Monday, June 08, 2009

 

Evan Longoria says Mariano Rivera still the best closer in baseball-NY Daily News

"Following the Yankees' 4-3 win at the Stadium Sunday - which ended on Evan Longoria's slow roller to second, capping a perfect ninth and Rivera's 13th save -

"Among the closers in the game, if I had to choose one guy, I would still want him running out there in the ninth inning," Longoria said. "If I was the manager, I would send him out there every day.

Rivera essentially received a vote of no-confidence from Joe Girardi in Saturday's 9-7 loss in the Bronx. Instead of pitching to Longoria in the ninth, he was directed to intentionally walk the leading American League vote-getter in All-Star balloting.

While Rivera, 39, hasn't always seemed like his old self this season, Longoria believes it's not a sign of things to come - at least not anytime soon.

"He rarely makes mistakes. The times that he has, we've been able to capitalize on them," Longoria said. "He's still a big presence coming out of the pen. Maybe he's not as good as he was six years ago or when he was at his peak, but you have to be on the top of your game facing him. ... His ball is moving so much that even at 92-94 mph, it's still tough to handle."


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