Gotta go to Mo
With a lead going into the 9th inning today, Mariano Rivera will get an opportunity to become the all-time Saves leader with # 602. While many of us have our issues with the Save as a stat (doesn’t factor in leverage, 9 out and 1 out Saves counted equally) its undeniable that recording 600+ in the category is an impressive mark. It speaks to his longevity and effectiveness, which is a major part of Mo’s legacy. Some have quibbled that the record puts him on too close of a footing with Trevor Hoffman, and that Mariano is the far superior pitcher. That may well be true, but I see no need to knock Hoffman in order to praise Mariano. Much of this Hoffman-bashing is justified by a few failings he had in ‘big spots’ (1998 WS, All Star Game, 08 Play in Game) Personally, I think judging an 18 year career by a few missteps is to fundamentally not understand or appreciate the game. If you respect the game, and how hard it is to do what both have made seem so effortless, then there’s no need to downgrade Hoffman. They’re both 1st ballot HOFers, and while advanced stats illustrate the difference between the two pitchers, its a tremendous achievement in both instances. We should take this occasion to fully celebrate one of the best pitchers in the history of the game without any distancing or caveats. It’s always difficult to say ‘never’ but I believe we will never see another Mariano in our lifetime.
Enough of me babbling. Here’s your lineups, courtesy of Chad over at LoHud:
Brett Gardner CF
Eduardo Nunez 2B
Robinson Cano DH
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Nick Swisher RF
Eric Chavez 1B
Russell Martin C
Chris Dickerson LF
Ramiro Pena SS
Ouch. Now there’s a September lineup if I ever saw one. Freddy Garcia on the bump for the boys in pinstripes, facing the hard throwing Brandon Morrow for the Jays. GO YANKS!!!!!!!
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69 Responses to Game 151-It’s all about Mo
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TIQ IQ
Whoever picked the Sunday night game missed the interesting game. The Phillies clinched yesterday, with little pressure. On the other hand, the Red Sox-Rays game starts at 1:30, so we have to switch back and forth between that and the Yankee game.
oh, crap! Once again! Yesterday, too, tho I recovered by the third with the Spanish channel.
How can Michael Kay and Ken Singleton keep saying that Nunez has had a good year?
well, I answered you oncet. Wasn’t that GOOD enough?
No, I completely forgot.
Try Friday night, early, for true wisdom.
He was crappy, but he didn’t suck so bad that the whole team collapsed?
I suppose that’s one way to look at it.
That was the conservative defense, I said. So you could swallow it. If you look at trends of errors, as well as volume of ss/3rd play alone, he has done well. He’s a very active second baseman today.
Besides, if you want flawless defense and decent off-the-bench hitting, you gotta pay a bit for Punto/ Aviles/ A– (Cleveland)/spanish guy for Minny. And then, you can’t develop guys. Nunie is a valuable sub now (and can in the future) and he’s worth something as a trade chip.
Hell, if el Nino ever learns to make contact, he’ll be worth a good bit. I hope so!
I supose that makes sense. And he could develop, too. But that’s hardly the way the YESmen are talking about him.
Another bad move on the bases by Cano. First and second, one out, Nunez takes off for third, and Cano figures the play will be at third and he’ll run, too. Except the catcher threw through, and Cano was out by a mile.
He scored a couple nice runs from second the other day, and it must have revved his engines.
I like Cano. He’s a great ballplayer, even with mistakes like this. But they grate on me.
Freddie had to get 4 outs: you saw on replay, Nino got heem with the tag. Umpire didn’t get it, tho.
Rays jump on top 1-0. Kotchman reached on a K/PB, and Damon doubled him in.
How fluttery does wake look? Damon and Kotchman can both handle the bat.
His knuckler is definitely breaking. A couple have gotten past the catcher.
He can be tough, then. The Yanks’ have had fits when he’s on.
Thames stayed with Nunie’s line drive, which had fooled him, it was so hard. He stretched out full at the end. Nunie caught Morrow goood that time. Woulda hit the wall.
Thank goodness: somebody’s got to show the way.
Cano decided to go to the same spot, tho I’ll bet he was hoping for more. Funny, then Swish tries the same!
But those two were lefty swings vs Nunie’s example.
LOL @ Boston already down 2-0 in the top of the second.
2-0 Rays, but I didn’t see how the second run scored.
How @ Price? Found his blowaway stuff?
Looks OK, though not overpowering. Only 1 inning so far.
Jennings blooped a single, McDonald in right bobbled it as he picked it up. 3-0 Rays.
Reddick booted one yesterday, facilitated a run. those guys are scared/amped.
They don’t look good. I don’t know if they’re scared, tired, or hurt, but they don’t look like they team they were.
That bat that skipped thru with the ball Friday night was their black cat.
If they are going to be like this, I WANT them for a playoff opponent. There could be resurrection, tho, those Irish Catholics love miracles.
I agree. Unfortunately, the Yankees won’t play the Red Sox in the first round no matter what. Either they’ll get knocked out or regain their footing by the time they can play the Yankees.
What I’m rooting for is a play-in game between the Sox and Rays. That would be cool.
REAL tension, some interesting at-bats.
Colby Rasmus has a really fine swing, and he covers lotso ground in center, probably a smart fielder. Great move by BlueJays.
Boy, McCoy has been a scrappy devil of a leadoff man this series.
Thames, too, looks strong. BlueJays will be good.
Price got hit in the chest with a line drive. He’s staying in the game for now.
wow, if hit hard, that could break a rib.
Lousy start by Garcia. He and Colon have stunk lattely. That could get ugly for the Yankees in the playoffs.
yeah. Ladida, we’ve been lucky so far, maybe they can stir the magic again. You know, in the playoffs, adrenale is so high, it’s how you screw your head on that’s a big factor. Those guys know how.
That cute blonde Toronto chick cop could frisk me anytime :)
Nunie got to Morrow again, but before I could brag, he (oops!) got caught rounding first, got thrown out at second. He’s not a natural like Derek, but he does have talent and, especially, spunk.
Now, on replay, he looks to have tried that speculatively, to run when Bautista threw behind him. Flash hates the strategy, but I see it as worthy, down by 3, 2 outs, gotta wakeup.
He’s hitting .250 but he’s spunking .400.
yeah, his spunk-o-meter reads hot pink.
Let this season be the end of Eduardo Nunez as a Yankee. Let him play awful defense and be a dumbass on the basepaths for the AAA team or wherever. He has no future with the Yanks between his bad glove and the guys at 2B, 3B, and SS.
I want a veteran utility infielder backing up Cano, Jeter, and Rodriguez next year- no more Nunez.
Price is losing the plate. Two on, no one out.
The game’s on TBS, by the way, if anyone’s unaware.
uh, yeah! How was I s’posed to know that?
zap2it.com
Neat! Got that bookmarked!
McDonald doubled in 2. 4-2 Rays.
5 -2, on a blown pitchout and two knuckled wild pitches, bound to blow Boston’s mind, and spirit.
A PB was instrumental in a run before. The knuckler’s fluttering, but it’s not helping.
An error lets in another run for Tampa Bay. The Sox look terrible.
Raul Valdes, the lefty and contending LOOGY, struck out Lind (of two homers earlier) with the bases loaded. Came back next inning, and lefty batter out, righty, single, Colby Rasmus, strike three. Not bad.
I hope we get to the point where a LOOGY becomes critical because of Ryan Howard.
Brandon Morrow is very good.
excellent.
Not pinch hitting for Pena really showed that Girardi didn’t care if he lost this game. Not saying he’s wrong, although I might have picked tomorrow to toss–don’t even bother sending those 4 to Minnesota.
the game’s at YS. send those 4?
Oops. Sorry. Should have looked.
zap2it!
I’ll say this for Nunez–he did seem to hit better when he was playing every day.
At least get the tying run on base, just to make it interesting.
Nice double by Nunie to the gap! 3 for 4, and the one that got away was a liner, was gonna hit the wall, got catched by surprise.
Good spunk, Nunie!
Well, that was dreary. I’d have been a lot happier if Garcia had pitched a complete game and they’d lost 3-0.
sure, woulda been very encouraging. Morrow was tough, but our A lineup woulda been better able to fight him, but you gotta rest them, and it helps to play the young guys. The decision was made beforehand: Girardi said “tough pitcher” when he explained sitting Grandy, Tex and Jete.
Can’t argue. I think Girardi’s been half resting guys, and it hasn’t worked. Go to full rest.
The Boston cheerleaders (Smoltzy and Vasgergian) have given up on them for today, down 8-2 in the 7th.
Some kinda team spirit!
Pete3r Abraham seems to be giving up on them, too. From the Extra Bases liveblog of the game today:
Top of the 7th: Rays 6, Red Sox 2
The Sox made three outs as far as I could tell. I was busy making hotel reservations to cover the Ray-Tigers series in the first round.
He was yust yoking. Probably taking a …
I know, but it’s probably what a lot of Red Sox fans are thinking.
Boston got 3 while I was watching the Joe Girardi show. Homer?
I missed it, too.
From the same liveblog:
Scutaro and Ellsbury singled with two outs. Aviles then knocked one into the Monster Seats facing Cesar Ramos.