River Avenue Blues

Ruiz homers again in SWB win

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LHP Ian Clarkin, the Yankees third first round pick in last month’s draft, has been placed on the 7-day DL according to Matt Eddy. I think it’s just a procedural move since he isn’t ready for games after not pitching for about two months, but I don’t know that for certain. Frankly, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if he was actually hurt given the team’s recent luck with their top pitching prospects.

Triple-A Scranton (6-2 win over Lehigh Valley)

  • DH Derek Jeter: 1-2, , 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K — had a little more on him before
  • 2B Brent Lillibridge: 1-4, 1 RBI, 2 K, 1 SB
  • 1B Randy Ruiz: 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 K — fifth homer in his last ten games
  • RF Addison Maruszak & CF Corey Patterson: both 1-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI — they hit back-to-back homers in the second
  • LHP David Huff: 6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 6/4 GB/FB — 64 of 90 pitches were strikes (71%) … 31/5 K/BB in 32.1 innings this year
  • RHP Dellin Betances: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K — 20 of 36 pitches were strikes (56%), and he ran his fastball as high as 97 … 29 base-runners (0.92 WHIP) and eight runs allowed (2.27 ERA) in 31.2 relief innings now (41/11 K/BB)

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A-Rod goes hitless in latest rehab game

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In his latest minor league rehab game with High-A Tampa, Alex Rodriguez went 0-for-3 at the plate and played eight innings as the DH. He lined out to short, popped up to the first baseman in foul territory, and grounded into a 5-4-3 double play. No word on the next step, but I assume A-Rod will remain with High-A Tampa and play third base in his next game. Nothing official yet.

Sunday Night Open Thread

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A few weeks ago, I mentioned Chase the Bat Dog was retiring from active duty for Double-A Trenton. Chase, a 13-year-old golden retriever, has been fetching bats and bringing umpires water bottles since 2002. The retirement ceremony was held Friday night and the plan was to have him retrieve one final bat from the field, but he wasn’t physically up to it. Chase has been battling a form of blood cancer since January.

There has not been a better minor league promotion the last decade than Chase. Fans flocked to the ballpark to see him and everyone who came into contact with him — fans, players, staff, everyone — loved him. I highly recommend this Howard Megdal piece on what Chase meant to people and the team itself. It’s both a happy and heart-breaking story given the recent diagnosis. Chase’s son Derby will assume bat-fetching duties now, but Thunder games won’t be the same without him.

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Here is your open thread for the evening. The ESPN Sunday Night Game is relevant to the Yankees, it’s the Red Sox at the Angels (Lackey vs. Weaver). Talk about that game or anything else right here. Have at it.

Update: Pineda officially optioned to Triple-A Scranton

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4:37pm: Pineda has officially been activated off the 60-day DL and optioned to Triple-A Scranton. Curtis Granderson was transferred to the 60-day DL to clear a 40-man roster spot.

11:22am: Via Donnie Collins: Michael Pineda is scheduled to start for Triple-A Scranton on Thursday, which is a pretty great indication the Yankees will option him down rather than add him to the big league roster when his rehab clock expires tomorrow. This isn’t much of a surprise; he never eclipsed 80 pitches during his rehab assignment and there’s no room for him in the MLB rotation. The good news is that if Pineda stays down for 2-3 weeks, his free agency will be pushed back from 2016 to 2017.

Jeter singles, draws two walks in second rehab game

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4:34pm: Scratch that day off plan. Donnie Collins says Jeter will play shortstop for Triple-A Scranton tomorrow. Something tells me we’re going to see him before the All-Star break.

3:59pm: In his second minor league rehab game with Triple-A Scranton, Derek Jeter went 1-2 with two walks and a strikeout. He served as the DH and played the entire game. The single was a ground ball through the left side. Jeter will reportedly take Monday off before returning to the lineup as the shortstop on Tuesday, and he’ll presumably remain with Triple-A Scranton. The Yankees said they wanted to see him play back-to-back nine-inning games in the field before activating him before the setback, but who knows if that is still the plan.

Yankees claim Travis Ishikawa off waivers from Orioles

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The Yankees have claimed first baseman Travis Ishikawa off waivers from the Orioles, the team announced. I assume he’ll join the big league team to give Lyle Overbay a proper backup and Joe Girardi a left-handed bat off the bench. Kevin Youkilis was transferred to the 60-day DL to clear a 40-man roster spot. I’m guessing David Adams will go back to Triple-A to clear a 25-man roster spot.

Ishikawa, 29, went 2-for-17 (.118) for Baltimore earlier this year. They called him up after he exercised an opt-out clause in his minor league contract. Ishikawa hit .316/.413/.525 (156 wRC+) in 208 Triple-A plate appearances this year, including a .331/.434/.568 line against righties. He’s a career .260/.324/.399 (93 wRC+) hitter in 857 big league plate appearances, which is broken down into .262/.330/.409 (97 wRC+) against right-handers and .244/.281/.322 (61 wRC+) against lefties. Ishikawa is out of options and can not be sent to the minors without first passing through waivers. Finally, a usable bench bat.

Game 88: Make It Seven

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It's a hot one out there. (Jim McIsaac/Getty)
It’s a hot one out there. (Jim McIsaac/Getty)

The Yankees have won a season-high six straight games, and this afternoon they have a chance to earn their first seven-game winning streak since … the middle of last September. Not that long ago. Nothing really “negates” getting swept by the Orioles last weekend, but returning the favor with a sweep this weekend sure would feel splendid. Here’s the lineup Joe Girardi is sending out there against right-hander Jason Hammel:

  1. CF Brett Gardner
  2. RF Ichiro Suzuki
  3. 2B Robinson Cano
  4. DH Travis Hafner
  5. LF Zoilo Almonte
  6. 1B Lyle Overbay
  7. 3B Luis Cruz
  8. SS Eduardo Nunez
  9. C Chris Stewart

And on the mound after having his last start pushed back do to a sore left hip flexor is right-hander Hiroki Kuroda. He threw a bullpen session the other day and has been cleared by all the necessary doctors.

It’s another hot (but slightly less steamy) day in New York, which is why I am somewhat surprised Stewart is getting the call behind the plate again. He caught yesterday’s day game after Friday’s night game, remember. I guess Girardi really wants this series. Anyway, first pitch is scheduled for 1:05pm ET and can be seen on YES locally and TBS nationally. Enjoy.