Postgame notes: “We’ve seen a lot of special things”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes, Podcast on Sep 17, 2011 
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This didn’t seem like a day to make history. After five innings, it was shaping up to be a low point of an already rocky road trip. Bartolo Colon hadn’t pitched beyond the fourth, Robinson Can had cost the Yankees a run with his base-running blunder, and the Yankees lineup was being shutdown by a 21-year-old kid making his eighth big league start.
Then the bullpen started putting up zeros, and the rejuvenated lineup started hitting home runs, and pretty soon Mariano Rivera was jogging in from the bullpen to tie Trevor Hoffman’s record for career saves.
“It doesn’t depend on myself,” Rivera said. “If my teammates don’t score that many runs, I wouldn’t pitch at all. I have no say about it until I have the opportunity to pitch. I just have to be ready for every situation.”
Of course he was ready. A broken bat. A strikeout. A routine fly ball to end it. The celebration was mild, if it was a celebration at all, and Rivera called it another “ho-hum” save.
“It’s pretty much what Mo’s done his whole career, broken bats and strikeouts,” Joe Girardi said. “… (Save number) 602 is the big one because I think it puts the final stamp on that he’s the greatest closer of all time. I don’t think in this room we have any question, and I don’t want to take anything away from Trevor Hoffman, but when you’ve been around Mo as long as I have, we’ve seen a lot of special things.”
Rivera’s wife and two of his sons are in Toronto. They’re flown here to witness history, just in case it happens. Rivera said he would love to break the record at home, but it’s the nature of his job that Rivera can’t predict when or where it will happen.
“I am uncomfortable,” he said. “I don’t have this much attention at all. I’d like you guys to just leave it alone and be good… Don’t get me wrong, don’t think that I don’t appreciate it, because I do appreciate it. I’m a team player, and whatever happens with me is because my teammates permit it. First God, then my teammates.”
Here’s Rivera.
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• Today’s game-winner was Curtis Granderson’s 40th home run of the season. He’d been struggling since late August, but when the Yankees needed him, Granderson played like an MVP again. “It’s just Grandy,” Girardi said. “That’s what happens. He’s the kind of guy that can carry you on certain days.”
• Of course, the home run that stands out probably belongs to Alex Rodriguez, who went deep in sixth inning for his second hit in his first game back from a week layoff. “When we talked yesterday when I came off the field (after batting practice),” Rodriguez said. “That’s why I was so happy because I haven’t felt that good in a long time. My body feels energized. My knee feels really strong. With that little tape we have in the middle, hopefully it’s not an issue.”
• Rodriguez said he absolutely expects to play tomorrow.
• Rodriguez hit fifth in the Yankees lineup for the first time since September 6, 2006. The run he scored on the homer was the 1,820th of his career, moving him into a tie with Eddie Collins for 14th on baseball’s all-time runs scored list.
• Robinson Cano’s base-running blunder in the fourth seemed very costly for a while. He assumed Colby Rasmus wouldn’t catch Nick Swisher’s fly ball to center — to be fair, I thought the same thing — and he broke from second without looking back. It should have been a sac fly to score Mark Teixeira. It became an inning-ending double play. “I saw him coming and he kind of had his head down,” Teixeira said. “Once he passed me, he’s out or I’m out — one of us is out — and the play is over. It really shouldn’t happen. He knows better, but sometimes you make mistakes and you learn from them.”
• Joe Girardi didn’t have Dave Robertson available, and he wasn’t sure he’d have Rafael Soriano until Soriano warmed up in the bullpen and gave the green light to pitch the eighth. If not Soriano, Girardi was either going to have Hector Noesi pitch a second inning or mix-and-match in the eighth.
• Frankly, it was an impressive showing by the entire bullpen. Scott Proctor, Aaron Laffey, Noesi, Soriano and Rivera threw a scoreless inning apiece to give the Yankees time for a comeback. They allowed a total of one base runner in five innings.
• Soriano has struck out the past six batters hes faced.
• Not such a good outing for Bartolo Colon. “I just didn’t think he used his sinker enough today,” Girardi said. “That’s what I saw was the issue early on. Then he seemed to do better in the third and got in trouble in the fourth. Is he running out of gas? I don’t know. We saw a pretty good start the other day in Anaheim. It’s hard to say.”
• Girardi said Colon was using his sinker away from lefties, but for whatever reason he wasn’t using it inside to lefties.
• The Yankees improved to 40-11 in day games this season.
• Bartolo Colon now has an 8.74 ERA in his three starts at Rogers Centre this season… On the opposite end of the Toronto spectrum, Nick Swisher had a 12-game hitting streak at Rogers Center snapped this afternoon.
• This is the way Phil Hughes explained his back spasms: “It’s happened before,” he said. “It just locks up. It didn’t affect my bullpen at all. I finished it normally, then after that, while I was going to lift, I was walking into the weight room and it just kind of spasmed on me.”
• Hughes has no doubt that he’ll be able to pitch on Tuesday. “I told them I would probably be good to go by Monday, but they didn’t want to chance it,” he said.
• It was brought up to Rivera that some would argue breaking Hoffman’s record will eliminate whatever slight debate there might be about Rivera being he greatest closer of all time. “It doesn’t make me better or worse,” Rivera said. “People are going to say whatever they are going to say, but I feel normal. I have to do my job.”
Associated Press photos
Hope Price will bring it tomorrow.
Price vs. Wakefield tomorrow
Boston loses!!!!!
Wakefield vs. David Price tomorrow.
That matchup favors the Rays.
The Sox playoff margin could shrink to just 2!!!!
Awesome game today….great job by the offense and bullpen to pick up Colon and win.
Soriano has looked really good his last 2 times out…..stuff much sharper and his location much better.
So nice to have Alex back and so nice to have the real Grandyman back as well.
Take this series tomorrow and put another nail in the coffin
Yankees with a 5 game cushion in the LC on both the Sox and Tigers for the Division and HFA.
Wakie-Wakie vs. David Price tomorrow :
You know what they say about Expectation and Reality in baseball …
blake -
10 penny at least.
If you hear sirens…..P. Gammons just hit the panic button
Wakefield and Mo will still be pitching 10 years from now.
What is the magic number for the East now. Thanks.
Mo. I’ve my best #602 tribute waiting for you.
Please do us a favor though and get it at the stadium if possible.
Flood warnings in Boston as the ESPN staff can’t stop crying.
Magic is now 8, rr.
MTU -
So, if Mo gets into tomorrows game, he should blow it?
I have to say that i hate maddon…but is so sweet seeing the sux lose!!….can you imagine if they get eliminated, how are they going to try to spin it!!
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LOL. That’s funny because I actually really like Maddon. I’m not sure he’d be a great fit with the Yanks because with how much talent they have a hands off approach is probably best, but Maddon is a great manager IMO. He doesn’t let the stupid conventional rules of baseball dictate his decisions.
Just look at today. He pulled Niemman after only 89 pitches for a rookie with just 1 game of experience to his name. And then he showed the faith to leave him out there for 3 innings.
Can you imagine Girardi ever doing that? No way. If the Yankees had Matt Moore in their system he’d be rotting in the bullpen with a prime viewing spot of Scott Proctor.
I can’t see Mo getting 602 on Monday, that game should be a blow out.
Thanks BX. That’s what I was just telling my buddy. He thought it was more. I knew it was 10 before today. Thanks again!
LGY -
I think Joe has learned his lesson with Protor, no more than 1 inning per game.
Al-
Of course not. Just would love to see him do it
at the Stadium in front of his adoring fans is all.
Seems appropriate.
Magic number for the division is 8, for a playoff berth it’s 5.
LGY,
Don’t get me wrong lol!, he is an incredible manager as you pointed out so well….It’s just that he is the Rays manager, therefore our enemy. But your point about having a guy like Moore and playing him for three innings just shows what a great manager he is.
And yeah, Girardi probably lets him rot in the BP, like he has with Betances
You got it, rr.
Time to celebrate – just took the steaks off the grill!
LGY,
I really hate to.say it but I agree with you…..Madden doesn’t let conventional thinking stand in the way of doing what he thinks is the right call and I like that. I think he’s a smart baseball dude but I can’t stand him either.
MTU -
Was just busting. I’m with you, and even Mo has said he’d prefer to do it at home. If the game is close, move pitchers around tomorrow and let D-Rob close.
I love Joe Maddon.
I think he’s great.
They should let Jorge catch 602
There is a big difference between Moore and Betances, it’s called control.
blake September 17th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
They should let Jorge catch 602
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Agreed 100%, he should have caught 600 as well
Madden does not have the same parameters to work within as any manager of the Yankees has.
Also, Betances had an inconsistent season, a developmental season, though the talent is definitely there. I believe the Rays’ pitcher, Moore, is a little more ready for ML action than Betances is.
Any manager of the Yankees cannot afford to take as many chances, cannot throw caution to the wind.
Al-
It would just add to the awesomeness wouldn’t it ?
What a moment. A Man in a class by himself.
Alone at the top.
WOW ! In fact, WOW to the Nth power !
Can’t wait.
Maddon is working with no expectations. His team is the decided underdog despite the push they are making right now. Maddon is therefor working without restrictions, if he fails by a boneheaded move it doesn’t get viewed in the same way as it would if Girardi did it.
Maddon would drive everyone nuts on this blog, and in most Yankee fan circles. He is another version of Ozzie. By being a strange dude he takes some of the story away from the players doing poorly.
And about a foot in height, Big Al.
^exaggeration.
BIG AL,
True, but he had several oportunities to let the kid play and show what he had, and Girardi didn’t
I also tend to disagree about Jorge catching Mo’s 602nd save. I would have no objection if Girardi decides to do that, but this is not about Jorge. It is about Mo. I love Jorge, I appreciate him, I am going to miss him when he’s gone. But this should not be about Jorge.
I repeat – should the Yankees choose to do it, it would not bother me at all. I just won’t be disappointed or upset or angry if they do not.
Villa, Yogi,
Point taken, is true, there is different standard and probably he would get burned if the move backfires
I think they had one game where Betances could have been brought in, not several chances. Perhaps if there’s another blowout before the clinch, or if they clinch soon, then afterwards. But this is not about getting the prospects innings unless it is in direct service of the ML club.
Letting Posada have the honor of Catching Mo’s # 602 would be a great touch.
I hope that can be worked out.
Maddon would drive everyone nuts on this blog, and in most Yankee fan circles. He is another version of Ozzie. By being a strange dude he takes some of the story away from the players doing poorly.
———————-
I’m sorry, but I don’t think there could be managers more different than Maddon and Ozzie.
If the Yankees go 7-5 over their remaining 12 games then Boston needs to win every game they have remaining to tie them. If they play .500 and go 6-6 then Boston can only lose one more game.
Villa,
You are right about the milestone is about Mo, but Po has caught most of the significant saves from him, and probably this is his last year as a yankee, i would let him catch 602, but i wouldn’t be mad or angry or disapointed if it doesn’t happen
To be fair, the pedigrees of Moore and Betances are much different. Moore is extremely polished and dominated his competition this year. The better comparison is Moore and Joba circa 2007.
Oh!, and i am sure that Mo would want that too if it doesn’t put in jeopardy the team
“To be fair, the pedigrees of Moore and Betances are much different. Moore is extremely polished and dominated his competition this year. The better comparison is Moore and Joba circa 2007.”
Moore is 2 years older…..when he was 20 he was in low A ball not AAA. Manny pitched low A at 18
I love that Betances is a Yankee, and can’t wait to see him pitch for the Yankees, but, he’s up for a look only, unless he gets into a blow out game.
His numbers in AAA were poor, and that’s OK, he needs more time to develop, and I see no reason to rush him, just because the fans are anxious for him to be brought up.
Moore AAA numbers: ERA 1.37, Whip 0.968, BB/9 3.1, SO/9 13.5, W-L 4-0
Betances AAA numbers: ERA 5.14, Whip 1.476, BB/9 6.4, SO/9 11.6, W-L 0-3
These are just some of the reasons Moore is pitching for the Rays, and Betances is just watching.
Villa,
yes i exagerated….because i want to see the kid pitch, i haven’t have the chance to see him in a game that meant something
Guillen is a lunatic and belongs in a straight jacket.
Maddon loves as much “whine” as possible with his cheese. He learned that from the whiner extraordinaire- Scioscia.
Big Al – Agree. Aside from both of them being among the best pitching prospects in each team’s organization, they have nothing in common. Cashman himself said it was unlikely that he would pitch.
blake -
I understand what you’re saying, but, the question, or statements made where why does Madden just Moore, and Girardi not Betances to be in big games. That’s the point of discussion.
luis -
I wonder if Mo would request it. But the thing is no save situation is a guarantee. What if they bring Jorge in for that inning and he blows the save? Or even if only for the last batter?
I think it has to be business as usual.
AL,
Sorry, I misread I thought ZMAN was comparing Moore to Banuelos not Betances……yes I’d agree Moore is much more polished and ready than Betances.
And, I think everyone wants to see the kids, so I’m certainly not judging anyone who is impatient about it.
MTU -
Red or White?
I don’t want them to put Betances in a big spot like that anyway….I just wanted to see him pitch to see if he could be a better option to have out there than Ayala or Proctor etc….
Al-
Doesn’t seem to matter just as long as he gets his fill.
MTU -
Any sneek previews of that Mo tribute available?
Girardi doesn’t have to use Betances or Brackman in a big game right away like Maddon.
He could work one or both of them in slowly to see if either could contribute in the postseason. Girardi doesn’t have to be as ballsy as Maddon but it would be nice if he demonstrated some non-conventional thinking once in a while.
Villa,
Can’t argue with such a well thought post….i am letting my heart do the talking not my head, you are right
blake -
Too much pressure to perform at this level, at this time. The last thing you want to do is damage his confidence, if he did poorly.
Villa Nova-Ya September 17th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
I also tend to disagree about Jorge catching Mo’s 602nd save. I would have no objection if Girardi decides to do that, but this is not about Jorge. It is about Mo. I love Jorge, I appreciate him, I am going to miss him when he’s gone. But this should not be about Jorge.
—–
100% agree. When Jeter got his 3K, it was about him. A-rod and his homers were about him and so on. MO’s #602 should be about what he’s accomplished because of his hard work and not about Posada catching him. If they take out Martin or whomever just to put in Posada for that inning, the moment is not about MO, but it’ll be about Mo & Po.
Mo can toss a save to anyone. So the fact that Po caught him for most of them is about the fact that they’re on the same team and not about Posada.
It’s unfortunate that so many people are making it about Posada catching Mo. I think a lot of this is about fans of Posada, knowing it’s his last year & wanting him to be “part” of Mo’s moment.
Al-
Was the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel made available before it’s time ?
those 2 losses to the Orioles are going to really haunt them.
It’s going to take Boston losing almost half of their remaining games against the Orioles as well while Tampa takes like 5\7 from us. They also need us to beat Boston a couple of times. Basically like Mets/Phillies or Mets/Brewers in 07/08. One team lost most of their games the other won most of theirs. That’s how collapses/comebacks occur.
Rays have no margin for error though. They need to win tomorrow, 3\4 in NY, and go 5-1 on their TOR/NY homestand. 9-2 in their final 11.
I don’t doubt that Boston can limp home… it’s if the Rays can play 2 games better than them the rest of the way with their schedule.
Perhaps we smack the lowly Twins badly, and early, then the “B’s” can pitch in front of the home town crowd.
blake,
I keep asking, what’s wrong with Ayala? He does his job, and yet he’s still maligned.
MTU -
The answer is; Can you tell me if he was rushed to finish the dammed ceiling in less time, final answer.
BIG AL September 17th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
If it is about betances, thinking with my head now…yes, you could do more damage than good if you rush the kid.
tom,
he’s fine for what he’s doing….I just think they should give all options a look…that’s all
Al-
Of course.
Are you high up up in the Vatican food chain ?
Therefore your request holds no sway and you must wait along with all the other commoners.
Besides, that would be cheating and his Mo-ness would not like it.
Have a good night everyone, today was a perfect day, the yankees win coming from behind and the sux lose another one, GO YANKEES!
luis-
Betances is going to be a stud for the Yankkees for many, many years. He’s very young, and still learning his craft. Just like you don’t rush fine wine, or a master chief, you have no need to rush this young man into a situation he’s not ready for. Good Lord willing, we’ll be singing his praises for many seasons to come.
MTU -
Great, now I need to be elected Pope to see your pictures early. I’ll not forget this my friend, while I sit here making those little Red Sox dolls to continue pushing the pins in, I might make an extra one, if you know what I mean.
Later folks – I need to go to the craft shop for additional supplies.
AL,
Your Lester pin worked, Put another one in Wakefield.
this team will have huge problem in th 1st rd of the playoffs…..they better score runs because the SP is not getting it done
tom -
Did you like the one I used on Youk’s back, lol.
# tomingeorgia September 17th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
AL,
Your Lester pin worked, Put another one in Wakefield.
————————————-
your the one that told me Colon was going to get comeback player of the year…
The last time we were in the WS, I recall the same statements being made about our SP, the offense was not doing their job etc. I believe that was #27, right?
That’s a scary thought Al but I must still refuse.
I just hope the tribute is even slightly worthy
of the great deed we are about to witness.
Many have made the Summit of Everest but none have been to the peak where his Mo-ness will be going.
It’s the very first time it will ever have been climbed. May never happen again.
# BIG AL September 17th, 2011 at 8:27 pm
The last time we were in the WS, I recall the same statements being made about our SP, the offense was not doing their job etc. I believe that was #27, right?
——————————–
your right AL
this team will have huge problem in th 1st rd of the playoffs…..they better score runs because the SP is not getting it done
—–
Maybe 3rd time will be the charm predicting first round doom?
Some say it’s partly cloudy, while others look at it as mostly sunny. It’s a matter of being positive, or negative – your choice.
joeman,
He still may, God willing.
MTU -
OK , you’re off the hook, only because it’s MO.
I hope all that love the Yankees, and baseball in general, can apprciate what we have the pleasure of witnessing.
The first Yankees player to reach 3,000 hits, the greatest closer of all time go where no other closer has ever been, and a great hitter like A-Rod, on the road to becoming the HR King of baseball.
We should all reflect from time to time, and truly appreciate the teams the Yankees have fielded over the years, for our pleasure. The Boss started this long road of success, and one can only hope his sons follow in his giant footsteps.
# tomingeorgia September 17th, 2011 at 8:29 pm
joeman,
He still may, God willing.
—————————————–
nice job
chances of them bringing Martin back in 12
Don’t freak out too much, but I have a Yankee Numerology Alert:
As Mo tied the saves record, I found myself on Highway 42 in Oregon.
Photo posted to flickr page already, click link to see.
The hand of Mo has touched us all.
“chances of them bringing Martin back in 12″
nearly 100%
Updated standings.
I like this one because it has the elimination # and the WC standings on one page. Always nice when you’re the one doing the eliminating.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/standings
Good night folks, it has been a real pleasure to be here tonight, with a polite back and forth on baseball thoughts, without the usual drama. Keep it going, later y’all.
Buster_ESPN
By the way: It wouldn’t be a shock if the Marlins wound up making the highest offer to C.J. Wilson. Have no idea if he would accept…
Sept 17 run differential
2009: +149
2011: +206
Not that this means anything…..but the Yanks haven’t had a run differential this high since the 1998 season when it was an insane +309 by season’s end. +206 is better than any of the other championship teams from the last 2 decades.
If the Yankees wrap up the division and HFA early they can tank the last 3 games vs. the Rays. Start all of Scranton for 3 days straight and rest the vets for the playoffs.
Perhaps the Rays could use those 3 wins.
Mo will not be available tomorrow afternoon in Toronto. He’ll break the record in Yankees Stadium. After tomorrow, Yanks head to NY for 8 straight home games.
The Yankees are going to need to figure out what they are doing with Montero or they are going to have to trade him and I really doubt that they want to do that now that Jesus is Loose. In my opinion they should put him as the backup Catcher/ Primary DH for 2012 and see if he cut it as a catcher…..not to many 22 tear old DH’S in the majors though
joeman,
Thanks, and let him catch some next year. How are you going to know?
It has been a privilege to watch Mo pitch all these years. He is one of a kind. There will never be another like him.
It should be interesting to see what Freddy gives us tomorrow.
He has been terrible in his last 2 outings.
I’m hoping it was just a huge speed bump.
is the Yankee # 6….get it done and let see the kid catch
# JM September 17th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
It has been a privilege to watch Mo pitch all these years. He is one of a kind. There will never be another like him.
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no Mo some of those WS don’t happen
joeman September 17th, 2011 at 9:32 pm
# JM September 17th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
It has been a privilege to watch Mo pitch all these years. He is one of a kind. There will never be another like him.
——————————————–
no Mo some of those WS don’t happen
____
I agree.
MTU September 17th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
It should be interesting to see what Freddy gives us tomorrow.
He has been terrible in his last 2 outings.
I’m hoping it was just a huge speed bump.
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I think what you have seem from BC & FG the last hand full of outings is what your going to get…Joey Bats vs Freddy could be ugly
All I can say Joeman is that I hope you are wrong.
But we will see.
check it out…must have been by many
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lohgU46mRA
LGY, I wasn’t comparing Ozzie to Maddon in the conventional sense. Both are a bit odd, both are unconventional in their managing, though Ozzie tends to be more unconventional due to his mouthing off than on field moves. Neither are ones that would play long in NY, as the goofy act wears thin especially if the performance isn’t there.
Maddon wouldn’t work all that well with a veteran staff. Ozzie wouldn’t either.
I agree that they aren’t alike in most ways.
Joeman, I think there is concern about Montero behind the plate during this last push. I think he got a bit of a raw deal, where he just got the one game to catch and try showing what he could do. His opportunities would probably be different if it wasn’t such a close race, and I believe the Yankees want to win the division and HFA.
I also see Montero being the backup catcher/DH, which might be the best use of him in any case, as it could help keep him from the wearing down that a starting catcher would have. His bat could be something really special, and if he gets work with Pena on his catching, he could at least be serviceable as a backup – but with much better batting skills.
# Yogi Mantle September 17th, 2011 at 9:42 pm
LGY, I wasn’t comparing Ozzie to Maddon in the conventional sense. Both are a bit odd, both are unconventional in their managing, though Ozzie tends to be more unconventional due to his mouthing off than on field moves. Neither are ones that would play long in NY, as the goofy act wears thin especially if the performance isn’t there.
Maddon wouldn’t work all that well with a veteran staff. Ozzie wouldn’t either.
I agree that they aren’t alike in most ways.
Joeman, I think there is concern about Montero behind the plate during this last push. I think he got a bit of a raw deal, where he just got the one game to catch and try showing what he could do. His opportunities would probably be different if it wasn’t such a close race, and I believe the Yankees want to win the division and HFA.
I also see Montero being the backup catcher/DH, which might be the best use of him in any case, as it could help keep him from the wearing down that a starting catcher would have. His bat could be something really special, and if he gets work with Pena on his catching, he could at least be serviceable as a backup – but with much better batting skills.
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no doubt his hitting skills are there….just don’t know where on the pecking order he is as a catcher with this team in the future..