This Day in New York Yankees History 10/25: 2009 Yankees Reach World Series

On this day in 2009 the Yankees would win their 40th American League pennant in their storied history with a victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This will end a six year drought in the World Series for the Yankees as they would take on the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 Fall Classic. This would be the Yankees first World Series win since their victory over the Mets in the 2000 Subway World Series.

On this day in 2000 Mike Piazza, yes I know a member of the Mets, became the first player in World Series history to hit a home run in both Shea Stadium and Yankees Stadium. Piazza hit the home run off of Yankees starter Denny Neagle in a 3-2 Mets loss in Game 4.


On this day in 1939 Joe DiMaggio would win his first MVP award of his career. DiMaggio beat out Jimmy Foxx and Bob Feller easily for the American League award with 15 of the 24 first place votes. DiMaggio would also win the award in 1941 and 1947 as well.

2017 World Series Game One Thread: Houston Astros @ Los Angeles Dodgers

The 2017 World Series is just about set to begin out in sunny California as the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros prepare to do battle in a seven-game series. The Dodgers had the better record of the two during the regular season so they will have homefield advantage throughout this World Series including for the first two games of the series beginning tonight. In the opener tonight Dodger Stadium will play host to Dallas Keuchel for the Astros and Clayton Kershaw for the Dodgers in what should be an intense matchup of two tough left-handed starting pitchers. The game will be played at 8:00 pm ET and can be seen on FOX.

Follow us on Twitter by following @GreedyStripes and enjoy the game. Enjoy the World Series as well. Go Dodgers? Go Astros? They just don’t sound right coming from me, sorry.

Prediction: Dodgers win 4-1

Yankees Postseason History Recap: Jeffrey Maier

Since the New York Yankees postseason is over and I am still holding strong to onto my boycott of the 2017 World Series let’s get nostalgic, shall we? Let’s take a look over the course the next couple weeks at the Yankees and their postseason history and let’s begin with a cold day in the Bronx back in 1996.

I can remember the first playoff game that I watched all nine innings of. Sure I watched a lot of the 1995 Wild Card round and I had watched some of the ALDS from 1996 but the first game, due to school, homework or the fact that I was just 10-years old and had the attention span of a 10-year old, Game 1 of the 1996 ALCS between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles was the first game I watched from the first pitch to the last and boy was I not left disappointed.

If you don’t remember that was the game at Yankee Stadium that saw Derek Jeter step up to the plate against Armando Benitez with the Yankees trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the 8th inning. Jeter would slap the ball the other way to the right field wall where outfielder Tony Tarasco and a 12-year old little boy who will forever be remembered were waiting. His name was Jeffrey Maier.

Maier visibly reached into the field of play and grabbed the ball from Tarasco leading umpire Rich Garcia to rule the play a home run. The game was tied thanks to a little help, a game the Yankees went on to win leading to a series victory as well for the Bronx Bombers. 

World Series Game One Preview: Houston Astros @ Los Angeles Dodgers

As much as it hurts me to write this article I feel compelled to do so anyway, it’s the World Series after all. The World Series is what every team works towards every single season and despite my team, the New York Yankees, not being there I don’t want to take away from the accomplishments that the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros were able to achieve here in 2017. So here we are in sunny Los Angeles for Game One of the 2017 World Series. In the opener the Dodgers will send, who else, Clayton Kershaw to the mound to square off with lefty Dallas Keuchel for the Astros. What a pitching matchup, huh? Let’s preview the game!

Keuchel has been dominant this postseason and throughout his short postseason career with the Astros beginning with that 2015 AL Wild Card Game against the New York Yankees. Keuchel owns a career postseason ERA of 1.78 in five starts including two starts against the Yankees in the ALCS where the left allowed four runs in 11.1 innings pitched. This will be the first trip to the World Series in Keuchel’s young career.

Kershaw will pitch tonight for the Dodgers also making his first ever career World Series start. Kershaw will be pitching on regular rest after dominating the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. Kershaw hasn’t been as dominant as Keuchel has been but his 3.63 ERA in 17.1 innings pitched this postseason are nothing to shake a stick at either.

The game will be played at 8:00 pm ET inside Dodger Stadium and can be seen on FOX. This is the World Series, how much more do I really have to say here/ Enjoy the games and the series, I personally won’t be watching much, if at all. It hurts too bad. Have a great day everyone. 

Happy Third Birthday to the BYB Hub

The BYB Hub. What can I say about the BYB Hub here now in its THIRD year of existence? The Hub started out as an idea from Robert Casey and Bleeding Yankee Blue as an opportunity for newer blogs or lesser known blogs to get free exposure all in one central hub and it's done that and more. So here we stand three years later still going strong. Still fighting, still clawing our way to the top. And that climb and that fight and that struggle is made so much easier thanks to the Hub.

So Happy Birthday to the Hub and once again, and I can't say it enough, thank you to Mr. Casey and the crew over at BYB.

So it Seems… Thank You for an AMAZING 2017 Season

Good morning everyone, I hope you’re all doing well this morning. I have to say I was left with a bitter taste in my mouth Saturday night and this is the first that I could really talk about it. I know everyone is saying the right things, that this team wasn’t even expected to make it this far and the such but that doesn’t take away the sting for me whatsoever. I believed in this team, I called this team special from very early on and I was not ready to be done watching baseball this season. Not without the organization’s 28^th World Series Championship ring in hand.

Now that I have had a couple nights to sleep on this I can say that I do appreciate this team and the effort that this team put in here in 2017. It was an amazing ride, a fun ride and a ride that gave this team a certain amount of experience that you absolutely cannot quantify. This team is special and this team has all the makings of being special for a very long time. Thank you for that, thank you to all involved.

Speaking of special, hey you. Thank you for sitting by my side and dealing with my roller coaster of emotions during this postseason and thank you for taking an interest in something that I know you have no interest in. I love you for it and I love you for a million and one other reasons. Always have, always will. Have a great day.

This Day in New York Yankees History 10/24: El Duque Orlando Hernandez

Orlando Hernandez was a God send to the New York Yankees during their Dynasty run during the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, especially in the postseason. El Duque started his career 8-0 with a 1.90 ERA in the postseason before the Mets got to him on this day in 2000. The Mets beat the Yankees on this day in the Subway World Series after Benny Agbayani hit a game winning 8th inning double to give the Metropolitan's a 4-2 win. New York native and Mets closer John Franco secured the victory for the Mets ending the Yankees 14 game World Series winning streak.

This Day in New York Yankees History 10/23: Enter Bob Watson

On this day in 1996 David Cone shut down the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the 1996 World Series with the Yankees down two games to none. This would be the first of 14 consecutive World Series games victories for the Yankees before the New York Mets ended the streak in the 2000 Subway World Series.


Also on this day in 1995 the Yankees hired a new GM, replacing Gene Michael, in former Astros GM Bob Watson. Watson would only last two years in the Bronx before the Brian Cashman regime started after being upset with the "chain of command" in the Yankees organization, I think that probably means George Steinbrenner. Watson would be the GM when the Yankees would win their first World Series in 1978 when they were crowned the 1996 champions.

It's Not Over, It's Only The Beginning...

Credit:  NY Post: Anthony J Causi

American League Championship Series

Astros 4, Yankees 0...

Astros win series, 4-3

"The darkest night is often the bridge to the brightest tomorrow."

--Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Sure, it was very disappointing to see the Yankees come so close to making the Fall Classic but the future is so bright for this young Yankees team. This is only the beginning of the wonderful ride they are embarking upon and we'd better hold on tight because it's going to be one helluva ride. I am very proud of the accomplishments of the 2017 New York Yankees.  They achieved far more than anyone expected and are only setting themselves up for loftier heights as we advance forward.  Congratulations, Yankees!  Thumbs down, you are an incredible group of ultra-talented players and you are champions to us.

You have to give credit to the Houston Astros. They earned home-field advantage by winning 101 games over the regular season and it positioned them for success in a series dominated by the home teams. On Saturday night, Charlie Morton and Lance McCullers, Jr held the Yankees to three hits and no runs to send the Astros to their first World Series since 2005 and only their second overall.  

I was afraid that it would be asking a lot for CC Sabathia to be the savior for Game 7. I know that he had been undefeated in his role as a stopper following Yankee losses this year but this game obviously had heightened magnitude. With no offense to Sonny Gray, the Yankees paid a very high price to get him and this should have been his spot to be the team's post-season savior. He may ultimately have a fantastic Yankees career but he was a non-factor this post-season.  

After trading scoreless frames to open the game, Houston's Yuli Gurriel lined a shot to right that looked like it had a chance to clear the wall. Aaron Judge, on the run, leaped up to make a terrific catch to deny Gurriel.  

Credit:  Elsa-Getty Images

I was hopeful that it was a sign for great things to come. Unfortunately, it was not.  

The Astros, getting at least a single each inning against Sabathia, finally broke through in the 4th inning. Evan Gattis led off the bottom of the inning with a powerful home run to left center. Sabathia walked Brian McCann on a full count.  Marwin Gonzalez hit a grounder to short which Didi Gregorius zipped to Starlin Castro to force McCann, but they were unable to turn the double play. Josh Reddick singled to left and Manager Joe Girardi had seen enough. He went to the mound to take the ball from Sabathia, perhaps for the last time in either individual's Yankees career. Enter Tommy Kahnle who quickly induced George Springer, on one pitch, to ground into an inning-ending double play, short to second to first.

The top of the 5th brought a great chance for the Yankees. Greg Bird led off with a double to the right field corner. Starlin Castro was next but he struck out. With Aaron Hicks at the plate, a wild pitch on ball four allowed Bird to fly to third and Hicks to take first. Runners at the corners and one out for Todd Frazier. Frazier hit a chopper to third baseman Alex Bregman and Yankees third base coach Joe Espada made the decision to send Bird home. It would take a perfect throw to nail Bird at the plate. Sadly for us, that's exactly what happened. Bregman's throw to Brian McCann could not have been any better and McCann easily applied the tag on Bird's foot. 

Credit:  Ronald Martinez-Getty Images

Chase Headley grounded out to second and it was an inning of missed opportunity for the Yankees.  

The Yankees lack of scoring hurt as the Astros padded their lead in the bottom of the 5th. With Tommy Kahnle still on the mound for the Yankees, Jose Altuve blasted a one-out home run to right (too high for Judge to make another leaping catch). Carlos Correa and Yuli Gurriel followed with singles to put runners at the corners. Kahnle struck out Evan Gattis for the second out, but then Brian McCann doubled to the corner in right, scoring both Correa and Gurriel. Girardi pulled the plug on Kahnle and brought in Adam Warren to get the final out.  The Astros had increased their lead to 4-0.

The Astros made a pitching change for the top of the 6th. Lance McCullers, Jr was brought in to replace Charlie Morton who had held the Yanks to two hits.  Brett Gardner greeted McCullers with a single to left down the line and there was optimism that the Yankees could get back into the game. The optimism started to dissipate as McCullers retired the next three batters end the inning. Gardy's hit was the last one that McCullers, who finished the game, would allow.  

The Yankees went down quietly in the 9th and when Greg Bird's fly to center was caught by George Springer, their season was over. As the Astros celebrated on the field and later in the clubhouse, the Yankees could only gather their things and begin preparations for the flight home to New York City.  

Credit:  Ronald Martinez-Getty Images

Last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers watched the Chicago Cubs celebrate on Wrigley Field turf when the Cubs won the NLCS to advance to the World Series. They remembered that feeling and it helped fuel them to the NL Championship this year and a role as the host for Game 1 of the 2017 World Series. I am hopeful that the Yankees take the same sense of disappointment to fuel their hopes and aspirations for the 2018 season.  

Hopefully, the Steinbrenner Family moves quickly to re-sign both GM Brian Cashman and Manager Joe Girardi so that the team can begin its off-season planning to bring the 2018 championship back to the Bronx.  

Credit:  Elsa-Getty Images

As always, Go Yankees!

Odds & Ends...

Friday, I was surprised when the Washington Nationals fired manager Dusty Baker. Yesterday, I was equally surprised when the San Francisco Giants dismissed Dave Righetti as the team's pitching coach. Righetti, the former Yankees closer, was the longest tenured pitching coach in the Major Leagues, having served under three managers since 2000. During that time, Rags was part of three World Championships.  Righetti, a Bay Area native, will remain in the Giants organization as a special assistant to GM Bobby Evans. Righetti is one of the most respected pitching coaches in the game but I guess the age-old question 'what have you done for me lately?' gets the best of us. Rags is too good not to get another opportunity elsewhere if he wants it.

Credit:  Brian Rothmuller-Icon Sportswire

The Chicago Cubs fired their pitching coach (Chris Bosio) too. Bosio had held the position since 2012 and he's fresh off a World Series Championship from last season. I guess those three home runs by Kiké Hernandez last week to send the Los Angeles Dodgers to the World Series and the Cubs home for the holidays were Bosio's fault.  

It sounds as though the Boston Red Sox will be offering a three-year deal to Astros bench coach Alex Cora to be their new manager. Cora will most likely accept once the World Series is over. The initial reaction from my Red Sox friends is lukewarm but I think Cora is a sound option for the Sox. For Cora, it will be about the right coaching hires to help him succeed. He will already have a strong team in place and he'll be gaining front row World Series experience this year.  

I will watch the World Series with interest. As a former resident of Los Angeles, it's hard not to cheer for the Dodgers. They've been my favorite NL team, despite my love for the Yankees. So, I'll be rooting for Blue and hoping they send the Astros home with saddened faces.

Have a great Sunday! Remember the magic of the 2017 Yankees and dream of the potential for the 2018 club. Go Yankees!

This Day in New York Yankees History 10/22: Damn You Jeff Weaver

On this day in 2003 the Yankees Jeff Weaver gave up a home run to the Marlins Alex Gonzalez to tie the series up at two games each and give the Marlins a 4-3 victory in 12 innings. This game also ended the Yankees consecutive games winning streak in extra innings at seven games.


Also on this day in 2000 in Game 2 of the Subway World Series the Yankees extended their World Series consecutive games winning streak to 14 games. The Yankees beat the Mets 6-5, not that anyone really remembers the score. This game will always be remembered for Roger Clemens innocently, yes I am completely biased and humble, throwing a bat in the general direction of Mike Piazza. This came on the heels of Clemens drilling Piazza in July which resulted in the benches clearing before cooler heads prevailed.


Also on this day in 1974 the Yankees and a Giants pulled off a trade that saw Bobby Bonds come to New York and Bobby Murcer head to San Francisco. This, at the time of course, was considered to be the biggest one for one trade in the history of baseball. Both players made over $600,000 marking the first time two players making that much money were traded in the same deal. Murcer was donned the next Mickey Mantle while Bonds was donned the next Willie Mays so this was a huge trade at the time.


Finally on this day in 1967 Joe DiMaggio was named the Athletics executive vice president and consultant for the team. DiMaggio was also named a part time hitting coach and a public relations advocate for the club although Joe would leave the A's after just two years with the organization.