Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
September 25, 2005
Rivera in the Ninth?

With a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth, the Yankees brought in Mariano Rivera to get the last out of the inning. The Yankees scored four in the bottom of the eighth, and Mariano is on to finish the game. Should he be kept in? The Yankees may need to use Mariano a lot over the next week. With the game not on the line, shouldn't they save Rivera for a more pressing opportunity?

Update: Rivera pitches a long ninth inning to get the save. He threw 35 pitches total. With luck, the Yankees won't need him tomorrow.

Bernie Williams got a great send off from the Yankee Stadium crowd. This could be Bernie's last game in Yankee Stadium, so the crowd was showing their appreciation all through the game with standing ovations, curtain calls and chants of "Bernie Williams" all through the top of the ninth.


Posted by David Pinto at 03:43 PM | Games | TrackBack (0)
Comments

I would have taken him out...but Joe did not...and Mo ended up throwing north of 35 pitches for his outing. Absolutely a dumb thing to do - you have the game in hand...if your bullpen can't stop the other team from scorring 5 runs in 3 outs, you're not making the playoffs anyway.

Posted by: James at September 25, 2005 03:57 PM

This type of non-move is what separates the 2005 Torre from the 1996-2000 Torre. Last year both Gordon and Rivera were overused going into the postseason, and if the Yanks make it, it's going to happen again. You just can't have Rivera going out there with a five-run lead. Sometimes, you have to walk without a safety net.

I was glad to hear the crowd give it up for Bernie. He was unbelievable in his prime. His '99 campaign was just too good...on top of excellent defense (yes, he was once a top-tier center fielder), he added a .342/.435/.536 batting line with 202 hits, 100 walks, 116 runs and 115 RBI. He was a terror. His career arc is also incredibly symmetrical. Compare this year (37 yrs) to his season in 1993 (25 yrs):

2005: 135 games .251/.324/.372 51 runs, 12 homers, 64 RBI

1993: 139 games .268/.333/.400 67 runs, 12 homers, 68 RBI

If you look at the other years in between, it's a very close mirror. He peaked right there in '99 at age 31, a late peak, but a fine one nonetheless. He's been a great Yankee.

Posted by: Dave S. at September 26, 2005 09:16 AM
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