Game Thread: New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals 5/10

The New York Yankees defense has taken the field, the pitchers are done throwing their warm up pitches in the bullpen and the Kansas City Royals leadoff man is ready to take his first at bat of the night. This is Yankees baseball ladies and gentleman and this is the second game of these team’s four-game set head-to-head this week in the Bronx. The Yankees send their stopper and their ace to the mound tonight in Masahiro Tanaka while the Royals will look for a bounce back start from Kris Medlen tonight in the Bronx. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside of Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and MLB TV.

These two teams have two more games to go in this four game series before the Royals kiss the Bronx goodbye for a while and if you want to see either of these games live you need to act now. No longer can you print your tickets at home obviously so you need to click the Yankees tickets link at the top of the blog now to get your tickets or at least your ticket barcode on your phone in hand before the game. It supports the Yankees and it supports the blog, and we thank you for it in advance. If you can’t make it out to the Bronx this week then you can simply follow along on Twitter and live tweet with us by dropping us a line @GreedyStripes. We are around for each and every Yankees game this season like we have been since day one.

Tanaka, just like the last time. Go! And Go Yankees!

USA Today’s Weekly MLB Power Rankings

Last week I made a pretty bold prediction, I thought anyway, as far as these power rankings go and like most of my predictions we all get to point at me and laugh this week when I’m miserably wrong. My bold prediction was that the New York Yankees would win five of their six games with the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox and become the league’s highest riser in this week’s rankings. Well the Yankees went 3-3 on the week while also finishing strong with a series victory over the Red Sox but was it enough to become the biggest rise of the week?

In a word, no. The biggest rise of the week went to the Seattle Mariners who rose eight spots in the rankings to the #6 position while the biggest fall of the week went to the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers fell a whopping 11 spots from the #8 to the #19 position to end the week. Not a good week for Tigers and a great week for the Seattle Cano’s.

The New York Yankees finished the week at the #26 position which was one spot lower from their position last week at #25. To round out the rest of the American League East the Baltimore Orioles finished the week 5th while the Boston Red Sox took the series loss on the chin at the #8 position. The Toronto Blue Jays finished the week still lagging behind at the #15 position while the Tampa Bay Rays finished their week with the #18 ranking.

The Top 5 teams according to the rankings are the #1 Chicago Cubs, the Washington Nationals, the Chicago White Sox, the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles. The five teams that don’t want to be mentioned on this list after being the five worst teams in the rankings are in descending order the #26 New York Yankees, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cincinnati Reds, the Minnesota Twins and the #30 Atlanta Braves.

I put very little stock into these power rankings truth be told but they do paint a pretty accurate picture over the course of a season. The better teams tend to stay at the top, the teams I would classify as mediocre hang around in the middle somewhere and the worst teams in the league tend to hang around the #20 and below rankings. These early season rankings just tend to get a little redundant with so much movement but we bring them to you anyway because the view counter and discussion on Twitter shows me you like them. Enjoy!

Charleston Riverdogs Press Release: Ken Griffey Sr.

Ken Griffey, Sr. Joins the Inaugural

“Legends in the South” Alumni Game at The Joe

Former Yankee and Braves Slugger to Join Yankee Legends Team at The Joe on May 27th

CHARLESTON, SC – If you’ve only ever seen Ken Griffey, Sr. swing a bat on YouTube, now is your chance to see one of the all-time greats in person. Joining a star-studded cast of New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves legends, Griffey will don the Yankee pinstripes as the team of former Bronx Bombers take on the Braves in the inaugural Legends in the South game on Friday, May 27 at 6:35pm at Joseph P. Riley, Jr. Park.

Griffey, a three-time all-star and two-time World Series champion throughout his 19-year major league career, joins a dynamic cast in the baseball showcase at The Joe that includes the likes of Bobby Richardson, Gene “Stick” Michael, Ron Blomberg, Marquis Grissom, Denny Neagle, and Ryan Klesko.

A former 29th round pick from Donora, PA, Griffey collected more than 2,000 hits and 152 home runs in his career that spanned stints with the Cincinnati Reds, Yankees, Braves, and Seattle Mariners. The multi-talented outfielder hit .296 with a .359 slugging percentage in 2,097 career games. Part of the famed “Big Red Machine,” Griffey won back-to-back World Series titles with the Reds in 1975-76 before being traded to the Yankees prior to the 1982 season and joined the Braves in ’86.

General admission tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event start at just $12 and are currently on sale. Box seats are $25 each, lower reserved seats are $20, and upper reserved tickets are only $15. Tickets may be secured by calling 843/577-DOGS (3647), online at riverdogs.com or at the Riley Park Box Office. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:35pm and gates will open at 4pm for batting practice.

Various VIP meet and greet opportunities are now available for auction on riverdogs.com/auction and it offers fans once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to rub shoulders with the shining cast of former big leaguers. Auction items include a spot at a welcome reception with the Legends’ teams on Thursday, May 26, from 6-8pm and a luncheon at a downtown restaurant on Friday, May 27, from 1-3pm.

Fans can also bid on a unique opportunity to take batting practice on the field, suit up in full uniform and experience the game from either the Braves or Yankees dugout with one spot for each team available for auction.

Game Preview: New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Royals 5/10

The New York Yankees and the Kansas City Royals are back at it again tonight in the Bronx in the second of their three-game set in the Bronx. Unfortunately as you read earlier this morning I will be missing this game but I will be there in spirit rooting on the home team. In the contest the Yankees will be sending Masahiro Tanaka to the mound looking for another gem, and maybe some offensive support to help, while the Royals will counter with Kris Medlen.

Tanaka pitched an absolute gem in his last start against the Baltimore Orioles but while he delivered just what the doctor ordered the offense fell asleep in a no-decision. Tanaka ended up throwing eight shutout innings in the start but the Yankees did not break through until the bottom of the 10^th when a Brett Gardner solo home run sent the Yankees fans home happy with a 1-0 walk off victory.

Medlen had the exact opposite kind of start as Tanaka did last time out against the Washington Nationals. Medlen lasted just two innings in the contest while allowing nine runs, six of them earned, on six hits. Please sir, may we have some more?

The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET inside of Yankee Stadium and can be seen on the YES Network, MLB Network and of course MLB TV. Medlen is one of those pitchers I’ve watched a lot since moving to Atlanta and while with the Braves I suffered through a pair of Tommy John surgeries with the right-hander. I’m glad to see him back on the mound and back with a contending team because I always kind of liked him when I watched him pitch either live or on television. I’m a Yankees fan through and through but when you live afar and you’re a baseball junkie like me it’s hard not to latch on and at least follow the “home” team. Medlen pitching or not though you need to best believe I’ll still be shouting GO YANKEES each and every time.

Go Yankees!

So I’m Going to See the Chattanooga Lookouts Tonight!

When you become a parent you come across these proud moments with your children that just make you smile and warm your heart. Today I have one of those stories for you as last week my son came home with a note in his book bag. Now to fully understand my son you have to know the whole story. He’s a sponge. He’s too smart for his own good and possibly the worst part about it is that he knows it. His teacher’s only complaint, granted this is Kindergarten we’re talking about here, is that he has far too much energy. He has that energy because he’s bored. The teacher sent home a list of reading words he was going to learn the first week of school and he rattled them off like he knew them his entire life. The teacher then put him in an accelerated group in school and long story short she sent home the list of first grade work and words he would have to learn by the time he was done with the grade. Again, rattled them off like he knew them all along.

So you have to understand how my heart dropped when he said “Dad I got a note sent home today from my teacher.” He was quick to point out that it was a “good note” and when I read the note my heart sank again, but for an entirely different reason. Each class teacher picked one student that was “most improved” and they picked my son, Evan. His prize was a ticket to the Chattanooga Lookouts game tonight, a free hot dog, a free drink and he will be in a pre-game parade on the field.

I’m not bragging I am just overwhelmed with pride for my son and I had to share it with you guys. I’ll go quiet tonight and I may be a bit quiet tomorrow as I catch up but I just had to share this. #OneProudDad. 

Weekly Prospects Check In: Nick Swisher

The New York Yankees for whatever reason have been reluctant to call up Nick Swisher after signing the former member of the 2009 World Series championship team to a minor league deal. The Yankees have lost Alex Rodriguez for at least another week due to a hamstring injury and both Brett Gardner and Jacoby Ellsbury have been day-to-day with nagging injuries but the team has decided to go with Ben Gamel and Aaron Hicks over Swisher for whatever reason.

Swisher is out of minor league options and is not on the 40 man roster which always complicates the matter but seemingly the Yankees know more than I do. Maybe Swisher doesn’t want to accept another minor league assignment if he gets designated for assignment or maybe his knees being gone are not getting the true attention that they deserve. I trust the Yankees organization, even after everything I’ve seen during my 20+ years of fandom, and if they aren’t calling up Swisher I guess there’s a pretty good reason for it.

I hope there is anyway because it seems like the hot streak is coming to an end, and truthfully it had to at some point, and I had hoped the Yankees would have rode that out in the Bronx and not Scranton. 

Year	Age	Lg	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
2016	35	AAA	20	85	5	21	2	3	8	0	3	22	.259	.282	.395	.677

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

This Day in New York Yankees History 5/10: Don Mattingly Who?

On this day in 1953 the Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella hit a double and a home run driving in all five Dodgers runs in a shutout victory over the Phillies at Ebbets Field. Campanella had 40+ RBI's in the first 30 games of the season setting a Major League record. The record would not be matched until the Yankees Tino Martinez matched the feat in 1997. Don Mattingly who?


Also on this day in 1934 the New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox 11-3 and the Yankee clipper Lou Gehrig had himself a week. Gehrig hit four extra base hits tying a big league record including two doubles and two home runs. Gehrig had 12 total bases and seven RBI's in just five innings when he benched himself due to a severe cold.

Chapman Returns, Yanks Slug Five HRs In 6-3 Victory

      There was definitely a buzz around Yankee Stadium tonight and it was not just because the Yankees were beginning their three-game series against the defending World Series Champion Kansas City Royals. It was because everyone was hoping for their chance at seeing Aroldis Chapman, activated today from his 30-game suspension. The other story line of note was that Ivan Nova was making his first start of the year due to C.C. Sabathia being placed on the DL late last week. The tall order, literally, for the Yankees came in the form of Kansas City's 6'11" Chris Young. The big right-hander was sporting a 5.67 ERA at the start of the game, which would definitely be going up at night's end. With one starting pitcher coming out of the bullpen to make a spot start and the other not doing such a great job of pitching when his number was called, there would be plenty of offensive action in this one.
      The balls were flying all over the ballpark tonight, beginning in the bottom of the first when Brian McCann launched a solo homerun, just barely clearing the right-field wall, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead. But, Kansas City would quickly respond as Alex Gordon took Nova deep to center, tying the game at one. Then, in the bottom of the second, Carlos Beltran took Young deep to right, puting the Yankees back on top, 2-1. The Bombers did not stop there. In the bottom of the third, Young served up back-to-back homeruns to Brett Gardner and Aaron Hicks, pushing the Yankee lead to three. After getting the next two batters out, Carlos Beltran struck again, Launching his second  solo blast of the game and forcing Chris Young to the showers. It was Young's worst outing of the season, as he allowed five homeruns, over a quarter of the total number of homeruns(16) he gave up all of last season.
      Neither starting pitcher would make it out of the fifth inning. With a pitch count of just 75, Ivan nova pitched well in his first start of the season but would ultimately not factor in the decision. He was pulled after recording two outs in the fifth, leaving runners on the corners, for an old familiar Yankee face, Phil Coke, who hasn't pitched for the Yankees cents game five of the 2009 World Series. Coke would put away Eric Hosmer, thusly crediting him as the winning pitcher of record as he recorded the last out of the fifth inning. Dillon Gee, The relief pitcher who was tasked with cleaning up the mess left by Chris Young, pitched very well until the bottom of the seventh inning. Gee allowed back-to-back singles to Chase Headley and Ronald Torreyes to lead off the frame. After Brett Gardner moved both runners up a base on the ground out, Aaron Hicks drove in the Yankees sixth run of the game on a sacrifice fly to right field. The Royals, however would get one back in the top of the eighth when Eric Hosmer launched the seventh homerun of the game, a solo job off of newly inserted Yankee left-hander Chasen Shreve, 6-2 Yanks.
     Everyone in the ballpark got exactly what they came to see, as even though it was not a save situation, the Yankees deployed their new toy, flame throwing Aroldis Chapman to finish off the Royals in the ninth. The Cuban Missile was a little shaky in his first outing of 2016, striking out the first two batters he faced and then allowing consecutive hits to Pablo Orlando and Alcedes Escobar, with the second hit driving in Orlando, 6-3. He would go on to record the final out of the game, topping out at 101 mph. Another big thing to take away from tonight's game is that Aaron Hicks is starting to really heat up at the plate, driving in two more runs tonight. If the Yankees are going to turn the season around, they are going to need the young outfielder to start making a difference with his bat.
      In game two tomorrow, Mossa hero Tanaka will try to keep the Yankee momentum going. The game begins at 7:05 PM ET.
   
   

Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Kansas City Royals 5/9

The New York Yankees welcome the defend World Series champions to the Bronx and the Yankee Stadium for the first time this season with the first of a four-game set. The Yankees have traditionally done well against the Royals during their recent string of success so that's encouraging for New York tonight. In the contest tonight the Yankees will send Ivan Nova to the mound replacing CC Sabathia while the Royals counter with Chris Young. The game will be played at 7:05 pm ET and can be seen on the YES Network and MLB TV.

To see any of these four games live between the Yankees and the Royals click the Yankees Tickets link at the top of the blog and head over to our friends over at Ticket Monster. There you can pick up a pair of tickets without those bulky fees or annoying shipping costs associated with your purchase price. If you can't make it live or if you're a Yankees fan from afar like myself then you can follow along on Twitter by giving @GreedyStripes a follow.

The Yankees are still in the cellar and still need every win they can get and who better to beat up on than the defending World Series champs. Go Yankees!

ICYMI: Brian Cashman Refuses to Acknowledge the Problem He Created

For many, many years the biggest gripe among Yankees fans was the constant meddling in the player acquisition and trades aspect of the game. Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was known for “getting his man” at whatever cost and at whatever risk and damage it did to the team in the long term. Just win and just win now. This caused many of the current Brian Cashman supporters to use this notion as a means of defending the GM and for a while it was true. Cashman was held down by bulky contracts he fought against giving and aging veteran players past their primes that he wanted no part in acquiring. That is still the case to an extent these days with current owner Hal Steinbrenner but Cashman has seemingly been given more power than ever over the Yankees and yet the team is still in a pickle, a pickle that Cashman refuses to acknowledge and refuses to fix.


No longer can one say, in my opinion anyway, that this is a Hal Steinbrenner led and assembled team. Sure he has had his hands in acquiring the likes of Ichiro Suzuki and Rafael Soriano and sure the Alex Rodriguez contract that is set to run out was against Cashman’s wishes but for the most part Cashman handed out most of these deals and made most of these trades. This is finally Brian Cashman’s team for better or worse and as a Brian Cashman apologist I find it hard to stick up for the man these days. Especially when he has basically told the team and the media that this is the team we are running with for now until he is “forced to” change and improve the team and that we basically have to deal with it. Say what?


Cashman told the media after the Yankees sweep in Boston this past weekend that he is not willing to bench Chase Headley much like the Red Sox have done with Pablo Sandoval. He’s just not going to do but don’t worry he finished the topic with this little nugget. “If anybody wants to earn opportunities in the future they have to earn it.” So let me get this straight, anyone who wants to replace Headley has to “earn” it but until then we’re going to sit on our hands and watch the guy set a new low in batting average, defense and slugging.


I’m done. I’m done defending Cashman and I’m done defending this team. I’m not giving up on this team, that’s a whole other story and a huge difference, but I am done spraying hope all over the blog and Twitter for better days and for the team to turn things around. Attitude reflects leadership and if Brian Cashman doesn’t care then I don’t either.