Surgery? He had shoulder surgery?
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 27, 2009 
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Mariano Rivera has faced 16 hitters this spring. Here is how it has gone for him:
K
1-3
K
FP-2
F-9
F-8
K
4-3
Single (and congrats to you, Gerald Laird)
K
6-3
K
K
K
3-1
4-3
Rivera needed five pitches to get three outs tonight. He has thrown 45 pitches this spring, 35 strikes. That’s 2.81 pitches per plate appearance.
The Yankees made a huge mistake when they signed him for three years. They should have signed him for six.
Wow, the prior post from Pete makes me pretty giddy. CC is such a horse and now he’s got the pen to back him up and save wear and tear on his arm. If he struggles at the start, or at some point during the season, I hope Yankee fans will cut this guy (and all of our new guys) some slack because these struggles won’t be for lack of trying.
Phil, I agree. I’m very impressed with CC and AJ’s desire to pass on their knowledge to Joba and Wang (and presumably any young pitcher willing to listen). It seems like CC has always been a pitcher (as opposed to a thrower) and he’s got such a nice assortment of pitches to lean on should his FB fail him. Youngsters should take heed. AJ, on the other hand, seems to gained his own brand of wisdom through his struggles and, more importantly, through the mentoring of Doc Halladay. What I find comforting in a way as well is that both AJ and CC also want to soak in knowledge from vets like Andy and Jete……
I don’t know where I read this (except that it was from a very recent article), but one Yankee was quoted as saying that it wasn’t just that the Yankee vets that were welcoming the new guys (including Swish and Tex, not just CC and AJ), but that the new guys were welcoming to the their new teammates. Let’s see how this all plays out once the regular season starts, but this can only be good.
Is this guy human?
Mo really is simply not human. There is no explanation for him – it’s like trying to explain a great work of art. I wonder if he got some more work done in the pen? 5 pitches – that’s wow, but he’s making it look almost TOO easy. I almost wish he had to work a little…………
Performance enhancing divinity?
I’m trying not to get too excited about this team, but I can’t. These next 9 days are going to be the longest of my life. April 6th cannot get here soon enough.
So Mo be it written, so Mo be it done. (HT to Yul Brynner)
Yanks need to sign him to an extension. I think they will.
wang and cc are the same age.
Mo is not human
Can we have Mo pitch until he’s 50?
Did any doctor actually deny that MO may be a robot or of another species? There is no explanation.
Yanks should bring him into a tie game and see how he does. Thats where he struggled last year.
It’s a shame he’s considering hanging up the cleats after the 2010 season [final year of the contract]
Yankee fans? Cut guys slack?
You know if he gets shelled opening day at the new stadium, the place is going to erupt with boos. Same with AJ in his first start.
These are the fans who booed Hawkins because of the number he wore.
If Mariano is still on top of his game after this contract, I hope he considers a year or two extension. If he’s throwing this well, or even close to this well, I’d expect the team will offer it. Let’s see where he is next year. I’d really like to see him in a position where he could command an extension and actually want it. With him I’d never believe its about money. If he still wants to and if he still can, I’d think he’ll still pitch. The Yanks have been so lucky to have this guy this long … let’s hope it continues.
Pictures from today.
http://www.daylife.com/topic/N.....tos/1/grid
Mo says the Yanks look better than they have since 2003 – it’s a video on YES.com, so I can’t post a link..I just love listening to this man; he really is a god.
So that’s a WHIP of 0.20
Guess he feeling alright.
Man I’d love to see him in another WS.
I also am hoping that Mo signs a 2 year extension when his contract is up if he still feels good.
That guy is unbelievable.
Mariano = GOAT
Mariano will never get old.
Mo is a work of art!
One scout’s view of the Yankees:
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees/
I think he’s a little rough on Cano – he had one bad year, not 2 or 3 – and Swisher (he’s a goofball? I like that, actually – not that it matters).
Obviously I love the comments about Jeter, Mo and CC. I really think AJ will be great, but I can’t blame anyone for wanting to see more….
here you go, Betsy. All they need to do is click on the small photo of Rivera or under the large photo where it says “Watch”
http://web.yesnetwork.com/index.jsp
It has always kind of bothered me that Jeter has been viewed as the most indispensable Yankee, when in fact it has always been Mo.
I also think he’s spot on about Matsui and Gardner. Overall, I’ve seen worse from scouts..
All I have to say in the words of Mariano Rivera “Thanks God”
Question though doesnt he still have to pitch in back to back games before spring is out?? Or are they not doing that this spring.
Thanks, GB!
from Betsy’s link:
“”Ransom has been released twice – and there’s a reason for that. He did a good job last year when he came up, and in the utility role, he’s fine. As a starter, he won’t see a fastball. Changeups and sliders get him out, and when the season starts, that’s all he’s going to see. Players can live on the first-pitch fastball in March, but in April that doesn’t happen. He’s been a subpar hitter at the major league level, so there’s no reason to think that will change if he plays regularly. If they’re lucky, he’ll get hot for the first month. Pitchers are going to slider him to death.”"
Here’s how a major league scout evaluated the NY Yankees.
http://www.nydailynews.com/blo.....nkees.html
Betsy
March 28th, 2009 at 12:14 am
Thanks, GB!
————————————————————
You’re most welcome, Betsy.
Sorry, but that scout knows less than nothing.
That scout didn’t offer much insight on Posada. Duh, he has to throw better.
Cano actually does have good range.
Jeter is no longer the #1 guy on this team.
Nady does not fit in with a club that wants to get back to patience at the plate and defense.
Swisher is a better fielder than Nady.
Excellent evaluation – spot on with guys like Bruney, Swisher/Nady, Gardner, Melky etc.
I think Mo is one of those guys who will only stops pitching because HE decides to not because he can’t do it anymore.
I forgot about the Posada comment – Jorge’s done ok for a guy just coming back from surgery. Of course runners will test him – he’s not going to be great right out of the box. We need to be a bit patient with him.
I wonder how much of that evaluation is from the desk of the News writer…Some of the baseball jargon probably came from a scout at some point as did certain player details ( Damon for instance )….I take it with a grain of salt….
Did we really need a scout to tell us that
Teix is a great player
We need to see how Jorge’s arm holds up
Cano is a pure hitter
Ransom is awful
Jeter is great despite his flaws
Sabathia is great
Burnett comes with questions but is a dynamite arm
Rivera is great
Bruney is inconsistent and has a straight FB
Andy is still good enough
etc.
Nothing really earth shattering. Nice that the criticism was constructive though, nothing sensational like “CC’s arm is going to fall off” or “Jeter is finished”.
Scouts opinion on Swisher and Ransom is different than the opinions of many here but I’m going with the scout.
Feel good stories and real good players are two diferent things.
NYYankesFan- Swisher is not on the same level as Ransom. Ransom is a career journeyman utility infielder meanwhile Swisher has hit consistently at the big league level and would start on any other team.
Could our team be better? Uh, yeah. Swap Sizemore for Gardner. Hamilton for Swisher. Longoria for Ransom. So we’re less than perfect. But we’re still pretty good.
I think there’s enough star power to support the role players we have. As long as everyone does their job, we’ll be okay because our pitching.
Can’t wait for the season to start, then we can start worrying about real problems.
Mo is the best closer of all time one of the best yankees ever. Nothing he does surprises me at this point. I can’t imagine a Yankee team without him. I hope we can find someone who remotely resembles Rivera when he retires. There will never be another.
Joba is going to do a magnificent job when he takes over for Mo.
Al
Agree on the difference between Swisher and Ransom but there are many teams Swisher would not be a starter on.
Nothing wrong with being a role player or back-up- every team needs some. Just saying many here seem to be caught up in what a nice guy he seems to be and less concerned with how good a player he is.
Anaheim Angels in deep doo-doo:
“John Lackey continued to experience tightness in his forearm during his throwing session Thursday and now appears doubtful to start on Opening Day.
The team with baseball’s best record in 2008 could enter 2009 with a rotation of Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, Dustin Moseley, Nick Adenhart and Shane Loux.
Lackey had an MRI on Thursday, the results of which haven’t been officially released. “The results, I think, were negative,” manager Mike Scioscia said. Dr. Lewis Yocum is expected to chime in on Sunday.”
rotoworld.com
“Nothing wrong with being a role player or back-up- every team needs some. Just saying many here seem to be caught up in what a nice guy he seems to be and less concerned with how good a player he is.”
Swisher is not a role player. A player who can hit 30 homers with 100 RBI and a .400 OBP is not a utility guy. Not saying Swisher can do that every year but he has done it.
Al,
I understand that. But on this team, Swish is a role player. Yankee fans are going to see so much of Swish, they’re going to get sick of him. Finding PT for Swish is not going to be a problem.
So, like I said. As long as people can ACCEPT their roles, this team is going places. As long as Jeter and Damon can accept new roles in the lineup. And Bruney can accept the fact that he just might not be the bridge to Mo. And as long as Swish knows that his versatility and energy are the glue that holds the whole thing together, they can go all the way.
Congrats!
CC showed he can win the CY young for SWB.
It is SPRING TRAINING. He faced mostly minor leaguers today.
Unless the Yankees open the season against the Marlins, it is not going to be THAT easy.
#27 will come, but don’t give it away because 2 pitchers took on a Double A team today and mowed them down.
And, didn’t the guy who had the shoulder surgery blow the 27th title anyway?
Ooohh. Got to give the edge to the Kei-Man for the CY young for SWB.
I do agree with some comments regarding Mo for an extension. No doubts, that Mariano is coming back for at least two more years with the NYY. He looks great and his command is formidable; keeping in good shape, The Yankees are very fortunate to have Mo for so many years.
We the Panamenian-Chorrerano, friends and fans, of Mariano Rivera, No. 42, are very proud of Mo’s accomplishment since 1995 with NYY. No doubts, He is one of the best closer of all time and hope he will keep playing the same way for the next years, and some day, Mo will be part of the HOF in Cooperstown, NY.
Let’s go Yanks and Mariano. Arriba Mo.
Moises
Swish’s versatility and energy “hold the whole thing together”?
m, are you his mother?
Only a mother could see a player like Swisher as holding the New York Yankees “together”.
Divine Providence forbid we should ever be in such straits.
While I totally agree on Mo, I have one bone to pick: Signing A-Rod to a big deal was a bad idea because he’s older, but it’s good to sign Mo for much longer because “he’s Mo”. I know A-Rod took roids’ but he’s as good as any hall of famer too, you know. Try and be fair here. If a 39 yr. old Mo can continue to be great (and he can!) why not A-Rod?