Mariano vs. Paps: Who should close the All-Star Game?
There's a new rivalry within the rivalry brewing for Yankees and Red Sox fans. Who should pitch the ninth inning of the All-Star Game for the American League this year at Yankee Stadium?
Yankees fans, of course, will say Mariano Rivera deserves it more, seeing how it's in his team's stadium and he's nearing the twilight of his career. And because he wears the pinstripes.
Red Sox fans, of course, will say Jonathan Papelbon deserves it more, seeing how he's the new young stud in the playground and his team's manager, Terry Francona, is in charge this year after the Sox won the World Series in 2007. And he's got a "B" on his cap.
It's an extremely interesting debate, with intriguing angles based on statistics, history, the calendar and the media.
The statistics angle (through games on 7/9/08)
Rivera: 4-3, 1.06 ERA, 23-for-23 in saves, 42.1 IP, 23 hits, 4 BB, 50 K
Has allowed runs in 5 of 38 appearances.
Papelbon: 3-3, 2.27 ERA, 27-for-31 in saves, 39.2 IP, 29 hits, 7 BB, 50 K
Has allowed runs in 11 of 40 appearances.
Edge: Rivera.
The history angle
This is the last year of Yankee Stadium, baseball's first true cathedral, which just so happens to be the main reason the All-Star Game is even in the Bronx this year. It's almost unfair to let anyone else pitch the ninth inning. Whether the AL is winning in the top of the ninth or getting blown out, fans at the Stadium and watching on television will stick around to watch the Sandman enter in his home stadium in his customary position. Surely, Francona can appreciate that.
Even if the game is tied in the ninth, the home team manager almost always goes to his closer then, so Rivera or Papelbon would likely pitch this inning since there would never be a save opportunity.
Some say Rivera starting the All-Star game would be a bigger deferential move by Francona. It would certainly alleviate his ninth inning woes. I say it's a cheap way out. Rivera belongs on the mound in the ninth inning (sometimes the eighth, too, but not in an All-Star Game).
Edge: Rivera.
The calendar angle
Wednesday is the most boring sports day of the year, which leads us to . . .
. . . The media angle
With absolutely nothing else to talk or write about on Wednesday morning, do you really think the New York media will let Francona get away with Papelbon pitching the ninth inning instead of Rivera?
Can anyone imagine Mike and the Mad Dog, Boomer and Carton, or Benigno and Roberts not going to town on Francona if that happens? ("I'm no Yankee fan, I think we all know that, but that's a bad job by Francona. I gotta kill him for it.")
And that will turn this into a national story as everyone newspaper columnist, sports blogger, sports talk radio host, sports talk radio callers and TV personality weighs in on the topic. It's what we do best in the media: overkill!
Francona is in a tight spot here. If he goes with Paps, the New York media will blow it way out of proportion and the fans will never let him forget it when he comes to the Bronx, no matter how many times he's praised Jeter and Torre in the past.
If he goes with Rivera, he has to deal with the Boston media saying he didn't go with his own guy and that he's an appeaser. Plus, he has to live with Papelbon and the other 24 players on his team the rest of the season.
And with the way this Yankees-Red Sox rivalry has been on steroids since 2003, no matter what Francona does on July 15 in the Bronx, there's no way anyone would let him forget it when the two teams end the season in Boston from Sept. 26-28. Not to mention if they meet again in October.
Edge: Every other manager in baseball.
- La Monica
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Comments (20)
I will be at that game, and I tell you right now I might start a riot if they put Papelbon in the 9th over Rivera.
Has to be Mariano. It would be a farce if he did not close it out.
Even if its not Mariano, its K-Rod.
Papelbon has more blown saves than K-Rod, in 7 less chances.
I think Papelbon should do the 8th and Mariano should be the closer.
This is not open for debate.
Mo is THE greatest closer of all time.
End of discussion.
Mariano should start the game, not close it out.
C'mon anyone that knows about baseball KNOWS Mariano is the greatest closer ever---and hes been doing it for quite awhile.
Mariano should start the game, not close it out.
C'mon anyone that knows about baseball KNOWS Mariano is the greatest closer ever---and hes been doing it for quite awhile.
Nick,
E-mail me before you start that riot so I can DVR it (and scoop the rest of the media on the news story!)
Look at the numbers.....why is this even a debate? Mariano by a long shot
Mariano has been much better this year.
Mariano is the best closer of all time and a first ballot Hall of Famer.
The game is being played in the only ballpark that Mariano has ever called home, the historical Yankee Stadium, in it's final season.
This is such a stupid discussion. There isn't a single good reason why Papelbon should close the game over Mariano. Papelbon shouldn't even be at the game as only the 4th best closer in the AL.
If Papelbon closes the game ahead of Mariano, Francona and Papelbon shouldn't make it out of the Stadium alive.
Are you kidding with this question? I am a Mets fan and know there is an easy answer. Mariano Rivera is the best closer of all-time and having another great season. Francisco Rodriguez would be my second choice. Bases loaded nobody out on Saturday and the Red Sox cannot push across the tying run. Papelbon gives up a game winning single to a rookie the next night. Case closed.
Are you kidding with this question? I am a Mets fan and know there is an easy answer. Mariano Rivera is the best closer of all-time and having another great season. Francisco Rodriguez would be my second choice. Bases loaded nobody out on Saturday and the Red Sox cannot push across the tying run. Papelbon gives up a game winning single to a rookie the next night. Case closed.
Papel ... who?
I'm a Red Sox fan but I'm going to say Mariano Rivera. I think Paps is amazing and could do the job just fine. However, out of respect that Yankee stadium will be no more after this season, and the fact that Mariano kicks a$$! Francona might bring in Papelbon but Mariano will close it out.
As a Red Sox fan since 1973 (age 7) even I am not that stupid. While guys like Papelbon and Rodriguez are the up and comers of the new generation of closers, Rivera is the guy who does it best and has done it the longest. He should get the chance to close it out if it comes down to that.
Its the right thing to do, much like in 1999 with Jeter doing his Nomar impersonation at the plate in Fenway.
As a Red Sox fan since 1973 (age 7) even I am not that stupid. While guys like Papelbon and Rodriguez are the up and comers of the new generation of closers, Rivera is the guy who does it best and has done it the longest. He should get the chance to close it out if it comes down to that.
Its the right thing to do, much like in 1999 with Jeter doing his Nomar impersonation at the plate in Fenway.
Why are we having this discussion??? Lots of closers are having better years than Papelbon.
Rivera -- easy for the 9th
KRod -- a ton of saves already
Nathan -- a machine....gets no respect
Soria -- having a great year
Paps can pitch the 5th or 6th!
Alfonso Soriano is out of the National League All-Star roster.
Why is Ortiz still there?
He should give his spot to another player.
Papelbon should give up his spot too.
I should close the game.