I don’t mean to turn my site into a baseball blog, but when the Yanks and Sox play (especially when they’re so close in the standings) I obviously pay closer attention to the games. I’m glad the Sox won last night, but I can’t help but think the Yankees could’ve easily taken it if they didn’t leave Mariano Rivera sitting in the bullpen. He wasn’t really needed in the first two games (they never had a lead to protect) but last night it was bottom of the 8th inning with New York ahead 3-1.
Despite throwing 120+ pitches C.C. Sabathia was left in to pitch. I understand that: he was pitching well and there isn’t much of a bullpen behind him. After a walk and a few hits to score a run and make it 3-2, there’s now no outs with Sox on first and second, and manager Joe Girardi decides to go to his bullpen. With Kevin Youkilis and Jason Bay — the best hitters on the Sox (and, lately, in the entire AL) — coming up, rather than bring in Mariano Rivera he chooses Alfredo Aceves. Two more hits and a sac fly, now the Sox lead 4-3 and Rivera basically has the night off.
I’m sure sabermetric Yankee fans were pulling their hair out last night. Rather than use their “bullpen ace” to try to stop the Sox in the heart of their order, Rivera sits in the bullpen so he could pitch the 9th and get another save. A “closer” should be a “relief ace” used when he’s most needed any time towards the end of the game instead of only being allowed to pitch the 9th inning. By not getting out of the 8th inning without further damage, it made the 9th inning irrelevant: “Theeeeeeeeee Yankees lose!” and no 15th save for Mo.
