Yankees considering playing Mariano Rivera in CF in final series

[Angrioter]

Yankees 'absolutely' considering playing Mariano Rivera in center

 

The Yankees and manager Joe Girardi are "absolutely" entertaining the idea of playing Mariano Rivera in center field before the end of the season.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/23859141/yankees-absolutely-considering-playing-mariano-rivera-in-center-field

[wilko]

John Rocker is still the all time best closer.

[jaysblue]

John Rocker is still the all time best closer.

 

I say Miguel Batista was the best - he was a poet at least.

[jaysblue]

Yankees 'absolutely' considering playing Mariano Rivera in center

 

The Yankees and manager Joe Girardi are "absolutely" entertaining the idea of playing Mariano Rivera in center field before the end of the season.

 

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/23859141/yankees-absolutely-considering-playing-mariano-rivera-in-center-field

 

That's cool. I'm sure if the Yankees announced which day he was starting, the Astros would get a sellout haha

[flafson]

Why center and not left field? You might kill the guy.

[G-Snarls]

Why center and not left field? You might kill the guy.

 

Yeah, for those who have forgotten, shagging fly balls cost him most of the 2012 season

[HERPDERP]

I wonder if he will do this if the game is close or tied.

 

 

Anyways, best scenario is to hope your CF bats in the 8th inning, pinch hit him with Mariano and then send him out to CF in the bottom half.

[bendera3]

I wonder if he will do this if the game is close or tied.

 

 

Anyways, best scenario is to hope your CF bats in the 8th inning, pinch hit him with Mariano and then send him out to CF in the bottom half.

 

I've been incredibly busy with work so I haven't kept up with the postseason race but I believe the Yankee's are out of the hunt, right? If they are I don't see any reason why the guy can't play the whole game in center.

[G-Snarls]

I've been incredibly busy with work so I haven't kept up with the postseason race but I believe the Yankee's are out of the hunt, right? If they are I don't see any reason why the guy can't play the whole game in center.

 

Yes, Yankees have been mathematically eliminated. And are playing the worst team in baseball (Houston)

 

Only Tampa Cleveland and Texas have a shot at the wild cards

[bendera3]

Yes, Yankees have been mathematically eliminated. And are playing the worst team in baseball (Houston)

 

Only Tampa Cleveland and Texas have a shot at the wild cards

 

Let the man play center and close out the (I'm going to assume) win.

[jays_fever]

Baseball seems to be the only sport when head coaches/managers actually respect the playoff hunt going on and keep in mind the game implications during the last week of the season. Basketball coaches are notorious dickheads for not GAF and completely change the playoff seeding by resting their players just because

[ElNik2013]

Has anything like this been done for any other retiring great?

 

They can do whatever they want, but my view is this: He's a reliever, just win the final game and bring him in to close it out. I don't see why they need to make up ways to play him. He's going to retire, just do it.

[John_Havok]

That sounds awesome.

 

I think it's pretty retarded myself, but the again I also think closers are completely overrated In general and therefore being the best at an extremely overrated position shouldn't even be a consideration for the hall of fame. I just think this is another example of the Yankee bias that runs rampant through MLB as a whole. If he pitched his career in Houston and puts up similar numbers, no chance he gets anywhere close to the recognition or respect he gets now.

 

May as well start putting in the best career bench players and pinch hitters too.

[GD]

I think it's pretty retarded myself, but the again I also think closers are completely overrated In general and therefore being the best at an extremely overrated position shouldn't even be a consideration for the hall of fame. I just think this is another example of the Yankee bias that runs rampant through MLB as a whole. If he pitched his career in Houston and puts up similar numbers, no chance he gets anywhere close to the recognition or respect he gets now.

 

May as well start putting in the best career bench players and pinch hitters too.

 

Hoffman pitched in freaking San Diego and Milwaukee. Not Huston, but he got some good recognition out there.

[John_Havok]

Sure he does. Any late inning reliever would have an automatic advantage in WPA since they largely only pitch the 9th inning. It's one of the largest flaws of WPA in regards to closers.

[Convo]

Yeah, for those who have forgotten, shagging fly balls cost him most of the 2012 season

 

Why do you think he wants to do it? He wants to redeem himself from that incident.

[John_Havok]

Don't get me wrong, he's an incredibly talented relief pitcher, the best at his position ever. But his position isn't anywhere near as important as it's made out to be, so excelling a t that position doesn't really make me feel that he should be mentioned with the greatest players to ever play the game.

 

He's a guy who couldn't even cut it as a back of the rotation starter. A one pitch, one trick pony only good for 70 IP per year. Exceptionally good for those 70 innings, but still doe ant warrant mention as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

[GD]

A flaw in WPA or a testament to the fact that he's been nails in high leverage situations for the better part of two decades? Mo's numbers are just silly. Amassing 40.2 fWAR and 57.5 WPA in under 1300 innings is ridiculous. IMO he deserves every HOF vote he receives.

 

I agree entirely but I'm gonna take this off topic and ask what the hell is up with your Sergio Romo obsession?

 

Plot twist: BTS is Dustin Parks, part time Jays fan part time Giants fan

[Abomination]

Don't get me wrong, he's an incredibly talented relief pitcher, the best at his position ever. But his position isn't anywhere near as important as it's made out to be, so excelling a t that position doesn't really make me feel that he should be mentioned with the greatest players to ever play the game.

 

He's a guy who couldn't even cut it as a back of the rotation starter. A one pitch, one trick pony only good for 70 IP per year. Exceptionally good for those 70 innings, but still doe ant warrant mention as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

 

The best at his position ever is exactly why he should be in there. Who cares whether his position is considered as important or not? Edgar should probably be in too, and what about Papi if he plays another 2 years and reaches 500 home runs?

[John_Havok]

The best at his position ever is exactly why he should be in there. Who cares whether his position is considered as important or not? Edgar should probably be in too, and what about Papi if he plays another 2 years and reaches 500 home runs?

 

I'm glad you brought that up, because I think it's completely hypocritical of the mlb establishment to glorify the best closer but downplay the best DH's like Edgar Martinez.

 

About Ortiz, I don't think he'll make it to 500 and won't get in.

[Angrioter]

I'm glad you brought that up, because I think it's completely hypocritical of the mlb establishment to glorify the best closer but downplay the best DH's like Edgar Martinez.

 

About Ortiz, I don't think he'll make it to 500 and won't get in.

 

Edgar Martinez > Ortiz

Eckersley > Mo

[BlueJayWay]

Don't get me wrong, he's an incredibly talented relief pitcher, the best at his position ever. But his position isn't anywhere near as important as it's made out to be, so excelling a t that position doesn't really make me feel that he should be mentioned with the greatest players to ever play the game.

 

He's a guy who couldn't even cut it as a back of the rotation starter. A one pitch, one trick pony only good for 70 IP per year. Exceptionally good for those 70 innings, but still doe ant warrant mention as one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

This. The problem with Rivera is the problem with closers, which is the problem with relief pitchers generally. They just don't pitch enough to accrue that much value individually. And like you said, they're all pretty much failed starters. Even if Rivera is the greatest reliever ever, where does that put him among all pitchers ever? Pretty far down the list, actually. Let alone adding in position players.

 

Here's a thought experiment: if Rivera is really among the greatest players ever, and "the closer" is really so important, then the Dodgers are being pretty stupid wasting Clayton Kershaw as a starter, no? He's the best pitcher on that team, everyone would agree. They should give up his 7-8+ innings each start and put him in the pen where he throws 1 inning at a time.

 

But of course that would be stupid.

 

By that same logic the Jays were wasting Halladay all those years as a starter throwing 230 innings, when they could have had him as the closer throwing like 65 innings a year.

[KevinGregg]

You gotta think he would have a lot less success the third time through the lineup.

[jaysblue]

There haven't been that many closers out there who have done an exceptional job over a long period of time. Rivera is one of the first names that come to mind as he's closed games for the last two decades almost; the other's recently I'd say Hoffman and Wagner over the past decade or so. Though that's about it. Relievers are extremely volatile. There are not many closers who have had success for 10 + seasons.