The Angels Blogosphere is rampant today with claims of Mariano Rivera using a spitball. Many seem to suggest that this is how Rivera has been so successful over the years.
This douchebag takes screenshots of the game that suggest that Rivera spit directly on the ball. He goes on to suggest that FOX is in cahoots with Rivera.
Evidence offered: a "spit halo" on top of the baseball after it's been "spit upon":
Of course that's during the fade-in to Scioscia, where you can clearly see this "spit halo" is the fucking Magestic logo on Scioscia's jacket.
I would say this is pretty conclusive evidence of why Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera is able to throw only one pitch that has unpredictable, yet precise movement.
He has mastered the Angels so far in the ALCS but has Major League Baseball gotten a look at how he "warms up" for his appearance on the mound? You be the judge...
With a tie game in the bottom of the 10th, the Yankees bring in Rivera.
After warming up, he has his back to home plate so the home plate ump can't see.
He looks down at the ball, then up to see if the 2nd base ump is watching.
He then looks back at the ball and appears to spit on it.
And when he tests clean for steroids they say he is not a cheater.
Total and complete nonsense. First of all, Rivera wouldn't look down at a baseball and drop spit directly from his mouth onto it. Secondly, he'd have to have been doing this for 15 years, and nobody noticed until now. Thirdly, baseballs get changed out so often, he'd have to do this 5-10 times per game.
Absolute nonsense, and even though the Angels won, total sour grapes by their fanbase.
By the way, here's a slowed-down video of the incident, which clearly shows the spit travels past Rivera's hand and the ball and travels to the ground. Funny that the Angels blogs decide to show misleading screenshots rather than the entire video:
Yahoo! Sports Never Fact-Checks Anything They Publish
Besides the fact that Papelbon is acting like a complete asshole, making it seem fine that he "defers" what he considers his right to close the All-Star Game, Yahoo! can't even get their story straight:
Rivera, third on the all-time career list with 466 saves, and ninth in the major leagues this season with 23, would be a hugely popular choice to close for an AL team managed by Red Sox skipper Terry Francona.
Papelbon, however, stands first in the AL and second overall with 28 saves.
It's not like Yahoo! had to go far to fact-check this - at the top nav bar on that same page, there's a "stats" link. (Not that I needed it; everyone who follows baseball regularly knows that Francisco Rodriguez is on pace to smash the single-season saves record).
Papelbon is tied for 2nd in saves. He doesn't lead the AL - he's 10 behind. I'm not sure if Yahoo! let this slip because they don't check facts, or they thought it would help Papelbon's case (conspiracy theory!), or if they simply saw "LA" next to Rodriguez's name and figured him to be a Dodger.
Either way, it's sloppy journalism and I can't believe this Yahoo! crap is still happening.
As for Papelbon, he really needs to shut his mouth. He's quickly replacing Curt Schilling as the Boston player that most makes the team look like a bunch of arrogant fucktards.
Rodriguez has much more claim to close the game than you do, and he hasn't said a peep about it. You think winning the World Series gives you as an individual the right to close the All-Star game the following season? 2007 is over, moron. What your team gets is their manager running the dugout and making some player selections. That's it. Now shut that anus-shaped mouth of yours and go back to dancing that faggy little dance you like to do so much.
This has to be one of the most ridiculous news stories I have ever seen published in a major newspaper, and that is saying a LOT.
Mariano Rivera attempting to squeeze option year as Yankee deal nears
BY MARK FEINSAND DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Wednesday, December 19th 2007, 4:00 AM
Mariano Rivera eventually may accept the three-year, $45 million deal the Yankees have offered him, but the closer isn't quite ready to do so just yet.
It appears as though Rivera has given up on the idea of getting a fourth guaranteed year from the Yankees, but according to a source with knowledge of the situation, Rivera still is trying to negotiate some type of option for 2011, one that could kick in based on the number of games the righthander finishes during the first three years of the deal.
The Yankees increased their original offer to Rivera of three years and $39 million by $2 million per season, which would give him an annual average salary of $15 million, making him the highest-paid closer by more than $4 million per year.
But after hearing Hank Steinbrenner speak publicly about his age (the closer turns 38 at the end of the month), Rivera seems determined to get something else put into the contract. If Rivera can't get the Yankees to budge, according to a source, he is expected to accept the three-year deal, which he hasn't yet, despite an Internet report to the contrary.
Have you clicked on the link to the article? Because on the right hand side are "Related Articles." I emplore you to look at the first one listed. It is a link to a DAILY NEWS article entitled "Rivera, Yankees finalize deal" and was published Monday, December 17th, two full days before this piece was written:
Mariano Rivera, Yankees finalize deal
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Monday, December 17th 2007, 4:58 PM
Mariano Rivera and the New York Yankees made it official Monday, finalizing a $45 million, three-year contract that will keep the ace closer in pinstripes.
Is this the aforementioned contrarian "Internet report"? (Note: I capitalized Internet so as to best emulate Mark Feisand.)
Perhaps the "Internet report" is this press release from the NEW YORK YANKEES:
YANKEES SIGN MARIANO RIVERA TO A THREE-YEAR CONTRACT
The New York Yankees announced today they have signed right-handed closer Mariano Rivera, the American League’s all-time saves leader, to a three-year contract.
Rivera, 37, owns 443 career saves, the most in franchise history and the third-most all-time behind Trevor Hoffman (524) and Lee Smith (478). His 395 saves over the last 10 years are the most in the Majors while his 787 career appearances are the most-ever by a Yankees pitcher and place him in 42nd place on baseball’s all-time list. Among pitchers with at least 200 save opportunities, Rivera’s 88.2 percent career save conversion rate (443-for-502) is second-best all time, behind only Trevor Hoffman (89.3).
The Panama native was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on February 17, 1990 and is currently the longest tenured Yankee (12 yrs, 105 days).
Misleading, confusing headline in that press release? Possibly, to one such as the great Mark Feisand.
Feisand refuses to stop there with his intrepid reporting. Later on in the December 19th article, this bit of breaking news comes to the forefront:
The Yankees also are waiting for word from Andy Pettitte on whether he plans to play in 2008 or retire, but they would likely go into spring training with Chien-Ming Wang, Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Mike Mussina and Ian Kennedy in the rotation rather than pay big money for a free-agent starter should Pettitte retire.
The Yankees did add another lefthander to their rotation yesterday, as Andy Pettitte informed the club he would return for another season, but the Santana situation loomed large over the Opryland Hotel during the first day of the meetings.
Peter Abraham reported the contract was official on December 12th.
So... what's Feisand doing? Bong hits with Raissman in the print room?
Also I know.. a blog post slamming a Daily News writer that isn't Lupica. Crazy, huh? Don't worry gentle readers, I've been preparing a new installment of my Lupica posts. It should be up tomorrow.
Mo Rivera was in Tampa with his agent, Fern Cuza, to sit down with Brian Cashman and the Steinbrenners. Hey, a player willing to sit down with his team and hear what they have to say, what a concept.
When a player meets a team with his agent, it is usually a sign that a deal is close at hand.
Gee, too bad A-Rod opted out, huh? What was his reasoning again?
“Alex’s decision was one based on not knowing what his closer, his catcher and one of his statured pitchers was going to do,” Boras said. “He really didn’t want to make any decisions until he knew what they were going.”
That's why you give the team the 10 days to sign Mo, Posada and Pettitte. If the Yankees settle all three contracts this week, Rodriguez is going to look like an even bigger jerk.
"You may remember me as arguably the best relief pitcher of all time. However, I do not come into games when we are tied on the road, because my manager believes it is better to blow the game and hold me back for a 'save' that will never come. Not just in one isolated incident, but every single time. Even in the World Series! And he never learns from his mistakes. Ever. It's not like I'm overworked. I've barely pitched at all this season because I am held back for when the 'save' statistic comes into play. This is yet another reason why my team is losing games - the best players do not play when it matters."
"Also, please try my restaurant. I won't keep the delicious angus beef in the bullpen when you want it."
LOS ANGELES—Though all the players on the Los Angeles Dodger roster will be wearing No. 42 on April 15 to commemorate the anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier, Dodger second-baseman Jeff Kent told reporters yesterday that he will wear the much-celebrated number to honor Yankee great and future Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera. "Mariano is easily my favorite pitcher, and I think it's wonderful that I finally have the opportunity to show how much he has meant to both me and to the game of baseball," said Kent, adding that Rivera is "the greatest player to ever don the No. 42 jersey." "Most important, he made it possible for Panamanians everywhere not to be afraid to chase their dreams." Kent added that he hoped Major League Baseball would eventually "get their act together" and retire No. 42 for good, which he feels would be the ultimate tribute to Rivera.
