Game Thread: New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox 4/11/18

And just like that it is game time in historic Fenway Park as the Boston Red Sox play host to the New York Yankees in the second of their three-game set. The first game last night was a battle of the aces as Luis Severino and Chris Sale faced off head-to-head and tonight is another potential matchup of aces as the Yankees send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound to square off against David Price for the Red Sox. The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Fenway Park in Boston and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11 and MLB Network. You can also follow along with the game on MLB TV, with the MLB At-Bat app or by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast with legendary John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman.

Follow us on Twitter, @GreedyStripes, and “Like” us Facebook, The Greedy Pinstripes, to follow along with us and the team all season long. Enjoy the game renew the rivalry with a victory and Go Yankees!!

A Yankees Day in the Life: Aaron Judge

We have only released one of these Yankees Day in the Life posts and the view counter went crazy on it. Now while I am not sure if that was because it was showcasing the life of Didi Gregorius, because the post is new and unique because you don’t see things like this on any other site, or if it was a combination of the two but with that said I wanted to get another one out there as soon as I could. Today we will follow around Aaron Judge and see what it is like to be in his shoes for a day. Enjoy the post and if you like these and want to see more be sure to show your support in the comments section or on twitter by sending @GreedyStripes a tweet.

Enjoy, and get ready for tonight’s game.

ORIGINS: Justus Sheffield

Another day and another ORIGINS story here on the blog, this time we will be showcasing young Yankees left-handed starter Justus Sheffield. We are receiving great feedback from these posts on the site, on the view counter and on Twitter and such so we will continue rolling them out as often as we can. Enjoy!

SPECULATION: The Didi Gregorius Extension is Coming

The New York Yankees positioned themselves this winter to get under the luxury tax threshold for a few reasons. Obviously, the main reason is because Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner is a cheap bastard and a coupon clipper, but another reason is because of the financial gains the Yankees would enjoy if they are able to stay under the luxury tax threshold for the entirety of the 2018 season. The Yankees would no longer have a tax levied on every dollar they spent via trades and on the free agency market and the team would no longer be penalized for going over the cap if they were to sign a free agent who recently declined a qualifying offer. The final reason the team wanted to get under the luxury tax threshold, and maybe the most important reason for many Yankees fans, is so the team can go absolutely crazy spending money after the 2018 season, both on potential free agents like Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, but also to keep a few of their own in the Bronx for the rest of their careers.

New York is going to spend their money in 2019 just like they do every single offseason, but this offseason we may see a few more players locked up that are currently employed by the team and less players being added via free agency. I am talking about players like Sonny Gray and specifically Didi Gregorius, who I think will receive a contract extension barring any production or health concerns that arise during the 2018 season. Didi is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career after his last arbitration eligible season in 2019, so New York has one year beyond the current 2018 campaign to get Didi locked up long-term.

Didi is possibly the best pure hitter on the team, yes, I realize what I just said and it wouldn’t be the first time I have been killed on the internet for saying so, and is also a stellar defender at shortstop. Didi is a key guy in the clubhouse and he probably owns the best Twitter account on the team, which shouldn’t count for anything but it does for me anyway. It shows his character and it shows his willingness and ability to relate to his fans, something that is not always so easy in a huge market like New York.

The Yankees will extend Didi after the season once the financial restrictions are gone and the resets have begun, just be patient. It doesn’t matter if Manny Machado is about to hit free agency and it doesn’t matter if he grew up idolizing the Yankees, it is not a given that he will sign here and honestly, I’d prefer Didi anyway. Sue me, unbookmark the site and burn me at the stake. I stand by my words and I stand by my feelings. I’d rather see the Yankees allocate that money into their starting staff while keeping Didi rather than having another surplus and luxury of infielders. Sorry, not sorry.

Game Preview: New York Yankees @ Boston Red Sox 4/11/18

Rivalry renewed. Now while some publications were seemingly worried about the New York Yankees heading into Bean Town at the “worst possible time” I was not one of them. It is generally teams like the Red Sox that make you bring your best because you know you will have to in order to beat them, and the Yankees will look to do that once again tonight against a familiar foe to the Yankees faithful. The Yankees will send Masahiro Tanaka to the mound looking for some Red Sox blood while Boston will counter with our old friend and comrade David Price. I love beating David Price maybe more than any other starter in the league, so make it happen.

Tanaka is coming into this start fresh off a loss to the Baltimore Orioles where the Yankees right-hander allowed three runs in 6.1 innings of work. Tanaka won his first start of the season against the Toronto Blue Jays allowing just one run on three hits in six innings of work and will have to pitch like that again tonight in Fenway if he wants his second victory of the young season.

Price on the other hand has been spectacular for the Red Sox in his two starts this season and has yet to allow an earned run in 14 innings of work here in 2018. That ends tonight, because the New York Yankees offense is not on the same level as the offense Price has faced twice thus far this season in the Tampa Bay Rays. Price has a career 15-11 record against the Yankees in 37 starts including a 4.36 ERA, but a lot of that success came early on in his career and not lately.

The game will be played at 7:10 pm ET inside Fenway Park and can be seen on WPIX Channel 11 in New York and MLB Network for all those displaced and out of the Yankees market. You can also follow along with the game using MLB TV, the MLB At-Bat app or by tuning into the Yankees radio broadcast with John Sterling and Suzyn Waldman on WFAN.

Enjoy the game, David Price sucks, and Go Yankees!!

Hello… Giancarlo Gets a Second Home Run Call

Well, he has to actually make contact for us to all hear it, but I digress. When John Sterling revealed his home run call for Giancarlo Stanton in his first at-bat as a Yankee the call was met with a bag of mixed reviews. When I say a bag of mixed reviews, I really mean that everyone hated it. “Giancarlo, non si puo de stoparlo! It is a Stantonian home run” was the call, and while it wasn’t even grammatically correct, it left much to be desired by the Yankees fans, if I may speak for us all.

Have no fear Yankees fans for Sterling has reportedly come up with a second home run call for Giancarlo, according to an interview with the New York Post. Sterling will now sing, saying, “Non dimenticar… that ball sure traveled far.”

WOMP WOMP WOMP

“Non Dimenticar” was written for the 1951 movie, “Anna,” which was later recorded and sang by Nat King Cole in 1958. “Non Dimenticar” means “Do not forget” in Italian. I say again…

WOMP WOMP WOMP

While these home run calls are not great or even “okay” by any stretch of the imagination, we my dear will always be. Ups, downs, highs, lows, and even when things get a little sideways… we will always be okay. I love you, and I hope everyone has a great day.

This Day in New York Yankees History 4/11: Bob Sheppard Takes a Vacation Day

On this day in 2006 Bob Sheppard misses his first Yankee Stadium home opener since 1951 due to a hip injury he suffered the day before at his home. The injury wouldn't keep Sheppard out long as Bob was back for the next Yankees home stand behind the microphone.


Also on this day in 1954 the New York Yankees traded two minor league players with right handed pitcher Mel Wright to the St. Louis Cardinals for 38 year old right fielder Enos Slaughter. While Slaughter would head to the Hall of Fame when his playing career was done he would only hit .239 in 79 games for the Yankees. Bill Virdon, one of the prospects in the deal, would win the Rookie of the Year Award in St. Louis in 1956.

Just Wait

That same look is on the faces of most Yankees' fans.

As many of you know, I don't like dwelling on the negative. I'd much rather point out how good Luis Severino has been, than talk about how bad Gary Sanchez has been with the bat. But that poor performance, as well as others, is why I'm writing today.

I pointed out players that I felt would do better than they have, as well as players that would slow down. It was too early of a look, but it was something I wanted to get off my chest. Today I'm here to do much of the same, but I'm going to bring a little more perspective to the conversation.

First... the problems...

1. Look at this list of players that are currently injured...

Greg Bird March 29, 2018 - Ankle Bird has been designated for the 10-day disabled list due to surgery to remove a small broken spur on his right ankle and is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks as a result.
Brandon Drury April 07, 2018 - Migraine Drury has been placed on the disabled list with migraines and blurred vision. There is no set timetable for his return to the lineup.
Jacoby Ellsbury March 26, 2018 - Oblique Ellsbury is on the 10-day disabled list with an oblique injury and is expected to be sidelined until the middle of April.
Clint Frazier March 29, 2018 - Concussion Frazier has been placed on the 7-day disabled list as he is experiencing concussion-like symptoms and there is no timetable for return.
Ben Heller April 09, 2018 - Elbow Heller has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list after undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery as well as a procedure to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.
Aaron Hicks April 04, 2018 - Ribs Hicks is on the 10-day disabled list with a right intercostal muscle strain but is expected to return to the lineup Tuesday against the Red Sox.
Billy McKinney March 31, 2018 - Shoulder McKinney has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with an AC sprain in his left shoulder and has no timetable for a return.
CC Sabathia April 07, 2018 - Hip Sabathia has been placed on the 10-day disabled list due to a strained right hip and it is unknown when he will make his next scheduled start.
Gary Sanchez April 09, 2018 - Calf Sanchez missed his second-consecutive game with a calf injury but is expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Red Sox.
Tyler Wade April 08, 2018 - Flu Wade has sat out the previous two games due to flu-like symptoms and is unclear if he will suit up against the Red Sox on Tuesday.

*credit to Baseball-Referencce

Greg Bird, slated to start at first base this season, has yet to appear in the regular season. Brandon Drury, starting third baseman, has been dealing with blurred vision and migraines long before he joined the Yankees. Our regular centerfielder, Aaron Hicks, may have played on Opening Day but that's been it. And I'd talk about us being without our starting catcher for a couple of games, but...

2. Gary Sanchez has been dreadful with the bat. I keep saying "with the bat" because his defense has actually been pretty good. Unfortunately he's hitting .063/.091/.188. That lack of production would be bad anywhere in the lineup, but when you're talking about a guy that hits fourth or fifth, that lack of production becomes a much bigger problem.

3. Twenty strikeouts so far this season... two games with five strikeouts... a batting average of .167... an on-base percentage of .271. No, that's not the Yankees' #9 batter, that is their #3 hitter... Giancarlo Stanton. 

4. Would you believe it if I told you that the Yankees' relievers have combined for the highest fWAR in the American League? Probably not, but it's true (FYI, the bullpen ranks fifth in innings pitched in the AL). Which amazed me when I saw it, because although they've been better lately, the bullpen has made some horrible appearances this season.

Now to be more like myself... optimistic. 

The first point may not get worked out. Greg Bird appeared in only 69 games in 2017, and just 17 games in 2016 (all in the Arizona Fall League). Greg's middle name is "Disabled List". Fortunately, Neil Walker has looked like a very nice replacement. As for injuries in general, you can't predict them, so while the team should get healthier down the road, it's not a certainty.

Yet there's plenty of reasons to believe points two through four will get better sooner or later. 

1. Gary Sanchez is not going to go from an OPS+ of 126 in 2017 to being a well below average hitter in 2018. 

2. The 2017 NL MVP and MLB home run leader, Giancarlo Stanton, will not strike out 300 times in 2018 (he's actually on pace to exceed 300 Ks this season). 

3. The bullpen will actually get better and prove they are the best group of relievers in baseball. David Robertson will have a much lower ERA than his current 5.40, Dellin Betances will improve on his ERA of 4.50, Adam Warren is better than his current ERA of 4.91, etc.

4. By the trade deadline the Yankees will add key pieces to a 2018 postseason run.

5. Finally, and most importantly, think about the way the Yankees have won and lost. Four of their five wins have been by at least five runs, while they were leading or tied after the 8th inning in three of their five losses. Basically, they are winning big or losing by a little. If things were the opposite you'd have reason to worry, but the way things have gone you shouldn't be.

If anyone tries to give you grief about the way the Yankees have played so far this season just respond with the words used for the title of this post... just wait.

The Showdown in Boston...

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Adam Glanzman)

Yankees invade Fenway Park…

Without delving too much into last weekend, I’ve had better days. Losing three of four to a team that you are supposed to beat (the Baltimore Orioles) is difficult to accept, especially when the Yankee could have easily won the last loss when they had the bases loaded, no outs, in extra innings with Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton coming to bat. 

Am I disappointed in Stanton so far? Absolutely. Am I going to fret over him in Pinstripes as a result? Absolutely NOT! Death, taxes, and Giancarlo Stanton going on a home run tear are certainties of life. Things will get better and so will Stanton and Company. When Stanton is on one of his monster tears like last summer, his slow start (the two Opening Day home runs in Toronto excluded) will be long forgotten.   

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Jim McIsaac)

While the Yankees have struggled out of the gate (winning only five of ten games), the Boston Red Sox have been on a roll. The last time Boston lost was the season opener in St Petersburg, FL on March 29^th. They have yet to lose another game, and lead the AL East by two games over the Toronto Blue Jays. The Yankees trail the Sox by three and a half games.  As many have already said, no division championships were ever won in April. Well, except for maybe a few NBA and NHL teams. For MLB teams, this is far from over. Once the Yankee bats heat up like we know they can, it’s going to be a fun and exciting chase in the American League East. The Red Sox can run but they can’t hide. The target is on their back; not ours.

I am sure that Red Sox fans are ecstatic over their team’s 8-1 record but you have to keep in mind they did it against the lowly Florida teams. Sorry Jetes, but your team does suck right now (poor Starlin). So does Rob Refsnyder’s team. The Yankees represent the first real test Boston has faced this year. I know, it would be better if the Yankees weren’t scuffling coming into this series, but the intensity of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry always seems to bring out the best in everyone. The Red Sox will throw Chris Sale, David Price, and Rick Porcello at the Yankees on successive nights.  The Yankees counter with their best…Luis Severino, Masahiro Tanaka, and most likely Sonny Gray. Win or lose, this is going to be a great series.  If the Yankees can take at least two of three, they’ll be in great shape. A sweep would be perfect but that might be asking for too much. So, for now, I’d settle for at least two of the games.

Tuesday, April 10^th at 7:10 pm ET

Yankees:  Luis Severino (2-0, 1.38 ERA)

Red Sox:  Chris Sale (0-0, 0.82 ERA)

Wednesday, April 11^th at 7:10 ET

Yankees:  Masahiro Tanaka (1-1, 2.92 ERA)

Red Sox:  David Price (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Thursday, April 12^th at 7:10 ET

Yankees:  TBA (expected to be Sonny Gray, 1-0, 3.60 ERA)

Red Sox:  Rick Porcello (2-0, 2.84 ERA)

The Red Sox did suffer a setback prior to the start of the series. It was announced yesterday they have placed shortstop Xander Bogaerts on the 10-day DL with a small fracture in his left ankle. He is expected to be out 10-14 days. To take his place on the roster, the Red Sox recalled infielder Tzu-Wei Lin from Triple A Pawtucket. Lin and Brock Holt are expected to share time at short while Bogaerts is out.

Photo Credit: Globe Staff (Jim Davis) 

The Yankees are expected to get Aaron Hicks back for the getaway game on Thursday before the Yankees leave Boston for Detroit. He will be a welcome addition. Hopefully A-A-Ron can hit the ground running when he returns. We need his bat and defense ASAP. 

MLB.com finally resolved the 40-man roster dilemma by removing Cody Asche. I never did see any explanations so I honestly do not know if Asche was reported on the 40-man roster in error or if he cleared waivers. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders site was also corrected to show that he is not on the 40-man roster. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out why forty-one names were showing on the 40-man roster last weekend. I knew that Asche had to be the key but it was odd no explanations could be found. On the transactions page of MLB.com, the 4/04/18 entry shows that Asche was “optioned” to Triple A which implies that he was on the MLB roster. There are no subsequent transactions involving Asche, who started at third base last night for the RailRiders. I guess whatever the situation is/was, they got it resolved as I knew they would. I just hate it when something does not make sense to me.

Today is a new day.  It is time for the Giancarlo Stanton Era to begin in earnest. The Yankees are deep in the heart of enemy territory. All hands on deck. Let’s beat the Red Sox.

Go Yankees!

Always Sonny in Yankee Stadium...

Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports (Adam Hunger)

Yesterday was a much better day… 

If the Yankees can win again today, it will be even better. After losing the first two games of the four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees have a chance to even up the series this afternoon before the Orioles hop on a plane to head home.  

In one of the most overused phrases in the Yankees Universe, Saturday was a Sonny Day.  Sonny Gray gave the Yankees what they needed en route to the 8-3 victory. He held the O’s to four hits over six innings. He did give up a tying two-run double to Manny Machado in top of the third and a go-ahead run-scoring double to Pedro Alvarez the next inning, but from there, he held the Orioles in check. By the time he had exited after the sixth inning, Gray had only thrown 86 pitches (55 for strikes) and felt he could have kept going.  

For a few minutes, it looked like the move to pull Gray and insert RHP Adam Warren for the top of the seventh might backfire on Manager Aaron Boone. Warren got the first batter out but proceeded to give up a single and a double to put runners at the corners. Enter David Robertson into the dangerous situation with the Yankees nursing a two-run lead. D-Rob did what he does best. He struck out Manny Machado (admittedly on a questionable call) and Jonathan Schoop to leave the runners stranded and get the Yankees out of the jam. Robertson shutting down the Orioles at that point and keeping the momentum with the Yankees was a very powerful moment in the game. In the bottom half of the seventh, Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin padded the lead with three more runs…a run-scoring double by Judge and a two-run single by Austin (thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double but not before both runs had scored). 

Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports (Adam Hunger)

I was a little nervous when Luis Cessa entered the game in the top of the ninth despite the five-run lead, but he did his job. This is why I prefer Cessa in relief so that hitters do not get multiple looks at him. He retired all three batters he faced, two by strikeout. I remain hopeful that Domingo German will be the designated spot starter in place of the injured CC Sabathia.

Congrats to Miguel Andujar for his first 2018 hit…a single to center to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Andujar was 1-for-3 and knocked in the run that gave the Yankees a lead they would not relinquish with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth. It would be great for the Yankees if Andujar can start hitting like we know he can.  

Photo Credit: New York Post (Paul J Bereswill)

Also, nice job by Jace Peterson. He played Friday night in the season opener for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, got a call at 2 am Saturday morning telling him that he needed to be in New York for the 1:05 pm ET game on Saturday, and was game ready in the Bronx, starting in left field. The infielder with limited outfield experience made some good plays and was 1-for-3. Peterson’s time in the Bronx should be short with the expected return of Aaron Hicks by mid-week, but I am glad to see him take advantage of the opportunity.

The World always feels better, despite its many problems, when the Yankees win.  

Photo Credit: Getty Images

They kept pace with the Boston Red Sox and remain 2 1/2 games behind the Beantown Bunch in the AL East standings. The Toronto Blue Jays lost so the Yankees (5-4) were able to move into a tie for second place. Hopefully the Yankees can make it two in a row this afternoon before the team departs for Boston. Monday is an off-day, then they’ll play the Red Sox at Fenway Park for a three-game series beginning Tuesday evening. The Red Sox have Chris Sale, David Price, and Rick Porcello lined up and waiting for the Yankees.  

I still haven’t figured out the 40-man roster following Saturday’s flurry of transactions.  Excluding Ben Heller who is on the 60-day DL (more on Heller later), I count a total of 41 players on the 40-man roster reflected on MLB.com’s website. I am sure there’s a reasonable explanation but so far I have not seen one addressed.

The Ben Heller story took an unexpected turn yesterday. Before the season started, the Yankees had optioned Heller to Triple A. Then it was announced that the option had been voided and Heller was placed on the 10-day DL due to bone spurs in his pitching elbow. He was subsequently moved to the 60-day DL. Yesterday morning, Ben posted a pic on social media, talking about how his old elbow had served him well but it was time for a new one.  

Later in the day, it was announced that Heller had undergone Tommy John surgery in addition to the removal of the bone spurs. I didn’t see this one coming. Heller had been my expected bullpen breakout this year, but now, the Yankees won’t see him until mid-2019 at the earliest assuming that they hold him a spot on the 40-man roster over the off-season. That’s not a given as the Yankees have cut the last couple of arms which required TJ surgery (Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob Lindgren). Perhaps the goal was to re-sign them to minor league contracts outside of the 40-man roster but both times the moves failed as the pitchers signed with other organizations. Good moves with both of those pitchers due to subsequent surgeries which keep them sidelined but who knows what awaits Heller. I wish him the very best in his recovery and rehab and I truly hope he achieves the Major League success he seems destined for. I’d prefer to see it in Pinstripes but I will cheer for him regardless of what uniform he wears next time he takes the mound.  

I am disappointed with the developments regarding third baseman Brandon Drury. I was such a fan of the trade that brought the former Arizona Diamondback to New York. It was one thing for Drury to be placed on the 10-day DL with migraine headaches yesterday but to subsequently find out that this is an on-going problem that has afflicted Drury for years was a shock.  Not that I want to be critical of GM Brian Cashman, but how did the Yankees not know about this?  Drury has exams scheduled for tomorrow so hopefully we’ll know more soon. I am hopeful that this is not a long-term problem or in Drury’s case, a life-threatening one. I am concerned but hopefully we’ll have better news tomorrow or later in the week.  

I know many fans would love to see the Yankees sign pending free agent Bryce Harper in the off-season but with each loss, the pressure is on the Los Angeles Dodgers to make impact moves. They’ll need to do whatever it takes to keep Clayton Kershaw, but I fully expect the Dodgers to be in play for Harper. The Dodgers lost a heart-breaking fourteen-inning game to the San Francisco Giants last night after they had taken a one-run lead on a walk-off three-run homer by Andrew McCutcheon. The loss dropped the Dodgers, an expected World Series contender, to 2-6. It is their worst start since 1976. The Dodgers were Giancarlo Stanton’s preferred destination last off-season since he is a Los Angeles native. I am glad the Dodgers weren’t aggressive in pursuit of Stanton, leading the big man to New York, but underachievement this season will make the Dodgers desperate to make a big splash next year. Like the Yankees, the Dodgers are trying to reset the luxury tax penalties this season so if successful they’ll have the cash to spend big. LA is close to Harper’s Las Vegas home so all signs are pointing to the Dodgers as the slugger’s eventual new home.  

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Rob Carr)

Well, it will be Gumby-Time in a couple of hours. Here’s hoping for another win by the home team. Austin Romine makes his second consecutive start in place of Gary Sanchez who was pulled for a leg cramp during Friday night’s loss.  I am optimistic the rest will help El Gary recapture his health and ignite his bat.  

Photo Credit: Getty Images (Elsa)

Go Yankees!