Walking Dead at Yankee Stadium

Walking Dead at Yankee Stadium 

Cold Pitching, Bats Fail to Heat up Sparse Crowd

Red Sox Win Marathon Encounter

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 11- Yankee Stadium looked like Zombieland last night as the Yanks slept walked through 19 innings to a small crowd that thinned by each yawning inning.

The newest addition to the starting rotation of the New York Yankees in Nathan Eovaldi. The righthander was obtained from the Marlins in December 2014 for two players who contributed mightily to the Yankees last year, David Phelps and Martin Prado. It was hoped by the Yankee brass that the 25 year-old would add youth and talent to its much injured staff of starters.

Eovaldi, born in Houston, resides in Alvin, Texas, the hometown of Hall of famer Nolan Ryan, which the Yankees hope is more than a coincidence. As a teenager, Eovaldi was chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

His first major league start came in late in the 2011 season for the Dodgers. After 10 starts with Los Angeles in 2012, he was traded to Miami with Scott McGough for Hanley Ramirez and former Yankee hurler Randy Choate. 

Eovaldi had a losing record in each of his four previous seasons in the majors. He began his Yankee service after losing his last eight decisions with the Marlins in 2014. 

Eovaldi, like new teammate Michael Pineda, has been the victim of a lack of run support by his teammates. Last year, his run support, 2.70, during his starts was the lowest in the majors for a pitcher with at least 20 starts. That year was not an aberration as since 2011 his run support, 2.78, is the lowest for a pitcher with 75 starts for more. 

Eovaldi and the Yankees hope this streak of bad fortune will end now that he is in the American League and has new teammates. 

His first start of 2015 was on Friday night at Yankee Stadium against the Boston Red Sox.

Eovaldi, the only pitcher in the current Yankee starting rotation who has given up more hits than innings pitched, saw this weakness do harm in the first inning. Three singles by Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval accounted for the first run of the game.

A second multi-hit inning in the sixth led to two additional Red Sox runs and Eovaldi’s departure. He left the game trailing, 3-0, after surrendering eight hits. He walked one batter and threw two wild pitches in his final frame.

Another unfortunate similarity with his starts in the National League was his lack of run support from his teammates at bat. The Yankees did not score a run while the starter was in the game. They only managed to hit safely twice, a double by Brett Gardner in the fourth and a single by Brian McCann in the fifth.

Yankee batters only awoke from their slump after Eovaldi left the field. A single by Alex Rodriguez drove in the first Yankee run in the bottom of the sixth. A solo home run by Chase Headley with two out in the bottom of the ninth knotted the score at 3 and saved Eovaldi from getting his ninth straight loss. 

There were no additional runs scored until the 16thwhen David Ortiz homered to put Boston in front.  Mark Teixeira, celebrating his birthday, hit a solo shot in the bottom of the tie inning to tie the score at 4. 

Each team scored a single run in the 18th, so the game continued. The game ended after 6 hours and 49 minutes in the 19th frame with a Red Sox win.

#Yankees #RedSox #WalkingDead

Highbridge News: Bronx Big Love

Highbridge News: Bronx Big Love: Bronx Big Love Woman has 8 Husbands Most Come from ‘Red Flagged’ Countries BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 10- District Attorney Robert Jo...

Bronx Big Love

Bronx Big Love

Woman has 8 Husbands

Most Come from ‘Red Flagged’ Countries

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 10- District Attorney Robert Johnson announced the Supreme Court indictment of 39-year-old Liana Barrientos on charges of offering false instruments for filing in the first degree (2 counts, Class E Felony).

Those false instruments were an application for a marriage license, and the signed marriage license itself, executed in the springtime of 2010 – stating this was Barrientos’ first and only marriage. The groom was a man named Salle Keita, whom she wed March 4^th, 2010, according to the indictment.

But he was far from the only groom, as it turned out. Barrientos is believed to be currently married to four people, and at one time she was married to eight of them at the same time. The case was brought to the attention of the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the Department of Homeland Security’s Investigation Division. They indicated that seven of the men are from so-called “red-flagged” countries, which included Egypt, Turkey, Georgia, Pakistan, and Mali. In 2006, Groom #8 – Rashid Rajput – was deported to his home country of Pakistan following an investigation by the Joint Terrorism Task Force.

The others whom she is alleged to have married, filing marriage certificates from Westchester to Long Island, and most without benefit of divorce: Mohamed Gebril - Egypt (married November, 1999) filed for Legal Permanent Resident Status (LPR)  1/26/00 using her - divorced 4/29/02; Ahmed Allam - Egypt (married November, 2001) filed for LPR 11/27/01 using her – divorced 11/20/04; Habibur Rahman – Bangladeshi (married November, 2001) - Currently Married; Davit Koridze - Georgia (married February, 2002) – Currently Married;        Duran Goktepe – Turkey (married March, 2002) filed for LPR 3/29/02 using her – divorced 1/10/07; Aliaksandr Paharelau – Czechoslovakia (married March, 2002) – possibly divorced 7/25/05; Vakhtang Dzneladze – Georgia (married May, 2002) filed for LPR 6/14/02 and approved using her and naturalized 11/15/06 – divorced 2/26/07; Rashid Rajput – Pakistan (married July, 2002) filed for LPR 8/21/02 using her – put into removal proceedings after Joint Terrorism Task Force investigation regarding making threatening statements toward the US and deported in 2006 – currently married; Kakhaber Khorbaladze – Georgia (married August, 2002) filed for LPR 8/27/02 and approved using her in 2006 – divorced 8/6/07; Salle Keita – Mali (married March 4, 2010) no valid immigration status – currently married. 

In Supreme Court today, before Justice Steven Barrett, Barrientos pled not guilty to the charges. If she is convicted, the defendant faces up to four years behind bars.

The case against Barrientos is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jessica Lupo of the Bronx D.A. Arson/Auto/Economic Crime Bureau, and the arrest was made by the Detective Investigator Det. Manuel Lara of the Bronx D.A.’s Detective Investigator Squad, led by Chief Frank Chiara, as well as ICE Special Agent Joseph Grimaldi.

The charges in this indictment are merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

#8husbands #NYPD #BronxDA #Bronxnews

Highbridge News: Back to the Future for Yanks

Highbridge News: Back to the Future for Yanks: Back to the Future for Yanks Pitching Stinks A-Rod scores when  it doesn't matter (Photos by Gary Quintal) By Rich Man...

Back to the Future for Yanks

Back to the Future for Yanks

Pitching Stinks

A-Rod scores when 

it doesn't matter

(Photos by Gary Quintal)

By Rich Mancuso

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 10- Alex Rodriguez took his trip around the bases in the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium Thursday evening. The home run to deep left was so reminiscent of the many that have put him fifth on baseballs all-time list, though being in that company of an all-time great home run leader can be disputed due to his history of using performance enhancing drugs.

But the controversial days of dealing with the A-Rod 

steroid saga are over. That home run that gave the Yankees a lone run would not factor in the Yankees 6-3 series finale loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, however it was closure as to being away from the game all of last year from his 162-game suspension.

“I felt like I needed a Google map to run the bases, it's been so long," Rodriguez said. "Anything I can do this year is going to be a surprise, even for me." And for the Yankees, a team with an anemic offense in their first three games, any home run from Rodriguez at this juncture is a blessing. It was his first home run since September 20, 2013 which explained the reference to a google map.

Manager Joe Girardi at this point will also take whatever he can get from the bat of Rodriguez who batted second in the order and once again off the bench at DH. The Yankees are struggling at the plate, as was the situation most of last year. In their first three games they are 3-for-21 with runners in scoring position and went 1-for-9 in the finale.

Said Girardi about the Rodriguez home run, “If he drives the ball that’s a good sign for us. We need that production from him.” The 655th career home run was also significant because he is five shy of becoming fourth on the all-time list and joining Willie Mays. That would also mean cashing in the first of five $6 million bonus checks that the Yankees are supposed to pay under his 10-year $275 million contract.

Of course if that occurs, it is expected the Yankees will dispute the bonus based on the steroid history and drama A-Rod caused with management. That will be left for another time if indeed it happens. In the meantime Girardi will keep him in the lineup and hope for the best.

THE GAME: CC Sabathia (0-1) got the loss allowing five runs in 5.2 innings. The velocity of his fastball was down but he struck out eight Blue Jays without issuing a walk. He allowed the Jays four straight singles that led to runs in the second inning after two strikeouts in the first.

“I thought he threw the ball a lot better than what it looked like,” commented Girardi. "If he''s going to be hit that hard every time he starts I'll take it because he's not going to give up that many runs in most games. But it was just one of those nights."

Next for the Yankees are three games starting Friday night with the Boston Red Sox including the Sunday night ESPN game that concludes their first home stand of the season.  

Comment Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com  Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso   Twitter @Ring786

#Yankees #ARod #CC Sabathia #Bronxnews

Highbridge News: Is Michael Pineda the Ace of the Yankees Starting ...

Highbridge News: Is Michael Pineda the Ace of the Yankees Starting ...: Is Michael Pineda the Ace of the Yankees Starting Rotation?  (Photo by Gary Quintal) Tweet By How...

Is Michael Pineda the Ace of the Yankees Starting Rotation?

Is Michael Pineda the Ace of the Yankees Starting Rotation? 

(Photo by Gary Quintal)

Tweet

By Howard Goldin

BRONX, NEW YORK, APRIL 9- Although the 2015 season is in its first week, Yankees fans have serious questions regarding the starting rotation. Much has happened to each of the Yankees starters of the opening day roster of 2014.

Hiroki Kuroda ended his major league career and returned to Japan to again pitch in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

CC Sabathia made only eight starts in 2014. Inflammation in his right knee required surgery and kept him on the disabled list From May 11 through the remainder of the 2014 season. He is scheduled to make his first start of the year this week.

Ivan Nova’s last of four 2014 starts of 2014 came on April 19. An MRI the following day showed a partial tear of his right ulner collateral ligament. Reconstructive surgery prevented Nova from pitching another game in 2014. He’s still on the DL.

Masahiro Tanaka was exceptionally effective in his rookie season in MLB until a right elbow injury kept him on the DL from July 8 through September 20. The results of his three starts since his return to action have been disappointing, especially to him.

Wednesday’s starter Michael Pineda was suspended by MLB for 10 days, April 24‐ May 5 last year. On the next day, May 6, he began a lengthy stint on the disabled list that lasted through August 12 due to a right shoulder muscle injury.

In his nine starts after returning from the DL Pineda was 3‐3, but his ERA was a superb 1.91. During 2015 Spring Training, he compiled a 2‐0 mark with a 1.42 ERA.

Pineda and Toronto’s starter R.A. Dickey also faced each in their first appearance of the 2014 season. In that contest, the Yanks lost 4‐0, but Pineda pitched very effectively, giving up five hits and one run in six innings. The Dominican native fanned five but did not walk a batter.

His 2015 debut performance was quite similar. He again pitched six frames, giving up two runs on six hits; he fanned six and walked one.

Another similarity in his starts was his lack of run support received. The Yanks scored two runs or fewer in nine of his 13 starts in 2014. Since August of 2011, he is the third lowest in the majors in runs scored by his teammates.

On Wednesday, the Yanks did not score a run until he had thrown the last of 96 pitches. They scored four runs to win the contest, 4‐3, but all were scored after he completed his performance.

Although it’s far too early in the season to determine who is the best Yankee pitcher in 2015, it should be mentioned that Pineda’s WYHIP of 0.83 was the lowest in the majors in 2014. Among active pitchers, Pineda is the lowest in opponents’ career batting average and lowest in career opponents’ on‐base‐ percentage.

#Yankees #Pitching #MichaelPineda #Bronxnews