Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Quick Hits: O's Stuff, Mariano, Dice-K and Tiki Barber

Orioles Related: Peter Schmuck gives his take on the Kris Benson injury and also has a bit of optimism for the Orioles.

Mariano Rivera Not a Yankee After the Season? Scanning the World Wide Web this morning, I caught up with what’s going on baseball and it looks like Mariano Rivera has not been given a contract extension yet by the Yankees. Considering his stature with the team and his track record, one would think the team would jump all over the chance to resign him.

Does not seem to be the case, as of yet.

He no doubt wants to finish his career as a Yankee (from the NY Daily News). This is what he said:

“I definitely want to finish my career here, but if they don't give me the respect I deserve, I have to move on," Rivera said. Asked if he felt he wasn't being given that respect, Rivera responded, "The Yankees always give me the respect. When it comes to these times (contracts ending), I don't like to talk about it. It's a business.”

I think Mariano should finish his career as Yank, and rightly so – even if I am Baltimore Orioles fan. However, considering now that Cashman is in charge, and he seems to want to infuse youth in the team, Rivera may not be a sure thing to return.

However, I cannot see the Yankees getting rid of a closer with such a prolific history such as Rivera. Yes, he may be getting older, is there anyone out there more productive as he, and as well, even at his advanced age, who else get can batters nervous in the box like him?

I see the Yanks and Mariano working things out.

The Most Covered Man in Baseball: Daisuke Matsuzsaka will probably be covered on this blog, and many others more than any player in the league. He landed in Tampa, Florida for spring training and already got hammered with reporters, especially the Japanese media. It’s going to be an interesting year in Beantown.

Tiki Barber: Tiki Barber, former New York Giants running back will become a broadcaster for NBC’s morning show, ‘Today’, and is expected to have a role in the network’s football broadcasts. NBC beat out Disney and Fox News for his services.

“Barber’s next career will begin in April when he joins NBC’s “Today” show as a news correspondent, according to people close to the negotiations who requested anonymity because there has been no official announcement.

Barber, the Giants’ career rushing leader, is also expected to be an analyst for the network’s Sunday night football broadcasts, “Football Night in America,” perhaps pushing aside Sterling Sharpe.

Straddling its news and sports divisions, Barber would seem a natural fit for the network’s coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.” (from the NY Times)

Good luck, Tiki. You seem to be a natural for this type of work…

3 comments:

SAMO said...

I can't imagine Mariano not in pinstripes. That would be really weird.

Anonymous said...

Mariano has been on a slight decline for years. The Yankees probably think they can get someone to be more effective for a longer time period.

Of course that's not like them. They sign everyone who's good NOW to deals and don't worry about tomorrow at all.

Unfortunately for us the Yankees have been moving away from that philosophy in the last 18 months or so. They've been trying to build a young team and restock their farm system.

That could mean the end of Mariano in New York, but it's bad news for Baltimore.

Unknown said...

I think the Yanks will make an exception for him.

His ERA's & saves the past 4 years.

'03 - 1.66 - 40
'04 - 1.94 - 53
'05 - 1.38 - 43
'06 - 1.80 - 34

Ok, so he'll be 37 - maybe that might be why he is in decline. If I find someone in any who can decline like that based on his numbers, I'll sign him to my team tommorrow.

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