Company lady Suzyn Waldman was working overtime this afternoon, insisting that Mariano Rivera’s latest blown save is no cause for huge concern given that it was A-Rod’s mishandling of Manny’s grounder in the bottom of the 9th that cost the Yankees an opening week sweep over Boston. True enough, but this conveniently ignores the fact that in a one run game, Rivera walked the leadoff batter in the top of the 9th. A blown save is a blown save — Mo didn’t inherit the bases loaded situation, he created it.
John Sterling, in a remarkble moment of candor, admitted that Rivera’s command of the strike zone has rarely been so poor. When John Sterling is the voice of reason, we might as well prepare for the Martian Invasion.
For those of you who would prefer to prefer to hurl insults in the direction of Trot Nixon’s favorite faux-Yankee, take it easy. Tom Hicks didn’t get his money’s worth today, either.
Full marks, by the way, to MLB for scheduling so many hot rivalries for the season’s first week. NY/Boston. Houston/St. Louis. LA/SF. Atlanta/Florida. And of course, the granddaddy of ’em all, the Blue Jays vs. Devil Rays derby, currently wrapping up in front of what appear to be 40,000+ empty seats.