The 9th inning of tonight’s game was excruciating, because Mariano was doing his best to make the game exciting or he was possessed by Mitch Williams. I haven’t decided which yet. The game was already pretty exciting so I’m leaning towards the second option.
Really what it did was make me nervous for the future, because Mo isn’t going to be around much longer. The Yankees have been spoiled by having really good closers for a very long time now. I think a lot of Yankee fans don’t remember (because they’re like 20)–or have chosen to forget (if they are my age or older)–how agonizing and frustrating it can be to have a merely serviceable closer. I guess Steve Farr got the job done most of the time, but he also made every game heart attack worthy. Ask any Detroit fan what it’s like to have Todd Jones finish games. Yeah it gets done but you don’t feel any confidence when he jogs in from the bullpen.
I really feel Joba Chamberlain has what it takes to be a close the door relief pitcher, but at the same time I understand the desire to have him in the rotation. In my heart of hearts I really want to see him be the 9th inning guy in the future because I’ve seen how important having a guy like that close out games can be. Mariano Rivera and John Wetteland were so important to the team that won in 1996, and I really wish we could get something like that going again soon. The Yankees have gone from having a really good bullpen to an okay one and with Joe Torre’s amazing bullpen management skills that is a bad thing (though who knows if he will be back next season).
In other news, I should feel better about the Wild Card after pulling two from the Red Sox at Fenway, but I have unfortunately witnessed how terrible the Yankees play against the Orioles in person too many times this season, so I’m still not convinced they’re going to be playing in October.
