CC Sabathia to a seven year deal, before tacking on a couple more years after he opted out they gave him an extension. Although few thought he would be the #1 starter through his entire contract, even fewer thought 2013 would go so badly for Sabathia.

We've all made that face quite a bit during CC's starts this season.

Sabathia's 4.91 ERA is higher than it's ever been in his 12+ seasons in Major League Baseball. Hell, it hasn't been at or above 4.00 since his 2005 season with the Cleveland Indians. His WHIP of 1.353 is higher than it's been since 2002, he's given up more hits per nine innings than he ever has, and his home run rate is also at a career-high. In fact, in terms of WAR, CC is the Yankees fourth-best pitcher following Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte, and Ivan Nova.

All season I've said that Sabathia would figure it out, as he's been too good of a pitcher for too long. But it may be time to accept that he won't ever be the same pitcher again, and the Yankees are going to have to work hard to find a strong top of the rotation starter for next season.

I'm still not ready to call Nova a top-of-the-rotation starter, despite the fact he's failed to throw a quality start in only one of his last 11 starts (not counting the June 29th game against the Orioles, in which he came into the game in the 3rd inning and threw 5.2 innings of two-run ball). Maybe I'm just being stubborn because I talked trash about the guy earlier this year, and I'm not ready to say I was wrong. Maybe it's because I, and others, thought we had a solid starter coming into this season, only for him to have a 6.48 ERA in April, before being sent to the minors less than a month later. Either way, I think it would be dumb to pencil him into the top of the rotation for 2014. At least if it's done without having an eraser handy in case another starter was found.

I've already talked about how the team should try really hard to bring back Kuroda. Although his last three starters have been bad, awful, and slightly less awful, there's no denying that he's been the best pitcher on the team this season. He leads the all starters in WAR, ERA+, WHIP, and K/BB (he's .01 points behind Nova in ERA). I actually said the Yankees should offer him another $2 million raise like they did between 2012 and 2013, while another blogger mentioned that they should give him as much as $20 million.

Whether it's $17 million or $20 million, the Yankees shouldn't stop there, due to the fact that CC Sabathia has gone from exclamation point to question mark. So what free agents, besides Kuroda, are available?

"Well, there's not a lot here."

After being roughed up by the White Sox on August 5th, Andy Pettitte's started five more games to a 1.20 ERA. But being 41 years old, I can't ignore what he did earlier this season, when his ERA was 4.71 after his first 20 starts. There's no way I could trust him as a #3 starter on the team, and it makes no sense to spend around $12 million (his 2013 salary) on a #4 or #5 guy. I love Andy, but this year should be the end of the road.

We've all heard the name "Matt Garza" quite a bit over the past two years, due to him being linked in trade talks with the Yankees. He was finally dealt away from Chicago in mid-July, and went to the Texas Rangers. Although the Bombers could have used a solid starter, going to Texas is a really good thing, as the team can see what the guy can do in the American League, and for a contender. So far he's doing pretty well, having a 4.04 ERA after eight starts. I'm not saying he's a legit #2 starter or higher, at least not yet, but you have to give a guy some time to adjust to a new league. I'll be watching him the rest of the season.

After a disastrous 2012 season, in which he posted career highs in ERA, WHIP, HRs, and Walks, Tim Lincecum has improved. He's not the same pitcher he was from 2008 to 2011, but he's shown signs of once again being a top-of-the-rotation starter. His August 3rd start against the Rays stands out, as he went 7 innings, while giving up just one run on 6 hits. But what he does from here on out could mean the difference between Yankee fans clamoring for him, or Yankee fans wanting to stay away from him like he has the plague itself.

"But I changed my look for New York, as I knew the long hair wouldn't work there."

Ignoring the fact he's always been a National League guy, Ricky Nolasco is having a pretty darn-good season. Before being traded to the Dodgers, Ricky had an ERA of 3.85 in Miami. But since going from a dud of a team to a contender, he's thrown very well. The Dodgers as a whole have to be really pleased with his 6-1 record in his 10 starts, along with a career low mark in hits and homers per nine innings, while maintaining solid strikeout and walk rates. Like Garza, it's great to see him pitching for a contender like the Dodgers, as Yankee fans can see what he can do in a pressure situation. Which he certainly did not have before the trade.

Other than those three names, there are some fairly interesting ones. Ubaldo Jiminez can void the last year on his deal and become a free agent, Scott Kazmir will be available, and Ervin Santana has come back strong after a poor 2012 season. Mind you, those last three probably don't make your mouths water, but they may work in the middle of the rotation.

The bottom line is this... the Yankees should not lean on CC Sabathia to carry the starting rotation any more. Can he be a solid starter? Absolutely. But if the starters look like Sabathia, Kuroda, Nova, Pineda, and ???, I won't feel really good about it. I may not even feel just "good". In order to acquire a top starter to add into that rotation, the team may have to rely on the trade market, which is always an uncertainty, but the fact is more than one move has to be made there.

"As if my job wasn't already going to be really tough this offseason."

Yankees Not In On Ricky Nolasco

Unsurprisingly the Yankees are announcing that they are not in on trading for Ricky Nolasco this trading deadline. The Yankees are said to not be in on any starting pitcher given the offense woes we have been dealing with all season long. Nolasco would be more of an upgrade in the back of the rotation and considered to be a luxury right now and not necessarily a need.

Let's Make A Deal... But For Who?

According to a tweet by Buster Olney early this afternoon, the Marlins are aggressively working on trading Ricky Nolasco. After 16 starts this season, totalling 100.1 innings, Nolasco's ERA is 3.68 and has a FIP of 3.55. His 1.4 WAR ranks him 21st among National League starting pitchers (tied with Mike Leake and Cole Hamels). So there's no doubt he could help out pretty much any team in Major League Baseball.

Please, get me away from that ugly thing on the other side of the center field wall.

To nobody's surprise, Nolasco has been connected to the Yankees. I'm not sure there's ever been trade talk revolving around a good player, in which the Yankees weren't mentioned. After learning that the Yankees could very well have a large chunk of money to spend due to the WBC insurance on Mark Teixeira, the connection does make sense. Ricky has about $6 million remaining on his contract this season, which wouldn't be a problem for the Yankees.

Actually, is money ever a problem for New York?

But there is a problem... The Yankees don't need a starter. Would it be nice? Sure. But the team has way more pressing concerns than run prevention. While the Yankees are the only team in the American League East to have given up less than 300 runs (294), they are also the only team in the division to have scored less than 300 runs (293). I don't have to dig up a dozen more numbers to prove that they need to score more runs... not prevent them.

I was looking at the list of free agents to be after this season, and a few names stuck out...

I've mentioned Corey Hart in the past, and seeing as how the Brewers are 15 games out of 1st place and rumors of them dealing Yovani Gallardo are already swirling, he could probably be had. But it was reported today that Hart's suffered more setbacks, and a return soon after the All Star break is really nothing more than a pipe dream. So that idea's no good.

At this point I wouldn't trust me either.

It would be awesome if the team were able to trade for Nelson Cruz, as the guy already has 19 home runs this season, and the Bombers could definitely use the power. But seeing as how the Rangers sit atop the AL West right now, in a tough battle with Oakland (only 1 game back), there's no way anything there is happening.

I'm a fan of Shin-Soo Choo, but the Reds are right there with St. Louis and Pittsburgh for the NL Central, so it's the same story there as with Cruz.

But there was one name that not only stuck out to me, but seemed like a viable option...

Michael Morse

We're not talking about somebody that's a great all-around hitter, as Michael is batting .251/.313/.454 this season. However, it's the power he can bring that's intriguing. He's hit 11 home runs this season, and had 31 in his last full season in 2011 (he missed 50 games in 2012 with a strain in his right shoulder). This season he's striking out a bit more than normal, due to a big drop in contact percentage on pitches outside the strike zone. If he can either improve his eye, or start making contact like he normally has in the past, then he could be a nice "get" for the Yankees.

Morse has spent most of his playing time in right field this year, with a little time in left field and first base. So position wise he does fill a need. He could start at first base against left-handers, seeing as how Overbay is next to useless against same-sided pitching. Then again, Overbay isn't anything special against right-handers either. Anyway, as I was saying... Versus right-handers Morse could be valuable in the outfield since Wells has been useless against any pitcher, and Zoilo Almonte could come crashing back to Earth.

Morse will be due about $3 million around the trade deadline, and seeing how Seattle is not likely to contend this season (currently 10.5 games out of 1st place in AL West), it would come down to having the right prospects to match up in a trade.

The unfortunate thing is that it would be hard enough for the Yankees to put together a package of prospects to get a Michael Morse, so making another significant move would be pretty difficult.

I had an easier time beating this guy.

When the Yankees get back Francisco Cervelli, Derek Jeter, and Curtis Granderson sometime after the All Star break, the only true problem I see at that point is at third base. Kevin Youkilis, even if we were to assume a healthy back meant he'd hit better, could very well be out the rest of the regular season. David Adams is said to be the starting third baseman right now, but after a torrid start to his MLB career he's cooled down quite a bit (.191/.226/.292 on the year).

While I don't think the Yankees would have enough to deal for Chase Headley to take over third base, even before a trade occurred for Michael Morse, perhaps somebody like Mark Reynolds would be within the Yankees' grasp. But to be honest, I'm not sure he would be much of an improvement anyway. Reynolds is only hitting .233/.321/.427 this season, which is really close to what he did last year (.221/.335/.429). Not that Headley has been a superstar this season (.229/.332/.360), but he did hit 31 homers with a Gold Glove, Silver Slugger Award, and 5th place finish for the NL MVP last season.

So the team may just have to hope Adams can at least be a replacement-level player, while Morse's power gives the team a boost, and Francisco Cervelli, Derek Jeter, and Curtis Granderson return fairly strong.

The Yankees Have Interest In Who?

It's been said over and over by "experts", bloggers, fans, and others that it's incredible the New York Yankees are doing as well as they have in the 2013 season.

The odds of winning weren't quite as high as this guy's was to win the lottery, but they couldn't have been far off.

Here we have a team that was without many key players for long stretches. Starting first baseman Mark Teixeira missed the first 53 games of the season, starting outfielder Curtis Granderson has only played in 8 of the team's 63 games. The Yankees starting third baseman, Kevin Youkilis has missed 38 games. Starting catcher Francisco Cervelli has been gone since the 17th game of 2013. And last, but certainly not least, Derek Jeter has yet to play a game this season, while his fill-ins have batted a combined .219/.288/.288 (good for the lowest OPS of any position on the team).

Only four of the planned starters for this season have been around all year... Ichiro Suzuki, Travis Hafner, Brett Gardner, and Robinson Cano. By the way, Cano is under-performing to the point that he's on pace for the lowest batting average he's ever had in MLB, and lowest OPS since his rookie campaign in 2005.

But here we are today, on June 10th, and the Yankees are in 2nd place in the American League East by 1.5 games, and have the third-best record in the entire league. So how did they get here? Taking a look at their AL ranking in the following categories clears that up quite easily...

Batting Average - 12th
On-Base Percentage - 12th
Slugging Percentage - 10th
wOBA - 11th
wRC+ - 13th
fWAR - 11th

Earned Run Average - 4th
Fielding Independent Pitching - 3rd
xFIP - 2nd
fWAR - 3rd

"Pitching, mother------!"

Pitching is by far the reason the Yankees are where they are today. And that's with their ace, CC Sabathia, carrying his highest ERA since 2005. Not to mention that 27 starts have been made by pitchers whose average age is 26 (Hughes is 27 years old, Phelps and Nova are 26, and Nuno is 25).

Therefore, when I read that the Yankees are interested in Ricky Nolasco, I can't help but scratch my head.

It's not that Nolasco isn't any good. Mind you, he's not going to be confused with any of the elite starters in the game, but his 3.61 ERA this season is quite solid. And although he doesn't strike out many batters (7.4 K/9 lifetime), his walk rate is fairly low (2.2 BB/9 so far this season, which would rank 32nd out of 120 qualified AL starters). You do have to keep in mind that the combined record of his opponents is 278-317 (.467 winning percentage), and the only three teams he's faced that have winning records (Reds, Diamondbacks, and Rays) resulted in a poor showing, a well pitched game, and an okay start.

So in previous seasons such a trade for a pitcher like that would totally make sense. Well, it would make sense as long as the team needed a middle to bottom of the rotation starter, and not somebody they'd be leaning on in the postseason. But this season the team doesn't need help on the mound... they need help in the batter's box.

Maybe it's because no hitters are clearly available, so there's nobody to connect the Yankees to. At least outside of Andre Ethier, who has been brought up as trade fodder for the Dodgers again and again and again, but his current triple-slash of .229/.316/.348 doesn't make any mouths water. So when I read about the Bombers connected to pitchers I just roll my eyes and move on to the next bit of news.

The internet provides me plenty of reasons to roll my eyes.

Marlins Still Selling

The Marlins fire sale may not be over, as Joe Capozzi tweeted that the Marlins are expected to trade Ricky Nolasco and are shopping Logan Morrison.

The rumor is that the Yankees are interested in Nolasco, which sounds good when you consider that he only has 1 year remaining on his contract, however the numbers don't excite me. Ricky had an ERA of 4.48 last season, which was his best single season ERA since 2008. And his strikeout rate has dropped in each of the last 3 years from a career best 9.5 K/9 down to 5.9 K/9 in 2012. 

If there's anything to like about Ricky Nolasco it's his durability. He's missed four starts in 2010 due to needing knee surgery at the end of the season, but has thrown 185+ innings in four of the last five years. So while the Yanks could lean on him to eat innings, that's the only thing he seems to be good for. And at $11.5 million, plus the cost to trade for him, I don't think he's worth it.

The guy Capozzi tweeted about that piques my interest is Logan Morrison. Logan hasn't wowed anybody the past couple of seasons posting lines of .247/.330/.468 in 2011 and .230/.308/.399 in 2010, including missing the last 62 games of the past season due to needing knee surgery. However, Morrison did show some power hitting 23 home runs in 2011, and is only 25 years old. Having BABIPs of .265 and .248 in 2011 and 2012 tell me that he may have been unlucky too.

Logan Morrison isn't eligible for free agency until 2017, so that could keep the price for him up a bit, but thanks to the injury and sub-par seasons he may be a good trade target for New York.