Case closed–Mariano Rivera best of all time
Posted: March 9, 2013 Filed under: Baseball, MLB | Tags: best closer ever, Jackie Robinson, Mariano Rivera, Rivera retirement, Yankees 1 Comment »
Baseball fans can debate who’s the best hitter, the best pitcher, the best shortstop, the greatest team….and on, and on. But on this there’s no debate — Mariano Rivera, who has announced that this will be his final season, is the greatest closer in the history of baseball.
Rivera is baseball’s all-time saves leader with 608, with 42 more in the post-season. Do the math, that’s four full seasons of getting the last out in a Yankees win.
Arguably the most indispensable Yankee over the past 17 years….heck perhaps the most valuable player in baseball during that time. Rivera is a Hall of Fame lock.
Ever so humble, Rivera told ESPN’s Andrew Marchand: “I don’t feel myself, the greatest of all time. I’m a team player. I would love to be remembered as a player who was always there for others.”
Only one player in baseball, wears #42 — Mariano Rivera. That number was retired in 1997 in honor of the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s “color barrier.”
Speaking of River, Jackie’s 90-year old widow Rachel Robinson told Ian O’Connor of ESPN: “He carried himself with dignity and grace, that made carrying the number a tribute to Jack.”
A great player and a great man. The great Rivera. There will never be another like him.
Here are 10 cool facts about Mariano Rivera:
1. Since he became the Yankee closer in 1997 (taking over for the departed John Wetteland), Rivera has been remarkably consistent. He had at least 28 saves for 15 straight seasons before injuring his knee and missing nearly all of 2012.
2. Rivera actually started 10 games in 1995, his rookie year. before the Yankees realized he was born to be a reliever. That year he had a 5-3 record to go with a 5.51 ERA.
3. Since then, Rivera’s ERA has been above 3.00 just once (3.15 in 2007). His career low came in 2005, when he recorded a 1.38 ERA. Overall, he’s 76-58 with a 2.21 ERA.
4. Mo has led the American League in saves three times — 45 (1999), 50 (2001) and a career-high and Yankee best 53 in 2004.
5. Mariano Rivera has never won a Cy Young Award. He did finish second once, third three times, and fifth once in Cy Young balloting. He finished as high as ninth in AL MVP voting in 2004 and 2005.
6. “I save games, they save lives. That’s what real heroes are all about.” — Mariano Rivera, who gave his 2001 Rolaids “Relief Man” award to FDNY.
7. When Jackie Robinson’s #42 was retired in 1997, players who were wearing #42 at that time were allowed to keep it until they retired. Fittingly, Rivera is the only one left. He’s worn it alone since 2003.
8. Mo once claimed his most memorable moment came in 2003, when he pitched three scoreless innings against the Red Sox before Aaron Boone homered to win Game 7 of the ALCS.
9. Rivera’s post-season numbers are off the charts. In addition to his 42 saves, Mariano has an 8-1 record and a microscopic 0.70 ERA in playoff competition, covering 141 innings.
10. Rivera has given up just two post-season home runs in 96 games, neither to a left-hand hitter. Sandy Alomar, Jr, of the Indians (1997) and Jay Payton of the Mets (2000) are the only two players to claim a post-season home run against Rivera.
Is this the worst Yankee team in 20 years?
Posted: May 20, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 1992 Yankees, Alex Rodriguez, Joe Girardi, Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees, worst Yankee team in 20 years, worst Yankee teams Leave a comment »
Losing Mariano River may turn out to be the defining moment of the Yankee season.
In 1992, the New York Yankees finished with a 76-86 record, 20 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays and tied for fourth place in the AL East. It was Buck Showalter’s first year at the helm
That year, the Yankees missed the playoffs for the 11th year in a row. Since 1992, they’ve missed the playoffs just twice.
That was 20 years ago. That was then and this is now, But a quarter of the way through the 2012 season, we may be looking at the worst Yankee team since 1992.
Here’s 10 reasons why:
1. No Mo — For 15 years, the Yankees have had the biggest security blanket in the history of baseball. Then Mariano Rivera injured his knee shagging fly balls in Kansas City. No more. No Mo.
2. RISP means RIP — Yankees routinely get into scoring position, then die at second and/or third base. Worst in the majors this month in hitting with runners in scoring position.
3. Warning track power — They’re not playing A-Rod $30 million a year to be a singles hitter. The ball doesn’t explode off his bat they way it did a few years ago. The days of 35 homers, 120 RBIs are history.
4. CC and pray — Reloaded in the off-season, the Yankee rotation was supposed to be a plus. But outside of CC Sabathia there are a lot of inconsistencies, older arms and question marks.
5. HR or bust — Only once all year have the Yankees won a game in which they didn’t hit a home run. Only twice this year have they won a game in which they scored less than five runs. Which leads to….
6. Slow stripes — Without Brett Gardner, the Yankees are plodding along, showing their age. It’s pretty much station to station. There’s very little little ball in the Bronx.
7. Tex mess — Mark Teixeira is a wreck. He’s battling a bronchial illness, his average has gone down each year he’s been a Yankee, and he absolutely refuses to hit against a shift.
8. Home groan pitching — Been an issue for many years. Hughes, Nova, Joba, the Killer Bs…and they let the best one, Ian Kennedy, get away. The Yankees haven’t developed a Cy Young winner since Ron Guidry in 1978.
9. Joe must go — In the Steinbrenner-Martin salad days, George would have already fired and re-hired Billy. If the Yankees don’t make the playoffs with the highest payroll in baseball, Girardi will be on the hot seat in New York.
10. Injuries — Not an excuse, but the Yankees have been hit hard by injuries. Mariano, David Robertson, Michael Pinieda, Gardner, Joba, that’s a fifth of the roster right there.
10 Cool Facts About Yankee Savior Rivera
Posted: September 17, 2011 Filed under: Baseball, MLB | Tags: all-time saves leader, Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Yankee closer, Yankee savior 2 Comments »
Sometime soon, maybe by the time you read this, Mariano Rivera, the greatest closer in baseball history, will pass Trevor Hoffman on the all-time saves list.
Rivera has 600 saves in his career, and 42 more in the post-season. Do the math, that’s almost four full seasons of getting the last out in a Yankees win.
Perhaps the most indispensable Yankee over the past 15 years….heck perhaps the most valuable player in baseball during that time….Rivera is a Hall of Fame lock.
Here are 10 cool facts about Mariano Rivera:
1. Since he became the Yankee closer in 1997 (taking over for the departed John Wetteland), Rivera has been remarkably consistent. He’s had at least 28 saves for 15 straight seasons.
2. Rivera actually started 10 games in 1995, his rookie year. before the Yankees realized he was born to be a reliever. That year he had a 5-3 record to go with a 5.51 ERA.
3. Since then, Rivera’s ERA has been above 3.00 just once (3.15 in 2007). His career low came in 2005, when he recorded a 1.38 ERA. Overall, he’s 75-57 with a 2.22 ERA. 
4. Mariano has led the American League in saves three times — 45 (1999), 50 (2001) and a career-high and Yankee best 53 in 2004.
5. Mariano Rivera has never won a Cy Young Award. He did finish second once, third three times, and fifth once in Cy Young balloting. He finished as high as ninth in AL MVP voting in 2004 and 2005.
6. “I save games, they save lives. That’s what real heroes are all about.” — Mariano Rivera, who gave his 2001 Rolaids “Relief Man” award to FDNY.
7. Only one player in baseball, wears #42 — Mariano Rivera. That number was retired in 1997 in honor of the 50th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball’s “color barrier.” However players who were wearing #42 at that time were allowed to keep it until they retired. Fittingly, Rivera is the only one left.
8. Mo claims his most memorable moment came in 2003, when he pitched three scoreless innings against the Red Sox before Aaron Boone homered to win Game 7 of the ALCS.
9. Rivera’s post-season numbers are off the charts. In addition to his 42 saves, Mariano has an 8-1 record and a microscopic 0.71 ERA in playoff competition.
10. Rivera has given up just two post-season home runs in 94 games, neither to a left-hand hitter. Sandy Alomar, Jr, of the Indians (1997) and Jay Payton of the Mets (2000) are the only two players to claim a post-season home run against Rivera.
Another Reason for Baby Boomers to Feel Old
Posted: May 10, 2011 Filed under: Baseball, MLB, Uncategorized | Tags: Arthur Rhodes, Baby Boomers, Mariano Rivera, Matt Stairs, MLB players born in 60s, oldest player in baseball, Omar Vizquel, Tim Wakefield 1 Comment »
Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, the oldest man in major league baseball, is one of only five active players born in the 60s.
Baby Boomers are always being reminded how old they are. Born in the 50s. Growing up in the 60s.
Well, here’s another reminder. Only five active major league players were born in the 60s.
Of the five, only two were born in the United States and one each in Canada, Panama and Venezuela. Three were born when LBJ was president, the younger two in the early years of the Nixon Administration. Two were born in the months following Woodstock in late 1969.
Boston’s ageless knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield, is the oldest player in the majors. Wakefield, 44, was born August 2, 1966, in Melbourne, Florida. He has 193 career wins, 173 with the Red Sox. He trails only Cy Young and Roger Clemens (tied at 192) on the all-time Red Sox win list.
Shortstop Omar Vizquel, born April 24, 1967, has 2,808 hits, 401 stolen bases, and a .273 lifetime batting average. An 11-time Gold Glove winner, Vizquel is a native of Caracas, Venezuela.
Matt Stairs was born February 27, 1968, in St. John, New Brunswick. He has 265 home runs, more than any other active player born in the 60s.
Journeyman lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes, who has toiled for nine teams (including the Mariners twice) in a 20-year career, was born October 24, 1969, in Waco Texas.
And the great Mariano Rivera, born November 29, 1969, in Panama City, Panama, is the youngest active player on the short list. Rivera has 571 saves in his career, just 30 behind all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman.
One More Title for Yankees’ Core Four
Posted: November 5, 2009 Filed under: Baseball | Tags: 2009 World Series, Andy Pettitte, Core Four, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Yankees, Yankees Core Four Leave a comment »Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte – Band of Brothers.
Any discussion of the New York Yankees and their 27th World Championship starts with the Core Four.
The Core Four — Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter, and Mariano Rivera — earned their fifth ring when the Yankees beat the Phillies in the 2009 World Series.
They were there for the great run from 1996 through 2000, three championships in a row and four in five years.
But they were also there for the disappointing World Series losses to the Diamondbacks in 2001 and Marlins in 2003, and the epic collapse against the Red Sox in 2004. And the Core Four struggled through early-round playoff setbacks in 2005, 2006 and 2007, and last year when the Yankees failed to make it to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.
Jorge Posada
Posada, right. the switch-hitting catcher, missed most of the 2008 season after shoulder surgery….and he was sorely missed by the Yankees, both on the field and in the clubhouse. But he bounced back and hit the first home run in the new Yankee Stadium on Opening Day,
Posada wound up hitting .285 in his comeback year, with 22 home runs and 81 RBIs. And he got some huge hits throughout the playoffs, including the game-winning home run in the clincher against Minnesota in the ALDS, and a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning of the pivotal fourth game against the Phillies in the World Series.
Andy Pettitte
There was some question whether Andy Pettitte would even pitch for the Yankees this year. The angular left-hander pondered retirement, but in the end signed a one-year deal and reported to spring training in Tampa.
Pettitte, below, had a solid 14-8 regular season, marking the fifth straight season he has won at least 14 games and 12th overall. But it’s in October (and November) that Pettitte’s sta
r shines brightest, and his 18 victories are a major league post-season record.
Pettitte was 4-0 this year in the playoffs this year, and won the clinching game in all three series for the Yankees.
Derek Jeter
In the spring of 1996, a baby-faced, 21-year-old kid was named the regular Yankee shortstop by new manager Joe Torre. That young shortstop was Derek Jeter, who went on to win Rookie of the Year and helped lead the Yankees to a comeback World Series victory over the Atlanta Braves, ending an 18-year Yankee championship drought.
Jeter has enjoyed an amazing career in pinstripes with a .317 average and 2,747 hits through the end of the year. He was named Yankee captain in 2003, and in September of this year he broke one of the Yankees most cherished team records — the all-time hit record — held for 70 years by another great Yankee captain, Lou Gehrig.
Jeter had his usual stellar post-season, capped by 11 hits and a .407 average in the World Series. His overall playoff numbers include a record 99 runs scored and 175 hits, along with 20 home runs and a .313 average. He’s batted over .300 in five of the season World Series in which he’s played.
Mariano Rivera
Fittingly last on the Core Four list is the closer, Mariano Rivera, shown below with Jeter, the greatest reliever in baseball history. Rivera’s stats are the stuff of legends — 526 saves, second all-time, with a lifetime 2.25 ERA.
As good as those numbers are, Rivera’s post-season numbers are even better — an 8-1 record, 0.74 ERA, just two home runs allowed, and a record 39 saves. Against the Phillies, Rivera allowed no runs and just three hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Rivera has been on the mound for the final out in each of the Yankees last four World Series wins — in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2009. Overall, in the World Series he has 11 saves and an 0.99 ERA.
There were other Yankees through the years who contributed to multiple World Series wins, players such as Bernie Williams, Paul O’Neill, Tino Martinez and David Cone.
But only the Core Four has been there for more than four.
“They understand the moment; they know how to handle the moment,” said Yankee manager Joe Girardi of the Core Four, his former teammates. “They’ve been through it and can share their experiences. …. They know that they’re not going to be fazed by the situation because they’ve been through it. We like having that.”
“They may have four (titles), they want five. They get their fifth, they want six,” utility man Jerry Hairston told USA Today. “When you have Yogi Berra in the clubhouse flashing his 10 rings, it keeps everybody else here hungry.”
Berra, not coincidentally, was part of the triumvirate of Yankees legends — along with Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford— who were the last teammates before the Core Four to win five World Series together, in 1953, 1956, 1958, 1961 and 1962.
Jeter for MVP, Rivera for Cy Young
Posted: September 6, 2009 Filed under: Baseball, Uncategorized | Tags: Cy Young Award, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, MVP, Yankees 2 Comments »
First, let’s get this straight. This ain’t no stinking lobby for some sort of lifetime achievement awards.
Yes, you could make a strong argument for Derek Jeter as the best shortstop ever, at least in the same conversation as Honus Wagner, a guy none of us ever saw, and the ultimate iron man, Cal Ripken. Jeter, of course, is now chasing down another iron man, another legendary Yankee captain, for most hits in team history.
And for Mariano Rivera there is no debate. He’s simply the best closer in baseball history, second on the all-time saves list with more than 500, and with an unbelievable post-season pedigree to boot.
But this isn’t a discussion about the best ever. No, we’re talking about Jeter for American League MVP and Rivera for the Cy Young Award, key performers on a Yankee team that is running away with the American League East and has the best record in baseball.
Great Year for Jeter
Jeter is having one of his finest years in a career full of stellar seasons. Sure, he’s hitting in the clutch as he always does, and is among the league leaders in batting, runs, and hits. And he’s also playing some of the best shortstop he’s shown in years.
Perhaps Jeter’s biggest competition will come from his own teammate, Mark Teixeira. The first baseman has fit in nicely in the Bronx, and leads the AL in RBIs and the Yankees in home runs.
The other major candidate, standout catcher Joe Mauer of the Twins, could stand to gain if scribes split their votes between Jeter and Teixeira. Mauer is leading the AL in batting, but Minnesota has fallen out of the pennant race.
On the Mariano case, conventional wisdom says that starters, not closers, win the Cy Young. Since A’s closer and Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley won the Cy Young in 1992, the Dodgers Eric Gagne in 2003 is the only other reliever to win.
Other candidates for the AL Cy Young, all starters, include CC Sabathia of the Yankees, Justin Verlander of the Tigers and Zack Greinke of the Royals. Two others, Roy Halladay of the Blue Jays and Josh Beckett of the Red So,x have fallen behind in the race.
Relief Isn’t Spelled Cy Young
Relievers have won only 11 of 97 times the Cy Young has been awarded. A strong case can be made for Rivera winning the award in 2005, when he had 43 saves and a career low 1.38 ERA.
However Mo finished a distant second to Bartolo Colon, who won 21 games but benefitted by good run support by the Angels. Rivera has finished third in the Cy Young balloting on three other occasions.
Jeter twice has come close to winning an MVP. In 2006 he finished second to Justin Morneau of Minnesota and in 1998 he was third when Juan Gonzalez of Texas won the MVP. Both times Jeter’s teams finished with a better record than the eventual winners.
It goes without mentioning that Jeter and Rivera each own four World Series rings.
Now is time. Jeter for MVP. Rivera for Cy Young.
These Active Players Headed for Cooperstown
Posted: July 18, 2009 Filed under: Baseball | Tags: Albert Pujols, Chipper Jones, Cooperstown, Derek Jeter, Hall of Fame, Ichiro Suzuki, Jim Thome, John Smoltz, Jr., Ken Griffey, Mariano Rivera, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Trevor Hoffman, Vladimir Guerrero 2 Comments »
Derek Jeter, left, and Mariano Rivera are sure bets for the Hall of Fame.
From this catbird’s seat, the SportsLifer sees nine active players heading for the Hall of Fame.
Criteria for consideration includes at least a 10-year, major league resume. Players linked to steroids, who might otherwise be Cooperstown bound, are instead banished to the Mark McGwire waiting room.
The list of nine HOFers includes three infielders, three outfielders and three pitchers, two of them relievers. There are three other players on the cusp who will merit strong consideration by voters.
Of note, Pedro Martinez will qualify for this list once he takes the mound for the Phillies. He’s currently on the disabled list and hasn’t pitched yet this year.
Albert Pujols and Ichiro Suzuki, each with nine years of service, will certainly be added to this list next year.
Lastly…and sadly…are five other players who would have made the list but for the needle and the damage done.
Hall of Famers
Ken Griffey, Jr, OF — Active leader, 5th all time with 621 HRs, 1798 RBIs, .286 BA, 184 SBs, 1997 AL MVP, played for Mariners and Reds, shown left
Vladimir Guerrero, OF — 396 HRs, 1289 RBIs, .322 lifetime BA, stole 175 bases, AL MVP with Angels in 2004
Trevor Hoffman, RP — All-time saves leader with 575, 2.76 ERA, played primarily for Padres, now with Brewers
Derek Jeter, SS — Captain of the Yankees, four-time World Champion, .316 lifetime BA, 216 HRs, 1039 RBIs, 292 stolen bases
Randy Johnson, P — The Big Unit, 303 lifetime wins, second all-time in strikeouts with 4867, five-time Cy Young award winner with Mariners and D’Backs
Chipper Jones, 3B — Played entire career with Braves, 417 HRs, 1416 RBIs, .310 BA, NL MVP in 1999, .364 NL batting champ in 2008
Mariano Rivera, RP — 505 saves, 2.29 lifetime ERA, post-season exploits with Yankees are unsurpassed, 34 saves, 0.80 ERA, 0.87 WHIP
John Smoltz, P — 211 victories, 154 saves, 3.27 lifetime ERA,, earned primarily with the Braves; 1996 NL Cy Young, record 15 post-season wins.
Jim Thome, 1B – 13th on the all-time home run list with 557 dingers, he also has 1545 RBIs for Indians, White Sox, Phillies
Special Consideration
Pedro Martinez, P — Just signed with Phillies, three-time Cy Young Award winner with Expos and Red Sox, 214-99, 2.91 lifetime.
On the Cusp
Carlos Delgado, 1B — 473 home runs, 1512 RBIs for this slugger, who played for the Blue Jays and now Mets
Jorge Posada, C — Caught for the Yankees during their late 1990s dynasty, has 231 homers and 916 RBIs…276 BA
Johan Santana, P — 119-58 lifetime, 3.11 ERA, Cy Young winner with Twins in 2004, 2006, now pitches for Mets
Omar Vizquel, SS — Known as a slick fielder with 11 Gold Gloves, he has collected nearly 2,700 hits and 400 SBs
Nine Years And Counting
Albert Pujols, 1B — 353 HRs, 1066 RBIs, .332 BA, NL MVP 2005, 2008 with Cardinals, NL batting champion in 2003
Ichiro Suzuki, OF — 1936 hits, .332 BA, 334 steals, AL MVP in 2001 with Mariners, AL batting champ in 2001, 2004
Ineligible Juicers
Jason Giambi
Manny Ramirez
Alex Rodriguez
Ivan Rodriguez
Gary Sheffield
Bronx Blunders: The Bad News Yankeess
Posted: May 9, 2009 Filed under: Baseball, Sports | Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Bronx blunders, empty seats, Mariano Rivera, new Yankee Stadium, New York Yankees, Yankees struggle Leave a comment »Empty seats are a strange yet familiar sight in the new Yankee Stadium.
First, the good news. They still have 26 World Championships and 39 American League pennants in the bank.
Now, the bad news. The wheels are coming off the Yankees World Series express.
Where to begin. Start with the bullpen
No Relief…When .Mariano Rivera starts to struggle, the Yankees are in big trouble. The best relief pitcher in baseball history has lost some velocity on his cutter, courtesy of a tired shoulder. You have to wonder if, at 39, this is the beginning of the end for the great Rivera. The other night against Tampa Bay he gave up back-to-back home runs for the first time in his career in an 8-6 loss. He’s already given up as many home runs (4) as he did all of last season…and more than he’s given up in eight other seasons. And he’s sporting a very un-Rivera like 3.97 ERA, the highest of his career.
The rest of the Yankee bullpen is, in a word, pathetic. Every game is a crap shoot with this group. They can’t get the ball over the plate, and when they do, it gets hit someplace hard. At some point this year the Yankees will need to move Joba Chamberlain back to the bullpen to ensure at least a semblance of consistency.
Choking in The Clutch….One thing you can count on — Yankee hitters do not deliver in the clutch. This was a problem last year, but this year it has grown to epidemic proportions.
During their five-game losing streak, the Yankees did not hold a lead in any game and were 6-for-43 with runners in scoring position. We’ve seen this act before. And it’s been a problem up and down the entire lineup, with virtually every hitter sharing the blame.
Free Agent Struggles….During the off-season, the Yankees spent more than $423 million dollars — that’s right, nearly half a billion in the middle of an economic turndown — to sign pitchers CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett and first baseman Mark Teixeria (pictured right in happier times) to long-term contracts. Like virtually all high-profile free agent signees with the Yankees, the early returns have not been good.
Neither Sabathia (two wins, 3.94 ERA) and Burnett (two wins, 5.26 ERA) have been the stoppers the Yankees expected. And Teixeira has been awful, so bad he was booed repeatedly by the home fans in an 0-for-5 effort the other night. That is what happens to a .192 hitter making $22.5 million a year.
Old And Injured…The Yankees are an older team, one of the oldest teams in baseball. Old teams run the risk of injuries, and that’s what’s happening in New York. Alex Rodriguez and Chien Ming Wong have hip problems, Hideki Matsui’s knees ache, and Johnny Damon has a bum shoulder,
Now the Yanks are decimated at catcher, with both Jorge Posada and Jose Molina on the disabled list and no young catching prospects in sight. Injuries are part of the game, and older teams are more injury-prone. That’s a fact. The Yankees knew that coming in and chose to roll the dice with older players.
The New House….What’s with all those empty seats? The Yankees have a beautiful new ballpark, but they can’t fill it. They miscalculated their fan base, seriously over-priced the seats behind home plate, and as a result have lost some of the home-field advantage they enjoyed for so many years right across the street. This is a problem, and it’s not going away…but some fans are.
The Front Office….If you were given a bigger budget than your competition, and your business failed year after year, would you keep your job? So how does general manager Brian Cashman keep his?
Cashman has put together a team that can’t pitch, can’t hit with runners on base, is old, and is lacking in speed and defensive abilities. He has to absorb some of the blame.
And Joe Girardi needs to be held accountable too, although to be fair, it’s tough to be successful when your players don’t execute. Still Girardi’s propensity to over-manage can be disturbing.
The Lightning Rod…..The Yankees are getting Alex Rodriguez back. Is that good news or bad news? We all know how A-Rod , left, has reacted to pressure over the years. Not very well.
His failures in key situations, especially in the post-season, have been well chronicled. But he certainly came though in fine style in his first at bat with a three-run homer.
Strange as it may sound, the Yankee turmoil may be the perfect foil for A-Rod. It sets him up to be a hero. If A-Rod can come back and generate some offense, carry the team and produce some victories, the New York fans will love him. So like Bonds in San Francisco, he may be a jerk but he’s our jerk.
Fans and the media alike have been piling on A-Rod ever since it came to light that he was using steroid. His eputation has taken a serious beating.. Rodriguez seemingly has nowhere to go but up. The fact that Manny Ramirez is stealing the headlines with his steroid use and 50-game suspension, may actually take some of the onus off A-Rod.
Of course, it’s up to Rodriguez and the rest of his Yankee teammates to produce if they want to get back in the race.
Yankee Issues
Posted: July 4, 2008 Filed under: Baseball | Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, George Steinbrenner, Madonna, Mariano Rivera, Yankees 1 Comment »Been offline for a few days. Connectivity issues.
There’s a baseball team with issues here in New York — the Yankees. Hitting in the clutch issues. Pitching issues. Fielding issues. Winning issues.
Start with the captain, Derek Jeter, having the worst year of his career. The young hitters, Melky Cabrera and Robinson Cano, aren’t showing signs of improvement.
Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy have been disasters so far this season. Since Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera came up, name me one guy beside Chien-Ming Wang who’s risen through the Yankee farm system to become a decent major league pitcher. (Joba Chamberlain shows promise, but it’s early).
There are too many veterans on this team who have never won, in New York or anywhere else. Mike Mussina. Jason Giambi. Bobby Abreu, Kyle Farnsworth. And the true Lord of the Ringless, Alex Rodriguez.
Hey Alex, how about spending less time hitting on Madonna and more time hitting under pressure?
George Steinbrenner turned 78 on the Fourth of July, and must be wondering about this $200 million plus payroll. Heads must roll.
I’ve got a solution for George and his son Hank. Take me out to the ballgame. Since last July 31, I’ve been to four Yankee games, and they’ve won them all. 16-3 against the White Sox, tying the team record with eight home runs in a single game. 12-0 over the Orioles in September. 13-2 against the Mariners this past May. And 18-7 over the Rangers earlier this week. That’s 59 runs in the last four games, do the math.
If you’re reading this, George or Hank, gimme some tickets. Nothing else seems to be working.
