Mariano Rivera Highlights

• the Rays' third baseman called the Sandman the best closer in all of baseball.

"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.

• "I wasn't here when he was at the height, at the peak of his game, when every pitch he threw was 95-96 mph and cutting. The thing is, he's dropped a couple miles off his fastball, but he still puts it where he wants it. ... I don't really see his ability to get guys out in the ninth inning decreasing that much at all."...

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.

• Asked if he was shocked to receive the free pass, Longoria nodded and said:
  

• "I didn't even know if he had walked a handful intentionally in his career. I was going up there with the intention
  
• that he was going to make his pitches and try to get me out."

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."

• "Evan Longoria: Mariano Rivera Still the Best Closer in Baseball," NY Daily News by Matt Gagne, 6/8/09
  

# posted by susan @ 4:37 PM