With each tick of the clock, the midnight Friday MLB (Non-Waiver) Trade Deadline gets menacingly closer to the present. As always, the Yankees will be buyers, looking to stock up for a postseason run. Every year in the Rivera Era, the Yankees have added pieces to their club at this point in the season. For the most part the additions, whether big (David Justice) or small (Shawn Chacon), have been a success. Despite sporting the AL’s best record, the 2009 Yanks could certainly use some reinforcements. I now lay out my pipe-dream trades for the Yankees to make before the deadline this Friday.
Trade #1
Yankees Receive: SP Roy Halladay
Blue Jays Receive: SP Joba Chamberlain, OF Austin Jackson, SP Ivan Nova, C Austin Romine
Comment: The ultimate blockbuster. The Yankees land the biggest fish on the trade market in Cy Young Award winner Roy Halladay. Red Sox execs lament and likely make a rash, ill-conceived trade. Halladay’s contract runs through the 2010 season, and he would likely accept an extension for half of CC Sabathia money (think 4 more years at $80 M). Meanwhile the Yankees proceed this season and beyond with a three-headed monster of starting pitching (Halladay, Sabathia, AJ Burnett) not seen since the Atlanta Braves of the 1990’s. The Blue Jays are looking to hold teams ransom for their staff ace and face of the franchise. However, teams such as the Phillies have been balking at the Jays asking price, and have been looking at deals for other starters (i.e. Cleveland’s Cliff Lee). Jays GM JP Richardi is looking for two things in any Halladay deal; a big time player to save face with one-step-away-from-Maple Leafs-season Toronto fans, and a group of at least four high upside players. In Chamberlain, the Blue Jays would get that Major League ready player with name recognition for their fickle fans. Chamberlain also looks a bit Canadian, so that may also work out. He would essentially take Halladay’s spot in the rotation for the foreseeable future. Jackson is the #1 position player prospect in the Yankees system and is almost Major League ready, hitting well over .300 in AAA. The Yankees, however, are not shy about using free agency to find position players, and have not been hesitant to trade position prospects at the deadline (such as Jose Tabata last season). Nova is a peculiarly fast-rising young pitcher, that the Yankees seem eager to shop. He did relatively well in AA this season, but received an atypical promotion to the AAA rotation of Scranton-Wilkes Barre, considering he’s only 21. It seems like the Yanks are showcasing this kid, and trying to convince other teams on the trade market to bite. Romine is a very well thought of catching prospect that can hit and is a plus defender. However he is only in A ball right now, and the Yanks have an uber prospect ahead of him on their depth chart in power-hitting catcher Jesus Montero. The four players the Yankees would have to part with are a good haul, but certainly worth it to land (possibly) the best pitcher in baseball, especially if they can extend his contract.
Trade #2
Yankees Receive: SP Jarrod Washburn
Mariners Receive: SP Dellin Betances, RP Mark Melancon
Comment: Since Washburn is a free agent at the end of the season, the Mariners would not require a package of top prospects for the two month rental. Unfortunately for the Yankees, Washburn is having a career year, meaning he will demand much better prospects than he would have at this time last season when they Yankees could have gotten him for a bag of doughnuts. Washburn could slot into the Yankees rotation as a quality #4, and potentially start a playoff game, assuming Chamberlain is in the bullpen (or gone) by then. He has playoff experience with his former team, the California Angels of Anaheim, via the Greater Los Angeles Region. The Yankees give up Betances, who is a hard throwing, high-ceiling pitching prospect from the Bronx, but is still a project and several years away from the big leagues. The Mariners also get a Major League ready relief prospect in Melancon, who they can add to the big club to take Washburn’s roster spot. As for the future, rumor has it that Washburn will be looking to re-sign with Seattle even if they trade him away. But even if he did walk, his contribution to a championship club would be well worth it, and you never know what may happen (Yankee money can easily sway a player away from the comforts of the Pacific Northwest).
Trade # 3
Yankees Receive: OF Randy Winn
Giants Receive: OF Nick Swisher, 1B Juan Miranda
Comment: Brett Gardner’s injury has left the Yankees with no viable center field option other than Melky Cabrera (who should not be playing every day). Since they refuse to promote center field prospect Austin Jackson, the Yankees are somewhat hamstrung when it comes to their outfield rotation. The defensive alignment they enjoyed when Gardner could slot in to center and Melky shift to one of the corners is something they will miss for however long Gardner is out. By flipping Swisher for Winn, the Yanks immediately improve their defense. Winn can play a very competent center field while Gardner is out; something Swisher can not do. Like Swisher, Winn is a switch-hitter, so they won’t lose him to same sided match ups. Winn is a much better average hitter than Swisher, with comparable on base numbers. Winn does have less power than Swisher, but can hit home runs, especially in the new Yankee Stadium. Winn could play either center or right for the Yanks for the rest of the season, and with Hinske occasionally spelling one of the outfielders, the Yankees regain their strong outfield rotation while Gardner is out. From San Francisco’s perspective, their team is pushing for an NL Wild Card berth, and is desperately in need of some power in their flaccid lineup. Swisher would provide just that. Also, his outgoing personality would work well in Granolaville, and lessen the sting of trading away fan favorite Winn. The Giants also get a young(ish) first base prospect to compete with the struggling Travis Ishikawa for at-bats. The biggest risk from a Yankees perspective may be giving away a well-liked player on a team that seems to be thriving on its new found chemistry.
Trade #4
Yankees Receive: RP John Grabow, RP Matt Capps
Pirates Receive: 1B/OF Shelley Duncan, SP Eric Hacker, SP Ian Kennedy
Comment: This may be a bit of a stretch as it looks like on paper the Yankees hold the Pirates for ransom (not Cody), but hear me out. The Yankees and Pirates already have a trading relationship, making a large deal last season, which landed the Yankees Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte. In the present, the ’09 Yankees are looking for bullpen help while the ’09 Pirates are looking to become the first team ever to trade their entire roster in one season. The Yankees receive a much needed left-handed bullpen specialist in Grabow. The Yankees thought they got this from the Pirates last season when they traded for Marte, but that didn’t work out as well as planned (therefore, in my mind, the Pirates owe New York). As good as Phil Coke has been, he is more of a 7th inning guy than a lefty specialist (in fact, he has had much more success against right handed batters). The Yanks would also land burly right handed Pirates closer Matt Capps. OBVIOUSLY, he would not be closing for the Yankees, but he could slot in nicely as a late inning setup man, especially if the Yanks lose Phil Hughes from their bullpen via trade or conversion into a starter. The Pirates would take a flier on Duncan, who is in his physical prime but has no future with the big club in New York, but has been absolutely bashing at AAA Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Since the Pirates have been trading away all their position players, Duncan could easily find at-bats with the big club in Pittsburgh. As for the pitchers, the Pirates have shown an affinity for periphery AAAA Yankee pitching prospects when they traded for Ross Ohlendorf and Jeff Karstens last season. Scranton pitcher Eric Hacker fits this mold to a T. Like the aforementioned Yankees prospects, it is unlikely that Hacker will ever do much for New York, but I could certainly see him in the black and gold of Pittsburgh. The Pirates may also be intrigued with former Yankees super-prospect Ian Kennedy, who is currently rehabbing from aneurysm surgery. He seems to have fallen out of favor with the Yankees brass, and I believe he will be traded at some point in the next year or so.
Stay tuned Yankees fans. As always, it should be a fun and active trade deadline.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
HE SAID: The Phil/Joba Rules
Pull out those "Joba Rules" t-shirts from your 2007 time capsules. Just when you thought the Yanks had pulled the training wheels off their young stud duo of Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, you thought wrong.
As the Yankees season progresses, it looks more and more likely that the boys from the Bronx have postseason baseball in the future. The main factor in the improvement of the 2009 Yankees has been the improved depth, balance, and performance of their pitching staff. Despite spending over $240 M on their top two starters, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, two of the other main contributors to the staff's renaissance have been two homegrown Yankees making less than $1 M combined in 2009. Joba Chamberlain has made the full transfer from ace reliever to the #3 starter on the staff. In an interesting reversal of roles, Phil Hughes had gone from the Yanks top starting pitching prospect, to a Joba-esque, lights-out set up man currently on a run of 24 consecutive scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Ideally the two youngsters, who are each excelling in their present roles, would continue to do so through what hopes to be a lengthy October run. Unfortunately, this had been deemed impossible by an organizational edict limiting the workload of the young pitchers. Yankees executives have stated that they will only allow their two prized pitchers to increase their innings by no more than 50 per season, in an attempt to avoid arm injuries in their future. This is based on an unconfirmed theory that some prized young pitchers who have acquired arm injuries in the past, did so because of overwork in their early years in the league. Yankees brass are scared to death of this prospect, and have decided they are willing to sacrifice present on-field production for the future.
Those lovable Joba Rules from 2007, may not be so cute when the Yankees are forced to remove a main cog from their rotation in the middle of the pennant race.
Some quick math can show us when this problem will reach its melting point. Chamberlain pitched about 100 innings last season, meaning the Yankees are hoping to cap him at 150 or so. He is currently at 102 innings for this season. Assuming he averages 6 innings pitch a start, Joba would only have 8 more starts left before he would have to be shut down. That would happen sometime in early September. Assuming they want to save some of those innings for the stretch run/playoffs in the bullpen, they would have to pull him out of the rotation in 3-4 weeks. Again, right in the middle of the pennant race.
Hughes' has a different issue. The Yankees have plans to make Hughes a starter again for the 2010 season. If they want him to be without limitations, they actually need to get his innings up since he will only be able to add 50 to his 2009 total. Presently, Phil is at just 60 innings this season. Ideally, he would finish the season with more than 125 innings, so he can shoulder a starters workload in 2010 under the current Phil/Joba Rules. It is practically impossible for Hughes to attain this number in his present role as set up man to Mariano Rivera.
There are a number of options the Yanks have with regards to Hughes and Chamberlain this season. However, only three scenarios would get each of them up to an adequate number of innings that would allow them each to be full starters next season, while keeping them contributors to the '09 Yankees. The following are the options available to the Yankees under these rules:
Scenario #1
Option: Swap Roles in Mid-August
Pros: In terms of accruing the target innings under the Phil/Joba Rules, this would be the most logical course for the Yankees to take. Chamberlain's innings pace would slow, while Hughes' innings pace would increase. Also, both would remain contributors to the big league club for the rest of the season. Then next season, both would have the required innings to become full starting pitchers for New York.
Cons: This would completely mess up what's working for the Yankees right now. Chamberlain had been stellar recently as a starter, and Hughes has been utterly brilliant out of the pen, conjuring up images of the love child of '96 Rivera and '07 Chamberlain. This move would turn two pluses into two question marks. Also, the Yanks would likely have to "transition" Hughes into becoming a starter by stretching his arm out. They could either send him to the minors for a few weeks or do it in the majors a-la '08 Chamberlain. Either way, the rotation will suffer in the present tense.
Scenario #2
Option: Skip Some of Joba's Starts, Use Hughes Multiple Innings
Pros: By skipping Joba's spot in the rotation a few times during the rest of the year, the Yanks can keep him pitching as a starter (under his innings limit) into the '09 playoffs. He has shown that he can be successful with extra rest after a great performance coming out of the All-Star Break. As for Hughes, Girardi has already begun using Hughes multiple innings out of the pen, similar to Rivera in '96. If they can continue to do so, pitching him 2-3 innings per outing serving as a hybrid long man/set up man, Hughes can at least get to over 110 innings this year. This would mean that Hughes may be unavailable in some 8th inning setup situations, and the Yankees would need to either get Brian Bruney straightened out, or seek late inning relief help on the trade market.
Cons: Starters don't always react well to extra rest, and therefore skipping Joba could seriously affect his rhythm and subsequent performance on the field. Also, without an abundance of off-days, the Yanks would have to plug in a spot starter from time to time when Joba is being rested (potentially Alfredo Aceves or GASP! Kei Igawa). As for Hughes, if he remains in the bullpen, he's not going to get up to 125+ innings regardless of how they use him. Hughes is no longer available every night in the 8th inning when needed, as he will have to have a night off after longer outings. Sometimes, the Yanks will have to turn to someone else to be their ace setup man in front of Mo. This could cost them some games in the regular season, but is less of a problem in the playoffs when Hughes can return to his present role.
Scenario #3
Option: Fuck the Rules
Pros: The Yankees get to keep doing what they are doing with both Hughes and Chamberlain. Presumably, both of them will continue to excel in their roles, and the Yankees can cruise into the playoffs with two invaluable assets on their pitching staffs.
Cons: The organization looks deceitful for abandoning the Phil/Joba Rules. Since they had determined the limitations were necessary to avoid injuring their young pitchers, it looks like a greedy, reckless attempt to win a championship at the expense of two young players' careers. Back in 2007, the Yankees slowly bent the Joba Rules to win certain games, but not to the point where they were endangering the player. Should one or both develop arm injuries at a later date, the Yankees are blamed for their handling of them, similar to the way Lou Piniella is blamed for retarding the career of former Cubs ace Mark Prior.
The Verdict:
Here's the thing. The "innings" limit the Yankees are imposing on these two is one of the most illogical gauges a team can use. Innings pitched come in so many different forms. Some innings take 5 pitches, others take 30 pitches, some are in the flow of a start, others are adrenaline-charged bullpen innings, some are against good hitters, others are against bad hitters, ect. Simply put, innings do not quantify how much work/strain a pitcher has put on their arm in any given season. I implore the Yankees to either ditch these artificial limitations that could potentially affect their World Series prospects, or at the very least, come up with a more accurate measure of arm wear, and impose limitations with that.
In the end, I say Fuck the Rules (or "Option #3" to be put less coarsely). Let Chamberlain and Hughes keep doing what they're doing as long as the Yanks keep winning games. Just be logical with them, as you would any other pitcher. Don't let Joba throw 125 pitches in a start. Don't let Hughes throw 35 pitches on back-to-back nights. It's not rocket science. Both of these players are 23 years old, at least 6'3", and at least 230 lbs. They do not have to be treated like babies. These are powerful athletes with bright futures. Am I to believe that neither of them can get their bodies prepared in a four month offseason to be ready to be starting pitchers next year, regardless of their innings totals this season? What could be better for their development then having them win games in October for a World Series Champion?
Look, I appreciate the assets young arms are for an organization. But we're not talking about some ignominious Major League organization. This is the New York Yankees, where it's either win the World Series or deem your season a failure. The organization and its fans don't want it any other way. No young players' future development should hinder that pursuit. This is not the Washington Nationals praying at the altar of Stephen Strasburg. The worst case scenario is that either Hughes or Chamberlain would hurt themselves down the road. Even if that were to happen, who can definitively say that it was due to overuse in 2009? Injuries happen, and the Yankees should never mortgage their present in fear of the future. The Yankees are bigger than any one player, and will always have the assets to bring in new players.
So fuck the rules, keep the pitching mojo going, and we'll see you in October.
As the Yankees season progresses, it looks more and more likely that the boys from the Bronx have postseason baseball in the future. The main factor in the improvement of the 2009 Yankees has been the improved depth, balance, and performance of their pitching staff. Despite spending over $240 M on their top two starters, CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, two of the other main contributors to the staff's renaissance have been two homegrown Yankees making less than $1 M combined in 2009. Joba Chamberlain has made the full transfer from ace reliever to the #3 starter on the staff. In an interesting reversal of roles, Phil Hughes had gone from the Yanks top starting pitching prospect, to a Joba-esque, lights-out set up man currently on a run of 24 consecutive scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Ideally the two youngsters, who are each excelling in their present roles, would continue to do so through what hopes to be a lengthy October run. Unfortunately, this had been deemed impossible by an organizational edict limiting the workload of the young pitchers. Yankees executives have stated that they will only allow their two prized pitchers to increase their innings by no more than 50 per season, in an attempt to avoid arm injuries in their future. This is based on an unconfirmed theory that some prized young pitchers who have acquired arm injuries in the past, did so because of overwork in their early years in the league. Yankees brass are scared to death of this prospect, and have decided they are willing to sacrifice present on-field production for the future.
Those lovable Joba Rules from 2007, may not be so cute when the Yankees are forced to remove a main cog from their rotation in the middle of the pennant race.
Some quick math can show us when this problem will reach its melting point. Chamberlain pitched about 100 innings last season, meaning the Yankees are hoping to cap him at 150 or so. He is currently at 102 innings for this season. Assuming he averages 6 innings pitch a start, Joba would only have 8 more starts left before he would have to be shut down. That would happen sometime in early September. Assuming they want to save some of those innings for the stretch run/playoffs in the bullpen, they would have to pull him out of the rotation in 3-4 weeks. Again, right in the middle of the pennant race.
Hughes' has a different issue. The Yankees have plans to make Hughes a starter again for the 2010 season. If they want him to be without limitations, they actually need to get his innings up since he will only be able to add 50 to his 2009 total. Presently, Phil is at just 60 innings this season. Ideally, he would finish the season with more than 125 innings, so he can shoulder a starters workload in 2010 under the current Phil/Joba Rules. It is practically impossible for Hughes to attain this number in his present role as set up man to Mariano Rivera.
There are a number of options the Yanks have with regards to Hughes and Chamberlain this season. However, only three scenarios would get each of them up to an adequate number of innings that would allow them each to be full starters next season, while keeping them contributors to the '09 Yankees. The following are the options available to the Yankees under these rules:
Scenario #1
Option: Swap Roles in Mid-August
Pros: In terms of accruing the target innings under the Phil/Joba Rules, this would be the most logical course for the Yankees to take. Chamberlain's innings pace would slow, while Hughes' innings pace would increase. Also, both would remain contributors to the big league club for the rest of the season. Then next season, both would have the required innings to become full starting pitchers for New York.
Cons: This would completely mess up what's working for the Yankees right now. Chamberlain had been stellar recently as a starter, and Hughes has been utterly brilliant out of the pen, conjuring up images of the love child of '96 Rivera and '07 Chamberlain. This move would turn two pluses into two question marks. Also, the Yanks would likely have to "transition" Hughes into becoming a starter by stretching his arm out. They could either send him to the minors for a few weeks or do it in the majors a-la '08 Chamberlain. Either way, the rotation will suffer in the present tense.
Scenario #2
Option: Skip Some of Joba's Starts, Use Hughes Multiple Innings
Pros: By skipping Joba's spot in the rotation a few times during the rest of the year, the Yanks can keep him pitching as a starter (under his innings limit) into the '09 playoffs. He has shown that he can be successful with extra rest after a great performance coming out of the All-Star Break. As for Hughes, Girardi has already begun using Hughes multiple innings out of the pen, similar to Rivera in '96. If they can continue to do so, pitching him 2-3 innings per outing serving as a hybrid long man/set up man, Hughes can at least get to over 110 innings this year. This would mean that Hughes may be unavailable in some 8th inning setup situations, and the Yankees would need to either get Brian Bruney straightened out, or seek late inning relief help on the trade market.
Cons: Starters don't always react well to extra rest, and therefore skipping Joba could seriously affect his rhythm and subsequent performance on the field. Also, without an abundance of off-days, the Yanks would have to plug in a spot starter from time to time when Joba is being rested (potentially Alfredo Aceves or GASP! Kei Igawa). As for Hughes, if he remains in the bullpen, he's not going to get up to 125+ innings regardless of how they use him. Hughes is no longer available every night in the 8th inning when needed, as he will have to have a night off after longer outings. Sometimes, the Yanks will have to turn to someone else to be their ace setup man in front of Mo. This could cost them some games in the regular season, but is less of a problem in the playoffs when Hughes can return to his present role.
Scenario #3
Option: Fuck the Rules
Pros: The Yankees get to keep doing what they are doing with both Hughes and Chamberlain. Presumably, both of them will continue to excel in their roles, and the Yankees can cruise into the playoffs with two invaluable assets on their pitching staffs.
Cons: The organization looks deceitful for abandoning the Phil/Joba Rules. Since they had determined the limitations were necessary to avoid injuring their young pitchers, it looks like a greedy, reckless attempt to win a championship at the expense of two young players' careers. Back in 2007, the Yankees slowly bent the Joba Rules to win certain games, but not to the point where they were endangering the player. Should one or both develop arm injuries at a later date, the Yankees are blamed for their handling of them, similar to the way Lou Piniella is blamed for retarding the career of former Cubs ace Mark Prior.
The Verdict:
Here's the thing. The "innings" limit the Yankees are imposing on these two is one of the most illogical gauges a team can use. Innings pitched come in so many different forms. Some innings take 5 pitches, others take 30 pitches, some are in the flow of a start, others are adrenaline-charged bullpen innings, some are against good hitters, others are against bad hitters, ect. Simply put, innings do not quantify how much work/strain a pitcher has put on their arm in any given season. I implore the Yankees to either ditch these artificial limitations that could potentially affect their World Series prospects, or at the very least, come up with a more accurate measure of arm wear, and impose limitations with that.
In the end, I say Fuck the Rules (or "Option #3" to be put less coarsely). Let Chamberlain and Hughes keep doing what they're doing as long as the Yanks keep winning games. Just be logical with them, as you would any other pitcher. Don't let Joba throw 125 pitches in a start. Don't let Hughes throw 35 pitches on back-to-back nights. It's not rocket science. Both of these players are 23 years old, at least 6'3", and at least 230 lbs. They do not have to be treated like babies. These are powerful athletes with bright futures. Am I to believe that neither of them can get their bodies prepared in a four month offseason to be ready to be starting pitchers next year, regardless of their innings totals this season? What could be better for their development then having them win games in October for a World Series Champion?
Look, I appreciate the assets young arms are for an organization. But we're not talking about some ignominious Major League organization. This is the New York Yankees, where it's either win the World Series or deem your season a failure. The organization and its fans don't want it any other way. No young players' future development should hinder that pursuit. This is not the Washington Nationals praying at the altar of Stephen Strasburg. The worst case scenario is that either Hughes or Chamberlain would hurt themselves down the road. Even if that were to happen, who can definitively say that it was due to overuse in 2009? Injuries happen, and the Yankees should never mortgage their present in fear of the future. The Yankees are bigger than any one player, and will always have the assets to bring in new players.
So fuck the rules, keep the pitching mojo going, and we'll see you in October.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
SHE SAID: Phil on Fire
The 2007 playoffs. I remember them well. I had a ticket to both rounds and a ticket to the World Series. Sadly, we all know the Yankees did not make the World Series that year. But they did manage to win game 3 at home when Phil Hughes, the youngest player on the roster came in to relieve Roger Clemens. That was the only playoff game I made it to that season and after that game, I was convinced that Hughes deserved his spot on the Yankees.
Since that win, Phil has not been lucky and has been fighting a few injuries. He also has to hear his name brought up in every single trade talk involving the New York Yankees, which I am sure does nothing to improve his confidence. Recently, Phil has been showing fans he deserves his Yankee jersey, whether he’s starting or coming in from the bullpen to set up Mo. In Hughes’ last 17 relief outings, he has an ERA of only 1.06 and has only allowed seven hits in 17 innings.I would like to say the Yankee starters can consistently pitch 7 or 8 innings, but we all know that’s not the case, meaning the Yankees desperately need someone to bridge the gap between the starter and the great Rivera. If his recent performance is a solid indicator of what Hughes can do in relief, the Yankees may have finally found their man in Phil Hughes, alleviating the fear that Yankee fans have been feeling when the starter comes out early. If Hughes can keep this up, Yankee fans can feel confident in winning as early as the 7th inning. We all know the importance of a great set up man. Who can forget that thirteen years ago Rivera once set up John Wetteland. It may be too early to say this, but as he’s pitching now, Hughes looks much like Rivera did back then and can offer the Yankees a couple of innings in early relief.
I for one am tired of hearing Phil’s name come up in the trade talks and am glad he’s finally found a good fit on the team and showing Yankee fans just what he can do. He wasn’t the phenomenon that Joba was when he came up, but I don’t think Hughes’ talent should be underestimated. He is still just 23 years old, giving him time for a little growing pains. After all, he was the Yankees first round draft pick in 2004 and once pitched a perfect game in high school. Phil, keep up the good work.
Since that win, Phil has not been lucky and has been fighting a few injuries. He also has to hear his name brought up in every single trade talk involving the New York Yankees, which I am sure does nothing to improve his confidence. Recently, Phil has been showing fans he deserves his Yankee jersey, whether he’s starting or coming in from the bullpen to set up Mo. In Hughes’ last 17 relief outings, he has an ERA of only 1.06 and has only allowed seven hits in 17 innings.I would like to say the Yankee starters can consistently pitch 7 or 8 innings, but we all know that’s not the case, meaning the Yankees desperately need someone to bridge the gap between the starter and the great Rivera. If his recent performance is a solid indicator of what Hughes can do in relief, the Yankees may have finally found their man in Phil Hughes, alleviating the fear that Yankee fans have been feeling when the starter comes out early. If Hughes can keep this up, Yankee fans can feel confident in winning as early as the 7th inning. We all know the importance of a great set up man. Who can forget that thirteen years ago Rivera once set up John Wetteland. It may be too early to say this, but as he’s pitching now, Hughes looks much like Rivera did back then and can offer the Yankees a couple of innings in early relief.
I for one am tired of hearing Phil’s name come up in the trade talks and am glad he’s finally found a good fit on the team and showing Yankee fans just what he can do. He wasn’t the phenomenon that Joba was when he came up, but I don’t think Hughes’ talent should be underestimated. He is still just 23 years old, giving him time for a little growing pains. After all, he was the Yankees first round draft pick in 2004 and once pitched a perfect game in high school. Phil, keep up the good work.
Monday, July 13, 2009
HE SAID: Angels are Demons
Thanks to some unfriendly scheduling, the Yanks slither into the All-Star break with zero momentum a 3 game losing streak that cost them 3 full games in the AL East standings. The unfriendly scheduling was, of course, a trip to their perennial house of horrors, Anaheim, California. From the outside looking in, Anaheim seems like a lovely city with great weather, as well as a popular vacation destination. That is unless you are a fan of the New York Yankees. The Yanks are now 5-17 in their last 22 games in Anaheim, an unbelievable level of suckery for such a talented group of ballplayers. Their problems with the Angels date back over a decade, as Los Angeles/Anaheim remains the only franchise with a winning record against the Yankees during the Rivera Era (Since 1996, as previously discussed). During that period, the Angels have twice sent the Yanks home for good during the postseason, both in 2002 and 2005.
There are many theories out there about why the Yanks have problems with the Angels. Some say it’s because their fast pace, base-stealing, aggressive offense puts too much pressure on the oft-elderly Yankees defense. Sometimes that has been true, but that surely can not tell the whole story. The Angels were missing their three best offensive players this weekend (Vlad Guerrero, Torii Hunter, and Juan Rivera), and still lit up Yankee pitching during the three game onslaught. The explanation for the Yankee struggles with the Angels may be as elusive as their supernatural mascot, but I nonetheless put forth a mixed bag of theories.
1. Stealth Name Tricks
The Angels change their name more often than the Artist Formerly Known as Prince. Since their inception, the Angels have gone from the Los Angeles Angels, to the California Angels, to the Anaheim Angels, to their current Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Owner Arte Moreno claims that the most current incarnation was intended to expand their fan base and better tap in to the larger Los Angeles media market. Perhaps. But could it be that his real goal is to confuse the rest of the American League, and make their opponents not know who they’re playing, and unable to do any advanced scouting or preparation?? That fiend!
2. Lieutenant Frank Dreben
Yankee fans prefer to remember their greats in their formative years with the Yankees, rather than the sad later years when their stars try to extend their careers with lesser franchises that are seeking publicity. This is why you wont find any posters of Babe Ruth of the Boston Braves, Yogi Berra of the New York Mets, nor Goose Gossage of the Seattle Mariners in my bedroom. Yankee fans may also forget that Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, left the Yanks in ‘82 for the (then) California Angels. If they were indeed successful in wiping this from their collective memories, then they were cruelly reminded during the 1988 slapstick spoof Naked Gun where Jackson was unflatteringly portrayed as a murderous Angels outfielder intent on assassinating the Queen of England (Ironically, OJ Simpson portrayed a lovable, dim-witted police officer). Personally, I prefer to remember his home run barrage in the 1977 World Series.
3. Karma for Spawning Our Own Angel
The Angels, appropriately, participated in the baptism of one of the greatest baseball players of all time. On May 17th, 1996 California Angels’ outfielder Garret Anderson grounded into a double play to concluded an 8-5 Yankees victory in the Bronx. That also was the first of 505 (and counting) career saves by the great Mariano Rivera. Rivera has spent over a decade of nearly flawless pitching with the Yankees, but has rarely seen save opportunities against his original victims, due to the Yankees continued futility.
4. Disneyland
Anaheim is also the home of Disneyland, and Disney even owned the Angels from 1999 to 2003. Disney also owns hockey’s Mighty Ducks. If they can turn a team from the misfits of Minneapolis District-5 into Stanley Cup champions, then their power can not be underestimated. The evil cartoon juggernauts must be involved in this conspiracy somehow, and I intend to find out. Perhaps Jorge Posada is actually Mickey Mouse in disguise, sabotaging games for the Yankees. That might be too obvious. Could it be that Disney cursed the Yankees to become Sleeping Beauties whenever they play the Angels? Did Aladdin make one of his three wishes for the Angels to perpetually embarrass the Yankees? Damn you, Disneyyyyyyy!
5. The Curse of Vladdy/Torii/Kendry
Three current Angels stars should be Yankees, but instead make a living laying the smackdown on the Yankees out of their Anaheim offices. The Yankees passed on the absurdly talented Vlad Guerrero during the 2004 free agency, instead opting for Gary Sheffield. They were concerned about investing in the 29 year-old future Hall-of-Famer because of back troubles the previous season. They instead chose the 35 year-old ticking time bomb in Sheffield. That same year Guerrero won American League MVP (in fairness, Sheff finished second), and has continued to play great ball while. Meanwhile Sheffield is currently a fragile DH masquerading as an outfielder with the crosstown Mets. Torii Hunter spells his name weird. He was also the perfect fit for the Yankees during 2008 free agency. He is one of the best defensive outfielders of the generation, and would have looked great patrolling the spacious outfield of Yankee Stadium. The boy can also rake and, thanks to his current 17 Hrs and 65 RBIs, is headed to his 3rd All-Star Game tomorrow. In ‘08, instead of signing Hunter, the Yanks handed the keys to centerfield to Melky Cabrera, who would be demoted to AAA later that season. Morales was an absolute phenom in his native Cuba before defecting in 2004. As a free agent, he signed with the Angels for a measly $3 M. Since Cuban National Team defectors are immediately free agents, I see no reason why the Yankees don’t sign every single one of them. They have the money. They got Orlando Hernandez, Jose Contreras, and Juan Miranda after they defected. How did they miss out on Kendry (and Alexei Ramirez, for that matter)??
6. No Doubt
The world famous ska/rock/pop band No Doubt and their lead babe Gwen Stefani hail from the mean streets of Anaheim. Their breakout album Tragic Kingdom was released right before the 1996 baseball season. Coincidence?? No chance. Since then Anaheim has been a tragic kingdom for the Yanks. If I were advising the Yankees, I would say; Hey Baby, Don’t Speak about the curse of No Doubt because you’re tangling yourself in Spiderwebs of excuses, and acting like Just a Girl.
7. The Rally Monkey
I hate this little bugger. If for no better reason than it makes no sense. What does a video of a monkey jumping up and down have to do with starting a rally? Nothing. Meanwhile, the Angels have forever sullied a great movie, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (where the monkey came from), and a great song, House of Pain’s “Jump Around” (which they play while the monkey hops around), all in one silly promotion. On the flipside, in typical Disney fashion, it does sell a lot of stuffed animal monkeys at Angel Stadium. Any way to make a quick buck. For shame.
There are many theories out there about why the Yanks have problems with the Angels. Some say it’s because their fast pace, base-stealing, aggressive offense puts too much pressure on the oft-elderly Yankees defense. Sometimes that has been true, but that surely can not tell the whole story. The Angels were missing their three best offensive players this weekend (Vlad Guerrero, Torii Hunter, and Juan Rivera), and still lit up Yankee pitching during the three game onslaught. The explanation for the Yankee struggles with the Angels may be as elusive as their supernatural mascot, but I nonetheless put forth a mixed bag of theories.
1. Stealth Name Tricks
The Angels change their name more often than the Artist Formerly Known as Prince. Since their inception, the Angels have gone from the Los Angeles Angels, to the California Angels, to the Anaheim Angels, to their current Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Owner Arte Moreno claims that the most current incarnation was intended to expand their fan base and better tap in to the larger Los Angeles media market. Perhaps. But could it be that his real goal is to confuse the rest of the American League, and make their opponents not know who they’re playing, and unable to do any advanced scouting or preparation?? That fiend!
2. Lieutenant Frank Dreben
Yankee fans prefer to remember their greats in their formative years with the Yankees, rather than the sad later years when their stars try to extend their careers with lesser franchises that are seeking publicity. This is why you wont find any posters of Babe Ruth of the Boston Braves, Yogi Berra of the New York Mets, nor Goose Gossage of the Seattle Mariners in my bedroom. Yankee fans may also forget that Mr. October, Reggie Jackson, left the Yanks in ‘82 for the (then) California Angels. If they were indeed successful in wiping this from their collective memories, then they were cruelly reminded during the 1988 slapstick spoof Naked Gun where Jackson was unflatteringly portrayed as a murderous Angels outfielder intent on assassinating the Queen of England (Ironically, OJ Simpson portrayed a lovable, dim-witted police officer). Personally, I prefer to remember his home run barrage in the 1977 World Series.
3. Karma for Spawning Our Own Angel
The Angels, appropriately, participated in the baptism of one of the greatest baseball players of all time. On May 17th, 1996 California Angels’ outfielder Garret Anderson grounded into a double play to concluded an 8-5 Yankees victory in the Bronx. That also was the first of 505 (and counting) career saves by the great Mariano Rivera. Rivera has spent over a decade of nearly flawless pitching with the Yankees, but has rarely seen save opportunities against his original victims, due to the Yankees continued futility.
4. Disneyland
Anaheim is also the home of Disneyland, and Disney even owned the Angels from 1999 to 2003. Disney also owns hockey’s Mighty Ducks. If they can turn a team from the misfits of Minneapolis District-5 into Stanley Cup champions, then their power can not be underestimated. The evil cartoon juggernauts must be involved in this conspiracy somehow, and I intend to find out. Perhaps Jorge Posada is actually Mickey Mouse in disguise, sabotaging games for the Yankees. That might be too obvious. Could it be that Disney cursed the Yankees to become Sleeping Beauties whenever they play the Angels? Did Aladdin make one of his three wishes for the Angels to perpetually embarrass the Yankees? Damn you, Disneyyyyyyy!
5. The Curse of Vladdy/Torii/Kendry
Three current Angels stars should be Yankees, but instead make a living laying the smackdown on the Yankees out of their Anaheim offices. The Yankees passed on the absurdly talented Vlad Guerrero during the 2004 free agency, instead opting for Gary Sheffield. They were concerned about investing in the 29 year-old future Hall-of-Famer because of back troubles the previous season. They instead chose the 35 year-old ticking time bomb in Sheffield. That same year Guerrero won American League MVP (in fairness, Sheff finished second), and has continued to play great ball while. Meanwhile Sheffield is currently a fragile DH masquerading as an outfielder with the crosstown Mets. Torii Hunter spells his name weird. He was also the perfect fit for the Yankees during 2008 free agency. He is one of the best defensive outfielders of the generation, and would have looked great patrolling the spacious outfield of Yankee Stadium. The boy can also rake and, thanks to his current 17 Hrs and 65 RBIs, is headed to his 3rd All-Star Game tomorrow. In ‘08, instead of signing Hunter, the Yanks handed the keys to centerfield to Melky Cabrera, who would be demoted to AAA later that season. Morales was an absolute phenom in his native Cuba before defecting in 2004. As a free agent, he signed with the Angels for a measly $3 M. Since Cuban National Team defectors are immediately free agents, I see no reason why the Yankees don’t sign every single one of them. They have the money. They got Orlando Hernandez, Jose Contreras, and Juan Miranda after they defected. How did they miss out on Kendry (and Alexei Ramirez, for that matter)??
6. No Doubt
The world famous ska/rock/pop band No Doubt and their lead babe Gwen Stefani hail from the mean streets of Anaheim. Their breakout album Tragic Kingdom was released right before the 1996 baseball season. Coincidence?? No chance. Since then Anaheim has been a tragic kingdom for the Yanks. If I were advising the Yankees, I would say; Hey Baby, Don’t Speak about the curse of No Doubt because you’re tangling yourself in Spiderwebs of excuses, and acting like Just a Girl.
7. The Rally Monkey
I hate this little bugger. If for no better reason than it makes no sense. What does a video of a monkey jumping up and down have to do with starting a rally? Nothing. Meanwhile, the Angels have forever sullied a great movie, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (where the monkey came from), and a great song, House of Pain’s “Jump Around” (which they play while the monkey hops around), all in one silly promotion. On the flipside, in typical Disney fashion, it does sell a lot of stuffed animal monkeys at Angel Stadium. Any way to make a quick buck. For shame.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
SHE SAID: You're An All Star, get your game on, go play
Since 1933, the All Star game has been played, symbolically marking the halfway point of the MLB season. The day before and after the All Star are the only two calendar days all year in which no regular or preseason game in any of the major US sports leagues are scheduled. A lot people think the All Star game is pointless and many more have a huge problem with the selection process. I'm not saying the selection process is ideal, but I think the point of the game is simple and doesn’t need to be analyzed for more than it is. The game is just something fun for fans to watch, pure and simple; an exhibition giving fans the chance to see great players who may never be on the same team play together. And really, who didn’t love struggling to stay awake for all 4 hours and 50 minutes of last year’s All Star game? Love or hate the All Star game, it is an honor to be picked. Let’s get down to who made the cut and who didn’t, but should have.
Yankee All-Stars
Derek Jeter: The Yankee captain received the highest number of votes of any AL player and will be making his 10th All Star appearance. Disclaimer, I love Jeter and will never say anything bad about him following my opposition to his high fade. That being said, while the Rays Jason Barlett is also a strong contender to start, I think Jeter deserved to make the cut. As evidenced by the number of votes he received, fans see Jeter as a more sure thing than Barlett who lacks the history and name recognition. And yes, that is one of the reasons people are opposed to fan voting. But I never said the selection process was perfect. Jeter has been effective defensively this year, even more so than previous seasons, quieting critics talk of “ineffective fielding.” Jeter is also hitting well, stealing bases, and scoring runs. On top of this, Jeter has proven to be a valuable asset to the AL All Star roster, with a .474 career average in the midsummer classic, ranking him 5th of all time. And don’t forget 2000, when Jeter was named the All Star MVP, the first time a Yankee was awarded this honor. I’ll admit it; I will probably still be putting Jeter down as a write in long after he is retired.
Tex: Yankee fans nationwide rejoiced in the off season with the signing of CC, Burnett, and Tex. Tex made Yankee fans especially happy, as many thought he might go to the dark side (aka the Boston Red Sox). Well CC has been good and Burnett was strong in his first
few starts, I think Tex is the one addition that is consistently delivering what Yankee fans expected from him. And yes to be fair, he did get off to a slow start. Yankee fans expected Teixeira to get hits and score runs and that is just what he is doing. He has hit 20 home runs and driven in 62 runs so far this season. Another reason Tex deserves to make the cut, he plays the entire game as if it matters and remembers the fundamentals of the game. If you need proof of this, just remember that sloppy win over the Mets. Sorry to bring it up again Castillo. When A-Rod made contact, Tex did what young players are taught to do when there are 2 outs, he ran on contact and didn’t stop. There are many great players who would have simply jogged slowly towards second after seeing the ball pop up. Those players would have stayed safe at second and kept the game tied to bring up another batter. Not Tex, who plays the game full speed until the last out is recorded. It just makes it all that much sweeter than Tex beats out our least favorite bald Red Sox.
Mariano Rivera: This one is pretty non-debatable, so really no need for a long explanation. It wouldn’t be an All Star game without Rivera, also making his 10th All Star appearance. Rivera has earned three All Star saves, tying Eckersley for the most All Star saves. Mo, let’s make it 4 this year and set a new record. I am still trying to recover from Papelbon’s comments last season. I wonder if he has arranged for a bulletproof car in St. Louis for his safety...
As much as I do love watching the All Star game, clearly it has its flaws, which leave some deserving players to get snubbed. There are many snubs this year, but two of the worst go to the Texas Rangers. I love Josh Hamilton’s story as much as anyone; in fact, I get choked up just thinking about what he’s accomplished and overcame. But two of his teammates deserved an All Star spot more than this comeback kid. While Hamilton has been injured, two of his teammates have helped to make the Rangers a top contender in the AL West.
Ian Kinsler: Sure he still has a 1 in 5 chance of making the team, but the reality is, he deserves the starting spot. Kinsler’s stats are impressive; he ranks in the top ten in runs, home runs, and stolen bases. So even if he didn’t get the start over Dustin, his numbers are simply better than Aaron Hill’s, who I actually would have started over Dustin as well. I will acknowledge is average is a little low for someone who hits at the top of the order, but Hill and Pedroia’s higher averages are not enough to edge them ahead of Kinsler. Again, Pedroia overshadows Kinsler, something he’s been doing since Arizona State. I still love you Ian and hope the fans will keep voting to give you what you deserve.
Kevin Millwood: The Texas Rangers and dominating pitchers don’t usually go together in the same sentence. However, Kevin Millwood has been dominating this season. One must also remember some of the games he does lose; he would have easily won had he had adequate offensive help. Again, the numbers don’t lie. Millwood’s ERA is lower than Josh Beckett's and he has pitched more innings than Beckett, including pitching two complete games. Millwood’s ERA is also lower than Tim Wakefield’s by an even greater margin. In fact, Millwood’s ERA is in the top 5 of AL pitchers. I mean we all know that Tim is 42 and this may be his last chance to make the team, but if you are leaving sentiment out of it, he didn’t deserve it more than Millwood. And it can’t be overlooked that Millwood was also hurt by the rule that every team must be represented. How about just giving players from the teams that don’t have deserving All Stars some front row seats to make a nice cheering section?
Regardless of who did and didn’t get picked, let’s hope that no one pulls a Dan Uggla this year….
Yankee All-Stars
Derek Jeter: The Yankee captain received the highest number of votes of any AL player and will be making his 10th All Star appearance. Disclaimer, I love Jeter and will never say anything bad about him following my opposition to his high fade. That being said, while the Rays Jason Barlett is also a strong contender to start, I think Jeter deserved to make the cut. As evidenced by the number of votes he received, fans see Jeter as a more sure thing than Barlett who lacks the history and name recognition. And yes, that is one of the reasons people are opposed to fan voting. But I never said the selection process was perfect. Jeter has been effective defensively this year, even more so than previous seasons, quieting critics talk of “ineffective fielding.” Jeter is also hitting well, stealing bases, and scoring runs. On top of this, Jeter has proven to be a valuable asset to the AL All Star roster, with a .474 career average in the midsummer classic, ranking him 5th of all time. And don’t forget 2000, when Jeter was named the All Star MVP, the first time a Yankee was awarded this honor. I’ll admit it; I will probably still be putting Jeter down as a write in long after he is retired.
Tex: Yankee fans nationwide rejoiced in the off season with the signing of CC, Burnett, and Tex. Tex made Yankee fans especially happy, as many thought he might go to the dark side (aka the Boston Red Sox). Well CC has been good and Burnett was strong in his first
few starts, I think Tex is the one addition that is consistently delivering what Yankee fans expected from him. And yes to be fair, he did get off to a slow start. Yankee fans expected Teixeira to get hits and score runs and that is just what he is doing. He has hit 20 home runs and driven in 62 runs so far this season. Another reason Tex deserves to make the cut, he plays the entire game as if it matters and remembers the fundamentals of the game. If you need proof of this, just remember that sloppy win over the Mets. Sorry to bring it up again Castillo. When A-Rod made contact, Tex did what young players are taught to do when there are 2 outs, he ran on contact and didn’t stop. There are many great players who would have simply jogged slowly towards second after seeing the ball pop up. Those players would have stayed safe at second and kept the game tied to bring up another batter. Not Tex, who plays the game full speed until the last out is recorded. It just makes it all that much sweeter than Tex beats out our least favorite bald Red Sox.
Mariano Rivera: This one is pretty non-debatable, so really no need for a long explanation. It wouldn’t be an All Star game without Rivera, also making his 10th All Star appearance. Rivera has earned three All Star saves, tying Eckersley for the most All Star saves. Mo, let’s make it 4 this year and set a new record. I am still trying to recover from Papelbon’s comments last season. I wonder if he has arranged for a bulletproof car in St. Louis for his safety...
As much as I do love watching the All Star game, clearly it has its flaws, which leave some deserving players to get snubbed. There are many snubs this year, but two of the worst go to the Texas Rangers. I love Josh Hamilton’s story as much as anyone; in fact, I get choked up just thinking about what he’s accomplished and overcame. But two of his teammates deserved an All Star spot more than this comeback kid. While Hamilton has been injured, two of his teammates have helped to make the Rangers a top contender in the AL West.
Ian Kinsler: Sure he still has a 1 in 5 chance of making the team, but the reality is, he deserves the starting spot. Kinsler’s stats are impressive; he ranks in the top ten in runs, home runs, and stolen bases. So even if he didn’t get the start over Dustin, his numbers are simply better than Aaron Hill’s, who I actually would have started over Dustin as well. I will acknowledge is average is a little low for someone who hits at the top of the order, but Hill and Pedroia’s higher averages are not enough to edge them ahead of Kinsler. Again, Pedroia overshadows Kinsler, something he’s been doing since Arizona State. I still love you Ian and hope the fans will keep voting to give you what you deserve.
Kevin Millwood: The Texas Rangers and dominating pitchers don’t usually go together in the same sentence. However, Kevin Millwood has been dominating this season. One must also remember some of the games he does lose; he would have easily won had he had adequate offensive help. Again, the numbers don’t lie. Millwood’s ERA is lower than Josh Beckett's and he has pitched more innings than Beckett, including pitching two complete games. Millwood’s ERA is also lower than Tim Wakefield’s by an even greater margin. In fact, Millwood’s ERA is in the top 5 of AL pitchers. I mean we all know that Tim is 42 and this may be his last chance to make the team, but if you are leaving sentiment out of it, he didn’t deserve it more than Millwood. And it can’t be overlooked that Millwood was also hurt by the rule that every team must be represented. How about just giving players from the teams that don’t have deserving All Stars some front row seats to make a nice cheering section?
Regardless of who did and didn’t get picked, let’s hope that no one pulls a Dan Uggla this year….
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
HE SAID: Hey Now, You're an All-Star!
The All-Star game. Ahhhhh, the Mid-Summer Classic. Drink it in, it always goes down smooth (well, except for that 2002 tie in bark-twice-if-you’re-in-Milwaukee). The ever-expanding group of 66 stars have been anointed for the 2009 season. The Yankees are sending three fellows this season. The Mets are sending four, despite wallowing in fourth place of the abysmal NL East. But hey, that’s the National League for ya! Anyhooooo, here’s a rundown of the Yankees All-Star selections and possible omissions:
THE ALL-STARS:
Derek Jeter, starting SS: As ridiculously overstated as Jeter’s “fundamentals” and “intangibles” are year after year (see two atrocious base running blunders this past week alone), his on-field work this season is legitimately worthy of the All-Star start. The fact that he was the leading vote-getter in the American League is a mere product of his name recognition, and the lack of star power at the position in the AL. With 10 home runs, 17 stolen bases, and a .314 BA at the season’s midway point, Jeter has been the most offensively productive player at his position thus far. His defensive vectors have also shown a strange and frankly unexpected improvement this season. Some how Jeter’s range in the field has increased at the age of 35. Jeter says “he’s just healthy”, perhaps implying that he hasn’t been healthy in recent years, or perhaps just spewing another one of his trademark recycled media clichés. There is a case to be made for Tampa Bay SS Jason Bartlett being deserving of the start. He has almost the same power and speed output as Jeter while sporting a .358 BA. Bartlett was rewarded with a selection as a reserve shortstop for the AL. However since Bartlett has missed a number of games due to injury, and because he is playing WAY above his skis and will assuredly drop down to earth in the second half, plush he plays for the equally overrated Rays, Bartlett can suck it. Good call here, baseball fans.
Mark Teixeira, starting 1B: Teixeira beat out Boston supermodel/1B Kevin Youkilis in fan voting on the final day of the balloting. The announcement caused a rousing ovation at Yankee Stadium and a collective fist pump throughout Yankee Universe since they finally beat Boston at something this season (even though the 0-8 start is not Armageddon, see previous column). Whether or not Teixeira deserved this start is a better debate. As beloved as Youkilis has become in Bandwagon Nation, his offensive production has fallen remarkably since his scorching hot start to the season. His numbers no longer match up to Teixeira’s, although both bring Gold Glove caliber defense. Peace out Youk, you ugly mofo. The real debate is between Teixeira and Minnesota 1B Justin Morneau. Morneau is quite possibly the most under-the-radar superstar baseball has seen this decade, despite his newsworthy accomplishment of robbing Jeter of the 2006 American League MVP award. His production at the plate this year has been stellar, with a .323 BA, 21 HRs, and 69 RBIs. Though his numbers are slightly better than Teixeira’s, I’ll say Mark deserves the nod since his defense has brought a whole new dimension to the Yankees infield. The geriatric Yanks have already set a Major League record with 17 consecutive errorless games earlier this season, largely due to Teixeira’s soft hands around the first base bag. Also, Morneau is Canadian... gross. Once again, the fans got it right!
Mariano Rivera, reserve RP. No brainer (again, see previous column). Rivera is the best closer in the league and has been for well over a decade. Since “this time it counts!” (Like the last few All-Star games, the winner earns home field advantage for their World Series representative), manager Joe Maddon will need to call on Rivera to save the game, as he has done three times before for the American League. Besides the resumé, his 22/23 in saves and 2.60 ERA give Rivera the numbers to make the team. See you in St. Louis, Mo!
UP FOR DEBATE:
Johnny Damon, LF: Hard to get up in a tizzy about Damon being left off the team. All of the reserve AL outfielders are either deserving, or have to be on the team because their sucky clubs must send one representative by rule. Also Damon’s defense in left has made my eyes burn this year and would warrant the hyperbolic “worst I’ve ever seen”, had I not seen David Murphy play some games in the outfield for the Mets this season while doing his best 1998 Todd Hundley impersonation. Damon’s offensive numbers this year have been very good, and I thought he would get a nod on the “Final Ballot”, in which fans get to vote on the 33rd and final member of each squad. The new “Final Ballot” follows MLB’s logic of allowing fans to vote in undeserving starters to the game, and now an allows them to vote on equally undeserving reserve All-Stars. Damon has outperformed at least two final ballot candidates (which interestingly includes Blue Jays’ DH Adam Lind, despite the lack of use of the DH in the actual game), but there’s really no legitimate grounds to get upset about this alleged snub. Sorry Johnny.
AJ Burnett, SP: Burnett’s omission from the All-Star team brings up the continual debate about what it means to be an All-Star. In the past, the team was supposed to reward the players having the best season. With pitchers, the issue of “what’s a good season” would invariably come up. Often times, this is defined by wins, which is why shitbag 11-game winner Jason Marquis was named to the National League team. Frequently great pitchers that are victims of tough luck or sub-par offenses are omitted from the team, such as Giants starter and previously prolific loser Matt Cain. The problem now is the aforementioned credo “this time it counts!”. Essentially, we are telling the respective managers that the game is not a showcase exhibition, but rather a real game that has real consequences (again, home field advantage in the World Series). If that is the case, it behooves the managers to use their few selections on players that can contribute to winning a ballgame. With the way AJ has been pitching his previous four starts, there is no doubt that he is one of the best equipped pitchers in the game to get outs right now. By that logic, Maddon should have brought him along to St. Louis. Instead, selections were given to noticeably inferior pitchers such as Mark Buerle and Tim Wakefield due to their loftier win totals thus far. If I were Maddon, I would rather bring in a guy that can throw and inning of gas with a devastating breaking ball than a soft lefty and/or erratic knuckleballer. That’s just me.
All in all, the All-Stars were pretty well selected (besides Marquis, who blows regardless of how many wins he has). Josh Hamilton doesn’t deserve to start on the Texas Rangers, let alone the American League All-Stars, but I don’t have a problem with the fans wanting to see him in the game. What he did in Yankee Stadium during last year’s game was magical, and certainly left an impression on the fan voters. Unlike the Burnett hypothetical, I agree with Maddon selecting Michael Young over A-Rod as the backup at third base if he’s playing to with the game. Even though A-Rod is liable to pop-one out of the new Busch Stadium in any given at-bat, Young has been a perennial hero in recent All-Star games, including a game-tying 9th inning triple off of Trevor Hoffman in the 2006 game in Pittsburgh, and a game winning sac fly last year in the Bronx. A-Rod has been, well, “not as lucky” under pressure in recent years.
THE ALL-STARS:
Derek Jeter, starting SS: As ridiculously overstated as Jeter’s “fundamentals” and “intangibles” are year after year (see two atrocious base running blunders this past week alone), his on-field work this season is legitimately worthy of the All-Star start. The fact that he was the leading vote-getter in the American League is a mere product of his name recognition, and the lack of star power at the position in the AL. With 10 home runs, 17 stolen bases, and a .314 BA at the season’s midway point, Jeter has been the most offensively productive player at his position thus far. His defensive vectors have also shown a strange and frankly unexpected improvement this season. Some how Jeter’s range in the field has increased at the age of 35. Jeter says “he’s just healthy”, perhaps implying that he hasn’t been healthy in recent years, or perhaps just spewing another one of his trademark recycled media clichés. There is a case to be made for Tampa Bay SS Jason Bartlett being deserving of the start. He has almost the same power and speed output as Jeter while sporting a .358 BA. Bartlett was rewarded with a selection as a reserve shortstop for the AL. However since Bartlett has missed a number of games due to injury, and because he is playing WAY above his skis and will assuredly drop down to earth in the second half, plush he plays for the equally overrated Rays, Bartlett can suck it. Good call here, baseball fans.
Mark Teixeira, starting 1B: Teixeira beat out Boston supermodel/1B Kevin Youkilis in fan voting on the final day of the balloting. The announcement caused a rousing ovation at Yankee Stadium and a collective fist pump throughout Yankee Universe since they finally beat Boston at something this season (even though the 0-8 start is not Armageddon, see previous column). Whether or not Teixeira deserved this start is a better debate. As beloved as Youkilis has become in Bandwagon Nation, his offensive production has fallen remarkably since his scorching hot start to the season. His numbers no longer match up to Teixeira’s, although both bring Gold Glove caliber defense. Peace out Youk, you ugly mofo. The real debate is between Teixeira and Minnesota 1B Justin Morneau. Morneau is quite possibly the most under-the-radar superstar baseball has seen this decade, despite his newsworthy accomplishment of robbing Jeter of the 2006 American League MVP award. His production at the plate this year has been stellar, with a .323 BA, 21 HRs, and 69 RBIs. Though his numbers are slightly better than Teixeira’s, I’ll say Mark deserves the nod since his defense has brought a whole new dimension to the Yankees infield. The geriatric Yanks have already set a Major League record with 17 consecutive errorless games earlier this season, largely due to Teixeira’s soft hands around the first base bag. Also, Morneau is Canadian... gross. Once again, the fans got it right!
Mariano Rivera, reserve RP. No brainer (again, see previous column). Rivera is the best closer in the league and has been for well over a decade. Since “this time it counts!” (Like the last few All-Star games, the winner earns home field advantage for their World Series representative), manager Joe Maddon will need to call on Rivera to save the game, as he has done three times before for the American League. Besides the resumé, his 22/23 in saves and 2.60 ERA give Rivera the numbers to make the team. See you in St. Louis, Mo!
UP FOR DEBATE:
Johnny Damon, LF: Hard to get up in a tizzy about Damon being left off the team. All of the reserve AL outfielders are either deserving, or have to be on the team because their sucky clubs must send one representative by rule. Also Damon’s defense in left has made my eyes burn this year and would warrant the hyperbolic “worst I’ve ever seen”, had I not seen David Murphy play some games in the outfield for the Mets this season while doing his best 1998 Todd Hundley impersonation. Damon’s offensive numbers this year have been very good, and I thought he would get a nod on the “Final Ballot”, in which fans get to vote on the 33rd and final member of each squad. The new “Final Ballot” follows MLB’s logic of allowing fans to vote in undeserving starters to the game, and now an allows them to vote on equally undeserving reserve All-Stars. Damon has outperformed at least two final ballot candidates (which interestingly includes Blue Jays’ DH Adam Lind, despite the lack of use of the DH in the actual game), but there’s really no legitimate grounds to get upset about this alleged snub. Sorry Johnny.
AJ Burnett, SP: Burnett’s omission from the All-Star team brings up the continual debate about what it means to be an All-Star. In the past, the team was supposed to reward the players having the best season. With pitchers, the issue of “what’s a good season” would invariably come up. Often times, this is defined by wins, which is why shitbag 11-game winner Jason Marquis was named to the National League team. Frequently great pitchers that are victims of tough luck or sub-par offenses are omitted from the team, such as Giants starter and previously prolific loser Matt Cain. The problem now is the aforementioned credo “this time it counts!”. Essentially, we are telling the respective managers that the game is not a showcase exhibition, but rather a real game that has real consequences (again, home field advantage in the World Series). If that is the case, it behooves the managers to use their few selections on players that can contribute to winning a ballgame. With the way AJ has been pitching his previous four starts, there is no doubt that he is one of the best equipped pitchers in the game to get outs right now. By that logic, Maddon should have brought him along to St. Louis. Instead, selections were given to noticeably inferior pitchers such as Mark Buerle and Tim Wakefield due to their loftier win totals thus far. If I were Maddon, I would rather bring in a guy that can throw and inning of gas with a devastating breaking ball than a soft lefty and/or erratic knuckleballer. That’s just me.
All in all, the All-Stars were pretty well selected (besides Marquis, who blows regardless of how many wins he has). Josh Hamilton doesn’t deserve to start on the Texas Rangers, let alone the American League All-Stars, but I don’t have a problem with the fans wanting to see him in the game. What he did in Yankee Stadium during last year’s game was magical, and certainly left an impression on the fan voters. Unlike the Burnett hypothetical, I agree with Maddon selecting Michael Young over A-Rod as the backup at third base if he’s playing to with the game. Even though A-Rod is liable to pop-one out of the new Busch Stadium in any given at-bat, Young has been a perennial hero in recent All-Star games, including a game-tying 9th inning triple off of Trevor Hoffman in the 2006 game in Pittsburgh, and a game winning sac fly last year in the Bronx. A-Rod has been, well, “not as lucky” under pressure in recent years.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
SHE SAID: Mariano's 500th Save
Love or hate the Yankees, there is no denying that Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer of all time and one of sports only sure things. This season anytime Wang takes the mound, anxiety sets in. Remember Kyle Farnsworth? As much as I would like to forget he was ever a Yankee, I used to cringe when he came in to pitch. The exact opposite can be said when you here “Enter Sandman” come on and see Mo jogging onto the field. When Mo enters the game, calm sets in. What makes Mo so great is his consistency. Where A-Rod falters in the postseason, Mo is brilliant. In the postseason alone, Rivera has 34 saves and an ERA of only 0.77. As Mo and Yankee fans alike celebrate 500, I’d like to remember two of my favorite postseason Mo moments.
The 1999 World Series: The 1999 World Series was not a particularly dramatic one for the Yankees, as they swept the Braves in 4 games. It did however put the icing on the cake of Rivera’s spectacular 1999 season. In 1999, Rivera lead the Majors with 45 saves in 49 opportunities, recorded an ERA of only 1.83, and was selected as an All Star. And then came the World Series, where Mo picked up two saves and a win. By the end of the 1999 season, Rivera had pitched 43 consecutive scoreless innings on top of winning the World Series MVP.
And now to my favorite….
Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS: Yankee fans all remember how this game started. After only 4 innings, the Red Sox had already scored 4 runs while the Yankees had yet to score a run, knocking the then dependable Clemens out of the game way too early. You remember, this was back in the days of the pre-Roger scandal. I remember wanting to cry, thinking this cannot be happening. I know many a Yankee fan who had to leave to watch the game in seclusion. It was two Yankees who have since moved on, Mussina and Giambi who helped to keep the Yankees alive. As Yankee fans held their breath, Boston pitching began to
unravel in the 8th, bringing the game to the 9th inning and paving the way for Mo with the game tied 5-5. We all know what happened next, Mo did what he does best and pitched 3 shutout innings. Not only did Mo keep the Yankees alive, he brought back hope to Yankee fans whose worst nightmare is to lose to Boston in game 7 of the ALCS. Many people will remember Aaron Boone’s home run that gave the Yankees the 6-5 win – but had Rivera not gotten the Yankees through the 11th, who knows what might have happened. Best to not even think of that...
And to think, it all began with Mo making his debut in 1995 as a starter; in a game his team lost 10-0. The Yankees even once considered trading Rivera in 1995, a thought that sends shutters down Yankee fans spines, who could never even begin to imagine a Rivera-less Yankee team. But hey, we all remember Michael Jordan who was cut from his high school basketball team. We should all considered ourselves lucky enough to have gotten the chance to watch Mo pitch in all his glory.
The 1999 World Series: The 1999 World Series was not a particularly dramatic one for the Yankees, as they swept the Braves in 4 games. It did however put the icing on the cake of Rivera’s spectacular 1999 season. In 1999, Rivera lead the Majors with 45 saves in 49 opportunities, recorded an ERA of only 1.83, and was selected as an All Star. And then came the World Series, where Mo picked up two saves and a win. By the end of the 1999 season, Rivera had pitched 43 consecutive scoreless innings on top of winning the World Series MVP.
And now to my favorite….
Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS: Yankee fans all remember how this game started. After only 4 innings, the Red Sox had already scored 4 runs while the Yankees had yet to score a run, knocking the then dependable Clemens out of the game way too early. You remember, this was back in the days of the pre-Roger scandal. I remember wanting to cry, thinking this cannot be happening. I know many a Yankee fan who had to leave to watch the game in seclusion. It was two Yankees who have since moved on, Mussina and Giambi who helped to keep the Yankees alive. As Yankee fans held their breath, Boston pitching began to
unravel in the 8th, bringing the game to the 9th inning and paving the way for Mo with the game tied 5-5. We all know what happened next, Mo did what he does best and pitched 3 shutout innings. Not only did Mo keep the Yankees alive, he brought back hope to Yankee fans whose worst nightmare is to lose to Boston in game 7 of the ALCS. Many people will remember Aaron Boone’s home run that gave the Yankees the 6-5 win – but had Rivera not gotten the Yankees through the 11th, who knows what might have happened. Best to not even think of that...
And to think, it all began with Mo making his debut in 1995 as a starter; in a game his team lost 10-0. The Yankees even once considered trading Rivera in 1995, a thought that sends shutters down Yankee fans spines, who could never even begin to imagine a Rivera-less Yankee team. But hey, we all remember Michael Jordan who was cut from his high school basketball team. We should all considered ourselves lucky enough to have gotten the chance to watch Mo pitch in all his glory.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
HE SAID: Mariano's 500th Save
Since I reckon that a decent percentage of this blog’s readership knows me personally, it is no surprising revelation that Mariano Rivera is my all-time favorite athlete (with all due respect to the Babe whose legend is unmatched, but my infatuation is tempered since I never got to see him play). Rivera joined the Yankees in the summer of 1995. This coincided with the early stages of what would become my lifelong connection with Yankees baseball. Naturally, he was not my favorite player immediately, since it takes some time to win my affection, and there were some very likable, established Yanks such as Mike Stanley about. Also, his legendary resume didn’t really begin building until the following season. After initially struggling with his stamina as a Yankees starting pitcher in 1995, the Yankees sent him to the bullpen for the remainder of the year. He never left that ‘pen, since compiling the credentials to be deemed the greatest player ever to spend their career sitting on those elevated benches beyond the walls of Major League stadiums.
In the ‘95 ALDS vs. the Mariners, manager Buck Showalter brought in a rookie Rivera in 3 of the 5 games, all in high-leverage, late game situations. Rivera first showed his trademark heart in facing the immense pressure of the playoffs by throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings, while recording the win in Game 2. That type of poise has allowed Mo to become the most clutch postseason pitching performer the game has ever seen.
That summer I also had to choose my uniform number for my travel baseball team. I chose #42 merely for its aesthetic beauty. (As some of you also know, I have various feelings/theories about what constitutes a good or bad looking uniform number, i.e. 42, 18, 7, 21 = good, while 26, 37, 41 are NOT). For its continued aesthetic form, and it’s later association with the Great Mariano, I would wear this number for the remainder of my athletic career.
In 1996, new Yankees manager Joe Torre turned to Mariano to be his ace reliever to pitch in front of All-Star closer John Wetteland. Rivera’s dominance in middle relief that year is unparalleled since. He posted an ERA just over 2, a WHIP just under 1, and struck out 130 batters in 107 innings, a total that is simply no longer reached by today’s middle relievers. As a witness to almost every game of the 1996 Yankees season, I have never seen anything like what the Yankees had at the end of ballgames. Night after night after night, if the starter could get through six innings with a lead, the game was OVER. Not “over”, like we say today. Not “closer comes in to dance around to his entrance music and 88% of the time finish the game successfully” over. The Yankees opponents were helpless. Two from Mo, one from Wetteland; that was the Yanks winning formula. That formula eventually took the Yanks all the way to their first World Series title in 18 seasons. Mo’s dominance in ‘96 prompted a famous quote by Twins manager Tom Kelly, a two-time World Series champ himself. After a series with the Twins in which Rivera pitched six hitless innings of relief while recording two wins, Kelly proclaimed, “We don't need to face him any more.. He needs to pitch in a higher league, if there is one. Ban him from baseball. He should be illegal.” The usually quiet Kelly caused quite a stir with his words. What seemed like hyperbole at the time, would sound somewhat prophetic in the subsequent years of Rivera dominance. Rivera was named closer for the ’97 season and the rest was history.
I need not spend a whole post gushing over Rivera’s statistical accomplishments. His resumé and slew of Major League records speak for themselves. To me, Mariano is the face of the Yankees; both in the dynastic years of the late 90's, and the current group today. His role on the team can be easily minimized by critics. He doesn’t play everyday, he pitches 1/3 of the innings a starting pitcher does, etc. But if you have followed this team during the Rivera Era (as I choose to call it), then you know what Mo means to the Yankees. He is their security blanket, their fire extinguisher, their steel lock on the front door, their spokesman, their priest, and their guidance counselor all wrapped into one. He is the constant in a game of ups and downs. Their guarantee in a world where nothing’s guaranteed. To me, Mariano is the Yankees’ MVP every year. He is their competitive advantage.
Mariano is such a special talent, that he dominates hitters with one pitch: his legendary cutter. While every other pitcher in the league spends their time tinkering with gimmicks to trick hitters, Mariano simply knows that his best is better than the hitters’ best and works accordingly. He need not work on quirky arm angles, varied motions, tilted caps, knuckleballs, slurves, splitties, nor any other gobbity goop. Mariano tells you the cutter is coming and that there’s nothing you can do about it. With his smooth, slow delivery, the ball jumps out of his hand like a thunderbolt. One pitch. The cutter can sneak backdoor you for an outside strike, get into your kitchen and jam you, or blow past you high. It’s just a matter of where Mo wants to put it, and wherever that is, he usually gets it there with sniper-like precision. He is a technician, a surgeon, an artist with the baseball. He has been an absolute joy to watch for the past 15 seasons.
Sunday Mariano recorded his 500th career save, capping a sweep of the Mets at Citi Field. I was lucky enough to be right on top of the Yankees dugout to witness it. It was somewhat poetic that Mo also got to show-off his overall baseball abilities by working an RBI walk against Mets All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez. His at-bat included an impressive swing to foul back a 2-2, 93 MPH fastball against Rodriguez, along with an extraordinary batting eye to work the crucial walk that gave the Yankees a 2-run lead in the 9th. Make no mistake; Mariano is a great all-around baseball player. His fielding ability over the years has been Gold Glove worthy, though never has a relief pitcher been awarded that honor. Yankee coaches have said in the past that Mo would be their best defensive option in center field. When approached with this fact, Mariano replied very matter-of-fact, “of course I can play centerfield, I am an athlete.” Having watched him shag balls in the outfield during batting practice, I believe him. In fact, evidence that Rivera can impose his will on a baseball field date back 20 years to his amateur days in Panama. While playing shortstop for an amateur team called Panamá Oeste, Rivera volunteered to pitch after a rough outing by their starter. Yankees scout Chico Heron liked his smooth motion and signed the young Panamanian as a pitcher. One year later, pitching in relief for the Gulf Coast League Yankees, he allowed an amazing 17 hits in 52 innings and held opponents to a 0.17 ERA. The transition to pitcher was not too hard, you see, Rivera was an athlete.
Mo’s 500th is an amazing feat. He is the second player ever to record 500 saves, and the first in American League history. What’s even more amazing is that at 39 years old, Mo is still going strong as ever. He has converted 95% of his saves (19/20) so far this year, while striking out more than a batter an inning, and allowing less than 1 base runner per inning. History tells us that some year soon Mariano will not be able to maintain his stellar pitching production. Everything we know says that his skills will fade and he’ll need to be replaced. I hope this never happens. I can’t imagine the Yankees without the Great Mariano, and I never want to. So here’s to hoping that Mo can keep his dominant form for another 500 saves. Longshot? Well, once a skinny boy from Panama that grew up using a milk carton for a baseball glove ended up becoming the King of New York; Mo’s defied the odds before.
In the ‘95 ALDS vs. the Mariners, manager Buck Showalter brought in a rookie Rivera in 3 of the 5 games, all in high-leverage, late game situations. Rivera first showed his trademark heart in facing the immense pressure of the playoffs by throwing 5 1/3 scoreless innings, while recording the win in Game 2. That type of poise has allowed Mo to become the most clutch postseason pitching performer the game has ever seen.
That summer I also had to choose my uniform number for my travel baseball team. I chose #42 merely for its aesthetic beauty. (As some of you also know, I have various feelings/theories about what constitutes a good or bad looking uniform number, i.e. 42, 18, 7, 21 = good, while 26, 37, 41 are NOT). For its continued aesthetic form, and it’s later association with the Great Mariano, I would wear this number for the remainder of my athletic career.
In 1996, new Yankees manager Joe Torre turned to Mariano to be his ace reliever to pitch in front of All-Star closer John Wetteland. Rivera’s dominance in middle relief that year is unparalleled since. He posted an ERA just over 2, a WHIP just under 1, and struck out 130 batters in 107 innings, a total that is simply no longer reached by today’s middle relievers. As a witness to almost every game of the 1996 Yankees season, I have never seen anything like what the Yankees had at the end of ballgames. Night after night after night, if the starter could get through six innings with a lead, the game was OVER. Not “over”, like we say today. Not “closer comes in to dance around to his entrance music and 88% of the time finish the game successfully” over. The Yankees opponents were helpless. Two from Mo, one from Wetteland; that was the Yanks winning formula. That formula eventually took the Yanks all the way to their first World Series title in 18 seasons. Mo’s dominance in ‘96 prompted a famous quote by Twins manager Tom Kelly, a two-time World Series champ himself. After a series with the Twins in which Rivera pitched six hitless innings of relief while recording two wins, Kelly proclaimed, “We don't need to face him any more.. He needs to pitch in a higher league, if there is one. Ban him from baseball. He should be illegal.” The usually quiet Kelly caused quite a stir with his words. What seemed like hyperbole at the time, would sound somewhat prophetic in the subsequent years of Rivera dominance. Rivera was named closer for the ’97 season and the rest was history.
I need not spend a whole post gushing over Rivera’s statistical accomplishments. His resumé and slew of Major League records speak for themselves. To me, Mariano is the face of the Yankees; both in the dynastic years of the late 90's, and the current group today. His role on the team can be easily minimized by critics. He doesn’t play everyday, he pitches 1/3 of the innings a starting pitcher does, etc. But if you have followed this team during the Rivera Era (as I choose to call it), then you know what Mo means to the Yankees. He is their security blanket, their fire extinguisher, their steel lock on the front door, their spokesman, their priest, and their guidance counselor all wrapped into one. He is the constant in a game of ups and downs. Their guarantee in a world where nothing’s guaranteed. To me, Mariano is the Yankees’ MVP every year. He is their competitive advantage.
Mariano is such a special talent, that he dominates hitters with one pitch: his legendary cutter. While every other pitcher in the league spends their time tinkering with gimmicks to trick hitters, Mariano simply knows that his best is better than the hitters’ best and works accordingly. He need not work on quirky arm angles, varied motions, tilted caps, knuckleballs, slurves, splitties, nor any other gobbity goop. Mariano tells you the cutter is coming and that there’s nothing you can do about it. With his smooth, slow delivery, the ball jumps out of his hand like a thunderbolt. One pitch. The cutter can sneak backdoor you for an outside strike, get into your kitchen and jam you, or blow past you high. It’s just a matter of where Mo wants to put it, and wherever that is, he usually gets it there with sniper-like precision. He is a technician, a surgeon, an artist with the baseball. He has been an absolute joy to watch for the past 15 seasons.
Sunday Mariano recorded his 500th career save, capping a sweep of the Mets at Citi Field. I was lucky enough to be right on top of the Yankees dugout to witness it. It was somewhat poetic that Mo also got to show-off his overall baseball abilities by working an RBI walk against Mets All-Star closer Francisco Rodriguez. His at-bat included an impressive swing to foul back a 2-2, 93 MPH fastball against Rodriguez, along with an extraordinary batting eye to work the crucial walk that gave the Yankees a 2-run lead in the 9th. Make no mistake; Mariano is a great all-around baseball player. His fielding ability over the years has been Gold Glove worthy, though never has a relief pitcher been awarded that honor. Yankee coaches have said in the past that Mo would be their best defensive option in center field. When approached with this fact, Mariano replied very matter-of-fact, “of course I can play centerfield, I am an athlete.” Having watched him shag balls in the outfield during batting practice, I believe him. In fact, evidence that Rivera can impose his will on a baseball field date back 20 years to his amateur days in Panama. While playing shortstop for an amateur team called Panamá Oeste, Rivera volunteered to pitch after a rough outing by their starter. Yankees scout Chico Heron liked his smooth motion and signed the young Panamanian as a pitcher. One year later, pitching in relief for the Gulf Coast League Yankees, he allowed an amazing 17 hits in 52 innings and held opponents to a 0.17 ERA. The transition to pitcher was not too hard, you see, Rivera was an athlete.
Mo’s 500th is an amazing feat. He is the second player ever to record 500 saves, and the first in American League history. What’s even more amazing is that at 39 years old, Mo is still going strong as ever. He has converted 95% of his saves (19/20) so far this year, while striking out more than a batter an inning, and allowing less than 1 base runner per inning. History tells us that some year soon Mariano will not be able to maintain his stellar pitching production. Everything we know says that his skills will fade and he’ll need to be replaced. I hope this never happens. I can’t imagine the Yankees without the Great Mariano, and I never want to. So here’s to hoping that Mo can keep his dominant form for another 500 saves. Longshot? Well, once a skinny boy from Panama that grew up using a milk carton for a baseball glove ended up becoming the King of New York; Mo’s defied the odds before.
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