2017 Yankees Auditions Needs to Include Relievers

The youth movement has begun in the Bronx with the explosions onto the scene of Tyler Austin, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and others but there is one part of the Yankees team that could use a little youth infusion. That part of the Yankees team is the bullpen. If the Yankees are really committed to this whole rebuilding thing and they are auditioning for the 2017 season now then they need to go all in and include relievers into the mix as well. No more Anthony Swarzak, who has been terrible and has been since been placed on the 15 day DL, no more Richard Bleier and no more Kirby Yates. Prospects and power arms only.

I get it that the Yankees haven’t had much in terms of pitching depth proving themselves this season but I would rather watch Nick Goody, James Pazos, Jordan Montgomery and others get their feet wet right now than to watch Swarzak and company blow another lead for this team. You can’t sit here with a straight face and tell me that this team and this manager is trying to win games despite the youth movement as Anthony “All I Do Is Win  Give Up Home Runs No Matter What” enters the game a few times a week. And if you can you’re a good liar.

Blake Parker, Tyler Clippard, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances and Tommy Layne likely have futures with the club beyond the 2016 season but an argument could be made against both Layne and Parker. Either way guys like Ben Heller, Chasen Shreve, Nick Goody, Johnny Barbato and others who don’t currently occupy a 40 man roster spot need to get their work in now. Get their feet wet now without all the bright lights and expectations on them. The Yankees need to go all-in on this youth movement and scrap what the standings say because beyond this year they won’t matter but what all these young guys learn and gain in terms of experience does.

Make the moves Cashman. Rosters expand in less than a week and I expect the Yankees to have to rent a party bus to get them all here. 

Trump Wins Charleston, Bobblection 2016

GOP Candidate Takes The Joe by Storm in the fourth installment of the quadrennial casting of bobbleheads

CHARLESTON, SC – Donald Trump just got a huge uplift from the voters in South Carolina. The business mogul has won the 2016 Bobblection held at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park on Tuesday night. This news could be a great sign for the GOP contender as RiverDogs fans have correctly predicted the last three Presidential winners in the previous three election cycles.

Every Presidential Election The Goldklang Group and its affiliates hold the quadrennial Bobblection. It is where the fans get a voting slip that they take into a booth where they have the choice of picking the GOP elect or the Democratic elect Bobblehead. This year Trump won in a landslide as 62 percent of the voters passing through the turnstiles at The Joe selected Trump with 37 percent choosing Clinton. One percent of the voters entered for a chance to win a trip out of the country with one lucky fan winning a one way ticket to Canada.

“With our impressive track record of predicting the election, the eyes of the nation were on Charleston, South Carolina last night,” said RiverDogs President and General Manager Dave Echols. “The people of Charleston have once again spoken, and what better way to check the pulse of America than in the confines of Riley Park.”

With the victory in Charleston, Trump has now taken three of the first eight Bobblections being held across minor league parks this year, with the Republican candidate also claiming victories at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY, the home of the Hudson Valley Renegades, and Haymarket Park, the home of the Lincoln Saltdogs in Nebraska.

The RiverDogs, Renegades, and the St. Paul Saints all under the Goldklang Group umbrella are among the eight teams taking part in the electoral process this year.

The Goldklang Group is a sports entertainment consulting and management firm. The Group provides operational consulting and management services in all areas relating to sports franchise, event, and venue acquisition, promotion and operation. Armed with a passion for the game and the foresight of growth within professional baseball, Marv Goldklang formed the Goldklang Group. A fan himself, Goldklang set out to capitalize on what he felt were the key ingredients to success once the market and venue was established- providing superior customer service, cutting edge ideas, and family entertainment at affordable prices.

Ticket information for the RiverDogs homestand and any of the remaining home games can be secured by contacting the box office at (843) 577-DOGS (3647) or online at www.riverdogs.com. Tickets for Game Two of the SAL Divisional Series on Friday, September, 9 at 7:05pm are now available. Those that can’t make it to the park can follow every pitch of the RiverDogs season on WTMA 1250 AM and streaming online at riverdogs.com.

Weekly Prospects Check In: Blake Rutherford

Blake Rutherford returned off the bench this week after apparently suffering from some sort of knee injury or condition. Rutherford was never officially placed on the disabled list so it was likely nothing major, especially considering that most of us in the loop never even heard about it, but when a young guy who relies on his legs has a lower body injury you always hold your breath a little bit regardless. Am I right?

So Rutherford is back and ready to make up for lost time. Let’s see what he’s been up to this week: 

Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2016	19	2 Teams	32	125	14	38	8	2	10	0	12	28	.345	.408	.545	.953
2016	19	Pulaski	24	95	11	32	7	1	7	0	8	22	.376	.432	.588	1.020
2016	19	Yankees West	8	30	3	6	1	1	3	0	4	6	.240	.333	.400	.733

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

This Day In New York Yankees History 8/25: Three Grand Slams In One Game

Never in the history of Major League Baseball had one team hit three grand slams in one game before the New York Yankees accomplished the feat in 2011. The Yankees would beat the Oakland Athletics 22-9 with Robinson Cano, Russell Martin, and Curtis Granderson all going deep with the bases loaded in Yankee Stadium.

Also on this day in 1996 Mickey Mantle joined Miller Huggins, Babe Ruth, and Lou Gehrig as Yankees greats that have a monument in Monument Park. Mantle died of liver cancer last year and is the first new monument to be dedicated by the team in 47 years.

Also on this day in 1968 Yankees outfielder Rocky Colavito pitched 2.1 innings of relief giving up just one hit in a victory for the Yankees 6-5 over the Tigers. The Yankees outfielder, who also hit a home run in the game, will be the last position player to get a win by pitching until Colorado Rockies Brent Mayne would win a game in the year 2000.

Finally on this day in 1956 the Yankees general manager George Weiss and manager Casey Stengel hold a closed door meeting with shortstop Phil Rizzuto. The meeting discussed who should be let go since the team had acquired Enos Slaughter off waivers from the Atheltics. Rizzuto made several suggestions on who he thought who should be released from the Yankees before Weiss informed Scooter that he would be the player to be let go. Shady.

Masahiro Masterful, Bomber Bats Stay Hot In 5-0 Route of Mariners

On an absolutely beautiful afternoon in Seattle, the Yankees won their second straight series with their sound victory over the Seattle Mariners. Masahiro Tanaka delivered the win today with seven exceptional innings of shutout baseball, lowering his ERA to 3.11 while improving his record to 11-4 with his series clinching victory. Taking the ball and the loss for Seattle was fellow Japanese right-hander Hishashi Iwakuma, who fell to 14-9 while getting knocked around the ball park all afternoon. Tanaka was a tremendous, Sanchez was on base four times and the Bomber bats stayed hot as the Yankees close out their road trip with a 4-2 record.

The Baby Bombers were at it again as they opened it up against Iwakuma in the first two frames of the contest. The red hot Baby Bomber Gary Sanchez made some history by becoming the first Yankee ever to hit nine homeruns in his first 19 games by Launching an absolute bomb to left in the first inning to give the Yankees an early one run lead. And then in the top of the second, Aaron Judge was drilled by a way-ward fastball, advancing to second on an Aaron Hicks single to right. The next batter Baby Bomber Tyler Austin grounded a single into left that scored Judge to open their lead up to two.

More quality at-bats from the Yankee offense led to the manufactured third run of the game in the top of the fourth. Aaron Hicks stayed hot with a single, advancing to second when Tyler Austin hit a sharp ground ball to the third baseman Sean O'Malley , who tried to get the lead runner at second, but did so unsuccessfully as all runners were safe. The big man from last night Ronald Torreyes laced a single to left, loading the bases with one out. Brett Gardner plated Hicks with a sacrifice fly to right that made it a 3-0 ballgame.

Iwakuma was pulled to begin the seventh for flame throwing right-handed reliever with the best name in baseball, Arquimedes Caminero. Brett Gardner started the seventh with an infield single, advancing to second on a Didi Gregorius sacrifice bunt. With first base open, the Mariners decided to intentionally walk may be the hottest hitter on the planet Gary Sanchez. The next batter Mark Teixeira lined a single to left. Scoring Gardner and widening the Yankee gap to 4-0. The RBI was Tex's 29th of the season in over 350 at-bats. By comparison, Sanchez now has 16 RBI in just over 70 at-bats on the season; a true statistical testament as to the unbelievably amazing start for the rookie and the abysmal swan song for the seasoned vet.

For the second straight game, yankee fans were treated to another tremendous outing from their starter as Tanaka was simply masterful this afternoon. Tanaka pitched in only five three-ball counts in his seven brilliant innings of shutout baseball, allowing six hits, issuing his first walk in 34 innings and striking out five. Clippard recorded two outs and was pulled when allowing a two-out single to Robinson Canó. Delin Betances came on and got out of the two on two out jam, notching his 106th strikeout in 59.2 innings by fanning pinch-hitter Mike Zunino. After the Yankees added another run in the top of the ninth on a Starlin Castro sacrifice fly, Betances worked a scoreless ninth as he locked down the Yankees second consecutive series victory. In fact, with his strike out of Zunino worked a scoreless ninth as he locked down the Yankees second consecutive series victory. And because the tying run was in the on deck circle when Betances struck out Zunino, he was credited with the rare four out, five run lead save.

The Pinstripers fly home tonight and have the day off tomorrow. Friday, they welcome in division rival Baltimore Orioles for a three-game weekend set, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM/EST.

Are You the Biggest New York Yankees Fan in the World?

Wix.com wants to know who the biggest fan of the New York Yankees is in the world. Is it you? Are you willing to make a video professing your fandom and passion for the team in order to be crowned the biggest Yankee fan inside Yankee Stadium next month when the team plays host to the Los Angeles Dodgers? Keep reading.

Here is how you enter the contest:

Make and post a video showing how you are the biggest Yankees fan.

Upload the video to Wix’s Facebook Page and comment on the contest post.

Include the hashtag #BiggestYankeesFan

The deadline to do this is 11:59 pm ET on Monday, September 5^th. If you want to include a Greedy Pinstripes reference in your video we wouldn’t be mad. Just as long as you win. Enter, it should be fun!

Winner will be announced on Wednesday, September 7^th and will be honored on Tuesday, September 13^th in the Bronx when the Yankees play host to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

For more information visit wix.com/Yankees. Good luck all!

Brian Cashman Making Good on the Justin Wilson Trade

I have to eat a little bit of crow today because I was one of those fans, writers and Monday morning quarterbacks that were killing Brian Cashman when he made the head-scratching decision to send relief pitcher Justin Wilson to the Detroit Tigers for RHP’s Luis Cessa and Chad Green. Well hindsight being 20/20 and all the New York Yankees did pretty well in the trade and got just what they wanted out of the deal, true starting pitching options for the team going forward.

Having a great bullpen is one thing but if you don’t have an arm or two that can eat innings to save the bullpen and pitch well enough to hand the bullpen the lead what do you really have? Also, where would the Yankees be right now and this season without Cessa and Green? Probably dumpster diving for a starter well past his prime, that’s where. Think Chris Capuano.

Now have Green and Cessa been aces in waiting? Well aside from Green’s last two starts, no, but they were never donned future aces in waiting either. In fact most teams only have one ace on the staff and the rest of the team is filled out behind that ace. Cessa and Green are likely #3 - #5 starters based on projections but isn’t that and all six years of team control worth more than any relief pitcher? Especially when that relief pitcher is not a closer? I have to say the answer is yes, especially after seeing the two young guns pitch lately.

No matter what you say or think six years each of a 4^th and 5^th starter, worst case scenario, is still better than a few years with a left-handed specialist reliever. Every day of the week. Kudos to Cashman. 

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Seattle Mariners 8/24

Here we go ladies and gentleman, afternoon baseball in Seattle as the New York Yankees face off with the Seattle Mariners one last time this week inside Safeco Field. In the finale of this three game set of two teams chasing the second Wild Card playoff spot in the American League we will be treated to a little bit of international flare as the Yankees send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to face off with fellow Japanese-born right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma. The game will be played at 3:40 pm ET inside Safeco Field and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

The Yankees are off tomorrow before beginning a series with the Baltimore Orioles this weekend so if you want to be there live to see Gary Sanchez hit another 14 home runs or so click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog. Also be sure to give our Twitter account @GreedyStripes a follow or like us on Facebook to interact with us during each and every Yankees game left this season.

Tanaka vs. Iwakuma with the entire country of Japan watching. No pressure. Go Yankees!

Severino Has Been Bad but Yankees Not Helping his Confidence

I’m not one to equivocate or beat around the bush, Luis Severino has been flat out bad this season. He hasn’t shown me many glimpses of brilliance to build upon and there are no signs of snapping out of this funk he’s in. I don’t know if it’s mechanical, an injury he’s hiding or if it’s all mental at this point and truth be told I don’t think the Yankees know what is going on either. The Yankees organization continues to show up an inability to develop starting pitching and it’s mainly because the way they like to tinker and change things. It messes with you and they are messing with Severino right now not only mechanically but in the confidence department as well. It’s blatantly obvious and it’s blatantly obvious that it needs to stop. Now.

The Yankees have sent down Luis Severino multiple times this season to work on things and the latest set of homework he was given was to work on his changeup. Severino told reporters that the Yankees, and specifically manager Joe Girardi, told him to work on the changeup regardless of the results in the game. In his latest start he lasted 5.2 innings and gave up four runs with 10 K’s while throwing the changeup but after the game Severino was clearly not happy about it.

The Yankees know Severino has to have a third pitch if he’s going to succeed in the Major Leagues and while his fastball and slider are great he has to have the changeup to keep everyone off balance. Severino admitted it was difficult to command the pitch at times and even said that he didn’t necessarily like throwing a lot of changeups. One AL scout who was at the game spoke to reporters and even said he doesn’t look comfortable, nor does he look confident, throwing the pitch. Instead of making him throw the changeup has the team considered scrapping the pitch for another pitch?

The kid is 22-years old. The sky is the limit for the young right-hander and he’s not too old of a dog to not learn new tricks. Teach the kid a new pitch because it doesn’t seem like the changeup is going to work for Severino if Severino doesn’t want to throw it. It’s human nature.

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Seattle Mariners 8/24

The New York Yankees and the Seattle Mariners one last time. One last time for these two clubs inside Safeco Field and one last time for the Yankees to be so far away from home on the east coast. In the finale of the three-game set this afternoon the New York Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound, Happy Tanaka Day Yankees family, to square off with country mate Hisashi iwakuma for the Mariners. Japan should be watching.

Tanaka threw an absolute gem last time out against the Angels throwing 7.2 innings of shutout baseball while striking out nine without walking a batter. Tanaka’s K numbers are up lately and if he can keep them up the Yankees can keep rewarding him with victories in his starts.

Iwakuma has given the Mariners length and stability lately as the team chases the 2^nd Wild Card spot in the American League. Iwakuma will make his 26^th start of the season this afternoon and has gone seven innings or more in three of his last four starts while posting an 8-2 record in his last 10 starts.

The game will be played at 3:40 pm ET inside Safeco Field and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV. If I go get my kids pretty quick, don’t hit traffic and do about 95 MPH on the way home I should get home by the 5^th inning. I’m seriously contemplating it because I miss my Yankees. Between being sick and all these west coast games I have been severely slacking on my watching and my tweeting so if you see someone coming up behind you pretty quickly, it’s me. Please move. Go Yankees!