Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 9/11

And just like that it is game time here in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins. In the middle game of their three-game set this week the Yankees will send Sonny Gray to the mound, welcome back, while the Twins will counter with Tyler Duffey. The game will be played at 8:10 pm ET inside Target Field and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app, and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us on Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to keep up with us and the team all season long. Enjoy the game, hope for Sonny skies ahead, and go Yankees!!

Andrew McCutchen Brings a “Clutch” Factor the Yankees Have Been Missing

The New York Yankees this season have not been “clutch” here in 2018 like they were during the 2017 season. If that is even a real thing or whether it is merely something made up by fans and sports writers remains to be seen, but it has gained enough steam regardless among the baseball community that Baseball Reference (and I’m sure others) have tried to find a way to quantify it. Enter Baseball Reference’s “Leverage” stat. Basically what the leverage stat tabulates is a player’s performance in high, medium, and low leverage situations. For example, having the bases loaded with two outs would be considered a “high” leverage stat, while leading off a game would be considered a “low” leverage situation. If you want to know the exact verbiage and the way the stat is tabulated head over to Baseball Reference for their in-depth explanation.

Here are McCutchen’s stats in each leverage situation, courtesy of Baseball Reference:

As you can see McCutchen is a different, and better, hitter in high leverage situations than he is in low or even medium leverage situations, which can only be a good thing for the Yankees heading into the postseason.

Let’s compare that to someone who is universally thought of as “clutch” on this team, Brett Gardner:

Many also consider Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres, albeit in small sample sizes, to be clutch as well:

Torres:

Andujar:

This, my friends, is how you win in October, and this is how you win a World Series. This team is built to do so whether the naysayers believe it or not, now they just have to do it. *Insert Nike add mocking Colin Kaepernick while inserting a Yankees face into the meme*

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Minnesota Twins 9/11

The New York Yankees and the Minnesota Twins will continue their three-game set tonight with the middle game of the series. Welcome back to the starting rotation, Sonny Gray. Tonight the Yankees will send Sonny Gray out to the mound to face off with Tyler Duffey for the Twins. This could either be really good, or really bad, so let’s find out and let’s get to it here in Minnesota.

Gray will re-enter the Yankees rotation for a spot start tonight against the Twins. The Yankees have seemingly conceded the division with this move and are focusing on the Wild Card as they are giving each of their starters an extra day of rest with this move. Since Gray has been removed from the Yankees starting rotation the right-hander has gone 2-0 with a 1.83 ERA in 19.2 innings that spanned six games, one of them as a starting pitchah.

Duffey is tonight's starter for the Twins "bullpen game" tonight inside Target Field. Duffey will pitch an inning or two and will look to improve on his 1-2 record and 9.00 ERA in 14 appearances with the Twins this season. 

The game will be played at 8:10 pm ET inside Target Field and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app, and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Enjoy the game, even though it appears the Yankees have officially conceded the division with this pitching move… and go Yankees!!

Hello… September 11, 2018

LOL at the song, just for you. 

Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. September 11^th, 17 years later. While many have forgotten or don’t think about the tragedies that happened on September 11, 2001 these incidents still go through my mind from time-to-time. When those terrorists attacked New York City, the Pentagon, and other attempted areas I took that personally. New York City is MY city. New York state is MY state. So, today we remember… but we will never and can never forget. When you get comfortable and complacent is when you become vulnerable, and we need to never become vulnerable ever again. Thank you to everyone who served on this day 17 years ago, in whatever capacity, and my thoughts and prayers are with anyone who was affected and/or lost someone on this tragic day. Much love.

And my baby, my heart always belongs to you and will always be with you. No matter what. I hope you are feeling better this morning, I love you!

September 11th - Never Forget

Good morning Yankees family and a very somber September 11th to you all. This day will always, at least as long as I am alive, be a horrible day ingrained into my memory. Where were you when the world stopped turning on the morning of September 11th? I was in my 10th grade math class room with a teacher whose name I'll never remember with 29-30 other classmates I'll probably never speak to again. I will ALWAYS remember the 2,996 people killed in the World Trade Center, Pentagon and those on United Flight 9 along with the over 6,000 injured.

The loss of life was unprecedented. The loss of life in law enforcement and for fire fighters may never be matched again. We may never see anything like this in the history of our great country again and you know what, that's A-okay with me. Never forget ladies and gentleman. Never forget.



Silence (over Manhattan)
by Paula Bardell

A black September shadow cloaks the dawn,
The City’s once white teeth now rotting stumps,
Midst choking dusty embers ether-borne,
Its shrunken soundless heart now barely pumps.
Infernos upon retribution rise,
Fanaticism maddening the flames,
Its once imposing deities abscise,
As the faceless antagonist proclaims:
A consummation sweet but unfulfilled,
A penetrative burst without regret,
A zealous passion never to be stilled,
An earthly instinct powerful, and yet –
This bitter loathing blowing from the East,
Curtailed but could not kill the feisty beast.

This Day In New York Yankees History: September 11th

On this day in 2009 Derek Jeter became the Yankees all-time hits king passing Lou Gehrig with an opposite field single in the third inning against the Baltimore Orioles. Derek would pass the former Yankee captain and Iron Horse with his 2,722 hit of his Yankees career after Gehrig held the franchise record for more than 70 years.

Also on this day in 2001 as we all know and will forever remember terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York, Pentagon in Washington D.C., and got overtaken above Pennsylvania resulting in a plane crash. Major League Baseball cancelled all games on this day for security reasons and to allow everyone to reflect, mourn, and catch up with what was going on around the country.


Today we once again honor those who have fallen, those who protect us and pray for our country. Never forget.

What is the Issue?

What is the real issue? 

The Yankees are 89-54 and tied for the 2nd best record in the majors. Yes we trail Boston by 9 games. Yes there has been some blown games, under preforming, and questionable decisions. Could we be better? Of course we can if a few things bounced a little differently we would still be in the race for the division. However how many times can lose players of Sanchez, Judge, and Didi’s caliber and still boast the 2nd best record in the sport? The answer very few. All in all this has been a great season for the Yanks. I know we are expected to be better, but how much better can you be? The Bombers did have a stacked lineup, the best pen in baseball, and a deep farm system. The only real issue going into the season was the questionable rotation. Then Jordan Montgomery went down, and really to be honest the Yanks didn’t miss a beat. At the trade deadline the added JA Happ who has been awesome with the exception of one start.  So again I must ask what is the issue? I mean don’t get me wrong there is a few issue going on with a few of the players. Greg Bird is not hitting consistently, Severino has been off since the All Star Game, Sanchez has not been himself at the plate and having his miscues behind the plate. Again thou I must state the Bombers are 89-54 good for the 2nd best record in the Majors.The point I’m trying to make is the fans need to relax. I am hearing and reading all sort of chatter about Marlins catcher J .T. Realmuto and a possible trade evolving Gray Sanchez. 

I’m hearing all sort of other players the Yankees should target and trade Sanchez for or move him to 1st base. Now we do need to improve certain areas of the team there is always need for improvement. However we don’t need any type of over haul or big in house changes. I know I have been in the front of the line for signing both Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, however we will put aside Harper for the moment. The thinking here is we need to close the gap with the Red Sox and win the division. With that in mind here are my thoughts. Remember fans there is no need to panic but just make a couple additions. 

Starting Pitching is the major area the team needs to improve. Luckily the answers i this problem is in one case a free agent and in the second and third cases already in house.   

Sevy has seen his ups and downs but I have no problem with him as the ace of this staff. Masahiro Tanaka is a solid number 3. Which leads to openings at 2, 4, and 5. I now present case number one........... Patrick Corbin. Corbin who I have always liked has turned a corner this year stayed healthily and has become a dependable starter every 5th day. Corbin would slide right into the 2 spot in the Yanks rotation. Even more awesome he has already stated to friends, and family he would love to be a Yankee. The 4th spot is actually also a free agent at years end but is already in house .....JA Happ. Happ as been excellent since coming over in the trade with the Blue Jays and surprise surprise he has stated he would like to resign with the Bombers next season. Now with spots 1-4 filled and not lookin too shabby we look at spot 5. The answers here may also be right in house. Yes I said answers because there is more the one and always should be talking about a 5th starter. With Justus Sheffield knocking on the door, Jordan Montgomery coming back from injury, Jonathan Loaisiga, and a slew of other youngsters down on the farm we will be good to go when it comes to a 5th starter.  

Now as far as the lineup goes we have one of the best offenses in the game. We do need a 1st baseman that will hit more Consistently but outside of that, the only real need is a better defensive 3rd baseman. The answer there is another guy who is a free agent and has not hid his desire to be wearing the Pinstripes. Yes I’m talking Manny Machado. Singing Manny and having him take over at 3rd would be a big boast on both sides of the ball. MIQUEL Andjuar would then be able to slide over to 1st base and or maybe see time in LF so they don’t totally waste his arm. Any fan complaining of a line up that could look like this should be crazy. 1. Hicks 2. Judge 3. Stanton 4. Didi 5. Machado 6. Sanchez 7. Andjuar 8. Torres 9. Gardner or TBD. Now again that is just putting Harper aside and most likely picking up the option on Gardner’s contract. The Yankees would be awesome again and be in the running for the AL East crown. Now I would get greed myself and add Harper which would balance out the lineup even more and add a needed left handed bat. Plus how good does this guy look wearing the pinstripes....Can you imagine a lineup of Hicks, Judge, Stanton, Harper, Machado, Sanchez, Didi, Andjuar, and Torres. Wow however even without Harper I am still saying Wow. Point is the Yankees are no where near panic mode. The Fans need to stop beating the drum of trading Sanchez or moving him to 1st base. The fans need to stop panicking because the Yankees are 9 games back of the Red Sox. We have the SECOND best record in the game and would be in 1st place of any other division in the game. Sit back watch and enjoy the team we have and like last year TRUST THE PROCESS!!! 

Let’s G⚾️ Yankees! 

James C Palma can be reached at JamesCPalma@Yahoo.Com                                     Twitter @JamesCPalma

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Seattle Mariners 9/8

And just like that it is game time here in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners. In the middle game of their three-game weekend set the Yankees will send Lance Lynn to the mound looking to turn around some recent struggles while the Mariners will counter with Felix Hernandez. The game will be played at 9:10 pm ET inside Safeco Field in Seattle and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app, and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us on Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to keep up with us and the Yankees all season long. Enjoy the game, send the King home crying, and go Yankees!!

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Seattle Mariners 9/8

The Seattle Mariners and the New York Yankees are back at it again tonight inside Safeco Field with the second of their three-game weekend set out on the West Coast. In the middle game of this series the Yankees will send Lance Lynn out to the mound looking to improve on his last four outings, while the Mariners will counter with Felix Hernandez. You know, it doesn’t matter if the Mariners and the Yankees played a one-game playoff, they always seem to land on the days that Hernandez is set to pitch. Something fishy smells here, I’m just saying, but regardless let’s get to it out here in Seattle.

Lynn has struggled over his last four starts for the Yankees posting an 0-2 record with a 9.16 ERA during that span, ouch. In his last start Lynn allowed six runs on nine hits in just 3.2 innings pitched against the Tigers in a loss, another ouch.

Hernandez was once thought of as a Yankees-killer, which could explain why he is staying in the rotation for tonight’s start against New York. Throughout his career Hernandez has posted a 10-7 record against the Yankees with a 3.00 ERA in 22 career starts.

The game will be played at 9:10 pm ET inside Safeco Field in Seattle and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app, and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast on WFAN with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Enjoy the game, here’s to hoping that King Felix pitches more like the King’s jester tonight… and go Yankees!!

Hello… Book 2

Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Also, welcome back to the weekend. Boy, did I need a weekend, let me tell you about it. I say that sarcastically, it isn’t worth rehashing, not on a beautiful Saturday morning anyway. No work talk, or thoughts until Monday. Happy thoughts and no stress until then.

I wrote a second book, and this one only took me four months to write. I was and am pretty excited about it. I don’t expect anyone to buy it, but if you’re interested it can be found here on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Defiance-Undefeated-events-Daniel-Bartow/dp/1726120244/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536326703&sr=8-1&keywords=defiance+undefeated

Everything I do, I do for you Kari. I love you, and I hope you know that with every ounce of your being.