Tanaka's winning streak ends with 6-1 loss to Cubs

At least it was a quality start.

Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees $155 million #4 starter, gave up 3 earned runs over a rough six innings tonight, as the Yanks fell to the Cubs in non-competitive fashion, 6-1.

In this evening's bottom of the first, Tanaka looked alright, striking out two of the three hitters he faced, but after that things started to fall apart, as Chicago circled the bases four times over the next five frames to end this contest early. 

Obviously, with the score being 4-1 when he left, #19 went on to take the loss in this one, dropping his 2014 record to a slightly less-than-perfect 6-1.

In tonight's top of the sixth, the Bombers actually showed some signs of life, getting a run off Jason Hammel (5.2 IP, 1 ER) when Mark Teixeira lined a single to center. At that point, the Pinstripes were within just 1, although that momentum would quickly die, as the Cubs would circle the bases twice in the both the sixth and the seventh to make this ballgame a blowout. 

And if things couldn't any worse, the Orioles beat the Pirates over in Pittsburgh this evening, again knocking the Yankees out of the division lead. 

Game Thread: Yankees @ Cubs 5/20

The New York Yankees will travel to Chicago to take on the Chicago Cubs tonight in Wrigley Field in the first of a quick two game set. The Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to face off with Jason Hammel. It seems like every time Tanaka starts lately it is in a National League park where he has to bat, baseball Gods are not kind to everyone. The game will be played at 8:05 pm ET and can be seen on MY9, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy the rest of your night.

Kevin Hart Is A Funny Guy That Hates The Cubs Meme

There is some truth to this maybe? Relate-able? 

Preview: New York Yankees @ Chicago Cubs 5/20

The New York Yankees will travel to Chicago this week to take on both the Chicago clubs and it starts tonight when the Bronx Bombers take over Wrigley Field. The Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to face off with Jason Hammel for the Cubs. The game will be played at 8:05 pm ET and can be seen on MY9, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Tanaka is coming off yet another victory in his last start extending his record to 6-0 in the majors. Tanaka is the first pitcher since 1900 to get six wins and strike out 60 batters in his first eight starts to start his career. Tanaka has not lost a decision in his last 42 starts dating back to his time in Japan and including his time in New York.

Hammel did not record a quality start for the first time this season last time out against the St. Louis Cardinals. Hammel has already lost one game to the Yankees this season on April 16 in New York giving up three runs in seven innings pitched. Hammel owns a 3-4 record with a 5.04 ERA in 18 career games against the Yankees.

Go Yankees!!

Stephen Drew Thankfully Comes Off Yankees Board

The wait is finally over Yankees fans, Stephen Drew has finally signed a contract. It's not with New York, it's with the Boston Red Sox. Drew will replace the injured Will Middlebrooks at third base and more importantly will be kept away from the Yankees, thank you Boston. I am so over this and I am so glad this is over. See you in September when he's batting .240. By the way, in case you were wondering, Drew signed for a one year deal worth $14 million and somewhere Scott Boras thinks he won.

Yankees RF Beltran not yet ready to undergo surgery

Don't panic yet, Yankees fans.

According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, Bombers Right Fielder Carlos Beltran, currently on the DL with a bone spur in his elbow, will attempt to play through the pain when his 15-Day stint ends.

Beltran, who's hit .234/.286/.430 with 5 home runs and 15 RBI so far this season, visited Dr. James Andrews earlier today, with the bone spur diagnosis unsurprisingly being confirmed. 

Despite that, the 2013 NL Champion is apparently still not ready to give up, planning to stay on the field rather than undergo a surgery that would sideline him for at least 2 months.

Currently, #36 has mainly been replaced in the outfield by usual DH Alfonso Soriano, with Ichiro Suzuki also filling in occasionally. Since taking over, Soriano has done pretty well, not making an error while also recording an assist, so in my opinion Beltran's presence isn't completely needed on this team right now. He's undoubtedly still good, but really, the Pinstripes seem to be doing fine without him. 

My point in that last paragraph: Beltran needs to be smart in this situation. If he's not hurt he should play, but if he is then what he's doing here is pretty dumb.

Remembering Tris Speaker On This Day

Tris Speaker made history more than once in this day in Major League history. 

On this day in 1918 Tris Speaker was struck in the head with a pitch off of Red Sox submariner Carl Mays. Mays would also hit Ray Chapman two years later in the head with a pitch that would kill him as a member of the New York Yankees. Speaker thought that Mays hit him on purpose in the head but Mays always denied the allegations.

A mere seven years later Speaker scored from first base on a single scoring the winning run in a 10-9 walk off win over the Yankees. The Indians scored six times in the bottom of the ninth to cap off the comeback. Where was Mariano Rivera when you need him?

Classic Player A vs. Player B Comparison NYY Style

No introduction is necessary because the numbers will speak for themselves here...

Player A:

Year	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
2014	38	155	134	19	42	10	0	5	24	0	0	17	17	.313	.387	.500	.887	144

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/19/2014.

Player B:

Year	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
2014	43	186	170	19	54	10	1	1	24	2	1	14	21	.318	.366	.406	.771	123

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/19/2014.

Player A is Yangervis Solarte. Player B is Robinson Cano. Remember when all of Yankeeland was up in arms about Cano leaving town for the Mariners? Me either.

Can't Predict Baseball: The One Armed Outfielder

On this day in 1945 Pete Gray led the St. Louis Browns to a doubleheader sweep of the New York Yankees after scoring the winning run in the second game. Gray collected three hits in the first game and the one-armed outfielder makes ten putouts in the field in the second game.

Quick Hit: Exit Alfredo Aceves, Enter Pat Venditte

The New York Yankees were built on depth and versatility this season so why is switch pitcher Pat Venditte still in Triple-A? The Yankees were built to win so why is Alfredo Aceves still on the roster giving up home runs to guys who will hit one more the entire season and Venditte is still in Triple-A? If the Yankees want versatility, a second lefty in the bullpen, and a fresh arm or two in the pen then it may be time to bring up Venditte.

Venditte is not the side show that everyone thought he was, although he may be old as far as prospects go though, but he has definitely earned the spot. It's worth mentioning that Venditte has faced five batters since being called up to Triple-A and has a 0.00 ERA and has five strikeouts.