Morning Bits

Good morning everyone!

After a week off I am back at the keyboard but nothing much has changed in the world of the Yankees.

C.C. Sabathia threw more batting practice as the Yankees lost by a score of 10-3 to the Rays.

Sabathia allowed 7 earned runs on 9 hits and 3 walks over 5 innings and saw his ERA soar to 4.65, the highest of the Yankee rotation right now.

Alfonso Soriano returned to the Bronx last night and stranded 5 runners while going 0-5.

The Yankees and Rays will do battle again today in the Bronx at 1:05 PM ET in a game that will be televised by YES.  Chris Archer(5-3, 2.76 ERA) will face Ivan Nova(4-3, 3.66 ERA).

Now on to today's news links:

Wally Matthews and Andrew Marchand of ESPNNY.com have this piece on the soap opera involving A-Rod.

Peter Botte and Anthony McCarron of the New York Daily News report that Derek Jeter could be back in the Yankee lineup by Sunday.

Filip Bondy, also of the New York Daily News, points out that the Mets are playing better than the Yankees are right now and without the drama.

Have a great day everyone!

Daily "Jump On The Yankees Bandwagon" Update

Even with this loss we are still only 2.5 games back of the wild card at last check and as we all know the post season is a whole new season. Jump on the bandwagon now and remember that you heard about the turn around here first on The Greedy Pinstripes.

Record since turnaround was announced is 2-2

This Day In New York Yankees History 7/27

This is not really New York Yankees history that we probably want to remember but on this day in 2011 the Seattle Mariners made history against us. The Mariners snapped a 17 game losing streak behind seven strong innings from Felix Hernandez and an offensive outburst. The M's would win 9-2 to get their first victory in three weeks.

New York Yankees Sign Brendan Harris

In a purely depth signing the New York Yankees announced that they have signed former Los Angeles Angel of Anaheim Brendan Harris to a minor league deal. Harris has been assigned to AAA Scranton with the RailRiders after being designated for assignment earlier in the week by the Halos. Harris cleared waivers and is now a member of the Yankees organization even though he only has a .206/.252/.355 batting line this season.

Curtis Granderson & Jayson Nix Rehab Updates

Both Curtis Granderson and Jayson Nix continued their rehab assignments tonight in Tampa for the Tampa Yankees with a mixed bag of results. Curtis Granderson finished the night going 0-3 with his obligatory strike out while playing five innings in left field. Jayson Nix doubled as part of a 1-4 night while playing seven innings at the hot corner. Nix seems a lot farther along and a lot closer than Granderson and we could see Nix back with the big league club as soon as Monday judging by the way the Yankees are playing him this weekend.

Alex Rios Not Coming To The Yankees

Alex Rios was asked about when the New York Yankees called the White Sox about his availability and Rios says he will not be coming to the Yankees. Rios has a no trade clause and will not waive it for a deal to come to the Yankees. The Yankees are only one of six teams on Rios's no trade clause and that will keep Rios from coming over even though he is affordable, versatile, and a good fit for us. I guess we will have to be happy with the acquisition of Alfonso Soriano.

Trenton Thunder Game Recap For 7/26

	Press Release - July 26, 2013 Thunder Split Twin Bill With First-Place Mets   (Binghamton, NY) – A three-run first inning propelled Trenton to an opening-game win, but Binghamton’s Richard Lucas drilled a fifth-inning grand slam home run in game two as the Mets earned a doubleheader split with the Thunder Saturday night at NYSEG Stadium.  Trenton won the opener 4-1, while Binghamton took the nightcap 4-1. The Thunder (54-52) have taken two of the first three in the five-game series from the first-place Mets (65-40) and held Binghamton to just five runs and nine hits in those three contests. RBI doubles from Andrew Clark and Kyle Roller highlighted the three-run rally in game one’s first inning against Mets starter Erik Goeddel (9-4).  Trenton added an insurance run in the fifth on first-baseman Joe Bonfe’s fielding error. Rigoberto Arrebato (2-1) reliever spot-starter Jeremy Bleich in the third inning and tossed 2.2 scoreless frames with four strikeouts to earn the win.  Danny Burawa recorded a five-out save (3) including punching out the side in the bottom of the seventh. In game two, Binghamton starter Greg Peavey allowed a two-out RBI single to Roller in the fourth that snapped a scoreless tie. Mikey O’Brien (5-6) started for the Thunder and faced the minimum through four innings, shutting out the Mets without a hit in that time. But Binghamton broke through against O’Brien in the fifth with a walk to Allan Dykstra, a single to Rhyne Hughes and a hit-by-pitch to Travis Taijeron loading the bases with none out.  Lucas then slugged his grand slam to left (7) to provide the winning margin. The fourth of the five-game series is slated for a 7:05 pm first pitch on Saturday night. Thunder left-hander Fred Lewis (0-4, 2.17) will pitch against Mets All-Star right-hander Logan Verrett (9-5, 4.26). Radio coverage on 91.3 FM (WTSR) and also streaming online begins at 6:50 pm.   --THUNDER-- Being posted with permission from the Trenton Thunder organization. The original article can be seen HERE.

Charleston Riverdogs Game Recap For 7/26

Charleston Grabs Late Win Over Grasshoppers

Dante Bichette, Jr. singles in game winning run in eighth

CHARLESTON, SC – In a low scoring pitcher’s duel, Dante Bichette, Jr.’s RBI single in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the game winner as the RiverDogs topped Greensboro 2-1 on Friday night at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park in front of 5,223 fans.

With the win, the RiverDogs improve to 19-12 in the second half and 58-41 overall. Charleston stays in second place just one game behind the Lexington Legends. With the loss, Greensboro drops to 16-17 in the second half and 49-53 overall.

After a quick first inning of play, the RiverDogs bats struck for the first time in the bottom of the second inning. Jake Cave led the inning off with a single and later stole second base with Ericson Lenora at the plate. Leonora ended up striking out bringing up the hometown kid Daniel Aldrich. With Aldrich at the plate, Greensboro starter Scott Lyman delivered a wild pitch advancing Cave to third, which then resulted in an errant throw by catcher Sharif Othmen which winded up in left field allowing Cave to score from third.

Charleston looked to add more in the third inning as Danny Oh led off with a single. After back to back strikeouts, Lyman walked Bichette Jr. and Cave. With the bases loaded Ericson Leonora struckout swinging to end the inning leaving the bags packed.

Greensboro got even in the top of the fourth. Following a groundout, former UNC Tar Heel Colin Moran drew a walk as did Matt Juengel. With runners at first and second, Viosergy Rosa singled to load the bases for Jesus Solarzano. Solarzano hit a deep fly ball to right that was caught by Danny Oh, but it was deep enough to score Moran from third to even the game at one.

The game winning run came around to score in the bottom of the eighth for the RiverDogs. Dante Bichette singled home Cito Culver who walked earlier in the inning to put the ‘Dogs ahead for good.

With the single, Bichette finished his night 1-for-3 at the plate with a walk. The single extended his hitting streak to eight games.

RiverDogs starter Vicente Campos went his customary four innings and allowed a run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts and three walks. Campos gave way to Eric Wooten who tossed three hitless, scoreless innings in relief. Ben Paullus (6-2) picked the win tossing two perfect innings to close the game out.

Greensboro starter Scott Lyman went six innings and allowed an unearned run on three hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Chipper Smith (7-2) took the loss as he allowed a run on two hits and walked one in 1.1 innings of work.

BALLPARK FUN: Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, Special Assistant to the General Manager for the Yankees, was in attendance for the second straight night. The fans were also treated to another fabulous Piggly Wiggly Postgame Fireworks show!

COMING UP: Game three of this four game set against Greensboro is Saturday night at 6:05 at The Joe. RHP Brett Gerritse (7-5, 4.21 ERA) will be on the mound for Charleston and Greensboro will start RHP Ramon Del Orbe (5-6, 4.95 ERA). Fans can listen to the game live locally on ESPN Radio 910AM or online at www.riverdogs.com.

Box Score:    http://atmilb.com/13joItp

Being posted with permission from the Charleston Riverdogs organization. The original article can be seen HERE.

CC hit hard early as Yankees get blown out by Rays, 10-6

In the second inning tonight, the Rays were able to score six runs (all earned) off of Yankees "ace" CC Sabathia(took the loss; 5 innings, 7 earned), giving them an early 6-0 lead and making this game over from that point on. Now I really, really want to say that the fans who payed to see this one got their money's worth, but they didn't. When this Yankee team wins, they win ugly. When they lose, they lose uglier. 

In his Yankees debut tonight, Alfonso Soriano wasn't all that impressive, as he flew out in each of his first two at bats, grounded out in his third, and reached on fielder's choices in his fourth and fifth. However, after reaching base in that fourth AB, Soriano did come around to score on an RBI Double from Chris Stewart. And then in the fifth, his FC drove in a run. So I guess you could say that he had a semi-productive night. Anyway, this game was one to forget. So let's forget it. 

Soriano Acquired For Corey Black

Will update more when I  am not being slave driven at work but Soriano is officially a Yankee. Corey Black is headed to Chicago.