Mariano Rivera

After their playing careers are over, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera will undoubtedly be elected to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility, but will teammate Jorge Posada join them in Cooperstown?  Yankee fans may feel differently, but the truth is that if Posada retired from baseball today, he would not belong in The Hall.  His credentials include five trips to the All-Star Game, five Silver Slugger awards, 243 home runs, and five seasons with 90+ RBI’s, as well as having caught the perfect game thrown by David Wells in 1998.  Arguments against Posada’s candidacy are that he is not a strong defensive catcher, has only once batted over .300 (.277 career average) and his 1,488 career hits do not make him stand out among his catching peers.  Despite 11 career playoff home runs, his postseason line (.239/.351/.384) is sub-par for a catcher known primarily for his hitting.

Continue reading "Third member of Yankee trio not a lock for Hall"

us from the Bronx Bombers, Pettitte has as many World Series rings (five) as teammates Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Jorge Posada, and even had the chance at another in 2005 with the Astros, who were swept by the White Sox in the Fall Classic that year.  With four wins during his team’s run to their 27th World Series Championship, Pettitte passed John Smoltz for the all-time Major League lead with 18 career postseason wins, 17 of which have come as a member of the Yankees.  Yankee fans are anxious to see whether Pettitte will decide to retire or play another year in the Bronx.

Continue reading "A vote for Alomar"

How about Mariano Rivera?  In 12 appearances this postseason, Mo threw 16 innings and allowed just a single run while striking out 14 and saving five games.  His value was particularly apparent in Game 4 of the World Series, when he retired the Phillies in order to preserve the Yankee victory after his counterpart, Brad Lidge, surrendered three runs in the top of the ninth and took the loss.

Continue reading "A game for the record books"

d since 1990: Bobby Thigpen of the 1990 Chicago White Sox currently holds the record with 57, while Mariano Rivera is tenth with his 50-save performance of 2001. Eric Gagne and John Smoltz have both threatened to unseat Thigpen, each coming within two saves in 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Continue reading "K-Rod: King of Saves"