Mariano Rivera wasn’t his usual self last night. His “stuff” was good, the cutter had a big break to it, as broadcaster John Flaherty pointed-out several times. But he didn’t locate it well. A few runs scored on his watch (though they were charged to Phil Hughes), and the Jays narrowly missed the big hit that would sink the Yanks.
It was John Wettland time. A nail-biter, and an off-night for Rivera, who lowered his ERA to 1.96. He still earned the save. As Tyler Kepner points out over at the Bats blog, it was the 100th save for Rivera in his last 104 chances, dating back to early 2007.
“Let that sink in for a moment,” writes Kepner. “One hundred out of 104. And he turns 40 in three months. Incredible. Even on his rough nights, Rivera still inspires awe.”
I think he is being misused, but yes, he still has it.
I must have seen his age in print a couple hundred times in recent years, but suddenly I'm surprised he's going to be 40.
Ain't nothin but a number, of course, but in this game of numbers the big 4-0 means the end is nearer than it ever was.
I watch Rivera sort of how I spend time with my parents (who are still quite healthy): trying to appreciate every minute we still have together.
[2] should add: yet I still sometimes take that precious time for granted.
[1] I think closers in general are misused, but I'll refrain from a longer rant, out of respect for and in honor of Mo.
He had a run from the 17th-22nd where he got the call 5 times in 6 days.
Since then, his location has been a tad off for the first time all season - two 4-ptich walks stand out - and he allowed 3/7 inherited runners to score. I also thought I noticed more pitches in the 80's - but who knows w/ that YES gun.
So I don't think he's in top form right now. Hopefully he's back to usual for the Sox, but it's bad timing to be a little burnt out.
Mo is amazing. I was telling my wife this the other night, she doesn't care a bit about baseball but was pleased to hear everyone thinks he's a genuinely nice person.
Sorry to change the subject -- am going to a game Aug 28, first time at NYS. Fansnap has tickets available all over the place, but what is the best value for money? Am willing to go up to high double-digits for a seat (need 2). Is there a web site that discusses/reviews best seats at NYS?
[2] me too sliced. it's like i knew he was 39, but i am surprised he is going to be 40 this year.
mo has truly been one of the most enjoyable players in any sport to watch. he is so consistently great and he has little to none of other bs swirling around him that most great players have/had.
[1] all i'll say is girardi better not run him into the ground.
Off the Mo topic for moment. Wasn't Pettite fun to watch last night. The sixth inning was masterful. Great location, great timing. Talking to himself a little the next inning, shaking his head vigorously at himself -keep up! keep up!. I saw him mouth, Same Thing, to end the inning. Made the same pitch for the out. Andy doesn't usually channel Leiter quite so much. It made me think about how much I love watching older, wiser pitchers who are digging so deep just to stay on their game. It was a pleasure.
And Hughes, though he gave up a few hits was really fun to watch too. Throwing the ball passed Bautista, only 92mph on the gun, but still, cock and balls- here hit it.
And Halladay. What can you say? the guy through like 70% of his pitches for strikes. So calm, too. He reminds me of Maddux with a little more gettyap. Great motion, very consistent, hits his spots.
A great pitching game all around.
[8] The YES gun was off last night. The pitch that they had at 92 was 95 according to PitchFx and Gameday.
A Jeter post. The previous thread had a link to a stats source analyzing Yankee performance this year, and the link was relating to Hughes and where he belongs. But the page also had this, which caught my eye:
The four most valuable position players in the game this season are Chase Utley (5.5), Ben Zobrist (5.4), Albert Pujols (5.2), and Hanley Ramirez (5.0), with Joe Mauer (4.6) a distant fifth. Derek Jeter checks in as the sixth most valuable position player in the game thanks not only to his offensive production at a premium position, but also because of his absurdly awesome defense. Yeah, I said defense. Only Jack Wilson, JJ Hardy, and Elvis Andrus have been better at short, and I don’t think any of us expected that coming in to the year.
Jeter is a legitimate MVP candidate this year, and a strong finish backed by a late September playoff push could be enough to get him the first MVP trophy in his otherwise decorated carrier. The campaign starts now, get behind it.
_______
So right now DJ is the 3rd most valuable (by this measurement) player in the AL this season. (Ben Zobrist? Ben ZOBRIST??) Has anyone been paying attention? I know I posted 2 weeks ago what a fine season he was having, and a few people echoed that, but really - he's easily the team MVP and we're in 1st place. (Yes, I know: for now.)
Note also the comment on defense. D stats are miserably hard to assess, but at the very least naysayers might have to agree he's a serious plus, not a minus this year. I asked awhile back: is there any confirmation about changes in his positioning on the field? Deeper is one thing I've heard, and more aggressive repositioning for various batters. The question that arises is, if true, and if this is all it takes: what took so damned long?
But this isn't a complaining post, it is a celebration. He's having a superlative season, at the 2/3 mark.
Mo could be in that "dead arm" period he usually has in August. Might be a good idea to keep him off limits tonight.
[10] If Minnesota does not make the playoffs, the Yanks win their division, and Jeter keeps up the pace--admittedly three big ifs--then, I think The Captain gets that MVP.
@ #10: Good stuff. Personally, I'd rather see him win the World Series MVP.
[8] good post ben. i also saw him say "same thing" to po.
todd drew and i had a really good exchange on one of his posts in the off season about the joy of watching athletes who have lost a bit physically, but really did "deep" as you say to still compete. andy was a lot of fun to watch last night.
[10] hoss too with the good post. i would love jeter to win mvp (it somehow seems like a crime to me that dusty mcpoodle has one and jeter has none). he is (quietly) having an outstanding year, with both the bat and the glove. i'll admit i didn't expect the defensive metrics to be as good as they are, but i think his demise was ridiculously exaggerated.
[14] Thanks. My favortie vets to watch, good or bad, over the past decade or so:
David Cone - (Boy could you feel his pain)
Al Leiter (Mr. Huff n Puff)
El Duque (Eephus T. Firefly)
Mussina (sometimes - he was too internal for me to really understand his struggles)
I never enjoyed watching Clemens, even when I knew it was a struggle.
I think I'll add Andy to that list. We'll see after his next start.
1. Absolutely right about Mo. 100 out of 104 is completely ridiculous. I always tell people that closers are overrated, but maybe that's because I've been watching Mr. Metronome for the past twelve thirteen years.
2. I would love to see Jeter win the MVP and shut the critics up. Vote early, vote often.
[16] hank - we owe you quite a lot man. i don't know how much you have been reading, but we have been using the "score truck" with much glee and gusto ever since your post about it before the angels game a few weeks ago. it is one of the best phrases to enter the banter's lexicon.
[15] i agree - clemens was not enjoyable to watch when he struggled, he was someone more enjoyable to watch when he had his physical gifts.
very good list - completely agree
Since 60 is the new 40, does that mean Mo is really 60?
You never know with those Latin players after all...
: )
When I watch Mo, I really focus on the fact that I'm watching something very special. Watching the best ever at what might be his best just makes me stop and look and say, "Wow, this is something to tell the grandkids about!"
Okay, so I don't have any grandkids yet, and my own kids are tired about my stories about the Mick and Yogi, but at least we can share Mo!
[3] yeah man, i hear ya. my older brother recently turned 40. my parents are coming down to visit me the end of the month for 5 days. they haven't been here for a year. i hope it's a good & fun visit, all the way around! : )
(i've been up to NY a ton in the last year to see my family, but it pretty much all revolved around my dying grandpa, so there wasn't much relaxing...)
[16] SCORE TRUCK!!! you're famous, dude! makes you even that much more of a celebrity that you don't stop by too often! ; ) thanks again, for that phrase - it RULES!!!
ps - Mo is GOD!!!
Anthony Claggett on the way to Toronto to help our bullpen. hopefully, that's it for Cody. we'll see...
Jeter doesn't, and won't have the counting stats this year to win the MVP. We're still a few years out from the WARP/VORP's of the world factoring into the awards voting. H'es up there in Runs, Avg, and Hits, but the sexier categories like HR, RBI, and even OPS don't figure to help his cause much.
[10] Agree with you most of the way about deserving it, but I agree with [22] that big counting stats won't be there.
On the other hand, Jeter is now the #1 name that comes up when someone tries to give an example of a real star that may not have been a roid user. Without going into the odds on that, since MVP is a perception award, I'd bet that this year his clean reputation basically adds 8-10 HR's to his stat line for MVP purposes (or it should).