The Yankees are in it to win it this year. All it took was an 8-game winning streak and GM Brian Cashman was ready to make some moves, some serious moves. With Thursday's 4 pm trade deadline looming Cashman seems to be working 24-7. As a result, the Yanks went from being left in the dust to serious heavyweights.

On Wednesday afternoon the Yankees traded reliever Kyle Farnsworth to the Detriot Tigers for Ivan Rodriguez. All I can say is wow. This is an excellent trade and Brian Cashman once again shows why he's one of the smartest men in baseball. This is the second major trade that the Yankees have pulled in less than a week. With less than 24 hours away Cash may have one more trick up his sleeve. Is that going to be Washburn? We'll find out before Thursday's deadline.

It's a great move and came at the right time. It addresses the catching issue that needed to be addressed and it doesn't interfere with Jorge Posada and his surgery. Both I-Rod and Farnsy are in the last year of their contracts and both address needs to their new respective teams. The Tigers need a set-up man with Joel Zumaya injured and Fernando Rodney named the new closer, and the Yanks need a stable catcher because Jose Molina just isn't an everyday player.

Rodriguez will be just as solid as Molina behind the plate but he will give the offense a boost. He batted .295 5 HR 32 RBI this season. An upgrade over Molina's .230 0 HR 11 RBI. Molina is best suited as a back up and his defense is superb so you have to look at this as a win-win situation for the Yanks.

Farnsworth has been on a role of late and became of one Joe Girardi's reliable guys out of the bullpen BUT the main factor in this is....he can't be trusted. In Friday night's 1-0 win in Boston over the Sox, Farnsy came into the game in the 8th, surrendered 2 hits and was immediately taken out for Mariano Rivera. To be fair, Kyle just had a bit of bad luck that night because he wasn't hit hard but Girardi wanted to take no chances of a possible mental breakdown so opted for Rivera to finish off the 8th and eventually the 9th. That move right there should've told you that no matter how good Farnsworth pitches, he can NOT be trusted in big spots. So the move was made, Pudge comes to the Bronx and Farnsy goes to Motown.

Pudge helped the Marlins get to the World Series in 2003 and the Tigers in 2006, both times it was his first season with the team. Let's see if he can bring that success to the Bronx.

With Klye gone from the 'pen, it nows leaves the question of who fills in the late inning roles. The 8th inning set-up job appears to be going to Jose Veras who has become a reliable option in the late innings. Edwar Ramirez will probably be your 7th inning guy. I have to say this is a gutsy move on the Yankees part but I like it. Brian Bruney is rehabbing his injured foot and is slated to rejoin the bullpen in the coming weeks so he could also fill one of the late inning spots if the men in front of him don't perform. With the addition of Demaso Marte last week, the Yankees bullpen is looking good and that will be a key factor down the stretch. The pieces are falling into place now and I like it. With Manny Ramirez apparently on his way to Florida, you got to think that the Yankees have a serious shot at October.

The recent dynastic run of the late '90's was the result of a strong core and a combination of a deep bullpen, good starting pitching, productive offense and a mold of solid all around players. My friends, the Yankees are one trade away from returning to form....a trade that appears to be on it's way tomorrow afternoon. If that doesn't happen, Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, and Carl Pavano all may make a return before year's end. If you're a Yankees fan, you have to like your chances now....if not, Brian Cashman's got a trick up his sleeve for sure.

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Tags: Baseball, Brain Cashman, Chien Ming Wang, Demaso Marte, Edwar Ramirez, Ian Kennedy, Ivan Rodriguez, Joe Girardi, Jorge Posada, Jose Veras, Kyle Farnsworth, Phil Hughes, Yankees

Did Sidney Ponson pitch his last game as a Yankee last night? It's very possible. The Yankees have been lucky with Ponson thus far but last night's performance is a reminder of how much of a risk he really is.

The winning streak eventually had to come to an end and the Yanks did take 2 of 3 in Boston, but it was still a game the Yanks needed to win. A win last night puts the Yanks into a tie for the Wild Card with Boston and they gain a game on the Rays leaving them 2 out. But Ponson started in a big game spot. I'll excuse him for the fact that he was due to get hit around at some point. He has given the Bombers more than they could've imagined so I'm not upset with him. It does however raise some questions abouit Sir Sidney in big spots. The much rumored-to-be-Yankee Jarrod Washburn pitched 8 innings and gave up one run in his start yesterday. Does this accerlate the talks between the Mariners and Yanks? I don't know but I would rather Washburn in the rotation than Ponson.

The Yankees are willing to pick up the remaining 14 million on Washburn's contract but Seattle wants a top level prospect. I think Seattle is asking for a little too much and they should lower their asking price before Thursday's trade deadline so they can drop some salary and put that money towards other pieces needed for them to compete again.

I wrote yesterday how the Royals and Yanks have discussed a Melky Cabrera for Brian Bannister trade. It looks like the Yanks aren't too serious about that unless the Washburn deal falls through.

It also appears that the Florida Marlins have interest in Kei Igawa (oh my gosh!). They think he could be a dependable 4th or 5th starter in the National League. Good luck with that idea.

Overall, this was a good week for the Yanks. They went 5-1, gained ground both in the divison and the Wild Card races. Let's hope the upcoming 7-game homestand proves to be just as productive.

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Tags: Baseball, Melky Cabrera, Sidney Ponson, Yankees

Boy is my face red. Last week I wrote how the Yankees need more than luck to make the playoffs. Well, they haven't lost since I wrote that article.

Since my post was written, the Yankees have been on a winning streak of 8 straight, they've made one trade that filled two big needs and it appears they are not done. Reports have the Yanks ready to acquire Jarrod Washburn from Seattle and this morning the Kansas City Star is reporting a potential deal with the Kansas City Royals that could bring Brain Bannister to the Bronx for Melky Cabrera.

Well, it appears the Yanks are going for it. Why wouldn't they? They're the Yankees. I didn't sense a fight in this team and now they are red hot. The winning streak comes at a time where the Tampa Bay Rays have faltered a bit and the Red Sox are slip and sliding their way down the divison as well. The Yanks have won 13 of their last 16. They now trail the Wild Card leading Red Sox by one game.

While there is still about two months of baseball left and anything can happen, you still have to rub your eyes when you look at the AL East standings. The Rays are in first place and the Yanks are a season high 13 games over .500. Now consider some of these facts:

(Thanks to Peter Abraham for his always helpful info )

At the moment, the Yankees have 11 players on the roster who weren’t there on Opening Day. That’s not counting Andy Pettitte, who was on the DL for the opener but made a start on April 5.

So what happened to the original 2008 Yankees?

On the DL: Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, Jorge Posada, Hideki Matsui, Brian Bruney.

Demoted: Shelley Duncan, Ian Kennedy, Billy Traber.

Released: Morgan Ensberg, LaTroy Hawkins.

Demoted then traded: Ross Ohlendorf.

The only players who have been on the roster for all 103 games are: Derek Jeter, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Robinson Cano, Jose Molina, Mike Mussina and Mariano Rivera. That’s seven players.

Don’t forget, Melky Cabrera and Kyle Farnsworth missed games because of suspension and Joba Chamberlain was on the bereavement list. A-Rod was on the DL, too.

I have to say Joe Girardi has done a great job keeping his team together. How much can the Yankees build off of this run? They have erased an inconsistent first half, answered critics for questioning the lack of "big" moves, and questions about the team's status due to the rash of injuries that have hampered them.

I think I'm going to have to lay low on the predictions for awhile as I seem to always eat my words. Well, I'm glad for once it's working in the Yanks favor. If the Yanks can close out the sweep tonight in Fenway, they would be in a tie with Boston for the Wild Card, have won 9 straight (all against Wild Card contending teams, ex: Oakland, Minnesota, Boston), and retool the team that is in position to go deep into the October night.

Now all that is needed is for the Rays to finally fall on their face. But I'll leave the predictions for another time where I know I can't go wrong.

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Tags: Baseball, Joe Girardi, Melky Cabrera, Yankees

Shelley Duncan is here! How do you know that? Here's how:

Friday night: 1 for 4, 1 RBI.

Saturday (Game 1): 1 for 4, 1 HR 2 RBI, Yankee Stadium curtain call.

Sunday: 2 for 4, 2 HR 4 RBI, another curtain call.

Via ESPN.com:

"It's a crazy experience," Shelley said. "You kind of get frozen in the moment."

That was the weekend Duncan had, and that's why you know who he is. Not to mention fist pounds and high fives that would take your arms off. He's the brother of St. Louis' Chris Duncan and son of Dave Duncan , pitching coach of the Cardinals. He was drafted in 2001 by the Yanks out of Arizona. His infectious manner in which he plays the game has brought a sense of life and enthusiasm to the team and to the ballpark. A factor that the Yankee Stadium crowd did not let go unnoticed. On Sunday, he recieved curtain calls after both of his home runs and recieved a standing ovation upon his third at-bat.

Via Bill Madden, NY Daily News:

"He's not just up there hacking and that's important," said Joe Torre ."He knows who he's facing and maybe it's a benefit to have a father who's a pitching coach teaching you about preparing and focus."

What seems to be Shelley's claim to fame is his overjoyed emotion, "It's fun until after he scores," Derek Jeter said, laughing "He gets a little physical when he gets excited." Asked about his aggressive high fives after Saturday's Game 1 win, Shelley offered YES Network reporter Kim Jones a sample. A sample that surprised her as well as her colleagues in the booth.

Should we be surprised with Duncan or is this a preview of things to come? Torre is going to have to find a way to get him in the lineup, a problem that is certainly a good thing for Torre and the Yanks.

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Tags: Baseball, Derek Jeter, Joe Torre, Shelly Duncan, Yankees

With the 2008 All-Star game behind us, the second half of the season is upon us. This is where the contenders show their worth and the pretenders fade away. The Yankees have been known as a good second half team over the past few seasons but this might very well be the toughest second half of recent memory.

The Yankees are 51-45 and 5.5 games out of first place. 66 games to go. Now granted this is no reason to be alarmed, BUT do you really think Sidney Ponson is going to continue to pitch effectively throughout the second half? Do you think Richie Sexson will be that much of a help in the lineup? Those two are replacing ace Chien-Ming Wang and slugger Hideki Matsui. Mighty big shoes to fill. How much longer is Mike Mussina going to pitch like its 1999? All of these are BIG questions going into the second half. How about Melky Cabrera in CF? When the heck is he going to hit? Robinson Cano, when does he show us that talent that makes him so untouchable? My friends, I think these Yanks are in serious trouble.

The Yankees were 49-46 after 95 games last season. They ended up winning 94 games. I am a fan and sometimes that alters my thinking of the team and what's realistic but this time, this year I don't see the fight in this team. I don't sense it. I want to believe the Yankees will be playing October baseball but I just don't believe they have it in them. I will admit despite all the injuries (Wang-September, Matsui-Out for the year?, Phil Hughes- September?,Ian Kennedy- ?, A-Rod- 3 weeks, Jorge Posada- 6 weeks, Johnny Damon- a few weeks) the Yanks have done a good job in staying in the race. The Tampa Bay Rays will give the Yanks and Red Sox a run for their money this summer but will eventually fade out. It's the Yanks job to gain ground as the end of the season approaches.

The reason for concern is the .254 hitting with runners in scoring position (heading into last night's game). They hit .293 in similar situations last season.

"It's something that's hard to make sense of," general manager Brian Cashman said. "I have to have belief that these guys will hit because that is what they have done in the past. I have to go on what their track records have been."

But again, this is not Joe Torre's Yankees, it's Joe Girardi's team now. We will now see how much of the last few season was Torre's doing or was it the players? The Bombers have 35 games left on the road, 43 games against teams with a record over .500. Things have to get going now. I've said it all season that I will wait until at least the All-Star break to look at where the Yanks are and what their situation is and what lies ahead of them. Well, at this time, things don't look good in the Bronx. I don't want to count them out just yet, but they're not showing me anything worth believing October baseball is in the future.

In order to reach 94 wins the Yankees will have to go 44-23. It's possible and I hope they do make it. But I predict a 39-27 second half. The result of injuries, inconsistent play and lack of clutch hitting. This will leave them with a 90-72 record. I honestly think even that is a stretch for this team but I'm trying to be as realistic as possibe. The Yanks don't take the divison, the wild card is certainly a possiblity because how many AL teams are going to finish with 90 wins?

"I think we can get it done with the players we have," Derek Jeter said. "There's enough talent on this team to get it done."

Is the captain speaking out of confidence or is he speaking like someone who just happens to always say the right thing?

"It's time for us to get going" Girardi said.

I couldn't agree more. I hope the Yanks prove me wrong.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Derek Jeter, Hideki Matsui, Ian Kennedy, Joe Girardi, Joe Torre, Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Melky Cabrera, Mike Mussina, Phil Hughes, Richie Sexson, Sidney Ponson, Yankees

The 2008 HR Derby was one for the ages. If you didn't see the first round you missed the whole show.

Texas Rangers' Outfielder Josh Hamilton hit an amazing 28 HR's in the first round. Josh's 28 HR's was the most ever in the first round. Bobby Abreu previously held the record with 24, set in 2005. It was quite simply an outstanding performance. Some of the HR's he hit went places you didn't think were possible. He hit them 5oo feet on several occasions, he hit them all the way in the cheap seats in the right field upper deck. He went deep into the black seats in center, he hit the Bank of America sign in right, and he almost hit the 4 train! (ok, he really didn't but it looked like he sure was aiming for it, and came close).

"If the balls had been juiced, I would have had it," said Hamilton, whose teammates had been prodding him to knock one out of the Stadium. "I was close, right? I was trying to hit the subway."

The rules of the HR Derby nowadays make no sense to me. They combine the HR's for the first two rounds to determine the finals. Then, in the final round the total is wiped out. So in the finals we have Justin Morneau of the Minnesota Twins vs Josh Hamilton. Mornaeu ended winning the Derby because of his 5 HR's to Hamilton's 3. Hamilton stole the show and hit enough to win next year's HR Derby. This is something MLB should look into.

The attention is still on Hamilton. He at one point hit 11 HR's in a row. I was working right across the street from Yankee Stadium yesterday and couldn't see all of the Derby but after getting dinner from McDonalds, I found time to sit down just in time to see the 11 in a row. I finished my dinner before he made an out. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Neither could anyone else who was watching with me. It was so good the sell out crowd in Yankee Stadium were chanting his name.

"Standing at home plate and having Yankee Stadium chant your name," Hamilton said. "Is there a better feeling?"

After a performance like that, there aren't too many better.

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Tags: Baseball, Bobby Abreu

Bobby Mercer has passed away due to complications from brain cancer. It's a sad day in the baseball world because Bobby touched so many people in so many different ways.

The Yankees were informed of his passing after the game. Here are some quotes regarding Bobby:

Michael Kay:

“Bobby was one of the finest human beings I’ve ever met. He handled his battle with a grace and class that was hard to fathom. For me personally, it’s an incredible loss. He was my idol growing up. I was lucky to work with him as a broadcaster, and it showed me that I had great taste as a kid. He was everything that you’d want in someone that you once looked up to. He lived up to every ideal that a little boy set for him. I’m going to miss him a lot. I miss him a lot already.”

Ken Singleton:

“I will cherish all the wonderful times I had with Bobby in the booth. He was a real treasure, and it was amazing to witness the special relationship Bobby had with New York and with Yankees fans. I will miss him greatly. He was one of a kind.”

Kimberly Jones:

“I will never forget how kind Bobby was or how much he cherished every day. Back in March 2005, in one of my first interviews with Joe Torre, he first declined to answer a harmless question then asked me to hold his gum. I extended my notebook and Joe placed the wad on the top page. I had no idea what to think. Two seconds later, Bobby was howling in laughter, as was Joe. It was through a practical joke that Bobby figured he would help the newcomer break the ice. And it was something Bobby and I laughed about many, many times in the years to come. He was always smiling, always upbeat and his spirit was undeniable. Everyone loved Bobby and we will miss him dearly.”

Bob Lorenz:

“My greatest impression of Bobby is not as a player or broadcaster, but as a human being. He was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word, and that’s not a word we hear enough these days. He always treated people warmly and his positive, upbeat personality just made people he came in contact with feel better instantly. His presence had that kind of impact. I know when he walked into the studio at YES, there was a different kind of energy. We all knew we were in for a great day.

“After Bobby was diagnosed in December 2006, I could not believe how positive he remained and how he immediately accepted not only his condition, but the challenge of overcoming it. And he handled it with such grace and, no surprise, in his usual positive manner. And I’ve thought ever since, if Bobby can maintain that kind of positive attitude in the face of such adversity, we all should learn from that. And if we don’t, then we’re not paying attention to the lessons of a great man.

“Bobby’s loss as a broadcaster is immeasureable. As a lifelong Yankee, the stories and history just flowed out of him and captivated Yankees fans. His loss as a friend is even greater. His positive attitude rubbed off on you and made you a better, happier person every time he was around.”

Joe Girardi:

“He was a great Yankee, but more importantly, he was a great friend to all of us. He always put others first, he cared about the game, and he cared whether we won or lost every day. He wore his emotions on his sleeve whether he was in the booth or as a player, and he played the game the right way. Bobby was the type of man that, I believe, got what life was about—trying to make life better for people around him. As a kid, I used to watch Bobby Murcer, and he was one of my heroes.”

For more quotes you can visit Peter Abraham's Lohud Yankees Blog.

Personally, I loved Bobby Mercer. I loved his enthusaism behind the mic and how he handled his situation with brain cancer and how he was so upbeat. It teaches everyone to never take anything for granted and always appreciate what you have. a true gentleman and class act Bobby will be remembered to many people for many different reasons. I know him mostly for being an announcer. Some will always remember him for delivering a moving eulogy at Thurman Munson's funeral and going out and driving in five runs leading the Yanks to victory the same night.

I always loved watching him on Old-Timer's Day and see how much fun he had.One of the games I remember the most about Bobby was July 1, 2004. It was the Yanks vs Sox and it was truly one of the greatest games I have ever seen played. I was also working at Yankee Stadium at the time and was by a tv throughout the night because that game had a postseason feel. It was the night that Derek Jeter dove into the stands for a pop out and came out bloody, the Yankees almost turned a triple play, one team scored and the other responded, it went into extra innings and the game had everything you could ask for. Bobby said that he seen those type of games before and he said don't leave, there's more to come. Boy was he right. The game is usually on YES on Yankee Classics. If you never watched this game, I think you should. At the end of the game when the Yankees came back to win in the bottom of the 13th on John Flaherty's walk off single, Bobby was so upbeat and repeated how he told us that he seen games like this before. He gave you a reason to believe that night and he didn't let us down.

It's a great loss that he has passed. If only he could've made it to this week's All-Star festivies. But he will be there in spirit and he will be watching. Here's to Bobby Mercer, a Yankee in every sense but most importantly, a great human being. He will be missed.

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Tags: Baseball, Bobby Mercer, Yankees

The rosters for the 2008 All-Star Game were announced yesterday afternoon. The hometown Yankees are going to be represented by 3 of the game's best. The crosstown Mets, however have only 1 representative. Let's take a look at the rosters.


AMERICAN LEAGUE STARTERS:
First base: Kevin Youkilis (Boston)
Second base: Dustin Pedroia (Boston)
Shortstop: Derek Jeter (New York)
Third base: Alex Rodriguez (New York)
Catcher: Joe Mauer (Minnesota)
Outfield: Josh Hamilton (Texas)
Outfield: Manny Ramirez (Boston)
Outfield: Ichiro Suzuki (Seattle)
DH: David Ortiz (Boston)

RESERVES:
J.D. Drew (Boston)
Jason Varitek (Boston)
Joe Crede (Chicago)
Carlos Quentin (Chicago)
Grady Sizemore (Cleveland)
Carlos Guillen (Detroit)
Justin Morneau (Minnesota)
Milton Bradley (Texas)
Ian Kinsler (Texas)
Michael Young (Texas)
Dioner Navarro (Tampa Bay)

PITCHERS:
Mariano Rivera (New York)
Scott Kazmir (Tampa Bay)
George Sherill (Baltimore)
Roy Halladay (Toronto)
Jonathan Papelbon (Boston)
Justin Duchscherer (Oakland)
Joe Nathan (Minnesota)
Joakim Soria (Royals)
Cliff Lee (Indians)
Francisco Rodriguez (Los Angeles)
Ervin Santana (Los Angeles)
Joe Saunders (Los Angeles)

NATIONAL LEAGUE STARTERS:
First base: Lance Berkman (Houston)
Second base: Chase Utley (Philadelphia)
Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez (Florida)
Third base: Chipper Jones (Atlanta)
Catcher: Geovany Soto (Chicago)
Outfield: Ryan Braun (Milwaukee)
Outfield: Alfonso Soriano (Chicago)
Outfield: Kosuke Fukudome (Chicago)

RESERVES:
Brian McCann (Atlanta)
Aramis Ramirez (Chicago)
Matt Holiday (Colorado)
Dan Uggla (Florida)
Miguel Tejada (Houston)
Russell Martin (Los Angeles)
Nate McLouth (Pittsburgh)
Albert Pujols (St. Louis)
Ryan Ludwick (St. Louis)
Adrian Gonzalez (San Diego)
Cristian Guzman (Washington)

PITCHERS:
Aaron Cook (Colorado)
Tim Lincecum (San Francisco)
Dan Haren (Arizona)
Ben Sheets (Milwaukee)
Carlos Zambrano (Chicago)
Brandon Webb (Arizona)
Ryan Dempster (Chicago)
Brian Wilson (San Francisco)
Edinson Volquez (Cincinnati)
Kerry Wood (Chicago)
Brad Lidge (Philadelphia)
Billy Wagner (New York)

A few interesting things here. Jason Varitek and his .215 batting average? Joe Crede and his .260 average? One can make arguments about leaving the reinvented Mike Mussina and his 11-6 record. Jason Giambi and his 18 HR and 53 RBI. A disappointing fact here is that there is only one Mets player on the NL team. You would've thought they would've played better and had a couple more representatives but that hasn't been the case this season. It's possible we see David Wright in the game if he's voted in by the fans as per the final vote. Same goes with Giambi for the AL team. Mussina could get in as a replacement.

I don't have any issue with the selections other than Varitek, but the players voted him in. Maybe having them vote players in is not such a good idea, neither is having the fans being able to vote 25 times. It's more of a popularity contest than a showcase of the game's best all around players. Even with the fans doing the voting, NOBODY watches the game! For whatever the reason nobody pays attention to it. I don't watch it past the 2nd or 3rd inning. Once I see my guys in the game, that's enough for me. I could care less that the winner of the game determines home field advantage in the World Series. The game means nothing to me, I see it more as just an honor of respect to those who are there. I might be at Yankee Stadium for all of the All-Star Game festivies that weekend. I'm sure if I am, it will be an amazing expirence. If only the game lived up to the hype.

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Tags: Alex Rodriguez, Baseball, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Mariano Rivera, Mets, Mike Mussina, Yankees

Mariano Rivera is still the best closer in baseball. Sometimes it takes a near disaster like the 9th inning yesterday, to make you realize how good Rivera is.

With the Yanks up 2-0 and Rivera on the mound you thought the game was going to over. One thing you learn from watching Yankees-Red Sox is that it's NEVER over until the final out is recorded, no matter what the score is and what the situation is. That's what makes baseball so great. That's what makes this rivalry so great. So Rivera hits two guys, gives up two hits, one run and the bases are loaded and no one out. He strikes out Coco Crisp, gets Jason Varitek to pop up, and strikes out Julio Lugo. He did all that with the same calm, expressionless demeanor he always carries.

For a moment in the 9th inning you could see Rivera was worried. Dave Eiland came out and spoke to the Yankee closer and the rest of the infield. Whatever was said during that trip to the mound, it apparently worked. What makes Rivera so great is he is never afraid. His mental approach is what seperates him from the rest. Instead of panicking, he faced his situation and went toe-to-toe with the next three Red Sox hitters. The end result...a Yankees victory and another save for Mariano.

It's easy to take Rivera for granted for everything he does. He makes it look so easy and he's done it for so long, you just expect him to flawless. He's as close to automatic as anything you've ever seen in baseball, so you should never worry about Mariano. Sure, if the Yanks lost that game yesterday, then it would have been probably the most devastating loss of the year. I, for one did not think Rivera could possibly blow that game yesterday. Even with the bases loaded and no one out, I knew Rivera would get through it. Why? Because once you get past the panic and the nerves, you realize that Rivera is the game's best, not just now....but of ALL TIME. Maybe Eiland reminded Mo of this, maybe Mo reminded himself, but he got the job done. He made it exciting but never doubt the game's best.

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Tags: Baseball, Mariano Rivera, Yankees