Posted: 16 Jul 2013 10:16 PM PDT
There was no discussion on the American League bench. The bullpen door simply opened, and the players stopped moving.
"It was like a virus," Torii Hunter said. "Everybody caught it at the same time. We all just stood there and watched.It was his moment."
Mariano Rivera jogged out to the familiar sound of Enter Sandman, and when he got the mound, he was in the unfamiliar position of being all alone. One man on an empty field, surrounded by a standing ovation that stretched throughout Citi Field and into both dugouts.
"I wasn't expecting that," Rivera said. "When I got to the mound, I see both sides, both teams in the dugout, and it was amazing. It almost made me cry, too. I was close. It was amazing, a scene that I will never forget."
Manager Jim Leyland told Rivera during batting practice that he would likely pitch the eighth inning. Because of Neil Diamond singing in the middle of the eighth, the American League was going to wait longer than usual to take the field. So the stage was set for Rivera's entrance, but everything that came next was a spontaneous show of respect.
"It choked me up," Hunter said. "It was a touching situation. I promise you, you're not going to see anybody like that again because in all my years, I've never seen anybody with that pitch, ever. Everybody tries to imitate it, there's some fake ones out there, but he has the true cutter."
And tonight, that true cutter produced a 1-2-3 inning, an All-Star Game MVP, and one of the most touching moments of a Hall of Fame career.
"I think the only one that will top this is the World Series," Rivera said. "Besides that, I mean, this has been outstanding. Especially when you are not expecting this. I wanted to pitch. I wanted to come to the game and, since this will be my last one, I wanted to enjoy and be able to pitch for the last time in the All-Star Game. The rest was a plus. The rest was indescribable."
* The obvious question, why the eighth inning? "I said to the players before the game, I said, I'm not a motivational speaker," Leyland said. "But my motivation for tonight is to work our fannies off to get to the ninth inning and bring in the greatest closer of all-time. I did lie a little bit by one inning, but for obvious reasons. I hope you all understand that. If something freaky would have happened in the eighth where they would have scored some runs and taken a lead, there possibly wouldn't have been a ninth."
* Joe Nathan said he didn't want the ninth inning, he wanted Rivera to have it. "We definitely wanted to see him in the ninth," Nathan said. "But you want to guarantee that he goes in and has his moment. Regardless of what inning he got to pitch tonight, that moment was pretty cool. Pretty cool for us as players, pretty cool for the fans, and I'm sure it was absolutely amazing for Mo. Obviously it would have probably been even better in the ninth for him, but we got him in the game, we got him his moment and we got a win."
* Of course, the players were a little caught off guard. "We were like what the..?" Hunter said. "We did all this work for the eighth?" Ultimately, though, everyone seemed to understand that Leyland was making sure Rivera got in the game. "Your initial reaction is like, why isn't he pitching the ninth," Joe Mauer said. "But you understand the situation and that was a nice moment."
* Dave Robertson had a different idea of why Rivera pitched the eighth: Seriously, is a Yankee going to tweet anything funnier than that all year? That's better than Phil Hughes tweeting the Sanderson coffee cup, right?
* For Royals catcher Salvador Perez, the eighth was the highlight of the night. "Seriously, I got a little nervous," Perez said. "As soon as I saw him coming to the mound, I said, gosh, it's unbelievable. Last All-Star Game that Mariano Rivera pitched, I will catch. That's awesome."
* Perez went to the mound to discuss signs with Rivera. "He tell me, it's easy to catch me," Perez said. "I just got fastball and cutter. Suspend your changeup sign.That's what he tell me. I just called it down and away, called it inside. That's it. It's easy."
* Prince Fielder gave Rivera the ball from the eighth inning, and Nathan actually gave Rivera the save ball. "To be able to hand the ball over to him that I saved with him in the bullpen was pretty cool," Nathan said. "It's no secret how much I look up to him, so to be able to do that for him was awesome.It was pretty cool to hand over a save ball to him that he got a hold in. He doesn't have too many holds in his career."
* Hunter and Rivera each spoke to the team before the game. "I can't tell you how emotional it was in the clubhouse before the game," Leyland said. "That was very touching."
* What did Rivera say? "Torii Hunter, he spoke, told me to say something," Rivera said. "What I said was that I was honored and it was a privilege for me to play with all of them, you know, for so many years. This is my 13th year as an All-Star, and many of them, it was their first one. I told them, just make sure they enjoy, because it goes quick. That was my speech, and I told them I appreciate every bit of them and for me, it was a privilege and an honor to play with them."
* Here's another good line: Nathan was asked whether he thought about the possibility of Rivera getting a two-inning save. "You don't want to do that," Nathan said. "That's an old man down there."
* Final word goes to, who else but Rivera: "It felt so weird. Basically I was there alone with my catcher. I don't know how to act. At that moment, I didn't know what to do, just keep throwing the ball, I guess, because it was so weird. But at the same time, I mean, I definitely appreciate that, what they did for me."
Associated Press photos
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Posted: 16 Jul 2013 08:25 PM PDT
It wasn't a save, but Mariano Rivera did his part to preserve home-field advantage for the American League. In his final All-Star Game, the Yankees closer pitched a perfect eighth inning, helping the American League to a 3-0 win at Citi Field. It was a game with very little offense. Ten A.L. pitchers combined for a three-hitter -- with one of those hits coming from the Mets own David Wright -- and Rivera entered to the familiar sound of Enter Sandman in the eighth inning. Manager Jim Leyland clearly wanted to make absolutely certain Rivera got in the game, and the entire A.L. team stayed on the bench as Rivera entered, giving him the field all to himself for a lengthy standing ovation. Rivera promptly sent the side down in order. First baseman Prince Fielder gave him the ball as they walked into the dugout. Leadoff doubles by Miguel Cabrera and Adam Jones set the stage for the first two American League runs in the fourth and fifth, then Jason Kipnis doubled in an insurance run in the eighth. Joe Nathan closed out the game and got the save. Robinson Cano left in the top of the first after being hit by a pitch in his right quad, but X-rays came back negative and Cano said he fully expects to be in the Yankees lineup on Friday.
Associated Press photo
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Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:48 PM PDT
Panic swept across Yankeeland when Robinson Cano was forced to leave Tuesday night's All-Star game at Citi Field in the top of the first after being hit by a Matt Harvey fastball, but all indications are that the injury isn't serious. The X-ray came back negative and Cano called it a bruised right quadricep. He said that he's going to ice it for the next few days and hopes to play on Friday.
We'll have more on Cano, Mariano Rivera and more after the game.
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Posted: 16 Jul 2013 05:00 PM PDT
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Posted: 16 Jul 2013 04:30 PM PDT
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Mike Trout LF
Robinson Cano 2B
Miguel Cabrera 3B
Chris Davis 1B
Jose Bautista RF
David Ortiz DH
Adam Jones CF
Joe Mauer C
J.J. Hardy SS
RHP Max Scherzer
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Brandon Phillips 2B
Carlos Beltran RF
Joey Votto 1B
David Wright 3B
Carlos Gonzalez LF
Yadier Molina C
Troy Tulowitzki SS
Michael Cuddyer DH
Bryce Harper CF
RHP Matt Harvey
TIME/TV: Television coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. on FOX
WEATHER: It's been hot, but it's also been a clear blue sky. Really beautiful night for a game.
UMPIRES: HP John Hirschbeck, 1B Wally Bell, 2B Larry Vanover, 3B Paul Emmel, LF Rob Drake, RF Chad Fairchild
AMERICAN LEAGUE
BENCH: C Jason Castro, C Salvador Perez, 1B Prince Fielder, 2B Dustin Pedroia, 2B Jason Kipnis, 3B Manny Machado, SS Jhonny Peralta, UT Ben Zobrist, OF Nelson Cruz, OF Alex Gordon, OF Torii Hunter, DH Edwin Encarnacion
BULLPEN: RHP Felix Hernandez, RHP Justin Masterson, LHP Matt Moore, LHP Chris Sale, RHP Chris Tillman RHP Grant Balfour, LHP Brent Cecil, RHP Steve Delabar, RHP Greg Holland, RHP Joe Nathan, LHP Glen Perkins, RHP Mariano Rivera
UNAVAILABLE: RHP Clay Buchholz, RHP Bartolo Colon, RHP Justin Verlander, RHP Yu Darvish, RHP Jesse Crain, RHP Hisashi Iwakuma
NATIONAL LEAGUE
BENCH: C Brian McCann, C Buster Posey, 1B Allen Craig, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 2B Marco Scutaro, 3B Pedro Alvarez, SS Jean Segura, SS Everth Cabrera, OF Domonic Brown, OF Carlos Gomez, OF Andrew McCutchen
BULLPEN: LHP Madison Bumgarner, LHP Patrick Corbin, RHP Jose Fernandez, LHP Clayton Kershaw, LHP Cliff Lee, LHP Travis Wood, LHP Aroldis Chapman, RHP Jason Grilli, RHP Craig Kimbrel, RHP Mark Melancon, RHP Edward Mujica, RHP Sergio Romo
UNAVAILABLE: 1B Freddie Freeman, RHP Adam Wainwright, LHP Jeff Locke, RHP Jordan Zimmerman
FIRST TIMERS: There are 39 first-time All-Stars, a new record surpassing the 2011 All-Star game which had 35 first timers.
BOTH SIDES: Five of this year's All-Stars have played for an All-Star team in each league: Miguel Cabrera, Michael Cuddyer, Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy and Cliff Lee
MUSICAL PERFORMANCE: American Idol winner Candice Glover is singing tonight's National Anthem, Marc Anthony will singe God Bless America and Neil Diamond is going to perform Sweet Caroline in the middle of the eighth inning.
CHAT: If you feel like talking about the game, I'm going to be hosting a chat through the first few innings. We'll start the chat at 8 p.m.
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Posted: 16 Jul 2013 02:34 PM PDT
An interesting thing is happening at Mariano Rivera's final All-Star Game. Hitters actually want to face him.
"I have thought about that," Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig said. "It would be pretty cool to get in there and face him. No doubt. He's a guy that I've watched since I was a little kid. He's had an incredible career, and this being his last All-Star Game, I think it would be pretty special to face him. I've always wondered what that cutter looks like in the box. I've seen it plenty from the TV."
Even in a bullpen literally full of All-Stars, the greatest closer of all-time stands out.
"It's going to be cool if I get the opportunity," Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen said. "But it's a good opportunity for anybody. Everybody on the pitching staff can pitch, but somebody like him, with it being his last year, last All-Star Game - maybe - it would definitely be awesome. I'd just be able to say, regardless of the outcome, that I got to face him. In his last All-Star Game, I was one of the guys he faced."
The National League starters likely won't be in the lineup when Rivera enters the game, so the opportunity really falls to the reserves, most of whom will never have this chance again.
"I would love it," Giants catcher Buster Posey said. "I would love the chance here or when we come to play the Yankees in September. I'm a huge, huge fan of his. Can't say that it doesn't make me a little sad that this is his last year. I'm sure a lot of people feel that way."
Really, Posey would want to face Rivera in a game that actually counts? The curiosity is that great? Posey kind of smiled and thought about it.
"Maybe a tie game, how about that?" he said.
Associated Press photo
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Posted: 16 Jul 2013 12:26 PM PDT
Just settling into Citi Field for tonight's All-Star Game. The interesting story of the day, though, is coming from Manhattan where Michael Weiner discussed the expected Biogenesis suspensions. Weiner says any impact is likely to be felt next year, not this year. Here's the Associated Press.
NEW YORK (AP) -- The baseball players' association says any suspensions resulting from the sport's latest drug investigation likely won't be served until next year if the discipline is challenged before an arbitrator.
Union head Michael Weiner expects Major League Baseball will notify the union of its plans for penalties in the next month, and the union will maintain any discipline should not be announced until after a grievance hearing and then only if arbitrator Fredric Horowitz upholds a ban.
"We're going to have a discussion with them. That discussion will include whether or not names of suspended players will be announced publicly," Weiner said Tuesday during a meeting with the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Former MVPs Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun are among the more than a dozen players under investigation for ties to Biogenesis, a closed anti-aging clinic in Florida linked with the distribution of performance-enhancing drugs. MLB officials have been interviewing players, who have been represented by the union and their own lawyers.
A provision in baseball's drug agreement says discipline can be announced before a hearing if the penalty results from an allegation that became public other than through MLB or a team. Miami New Times published allegations in January, but the union could argue that a penalty results from evidence baseball has gathered rather than the newspaper account.
After MLB and the union decide how to process grievances, hearings will be scheduled before Horowitz -- but not before September and possibly later. Each player is entitled to a separate hearing, and Weiner said the union wants Horowitz to hear all cases.
"When all the interviews are done, we will meet with the commissioner's office and we'll try to work something out," Weiner said. "Our players that deserve the suspensions, we'll try to cope with their suspensions. Our players that don't deserve suspensions, we will argue that they don't deserve a suspension. And I hope we have success. We may not have success on every single player, but I hope we have a fair amount of success."
Weiner spoke from a wheelchair and said symptoms have increased in the last month from a brain tumor he was diagnosed with last summer. He currently can't move his right side or right arm and must use a wheelchair.
Weiner said the union will appoint a deputy executive director within a week or two.
Most of his talk was dominated by the drug investigation.
While most suspensions have been for positive tests since the joint drug agreement was reached in 2002, players also can be penalized for "just cause," based on other evidence.
"In theory, they could be suspended for five games or 500 games," Weiner said. "We could then choose to challenge or not, but the commissioner's office is not bound by the 50-100-life scale."
If multiple players are disciplined, management and union will have to decide the order of the grievance hearings.
"They've got to prove all those cases. I like Dan Halem, a lot, but he's going to be running around like the proverbial chicken with its head cut off," Weiner said, referring to an MLB senior vice president. "If that's the circumstance, we'll just have to schedule them and get them done as quickly as we reasonably can. And if we have the number that you suggest, it's going to take a while."
Speaking before Weiner in a separate session, baseball Commissioner Bud Selig repeated his call to toughen penalties in the drug agreement for 2014.
"We've heard from a lot of players that increased penalties are called for. We've heard from a lot of other players that don't think increased penalties are called for," Weiner said. "And I imagine we will work it out at or near in early December and then have a negotiation with them over that very subject."
Associated Press photo
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Posted: 16 Jul 2013 11:16 AM PDT
Robinson Cano's rarely one to say much. Yesterday he quickly shot down questions about Biogenesis and his upcoming free agency, but he did say a little bit about some of the topics you'd expect him to address. Here are a few words from the Yankees best player while we wait for him to bat second in tonight's All-Star Game.
And don't forget, we're going to try a chat tonight.
ON THE STATE OF THE YANKEES
"We've just got to get the rest of the guys back. We're still playing pretty good baseball now. We're not in first place, but I would say that with the guys that we have, we've been doing a pretty good job. Now hopefully we get the rest of the guys and we make a run."
ON THE INJURIES
"I know what I had to face at the beginning of the season, but I just told myself, just go there and don't try to do too much. Just be the same guy. I've been playing my game and that's what I'm going to do this year, just play my game."
ON HIS FIRST HALF
"I would say it's a good half. Maybe not like the ones that I had before, but I would say it's good. When you have to go by yourself with all this kind of stuff, you have to prepare. You don't have the teammates that you're used to having in the past, but at the same time you have to appreciate what the guys have done so far."
ON MARIANO RIVERA
"I would say he's one of the greatest in the game. He's a guy that I always want in the game, never had any problems. The way I look at Mariano, I would say he's the perfect player.That's what you want in your life. You want to be successful, you want to be given respect by everyone in the game and outside the game, and always be humble."
ON BEING AN ALL-STAR AGAIN
"It's really special. The fans, to name me as a starter in the All Star game, it's really special. And it's at home -- even if it's in Gueens, it's still in New York -- so we just want to get it going and put on a good show."
Associated Press photos
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Posted: 16 Jul 2013 08:40 AM PDT
When I posted about Alex Rodriguez's latest rehab last night, the AP hadn't moved an updated story with quotes and additional details. So, here's what Rodriguez had to say about his home run and what's supposed to be his final week of minor league games.
Also, a heads up, we're going to try a chat tonight. I'll be hosting a chat at the beginning of the All-Star Game. We'll watch the cool parts together -- the introductions, the early innings -- and talk about it (or talk about the Yankees or whatever). Hang out for a little while if you can.
READING, PA. (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez "checked a lot of boxes" Monday during his first rehab appearance with the Double-A Trenton Thunder.
He ran the bases, was tested in the field several times and engaged in a lively 12-pitch at-bat with Reading left-hander Austin Wright.
And he also did something he hadn't done in a months -- he homered.
"It's been a long time," said Rodriguez, who couldn't remember the last time he hit a home run.
He struggled in the American League playoffs last fall with the New York Yankees, and hadn't done much at the plate during his first eight rehab appearances over the last two weeks following offseason hip surgery.
Monday he went 2 for 4 and played seven innings in the first of what could be three games with the Yankees' Double-A Eastern League affiliate. The Thunder beat the Reading Fightin Phils 6-5.
The 37-year-old, 14-time All-Star was happy with every aspect of his game Monday, but especially so with his 400-foot, two-run homer to left in the fifth inning, in his third at-bat against the 23-year-old Wright. It was his first home run since Sept. 14 last season against Tampa Bay.
"To take a mid-90s fastball and hit it that way, I certainly was not able to do that the last two or three months of the season last year," Rodriguez said. "That's definitely a good check in the box.
"Yeah, that one felt really good. It felt pretty awesome. I'm very happy with that. The ball is definitely coming off the bat different (than it was last week)."
Despite looking so good on that swing, Rodriguez said he'll need the entire 20-day rehab period that began July 2 before he's ready to return to the Yankees.
"(I'm) about six days away," he said. "I think I'm par for the course. It's a process, it's one step at a time. Tonight was by far the best I've felt."
Before the game, Rodriguez met with about 20 media members and for the first time admitted that he failed to show up for a scheduled rehab game last Friday in Tampa, but said there is no riff between him and the club.
"Whatever I do with the organization, I will definitely keep private," he said. "But I will tell you I think over the last several weeks we have had very productive conversations and I think we're all aligned to come back on time and healthy."
Rodriguez met with investigators from Major League Baseball in Tampa on Friday to face questions about the Biogenesis probe. Team officials expected him to report for a game with Class-A Tampa but he was a no-show.
On Monday, he would not address the Biogenesis case or his meeting with MLB officials probing the closed anti-aging clinic.
"I can't touch that part," he said. "I appreciate you asking that question, but due to the process we're not allowed to talk about that, but will in due time I hope to."
Rodriguez has said he used PEDs while with Texas from 2001-03, but has denied using them since. He was linked to Biogenesis in a report in January by Miami New Times.
It is unknown whether Rodriguez refused to answer MLB's questions, but he struck an optimistic note when asked about the state of the game given the ongoing investigation.
"I think the game is in a great place," he said. "I love the game; I've been in love with the game since I was born. I've spent close to 20 years playing professionally. The game is doing well, and hopefully we can focus on all the great things that are going on and keep growing the game."
Associated Press photos
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Posted: 16 Jul 2013 06:00 AM PDT
It's become clear that Mariano Rivera's final All-Star Game doesn't have as much to do with Rivera himself as it has to do with all about the other pitchers who want to pick his brain or shake his hand or just see him one more time. Yesterday's media availability became a series of question and answer sessions about the greatest closer of all time.
No surprise, Rivera's peers seem to like him.
BRAVES CLOSER CRAIG KIMBREL
"I've seen him pitch on TV. I've never seen him pitch in person. Hopefully it's not him closing the game out, because we want the National League to win, but to see him on the mound would be really something.I've met him a few times, but I haven't really gotten to talk to him. I don't think he has that much time in the day because I'd want to sit him down and talk to him all day long. It's one of those things where, when somebody sets that bar, you want to know what he did, and how he did it."
WHITE SOX SETUP MAN JESSE CRAIN
"I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet, but he's the one guy that I definitely want to have a chance to go up to and talk to and meet. I've been playing against him for 10, 11 years now, I've just never had the chance to go up to him and talk to him. To be on this team with him for probably his last All-Star game that he'll ever be in is pretty cool. I'm excited to get to talk to him. He's going to be bombard the whole time, I'm sure, but I'll hopefully find a minute to at least say hello and tell him what I think about him and see what he has to say."
PIRATES CLOSER JASON GRILLI
"It's incredible. I learned something, that he's given up less (walkoff home runs) than men have stepped on the moon? You throw numbers around like that with what he's accomplished, I might have 30-something saves but there's no way I'm going to touch that record of his. I don't think he has to worry about me, because I'm old too. He's a guy to look up to. His longevity, his effectiveness, his consistency; the game is over pretty much when he comes in."
ROYALS CLOSER GREG HOLLAND
"I told my brother when I didn't initially make the team that I really wanted to be out there for Mariano's last All-Star Game and to watch him get the last out. That was really the only reason disappointment ever set in for me. To sit out there with that guy, it's going to be really awesome."
CARDINALS CLOSER EDWARD MUJICA
"He's unbelievable. He's been doing it for so many years. That's the name for him: Unbelievable Rivera. And everybody tells me he's a really good guy. He just works hard every day. He had that injury last year, but he comes right back this year, he's unbelievable.He's going to tell me, 'Hey Mujica, you've been doing a very good job throwing those changeups, that's like me with my cutter.'"
ATHLETICS CLOSER GRANT BALFOUR
"If I'm going to make one, this is a good one to make. To be able to be in the bullpen with the greatest closer of all-time, it's pretty surreal. I'm excited to watch him pitch, to see the fans' reactions. It's just great to be out there and be around the guy. I've never played with him, so it will be nice to rub shoulders with him and enjoy some time."
BLUE JAYS RELIEVER BRETT CECIL
"Even if it wasn't his last year, just the career that he's had and I'm sure he's had tons of questions over the years from young guys on All-Star teams and having guys bug him with questions, so I'm just looking forward to the chance to meet him and shake his hand and send me on my way."
YANKEES CLOSER MARIANO RIVERA
"We will make the time for it, definitely. Those young boys have tremendous abilities and have done tremendously. You have to pass it around and make sure they have respect for the game of baseball and play it the right way.It makes me feel good to be recognized by my peers. That's great for me. I do appreciate that, because they will always get the same respect from me back. I'm always proud to play with them, a bunch of young boys, good athletes that have tremendous abilities."
Associated Press photo
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