N.Y. Yankees: Hall of Fame Makes Room for Moose and Mo

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

The Greatest Relief Pitcher/Closer of All-Time

100%

New York Yankees 

Hall of Fame Class of 2019

Mo-Body Does It Better; Made Life Sad For The Rest.  Mo-Body Does It Half As Good As Him; Baby, Mo's The Best ...

I remember Rollie Fingers as a member of the Swingin' Oakland A's.  He and the Mets Tug McGraw are the first great relief pitchers of my childhood recollection.  I remember Mike Marshall capturing the 1974 National League Cy Young as a member of the Dodgers, after posting a 15-12 record with 21 saves, a 2.42 ERA, through 106 appearances and 208.1 innings pitched, all as a reliever.  I also recall when Sparky Lyle captured the 1977 American Cy Young as a reliever for the Yankees.  I'll never soon forget Goose Gossage's aura of intimidation; Bruce Sutter's famous splitter; or 1984 when Willie Hernandez won both the Cy Young Award and MVP with a 9-3 record, 21 saves, and a 1.92 ERA through 130.1 innings pitched for the World Champion Tigers.

Damn right Lee Smith deserves enshrinement into baseball's Hall of Fame.  He put forth at least ten dominant seasons of thirty saves or more; three times exceeded 40 saves; and led the league in saves on four occasions, with a career high 47 saves in 1991 as a member of the Cardinals.  Upon his retirement after the 1997 season, Lee Smith's 478 saves were the most all-time.

I remember when MLB amended the Save rule, spurring great debate and statistical controversy.  I have also watched relievers evolve from the Fireman into the modern day Closer.  And of course, I watched Tony LaRussa invent the one inning specialist.  Few people mention that before Dennis Eckersley the A's closer came into existence, La Russa first invented Bobby Thigpen with the Chicago White Sox.

Since the early/mid 1970's and every era since, I've seen relievers come and go.  In fact, I've seen them all.  Some relievers/firemen/closers are incredibly over rated, while some are unquestionably great.

It is with great confidence I say there was/is none better than Mariano Rivera.

None ...

In 1997, he earned 43 saves during his first full season as Yankees closer.  After missing nearly all of the 2012 season, Mariano returned at 43-years of age to record 44 saves in the final season of his illustrious 19-year career.  That's consistency.  He had 15 seasons of at least 30 saves; seven years of at least 40 saves; and two seasons of at least 50 saves.  In 2005, he recorded a career high 54 saves.  His 652 saves are most all-time.  He boasts a career 2.21 ERA and 1.00 WHiP in 1,283.1 innings pitched.

He was no single-inning matador either.  In order to be great, one needs great competition.  For better or worse, his multi-inning efforts throughout his post-season career are the stuff of legend.  But with regards to the overall nuanced art of closing out games, nothing in baseball history compares with Mo's exploits:

• 96 career playoff games; 24 appearances via seven trips to the Word Series.
• 141 innings pitched; 86 hits allowed (just two home runs); 21 walks; 110 strikeouts
• 8-1 record; 78 saves; 0.70 ERA; 0.750 WHiP.
• Just 86 hits allowed (only two home runs) through 141 innings pitched; 21 walks; 110 strikeouts

With regards to the nuanced art of closing out games, nothing in baseball history compares.

The irony is never before had the BBWAA enshrined a player into the Hall by a unanimous vote.  Some have come close.  Alas none had ever achieved the distinction of garnering 100% approval - not Babe Ruth; Ty Cobb; Cy Young; Ted Williams; Willie Mays; Hank Aaron; Greg Maddux, Ken Griffey, Jr., et al - until Mariano Rivera.  He will go down in history as the first player to ever be voted into baseball's Hall of Fame unanimously.

Dare I say he is truly one of baseball's few all-time transcendent players.

Cooperstown Sounds Moose Call, But Is Mike Mussina a True Hall of Famer?

Sometimes milestones such as 300 wins or 3,000 strikeouts need not apply.  Those are not prerequisites for election into Cooperstown.  Every player has their own story.  Each differs from player to player, but none follow the same script.  There are wunderkind members, as well as workingman members; conquerors and compilers; both majestic and modest.  They all perform in their own unique ways.

Mike Mussina was never considered one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.  There aren't many italicized statistics on the back of his baseball card.  He never led the league in ERA; achieved 20-wins in a season only once; and recorded 200 strikeouts in a season but four times.  He never won a Cy Young Award, and his teams never won the World Series.  You might say Moose was somewhat unfortunate insofar that he pitched for the Yankees from 2001 through 2008 - the eight seasons nestled between New York's 2000 and 2009 titles.

But what he did was pitch his entire career in the highly competitive American League East and still manage a 3.68 ERA.  Very simply, Moose is one of the great craftsmen the American League has ever known.  He led the league in wins and shutouts in 1994 as an Oriole, and posted the league's best FIP during his first season with the Yankees.  But his true worth came in posting double-digit victories for 17 consecutive seasons; winning 20-games once; 19-games twice; and at least 18-victories on three other occasions.  All the while limiting himself to single-digit losses in 12 of his 18 seasons.  Mussina made 536 career starts and won 64% of them, retiring with a stellar 270-153 career record.  His control was impeccable, finishing with 2,813 strikeouts in 3,562.2 innings pitched, with a career 2.0 W/9 average.

Is he a borderline Hall of Fame pitcher?  Although I was initially conflicted, the answer is yes.  Capturing just 76.7% of the vote bears that out.  But he is Hall of Fame pitcher nonetheless.  Mike Mussina wasn't just good enough to get in, he was great enough to be voted in his first year on the ballot.

Is Honoring Mariano Rivera At Citi Field Tonight The Right Thing To Do?

From the desks of:

HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET  &  BLAME CARLOS MAY

 

 

 

SUBWAY SERIES 2013

 

Mets Lead Series 1-0

I - NYM 2; NYY 1

II - TONIGHT

 

 

 

GAME TWO

 

NEW YORK YANKEES

vs.

NEW YORK METS

FROM

Citi Field

Flushing, Queens

 

 

 

 

Mariano Rivera will be throwing out the first ball this evening at Citi Field.  Not only is that fine with me, it is the right thing to do.  If you do not concur, odds are you are roughly half my age.  One, I'm not trying to make a blanket statement, and second, that's not an indictment, so much as think this is mostly a function of time and change.

 

 

When I was a younger lad back in the seventies especially, and the eighties, we fans took it upon ourselves to single out visiting players we knew were deserving of recognition, and rendered our respect willingly, and may I add, without encouragement from the organization.  We did it with Pete Rose, Johnny Bench, and Willie Stargell just to name a few.  Back then, fans headed to the park already knowing the day or night would be special to an extent, for the way Mets fans used to appreciate visiting players.  We were by no means happy they came to town and helped beat us.  It had everything to do with an appreciation for baseball and the grand history of the game.  This is my opinion, but if you care not to recognize Mariano Rivera tonight, or choose not to cheer him, or whatever, then the night is about you then....isn't it?

 

 

 

GAME TWO FINAL

N.Y. Yankees   1

N.Y. METS      2

 

 

 

...And take that on the way out too!  Two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Mets a come from behind 2-1 victory against the greatest closer of ALL TIME!  It was his first blown save of the year, and the first time ever he blew a save without so much as recording an out.

 

 

Matt Harvey pitched eight full innings, allowing only one earned run on six hits.  He walked no batters and struck out ten.  Scott Rice gets the win in relief however.  Of concern, Matt Harvey endured three or four come-backers hit against him - two struck him.  Is the book out - take Harvey up the middle?  Stay tuned.

 

 

I though Daniel Murphy was going to break Valdespin's hand on the high five in the dugout after he scored.  David Wright continues to have success against Mariano, and Lucas Duda continues to surge.  It was good that The Duda got the game winning hit - his confidence should benefit.

 

 

Let's Go Mets!

 

 

 

 

Mike.BTB

n.y. Yankees ~ Jorge Forged His Pinstripes With Fire

From the desk of:   BLAME CARLOS MAY

new york YANKEES:  ADIOS JORGE; The Feistiest of the Core.


And then there were two.


Faced and charged with the most unenviable task of putting an Era to pasture, Brian Cashman effectively did to Jorge Posada what he did in similarly cold fashion to Bernie Williams and began instigating with Derek Jeter during last year's off-season.  It's official now; Jorge Posada will play Major League Baseball no more.


Only Andy Pettitte remained ahead of Simon Bar Sinister's plots ever since the Yanks unceremoniously let the lefty mosey-on back home to play for Houston.  Andy came back as shrewed towards Cashman, as the GM himself, and exited the game on his own terms.  Mariano Rivera appears destined to do the same.


Ultimately however, The Core is No More.  The modern day River Avenue Legends are increasingly being raided and signed by the Retirement Club.  Like Andy and Bernie before him, Jorge Posada has turned in his Pinstripes for civilian life again.


I have long stated my high regard for Jorge Posada.  I went through the BTB archives and pulled these two posts:


ONE: - was just a post of appreciation for the Yankee catcher and about his Hall of Fame potential.  January 30, 2010 - Jorge Posada; the Jack Morris of Catchers


TWO: - came on the heels of the infamous day Jorge "called-in sick".  Looking back on that incident now gets me to thinking Jorge left this game in perfect Posada fashion; ever resistive and defiantly. - May 15, 2011 - Posada Deserves a Free Pass




Brought to you by the magic of copy-and-paste, and with some minor editing, here's a summary:

ONE:  Jorge Posada will never get the true credit for being, in a most literal sense, the Yankees Back Bone.   Jorge has always been willing to stick his neck out for his team mates, when so many of them over the last 8 years have not.   He was always willing to do what needed to be done when so many wouldn't.  Even if it meant going against the Yankee way.   Who else I ask you, Who? - took it upon himself to send an occasional message to the American League, - Don't Mistake Yankee Kindness For Our Weakness!  I defy you to compile that list for me.   Jorge always had his team mates backs!   So many would never step their game up and bring to the game what, at times, the situation dictated.

Because he's in the shadow of Jete and ARod, and other players and contracts of yore..(Giambi et-al), Jorge is made to simmer inside.   Sometimes the criticisms leveled against him are warranted where it concerns defense, but I'm not here to speak of that today.


Casey Stengel used to say of Yogi Berra, "I never play without my Guy".   Whether Yogi was behind the dish, left field or first base, Casey always played with his Guy.  Torre treated Jorge much the same way with little outward conveyance.  But you knew it.  For long the Yanks remained reliant on their Guy's bat in spite of so many "other" significant players on the field.


He gets knocked, disrespected, barreled over, nicked and under appreciated for all of it.   Pitchers and their own issues with Jorge were no less guilty contributing to this phenomena.   But I will tell you those same pitchers loved him when he connected in clutch moments.   WHO'S Knocking Jorge Then?  And I'm Not Even A Yankee Friendly.


No catcher has more RBI over the last 10 years in baseball.   Championships?   He's moving on to the next hand.  As it stands today, no he is not a Hall of Famer.  He's kind of like the Jack Morris of Catchers for his work over a decade.   He's close...Real close.   He should be able to solidify opinions over the next 2 years if hopefully Father Time is good to him.   Let's see.




TWO:   The distasteful wrangling and public debate involved in determining when a career should end sort of becomes a pseudo-arbitration hearing that takes place in the last three to four years of a player's career. A player's waining years similarly engages player and club into a contentious confrontation.   A player sets out to justify his continued value to the team, while the club sometimes is looking for his career, or just their time together, to end.


Jorge Posada was wrong ("calling in sick") Saturday.   There's no getting around that.   But I'm not about to start bashing Jorge's actions prior to game time nor for his post-game follow-up.   If you have an understanding that most careers do not end on the greatest of terms, Saturday's incident would preclude you from criticizing Jorge.  Additionally, you're a Yankee Fan, a New Yorker, an astute baseball fan, or a Mets Fan like myself, we all know Jorge is a really, really proud guy.


There is a constant in sports and with players; - athletes almost never go out on top.   They're usually forced into retirement because a replacement arrived on the scene, or they don't heal/recover from injuries as well as they once did, or, their skills have eroded to the point where the club is forced to take action against said player.   Those are just a few of many reasons why careers end on less than positive notes and we see it more and more all the time.


Players rarely take the initiative and alleviate clubs from having to make unpopular decisions against them.   Millions of modern day dollars make players even more reluctant to exercise pragmatism when their skills, stature, and role on the team all come into question.   But when a team is ultimately compelled to take action, it's almost always a contentious situation.   Many times the player takes it as a slight and views it as a form of disrespect.   How much they decide to wear their emotions on their sleeves and share their displeasure with the Media is another matter.   But this is not a posting regarding Jorge Posada's issues of comportment.


In Baseball, retirement is now more often than not, an ugly, unsympathetic, adversarial process. Modern Baseball has made the decision to, retire or release, much more cut-throat because of the money involved.   It used to be, the waining days of a career were times fans as well as owners and their GM's knowingly looked the other way out of respect for their years of hometown play.   But with that accorded respect, a return of favor was somewhat expected.   A silent acknowledgement by the player often set in motion a plan to set a Date of Announcement.  Then on-field and on-going celebrations of appreciation could be properly planned.  An opportunity for the player to leave the game with dignity while in front of adoring fans and in a setting that also gave Clubs an honest and genuine opportunity to share their own warm sentiments and regard, used to be standard; once.


Bad Karma is brewing in the Bronx.  Brian Cashman, Joe Girardi, and Jorge Posada are three converging forces and it's not good.   Only Posada runs the risk of getting subducted.   Cashman is intent on being a schmuck the rest of his time in the Bronx.  Girardi still has a job to do and this will not be the last time Girardi and Posada bump heads this season.   There is no love between the two. Girardi has slighted Jorge once too many times as manager for his catching.   More of this is definitely on the way should Posada continue to struggle and chose not to retire.


Jorge Posada: His Pinstripes Didn't Bend.


Allow me to introduce you to whom I thought was your real/unofficial/un-named Yankee Captain; all along - Jorge Posada. 
 

Derek Jeter was named Captain of the Yankees because The Boss thought he exuded Yankee Class, Winning, the confident Yankee Stoicism in a hot bed like NYC, and a belief Jeter would never embarrass the organization.  That's cool with me.  I'm not going there.


But sorry, Jorge Posada was the Yankees' back-bone in a most literal sense.   For all his fire, passion, and grit, he never received his full share of respect.   He wasn't the best or flashiest player in Pinstripes.   He had flaws.., like fans; like regular people; like us!   But he provided the Yankees with something very few of his team mates over the years couldn't or wouldn't provide; - like I said - A Back-Bone, and a Response.
 

Over his years, Jorge Posada above all Yankee regulars was the one player who consistently relished facing the more dastardly aspects of Baseball head-on.   I simply remind you of the playoffs versus Boston and the verbal/visual exchange Jorge and Pedro Martinez engaged in.   That would probably be the most famous instance, but Jorge's edgy spirit was a nightly attribute.   During those Torre Years, the book was out on the Yankees.   They were capable of being PUNKED-Out.   If no one else, Jorge Posada was always the first to step up and make known that Wouldn't Fly.


Back in the days of the heated Mariners/Yankees Rivalries, tempers often flared-up causing both teams to empty dugouts and bullpens numerous times.   When A-Rod still played in Seattle, Derek Jeter was infamously criticized many times for conveniently finding Alex Rodriguez in the crowd and therefore, cancelling each other out, while also smiling and laughing along the way.


Once upon a time, a left fielder named Chad Curtis dared criticize the Captain for such cowardly acts. He was disappeared to the Island of Misfit and Outspoken Yankees.   Jorge Posada wouldn't have thrown Jeter under the bus like Curtis did to the Media.   But Jorge's actions on the field speak loud and clear.   Then after a game with the Media, he'd be the one to say what everyone was thinking, but speaking loudly so as to be heard.   That was Jorge.  And Hip Hip to that.


But here's something I'm not so Hip on.


I never did subscribe to the Big Brother-Little Brother cow-chip the Media always tried to throw at us in the late 1990's when discussing the relationship between Jorge Posada and Joe Girardi.   That's over-rated.   I remember Jorge chomping at the bit, dying to get Girardi out of the way so as to become the everyday starter.   And I'm just guessing and stabbing here - but why wouldn't Jorge be somewhat puzzled as to why Girardi received so much credit for Jorge's early successes?   Hmmm?   How ponderous is it Girardi gets too much credit for training his understudy and now finds himself as the guy trying to take him out?


It would seem to me Joe Girardi has been more of a hindrance to Jorge's early and late career like a recurring bout of herpes.   I remember Joe Girardi being signed to be their catcher to great ridicule.  And today, all Posada knows is that he just can't make him totally go away.  During the years Girardi spent out of Pinstripes, Jorge Posada went on to total more RBI than any other catcher in Baseball during the 2000's.   Ever since Joe flared back into Jorge's life a few years ago as manager, things have been going down hill for the embattled "ex-present-catcher" ever since.

*     *     *     *

Today, I just wish him well.  I'll leave the retiring his number thing up to Yankee Fans.

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Yankees ~ Mariano and #600

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY

New York Yankees:   MARIANO RIVERA - #42

600




September 17, 2011  vs. Toronto
#601


September 19, 2011  vs. Minnesota
#602
Mariano Rivera
The All*Time Career Saves Leader

 

I was a single-digit kid in the 70's when a team's relief ace (the good ones) pitched one-hundred innings a season.  Over their careers, the great ones would surpass 1,000 innings pitched with strikeout totals to match.  Officially, saves were still a relatively young stat.  Back then, The Reliever threw multiple innings per appearance.  They blew a lot of save opportunities for sure.  That's why when you research the relievers of that era, they generally all have more win/loss totals than today's Closer does.

In my early days, I was entreated to relief specialists like Tug McGraw; Sparky Lyle; Rollie Fingers; Goose Gossage; and Mike Marshall.  Then, the late 70's and very early 80's ushered in the Age of the Fireman.  In both eras, these guys entered games many times in the seventh or eighth inning after the starting pitcher created a mess on the bases and needed bailing out of a sticky situation.  The team's lead was almost always in peril, or worse, the game was already tied.  Names like Dan Quisenberry; Kent Tekulve; and Bill Campbell entered the conversation by this time.

Some point at Sparky Anderson for beginning the excessive-pitching changes and max-usage of the bullpen.  The Big Red Machine had no closer so they squeezed every last pitch out of everyone in theirs.  But by the mid to late 80's, things were evolving for the reliever again.  Guys like Randy Meyers arrived and The Nasty Boys were coming together in Cincy.  And thanks to the maturation of LaRussa-ism and his Oakland A's, many lasting changes in Baseball were born from the time covering 1988 through 1991. There after, the term Closer became a more prominent part of the Baseball lexicon and Closers became much more specialized across Baseball once Dennis Eckersley mastered the one inning save.

So, as it goes, Mo pitched in a more specialized era, where the Closer is now relegated to one inning and is brought into primarily save situations only.  Then there's the fact that Mariano Rivera has averaged about 77 innings a season over his career.

However, I don't hold how Firemen of the past were credited with saves and how they went about their craft, ...against Mariano Rivera.  The Yankees were in the playoffs every season; minus one; over the length of his career.  In the modern three tiered playoff system, Mo's innings pitched approached the numbers posted by earlier eras anyway; and with less rest in the off-season as a result.  In that sense, it's a wash.  And in the process, he only became the greatest relief pitcher in playoff history.  So not only did he equal work loads of the past, he operated on the grandest of stages and was the most successful ever in that arena also.

The usual shelf life of relievers was/is generally accepted to be about eight or nine years before their effectiveness falls apart like a cheap sweater.  Mariano Rivera has been performing his craft for seventeen seasons now; well beyond the expiration date of relievers/Firemen/Closers; and is closing in on 1,300 innings pitched in his career.  And Mo does it with one pitch.   Everyone knows it.   Everyone knows it's coming.   And in the calendar year in which he will turn 42 years old, seventeen years after being a rookie, batters have still yet to solve their dilemma against it.

Yes; with one pitch. - And no one has ever used one pitch to his advantage better than Mariano Rivera.  Additionally, no pitcher has ever literally ridden one pitch all the way to the Hall of Fame.  If you're like me, I chose not to complicate that last statement with a guy like Phil Niekro; who rode a knuckle ball to the HOF.  No, lets not do that.  Just one reason is because Mo was a power pitcher.  Niekro was not.  And while Niekro was unique in how he entered the Hall, Mo's pitch is among the best power pitches ever thrown; and it is against the names of the power pitchers in the Hall his specialty will be compared to.  In stadiums across America, on many occasion slices of shattered bats splintered the infield grass as testament to how dominating a pitch his was.

Koufax used two pitches.  To listen to pitchers like Tom Seaver and Bob Feller; they speak as craftsmen using all their pitches wisely.  Steve Carlton used a masterful slider and a heater; but mostly relied on altered states and brain yoga (more commonly referred to as, The Force) to pitch himself to the victory he already envisioned himself winning.  But there's no one pitcher; starter or reliever; that has thrived and built a Hall of Fame career like Mariano Rivera has with his famous cutter.  What he does with that pitch is beyond craftsmanship; he creates art.

Bruce Sutter was considered to be that masterful one-pitch pitcher also.  His pitch was the splitter.  But the pitch killed his arm.  Arriving on the MLB scene with the Cubs, it was with the St. Louis Cardinals where he really gained his stardom and World Series credential.  He dominated his era.  That's why he's a HOF'er.  But his greatness lasted considerably far less time than Mo's run has lasted.  At the end of their careers, Sutter and Gossage were not good pitchers as they held on too long.  Almost forty-two years old and seventeen years later, Mariano is still arguably the greatest Closer in the game right now.

There are Closers on the All-Time list that I wouldn't necessarily call great either.  First and foremost, the current All-Time Saves record holder; Trevor Hoffman; is the biggest fraud at the top of the list; both literally and figuratively.  Lee Smith and John Franco were very good.  Of course Dennis Eckersley is a deserving HOF'er.  But Jeff Reardon wasn't someone I ever considered elite.  Percival; Wagner; Wetteland; and Randy Meyers were all good also.  But Roberto Hernandez; Todd Jones; Jose Mesa; and Frankie Cordero aren't exactly the stuff intense debate are spawned from.



That's why Baseball Writers still have no idea how to treat the Reliever/Fireman/Closer till this day.  They've taken steps in the proper direction to give credit where it was most certainly due with the elections of Rollie Fingers; Dennis Eckersley; Bruce Sutter; and Goose Gossage to the HOF.  And of course prior to them, Hoyt Wilhelm is a HOF'er primarily for his relief efforts.


Relief pitchers were once upon a time literally starters who couldn't crack the rotation.  And because the Save rule is only about 45 years old or so; and was never part of the more traditional measures of a pitcher, the relief pitcher is still evolving and as such, still lacks a proper prospective that only more time will give the hybrid position.


But let that be a testament to us all, that even with the bias that exists about another extraneous position; such as the DH, Mariano Rivera rises above and beyond all those stigmas associated with being a relief pitcher in an age where many believe the changes to the save rule have made it too easy for these pitchers to "appear" greater than they are.


No; Mariano is that great.  And I do not believe there is a soul alive willing to go public with a debate to the contrary.  Why expose yourself as a fool when you can keep that safely a secret?


Mariano Rivera is indeed one of the best pitchers ever (and let's keep that in context...OK?) because of his one pitch and how successful it was for him.  He threw it better and with more success than most but a few of the All-Time great pitchers in history threw theirs.  And he also did it in the most crucial moments in recent Yankees' World Series history; not to mention the most times in all of Baseball's playoff history.  And in the case of his fellow Closers; past or present; Mariano performed far longer than any Closer/Fireman/Reliever before him while remaining at a high level of effectiveness.


What does 600 Saves mean?  I don't think we know yet.  We once thought 300 was a benchmark.  Then we learned that was too low.  Four-hundred became the new Wow number.  I was present at Yankee Stadium for Mariano Rivera's 400th Save.  And that's what I was thinking then, "Wow."


But here we are at 600 and it sounds special; it sounds elite.  But I sense a little apathy also because of the way the save rule is set up.  And in a much broader sense, I think we've become a little more apathetic about Baseball records in general.  We all know why.


But I'll say it again; Mariano Rivera is the best relief pitcher I ever saw.  All you had to do all these years was watch.  He's made virtually every argument contrary to his greatness moot points; rendered them as foolishness; and made it folly to argue otherwise.  Even the most indifferent baseball writer with a HOF ballot must recognize that; or be lobotomized.

Not too shabby for a lanky kid who's fastball/change-up combo failed him as a young starting pitcher back in 1995.

Mike.BTB

N.Y. Yankees ~ Big Papi Sparks Big Comeback, Again

From the desk of:  BLAME CARLOS MAY




new york YANKEES:  Lose Series and Share of First Place to Rival Boston Red Sox.


Freddie seemingly did his part Sunday night.  He labored through five innings but only gave up one run.  I'll reiterate this series meant absolutely nothing to either team by default of the Wild Card.  But Freddie Garcia and Bartolo Colon were both under scrutiny to pitch well against what will potentially be their competition in October.  All things considered, they both did well and passed what ever tests were imagined for them by the masses.  Between them, they held the Red Sox' number one offensive machine to 3 runs over 9.2 combined innings pitched.  In the two games they pitched, the final score was a low 3-2 final with each team winning one game. 


The lone blow-out of the series was suffered by the Yankees' staff Ace; C.C. Sabathia.  Saturday's loss made three times this season the Red Sox turned back Sabathia.  Not only do the Red Sox have C.C. Sabathia's number this season, the Sawx have always had Mariano Rivera's number.  And Sunday night, they dialed him up for another colossal blown save /SLASH/ comeback win at Fenway.


What's new is old.  And what's old really never quite gets old if you're Big Papi and the Sawx.


Boston's latest hero; Jeremy Reddick; is new to this.  He only doubled into the left field corner in the 10th inning to drive in the game-winning run.  What's not new is the Red Sox comeback.  What's old; or getting older; is Big Papi.  But what never gets old, is watching him destroy the Yankees.  He doubled off Mo to set up the game-winning RBI by Reddick.


And so the Showdown on Lansdowne Street goes to the home town team; three games to one.  The Red Sox end the weekend in first place.  But at least the Yankees come away from Boston with a little reassurance Colon and Garcia can contribute once the air gets a little cooler.


Of course losing two of three to the Sox shouldn't end on a positive note for Yankee Fans..., right?  Look what Big Papi did to you...again.  And what to make of C.C. Sabathia and Mariano Rivera's propensity to lose to the Beantown Nine?


Didn't anticipate that one....




Mike.BTB

N.Y. YANKEES ~ Brian Cashman Doesn't Mince Words

From the desk of:  Blame Carlos May




New York Yankees:  The GM laughs little, jokes less, and just doesn't play at all.


There's only one way I can classify Yankee GM Brian Cashman's comments regarding Pedro Feliciano.  First this is the Tweet by YES Network's Jack Curry:

@JackCurryYES   Jack Curry Feliciano led the major lgs in appearances with the Mets the last 3 yrs. "He was abused," Cashman said

 

Cashman's comments were a direct indictment levied against the New York Mets.  As for what I think of that comment? - It's completely comical and absurd.  And his increasing curt choice of words delivered with a smug matter-of-fact cockiness is an ongoing indication of how high Cashman's ego has skyrocketed over the last few years.

Why I think his comments are comical have nothing to do with his taking a jab and my team of choice; the New York Mets.  No; Cashman's choice words to describe the situation he and his off season bullpen acquisition find themselves in are a reflection of Cashman himself knowing full well the work load Feliciano has endured these last three years and signed him anyway.  Feliciano is the latest in a long line of horrible pitching acquisitions by Cashman.  Maybe I'll get into that more later.  But you know who they are. 

Going back to Mariano Rivera's first year as an understudy under John Wetteland...Now that was abuse.  I believe he had over 100 innings pitched as a reliever.  Every year Joe Torre had at least one mule that he abused and they were never the same again.  Because when Joe Torre didn't trust you, someone else's arm was going to get spent.

If Pedro Feliciano didn't break down he'd be a work horse and Cashman would have authored a savvy signing.  But because the "known to be overly taxed" reliever now finds himself on the Yankees DL, he suddenly became a victim of Met Abuse.  Forget that the Mets knew enough not to sign him.  How convenient for Cashman to say such a thing.  If Brian Cashman believes that to be so, then it's time for the Mets to set up a Hot-Line so as to prevent this from ever happening again.  How dare Brian Cashman sign a former Met who suddenly became damaged goods.  We owe him better than that.  Did we forget our lot in life?

But it's more than just Feliciano.  Brian Cashman has come a long long way since his days as a Yankee intern.  He now rules them with an iron fist and a tongue laced with a dismissive attitude to boot.  He was once the master of saying nothing.  Now-a-days what he says and how he says it, is an astonishing listen in SMUG - straight out of the School of Robert Moses for Effective Dismissive Speaking and Advancements in Elitism.

Working backwards, the most recent line in the sand he drew was with Jeter's off-season contract extension.  The General Manager's demeanor took an unusually disparaging approach in his negotiations.  A "be-lucky-you-still-have-a-job" Cashman gauntlet prevents Jorge Posada from "ever" being the Yankees' prideful backstop again.  Then there's Joba.  In my opinion, the Yankees, and Cashman in particular ruined this kid. And Brian Cashman seems so "Oh Well" about Joba's status.  The GM was very displeased with the apparent shape the young hurler came into camp in.  But in describing his lack of satisfaction with the situation, he chose to use some very cutting words.

Let's go further; - Back to when A-Rod and Scott Boras chose to use the World Series as their personal platform to announce they were opting out of the rest of their contract (signed with Texas) the Yankees were now in possession of.  Brian Cashman ever so matter-of-factly, basically told Alex Rodriguez to beat it.  I'd bet the word "scram" was even a thought.  If the decision were left solely to Cashman, A-Rod would not be a Yankee today.

There are more players; more instances.  Think Bernie Williams.  Think Andy Pettitte the first time.

But think back to the ultimatum he challenged George Steinbrenner with.  Brian was prepared to walk out the door but still offered advice on what needed to be done in order for the Yankees to maintain sustained success.  Some of Cashman's plans addressed the farm system, and other parts of his plan covered salary controls.  But most of all, Brian Cashman insisted George dis-ban the little gaggle of subversives in Tampa; Team Tamper as I used to call them.  George always played his GM's against his boys in Tampa; among them, pitching "guru" Billy Connors.  Cashman basically told George it's either them or me, but someone has to go.  So George said, OK Brian.  Stay, and you'll have full control.  But now your posterior is on the line.. - is basically the tone Boss held with his emboldened GM (almost former GM).

Ever since then, Brian Cashman has spoken with a tongue as shape as a Ginsu.

He now operates like someone who knows he's ready to leave and will walk on the edge just for fun because quitting or getting fired is something he can give less that two fungos about at this point in his Yankee career.

I'm not saying any of this is a bad thing; or good - I'm just saying.  It's interesting to remember where he came from within this organization, to the megalomaniac he's slowly growing into now.







Mike.BTB

NYY ~ "The BRONX is Simmering"

The N.Y. Yankees' Head Guy in Charge; Hal Steinbrenner thought it very necessary fans of the Yankees and New Yorkers, receive an apology from Texas Rangers' CEO/Owner Mr. Chuckie (good guy) Greenberg for disparaging comments he made on the heals of the San Francisco World Series victory, and the Texas Rangers' defeat.

Chuckie called "us" awful and embarrassing; violent or apathetic....we were the worse out of any crowd he's seen in the post-season....! Blah blah..

Can you imagine that?  Us?

Brilliant; Spoken like a man who has no experience,  practical to Baseball in late October. This was the first opportunity for your franchise to shine in the national spotlight and you allowed the whole experience to flicker-out like a "dim bulb".  Thank your lucky "Lone Star" you have Nolan Ryan on board is all I can say.


Chuck Greenberg, obviously reacting to backlash, called Hal Steinbrenner to apologize for the comments.
Hal responded in a manner as if to say...'Save it.  Takes more than you to Rattle(snake) the Empire.  You want to apologize?  Direct it towards the fans you insulted and good luck with that.  Cowboy-up Chuck!'

Mr. Greenberg did just that issuing a statement today.

And we say - Save it Road Kill; not interested.  You're only apologizing because you're getting flack over getting special sauce all over your cow chips.

Us?  We have skin thinker than a steer in a spacesuit.  We wear insults like a badge of courage so...,  Dont'cha fret none bout us now...ya hear?  Because "Frankly", (wink wink Chuck) my man, we don't give a Damn.

But to those dummies who spit down on Mrs. Cliff Lee, don't make that mistake again because as far as you're concerned, Greenberg is right.  After all, we aren't Philly fans are we?

Moving on, Bruce Bochy, manager of the new World Champions of Baseball is "irresponsible"; or so thinks Brian Cashman, in a manner of speaking.  Last week, Brian Cashman was on the Michael Kay Show and when asked about the differences between managers who manage with their guts versus skippers who employ a stat based decision process, Cashman responded by saying he prefers a manager who uses all the information and statistical analysis at his disposal to arrive at the most informed decision possible and who will implement said dictates.  He continued to say how a manager employing a gut-based system was irresponsible and wasn't the type of manager he wanted working for him.  In a separate interview, Sandy Alderson also concurred with Cashman's assessment when asked about managerial styles.

The Blue Binder Joe Girardi is joined in STATISTICAL matrimony with is co-authored by Brian Cashman himself.  Joe Girardi is every bit the manager he wants Joe to be.  As a matter of fact, a deviation from the binder will earn Joe a demerit.  Prepare to watch "LooseLeaf" in action for another three years.

So, does this make Bochy a modern day Baseball Fred Flintstone; a rebel; lucky.....? - Does this make him a hockey stick flung into the spokes in the theory of high probability?  Cashman calls it plain ol' irresponsible.

Stats have their usefulness and place in decision making.  But give me a caveman who breathes this game and knows what to do when he gets a tingly feeling in his head; and I don't mean flies.

Mariano Rivera, always class, has made his latest great pitch.  He said he is willing to sign a one year deal, with an option.  He has provided the Yankees with the best possible resolution regarding the question "what to do about resigning MO?"  Mariano "saved" the Yankees from having to deal with that problem by offering them a respectful and minimalist way of winding down his career in Pinstripes.  If only every situation came with ready made solutions.....like...,

What to do about Derek Jeter?  Some how, some way, ARod figures into the answering of this question.
Inevitably, based on the principal aspect alone, the extensions of ARod and Jeter will no doubt be played against each other by Jeter's agent.  Because of what Jeter has meant to this franchise, any and all attempts to play off that legacy will hold water.  Hal also made a comment to the effect the Team has reached out to initiate discussions, but there may be a possibility things could get difficult (my words).  That all remains to be seen.

But here's what I think Jeter might thinking.  The Great Mickey Mantle ruined his lifetime .300 career average by hanging on too long.  Later in life he admitted that and about how much it bothered him.  Mickey would say defiantly he was a .300 hitter.  The only problem was his baseball card disagreed.  I don't think Derek Jeter wants to jeopardize his career .300 average.  This last season was the worst batting average he posted in his career. 

His pursuit of 3000 hits will most likely come to a close by mid-season 2011 baring any unforeseen disasters.  When he gets that momentous 3000th hit he will be the only New York Yankee/ New York Highlander to ever achieve that milestone.  That will no doubt get him into Cooperstown in due time.  But I think Jeter's .300 career average is something haunting Derek Jeter and I do not feel he's willing to risk falling below the rate of three out of every ten.

I'm looking for Jeter to sign a three year deal somewhere in the neighborhood of  $19 to $20 million dollars.
I strongly believe he will stay short term and not even entertain the idea of a 5 year deal.  A personal services contract isn't out of the question and would be something wholly different when talking deals.

What ever Derek signs for and what ever he decides to do in the future I'm sure will still be carried out in typical JETERIAN fashion; With Class.


That's everything "Yankee" which interests me at the moment.

*note for clarification:  By "we" I meant NY'ers.  I am a Met fan/Jekyll and Hyde Yankee Hater.  I only Hate when provoked to do so by irresponsible Yankee Fan phenomena.




Mike.BTB

NYY ~ Mystic & Aura Have Left the Building

Since the first of September the New York Yankees have had a certain "AURA" about them; but not a completely positive one.  As a result, the Bombers won a game and one additional inning to give their fans an indication they could repeat as champions.  Somewhere the message got lost in translation and the Wild Card winning New York Yankees, who dispatched the Twins, (the team with the best record in the A.L.) in the first round ALDS, got swept in "five" games by the Texas Rangers in the ALCS.

The Champions will not defend their title.

Girardi and his binder made many questionable moves not just in this series, but in the month in September; managing more with an eye on the play-offs and setting things up, getting role players some time and sacrificing an inning here and a game there, for the sake of forward thinking. I'm not going to say winning the division would have changed anything. What I'm pointing out was the sense of "settling" for a Wild Card, when everyone, Yankee fans and Haters alike, are accustomed to a radically different mentality when driving the Bronx Bus. Times are a changin'. There was no impending outburst or rant from the Boss for thinking anything differently than what a Champion should be thinking.  This time the Yankees seemed content driving in the middle lane down the stretch.


The Yankees seemed to have no pressing need to win the division title.  They seemed quite satisfied winning the Wild Card with the thinking all they have to do is make the playoffs and then it's a whole new ball game as if to imply there would be a switch Joe Girardi could flick-on once the post-season commenced.

Then, once in the playoffs, there was a willingness by the Yankees, in the face of elimination, to compromise their chances of winning game 4 by dredging through the ongoing swamp of extraneous factors mucking the relationship between AJ Burnett and Jorge Posada. The fact they seemingly escaped that dilemma up until an intentional walk and a blast, had more to do with Girardi's binder than Jorge playing or AJ's grapefruit belt-high pitch.  The fact AJ almost uncorked a wild pitch on an intentional walk just made it look ugly.

It's unfair however to come crumbling down on Joe Girardi though.  His binder is co-authored.  Joe Girardi is Brian Cashman's guy because of Brian's belief (not reliance) in new Sabermatrician(ism) (?) and Girardi's willingness to implement it.  Cashman by the way, is a "horse" of another Garage.  He needs a separate post all to himself.

The problems the Bombers faced this series ran deeper than questionable moves by Girardi or faulty starting pitching.  The fact the Yankees suffered from a shocking lack of situational hitting and clutch at-bats should surprise no one.  Some how this line-up has been, for some years now, susceptible to getting bogged-down in 2-1 games or shut-outs,and in 1,2 or 3 hit affairs.  When you populate a line-up with sluggers and cheap out on the little slap and scrap hitters, this is what happens.  What works against one GasHouse Gorilla, can be used on all GasHouse Gorillas.

For this series, Mark Teixeira (before his injury) and Alex Rodriguez were dreadful as the three and four hitters.  Derek Jeter was either "0-for" or struggling to achieve 2 for 5.  Without going through the whole line-up, Robinson Cano was the only Yankee slugger living up to the Bronx Bomber moniker.  The Millionaires Club was stifled in a manner reminiscent of the Florida Marlins locking down Yankee bats in 2003.  Last night's one run/three hit effort is a testament.

What also lends itself to the oddity which was the Yankees' 2010 season down the stretch and into the playoffs was the lack of electricity at Yankee Stadium.  The crowds had their moments but they were few and sporadic at best.  The frenzy of Playoff Baseball in Yankee Stadium was strangely absent this October.

Not only was the Stadium quiet, if not muted, it emptied in droves further highlighting the sporadic fans sitting in the Billionaire's Club seating.  Never once did the place stay packed in the hopes the Ghosts would help the Yankees to a comeback win.  That undying faith couldn't get a ticket to the game this year.  The obvious gaps of empty seats as viewed on TV still plays out as an embarrassment for the Yankees.  Sadly, so many of the zaniest and passionate fans; the ones who'd jump up and down, screaming their enthusiasm have been priced out and as a result there are less of those types in the park.

If the Yankees still had games to play this October this would all be constructive criticism.  But because they lost, this is more of an indictment.

And now all the talk of AGE and how it plays a part on this Yankee roster creeps back into the conversation with regard to all their veterans (and contract status'...Jeter).  Why?  Because they lost.  That's the way it goes.

I have been speaking to the Yankees increasing age and demise for a couple of years now within my circles (of course).  Last year was a total monkey wrench into my spokes in that line of thinking.  Championships can do that.  But who anticipated the Yankees spending half a billion dollars on three players (CC, AJ, and TEX) over the course of a month and a half.  They effectively paid to stave off the aging process and it's affects in the short term, but the problem obviously still persists.

One more year into an uncertain future with regards to Jeter's contract, Andy potentially retiring, Mo and Jorge's ability to endure and some other items of concern, means the Bombers are one year closer to the reality this Era of Yankee Baseball is almost at it's end.  The days of Jeter, Mo, Posada and Andy together are coming to an end sooner than later. They will take with them the memories and history of the Glory Years.

Alex Rodriguez in the fading and flickering years of this Era, will still be around to watch the door finally close and he'll be left as the poster child for the demise of this Bomber Era.  I don't believe ALL was forgiven with regards to ARod, for all his insecurity and oddities, once he won a Championship last year.  All the minutiae that revolves around him still will be viewed with polarizing goggles much in the same manner he watched a strike three end the Yankees' season last night; with apathy and/or disdain.  Just remember; Brian Cashman wanted Alex Rodriguez gone.  But instead he will be the Poster Child for the End.




The Laws of Baseball are universal like the Laws of the Universe.  As it pertains here, you can't win them all.  The Yankees' large expenditures allow them to sustain competitiveness on a yearly basis.  That however does not guarantee them Championships.  In that respect, all remains well in the Universe.

However, in Club Evil Empire things have taken a turn for the strange.  Something has been lost.  Perhaps Mystic and Aura, 9 years later aren't the vibrant, glittering glamour gals they were back in 2001.  Their hips just can't take the rigors of pole dancing anymore.  They're more the soccer-mom types now.

Age withers us all.



Mike.BTB