Notebook
MLB Notebook – Week Eight: 5/21/18
- New York is now 30 – 13 on the season which places them in a first-place tie with the Boston Red Sox and gives them the best winning percentage in Major League Baseball.
- Rehabbing Major Leaguers Greg Bird and Billy McKinney were both sent to Double-A Trenton on Monday as they continue their rehab assignments.
Rehabing New York Yankee Greg Bird is congratulated as he returns to the Trenton Thunder dugout after scoring against the Bowie Baysox in Trenton on Thursday, May 17, 2018. (Photo by Martin Griff) - On Monday, the Yankees announced that third basemen Brandon Drury was reinstated off the 10-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Drury, who was placed on the DL due to migraines and blurred vision has begun wearing yellow-tinted glasses in an effort to reduce symptoms and increase his vision. Since making the adjustment, Brandon is batting well over .300 in the minors. Expect Drury to rejoin the Yankees sometime in the near future.
New York Yankee infielder Brandon Drury on a rehab assignment with the Trenton Thunder against the Harrisburg Senators in Trenton on Friday, May 4, 2018. (Photo by Martin Griff) - On Tuesday, New York announced that they have recalled outfielder Clint Frazier from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and designated right-handed reliver David Hale for assignment in a corresponding roster move. The move comes as the Yankees take on the Nationals and benefit from having a four-man bench vs a three-man due to the probability of pinch-hitting situations. Frazier will most likely be optioned back to Scranton once the Yankees head to Kansas City for their weekend series.
- Former Yankee second basemen Robinson Cano was suspended 80 games by Major League Baseball for his use of steroids on Tuesday.
- Reigning National League Most Valuable Player Giancarlo Stanton recorded his 1,000 Major League hit on a soft-popup that landed for a single to right field in the fifth inning off Nationals starter Gio Gonzalez.
- Tuesday’s contest at Washington was suspended in the top of the sixth inning with the score tied at three. The suspended game will be made up on Monday, June 18th at 5:05 pm at Nationals Park with Wednesday’s postponed game to follow at 7:05 pm.
- Following a series of unfortunate events, the entire New York Yankees team slept in Washington Dulles International Airport on Wednesday night. Initially, the team couldn’t find any pilots to fly their plane. Once they found pilots, a mechanical issue with their jet was found and then bad weather forced the new jet to stay grounded in the area. There were no available hotels in the Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland area.
- As of Thursday, May 17th the Yankees are now the World Series favorites according to the Bovada. The oddsmakers have given them a Major League best 5/1 odds.
- Former Yankee third basemen Chase Headley was released by the Padres on Friday. Headley was traded to San Diego this past offseason.
- Aaron Hicks became the first Yankee to hit multiple inside-the-park home runs in a single season on Saturday since Mickey Mantle hit three back in 1958.
- It was announced on Saturday that right-handed pitcher David Hale was once again re-signed and will report to Triple-A. This is the third time since January that Hale has been designated for assignment and then later re-signed by the organization.
- On Sunday, Tyler Austin clubbed his seventh and eighth home runs, giving him the lead out of all American League rookies.
- Manager Aaron Boone told Mike Mazzeo of the New York Daily News on Sunday that Greg Bird could make his first big league appearance of 2018 this week. Bird has been out since Spring Training after undergoing right ankle surgery in late March.
- Boone also spoke last week about rehabbing outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury. He mentioned that the lefty-swinging Ellsbury is dealing with a minor back issue and is not participating in baseball activities as of now.
- Following Sunday’s game at Kansas City, Clint Frazier was optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Frazier’s 25-man roster spot will most likely be filled by reliver Tommy Kahnle, who is expected to be activated off the DL on Monday.
- In the midst of a 1-for-42 slump, Didi Gregorius was given Saturday and Sunday off for a mental break in an attempt to hit the reset button and get back on track to playing up to his potential.
- Sonny Gray pitched New York to a victory on Sunday and also led the club to its eighth consecutive series win.
- The Yankees are a league-best 24-1 when holding opponents to 4 runs or fewer.
