because I have tons of respect for all he has done for the Yankees organization, BUT.... Maybe if he spent less time in spring training bitching about his contract, and more time focusing on training, he wouldn't be having the kind of year he is having?
Or maybe the 2 days he spent talking about the contract because the media kept bringing it up to him wasn't really that big a deal? And maybe if the Yankees actually had a 3-run or less lead in the ninth more than once a week, and Mo actually got to pitch 3 of every 5 days, like he always has, and if it wasn't still early in the year, when he traditionally has problems, he might be okay? Why is everyone having a mental meltdown over this? I would think the concern today would be more that a kid pitched yet another gem, and we only scored twice. But I guess the best lineup in baseball is allowed a few days off a week, but one of the best closers in the history of the game must be perfect every appearance.
That's an awesome idea. I think you should go work for the Yankees Shade. We all know you're a pinstripe lover on the inside. Come out of the closet bro. We'll accept you for who you are. :wink:
It did? What paper were you reading? Or perhaps you're referring to ESPN harping on it for days on end, simply because it was yet another filler story in the time between Barry Bonds pieces. It went on for two days. And the second day, Mo didn't especially want to talk about it. It was actually more of a response day from Cashman. But why let the details get in the way of an argument? He does not look silly, if you have honestly watched the Yankees over the past decade. Mo REQUIRES 4-5 appearances PER WEEK. When was the last time Mo pitched 4 times in the span of a week? Here are his appearances FYI: Week 1 04/02 04/07 Week 2 04/10 04/14 Week 3 04/15 04/20 Week 4 04/23 04/27 04/28 Week 5 05/03 (twice) Week 6 05/07 So the answer to my question is: when the calendar read 2006. I don't understand why this is such a hard concept for Yankees fans to follow. Everyone just wants to point a finger at an individual, when the fact is, this TEAM is underperforming. Based on preseason projections (1000 runs,) we should be scoring 6.2 runs per game. We scored 2 yesterday. Even on the adjusted number from last week (965 runs,) we should be scoring 5.95 per game. We scored 2. Mo is not immortal. I would think people learned the lesson from ARod at this point, but it's obvious people want to point a finger. I just don't get it. (WHERE THE HELL IS 10P???)
i love mariano and have complete confidence in him, and agree with what you're saying about him needing to pitch 3-5 times a week, but i dont think thats a good enough excuse for the way he's been pitching. everyone runs into rough spots now and again, but hes been very inconsistent so far and his location/stuff hasn't been very good at all. i really am hoping he rebounds from this and I agree for him to be effective, he needs to pitch more and on a more consistent basis. however, im still slightly worried from what ive seen, not just the statistics hes put up, he just hasnt been very effective either. this has happened recently where hes gotten off to a bad start and hes always regained his composure, so heres to hoping he recovers.
I think you're a little off on this one. If he feels he needs to pitch 4 times a week, there is NOTHING stopping him from going to the bullpen after a game he didn't pitch and throwing an inning's worth of pitches. Also, with the cutter, it's not a "feel" pitch like a knuckleball or a curve, or a sinker that is helped somewhat by a deader arm. His problem has been either location (mostly) or velocity (not so much).
The location is why he needs the work. It's traditional with him. If he goes for a few days, even mid-season, without work, he loses his control. For whatever reason, bullpen sessions don't work for him. I know, it's retarded, and it makes no sense whatsoever, but then again, neither does a closer lasting more than a decade with nothing but a fastball. Has he been disappointing, yes, absolutely. Is it quite possible that the great Mo is done? Of course. Am I ready to write him off, before he gets what he's proven to be his requisite workload? Not at all. If he were pitching at least 3 times every week all year so far, and still blowing saves, I'd be up in arms too. However, like I posted earlier, he's had exactly one week this season where he's pitched more than two games. Granted, we haven't had many save situations, but if you can have Andy Pettitte making appearances half way through the rotation after his last start, you can stick Mo in during an 8th inning of a blowout. I don't know how many people were watching spring training back in March, but Mo looked exactly the same as he did the end of last year while in Tampa. He was pitching at least 4 times a week while ST was going on. See the corrolation? It's simple. If Mo gets the work, he's arguably the top closer in the game. (Of course, right now, we have competition not only across the bridge, but also in the same division, for that title.) If he doesn't get the work, expect 9th inning collapses. You would think at this point, Joe would know one of his "guys."
Where is the law that says a closer can only pitch in closing situations? You're right of course that he needs more work. He should be pitching at least every other day. Even in a blowout it wouldn't hurt him to pitch an inning. What have the Yankees had this year, 3 or 4 closing situations at most? You expect too much to think Torre can figure this out on his own though.
:rofl: You're right. My bad... But this is exactly the point. Mo needs innings. I guess this is a big surprise though. I mean, it's only been what, 9 full seasons he's been the closer? It's not like he has a body of work to reference against. (Or even his own words...)
It makes absolutely no sense to coddle him anyway. It's not like he has 3 years left on a contract plus he wants to pitch..so go figure.
But Joe doesn't want his guys to feel like they're being abused. They should feel Safe at Home, you know?
Rivera made 63 appearances last year. He is on pace for 65 this year. I really don't think the problem is enough work. I haven't looked at it, but I'd be willing to guess it's one of two things. A mechanical flaw he's developed, or hitters waiting for the mistakes. I'm not sure of the numbers so this is just off the top of my head, but it always seemed to me that guys went up there hacking away, and getting jammed early in the count. Something the Red Sox have done the last few years that has contributed to their recent success against him has been to make him throw pitches. If he gets behind he throws a straight fastball, which is more hittable, and with more pitches, logically, he's more likely to miss his target.
He's had stints this year of going a week without pitching. He's not getting regular work. The Yankees are either blowing somebody out or getting blown out themselves. I really think there have only been 3 or 4 true save situations all year and I can only think of 1 or 2 non-save spots he's been brought in. Just looked it up, he's been in 12 of 30 games. Only 5 save opportunities. More then I thought.
St. Roger the Savior will pitch a complete game shutout every night. Due to the high levels of HGH in his system, he rejuvenates much like Wolverine of the X-Man comic books. Other then blowing 30% of his saves against the Red Sox going back to 2004, I think it's too early to say Rivera is done for.
