Second Wild Card Has Killed The Trade Deadline

Please don't sue me....

I don't know about you guys but the trading deadline was always the second best part of the baseball season for me. As a Yankees fan the playoffs and World Series was always the best but I thoroughly enjoyed the trading deadline and the winter meetings and such. I can remember, way back in the good ole days when we couldn't get roster updates on our baseball games, scouring the web and watching Baseball Tonight for all the Yankees moves so I could go manually update my team in my game. The Yankees getting greedy and consistently adding talent when they needed to even spawned off this blog in a way. Ever since the second Wild Card though that aura is gone, isn't it?

The past two seasons have been generally quiet and rather boring for the most part. Before the second wild card there was a significant trade going down every day in the final week to week and a half of July. This week I believe the most notable trade, at the time of this writing anyway, is Justin Masterson and his disabled list knees and 5.51 ERA heading to St. Louis for their top outfield prospect. 

In year's past you had the fire sales and the big names traded away and you're simply not seeing that anymore. The Tampa Bay Rays seem content to hold onto David Price, for example, even though they are seven games back in the AL East division. Why? They are still in the discussion for the second wild card. 

The second wild card was a great idea on paper until they announced it was a one game playoff and not a three game playoff and now it's screwing up my favorite time of the summer. I'm not sure how you fix it, or if you even can, but something needs to be done. As a fan this is pretty bland. Who agrees?

Remembering Yankees of the Past: Eric Chavez

Eric Chavez announced his retirement from Major League Baseball yesterday so now seems like a good of time as any to showcase his few short years in New York. Congratulations to Chavez on a great career and we wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors both in and out of baseball.

Without further interruption let's look back at Chavez's career as a Yankee:

Chavez signed with the Yankees in February of 2011 on a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Chavez ultimately made the team and had his contract purchased on March 28, 2011. The biggest weakness of Chavez's game at this point of his career would be his injuries and that would not change while in pinstripes. Chavez broke a bone in his left foot on May 5, 2011 while rounding second base and missed over two months with the injury.

Chavez finally hit his first home run of his Yankee career in 2011 when he launched a two run shot against the Chicago White Sox on August 3. Chavez did enough in New York to warrant another one year deal for the 2012 season that would guarantee him $900,000 with an additional $3.05 million to be made in incentives for being healthy and in the lineup. May of the 2012 season he suffered a concussion and spent his seven days on the concussion disabled list. Chavez made the postseason both years in New York but never got the World Series ring he was presumably chasing.

Chavez left New York for the Arizona Diamondbacks after the 2012 season and that is where his career would end. Chavez finished his career with a .268 average, 260 home runs, six Gold Glove Awards, and a Silver Slugger in 2002. It's a shame he never got a chance to play for a World Series but he's still a winner.

Speculating A Move For Asdrubal Cabrera

This is pure speculation here and probably more coincidental than anything but something seems fishy when it comes to how the Yankees have been handling Brian Roberts lately. Roberts is two at bats away from an incentive in his contract that would pay him an additional $250,000. While I realize that is chump change to any team, especially the Yankees, you have to think something is up. You especially question the Yankees motives when the next day it is announced that Roberts needs "a couple days off" to rest. Coincidentally those couple of days takes us through the July 31st trading deadline.

Enter Asdrubal Cabrera who has been made available by the Cleveland Indians. Cabrera is an average at best shortstop but could easily give the Yankees an upgrade offensively and defensively at second base. Cabrera would come cheap as a pure rental with diminished productivity. He fits the Yankees needs perfectly on the field, in the wallet, and down on the farm.

It's probably a coincidence and Joe Girardi will place Roberts in the lineup tonight after the deadline has come and gone but something stinks here.

Potential Trade Targets For New York Today

Here is a quick list of who the Yankees could realistically acquire today before the trading deadline at 4:00 pm ET. This is pure speculation and based on trade rumors, not inside sources, so take this with a grain of salt. The Yankees tend to keep their trade rumors quiet when they actually make a deal so I will likely whiff on all of these but you have to be in it to win it.

Marlon Byrd of the Phillies, Justin Ruggiano of the Cubs, and Dayan Viciedo of the White Sox all look like potential trade candidates for the Yankees outfield. Josh Willingham has been thrown around a lot in rumors but the Yankees need a right fielder and Willingham has never played right in his career. It's also worth mentioning that his arm would be below average in right field. Alex Rios is a right fielder and could fill the void that will be there in 2015 as well making him attractive.

Asdrubal Cabrera could be a potential target at second base that I like a lot over Brian Roberts.

The marginal upgrades at starting pitcher include Jorge De La Rosa of the Rockies, Brett Anderson of the Rockies, Cliff Lee of the Phillies, and Ian Kennedy of the Padres.

Bullpen help could come with an Antonio Bastardo trade with the Phillies, Joaquin Benoit from the Padres, and James Russell of the Athletics.

The pipe dream list includes Troy Tulowitzki of the Rockies, Cole Hamels of the Phillies, David Price of the Rays, and Jon Lester of the Red Sox.

Quick Hit: 2015 Trenton Thunder Schedule Released

With 14 home games still to come in the 2014 Trenton Thunder season, the first glimpse of the 2015 schedule was released on Wednesday afternoon.

The Thunder will begin the 2015 season on the road at the Erie SeaWolves (Detroit) on Thursday, April 9.  The home opener at ARM & HAMMER Park against the Portland Sea Dogs (Boston) is slated for Thursday, April 16. The Thunder will play their final home game and end the season onMonday, September 7 at 1:00pm against New Hampshire (Toronto).

The Thunder will face their top rivals 23 times at home. The Double A Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, the Portland Sea Dogs, will visit Trenton 10 times in 2014. The Sea Dogs will make their first trip April 16-19, followed by May 29-31, and July 27-29. Philadelphia Phillies fans can catch the Reading Fightin Phils in Trenton for nine games next season, June 16-18, August 4-6, and August 14-16. The Binghamton Mets (NY Mets) will visit ARM & HAMMER Park July 23-26.

The Thunder will play 7 home games in April, 17 in May, 13 in June, 14 in July, 13 in August, and 7 in September. The team plays 71 home games against all 11 Eastern League teams.

Mid-week day games will continue in 2015, with the first one, a 10:30am “Education Day” slated forWednesday, April 23 with others being held on Thursday, May 7 and Wednesday, May 20. Popular12:00pm "Camp Day" games are scheduled for Monday, July 13 and Wednesday, July 29. The Thunder will play a 2:00pm "Business Person's Special" game on Wednesday, August 29.

The schedule of fireworks dates and promotions will be released at a later date.

Fans can join a waiting list for 2015 ticket packages by calling 609-394-3300.

2015 SCHEDULE

This Day In New York Yankees History 7/31: The MLB Trading Deadline Day

Can you believe the only notable trade for the New York Yankees in the past twenty years or so has been the Cecil Fielder trade that happened in 1996? The Yankees have made moves, marginal more than anything, but Cecil was the deal that stuck out. On this day in 1996 the Yankees sent Ruben Sierra and prospect Matt Drews for Fielder in the first trade in Major League history that included two players that have hit more than 220 home runs are traded for each other.

On this day in 2001 the Yankees lost out on relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina to the Boston Red Sox. Boston got Urbina for two minor league pitchers in Tomo Ohka and Rich Rundles after the Yankees had a deal in place for the closer that fell through earlier in the season. Urbina failed his physical, the Yankees backed out of the deal, and the rest is history for the former Expos' closer.

Remember above when I said the only notable trade that happened in the last 20 seasons was the Fielder trade? You see why here as just minutes before the trading deadline ended in 2004 the Yankees shipped their struggling pitcher Jose Contreras (8-5 5.64 ERA) for the White Sox struggling starter Esteban Loaiza (9-5 4.86 ERA). Both pitchers were 32 years old and having down seasons based on their past performances and neither player really performed for their new teams this season.

Get ready because we're a mere 16 hours away from the trading deadline coming to a close.

Early Runs, Offensive Struggles Doom Yankees in Tough Rubber Game Loss to Rangers

Hiroki Kuroda tossed 7 innings of three-run ball and Brett Gardner again started the first with a solo home run, but due to another terrible offensive performance the Yankees found a way to drop tonight's rubber game to the Rangers, 3-2.

For pretty much all of his quality outing this evening, Kuroda was everything New York couldn't wanted, only allowing nine hits and a walk while striking out four. 

Still, after a three-run, five-knock performance by Texas' bats in the bottom of the first he ended up getting the loss, a dissapointment that wouldn't have happened had Mark Teixeira turned a slow groundball down the first base line into an out.

No, this defeat doesn't fall completely on Teixeira, but since he did let a Leonys Martin squibber roll foul instead of just picking it up and tagging the runner with two on and two out the Rangers did pick up a third run in the aforementioned frame, with Martin later singling in Adrian Beltre to make it 3-1.

Now really, the contest shouldn't have ended there, especially considering the Yanks came back from a larger deficit yesterday.

Nonetheless, following Jacoby Ellsbury's lining of another solo shot off Colby Lewis (7 IP, 2 ER) in the third and Carlos Beltran's routine hit two batters later the Yanks' offense never again reached base, something you can't help but be amazed by.

Open Game Thread 7/30 Yankees vs. Rangers

Welcome to tonight's open thread for the game between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers. This is the finale of a three game set and boy am I glad. I don't know about you guys but even the hour later start kills me, especially the next morning. Thankfully the Yankees go back East after this game and head to Boston after taking a July 31st trading deadline day off. The Yankees will send Hiroki Kuroda to the mound tonight to face off with Colby Lewis for the Rangers. The game will be played at 8:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB TV, and can be heard on the radio with WFAN.

Remember to get your Yankees tickets while New York is in Boston or for when they return home later in the month of August. Michael Pineda is back and we may even throw in some pine tar for buying, check us out. Follow us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes and like us on Facebook by searching for The Greedy Pinstripes to keep the conversation going.

It's an open thread so join us in the comments section and get to chatting. Enjoy the game Yankees family and enjoy the rest of your evening. Go Yankees!

Colby Lewis Is Not A Smart Individual... Meme

Well Colby Lewis did not actually say this but this meme was just too good to pass up. This was obviously taken while Lewis was playing over in Japan before breaking out for the Texas Rangers in the last four seasons. Enjoy the game Yankees family.

Trade Deadline 2014: Yankees Hot Stove Rumors 7/30

Just a quick catch me up for you guys:

The Phillies asked the Yankees for their top three prospects for Cole Hamels. I'm not sure I could swallow Luis Severino, Gary Sanchez, and Aaron Judge for Hamels but Hamels does bring a lot himself. I'm torn.

The Yankees are interested in the Rockies pitcher Brett Anderson. This is interesting because the Rockies are interested in Francisco Cervelli. Match made in Coors Field?

The Yankees are talking to the Padres about Ian Kennedy and Joaquin Benoit but nothing is serious at this point.

Starting pitching just got majorly expensive as Justin Masterson and a 5.51 ERA for a rental on the disabled list just fetched the Cardinals top outfield prospect.