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A Swing and a GIF: Anger and despair edition

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While it may be the case that the Yankees’ season has ceased, before me I have something that shall never cease: our weekly transmission from Planet GIF, that gas giant which bears all the GIFs your wildest dreams are made of. Let’s set out now, but before we set out, may I repeat a humble request I made a month or so ago? If you feel the need to vent about this season—and who can blame you—I submit that you do so in GIF form, GIFs being a medium that we can all enjoy; a medium that we can all revel in. To wit:

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See? Good form! Now friends, saddle up.

Meredith Is Not at All Being Blue Screened Into Rogers Centre

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WATCH OUT MEREDITH THERE’S A THIRTY-FOOT MAN WALKING BEHIND YOU

80 Tools Series: 80 Glove Tool

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6/10

Took a hop. I expect better, Brendan.

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As has been noted before, it is absolutely true that Mark Reynolds is blind. That may be enough to explain why he puts down a ball which he, just seconds before, had been holding with certainty. But wait—there’s more.

The rabbit hole... it never ends.

f——n’ arod 5

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JEEZ AROD ANSWER QUESTIONS FASTER

Utility GIF: CC Head Snap

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This is a simple one, but I like it a lot. Here’s why: initially, CC’s like, Oh, what’s going over there? (raised brow and all). Then he’s like, back to ice cold—now you have my attention. Simple but neat, I say.

Skeptical Joe

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Joba had been throwing the ball pretty well coming into tonight. Where do you want me to go? I wasn’t sure what I was going to get from Cabral, so I went with the [guy who has] experience. I had Warren. He was a guy that I was probably going to use later on. Joba used to pitch in a lot of close games. That’s who he was.

The manager of your New York Yankees, ladies and gentlemen.

Anatomy of a Crowd 2: Fat Man and Little Boy

To be frank, I consider the bearded overweight dancing man to be a hero—and that’s in no uncertain terms. What’s that you say? You want a GIF of just him for utility purposes? Here you go, then! What’s that you say? You require a GIF of just his head? My pleasure!

So, yes, yes, he’s great—but let’s not over look the rest of the motley crew we find in this GIF. Because they are all fantastic.

Demon Child

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SWEET FANCY MADONNA.

Middle Aged Man Desperate to Be on Television

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This man begins the GIF in the top right corner, and then makes his way into the center, in full view of the camera. Now he can tell his grandchildren that one day, for just a few seconds, he was on television. "I MADE IT, KIDS."

Woman Flashing a Gang Sign

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I don’t know what that is, but it’s probably illegal.

Delighted Woman

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Dazed Old Man

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Yes old man, you’re at a ballgame. Hold on a second… is that a giant hoop earring?

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It is! Grandpa Eugene evidently walked straight into a piece of curved rebar on his way to the game.

The Friend

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Let us not forget the friend, whose half-hearted crotch grab and stiff dancing will forever be criminally underrated, eclipsed by the moves of his corpulent companion.

Two Women Who Are Not Amused

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I’m with you, sisters.

Agony

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Two years ago, Freddy Garcia tried to protect us from the butcher called Eduardo Nunez by "inadvertently" incapacitating him. Sadly Garcia’s efforts were for naught. Check this out though: where are you going, Edward? Somebody has already called for the ball. And not just anybody—a person that is several orders of magnitude better at fielding than you. You would mishandle a ball lobbed at you from across a room, let alone a pop-up with the sun glaring down at you. Best leave well alone when the Tex-man announces he's got it. Some alternate angles:

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You know what would have been good? If Freddy had yelled "BOOM" and then pranced around triumphantly like The Rock after dropping the people's elbow.

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In all seriousness, it’s amazing Nunez didn’t injure himself there given that he is, as you well know, made of two-thousand-year-old papyrus. In any case; thank you for that bounty, GIF gods. Find us on Twitter, and hit this for more GIFs.


Six Yankees place on Baseball America's top 20 Gulf Coast League prospect list

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The Yankees had six prospect appear on Baseball America's list of the top 20 prospects of the Gulf Coast League. Catcher Luis Torrens (#10), third baseman Miguel Andujar (#11), shortstop Abi Avelino (#13), second baseman Gosuke Katoh (#15), right-handed pitcher Luis Severino (#17), and shortstop Thairo Estrada (#20) all made the list.

The right-handed hitting Torrens hit .241/.348/.299 on the season at the age of 17. He committed only two errors and had a 45% caught stealing rate behind the plate as well.

18-year-old right-handed hitting Andujar had a .323/.368/.496 with four home runs triple slash in 144 plate appearances. He OPS'd .904 against right-handed pitching and .996 in the month of August.

Avelino hit 303/.381/.399 on the season between both GCL teams and Staten Island. As a right-handed hitter he OPS'd .847 against lefties at the age of 18.

2013 draftee Katoh surprised everyone by hitting .310/.402/.522 with six home runs and five triples as a left-handed hitter. He had a 12.6% walk rate and played great defense, only committing four errors on the season at the age of 18.

At the age of 19, Severino made the jump to Low-A Charleston after pitching to a 1.37 ERA and 1.68 FIP in 26.1 innings. the righty had a 10.8 K/9 and 2.0 BB/9 on the season between the two levels.

The 17-year-old Estrada hit .278/.350/.432 with seven stolen bases in 199 plate appearances. The righty OPS'd over 1.000 against lefties and over .800 in the month of August.

These six are very far away, but it's nice to see the the Yankees getting credit for their international signings and drafting.

More from Pinstriped Bible:

Yankees Prospects: Potential high-strikeout relievers

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The Yankees organization has taken a lot of flack for being unable to produce useful talent at the major league level. The one thing they have been able to produce is quality relievers. David Robertson, Tyler Clippard, Mike Dunn, Randy Choate, George Kontos have all come up through the Yankees system and have all found a place in the majors. Preston Claiborne, Adam Warren and David Phelps are the latest to make an impact with the team and will hopefully find longterm success, but there are a few prospects coming up the line who could prove to be high-strikeout relievers.

The 27-year-old Rigoberto Arrebato got his first taste of Double-A this season, and though he was harmed by a 3.7 BB/9 this season between Trenton and Tampa, he also had a 10.2 K/9. It's been an improvement over his career 3.9 BB/9 and 9.8 K/9 rates. As a lefty he could bring added value if he can show he's tough on lefties. In his two years with the organization, right-handed hitters have a .690 OPS against righties and left-handed hitters have a .624 OPS against him. Even better, he kept lefties to a .544 OPS in 2013, making him a strong potential lefty specialist in the near future.

ETA: If he has another season like he did in 2013, he could find himself in Triple-A and on the MLB radar. Maybe if he gets a chance in spring training next season he could find a way up next September. It all depends on the lefty specialist situation inside the organization going forward.

Manny Barreda made it to Double-A, but has managed to stay hidden under the radar since he first entered the system in 2007. He has a career strikeout rate of 9.7 batters per nine innings and maintained a 10.0 K/9 in 52.1 innings with High-A Tampa this season. Unfortunately, he also has also walked 4.7 batters per nine innings, though he greatly improved this season with a 3.3 BB/9. It's hard to know for sure whether or not he's made an actual improvement or this season was just a fluke, so 2014 will be telling when he starts the season in Trenton.

ETA: He'll be 25 this season, so this could be his last good chance to make an impression before he's labeled as "old." If he makes it to Triple-A this season and is still showing improved control, he could make it up in September or could get in the conversation for 2015. No matter what, it's going to be a struggle for him.

Since being converted to a full-time reliever in May, Dellin Betances has kept opponents to a .169/.275/.259 batting line with a 1.87 ERA and 12.6 K/9. Walks will always be a problem for him, but he's stated that pitching more frequently has helped him control his mechanics. He still hasn't gotten a sufficient amount of time to prove himself at the major league level, but he's shown both sides of the coin, collecting five strikeouts, but also six hits and four runs in only two innings.

ETA: Right now. He's only pitched two innings in September, which is a little ridiculous consider the amount of playing time Joba Chamberlain has gotten. Hopefully he has a strong spring and has a chance to break camp with the team. He has the potential to be a cheap and highly effective weapon in the bullpen and the Yankees don't have to take that much of a risk.

Since joining the Yankees organization out of the Frontier League, Aaron Dott has posted a 10.5 K/9 since 2011. Now 25 in 2013, he posted a 10.7 K/9 and a 3.1 BB/9, which is an improvement over his 9.7 and 4.1 rates in 2012. His 4.57 ERA is ugly, but a 2.87 FIP and .386 BABIP in 45.1 innings makes it look like the lefty was a little unlucky this year. His 2.63 FIP since joining the Yankees system, compared to the 3.25 FIP he posted between 2009 and 2010 in the Tampa Bay Rays system (with a 7.4 K/9), could mean that he figured something out and is now a different pitcher.

ETA: If he can show that he was unlucky in 2013 and can keep striking people out, he could make it to Triple-A in 2014. If he can control his walk rate he could be up in the big leagues as the next Preston Claiborne, if the need arises.

Taylor Garrison was drafted last season in the seventh round of the draft and signed early enough to get 27.2 innings of and struck out 9.1 batters per nine innings in Staten Island. In 2013 he started the season in Low-A Charleston and racked up 11.1 batters per nine innings and quickly moved up to High-A Tampa after compiling a 0.69 ERA in 13 innings. He pitched 43.1 innings in Tampa, but only had a 7.3 K/9. While that's not very attractive, it appears it was due to a poor August, where he only managed a 4.7 K/9 in 13.1 innings, while it was an 11.6 in 9.1 July innings. At no point did he ever really struggle this year, however, the sudden drop in strikeouts is alarming. He has a career 2.3 BB/9, so it seems that his only hinderance would be whether or not he can still miss bats.

ETA: He will likely stay in High-A Tampa again in 2014, but if he shows he can overcome the heightened level of competition, Garrison can make the move to Trenton. He could be in position for a call up in 2015 or 2016, depending on what he does in the upper levels of the system.

There was a lot of excitement surrounding Nick Goody when he was drafted in 2012. He went through three levels in one year and compiled a 14.6 K/9, 2.5 BB/9, and 5.6 H/9. His 1.12 ERA and 0.82 FIP in 32 innings show just how much he dominated the minors. Then, in 2013, he needed Tommy John surgery and everything fell apart. He'll probably miss most, if not all, of next season as well, meaning he'll be 23 in 2015 and will really only have one full season of pro ball under his belt.

ETA: It's really hard to say anything about where he'll be pitching and how healthy he will be next season, so 2016 is probably the safest expectation at this point.

Tom Kahnle was almost traded for Alfonso Soriano, but the Trenton closer managed to collect 15 saves while also striking out 11.1 batters per nine innings. Unfortunately, he also had a bloated 6.8 walk rate, elevating his FIP to 3.85 in 60 innings pitched. This is the first time his FIP has gone over three, but he does have a career 5.2, so he has history with control problems. His 12.0 career strikeout rate is the thing that will push him through the system.

ETA: It's unclear where he will be next season. He could easily be in Triple-A or the Yankees could hold him back in the hopes he can get his walk rate under control. He likely won't be up in 2014 because there are just too many question marks, but 2015 could be his best and last chance to make a push for the majors.

Everyone knows about Mark Montgomery. Star relief prospect who blew through the system, but hit a roadblock in 2013. He had a 16.2 K/9 in 2011, a 13.8 K/9 in 2012, and now an 11.7 K/9. 2013 proved to be a disaster for him after compiling a 5.6 BB/9 and 8.1 H/9 while battling shoulder fatigue all season long. If he's healthy in 2014 he should rebound, but his career already looks like it's spiraling downward. He'll be 23 next season, so he's still young and has plenty of time to rebound.

ETA: He was supposed to be in the majors this year, so it could happen in 2014, but this rather large hiccup might hurt his chances of becoming the next D-Rob. Hopefully he'll report to spring training in better shape than he did this season.

After going undrafted, the Yankees found Charley Short in the Pecos League. In 16.1 innings in Low-A Charleston, he had a 12.7 K/9 last year. In 2013, he jumped three levels, reaching Double-A and posting a 12.3 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 on the season. His 2.02 ERA and 2.12 FIP show that he's not just a high-strikeout reliever, but he also has the potential to be an elite bullpen arm in the near future.

ETA: He's already 25, so the Yankees might accelerate him through the system if he can continue mow batters down. He'll likely start the season in Double-A, so he could push himself into the majors as early as next season. Hopefully he gets a chance in the spring to actually put himself on the map.

Tyler Webb was drafted in 2013 and is already the draft class' highest riser. After accumulating eight strikeouts in only five innings with Staten Island, it was clear he was overpowering hitters. They bumped him up to Low-A Charleston and he proceeded to put up an 11.9 K/9 while also walking only 1.8 batters per nine innings in 30.1 innings. His 3.86 ERA was not as impressive, but a 2.97 FIP shows the lefty is very talented.

ETA: As a 23-year-old, he'll probably start in High-A Tampa and will be given a free run of the minors. If he takes an accelerated path, he could be ready for the majors by 2015, but nothing's certain.

More from Pinstriped Bible:

Yankees honor Rivera and Pettitte, but is farewell to arms also goodbye to the future?

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The Yankees summoned the ghosts of recent glory to honor Mariano Rivera, but there wasn't enough magic from the past to prevent the team from being haunted by its present.

In an emotional pre-game ceremony, a litany of modern pinstriped legends joined a sellout crowd to say goodbye and give thanks to Rivera. However, the festivities seemed to transcend their singular purpose. In addition to fêting the immortal closer, Mariano Rivera Day turned into a celebration of an entire era. The loudest cheers were for Rivera, but the fans were also delirious at the site of David Cone, Paul O'Neill, Hideki Matsui, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada. If only for a day, it was just like old times in the Bronx, a feeling that intensified when Andy Pettitte took the mound for the last time at Yankee Stadium.

Pettitte was so good for seven innings, it really seemed like the Yankees had turned back the clock. With the lefty going strong and Rivera lingering in the bullpen, the score may have been tied, but the outcome sure felt inevitable. Eventually, the ghosts would come to the rescue, just as they had so many times over the last 20 years. However, instead of being treated to late inning heroics, the eager crowd was witness to a clash between the greatness of the Yankees' past and the mediocrity that had defined the team all season.

Over the final three innings, the Yankees had several opportunities to take the lead, but in each instance, the weakness of the current roster would frustrate those clinging to their memories. There was no O'Neill. There was no Matsui. Bernie and Posada weren't coming to bat. Instead, the Yankees' fate rested with withering veterans, untested rookies, and other hitters of dubious ability. With a cast like that, is it any wonder Mystique and Aura are no longer appearing nightly in the Bronx?

Despite Rivera's and Pettitte's heroics, the Yankees lost 2-1, effectively extinguishing their already slim playoff aspirations. It was an ironic way to say goodbye to two players who have epitomized the team's dedication to winning. After the game, Pettitte lamented, "I really thought we'd have the magic to pull this one off." Most Yankee fans probably felt the same way, even those who knew they were fooling themselves.

The 2013 Yankees were not built to walk in the footsteps of the past. During the off season, the team's self avowed, unmitigated commitment to winning was made secondary to improving the bottom line. For the first time in nearly two decades, the franchise's mantra wasn't "World Series or bust". If that wasn't evident beforehand, on Mariano Rivera Day, the contrast between the organization's transitioning philosophy couldn't have been more clear, and the outlook for future more muddled.

To what exactly did the Yankees say goodbye to on Sunday: the past or the future? Will the franchise continue to cut costs at the expense of winning, or was yesterday's celebration a reminder to the front office that the team's cherished brand is only as great as the players who represent it? Until those questions are answered, it will be hard to fully appreciate the extent of yesterday's farewell.

More from Pinstriped Bible:

The 10 greatest moments of Andy Pettitte's career (#10-6)

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If you skipped the previous post detailing the ten worst moments in Andy Pettitte's career and only want to remember the good times, I don't blame you. Here's the list more people will actually want to read about Pettitte: the ten greatest moments of his career.

10. The final victory at old Yankee Stadium
9/21/2008 vs. Orioles

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Photo credit: Al Bello - Getty

Toward the end of the final season at the old Yankee Stadium. it became clear that Pettitte, the team's longest-tenured starter. would start the final game at the House That Ruth Built. 2008 was a lost season for the Yankees, their first without a playoff berth since 1993, two years before Pettitte even made the majors. It was not a great year for Pettitte himself, either. It was the only season of his career that ended with a weighted ERA worse than league average (105 ERA-). For most other pitchers, it would still be decent, but it was a disappointment for Pettitte.

Nonetheless, he received the honor of starting the final game at Yankee Stadium, which featured a nostalgic pregame ceremony honoring many former Yankee greats. If Pettitte could beat the lowly Orioles, he would help send the Stadium off in style. He did not exactly bring his most crisp stuff to the ballpark that evening. The O's jumped out to a 2-0 lead when rising star Adam Jones scored shortly after a one-out triple in the second, and an error by Pettitte at the start of the third came back to hurt him when Brian Roberts stole second, then scored on a single by Melvin Mora. While Pettitte did reach a personal achievement in the second inning when he struck out Ramon Hernandez for his 2,000th career strikeout, he still trailed in the game.

Fortunately for Pettitte, his mound opponent that day was the unimpressive Chris Waters. Hideki Matsui and Jose Molina led off the bottom of the third with singles, and Johnny Damon followed with a go-ahead three-run homer into the right field short porch. The lead did not last long; Kevin Millar hit a one-out double in the fourth against Pettitte and scored a few batters later after Roberts grounded a single through the right side. The Yankees came right back in the bottom of the fourth. Robinson Cano walked to lead off the inning, and after Matsui grounded out, the stage was set for perhaps the most unpredictable player to hit the final homer at Yankee Stadium: Molina, the backup catcher. It was just the third homer of the season for the defensive catcher, but it gave Pettitte a 5-3 lead.

Pettitte pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning to qualify for the win, and after Jones beat out an infield single to lead off the sixth, new manager Joe Girardi decided that Pettitte had given him enough that night. It was not the best game for the veteran lefty (five innings, seven hits, three runs), but the young bullpen of Jose Veras, Phil Coke, and Joba Chamberlain picked up the slack. No Oriole scored after Pettitte's departure. The offense added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh, and Mariano Riveraclosed out the 7-3 victory with a perfect ninth. Pettitte's Game Score of 45 was underwhelming, but he was "very, very thankful" to end his old Yankee Stadium career with a win. He might have pitched a great deal of games better than this one in his career, but this victory undoubtedly meant a lot to him.

(Box score)

9. Strikes out career-high 12
9/16/1997 vs. Red Sox

Toward the end of his spectacular 8.4 rWAR '97 season, Pettitte set a career-high for strikeouts in one game that he never topped: 12. Although the Yankees trailed the Orioles in the AL East by six games, they had a comfortable lead on the Wild Card with only a couple weeks left in the season. The Yankees played a Tuesday doubleheader against the Red Sox, who were in the midst of their last losing season until 2012. They had Rookie of the Year/human life delay Nomar Garciaparra and 1995 AL MVP Mo Vaughn leading the powerful offense, and the team led the AL in batting average while finishing third in wOBA (.354) and fWAR (28.4).

Boston wasn't a playoff team last year, but the lineup was still strong, so Pettitte had his work cut out for him in the first game of the doubleheader. He gave up singles in each of the first three innings, but he worked out of each jam and fanned five Red Sox, striking out the side in the second. He then struck out Reggie Jefferson and Bill Haselman in a perfect fourth and made Garciaparra whiff with runners on first and second with no one out in the fifth. A John Valentin double play ended the inning to keep the game scoreless. The Yankees squandered scoring opportunities against Boston starter Aaron Sele as well, so Pettitte returned to the mound in the sixth to face the heart of the Boston lineup with no run support. He quickly sat the Sox down 1-2-3, striking out Vaughn and Jefferson along the way to reach double digits in strikeouts for just the third time in his career.

The Yankees loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame, but Sele pitched around it to preserve the scoreless tie. Pettitte responded with another flawless frame, tying his career-high of 11 strikeouts, set on August 4, 1996 against the Royals, by striking out Troy O'Leary. After 112 pitches, Sele left the game in the hands of reliever John Wasdin, who promptly surrendered three singles in a row to Tim Raines, Wade Boggs, and Paul O'Neill. The last single finally broke the tie to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead, and Bernie Williams made it 2-0 by grounding into a forceout at second base that allowed Boggs to score. Joe Torre let Pettitte pitch the eighth, having finally found a lead. He gave up a one-out triple to Garciaparra, but with the tying run at the plate, he induced a short fly ball from John Valentin and struck out the dangerous Vaughn to set a career-high with 12 strikeouts.

Mariano Rivera came on for the save in the ninth to preserve the shutout victory, which he of course did with a nine-pitch, 1-2-3 inning. Pettitte's Game Score that night was 84, the second-highest of his career. He became the Yankees' all-time strikeout leader back in July with over 2,000 strikeouts, but he was never really a big strikeout pitcher, notching just 15 double-digit strikeout games in his career. Although he once tied that career-high mark of 12 in a July 28, 2002 game against the Devil Rays, he never exceeded it.

(Box score)

[If you prefer one of Pettitte's four career shutouts to a high-strikeout game for the regular season spot on this list, I would refer you to Pettitte's three-hit shutout against the Mets on June 30, 2002, which generated his highest career Game Score, 87. I prefer the game against the Red Sox though since the '97 Sox had a far better offense than the '02 Mets.]

8. The comeback
2012

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Photo credit: Kim Klement-US Presswire

Many people thought Pettitte might come back to the Yankees after the 2010 season, but he announced his retirement in early February 2011 after a long off-season contemplating a departure from the game. Once the season ran its course, few considered the possibility of Pettitte returning to the Yankees to be likely anymore, especially after he left a $10 million offer to come back on the table. The Yankees signed Hiroki Kuroda and traded for Seatltle phenom Michael Pineda, leaving them unable to keep Pettitte's contract available. Potential starters for 2012 now included the two newcomers, ace CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes, A.J. Burnett, Freddy Garcia, and David Phelps. Pettitte was far off the radar, even after Burnett was dealt to the Pirates.

Pettitte returned to Spring Training as an instructor, but after spending some time in camp, he revealed to Girardi and GM Brian Cashman that he had the itch to come back. He threw a secret early-morning bullpen session for them, and the Yankees decided to give him a shot on a one-year, $2.5 million minor league deal. When YES Network's Jack Curry broke the news, the Twitterverse blew up. Some were excited, and some were concerned about what the near-40-year-old could still do--would he be taking away time from a more deserving youngster? Injuries made the problem solve itself, as baseball is wont to do; Pineda never pitched for the Yankees in 2012 due to shoulder problems, Garcia was awful, and Pettitte returned to an open spot in the rotation by early May.

The lefty had a disappointing return against the Mariners, but this was far from a surprise. In his rehab starts with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton, he pitched to a 5.40 ERA in 10 innings, and his comeback start was roughly at that level. Over the next month though, Pettitte dazzled and turned back the clock with a terrific six-start stretch. It began against the Reds when he shut out the dangerous Cincinnati lineup over eight innings with nine strikeouts for a terrific Game Score of 82. He followed that up with a few more sparkling performances, and his ERA was at 2.77 over seven starts.

A rough game in Queens at Citi Field and a lower leg fracture sustained against the Indians tempered his comeback for a few months, but even though he did not have any rehab starts, Pettitte immediately returned to form. He threw 11 scoreless innings against the Blue Jays and Twins and ended the year with a 2.87 ERA (68 ERA-) in 12 starts (75 1/3 innings). The injury hurt his comeback, but it was still a very impressive season for someone entering his forties who took a year off from baseball. In both of his playoff starts for the AL East champions, Pettitte pitched well enough to win with a 3.29 combined ERA in 13 2/3 innings against the Orioles and Tigers, but the Yankees' offense did not offer him much run support. The fine 2012 despite the injury inspired Pettitte to give pitching one more complete go-around in 2013, and as a result of announcing his upcoming retirement plans, fans and teammates could give Pettitte the proper send-off that he could not quite embrace as confidently as in 2010. Andy surprise 2012 season out of nowhere certainly earns him a spot on this list, though if one had to associate a specific moment, it would probably be that press conference in Spring Training.

7. "The Stopper"
2000 ALDS Game 2 vs. A's, 2003 ALDS Game 2 vs. Twins

Pettitte gained a reputation during his career as the prototypical number two pitcher, and this role took greater importance in postseason play, especially during the Division Series. If the Yankees' top starter faltered in the opener in a loss, it was frequently up to Pettitte to stem the tide and allow his offense to tie the series up again and save them from falling to the brink of elimination. Two of his finest games occurred in such situations, and his efforts helped the Yankees rebound to reach the World Series.

The 2000 Yankees badly struggled down the stretch with a 3-15 finish to the season, and they looked as flat as ever against the up-and-coming AL West champion Oakland Athletics. They beat Roger Clemens in Oakland, 5-3, and if they could beat Pettitte in the second game, they would have three shots to reach their first ALCS since 1992. Pettitte was up to the challenge and locked horns with Oakland starter Kevin Appier; the game was scoreless after five innings. Bernie hit a one-out double in the sixth and came around to score on Glenallen Hill's RBI single. The Yankees tacked on a couple more runs, but none were really needed. Pettitte dominated the A's through 7 2/3 innings, pitching shutout ball on five hits and a walk. He departed with two outs in the eighth after two baserunners reached, and Rivera got the four-out save to even the series. The Yankees went on to win it in five games.

In 2003, the 101-win Yankees had no such struggles toward the end of the season, and they prepared to take on the AL Central champion Twins in the Division Series. The Yankees had never played against the Twins in the playoffs before '03; this was before it was widely accepted that the Twins were the Yankees' patsy, though the Yankees did sweep the season series in '02 and '03, a perfect 13-0 record. In the opener though, the Twins broke the losing streak against the favored Yankees at Yankee Stadium, as they scratched out three runs on seven hits against Mike Mussina with their Punch and Judy offense. The pitching staff limited the Yankees to one run on nine hits; the Yankees went just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

Suddenly, the Twins were in a great position. Like the 2000 A's, they could push the Yankees to the brink of elimination with a Game 2 win over Pettitte, and they would have the extra benefit of returning home to the Metrodome instead of having to try to finish it up on the road. Unfortunately for the Twins, they suffered the same fate as the 2000 A's, running into the Pettitte buzzsaw. In one of the lefty's top five playoff starts by Game Score, he struck out a personal playoff-best 10 batters and allowed the Twins just four hits and one run in seven innings. The offense touched up Brad Radke and LaTroy Hawkins for four runs, and the Yankees won the game, 4-1. They then won both games in the Metrodome to advance to the ALCS, where Pettitte again won a start after a Game 1 defeat. His best was yet to come in 2003.

(2000 Box score) (2003 Box score)

6. Return to the Fall Classic
1996 ALCS Game 5 vs. Orioles

In '96, the Yankees won their first AL East division title since 1981, and they vanquished their ALDS demons from '95 in a four-game series victory over the Rangers in the first round. As the ace of the '96 rotation, Pettitte did not look too sharp in his Game 2 start against the Rangers, and he appeared similarly unimpressive in the ALCS opener. The Yankees rallied to win both games though, so it did not matter much. Still, they had hoped that Pettitte could actually come up with a strong start for the first time in his playoff career. They built up a 3-1 series lead on the Orioles, and they turned to Pettitte to send them to their first Fall Classic in 15 years in Game 5 at Camden Yards.

Although they were on the road, the Yankees were 11-0 at Camden Yards in '96. They were clearly quite comfortable in the foreign environment, and they did not waste much time building an early lead. Jim Leyritz, Pettitte's catcher, led off the third inning against Scott Erickson with a line drive homer to right field. Jeter and Wade Boggs each grounded one-out singles, and Jeter scored when normally sure-handed second baseman Roberto Alomar committed an error. A batter later, trade deadline acquisition Cecil Fielder launched the game's decisive blow, a three-run homer to left-center field that gave the Yankees a 5-0 advantage. Darryl Strawberry put the icing on the cake by following Fielder with a homer of his own.

Meanwhile, Pettitte brought his best to the Orioles' lineup. They had just two hits through the first seven innings, with one run on a Todd Zeile solo homer. Veteran Eddie Murray homered off Pettitte with none on in the eighth, but Pettitte did not allow another baserunner. He walked just one batter all day, and the Orioles never threatened. A two-run homer by Bobby Bonilla with two outs in the ninth against closer John Wetteland made the game a little more interesting, but a groundout by Cal Ripken Jr. ended the game. Pettitte and the Yankees were off to the World Series, the first for manager Torre after 33 seasons in the game.

(Box score)

Which Pettitte moments do you think will round out the top five? Offer your guesses in the comments and check back tomorrow for the list's conclusion!

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Around the Empire: New York Yankees News - 9/25/13

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Yesterday on Pinstriped Bible

Yankees News

Questions of the Day

  • Would you wait in line for a Mariano Rivera bobblehead?
  • How will Phil Hughes end his Yankee career?
  • What belonging of yours would you most want to be pinstriped?
  • What Yankee-themed name would you name your pet?

Coming Up Today

Jake Odorizzi's velocity out of the bullpen

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Last night, Jake Odorizzi pitched three scoreless innings of relief. He struck out three Yankees and produced seven whiffs, six on fastballs. That led to some fastball chatter.

A valid question, especially since Odor will have an outside shot at making the postseason roster as a reliever. I replied that I thought it hadn't gained significant velocity, but this is one of those instances where it doesn't really matter what I think. There are facts that can be looked up. Below is the FanGraphs velocity chart for this season. I've identified the relief appearances with big, honkin' arrows.

Odor_sfastball_medium

Looks pretty stable to me. It doesn't seem like Odorizzi is pitching like a reliever when he comes out of the 'pen. He's going multiple innings, and his velocity is in line with his velocity as a starter. Probably that's a good thing, as he's comfortable as a starter right now. No need to be asking the rookie to empty his tank for one or two innings.

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Mariano Rivera to retire after 2013 season

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The greatest closer of all time is set to hang them up for the last time after the 2013 season.

According to Joel Sherman via Twitter, Mariano Rivera is set to announce his retirement from Baseball in a press conference schedule for Saturday at 10AM. He will apparently retire after the 2013 season is over. There was always a lot of speculation that Rivera retirement would come sooner rather than later. By later, I mean at the youthful age of 55. According to RAB, Rivera might have even retired in the offseason, if not for the knee injury which put him on the DL for all of last year.

What can you say about Mariano Rivera that hasn't already been said? He is, without question, the greatest reliever in the history of baseball. To this day I have yet to hear any hitters describe a pitch other than his legendary Fastball Cutter as "unhittable." Mo should be an automatic first round ballot lock for the Hall of Fame. Furthermore, he is downright the epitome of a class act. His demeanor both on and off the field is both humbling and inspirational. Okay, I'm gushing a bit. I'm not wrong though.

One thing to keep in mind is that Mo could very well change his mind about his retirement throughout the course of the year. Nothing is ever set in stone. Pettitte is still on the mound for the Yankees after he retired. Anything's possible. Just think happy thoughts and clap your hands. If this is indeed to be Mo's last season with the Yankees, then let's make 2013 a championship year and get the man one more ring.

I'd say to let Mo go out on top, but I've always believed that he can pitch forever.


Mariano Rivera: The Yankees years

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Mariano Rivera is not just a great pitcher, he's one of those six-degrees-of-everything guys like Benjamin Franklin or Winston Churchill who touched so many bits of history in so many fields that if you somehow erased them from existence, life as we know it would cease to be. Rivera doesn't quite have the reach of a great statesman, but his impact on the Yankees ripples outward beyond the number of games he saved to encompass making and breaking the careers of others, some of whom will end up in the Hall of Fame because of their association with him. Everything is contingent upon him ... And yet, there is both more and less than meets the eye when it comes to his career.

The discussion of Rivera's career and impact on the New York Yankees that follows takes no note of his personality, his spirituality or the respect that he commands as a person. Those qualities make the high standard he has achieved easier to admire, but they should not influence our evaluation of it. Babe Ruth played hung over, Joe DiMaggio was a self-centered loner and Lou Gehrig never picked up the check at dinner, but we still regard them as great baseball players. So it goes with Rivera. To paraphrase Casey Stengel, they say he's a nice guy and he throws strikes. But say you're a nice guy and you don't throw strikes. Then they don't leave you in too long.

The Accidental Discovery of Rivera

Rivera's status as a great reliever was arrived at by accident in a moment of desperation. He went through the minors primarily as a starting pitcher, and was largely a successful one, going 27-18 with a 2.35 ERA and excellent command. Though his first major-league audition in that role ended in him being sent back down after failing to notch a quality start in four tries (and putting up a 10.20 ERA in 15 innings along the way), it's easy to forget that by the time he returned he had made some adjustments. In his first game back, on July 4, 1995, he faced a quality White Sox lineup that included Frank Thomas, Robin Ventura and John Kruk batting 3-4-5. Rivera pitched eight shutout innings, striking out 11 and allowing just two hits.

In a stretch of four starts including that one, Rivera compiled a 2.52 ERA. At that point, the team acquired David Cone from the Toronto Blue Jays. Rivera was shunted off to the bullpen, making the occasional spot start. And that, given the Yankees' fetish for veterans before all others, might have been that had Buck Showalter and closer John Wetteland not engaged in a kind of mutually assured destruction in the postseason that year. Confronted with a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning of Game 2 of the AL Division Series, the manager had brought Wetteland into the game. Showalter had received three scoreless innings and was pushing for a fourth when Wetteland allowed a home run to Ken Griffey, Jr. and a single to Edgar Martinez. After 50 pitches, Showalter finally had to make a move. In his desperation, he turned to Rivera.

Rivera struck out Jay Buhner to end the inning. When the Yankees tied the game again in the bottom of the inning, he inherited Wetteland's place in Showalter's cosmology as the never-ending pitcher of record. He was a revelation, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings, striking out five. Showalter hadn't quite gotten the hint, however, because in Game 3 he turned to Rivera after other pitchers had already put the game out of reach. He got 1.1 scoreless innings, but it didn't matter.

Rivera got one more shot in that series. By Game 5, Showalter was living in fear of his bullpen. He pushed Cone to 147 pitches, keeping him in even after it was clear he was running on whatever comes after "fumes." With the Yankees leading, 4-2, in the bottom of the eighth, Cone allowed a home run to Griffey, loaded the bases on a single and two walks, then forced in the tying run on yet another walk. Showalter called for Rivera, who struck out Mike Blowers to end the frame. Yet, Showalter had not yet learned to have faith. After Vince Coleman opened the bottom of the ninth with a single and was bunted to second by Joey Cora, Showalter had Rivera intentionally walk Griffey, then pulled him in favor of Jack McDowell, who to that point had never thrown a pitch in relief in his entire major-league career and, more significantly, had thrown 85 pitches two days earlier. McDowell hung on until the 11th, then lost the game and the series.

George Steinbrenner chose not to bring Showalter back after that series, and correctly so. On the recommendation of new general manager Bob Watson, he engaged longtime National League skipper Joe Torre as Showalter's replacement. One of the New York tabloids famously derided Torre as "Clueless Joe," but inasmuch as Torre was a three-time loser, failing to accomplish much with the Mets, Braves and Cardinals (one division title with the Braves and a great many exculpatory circumstances with all three clubs), there was one thing he wasn't clueless about. He liked having strong set-up men in the bullpen and tended to turn to unheralded pitchers to do the job. He already had done it with Jeff Reardon and Steve Bedrosian, both of whom went on to be closers of note. Now, Rivera's 5.1 scoreless innings the previous fall served as a huge, flaming sign that Rivera should be next in line, but nevertheless, Torre deserves credit for setting Rivera on the path that made both of them Hall of Famers.

The Apotheosis of the Reliever-as-Pumpkin

Rivera was one of the most valuable pitchers in baseball that first season in the bullpen, throwing 107.2 innings and striking out 130 while holding leads for Wetteland. With the closer's contract up after the 1996 season, the Yankees let him move on and put Rivera in his place. As valuable as Rivera would be both in the regular and postseason, he would never be worth as much as he was that first year because of the change of roles. In part that was because the species he was part of, the 100-inning reliever, was about to become extinct -- only 14 relievers would reach three figures in subsequent years, none since 2006. That might or might not have been a sensible evolution for managers to follow, but in later seasons, as the old concept of the pitch-anytime fireman was conquered by the notion of the closer, the pitchers who were, at least nominally the best in their bullpens, were being used less often than pitchers who were in Rivera's old role. This was particularly true of the Yankees as Rivera aged and his presumed fragility made it dangerous to use him too often. The aging Rivera was often the pitcher of last resort, the Hall of Famer who was labeled "Break glass in case of never." The last time Rivera-as-closer led the Yankees in relief innings pitched was 2008. It was the second and last time he would do so.

Pitchers the Yankees felt -- in deed if not in spirit -- were more valuable than Rivera by giving them greater playing time have included David Robertson, Adam Warren, Luis Vizcaino, Joba Chamberlain, Scott Proctor, Ron Villone, Tom Gordon, Paul Quantrill, Ramiro Mendoza, Steve Karsay, Jason Grimsley, Mike Stanton and Jeff Nelson. By the time Rivera reached the Faberge egg stage of his career, he was throwing a rigid 13 percent of Yankees available relief innings.

In short, Rivera was the most valuable example of an over-specialized species like the giant panda. Closers fill a niche so limited that they end up off-shifting valuable innings -- and they are all valuable -- onto other, less talented pitchers. With occasional exceptions, closers do not come close to sniffing the top of the leader list in relief innings thrown. This year, the top five pitchers on the list are Anthony Swarzak, Josh Collmenter, Tommy Hunter, Craig Stammen and Alfredo Simon. The highest-ranking closer to have spent the full season in the role is Addison Reed of the White Sox, whose 68 innings rank 25th in the majors. Rivera ranks 74th. He hasn't ranked higher than 30th since 2005.

In terms of career value, Rivera is the greatest reliever of all time, his 56.1 career WAR (Baseball-Reference version) surpassing that of Hoyt Wilhelm (50.0) and Goose Gossage (41.9). However, because of the limits placed on both the manner and duration of his usage, his best single season ranks only 26th. However, if we limit our discussion to the post-Eckersley years, or about where the fireman died an ignoble death and was replaced by his more limited descendant (1989-present), Rivera jumps not quite to the top, his 1996 campaign tying with Jonathan Papelbon in 2006 for the best season of the period. His second-best season ranks eighth, his third best 11th.

As his career ranking, and the absence of more than three pitchers with a career WAR over 40.0 suggests (the all-time top 50 for pitchers, starter or reliever, ends at 57.2, or just above Rivera; Fangraphs' WAR places Rivera at the bottom of the top 100 for overall pitching, but tops among relievers), what made Rivera great was his extraordinary consistency over a span of 18 seasons, a feat which he duplicated and exceeded in the postseason, where the expanded playoffs gave him many opportunities. On a per-season basis, he was simply very good for a long time, being too rigidly controlled by his managers to be extraordinary after 1996.

The Righetti Legacy

Rivera did all he could do given straitened circumstances, and perhaps that was all he could do. Indeed, the limitations on his usage may have been what made his extraordinary consistency possible. In a sense, Rivera's elevation to the closer's role was a more successful version of the decision the team undertook to replace Goose Gossage when he departed as a free agent after the 1983 season, moving young left-hander Dave Righetti from the starting rotation to the bullpen. Righetti was legitimately good for a stretch of three years, during which time he set a short-lived single-season record for saves. However, the move was ultimately self-defeating because "Rags" was the closest thing to a quality starting pitcher the team developed between Ron Guidry and Andy Pettitte (though with an asterisk; Righetti was drafted by the Rangers and came to the Yankees in an odd 10-player trade centered on fading fireman Sparky Lyle). The decision to cut Righetti's potential innings was more than the team could replace through its other starting options, most of whom were 45-year-old veterans like Phil Niekro and Tommy John.

Righetti's example would not stop countless teams from emulating that transaction, trading a 200-inning pitcher for a 100-inning one, or even fewer innings these days. In another sense, he was an early example of why the 100-inning reliever was doomed to extinction: Some pitchers just couldn't handle the workload. In his first five years as the Yankees' ace reliever, Righetti made 332 appearances totaling 492 innings, or over 40 percent of Rivera's post-1995 total. Of those, 54 percent were of greater than one inning. In comparison, Rivera has made 238 such appearances in his entire career (21 percent), only 22 of them since 2008. When asked to throw multiple innings, Righetti was actually quite good, going 26-16 with 89 saves and a 2.45 ERA in 371 innings from 1984 to 1988. Rivera, though, was extraordinary, going 39-8 with 118 saves and a 1.76 ERA in 414.1 innings over the course of his career.

Righetti threw fewer and fewer innings each season through the end of his stay with the Yankees, dropping off rapidly after his second 100-inning season in 1986. With a left-hander's typically wandering control, Righetti could never have been Rivera, but then Rivera could never have been Righetti. He stood up to his workload once, but it was perhaps a good thing that he was never asked to do so again.

For more on Rivera and the Yankees, read Pinstriped Bible

Having said that, there is a great distance between the 60-70 innings of Rivera's later years and the 100 innings of Righetti's. Somewhere between the two there is a spot at which a top reliever is maximally exploited while being put at minimal risk. Where that spot is remains unknown, and may be a matter of individual tolerance.

Mortal Closers Freely Available

Great all-around shortstops are hard to come by. With all due respect to Phil Rizzuto, the Yankees have only had one in the entire history: Derek Jeter. There have been select moments of greatness from a few others -- Rizzuto's MVP campaign in 1950; Gil McDougald for a couple of seasons; Tony Kubek at his best -- but there has also been Pee-Wee Wanninger, Bobby Meacham and Alvaro Espinoza. As Eduardo Nunez and Jayson Nix have demonstrated this season, the post-Jeter period could be a long walk through the desert. Solid closers are not nearly so rare. Rivera's regular-season 89-percent conversion rate is not dramatically different from that of the average closer. The saves rule allows for a good deal of mediocrity, because even the worst pitcher can usually get three outs before he gives up three runs.

In the years after Righetti, most of the Yankees' closing was done by Steve Farr, a good pitcher but far from a Hall of Famer, and he converted 82% of his opportunities. Wetteland, for all his struggles in October 1995, saved 88 percent of his regular-season opportunities with the Yankees and also closed out all four of the team's wins in the 1996 World Series. In the meantime, there have been 102 seasons of 40 or more saves by pitchers not named Mariano Rivera in the years since 1996. Not all of those seasons were created equal, but as Rafael Soriano demonstrated when Rivera was absent last year, there is life after Mariano.

After the Postseason, What?

Rivera's exemplary postseason work greatly contributed to the team's five World Series championships during his career. Facing the best lineups in baseball, he allowed only 86 hits in 141 innings and let just two balls leave the park. While the next Yankees closer should, if minimally qualified, be able to emulate his regular-season conversation rate, Rivera's postseason record is going to be beyond reach for some time, if not all time. That pitcher, whoever he turns out to be, not only won't be as good, but given the general drift of the Yankees franchise, it might be a couple of years before he gets to try.

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The 10 greatest moments of Andy Pettitte's career (#5-1)

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Continuing yesterday's list, here are the top five moments of Andy Pettitte's career.

5. MVP
2001 ALCS Game 1 vs. Mariners

The Yankees needed a stunning rally from down 0-2 at home against the A's to reach the ALCS, and after two wins in a row in Oakland and a victory in the decisive fifth game back in New York, there they were. Playing in an unusual situation as America's sentimental favorite due to the 9/11 attacks, the Yankees were clear underdogs against the Mariners despite going for their fourth consecutive AL pennant (and World Series title). The Yankees were a very good 95-win team in '01, but the Mariners put together the most successful regular season in over 100 years, breaking the '98 Yankees' AL wins record with 116 victories in a romp to the AL West title. They had a +300 run differential and the lineup boasted Rookie of the Year/MVP Ichiro Suzuki, slugging second baseman Bret Boone, and perennial Yankee killer Edgar Martinez.

Having started Roger Clemens in the fifth game of the ALDS, the Yankees turned to Pettitte to hold down the powerful offense. Pettitte responded by facing the minimum through four innings while the Yankees built up a 3-0 lead thanks to veteran Paul O'Neill's two-run homer off Aaron Sele. The Mariners scored a run off Pettitte in the fifth, but he stranded the runner on third with fewer than two outs by striking out Jay Buhner and Dan Wilson. He returned to his earlier form and faced the minimum for the next three innings. Although Rivera was not sharp in the ninth, uncharacteristically giving up a line drive double and throwing two wild pitches, he saved the game and the Yankees won the opener in Seattle, 4-2. It was the best playoff start of Pettitte's career by Game Score--78. He allowed the Mariners just three hits, one walk, and one run in eight innings while striking out seven batters.

Eventually, the Yankees stunned Seattle by building a 3-1 lead on the Mariners, then turned to Pettitte to defy Seattle manager Lou Piniella's oath that the series would return to Seattle for a Game 6. He wasn't nearly as good as he was in the opener, but the Yankees blew the game open against the Mariners' pitching staff, building a 4-0 lead after three and a 9-0 lead after six. Pettitte won the game with a 6 1/3 inning, three-run, eight-start start, and he was voted the ALCS MVP for his 2.51 ERA in two starts against the dangerous Mariners. Thanks to Pettitte, the Yankees won their fourth pennant in a row.

(Box score)

4. For Dad
1998 World Series Game 4 vs. Padres

The second half of the '98 season was one to forget for Pettitte, who struggled with his mechanics and pitched to a 6.14 ERA and .300/.346/.464 triple slash against in August and September. He rebounded with a fine start in Game 2 of the Division Series sweep against the Rangers, but as previously mentioned in his worst moments list, the Indians knocked him around to take a 2-1 lead in the ALCS. Making matters worse for Andy was his ailing father Tommy Pettitte, who needed to undergo emergency double bypass surgery during the World Series (not to mention teammate Darryl Strawberry's recent colon cancer diagnosis).

The Yankees reached the Fall Classic anyway while Pettitte visited his father during the break between the ALCS and World Series. The team zoomed to a 3-0 lead on the strength of a stirring Game 1 rally via a Chuck Knoblauch three-run homer and Tino Martinez grand slam, a brilliant pitching performance by El Duque in Game 2, and a late Game 3 comeback powered by Scott Brosius against Padres stalwart closer Trevor Hoffman. Pettitte received the ball at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium in Game 4, trying to finish off the Padres before they could get any ideas about a comeback of their own. Padres manager Bruce Bochy knew his season was on the line, so he started ace Kevin Brown on three days' rest.

Brown and Pettitte dueled to a scoreless tie after five innings; the teams combined for 10 strikeouts and only five hits. Pettitte did have to work out of both a first-and-second, one-out jam in the second though, which he did by striking out catcher Carlos Hernandez and pitching around shortstop Chris Gomez to pitch to Brown, who grounded out. Brown ran into similar trouble in the fifth after a leadoff single by Martinez and a one-out double to the red-hot Ricky Ledee, who went 6-for-10 in the series. Joe Girardi grounded out and Brown fanned Pettitte to end it. The next inning, Derek Jeter got an infield single and O'Neill followed with a hustle double to right field. Bernie Williams followed with a Baltimore Chop back to Brown that bounced too high to throw Jeter out at home. The Yankees had a 1-0 lead for Pettitte.

Pettitte put runners on in sixth and seventh, but kept the Padres off the scoreboard. The Yankees rewarded him with a pair of insurance runs in the eighth off a tiring Brown, and Pettitte returned to the mound for the bottom of the eighth. He induced a fly out from pinch-hitter John Vander Wal, then allowed a walk to Quilvio Veras and a base hit to future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who hit .500 against the Yankees despite his team's struggles. Manager Joe Torre decided that Pettitte had pitched enough on the day, and the bullpen duo of Jeff Nelson and Mariano Rivera ended the inning. An inning later, the Yankees were World Series champions, and their 125th victory of the season had plenty to do with Pettitte's 7 1/3 innings of five-hit shutout ball. Even better news awaited Pettitte, as his father made a full recovery from the surgery and is still alive today.

(Box score)

3. The Clincher
2009 playoffs

In 2007, Pettitte returned to the Yankees after a three-year sojourn to Houston, where he helped the Astros win their first NL pennant in franchise history. When the Yankees wanted him back though, he came back to the Bronx in search of more World Series glory. However, 2007 ended in the Yankees' third consecutive ALDS loss, and Pettitte had his worst full season in '08 as the Yankees missed the playoffs for the first time since 1993. Buoyed by a strong off-season, the Yankees rebounded in '09 with a 103-win regular season romp to the AL East title; the now 37-year-old Pettitte pitched well with a 91 ERA- and 3.5 fWAR.

Numerous off-days spread throughout the playoffs allowed the Yankees to get away with a three-man rotation. Only ace CC Sabathia needed to make starts on three days' rest until the World Series. Sabathia, fellow newcomer A.J. Burnett, and the late-game heroics of Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixiera helped the Yankees win the first two games of the ALDS against the Twins, sending the series to Minnesota, where Pettitte started Game 3. In the final game at the Metrodome, Pettitte and estranged former teammate Carl Pavano each pitched five scoreless innings until Pettitte surrendered a two-out, RBI single to AL MVP Joe Mauer in the bottom of the sixth. Fortunately A-Rod quickly erased the 1-0 Twins lead in the seventh with a game-tying homer, and after Hideki Matsui struck out, Pettitte's catcher Jorge Posada gave him a 2-1 lead. Pettitte got one last out, whiffing Jason Kubel for his seventh strikeout before manager Joe Girardi brought in the bullpen. The Yankees went on to beat the Twins 4-1, and Pettitte earned the fourth series-clinching win of his career.

The Yankees lost Pettitte's Game 3 start in the ALCS against the Angels, but they were still up 3-2 in the series when Pettitte started Game 6 at Yankee Stadium. The Angels won the fifth game in Anaheim, so Pettitte had to halt any momentum the Angels might have felt from forcing the series to return to New York. Former teammate Bobby Abreu briefly gave the Angels a 1-0 lead with a third inning RBI single. An inning later, the Yankees responded with a three-run rally off Joe Saunders. Pettitte did not allow another run for the rest of his game, ending with 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball. He earned his second series-clinching win of the playoffs as the Yankees won 5-2 to advance to their first World Series since 2003.

The series was tied in Philadelphia when Pettitte got the start in Game 3 against the Phillies' defending World Series MVP, Cole Hamels. The Phillies jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the Yankees rallied to move ahead 5-3, assisted by Pettitte's surprising game-tying RBI single in the fifth. The Yankees took a 2-1 series lead with the 8-5 victory and three days later, they had a chance to close out the World Series in front of their home fans in Game 6. The Yankees' reliance on a three-man rotation had yielded mixed results thus far. Sabathia won both his ALCS and World Series starts on three days' rest, but Burnett was thrashed by the Phillies in Game 5 to extend the series. The last time Pettitte started a game on three days' rest was September 30, 2006.

It was over three years since that last start, but Pettitte was up to the challenge. The Yankees beat up on former Red Sox nemesis Pedro Martinez for the second time in the series, as World Series MVP Hideki Matsui scored the game's first runs on a two-run blast to right field in the second and a two-run single to center in the fourth. (In the last two starts of the 38-year-old Pedro's career, the Yankees beat him twice and slugged .487 while he ended with a 6.30 ERA. It was satisfying.) The Yankees ran the score to 7-1 by the bottom of the fifth. Pettitte was not entirely sharp, but he pitched five innings of one-run ball until slumping slugger Ryan Howard took him deep for a two-run homer in the sixth. Pettitte struck out Jayson Werth for the final World Series out of his career, then allowed a double to Raul Ibanez. Girardi turned to the bullpen after 94 pitches from Pettitte, a respectable outing on three days' rest from the veteran. The Yankees won their 27th World Series championship, the fifth ring of Pettitte's career. He became the first pitcher since the playoffs expanded in 1995 to ever start and win three clinching games in one playoff year. It was a nice way for Pettitte to depart the World Series spotlight for the last time.

2. The near-shutout
2003 World Series Game 2 vs. Marlins

Following the euphoria of their seven-game ALCS victory over the Red Sox, the 2003 Yankees were flat in Game 1 of the World Series against the Marlins. They made mental mistakes in the field, went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, and made the egregious crime of scoring just two runs against Brad Penny. The Marlins won 3-2, and for the third time in the playoffs, Pettitte had to pitch Game 2 after a Game 1 loss. As previously mentioned, he was superb in ALDS Game 2 start against the Twins, and in the ALCS, he was solid if not unspectacular in the 6-2 victory against Boston. Once again, he had to save the Yankees from an 0-2 deficit.

Marlins starter Mark Redman was not a tough opponent for the Yankees' offense, which awoke from their Game 1 daze to knock Redman out of the game by the third inning. Matsui crushed a three-run homer to center field on a 3-0 pitch in the first to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead, and Juan Rivera scored Nick Johnson on a one-out double in the second. Reliever Rick Helling was not much better, as the slumping Alfonso Soriano took him deep for a two-run homer in the fourth inning to extend the lead to 6-0. By this point, the Marlins had only the minimum 12 hitters face Pettitte. A strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play ended the first, and a regular 6-4-3 double play ended the fourth.

The leadoff man reached base in four consecutive innings from the fifth through the eighth against Pettitte, but time after time, he quickly ended any threat thank to some strikeouts and weak ground balls that turned into double plays. In the ninth, Torre let him return to the mound in an attempt to complete the Yankees' first World Series shutout since in 41 years (last done by Ralph Terry in a memorable 1-0 gem: Game 7 of the '62 World Series). With two outs and a runner on first base, rookie Miguel Cabrera hit a grounder to Aaron Boone at third base, who bobbled it to keep the game alive. Derrek Lee promptly singled to end the shutout with an unearned run, and Torre let Jose Contreras get the final out. Boone was disappointed, but Pettitte told him not to worry about it. The 8 2/3 inning effort was still the longest start of Pettitte's playoff career, and the second-best by Game Score at 76.

(Box score)

1. Andy outduels Smoltz to finish Atlanta sweep
1996 World Series Game 5 vs. Braves

Anyone who knows a little bit about Pettitte's career probably saw this coming. It was just the second season of Pettitte's 18-year career, but it still stands as his pinnacle performance.

The Braves destroyed Pettitte and the Yankees in Games 1 and 2 of the '96 World Series, which did not shock anyone. The defending World Series champions were formidable foes, and their front three pitching trio of '96 Cy Young winner John Smoltz, '92-'95 Cy Young winner Greg Maddux, and '91 Cy Young winner Tom Glavine was arguably the best in baseball history. Sure enough, Smoltz and Maddux combined to limit the Yankees to just one run in the first two games at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees scratched out a few runs against Glavine in Atlanta for Game 3, and David Cone beat him, preventing a sweep. In Game 4, it looked like the Braves were going to roll to a 3-1 series lead when they knocked Kenny Rogers out of the game by the third inning. They held a 6-0 lead, and fourth starter Denny Neagle shut the Yankees out through five innings. However, the Yankees rallied for three runs in the sixth, and catcher Jim Leyritz belted a three-run homer off closer Mark Wohlers in the eighth inning to tie it up. A bases loaded walk by Wade Boggs in the 10th inning gave the Yankees the lead, and shockingly, the World Series was tied.

Pettitte returned to the mound in Game 5 hoping to make amends for his Game 1 meltdown, though he had his work cut out for him against Smoltz. The Yankees were 7-0 on the road in the playoffs, and the Braves had not lost three in a row at home since August 8-10. The odds were against Pettitte to shut down the second-best offense in the National League in the final game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, also known as "The Launching Pad" for its friendliness toward hitters. He looked sharp when the game started, striking out two hitters in the first inning. Catcher Joe Girardi realized that Pettitte had an unusually strong fastball that day, so they stuck to that plan for the duration of the game. It turned out to be a pretty good idea.

Smoltz led all of baseball in strikeouts in '96 with 276 in the regular season, and he added 23 in the playoffs prior to Game 5. He tied a then-personal playoff best 10 strikeouts on this night against the Yankees, as his pitches blew past the Yankees' bats. He struck out the side in the first and fanned six through the first three innings. Smoltz's defense betrayed him in the fourth inning though; rooke right fielder Jermaine Dye cut in front of center fielder Marquis Grissom, screening him. The ball glanced off Grissom's glove, and batter Charlie Hayes reached second on the error. The Yankees had to capitalize on this rare runner in scoring position, and shortly thereafter, Cecil Fielder lined a double to the left field corner, scoring Hayes to give the Yankees a 1-0 lead.

Despite Smoltz's brilliant eight innings of one-run ball, Pettitte was better. No one could score against him. The Braves threatened in the sixth inning when Smoltz and Grissom singled to lead off the inning. It was a perfect scoring opportunity, but "Homestar Runner" Mark Lemke bunted back toward the mound and Pettitte quickly reacted to get the force at third base. A second comebacker on the next pitch to Chipper Jones brought the inning to a sudden conclusion, as Pettitte turned a 1-4-3 double play to end the inning. Pettitte then pitched around a leadoff error in the seventh and a two-out single in the eighth to keep the Braves off the board. With closer John Wetteland warming in the bullpen, Torre allowed Pettitte to face Jones and lefty Fred McGriff to start the ninth. Jones doubled and McGriff grounded out to first base, bringing Pettitte's amazing night to an end. Torre brought Wetteland in, who kept Jones from scoring, due in large part to O'Neill's terrific running catch in right field to end the game.

The series returned to New York, and the Yankees won Game 6 to capture their first championship in 18 years. Game 5 was clearly the greatest game of Pettitte's life.

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Yankees 3, Rays 8: New York eliminated from postseason contention

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For months and months, the New York Yankees did just enough to hang around and stay within striking distance of the second and final Wild Card spot in the American League. From mediocre starting lineups to inconsistent pitching to a plethora of injuries, it's truly amazing that the Yankees won as many games as they did during the stretch. But, on Wednesday night, any hope of New York actually making the playoffs was officially and mathematically squashed.

In what may have been his last outing in pinstripes, Phil Hughes lasted only two-plus innings, allowing three runs on seven hits before being yanked. But, despite the lackluster start from Hughes, the Yankees used an RBI double from Robinson Cano in the first and an Eduardo Nunez solo home run in the third to stay within striking distance. They were in striking distance, at least, until the top of the sixth inning, when David Huff surrendered back-to-back home runs to Evan Longoria and David DeJesus that gave the visiting Tampa Bay Rays a 7-2 lead.

From there, New York's fate was sealed. The home team did manage a run in the bottom of the eighth courtesy of a bases-loaded walk drawn by Lyle Overbay, but the Rays re-extended the lead to five on another Evan Longoria home run in the top of ninth, making the score 8-3.

It was an unofficial (the Yankees still have four regular season games remaining) but miserable ending to what was at times a miserable season. As previously mentioned, it has to be pointed out that the Yankees did pretty well in 2013, given the circumstances of which players were actually available. But, with that being said, these are still the New York Yankees. Missing out on the playoffs and losing between 75 and 80 games just isn't something that is supposed to happen to this franchise, regardless of the roster's talent level.

Tomorrow night, the Yankees again play host to the Rays in not only the final game of the series, but also New York's final home game of the season. And, with the club now being officially eliminated from the playoffs, the game will be the final time--regular season or postseason--that Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte play at Yankee Stadium. First pitch is again scheduled for 7:05 PM, with Ivan Nova getting the start against the Rays' Alex Cobb.

Angels Expel Aramark From Angel Stadium

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The Angels have dumped the terrible in-stadium food monopoly Aramark. The concession for Angel stadium's food and beverages now belongs to Legends Sports and Entertainment. READ IT AND WEEP.

Leave it to the L.A. Times to avoid criticizing one of America's most disgusting corporations. Aramark is a heavily-breaded high-sodium disaster. But of course, the Times instead gets its digs at the Angels because the team's pursuit of quality happens to find it hiring a company created by the Yankees and Cowboys (sports teams, not the CEOs although that is probably a good description of the WallStreeters behind it all). Author Bill Shaikin fixates on the Halos working with Legends and its pedigree instead of digging a half-inch deep to ask - why would the Angels dump longtime stadium concessionaire Aramark?

There will be no journalism practiced at the Times.There is only a decade plus of sub-mediocrity, you can bet Shaikin has not inquired of any food poisonings or unsanitary conditions at the stadium - not when the shills for the LA TIMES bark along the stadium aisles desperate to keep "journalism" (aka establishment lapdogging) subsidized.

Everything about Aramark stinks, from its sourced food to its service to the room temperature turds it overprices and serves. And now this pestilence is gone from our stadium. I wondered if I would live to see the day, but maybe this was the season Arte actually tried the garbage that the Knothole club has spent over a decade passing off as edible.

Daily Red Sox Links: Dustin Pedroia, Franklin Morales, John Lackey

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As if we needed any more proof that Dustin Pedroia was awesome, he'll be playing through some pain to help the Red Sox try to reach their ultimate goal. (Rob Bradford; WEEI.com)

Gordon Edes had to be a downer and remind us that David Ortiz's Red Sox career won't last forever. (Gordon Edes; ESPN Boston)

Franklin Morales wasn't around for most of the season, but he's looking at a likely spot on the postseason roster. (Evan Drellich; Masslive.com)

The final rotation for the playoffs isn't set in stone, but look for John Lackey to get his start at Fenway Park. (Scott Lauber; Boston Herald)

Quintin Berry knows that his spot on this team is at least partially because of one notable man in recent Red Sox history. (Tim Britton; Providence Journal)

Adam Kaufman projects the playoff roster, with one glaring omission (in my opinion), in Morales. (Adam Kaufman; Boston.com)

They stuck around longer than I would've thought, given how bad their lineup was for much of the year, but the Yankees were officially eliminated last night. (Matthew Pouliot; Hardball Talk)

Around the Empire: New York Yankees News - 9/26/13

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Yesterday on Pinstriped Bible

Yankees News

Questions of the Day

  • How should Manager of the Year be determined?
  • What will the Yankees do when Derek Jeter retires?
  • Who would you want to manage the 2014 Yankees?
  • What matchup would make for the best World Series?

Coming Up Today

  • Mariano Rivera retirement videos: Exit Sandman ceremony and tributes @ 10 am
  • Autopsy results for the 2013 Yankees @ 12 pm
  • Trimming the fat off the 2013 Yankees @ 2 pm
  • New York Yankees vs. Tampa Bay Rays at 7:05 pm (Game Thread at 6:30 pm)

Alex Rodriguez to skip series in Houston with Yankees approval

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Per the New York Daily News, the Yankees have given Alex Rodriguez permission to skip their final three game series against the Houston Astros in order to prepare for his upcoming arbitration hearing. Unless he is not in the lineup for some reason, tonight will mark the final game of A-Rod's already troubled 2013 season. Alex is using the time off to convene with his legal team in preparation to challenge his 211 game suspension which was handed down to him by Major League Baseball due the Biogenesis scandal earlier this year. Arbitration on this is scheduled to begin Monday.

With the Yankees already eliminated from postseason contention after yesterday's loss, these remaining four games have no value other than honoring Mariano Rivera& Andy Pettitte. Factoring that in with A-Rod's recent hitting slump and inability to play third base, the decision to let him skip the final sense makes sense for both sides. Depending on how the hearings go this offseason, tonight could very well be the last time Yankee fans see A-Rod in pinstripes till 2015, if not longer.

We will keep you updated on this story as it develops.

Update:

Maybe not?

Mariano Rivera pitches his final innings at Yankee Stadium

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Mariano Rivera pitched his final game at Yankee Stadium on Thursday evening, leaving with a prolonged and tearful impromptu ceremony. After Rivera's bullpen warm-up commanded more attention than anything the hapless Yankees could muster on the field, he entered in the eighth inning to one last rumbling rendition of "Enter Sandman."

Rivera cleaned up after Dellin Betances to get out of the eighth, then took down two batters in the ninth -- one with a quick glove play -- before Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter strode out to the mound to fetch him. After a long, sobbing embrace, Rivera departed, making one drawn-out curtain call for the packed stadium.

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In a fashion typical of this lost season, the Yankees offered only emotional support, not run support, losing 4-0 to the Rays. Rivera did his job as he always has, though: 1⅓ innings, four batters, 13 pitches, seven strikes, and not a single man on base.


After one final, solitary moment in the dugout, he marched out to the mound, gathered himself some dirt, and bid farewell to the stadium he made his own for 19 years.

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Yankees 0, Rays 4: Mo leaves the Bronx on a sad note

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Tonight is a sad night.

Let us all forget about another loss to the Rays, but let us all remember the beautiful things that Mariano Rivera has done for us. If you want the recap for the actual game, skip to the bottom of the article.

Rivera has finished his career in the Bronx with 314 saves and a 2.46 earned run average. He had 597 strikeouts over 657 1/3 innings. Tonight he threw 13 pitches to retire the only four batters he faced. Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte came out to let the emotions start to flow.

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Rivera left to a standing ovation from everyone in the Bronx.

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(h/t @YankeesGIFS)

I'll keep the recap short (mostly because there's nothing to write about) so we can all discuss our favorite MOments through his career and all share our feels together.

The Yankees' offense didn't show up tonight. Like at all. Ivan Nova had a strong outing through seven innings while striking out five hitters on 105 pitches. He gave up just two runs on eight hits and one walk. The offense combined for an incredible three hits, one each from Eduardo Nunez, Curtis Granderson and Lyle Overbay.

The Rays production came from the top of the order. The first four hitters combined for 8-16 with three runs and three runs batted in from Evan Longoria, of course. Alex Cobb was in charge of shutting down the Yankees offense, pitching seven plus innings but only striking out four while walking two. The Yankees BABIP for the night was .150.

Anyway, lets get back to Mo. Here's to seeing Rivera play center field in Houston.

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Around the Empire: New York Yankees News - 9/27/13

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Yesterday on Pinstriped Bible

Yankees News

Coming Up Today

  • 2013 Yankees infield: a terrible revolving door @ 10 am
  • Yankees Free Agent Targets: Jose Abreu to showcase at Yankees Dominican complex, Raicel Iglesias defects @ 12 pm
  • Robinson Cano's most dangerous suitors @ 3 pm
  • New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros at 8:10 pm (game thread at 7:30 pm)

Why, I'm old enough to remember when Albert Pujols wanted $200 million

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I'm short on time this morning, so here's a stand-in thread until I'm no longer short on time this afternoon. Discussion topic: Robinson Cano is an outstanding player. If you try to pay no more attention to the New York Yankees than is necessary, he might even be a better player than you think; he's been incredibly durable his entire career, and in his current run of four consecutive All-Star appearances he's got an OPS+ of 142. 45.3 rWAR through age 30 is pretty great.

He also wants $300 million over 10 years (in American dollars), if you believe this week's slightly premature contract rumors. This is so much money that people don't think the Yankees will pay it, which kind of makes me wonder who they think will.

Robinson Cano is a second baseman going into his 30s and not the moral center of the team's universe like Albert Pujols was, so if that's a real demand and not just a you-wouldn't-punch-a-crazy-guy contract gambit I expect the Yankees will happily allow him to negotiate with Real Madrid or Marissa Mayer for it. But it makes me wonder where 2014's contracts will be—are we going into another potentially dangerous free agent bubble, or is Robinson Cano just trying to get hilarious footage of Brian Cashman for his reboot of Punk'd?

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