Mariano’s memento to his teammates
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jul 24, 2009 
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Here’s what kind of guy Mariano Rivera is.
When the Yankees arrived today, they each had a ball in a glass and cherry wood display case waiting for them in their lockers. It was a game-used ball from the June 28 game against the Mets when Mo picked up his 500th save.
Each ball was signed and under Mo’s meticulous signature it said “500th save, 6/28/08.”
Not only did Mariano give a ball to every player, all of the coaches, trainers, security people and other staff members received one as well.
————
Meanwhile, will Phil Hughes be Mariano’s successor one day? Hughes has taken to the bullpen like he was born to do it and he certainly has the demeanor you want in a closer.
His stats are ridiculous in relief: 17 games, 24.1 innings, 11 hits, 2 earned runs, 5 walks, 28 strikeouts.
I’ll stick with what I believe: Hughes should be a starter in 2010. He’s too good not to be. But for now, he’s filling a need and doing it just about perfectly. But retiring six hitters on a crappy team after midnight with a three-run lead is nothing to get too excited about. Any good starter would have done the same. There is no magic in a save in that situation.
When asked tonight if getting his first career save was a big deal, Phil literally shrugged. “No difference, same thing,” he said. “It was just one more inning.”
Meanwhile you might wonder how CC Sabathia killed time during the 2:43 rain delay. “I played Nintendo the whole time,” he said. “Nobody has beaten me in weeks.”
Um, no. God, how I wish Phil was never put in the pen…….
GF, I recall SJ being frustrated with Phil, but saying he was through as a prospect? Just that one time – and I think that was a troll.
I happen to agree with him on Joba. I think you have the right approach in general (patience), but we’ve already been through this before. I have not liked Joba’s approach at all…….There’s no excuse for any player, rookie or veteran, to be out of shape….and the stubbornness?
I personally disagreed strongly with CB’s theory that Phil’s “soft” upbringing contributed to his struggles……IMO, it’s as simple as Phil being a kid.
Right Feinsand, lol ………..another mediot. I thought he was better than the others, but nope – just another in the long line of sportswriters who somehow get by without a brain:
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees/
**Mo is the best – as a closer and a human being.
Nah, I rather see him a starter and flourish in 2010. If he fails then put him in the pen. But the more I watch the 2009 Phil, the more I believe he will be the future #1 on this team. That or he’ll be the lights out closer after The Great One retires.
You mean 2009? I hope Mo’s not that dumb.
Phil and Joba will be in the rotation next year and moving forward. If Mark Melancon ever gets a good look, he’ll probably be the new 8th inning guy next year. It will be interesting to see if anyone starts saying he should start.
BryanHoch Alfredo Aceves is playing acoustic guitar in center field and singing John Mayer songs.
Sexy
I think Phil has his head on straight. He seems to have figured it out this season. Honestly can’t wait to see what next year has in store for us =)
Best moment of the game for me and my friend?
When us bleacher creatures started taunting a guy in a Mets jersey with chants of Luis Castillo. All sorts of awesome.
I wonder, if that’s what Mo did for his 500th save, what the heck is Buerhle gonna do for his perfecto?
Betsy.
Cheese steak? If so, where and please rate it 1-10.
Hope time is going lightly in Philly.
Congrats all on the 7 game winning streak. It is a great feeling when your team is on a roll.
-dennis
I disagree with the Feinsand article. Even though I think Phil seems to have the right demeanor to close we really won’t know what kind of closer he’ll be until his next game after a blown save. That’s the real test of a closer – how well they forget.
Hughes as a starter this year 5.45 era
Hughes as a reliever this year 0.74 era
I dont think it is crazy that some people think he is a reliever and the future closer. There is a huge difference with how he is pitching in the same season as a starter and a reliever.
Dennis, no cheesesteak yet. I’m not sure when I will get to have one….perhaps tomorrow as there is a Tony Luke’s at Citizen’s Bank Park (doing the stadium tour).
Weather in Philly was dreary, but it could have been worse – mostly drizzle and no real rain. I did the historical stuff today – loved it. The portrait gallery in the 2nd Bank of the United States is wonderful – gorgeous building, to.
I did go to an amazing restaurant tonight -a BYOB called Bibou (in South Philly). It’s open only 2 months but my word, the food was good. The chef/owner and his wife are the sweetest, nicest people. LOL I thought maybe the cabbie took me to the wrong place – I could not find the restaurant for my life. I called and spoke to the wife and she basically stood outside the restaurant and waved me over from across the street (yes, I was in the wrong place). The chef came over to speak to everyone….it’s clear this is a labor of love for both of them.
As to the Yanks, it does feel great because it’s just been a long time coming. They hadn’t been in firs place (before this year) since 2006……wow. Of course there’s still much baseball to be played, but it is gratifying to watch this particular team win as they are a lot of fun. I still respect the heck out of the Sox (hate them, but that’s the fun of it), so we’ll see what happens
Hughes gave up a 2 run dinger in Fenway in his 3rd ( ? ) appearence as a reliever on a 1-2 pitch….He’s been in lowndown mode ever since…….Can’t wait until he returns to the rotation…..Shame he lost the better part of the 07-08 seasons…..
Relieving is easier than starting. And moving to the bullpen also coincided with Phil Hughes getting his armstrength back to where it was before he started getting injured in Texas in 2007, you remember, that time whe he was throwing a no-hitter as a 20 year old in his second major league start. He’ll be a front of the rotation starter for the Yanks for a long time.
Again, Phil is 23 – it’s silly to think that what we’ve seen out of him as a starter is what we’re going to get for his whole career. It’s MUCH easier to be a reliever……People want instant gratification, IMO. They see Phil dominate now and they don’t want to deal with the ups and downs that do with developing as a starter.
Feinsand’s blog was a piece of garbage – I’m sorry to say it because I generally like him. He’s got closer-colored glasses on……and shows absolutely no foresight. All he can see is Phil dominating now…..he can’t see that the kid has the right stuff to possibly be a stud SP.
Is there another franchise that’s had as many of its former pitchers throw no-hitters (Nolan Ryan, Doc Gooden, David Cone) after they’ve left than the Mets? Without ever having anyone throw one while a Met.
That’s very cool of Mariano.
Actually that reminds me Alex did the a similar thing when he hit his 500th hr? He gave everyone a signed bat with the date.
CC is a good guy and I think Phil will be a starter in the future also.
Goodnight Pete and everyone.
Baetsy.
Great post.
Glad your stay is going well.
-dennis
“I personally disagreed strongly with CB’s theory that Phil’s “soft” upbringing contributed to his struggles……”
Oh my goodness gracious… it was SJ44, not CB, but that’s not what he said. He said that a lot of players get strength from overcoming difficult childhood circumstances but that Phil would have to find it somewhere else. Maybe that is also a dubious point, maybe not, but that’s what he said, as I recall.
What Pete didn’t write is that Phil did something for all his teammates to commemorate his first save. He left them each a dollar bill with an inscription: “This means nothing to me.” Very odd.
Agreed, Nick.
That was not CB who compared Hughes’ and Joba’s backgrounds – it was SJ.
CB was one of the few common sense folks that stood by the kid and didn’t lose his mind like most everyone else did.
No one mentions Phil’s “soft” upbringing now that he is dominant. Same with Joba he is only out of shape, stubborn and immature when he pitches a bad game. No one was saying those things after the Tigers game.
Reportedly the last thing Phil heard before he went out in the 9th inning was “Start your journey now, my Lord.”
I don’t even know what that means.
“Again, Phil is 23 – it’s silly to think that what we’ve seen out of him as a starter is what we’re going to get for his whole career. It’s MUCH easier to be a reliever……People want instant gratification, IMO. They see Phil dominate now and they don’t want to deal with the ups and downs that do with developing as a starter.”
and the same should apply to joba…
CB is by far one of the posters on this blog IMO. I always read his posts as I ususlly learn about statiscal data in MLB.
-dennis
MO<3
I agree that CB is one of the posters on this blog, dennis, but isn’t that setting the recognition bar rather low?
Guys, it’s not enough we have to endure pointless, endless discussions when some people get frustrated with certain players, we now have to revisit them later?
Just let it go. No one cares who dissed who when.
Great game, great winning streak, great Hope week. All is well in Yankeeland – how about we just enjoy it?
I wonder, if that’s what Mo did for his 500th save, what the heck is Buerhle gonna do for his perfecto?
A million saves, I don’t care who gets them, can’t touch a perfect game.
“No one cares who dissed who when.”
Except when Pete disses Arod?
BTW, kudos to RAB for this little nugget:
A Rookie Pitcher Note: With this victory tonight, the Yankees are now 18-7 against rookie pitchers. That’s the best mark in the Majors. Hopefully, that should put the idea that the Yankees can’t beat rookie pitches they’ve never seen to rest.
————-
How many times have we heard that the Yankees always have trouble with rookie pitchers?
It’s a myth. The stats don’t lie.
“I happen to agree with him on Joba. I think you have the right approach in general (patience), but we’ve already been through this before. I have not liked Joba’s approach at all…….There’s no excuse for any player, rookie or veteran, to be out of shape….and the stubbornness?”
With all due respect, and remember, I said with all due respect…
Where do fans like you get the information that 1, Joba is out of shape and 2, that he is being stubborn? All of this is nothing but speculation based on him not meeting the expectations of some fans and the media (no Cy Youngs yet??), and it is ridiculous.
Is every pitcher that struggles stubborn and out of shape? Couldn’t it be that it just isn’t that easy for a 23 year old pitcher to be successful in his first full season starting against big league competition?
And by the way, Joba has struggled so badly as a starter that in his first 30 career starts he’s sporting a 3.52 ERA.
If you have information from a coach saying that Joba has been stubborn in listening to advice or that he is out of shape, that is one thing. But if you don’t, which you don’t, go ahead and make it clear that your only speculating on why you think Joba isn’t already the best pitcher in the league.
Phil is pitching great. and it reminds me how annoying it is that teams designate people as relievers or lefty specialists when they are still in the minors. The greatest relievers – McGraw, Gossage, Eckersley, Fingers and yes, Rivera, did not come up through the minors designated as “closers”.
Nick.
“best”. CB is one of the best. My bad.
I only set the bar low for myself.
-dennis
All the best to you too, dennis!
Hughes allows less than a hit every two innings as a reliever. That is just ridiculous and should not even be allowed. He is pretty much automatic right now. Kind of getting spoiled here, but I sure hope he can somehow keep up this streak. Phil has some good stuff and goes right after hitters.
Nick,
I realize that’s a joke, but yes, except that. There’s a difference between random commenters blowing off steam, and a reporter with a clear bias, who never misses a chance to make a “joke” about ARod or his girlfriends.
7 wins in a row. 3 more and Girardi has to start growing out the cewcut to make it a Swish-hawk.
Mo 1st class all the way !!
I bet none of the commenters feel like they’re random.
Betsy,
lol. Now you’re the one mixing up your distinguished posters.
CB was actually taken back by that theory, if I recall correctly.
Phil should be a starter, but his performance in the pen has been startling to say the least.
Hughes is our verison of Jonathan Papelbon.
mediocre starter, better relief pitcher.
Hughes is our verison of Jonathan Papelbon.
mediocre starter, better relief pitcher.
—
False. Hughes has a much better minor league pedigree, none of the injury concerns, and a better major league resume
“Hughes is our verison of Jonathan Papelbon.
mediocre starter, better relief pitcher.”
Oh No…
No comment on the the mediocre starter remark, I’ll defer until further notice. Like when he was a fully healthy season in the rotation. But we do know that Phil loves being a reliever, and the later the better. Yes, Kim Jones-that means the 9th.
BTW, just read the espn recap, and bless their hearts, they mentioned the mini-carnival the Yankees hosted on the field after the game. And it’s great to see all the players Pete mentioned stayed to participate.
Wow, so many Six Degrees in baseball.
Kepner’s Bats blog has an interesting entry on Buerhle’s perfecto.
Orlando Cabrera was the final out in Cone’s perfect game and Teixeira was no hit by Buerhle when his was in Texas.
Nick in SF
July 24th, 2009 at 2:52 am
I agree that CB is one of the posters on this blog, dennis, but isn’t that setting the recognition bar rather low?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You so make me laugh, Nick in SF. Are you in advertising perchance? You certainly overflow with witty remarks.
First it was Joba and now it’s Phil that should remain in the bullpen and succeed Mo. I said this before and I’ll say it again, these sportswriters are no different than most knowledgeable sports fans except for their writing ability and even there, I question that ability at times. There are about 4-5 posters on this blog, who’s baseball opinions I value more than any baseball writer.
Mo is class personified.
I fail to see how this Hughes debate is any different to the Joba debate in the bullpen. A *young* pitcher with stuff that good belongs in the rotation. It’s been said before about Joba, you’d want their stuff thrown 200 innings in a year rather than just 70 innings. What Hughes is doing now is great, but it’s nothing CC or AJ couldn’t do as well. I know Hughes is filling a role now, but I hope they’re looking forward for him in the rotation. Outside of our top two rotation there are places to be had next year.
But it is comforting to know come playoffs for this year, we have someone setting up for ‘The Man’ Rivera.
does hughes have entrance music yet? Something by metallica or ac/dc would be amazing
There are a hundred reasons to hate this “X to the bullpen” stuff, but the thing that annoys me the most is how quick people are to dub a kid the next closer based on a ridiculously small amount of pitching. How can you be so kneejerk as to change your mind to think a guy should permanently go to the pen because of 24 IP? You don’t have to be a stathead to realize that it is so silly to make really any declarations based on such a small sample size. This is not to mention that the bulk of innings in both Hughes and Joba’s case have been very closely monitored and distributed.
And a “closer’s demeanor”? Hughes and Joba have had exactly opposite demeanors, and yet both have been spotlighted for this so-called attribute. Christ, I guess any demeanor you have while pitching well is the right one.
I’m in Panama City today and of course my first order of business is to go to Mo’s house. Apparently you just get in a cab and tell them to take you there. I’ll post pictures if anyone is interested.
How many mediocre to lousy set up guys do people need to see before they realize what the Yanks have in Hughes right where he is?
Hughes as a starter has two pitches – one of which is a 91-93 mph straight fb that he is too fine with.
Doesn’t mean he shouldn’t get a chance in the future to start but the Yanks with an aging, veteran team need and can afford to develop the next Mo.
Its not like the Yanks can’t add another front of the rotation guy the next few years via trade or fa.
Look at how many of the elite closers were starters – one of Hughes or Joba in that role is not a waste – its the appropriate use of a young, cost controlled pitcher – especially one who doesn’t have a 3rd pitch and who loses 3 mph on his fb in the rotation.
People talk about the “future” – the guys that make this team go are mid 30′s or above (except Tex) – the Yanks next year could deal with a bunch of injuries or guys in decline (just not having Damon and Matsui’s offense will be felt next year).
Point is, no one can predict the future, right now, the Yanks are dominant with Hughes in the pen – as long as he stays healthy who cares about 2010, 2011 – there are so many variables that none of us can predict.
+1 truantbuick
I know this isn’t the right thread, and this is my first post to this wonderful blog — you people are crazy and awesome — but last night I had a semi-inspiration, and I don’t think I’ve seen this particular twist on the Hinski HR call:
It is high, it is far, it is…. GAAAAAN. Hinski with his best shot! He’s fired away!!
(Grammatically correct too, I might add).
http://web.yesnetwork.com/medi.....id=5699641
http://www.yesnetwork.com on Hope week. This video is a must watch. Listen to Pettitte’s response to the question about the stadium differences.
test
Celerino Sanchez
I think someone came up with that same call here, minus the hes fired away.
Phil Mania?
Agree Joba should be a starter, but Phil is performing like a fish in water….A closer is very hard to find. You have a “rotation” of pitchers, you only have 1 starter.
Mariano has class on a off the field that few if any players will have. When he makes his entrance from the bullpen with Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” it matches the applause that only a select few Yankees have ever had.
Does anyone want to see what AJ Burnett would look like in the bullpen? CC?
Phil is a starter, and a front of the rotation one at that. His fastball command (what we are seeing right now in the pen) was some of the best scouts had ever seen in a minor league pitcher, which made it all the more puzzling that it just disappeared in the majors. Now that he knows he is capable of dominating major league hitters without nibbling, I see it coming back in a big way.
Hope those balls said 6/28/09 Pete not 08
Nick, i dunno if anyone else got that joke, but I did. I cracked up @ work as soon as i read it!!!
SJ44- Another fantastic CC Start right?
It sounds like to me that Mo must have given out at least 50 Baseballs ….Does that sound about right?….My question is was there really that many baseballs that were in game that were saved?…That`s like an average of 6 baseballs per inning….Seems like a lot to me.
Is Hughes the Mariano heir? I hope someone is up to the task…life without someone of Mo’s ability will be difficult at best. Hughes does look untouchable now, perhaps he will be the man someday…
I was thinking about how good Hughes has been out of the pen and how much he resembles Mariano Rivera circa 1995–a starter with very good but inconsistent stuff who dominated out of the pen.
The big difference of course, is age. Hughes is a very big 2.5 years younger than Mo was in 1995 and I think it’s too soon to give up on him as a starter. Come the end of Mo’s contract, if Hughes hasn’t figured out the rotation yet and Mo decides to hang it up, you have a successor
Mo is SUPER CLASS! Always was….always will be! Great role model for Phil.
What a memorable and unforgatable Sunday Night, June 28 th, 2009, being at Citi Field, Flushing, Queens, NYC and seeing the 500th Save by Mariano Rivera, No. 42. A night taht Mo will always remember.
It has been a great night, specially invited by Mariano to attend the game, sitting on Section 121A, taking photo with Mo and Family down in the tunnel/below of the stadium.
Mo is one of the greatest Closer of all Time. A competitor, consistency, dominant, relaxed, durability, amazing, reliable and successful. He is a remarkable pitcher and a Special Guy. Arriba Mariano, from Panama, La Chorrera, Puerto Rico. Keep it doing, over and over, again.
Moises
Well dang. I didn’t go through the “Joba to the pen” with you folks because I was on the Yankees home page coming up with informed responses daily on why Joba should be and would be a starter. So, it is very disappointing to see this negative stuff about Joba again.
This shouldnt be about who is a better pitcher – Joba or Phil.
The past couple of days there has been positive comments about Joba and his future from different posters which always makes me feel that some of those with baseball knowledge understand why Joba is valued by management. And there have been plenty good comments about Phil.
For the gadzillionth time –isn’t it better for the Yankees to have BOTH JOBA and PHIL at the top of the rotation for the next 10 years or so. Let’s not make this about Joba vs. Phil
Last year, I brought up a lot of comparison between Joba and Phil, some of it negative. But this year Phil has made a believer of me. As my newly added name tag says, I will not bad mouth Phil. And I don’t believe I have. They do come from different backgrounds, So. California v. Nebraska. High School v. college. The only thing I ask of fans is to let Joba have the same opportunities to develop his game as Phil had.
Joba is pitching a good game today. In most of his games prior to his last slump he usually averages 3 runs when he leaves the game. He could have won 2 or 3 more games if the offense and bp could have kept his lead. When he is on the resulting hits are usually easy outs, ground balls and fly outs, double plays, some that he starts himself. He has only given up 19 HRS since he came up in late 2007. He gave up one good hit today that may have been caught by a regular RF.
As long as Mgmnt stays behind Joba, I am content not too pick fights with anyone. And believe me, I have!!
AND this post is about MO being the great guy that he is, honoring his teammates for their particpation up to and including the 500th win. What a guy. I wish he could pitch until 50!!
Kudos to 27 for pointing up the fallacy of believing every negative comment and espousing same to further the cause of your player. Until mgmt publishes that 1). Joba is not in good condition and 2) that he is stubborn, and don’t forget 3) he is uncoachable – I will value Joba for his current pitching. No one other than Jeter or Mo appear to be perfect on this team so I want to give every one a break. What the heck the team is WINNING.
Does anyone notice the score is 2 -1???
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