2012 Major League Baseball All Star Game

The Yankees will have to win their 28th World Seried Championship without the luxury of Home Field Advantage as the National League beat up on Justin Verlander and the American League.

8-0 National League Wins!

Tonight at 7:30 pm ET on FOX we will have the latest installment of the Major League Baseball All Star Game. Just a reminder, not that anyone needs one, that this game does mean something. Like it or not this game decides who will be getting home field advantage in the World Series come this October/November.  

I fully expect American League manager from the Texas Rangers, Ron Washington, to manage this game very aggressively and trying his best to win the game. He knows what it feels like to start a game 7 of the World Series on the road and lose, as recently as last year against the Cardinals, and his team is in a great position to go to the Series for the 3rd straight season.

Just as another pointless remind the Yankees have three starters in the game and they are the only Yankees that are making the trip to Kansas City and Kauffman Stadium. Yankees SS Derek Jeter, 2B Robinson Cano, and OF Curtis Granderson are the three Yankees that are All Star's this season. CC Sabathia was named as a SP All Star but will not pitch in the game due to his groin injury. 

For a look at the full and updated rosters for the game for both sides please click here. 

Here are the lineups for the game:

AMERICAN LEAGUE 
Derek Jeter SS
Robinson Cano 2B
Josh Hamilton LF
Jose Bautista RF
Prince Fielder 1B
Adrian Beltre 3B
David Ortiz DH
Mike Napoli C
Curtis Granderson CF

RHP Justin Verlander

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Carlos Gonzalez DH
Melky Cabrera CF
Ryan Braun LF
Joey Votto 1B
Carlos Beltran RF
Buster Posey C
Pedro Sandoval 3B
Dan Uggla 2B
Rafael Furcal SS

RHP Matt Cain

My prediction is that the American League pitching will be solid and do just enough to win the game. For fun Ill throw out a score of 7-5 with the O's Jim Johnson getting the win, Padres closer Huston Street taking the loss, and Rangers closer Joe Nathan getting the save. Where am I getting those predictions from? Well this is a family blog so we will not go there :)

I just hope for the fans to be entertained, everyone to come out of the game healthy, and everyone involved having a safe and good time. Enjoy!

2012 State Farm Home Run Derby

Your 2012 Home Run Derby Champion

It is that time of the year again. It is time for the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby. Four of the best home run hitters from both the American League and the National League will go head to head and hopefully put on a show for the fans. Our very own Robinson Cano is the team captain for the American League and the defending Home Run Derby Champion.

The Home Run Derby will begin at 8 pm ET on ESPN (which really means like 8:45 after all the "festivities" and Chris Berman rants). The Home Run Derby would not be the same without him though so I cannot complain too much. 

 Here is the field of players.

American League

NYY Robinson Cano - 0 HRs

DET Prince Fielder - 5 HRs

TOR Jose Bautista - 11 HRs

ANA Mark Trumbo - 7 HRs

National League

COL Carlos Gonzalez - 4 HRs

PIT Andrew McCutchen - 2 HRs

STL Carlos Beltran - 7 HR's 

LAD Matt Kemp - 1 HR

I am going to go ahead and put my predictions down here on paper so everyone can see just how horrible I am at predicting these sorts of thing. I am going to pick Toronto's own Joey Bats Jose Bautista to beat out Cano to represent the American League in the finals. For the National League I have Carlos Gonzalez beating out Carlos Beltran to represent the National League in the finals. In the end I think Joey Bats puts on a show and wins the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby.

The first round totals are above. I will try and keep up with the 2nd round below but I make no promises because I have a job (blogging does not pay? what???) and have to be up in like 7 hours and we're on the 3rd batter.

Reggie Jackson Gets A Vacation

Earlier today Buster Olney reported that the Yankees have told Reggie to essentially stay away from the team. I don't think this is a permanent thing, but a way for the whole issue to blow over without it being a distraction. At least not as big a distraction as it would be if Reggie wasn't reprimanded or sent away at all.

Oh, and if you don't know what "issue" I'm referring to, then let me start off by saying "congratulations for getting out from under that rock you've been living". Then I'll refer you to my post a few days back regarding Reggie Jackson, which not only goes over what he said, but also points out a few other reasons why I'm not the biggest Reggie fan in Yankee Universe.

Michael Wilbon, of Pardon The Interruption fame, said that he doesn't agree with this action taken by the organization. He wants to hear Reggie say these things, and believes that Reggie has the right to do so. The problem with that thinking is that Jackson isn't just some former ballplayer. Brooks Robinson, and others, have spoken out against steroids in baseball, but the Human Vacuum Cleaner and those other guys aren't currently on the Yankees payroll. So there's a key difference in this story, Mr. Wilbon.

If you or I publicly talked trash about somebody at our workplace we'd be fired. I'm not sure what Jackson said merits termination from the Yankee organization, but a suspension surely fits. Even though Reggie hasn't played for the Yanks for nearly 31 years, as part of the front office he represents the team and those a part of it. And in this case he didn't do so respectfully. That may fly in places like Boston*, but not New York.

*Unfair joke? Yeah, but it's the Red Sox, so who cares?

CC Sabathia To Come Off DL July 17th

Joe Girardi announced late yesterday that CC Sabathia would be coming off the DL to pitch on July 17th against the Toronto Blue Jays.  CC was placed on the 15 day DL with a groin strain last month and will miss only two starts. The replacements have done adequately in his abscence but it is still a good feeling to have your big man, your work horse, and your ace out there every 5th day.

Yankees @ Red Sox 7/8/12

Yankees win 7-3

The last game before the All Star Break will showcase the Yankees and the Red Sox going head to head one more time, the fourth time this weekend. The Yankees have won the first two games of the series before losing one last night (Thank you Cory Wade) so this game is sort of important. The standings look a whole lot better if the Yankees can take 3/4 from the Sox rather then split the series with the rivals. All hands should be on deck as far as the bullpen goes because none of our starters or relievers will be making the trip and pitching in the all star game so they will have three days rest. I hate to say play the game like a must win but that is what I would do personally.

Ivan Nova will start for the Yankees against the Boston ace, and third straight lefty to face the Yankees, Jon Lester. The game will be televised at 8:05 pm ET on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. Everyone enjoy the last game before the break.

Lineups

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano DH
Nick Swisher RF
Andruw Jones LF
Jayson Nix 2B
Chris Stewart C

Go Yankees!!

Game 2 Yankees @ Red Sox 7/7/12

Yankees Lose 9-5

The night cap of a day night double header. We should be treated to some weird lineups and thin bullpens tonight in Fenway. Remember though that Bud Selig added a new rule that a 26th player can be called up for the day in the instance of a day night double header. The Yankees will call up Cory Wade so fully expect him to pitch his arm off today and save the pen before the break. Phil Hughes, who had put together a nice string of great starts for the Yankees, will be on the mound to face off against another tough left handed pitcher in Franklin Morales.  The game will be televised at 7:05 pm ET on the YES Network and FOX.

Lineups

Derek Jeter SS
Curtis Granderson CF
Mark Teixeira DH
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher 1B
Andruw Jones LF
Jayson Nix 3B
Russell Martin C
Darnell McDonald RF

Go Yankees!!!

Exclusive Interview With Alan Horne

The Greedy Pinstripes has snagged an exclusive interview with former Yankees starting pitcher and farm hand Alan Horne. We want to thank Mr. Horne for taking the time to answer our questions and be an all around friendly and nice guy for a small time blog like ourselves.

Alan was one of the Yankees pitchers that seemed to be the "next big thing" much like Adam Warren and David Phelps are now but a shoulder injury set him back for good unfortunately. He did not let them keep him back or knock him down though and he continues to do his thing and live his life so kudos to him. Now on to the interview.

Was your dream as a child always to be a baseball player? If not then what did you want to be when you grew up?

I always wanted to be a baseball player as long as I can remember. I didn't really play other sports when I was younger besides soccer for a few years and it was more to get in shape for baseball season. I've always been kind of an all in or not at all person and baseball was the only sport I was like that with. When I wasn't playing I was hunting or fishing. Truth be told my dream as a little guys was to play baseball long enough that I could be famous enough to have my own hunting and fishing show. Aspirations of a small town country kid I guess.

What team did you root for growing up as a kid? 

For whatever reason growing up I loves the cardinals. I have no idea why because I had absolutely no ties to them what so ever. 

Favorite player(s) growing up? 

My favorite players growing up were definitely Nolan Ryan, Mark McGwire, and Dale Murphy.

Your biggest inspiration when it came to baseball? 

My biggest inspiration was definitely my dad. He was a heck of a ball player himself playing at Chipola Junior College and Florida State. Unfortunately he had his career derailed by injuries as well. He taught how to do things the right way from the very beginning. That was the only option I had and I have a deep respect for him teaching the game to me that way.

Favorite moment as a Yankees prospect? 

My favorite moment would have to be the culmination of the 2007 season. I was lucky enough to have a great season, get named pitcher of the year, and go up to NY for several days after our season. I'll never forget that phone call from Cash congratulating me and telling me he would see me soon.

Who was the best prospect in the Yankees system that you ever played with? 

You know I played with so many talented guys.....Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, David Robertson, Brett Gardner, Austin Jackson....it really goes on and on so it's hard to pick a best or favorite. If I had to pick a player and pitcher who I admired how they played the game and loved watching them play it would have been Brett and Ian. They are both ultimate competitors and even more outstanding guys. I'm still close with them to this day.

Do you keep in touch with any other current or former Yankees prospects or coaches? 

I keep in touch with a lot of guys and a handful of coaches as well. Our lifestyle is a kind of fraternity I guess and will forever share bonds with the people we play with.

Hardest part of being a prospect? 

Being a prospect was never hard for me because I was very goal oriented and had bigger hopes and dreams than any person could have had for me. Unfortunately things didn't work out but I got to leave the game knowing it wasn't that I wasn't good enough or I didn't work hard enough. Just some bad breaks and that's the way the game works.

Why did you decide to sign with the Yankees when they drafted you and not the Angels or the Indians? 

Ya know what all three teams are great organizations and it was never about that. I tried to make the decision that was right for me at the time in each case. I'll be forever grateful to each for giving me an opportunity and extremely proud of being a Yankee for 7 years. Not everyone gets to be a part of the greatest organization in professional sports and I'll cherish every up and down that went with it. 

Do you have plans to try and give baseball another shot? Do you have long term goals and plans for life after baseball? 

Again unfortunately I'm done with baseball. My shoulder is to the point where it is pretty miserable for me just to play catch. I'd have to have another shoulder surgery just to try again and it just wasn't worth it after all I've been through. As for plans after baseball I'm currently in training to become a State Farm Agent in Jasper, Georgia. It would have been way too hard for me to stay in baseball after everything that happened. I don't think I could be around it everyday. And this is a great opportunity. Instead of coaching baseball it gives me a chance to coach people in financially structuring their lives so they too can one day have a chance to achieve all their hopes and dreams. It's something I'm very excited about and look forward to.

How are you adjusting to living in small town America? 

Small town America is no adjustment for me. It's how I've lived my whole life and wouldn't have it any other way now that I am through with baseball

Most famous person in your cell phone? 

Most famous person. I have no idea. I'll probably have to give my buddy Ian props on that one haha.

Most embarrassing song/artist in your ipod? 

And as far as my iPod goes I'm quite prejudice in the fact that I have the best iPod ever assembled. No bad or embarrassing stuff on there haha.

Again we want to thank Mr. Alan Horne for taking the time for the interview. Guy is a great guy he has never shyed away from talking to me or taking the time for me on facebook and for this blog. It is also cool because I am 15 minutes away from his State Farm Office in Jasper, Georgia! Good luck in all your travels Alan and thank you again!

Game 1 Yankees @ Red Sox 7/7/12

Behind a pair of Back to Back home runs and 6.2 solid innings from Freddy Garcia give the Yankees the win.

Yankees win 6-1

The Yankees are playing a day night double header today (and tonight) at Boston in Fenway Park. After a nearly four hour marathon yesterday where no lead was safe and all those trendy baseball sayings these two teams are right back at it this afternoon. On the mound for the Yankees in the first game will be Freddy Garcia who will be making CC Sabathia's missed start. For the Red Sox will be Felix Doubront who is a tough lefty. Dont expect to see any left handed hitting out there but Cano and Granderson, who both hit lefties well. We may even see Darnell McDonald start a game. Remember that in the stance of a day night double header each team can call up a 26th man for the day. The Yankees have indicated that their choice will be right handed reliever Cory Wade. The game will be televised at 12:30 pm ET on YES and MLB Network's Saturday Matinee. 


Lineups


Derek Jeter DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Nick Swisher RF
Andruw Jones LF
Jayson Nix SS
Darnell McDonald CF
Chris Stewart C


Go Yankees!!!

Tyler Austin Out Of Futures Game

@TAustin2121

The Yankees sole representative in the Futures Game and Greedy Pinstripes follower on twitter, super prospect Tyler Austin,  is out of the game because of being hit in the head with a pitch and being placed on the DL. That has to be heartbreaking for him as I know it is heart breaking for me as a fan for him to miss this opportunity. Especially when his mother, Kim Austin (@austinmom03) , says that he is fine, The Yankees just seem to be being cautious and using the "better safe then sorry" method. There is no indication who, if anybody, will be replacing him in the game. It would be an easy fix to just replace him with Yankees outfielder Mason Williams who is also deserving of going, from the same country, and plays the outfield as well but I do not make those decisions. 

Mr. October is not Mr. Nice Guy

It's hard to believe that I like the Red Sox player in this picture more than I like the former Yankee player.

I'm not a Reggie Jackson fan.

Don't get me wrong, I think Reggie was a great player. Hell, he hit .450/.542/1.250 in the 1977 World Series, and .391/.500/.696 in the 1978 World Series... both of which the Yankees won. Even in the 1981 World Series that the Yankees lost Reggie hit .333/429/.667. I totally appreciate what he's done with the bat, but it's his attitude that's always rubbed me the wrong way.

It started with the day he was drafted 2nd overall by the Oakland Athletics. Jackson said that his baseball coach at Arizona State University, Bobby Winkles, told him that the Mets (who selected 1st that season) passed on him due to the fact Reggie had a white girlfriend. Joe McDonald, an executive in the front office for the Mets at the time, said that was untrue. The Mets owner at the time, George Weiss, was a racist, but the story hasn't been confirmed one way or another.

On it's own it's hard to count that against Reggie. But after a bit more research I saw that he turned down a football scholarship offer from the University of Oklahoma because apparently they told him to stop dating white girls. Although racism at the time is not surprising, it is a strange coincidence that his white girlfriend(s) played such a role.

Anyway...

All Yankee fans, and I'm willing to bet most baseball fans, know about the argument Reggie and Billy Martin had when Martin took Jackson out of RF during an inning. Martin felt that Reggie was being lazy in going after a ball that was hit out there, so he made the switch mid-inning. I don't agree with what Billy did, as I would have waited until between innings to either talk to the player or remove him as not to show-up the guy, but I loved Martin and he was in charge. And that's not even the first time Reggie Jackson has been accused of being lazy. Back when Reggie was still with the As he was accused openly by sports author Dick Crouser for being lazy.

Then there's the fact that Reggie has always been very high on himself. I just read a quote that says it all, which came from former Oakland teammate Darold Knowles, when asked if Jackson was a hot-dog (showoff)... "There isn't enough mustard in the world to cover Reggie Jackson". Or how about this quote from an interview in Sport magazine in 1977... "This team, it all flows from me. I'm the straw that stirs the drink. Maybe I should say me and Munson, but he can only stir it bad." Really?

There are other stories you can read about concerning Reggie Jackson and his issues, but I want to move onto his recent statements.

“I didn’t see Kirby Puckett as a Hall of Famer. I didn’t see Gary Carter as a Hall of Famer. I didn’t see Don Sutton as a Hall of Famer. I didn’t see Phil Niekro as a Hall of Famer. As much as I like Jim Rice, I’m not so sure he’s a Hall of Famer.”

I don't like looking at cumulative stats to compare players. Take this case... how can you compare a guy with 11,418 plate appearances (Reggie) with another guy that had only 7,831 plate appearances (Kirby Puckett) using cumulative stats? So I use ratios or averages. And while Jackson had a career triple-slash of .262/.356/.490, Puckett's was .318/.360/.477. If Reggie is a Hall of Famer, why not Kirby? Then there's Carter's career fWAR of 66.4 compared to Reggie's 68.4, which doesn't even get into the fact that Gary Carter won 3 Gold Gloves as a catcher. Don Sutton? 324 wins, 178 complete games (this was past the era when starters almost always went the distance), over 3,500 strikeouts, while finishing 5th or higher in Cy Young voting five times. Yeah, I think Don's a fine choice for the Hall of Fame. Phil Niekro's case was pretty good, as was Jim Rice's too. I'm fine with a guy having an opinion, but it doesn't seem very informed.

“If any of those guys get in, no Hall of Famer will attend.”

That quote is in reference to a question about guys that have admitted to using Performance Enhancing Drugs getting into the Hall of Fame. Does Reggie really think all living Hall of Famers hold the same belief regarding this subject as he does? Seeing as how he just shat all over a handful of them, my money is on "no, they don't".

“The question is going to be a guy like Andy Pettitte, who admitted that he got involved for a while, but who is so universally respected in the game. I think he’ll get in, but there will be a lot of [members] who won’t go.”

“He’s an awfully good friend. I’ve known Andy since he was 20. I’ll leave it there.”

Huh? Reggie just said that no Hall of Famers would attend, after knocking guys like Barry Bonds and Alex Rodriguez for having allegedly or admittedly using PEDs. So which is it? Are you and others in or out? Is Jackson seriously suggesting that players who are respected should get a free pass on PED usage? I really don't understand those last two quotes, and how they go with things he had just said in the same interview.

Reggie, thank you for what you did for the Yankees and the game of baseball, but please keep your illogical and silly thoughts to yourself.