As I mentioned in a post back in February regarding the breaking news that Alex Rodriguez tested positive for performance enhancing drugs, I detest the Yankees. It’s just what you have to do when you like another team (the Tigers are still over .500 and in first place in the AL Central), but even some BoSox fans have a certain respect for the dynasty that is Yankee baseball (they’ve won 26 of their 39 appearances in the World Series, 16 WS victories ahead of the second place Cards). Berra, Boggs, Combs, DiMaggio, Dickey, Ford, Gehrig, Gomez, Henderson, Jackson, Mantle, McCarthy, Pennock, Rizzuto, Ruffing, Ruth, and Stengle – any of these 17 (of the 36) Yankees in the Hall of Fame ring a bell? What about Clemens, Jeter, or the countless other outstanding Yanks over the years? And the Yankees pull these names together to win rather consistently.
Why the hoopla over the Yankees? Trust me, I wouldn’t write out such a post if it weren’t absolutely necessary…
I’ve just read a marvelous article by Joe Posnanski for Sports Illustrated about Mariano Rivera and his famous cut fastball. I knew he was a deadly closer with a wicked cutter, but I never quite realized how impressive his [ongoing] career has been. I encourage you to give it a read, even if you hate the Yankees and even if you hate baseball.
Josh
Elijah
Greg
Michael
Mark
Dude Man
Thanks Elijah. It was a good article (and I’m NOT a baseball fan). If you get time someday it would be fun to see a post about what the different pitches are, and what they do. I don’t know a slider from a splitter.
To prove how much of a non-baseball fan I am, I did not know who this guy was. Apparently he’s been doing this for a while now too!
Thank you for the response, Mark. You think people would actually want to read a post on pitches? Maybe I could make it interesting and incorporate celebrities like Paris Hilton and Mario Lopez in my illustrations.
As far as the popularity of Mariano Rivera goes, you’re not alone. You’ll probably never see a kid on with his jersey nor see him in a Gatorade of MasterCard advertisement. He’s just that low key and non-egotistical closing pitcher who wants to play the game.
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