All-Star Game

[VinnyTheMick]

Papelbon says he needs to respect his elder statesman. LOL yeah, ok pal keep coming with the backhanded compliments. How do you like his ERA being half yours? How do you like his walks to innings pitch being half yours? How do you like him having a better season than you & it isn't even close? This isn't about "respecting your elders" it is about the better player having the better season earning the right to close tonight.

Riverdance off the GWB, tool.

[Stanford]

Lousy night to be an atheist? WTF does that mean? If I find religion will I smash homeruns like Josh Hamilton? Is my lack of faith hindering my ability to hit taters?

lousy night to be an atheist. who is this guy

Take a Xanax and don't put so much significance on throwaway statements.

Xanax. Oh I get it. You perceived some sort of angst in my post and - just as a a doctor would prescribe a Xanax to a patient with anxiety - you suggest I take an 'e-xanax', if you will, to curb what you precieved as angst in my post. No, I get it. The joke works.

[VinnyTheMick]

Dumbass K Rod doesn't get a pass either. "Who has the numbers?" Are you f_ckin' kidding me?

Innings Pitched
Rivera- 42.1
K-Rod- 42

ERA
Rivera- 1.06
K-Rod- 2.36

WHIP
Rivera- 0.64
K-Rod- 1.26

Strikeouts
Rivera- 50
K-Rod- 41

BB
Rivera- 4
K-Rod- 26

The only "number" K-Rod has is total saves. Well guess what? The Yankees aren't playing too well so Mariano isn't giving the same opportunities to come on in save situations like K-Rod is. They've pitched in pretty much the exact same amount innings & Mo has pitched better. No other way to slice it.

[studcrackers]

studcrackers=epic fail

not really, josh owned the night and though he lost he still hit more HR's then anyone and had the crowd in the palm of his hands, truly special

the only epic fail i had was that i only heard bits and pieces on the radio and caught a couple highlights later b/c of a night class i had then went to eat after that

[sunshinekids99]

So instead of going with Josh Hamilton or Justin Morneau on the back of the Daily News, they decide to go with Paps. Really is pathetic. Personally I think it's just Paps talking like he always does, everybody knows Rivera is going to close. Paps was having fun IMO. Let them boo him, it's not like it's going to matter anyways.

[studcrackers]

[studcrackers]

what francona should do to mess with all the fans and what not is have papelbon and rivera warm up at the same time, just to piss off even more people

[VinnyTheMick]

Personally I think it's just Paps talking out of his ass like he always does, everybody knows Rivera is going to close. Paps was having fun IMO. Let them boo him, it's not like it's going to matter anyways.

Fixed. Dismissing one of Rivera's best seasons with "blah blah blah" then the backhanded compliment isn't having fun, its being a petty jerk. Papellbon doesn't think it is cut & dry? Mariano IS better than Papelbon, Mariano IS having a better season than Papelbon, this IS the final all star game at Yankee Stadium.

Not sure how much more of a no brainer it could be.

So instead of going with Josh Hamilton or Justin Morneau on the back of the Daily News, they decide to go with Paps. Really is pathetic.

Well if the Redsox's closer didn't insult quite possibly the greatest closer of all time who happens to play for the #1 team in the paper's city then maybe they would have went with Hamilton. Seriously, what do you think will sell more papers in New York City?

[SportsWorld]

Trevor Hoffman plays for the Yankees? News to me.

[VinnyTheMick]

Trevor Hoffman plays for the Yankees? News to me.

Trevor Hoffman is the greatest closer of all time? News to me. I thought to be the greatest you had to stand up in pressure situations not fold like a friggin' lawn chair. Imagine putting a resume together that is strong enough that you can blow a world series game 7 save & STILL be considered the best big game closer of all time. Let me know when Trevor gets there.

[VinnyTheMick]

Mariano Rivera
Holds MLB record for lowest postseason ERA of all time (0.77) (as of 2007)
Holds MLB record for most postseason saves of all time (34)
Holds MLB record for lowest career ERA of closers with at least 150 career saves (2.30) (as of July 9, 2008)
Holds MLB record for pitching 34 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings in postseason
Holds MLB record for converting 23 consecutive postseason saves
Second-best save conversion percentage of closers with at least 150 saves (89.8%) (1999–2006)
One of two pitchers to record 40 saves in six different seasons
Third all-time in career regular season saves (466), second all-time among active pitchers (as of July 5, 2008)
One of five pitchers to record 300 regular season saves with one team, and one of two to record 400 regular season saves with one team
One of eight pitchers to record at least 50 saves in a season
One of two pitchers to record at least 50 saves in two separate seasons
Holds MLB record for most two-inning postseason saves (12)
Holds MLB record for most regular season saves in American League history
Holds MLB record for most World Series saves (9)
Holds MLB record for lowest ERA in Division Series history (0.38)
Has second-most seasons with at least 30 saves (10)
Has second-most consecutive seasons with at least 25 saves (11)
Only reliever to win ALCS MVP (2003) and World Series MVP (1999) awards
Holds MLB record for most seasons with 20-plus saves and sub-2.00 ERA (7)
9-time All-Star (1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)
4-time World Series champion (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000)
Holds Yankee single season record for strikeouts by a reliever (130)
Holds MLB record for most appearances in postseason history (76)
Yankees' all-time regular season leader in WHIP (1.03), saves (466), appearances (825), and games finished (695) (as of July 9, 2008)
Finished third in voting for American League Cy Young Award in 1996, 1999, 2004; finished second in 2005
One of three pitchers since 1998 to finish among top ten in voting for American League Most Valuable Player Award (2004, 2005)
One of two pitchers to save three All-Star Games (1997, 2005, 2006)
Only pitcher to close out three World Series

Trevor Hoffman
# 6-time All-Star (1998-2000, 2002, 2006-2007)
# 2-time winner of Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award (1998, 2006)
# Hutch Award for service to the community (2004)
# Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (2006)
# 3-time winner of TSN Reliever of the Year Award (1996, 1998, 2006)
# 2-time National League saves leader (1998, 2006)
# NL Pitcher of the month for May, 2005
# Holds MLB record for most Pitching Appearances with one team (803)
# 714 Games finished, most among any active pitcher (3rd All-Time)
# Holds MLB record with 8 consecutive seasons with 30 or more saves (1995-2002)
# Holds MLB record with 13 20-Save seasons (1994-2002, 2004-2007) (Tied with Lee Smith)
# Holds MLB record with 12 30-Save seasons (1995-2002, 2004-2007)
# Holds MLB record with 9 40-Save seasons (1996, 1998-2001, 2004-2007)
# Holds MLB record as the only pitcher with 500 MLB career saves (June 6, 2007)
# 89.53% career save percentage (522 saves in 583 opportunities) is best in MLB History (minimum 190 opportunities) (as of Sept. 20, 2007)

[VinnyTheMick]

Daily News is reporting that

- Every HOFer that was at the HOF parade (35 of 'em) today will be announced on the field & they will run out to their natural positions in a pre-game ceremony.

- Willie Randolph will be the personal guest of George Steinbrenner tonight.

- George will not throw out the first pitch but might make an appearance on the field at game time.

Yankees clubhouse manager Rob Cucuzza said how impressed he was with the Red Sox players. A few of them asked to see Thurman Munson’s locker. “Those guys and Terry (Francona) have been incredibly respectful,” he said. “I didn’t really know them before this and they’ve been great.”

Then we have Jonathan Papelbon, who is wearing a sleeveless blue t-shirt with a drawing of a hand making an obscene gesture. Yes, that obscene gesture.

Classy.

Former Yankees closer Goose Gossage took a shot at Boston’s Jonathan Papelbon for wanting to close last night’s game at Mariano Rivera’s place of business, which is going out of business at the end of the season.

“I don’t know how he gets off where he should close,” said Gossage, who will inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 27. “I’m sure … if the shoe was on the other foot where they were in Fenway and it would be the farewell to Fenway, Mariano wouldn’t be saying, “I should be closing out there.’ ”

http://yankees.lhblogs.com/

[Buck You]

Do you think this will be replayed anywhere? I have to go out to eat with my aunt and relatives tonight at 6:30(f my life) and I won't be able to watch this. Or at least the first hour in a half or so of it. So do you guys think it'll be replayed anywhere?

[studcrackers]

just tape it

[Buck You]

just tape it

I would do that if I could obviously. Our VCR isn't set-up right and it can't record. So that's why I'm asking. I also asked a few other people and they can't do it either.

[greenbeans]

it'd be funny if K-Rod closed it out

[jeff1624]

I'm pretty sure Francona would have to go into the witness protection program if he did that...

[Dirty Water]

Looking like any other all-star game. No offense. Good pitching.

[sunshinekids99]

Great throw there Navarro.

[jumanji]

I thought the ongoing bashing of all Red Sox players showed no class. Boo them at the introduction and then go out and win a game for the AL. I may be wrong but i dont think you would see the all night hardon for everything New York if the game were played in Fenway. I guess the whole world evolves around the Yankees so it was probably to be expected.