This Day In New York Yankees History 8/24: Yankees Hats Start a Gang War

Unknown to the New York Yankees their hats may have contributed to an uptick in gang violence in East Harlem, New York. On this day in 2007, a day after protests concerning the gang related items, New Era announced that it will remove the "offensive" hats that bears the colors and symbols of the rival gangs the Bloods, the Crips, and the Latin Kings. Two white hats had been wrapped in red and blue bandannas made by New Era and appeared to represent the Bloods and the Crips. A black Yankees hat with the interlocking NY also had a crown symbolic of the Latin Kings.

Also on this day in 1985 Don Baylor ties a major league record in a Yankees uniform when he is hit by a pitch for the 189th time in his career.

Finally on this day in 1951 Mickey Mantle was recalled from the minor leagues and for the first time in his career wore his #7 jersey. The Yankees would win the game and Mantle would go 1-4 in the 2-0 victory over the Indians. Mantle had previously wore #6 before being demoted six weeks ago and his jersey was given to infielder Bobby Brown.

The New York Yankees and $4 Million to Play With

The August 31^st trading deadline is a shade over a week away and the New York Yankees have roughly $4 million to play with while still staying under the luxury tax threshold of $197 million.

Andrew McCutchen has been placed on revocable waivers and, at the time of this writing anyway, he had yet to clear waivers. Assuming he does, and with his salary he should, the San Francisco Giants outfielder could come to New York along with his roughly $3.23 million left on his deal for the 2018 season. McCutchen would be a true rental meaning the Yankees wouldn’t give up anything of significance for the veteran outfielder. Personally, I’d love McCutchen in pinstripes and he would be my top trade target since Aaron Judge won’t be back any time soon.

Curtis Granderson is in a similar situation but has already cleared waivers and would eat up less of the Yankees available cap room with his $1.1 million in salary still to be paid. Acquiring Granderson instead of McCutchen would give the Yankees some wiggle room to add a relief pitcher if they deemed it possible.

If the Yankees decided to get Granderson instead of McCutchen the team could conceivably also acquire Kelvin Herrera of the Washington Nationals, who are now selling off veteran rental pieces. Herrera is a free agent at season’s end and is owed roughly $1.7 million for the remainder of the season. Herrera has not pitched well for the Nationals since the Kansas City Royals traded him to Washington this June, but he has a proven veteran track record that signals that he is more than likely to turn it around. He has to be better than AJ Cole, right?

Oh, and by the way I wanted to address something that really bothers me. To all the fans who say the Yankees are “cheap” and not committed to winning. Go root for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the New York Mets, the Miami Marlins, the Tampa Bay Rays or even a team like the Oakland Athletics who may have a good season or two of competing, but then see all their players leave via trades or free agency because their owners and organizations won’t spent $197 million and are too cheap to hold onto their good, young talent. Rant over.

Hello… Off Day

Good morning Yankees family and welcome back to the blog. Throughout the grind that is the 162-game Major League Baseball season an off day is always a welcomed sight, but these off days this week are especially useful for the New York Yankees. With two off days this week the Yankees are able to not only rest up, the team can also heal up as well. Gary Sanchez becomes a day closer to returning and so does Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius, CC Sabathia, Aroldis Chapman and others, all without missing a game on the schedule. It also gives Giancarlo Stanton and his bad hamstring an extra day or two to mend, which is never a bad thing. Enjoy the off days now, because the stretch run is coming.

Hey you, I love you.

Greg Bird A Deeper Look

              Lately there has been a lot of talk about the Yankees needing to upgrade 1st Base, I’m not sold yet. While Greg Bird has had a ton of injuries, and has missed a lot of time he is not as bad as most think. Yes he needs to put it together over a course of 1 season, but looking at his numbers they tell the tale of why the Yankees are so high on him.  In 165 games played Mr. Bird has hit a lowly average of .218 which I’ll admit is on the low side. However the rest of his numbers are ones I’d take on a yearly basis. 37 HRs, 29 doubles, 1 Triple, 66 Walks, 94 RBIs, and 68 Runs Scored. Those numbers would be in line with some of the best 1st baseman in the game today. The AVG and the OBP needs a little work but I’d take the 94 RBIs with 37 bombs every year. Where do I sign?              Some Yankees Fans may disagree with me, some will agree. Greg Bird is not as bad as it looks on the surface give this guy a little more time and I’m sure he will prove himself to be a solid Yankee for a long time. The talent and the tools are there. Defensively he is a very good 1st baseman, offensively just needs to put it all together over the course of a full season. Don’t forget he has also been clutch in some big games. Yes he popped out on the 1st pitch the other night late in a game with the bases loaded, but he did hit some big shots for us in the playoffs last year. Bird gives his all every game, and he is just as frustrated as most fans are but please be patient I’m sure he will get this figured out. The numbers are actually there to back it up. Mr. Bird just needs to be put together over a course of 1 season not 3.   

James C Palma Email: JamesCPalma@Yahoo.Com                   Twitter: @JamesCPalma

A Win is a Win...

Photo Credit: Miami Herald (David Santiago)

Yankees Survive the Marlins in Extra Innings…

Beat the teams you are supposed to beat. It does get frustrating when the Yankees struggle against Major League Baseball’s worst teams. I thought it was game over twice last night when the Miami Marlins loaded the bases with no outs in the bottoms of the ninth and eleventh innings against Chad Green and A.J. Cole, respectively. Somehow, the Yankees miraculously survived both innings and finally punched across the winning run in the top of the twelfth, thanks to a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by everybody’s Rookie of the Year, Miguel Andujar. 

Photo Credit: AP (Lynne Sladky)

I guess it does not really matter how you win so long as you do win.

On a night the Boston Red Sox were losing…again…it was nice to pick up a game in the standings. With the 2-1 win over the Marlins, the Yankees now trail Boston by eight games (seven in the loss column) in the AL East. The Sox dropped their second straight game to the AL Central leading Cleveland Indians, 6-3. It was Boston’s third consecutive loss overall.  Bummer, I feel so sad when that happens. Um, not really.

I’ve always felt that as long as you are within six games on September 1^st, you have a chance to win the division. Mathematically, you can obviously be further out and still take the division crown but I’ve seen many six game leads erased over the years, the number has stuck in my head as the benchmark to ensure that you trail by no more than six when the calendar page rips to the ninth month of the year. Now, I don’t really expect the Red Sox to crater despite their current losing streak but it is fun to see the Yankees cut into their large lead.  Boston’s losing pitcher last night was Nathan Eovaldi. Nasty Nate hasn’t pitched a quality start for the Red Sox since they beat the Yankees on August 4^th. For all those Yankee fans who wanted Eovaldi over J.A. Happ, be glad that your dreams did not come true. 

I am worried about Aroldis Chapman. Brought in to close out last night’s win, he was unable to find the strike zone, walking the leadoff hitter in the twelfth inning. After six pitches, he signaled for the dugout and the decision was made to pull him due to his troublesome left knee. While Chapman has been trying to play through the knee tendonitis, this is the worst it has been so far. The Yankees plan further tests today to determine if something else is going on. 

Photo Credit: AP (Lynne Sladky)

Either way, it does not look good for the Yankees closer. David Robertson has missed a few games with minor soreness in the shoulder, so, to me, Zach Britton looks like the best option to close. I wouldn’t want to mess with Dellin Betances. He is much better in a setup role. Chad Green hasn’t been as reliable this year as he was in 2017. Britton, if he is right, is the best man for the job. He knows and understands the pressure of the ninth inning and he has proven in the past he is among the league’s elite. I know he’s had his share of struggles in Pinstripes, but he would be my first option to replace Chapman if Chappy is forced to miss any time. Work and knowing his role would help Britton elevate his game to previous levels of dominance.

Tommy Kahnle picked up his first save of the season in relief of Chapman but he is not a closing option for an extended period of time. The Yankees have been concerned about his drop in velocity and he is fortunate that the team he faced last night was the Marlins and not a stronger team like the Oakland A’s, a team we will see in early September. Khris Davis or Matt Olson would feast on Kahnle’s offerings. 

As expected, Didi Gregorius landed on the disabled list prior to yesterday’s game due to his injured heel.  Hopefully, he’ll only miss the minimum amount of time (ten days). It’s fortunate the Yankees have a true shortstop in Gleyber Torres to slide him over to cover for Didi and hand the second base job to a proven second baseman in Neil Walker. It hurts to lose Didi but on paper, he is an easier guy to replace than Aaron Judge. I guess it is good and bad with Walker at second, considering that it opens more potential playing time for Shane Robinson in right field. Yuck!

It hurts me to look at the list of Yankees that have hit the disabled list this year. You could nearly field a playoff contender with the DL guys alone.  Baseball is about opportunity. When one goes down, another has to step up. Credit to those Yankees who have performed when asked. Hopefully the team can withstand the latest run of injuries to put the team in good position for the final weeks of the season and when some of the injured guys like Judge and Gary Sanchez can rejoin the active roster. 

I am really surprised GM Brian Cashman has done nothing about right field. There’s no question I am not a fan of Shane Robinson. I know the Yankees are trying to navigate the treacherous waters beneath the luxury tax threshold, but there are too many other better outfield options available for the Yankees. I would have preferred the Yankees recalled Tyler Wade yesterday instead of first baseman Luke Voit. Manager Aaron Boone wanted Voit’s bat since they are playing a couple of games in a National League park, but despite whatever hitting success Voit has enjoyed at Triple A, it has yet to translate to the MLB level. Wade is capable of playing some corner outfield. Or make a spot on the 40-man roster for first baseman Ryan McBroom. McBroom is also capable of playing in the outfield and has had a very good year between Double and Triple A. I certainly like McBroom or Wade over Robinson. 

Tyler Austin’s dad, Chris, has taken much heat for his tweets which basically trashed Greg Bird while promoting his son’s success with the Minnesota Twins. Personally, I don’t have a problem with Chris. My father passed away when I was a small child. Man, I wish I had a dad that loved me as passionately as Chris does Tyler. It’s wonderful that Tyler is enjoying success with the Twins. He deserves it. It is unfortunate Greg Bird took the unfair criticism but Bird has it within his power to change the results. If Tyler had been the first baseman the Yankees kept and Bird was the guy traded to Minneapolis, I am sure Yankee fans would not have minded Chris’s tweets promoting his son over Bird. Tyler, for the record, was embarrassed by his father’s tweets and asked him to take them down. He apologized for his father's actions and expressed the intent to reach out to Bird.  I think the whole situation was overblown. I didn’t take offense when I first saw Chris’s tweet and figured it was his right as a father. In retrospect, it probably should not have come at Greg Bird’s expense but again Bird can change the results. I hope Tyler prospers and thrives as a member of the Twins and Greg Bird goes on to have a very good Yankees career. 

I really hope that Giancarlo Stanton can get his 300^th career home run tonight at Marlins Park in Miami.  It seems so appropriate for the long-time Marlin to snag the milestone homer in what was once his home ballpark. Hitting number 300 at Camden Yards in Baltimore does not have the same honor or prestige for the Marlins’ all-time leading home run hitter. The positive reaction the crowd gave Stanton last night was very moving as was his gesture that they had his heart. A sweet, tender moment with the Marlins fans. Now, crush their hearts with a long, dramatic home run for #300.

Photo Credit: AP (Lynne Sladky)

The Washington Nationals were busy yesterday. They traded a Daniel Burch-favorite, second baseman Daniel Murphy, to the Chicago Cubs and let first baseman Matt Adams go on waivers to the St Louis Cardinals. Outfielder Bryce Harper was apparently claimed by the Los Angeles Dodgers but the Nats pulled him back off revocable waivers ensuring that he’ll end the season with Washington in what could be his final days as a Nat. As much as I would like for Bryce to play for the Yankees next year, I think the Philadelphia Phillies are the most likely destination for the free agent-to-be. With slightly more than a week left before the waiver trading deadline, teams will probably start making moves like we saw yesterday. Hopefully Brian Cashman can snag some help to offset the rash of injuries. Aside from the return to health for the key guys on the DL, the biggest September move might be the promotion of Justus Sheffield to serve in the Yankees bullpen. Regardless of how he gets to the Bronx, I am anxious to see the Yankees best pitching prospect finally get his opportunity. Top Sheff, it’s nearly your time.

Today is a good day for a win and a great day for a Stanton home run. Let’s Go Yankees! Please feel free to shave another game off Boston’s lead. We certainly do not mind. 

Fan Time!!!

Hello there fellow Yankees Fans, Jay back again with another edition of Fan Time.  Today we have Robert Anderson, one of the admins from DIEHARD YANKEE FANS on Facebook. Robert is one of the most interesting interviews to date. He went in to some pretty good detail during the True and False faze.  I’m glad I had the pleasure of having Robert participate with this interview. Let’s get to it......

Jay: How long have you been a Yankee Fan ?

Robert: Been Yankees fan since birth. Born and raised in New York have lived in NY entire life. All of my immediate family are Yankees fans. Been going to old and new stadium entire life. THE  BRONX BOMBERS have always been a big part of my life.

Jay: Very cool.                                                        1st Yankee memory you remember?

Robert: My first memory of the Yankees was listening to the game on the radio with my Grandfather.

Jay: Biggest Yankee memory you have?

Biggest Yankee moment well I have witnessed so many live and on TV so I would say being at Jeters 3000th hit game was great. Jay: That is awesome! That is definitely a game I wish I was at. Favorite all time Yankee and Why?

Robert: My favorite Yankee in my life time Donnie baseball. Mattingly was one of the best defensive first basemen I ever seen and before his back injuries he raked better than most. Hit machine and when he went yard in the old stadium it was electric. But in honesty I do have different favorite players from each era or decades I could say.                  Jay: Care to name any? 

Robert: For example Mariano Rivera why because he dominated with basically one pitch and we witnessed him as the best closer in baseball history. 

Jay: Would the Yanks be better if Joe was still the manager or was Boone a better choice ? 

Robert: Record wise I am not sure Yankees would be much different if the manager was still Joe Girardi. The Yankees have been lucky over past 22 years in the manager role that's for sure. 

Jay: Yes indeed. They always seem hire the right man. Well at least at the time of the hiring. I feel if Joe was still here the Yanks might not be as good as they are. In your opinion what’s the Best trade deadline move the Yankees made ? 

Robert: Best trade deadline move so far was getting Happ and Lynn to veteran starters. So far so good for the most part. We all know pitching is huge part of winning it all.

Jay: Truth be told. Pitching is definitely key. However if I hold you to picking one which one would it be? 

Robert:  Happ he has been very good.  Jay: I’d agree. With Judge and Sanchez both on DL what would your lineup look like now ? 

Robert: My line up with Judge, Sanchez, and now Didi out would be as follows. 1. Gardner 2. Torres. 3. Hicks 4. Stanton 5. Bird 6. Romine. 7. Andujar 8. Walker 9. Torreyes

Jay: WOW. A little shocking to see Andujar so low with Torres so high. Reasoning? 

Robert: I prefer to have both towards bottom less pressure but I’m just throwing out a different look. Torres was a total beast before his short DL stint so I liked the lefty right switch hitter. And Andujar has killed it from bottom of line up all season. 

Jay:  Fair points. Who from next years free agent class do you sign?  Why ?

Robert: Next year free agent signing should be interesting that's for sure one player that we should try and sign whom has team option for 2019 is Madison Baumgartner so technically not a free agent unless option is not picked up by Giants. He is 29 and a 3 time world series champ he pitches best in playoffs based on his MLB history.

Jay: Very interesting. If he is free which the Giants won’t do yes indeed sign him up.  Other wise we’ll have to swing a trade. I am all for that if possible.  

What is your all time Yankee team using only players you have seen play ? (Tv or live) lineup and all. Full 25 man roster.....players can’t play out of position.  

Robert: My all time Yankees team would be as follows 1st base Don Mattingly, 2nd base Willie Randolph, SS Derek Jeter, 3rd base Alex Rodriguez, catcher Yogi Berra left field Babe Ruth center Mickey Mantle, right field Aaron Judge. DH Giancarlo Stanton Starting rotation. Whitey Ford Ron Guidry Andy Pettite, Luis Severino El Duque, Bull pen Mariano Rivera, Goose Gossage, Chapman Robertson, Mike Stanton. Dave righetti, Betances Sparky Lyle, Bench players lol, Joe DiMaggio Gleybor Torres, Miguel Andujar, Manager Joe McCarthy. Jay: Hmm...thinks we had a few rules broken there but will let it slide. I like the team I see. Now we have reached the True or False questions. 

Sonny Gray deserves another start?

Robert: Sonny gray stays in bull pen but does he deserve another start it? Well I would say yes if it's against a team he has had success against. He is young and had good stuff he just seems like he is not cut out for the Bronx.

Jay: Stanton Hits 50 HRs?Robert: Stanton will hit below 50 Homer's for 2018 but I am sure he will give it a good shot. 

Jay: The Yanks should be giving Justus Sheffield a start now? 

Robert: Sheffield will get his shot at coming up to the major but likely coming out of the pen

Jay: The yanks break the record for team Home Runs?

Robert: With three sluggers out of the lineup I think they come close to record but dont break it. You currently have 62 Homer's on DLJay: Yankees have 4 players with more then 30 Home Runs? 

Robert: I will say no to having 4 players hitting 30 plus Homer's. Two guys in 20s with Judge and Didi not sure when they get back. Stanton's there already and it would require hicks andujar and Torres to hit bombs like machines for rest of season lol

Jay: Yankees Win the World Series?

Robert: If we are on all cylinders come September and pitching is on point Yankees could have ability to win 2018 World Series. Do I expect them too as a fan yes but I it will be very tough to win the World Series with current 25 man with the injury bug

Jay: Greg Bird should be benched?

Robert: Greg Bird should not be benched he is right now our best option to play first. He could be finally coming out of the funk. That said if he doesn't finish 2018 strong he might be out of the role come 2019. 

Jay: Brett Gardner is a Yankee next Year? 

Robert: Everyone likes Gardy he always plays hard and is a consistent contributor overall, that said I am not 100 percent he is back if they decide to hit the free agent market. My choice keep Gardy He is excellent for the club house and is a take no shit warrior. Jay: Miguel Andujar is the AL ROY? 

Robert: Right now Andujar is rookie of the year. He maintains his steady bat this last several weeks of August and holds steady in September he will be the ROY and it will be well deserved.  

Jay: Any Final thoughts on the Yankees this year or next ?

2018 Yankees even with the ups and downs the dog days and current injuries the Bombers hold second best record in all of Baseball and if everyone comes back healthy for the final stretch it could get really interesting. I am not sure how many teams will want to face that line up when it's on all cylinders. 2019 I see some more new faces with the new core of young players Andujar. Torres Sanchez. Judge possible Frazier with the vets Stanton and Didi making 2019 another great season with World Series goal. It's only a matter of time with this young group. 

Jay: That about wraps up another edition of Fan Time. Robert thanks for joining me today. It’s been a great pleasure and what will be an amazing read.

Robert: Thanks for Having me. 

Email or send me a tweet you can be the next lucky Fan, on Fan Time! Email: JamesCPalma@Yahoo.Com                             Twitter: @JamesCPalma 

Let’s G⚾️ Yankees! 

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Miami Marlins 8/21

And just like that it is game time here in the Bronx between the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins. In the first game of a quick two-game interleague play series the Yankees will send out Masahiro Tanaka while the Marlins will counter with Pablo Lopez inside Marlins Park. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Marlins Park in Miami and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us on Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to keep up with us and the Yankees all season long. Enjoy the game, get out healthy and alive, and go Yankees!!

Top 20 Yankees Prospects Pre-August 31st Trade Deadline

Roansy Contreras - Photo credit Pinstriped Prospects

The countdown is on as the August 31^st trading deadline is now less than two weeks away. Will the Yankees make a significant move? Who will be this year’s Justin Verlander? Will the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners add more pieces? So many questions and not enough answers. Here is an even better question, will the Yankees trade any more notable prospects before the trading deadline? And if so, who are those notable prospects? Again, more unanswered questions, but I think I can help with the last question. Here are my Top 20 Yankees prospects before the August 31^st trading deadline. Enjoy.

(1)    Justus Sheffield

(2)    Estevan Florial

(3)    Jonathan Loaisiga

(4)    Albert Abreu

(5)    Domingo Acevedo

(6)    Anthony Seigler

(7)    Clarke Schmidt

(8)    Trevor Stephan

(9)    Luis Medina

(10) Matt Sauer

(11) Everson Pereira

(12) Thairo Estrada

(13) Garrett Whitlock

(14) Deivi Garcia

(15) Chance Adams

(16) Domingo German

(17) Josh Breaux

(18) Michael King (not a popular opinion, and I am okay with that)

(19) Ryder Green

(20) Roansy Contreras

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Miami Marlins 8/21

Tonight the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins will begin a quick two-game interleague series down in Marlins Park, welcome back Giancarlo! In the start tonight the Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka out to the mound looking to start a new unbeaten streak while the Marlins will counter with a young pitcher in Pablo Lopez. Let’s get to it down inside Marlins Park in Miami.

Tanaka has lost each of his last two starts after going 14 starts consecutively without taking a loss prior. In his last start the Yankees right-hander allowed just two runs over six innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, but ell victim to bad run support from the Yankees offense in a loss.

Lopez was shaky in his last start against the Atlanta Braves allowing six runs in 5.1 innings pitched in a loss for the Marlins. Lopez will be making his ninth career MLB start tonight and will look to improve on his 38 K’s and 12 walks that he has allowed thus far.

The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Marlins Park in Miami and can be seen on the YES Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app and by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Enjoy the game, Tanaka better strike out every time he comes up to bat and go Yankees!!

Hello… Breaking News from the White House

Breaking news coming out of the White House this morning. President of the United States Donald Trump has officially renamed the months of the year going forward. Here are the new names as follows per a press release from FakeNews.com:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

Giancarlo

September

October

November

December

Stay tuned for more, but for now that is all. Hey you, I loves you!!!