Sunday night's Manny Ramirez vs. Mariano Rivera at-bat in the top of the ninth inning was what we watch baseball for: Their best against our best.
Our best won.
And he needed just three fastballs to do it. It was so one-sided that part of you wanted to feel bad for Manny Ramirez's right shoulder for the pain it must have been in by having to handle 30-plus ounces of wood for three straight pitches. Then you came to your senses and realized that Manny hits bomb after bomb against the Yankees.
Let's have a look at the strike three call, compliments of (in order) Getty Images, AP and Newsday's Paul J. Bereswill.
"Hey, did Mariano release the ball yet?"
"Oh, he did throw it already?"
"Really? Wow, I must have missed that."
Comments (2)
I am a Yankee and Mariano fan but lets not get crazy about one encounter. The Sox drove a stake in Rivera in the playoffs of 04' as they had all year. What makes him so great is his longevity as a premier closer not whether or not he holds the top spot at any given time.
you're right, steve. but that was a great encounter at the plate. you gotta admit that.