Yankees Batters vs. Giants Pitching

There are good things and bad things about everything in life including Interleague Play in Major League Baseball. The good thing about Interleague Play is you get to face teams that you normally wouldn’t face and see players live or on television that you normally wouldn’t see but the downside, at least for American League fans, is seeing their pitchers hitting, running the bases and potentially hurting themselves. Thankfully for New York they begin a three-game Interleague matchup tonight with the San Francisco Giants but the games will take place in the Bronx where the pitchers don’t hit and the porch is short in right field.

Let’s see what the Yankees offense has done against the Giants pitching throughout their careers:

All stats and photos courtesy of ESPN.com

Weekly Prospects Check In: Jorge Mateo

Jorge Mateo returned from his two week suspension on Wednesday as he continues to search for what else he could possibly do to earn a promotion to Double-A Trenton. Mateo was suspended just before the All-Star break and the XM Futures Game for a violation of team policy which we all presumed and assumed meant that he spouted off at the mouth because he was frustrated that he wasn’t called up yet. At least that would coincide with the report from George A. King that stated Mateo was frustrated that he hadn’t received the promotion yet.

So Mateo is back and here are his stats he hopes to see transferred to the Trenton Thunder very soon: 

Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2016	21	Tampa	77	345	47	83	9	6	36	26	25	75	.266	.322	.404	.725

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

This Day in New York Yankees History 7/22: The Mick Mans Shortstop

As you probably know we like to bring you this day in New York Yankees history every single day for better or worse. Well today it's the worse as on this day in 2012 the Yankees set a franchise record and not one they want to remember. The Oakland Athletics would tie the game with a run in the bottom of the ninth inning and would later complete the sweep with a 5-4 walk off victory of the Yankees in the 12th inning. This marks the first time in Yankees history that New York was swept in a four game series while losing all four games by only one run. Ouch.

Also on this day in 2007 the Yankees knocked around Devil Rays pitcher Shawn Camp to the tune of three home runs and nine hits in 1.1 innings of relief. The Yankees would rout the Rays 21-4 and send the Yankee Stadium crowd home happy.

Finally on this day in 1954 Casey Stengel, probably the best manager of all time in my opinion, moved Mickey Mantle to shortstop from center field in the top of the 9th inning to add another bat to the lineup. Mantle would respond by hitting a walk off home run in the bottom of the 10th inning to beat the White Sox 4-3.

The Worst Thing That Could Happen to the Yankees Right Now is a Winning Streak Open Thread

The worst thing that could happen to the New York Yankees right now is a winning streak. That sounds really weird, I know, but it’s true. The New York Yankees hammered the Cleveland Indians before the All-Star break giving the “we should buy at the trading deadline” crowd some ammo only to take a step back against the Boston Red Sox fresh out of the gates. New York came out of the gates with a chip on their shoulder this week against the Baltimore Orioles though once again giving the “buy” crowd ammo when we all know, who have been watching all season anyway, the Yankees are what they are and should unload veteran and expensive talent if at all possible.

So what do you think? Should the Yankees buy or should they sell? Does this impressive series against a strong AL East foe change anything for you? Talk about this or whatever you’d like in the comments section tonight. And…. Go!

Tillman, O's Salvage Win In Final Game of Series, 4-1

On a sundrenched afternoon in Yankee Stadium, the Yankees fell to the Orioles in the final game of the four-game series. Making a start on his birthday, C. C. Savath you took the ball for New York, hoping to improve upon not so happy numbers (0-2, 7.84 ERA) when he pitches on his birthday. The best starter for Baltimore and one of the best in the American League, Chris Tillman took the ball today and pitched exceptionally well again. The win improved Tillman to 14-3, tying him for the MLB lead in wins with Chris Sale, and also improved Baltimore to 18-3 when Tillman starts.

In his last outing against Boston, C.C. fell victim to a lot of weak contact which resulted in several fortuitous base-hits for the Red Sox. And this afternoon, it was much of the same as trouble for Sabathia began in the first inning of the ballgame. The big left-hander loaded the bases with one out by allowing a slow infield single to Jonathan Schoop, an opposite-field bloop single to Manny Machado and a walk to Chris Davis. The next batter J.J. Hardy smoked a single that ricocheted off Didi Gregorius' glove into left that plated Shoop and Machado, giving the O's a first inning two run lead.

The Pinstripers got one of those runs back in the bottom of the second as Gregorius led off the frame with a squibbed ground ball double to left and scored when Starlin Castro lined a single into left, pulling the Yankees back to within one.

More soft contact that led to timely Oriole base hits spelled the end for Sabathia's afternoon in the top of the seventh. Caleb Joseph hit a ground ball single up the middle with one out, which was followed by a Julio Borbon bloop single to left. After getting Flaherty to strike out for the second out, Sabathia served up another well-placed bloop double to right field by Schoop that scored both runners and extended the Birds lead to three. The birthday boy left in line for another birthday loss, leaving with a final line of 6.2 innings pitched, allowing four runs on seven hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Chad Green came on in relief of the lefty and managed to escape the frame without any further damage.

Outside of the second inning run, Tillman was masterful today against the Yankees, holding them to one run on five hits while walking two and striking out seven in seven innings of work. Zach Britten came on in relief in the ninth and recorded his 30th save in 30 tries, salvaging a win in the final game of the four-game series.

Tomorrow night, the Yankees welcome in a very grumpy NL West leading San Francisco Giants, who have gone 0-5 since the All-Star break. The game features a beast of a pitchers duel, Tanaka versus Bumgardner, with first pitch scheduled for  7:05 PM/EST.

Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 7/21

Here we go Yankees family, it is game time between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles. This afternoon marks the finale of the four-game set between these two clubs and it would be awfully nice to see the Yankees add another win against both an AL East rival and Buck Showalter specifically. Donned with the task of getting this victory for New York is CC Sabathia who will look to turn things around this afternoon against an opponent who has not lost against the AL East all season in Chris Tillman. The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen both on the YES Network and MLB TV.

I don’t know if this is a huge selling point but the Yankees welcome the San Francisco Giants to the Bronx this weekend for a three-game interleague series. To see any of these games live click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog but be warned and by at your own risk. San Francisco sends Madison Bumbarner to the mound Friday, Jeff Samardzija to the mound on Saturday and Johnny Cueto to the mound on Sunday. This has all the makings of being a very frustrating series but the team has to get this afternoon’s game out of the way first before they worry about that.

Follow along during this game, any of the San Francisco series or any game all season long by giving @GreedyStripes a follow on Twitter or by liking us on Facebook. Let’s see if we get “Good CC” or “Bad CC” this afternoon in the Bronx. Go Yankees. 

The Fair-Weather Pinstripes

The worst thing that could happen to the Yankees right now is a winning streak... And we're up to three in a row. Good morning Yankees fam!!

— Greedy Pinstripes (@GreedyStripes) July 20, 2016

Yes, the fair-weather pinstripes. Someone actually had the audacity to tell me I should change the blog name from the Greedy Pinstripes to the Fair-Weather Pinstripes because I want to sell at this season’s trading deadline. Am I crazy or have I been watching a different team than everyone else this season? Am I foolish to not want to give up top prospects and key pieces for the future to add to a team that currently employs an aging CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltran and others or am I in the majority that wants to start thinking about beyond this season and the repercussions that come along with it? I’m really confused now.

I had to literally step away from the conversation. The conversation went south so quickly it wasn’t even funny. I was called a moron and had my fandom and passion for this team I love and give my soul and time to each and every day not only on this blog but in my real life as well questioned because I didn’t want to see the team make a feeble push at the second Wild Card and a potential, yet unlikely, push deep into the postseason?

What really got to me is the blatant disrespect towards me and the disregarding of my opinion because my opinion did not agree with his. First of all I’m not an insider nor am I an expert, and I never claimed to be for the record, but what I am is a guy with a blog and an opinion and that’s what I put out there. Read it or not but don’t disrespect me. I don’t go out of my way to disrespect ANYONE both on this blog and in my life and I don’t appreciate not getting the same in return. I’m sorry but I had to get this off my chest because I don’t tend to let this linger.

Agree or disagree with my thoughts? Leave them below in the comment section or better yet tweet them to me @GreedyStripes. I look forward to hearing from multiple fans and not just one who thinks I’m an “ass wipe” because I disagree with him.

@GreedyStripes at least i have passion and heart for my team. Im not a fairweather asswipe like you who roots for his team to lose. Gtfh!

— BADGUY74 (@paulrovira1) July 20, 2016

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Baltimore Orioles 7/21

The New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles will finish off their four game set this afternoon in the Bronx with one more intense pitching matchup. Buck Showalter has done all he could do this series to mess with the Yankees and to tweak his team to optimize efficiency against the Yankees and it simply hasn’t worked out as well as he could have expected to date. CC Sabathia, who the Yankees will send out today for the finale, will look to add a bit of salt to that wound while Showalter saved the best for last in Chris Tillman for the Orioles.

Sabathia was one of the Yankees best starting pitchers for much of this season but for the last five starts the Yankees veteran lefty has been anything but rejuvenated. CC allowed five runs and nine hits in 5.1 innings in his last start against the Boston Red Sox which ballooned his ERA to 7.94 since June 22. Ouch. Over/under two weeks before he is on the DL for a knee problem? I’m going under.

Tillman heads into this start fresh off his 13^th win and will look to keep his career year going this afternoon against the Yankees. Tillman has not lost to the American League East this season posting a 6-0 record and the Orioles are even better in those games he started posting a 9-0 record.

The game will be played at 1:05 pm ET inside Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. As much as I like beating up on the Orioles I hate losing to the Orioles twice as much. No game is ever easy against these guys so take your losses on the chin and get the heck out of town. Win one for Buck! Go Yankees!

Weekly Prospects Check In: Ben Gamel

The New York Yankees have a gluttony of outfielders on their 40 man roster right now with the four in the Bronx, the return of Mason Williams and the subject of our check in post this morning Ben Gamel. That’s before you even include Aaron Judge who does not have a 40 man roster spot yet so to say the Yankees are stacked may be an understatement. Gamel was the International League’s Minor League Player of the Year last year and was awarded his first All-Star Game start this season so let’s check in with the guy voted to have the best head of hair in the Yankees organization.

Ben Gamel, his hair and all its glory ladies and gentleman:

Year	Age	Lev	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2016	24	AAA	83	386	54	106	19	4	36	14	32	65	.304	.363	.421	.784
2016	24	MLB	5	9	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.125	.222	.125	.347

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

This Day In New York Yankees History 7/21: "How Could You Have Traded Buhner For Ken Phelps?"

How many milestones and special moments have we seen as fans of the New York Yankees? It seems like every year I am writing a "potential milestones" post for the blog naming All Star and sure fire Hall of Fame players and their accomplishments. It's a gift and a curse but anyway we were all treated to this exact thing on this day in 2006 with Alex Rodriguez. The 30 year old Rodriguez would hit a home run in the third inning giving him his 2,000th hit of his career. A Rod also became the youngest player to reach 450 home runs.

Anyone ever watch Seinfeld? Dumb question, I know, but do you guys remember when George Costanza asked about the extremely one sided deal by saying "How could you have traded Buhner for Ken Phelps?". Well that came from this day in 1988 when the Yankees traded Jay Buhner and minor league prospect Rich Balabon with a player to be named later (Troy Evers) to the Seattle Mariners for 33 year old Ken Phelps. The rest is history.