Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Mo-V-P! Rivera on Newsday back page, 7/17/13
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Wed., 7/17/13, Newsday back page
Wed., 7/17/13, Newsday front cover
7/17/13, NY Daily News back page
Wed., 7/17/13, NY Post back cover,
'Motown!'
7/17/13, NY Post banner (on front page of website so no link)
7/17/13, "Mo’s perfect inning follows surreal entry," NY Post, Mike Puma
"Mariano Rivera got a hero’s welcome on enemy turf last night and made his final All-Star appearance a Sandman Special.
Summoned in the eighth inning of the 84th All-Star game because manager Jim Leyland wanted to ensure Rivera would get to pitch, the Yankees icon was perfect — and named the Most Valuable Player of the AL’s 3-0 domination of the NL before 45,186, the largest crowd in Citi Field history.
“As a team player you don’t look for these things, they just happen,” said Rivera, who became the first Yankees player since Derek Jeter in 2000 to win the All-Star game MVP award. “I’m honored and proud to be a member of the New York Yankees and being able to play for this city and to do it the way I have done.”
Rivera, who is set to retire after the season, entered to a standing ovation and waved his cap to the crowd upon reaching the mound. To let Rivera bask in the moment, his AL teammates delayed in taking their positions, leaving the future Hall of Fame closer alone during the 60-second ovation.
“It felt so weird — basically I was there alone with my catcher,” Rivera said. “I definitely appreciated what they did for me.”
Then, Rivera retired the side in order and departed to more applause.
Leyland said it would have been too risky waiting until the ninth to let Rivera pitch. If the NL rallied and took the lead in the eighth, there might not have been a bottom of the ninth.
“You know, I’m probably not the most popular manager in baseball,” Leyland said. “I wanted to make sure I got out of here alive tonight.”
Rivera’s AL teammates also seemed moved by the events. “I had goose bumps the whole time,” Dustin Pedroia said. “It was nice not to worry about facing him.”
The performance came on a night the NL All-Stars were limited to three hits, one of which came from David Wright, who singled in the seventh. The victory, which carries home-field advantage for the World Series, was the AL’s first since 2009.
Robinson Cano might have suggested “This time, it hurts” as the official game slogan, after Matt Harvey drilled him in the right leg in the first inning. It stood as the snapshot moment — until Rivera’s appearance in the eighth — of the first Midsummer Classic hosted by the Mets since 1964.
Cano, the only Yankees starter, departed with a contusion to his right quadriceps shortly after getting plunked and was long a spectator by the time Joe Nathan threw the final pitch in the ninth.
Harvey, the first Mets pitcher to start an All-Star game since Dwight Gooden in 1988, pitched two shutout innings. Wright finished 1-for-3 with a single in the seventh inning against Greg Holland, but also left a runner stranded at third in the fourth.
Mike Trout had just opened the game with a double, when Harvey drilled Cano in the right leg with a 96-mph missile. Cano remained in the game as Miguel Cabrera struck out, but then walked off the field, replaced by Pedroia. Cano underwent precautionary X-rays, which were negative.
“That was the last thing I wanted to do was go out there and possibly injure somebody,” Harvey said.
“As [Cano] was walking by I was trying to get his attention as he was going to first. When he came off, obviously I apologized and made sure that he was OK.” Cano said there were no hard feelings. “I know he doesn’t want to hit anybody,” Cano said. “But it’s just part of the game, so what else can you do?”
Jason Kipnis delivered an RBI double in the eighth against Craig Kimbrel to give the AL a 3-0 lead. Adam Jones’ double leading off the fifth against Cliff Lee led to the previous run, which scored on J.J. Hardy’s RBI fielder’s choice.
Harvey threw 32 pitches over two shutout innings in which he allowed one hit and struck out three. After the Cano plunking, he struck out Cabrera on a 92-mph slider and retired Davis before Bautista whiffed, also on a slider. In the second inning, Harvey retired the side in order. He exited the field to a standing ovation.
“I’m used to walking off in the second inning and going back out there, so I really didn’t pay attention to it,” Harvey said. “I wish I had kind of stayed in the moment a little bit and gave a head nod or whatnot. But the thanks was there and they have been great all year, the fans. I’m very thankful.”"
============================
7/19/13, "Tigers' Leyland reflects on 'terrific All-Star Game; Infante not ready yet," Detroit Free Press, John Lowe
"After many weeks of talking to the Detroit Tigers beat reporters about his plans and trepidations regarding the All-Star Game, Jim Leyland could enjoy chatting
with them today about how well it had all turned out.
“I thought it was a terrific All-Star Game, maybe one of the best of all time because of the Mariano Rivera situation and how it scripted out,” he said.
Leyland, the AL manager, knew that the Yankees’ Rivera, the best closer ever, had to pitch in his final All-Star Game before he retires after this season. Leyland decided to have him pitch the eighth because he wanted him to come in to start an inning. Even with the visiting AL ahead 3-0 entering the bottom of the eighth, it was still possible there would be no bottom of the ninth if the NL rallied for at least four runs in the eighth.
Rivera entered for the eighth, took a solo bow on the Citi Field mound before his teammates took the field, then threw a 1-2-3 inning.
“A terrific moment in the history of our game,” Leyland said. “What amazed me — and this shows you why he’s so good — the pressure on him was unbelievable, and he got three outs like it was nothing. That told me how great this guy is.”"...
Wed., 7/17/13, Newsday back page
Wed., 7/17/13, Newsday front cover
7/17/13, NY Daily News back page
Wed., 7/17/13, NY Post back cover,
'Motown!'
7/17/13, NY Post banner (on front page of website so no link)
7/17/13, "Mo’s perfect inning follows surreal entry," NY Post, Mike Puma
"Mariano Rivera got a hero’s welcome on enemy turf last night and made his final All-Star appearance a Sandman Special.
Summoned in the eighth inning of the 84th All-Star game because manager Jim Leyland wanted to ensure Rivera would get to pitch, the Yankees icon was perfect — and named the Most Valuable Player of the AL’s 3-0 domination of the NL before 45,186, the largest crowd in Citi Field history.
“As a team player you don’t look for these things, they just happen,” said Rivera, who became the first Yankees player since Derek Jeter in 2000 to win the All-Star game MVP award. “I’m honored and proud to be a member of the New York Yankees and being able to play for this city and to do it the way I have done.”
Rivera, who is set to retire after the season, entered to a standing ovation and waved his cap to the crowd upon reaching the mound. To let Rivera bask in the moment, his AL teammates delayed in taking their positions, leaving the future Hall of Fame closer alone during the 60-second ovation.
“It felt so weird — basically I was there alone with my catcher,” Rivera said. “I definitely appreciated what they did for me.”
Then, Rivera retired the side in order and departed to more applause.
Leyland said it would have been too risky waiting until the ninth to let Rivera pitch. If the NL rallied and took the lead in the eighth, there might not have been a bottom of the ninth.
“You know, I’m probably not the most popular manager in baseball,” Leyland said. “I wanted to make sure I got out of here alive tonight.”
Rivera’s AL teammates also seemed moved by the events. “I had goose bumps the whole time,” Dustin Pedroia said. “It was nice not to worry about facing him.”
The performance came on a night the NL All-Stars were limited to three hits, one of which came from David Wright, who singled in the seventh. The victory, which carries home-field advantage for the World Series, was the AL’s first since 2009.
Robinson Cano might have suggested “This time, it hurts” as the official game slogan, after Matt Harvey drilled him in the right leg in the first inning. It stood as the snapshot moment — until Rivera’s appearance in the eighth — of the first Midsummer Classic hosted by the Mets since 1964.
Cano, the only Yankees starter, departed with a contusion to his right quadriceps shortly after getting plunked and was long a spectator by the time Joe Nathan threw the final pitch in the ninth.
Harvey, the first Mets pitcher to start an All-Star game since Dwight Gooden in 1988, pitched two shutout innings. Wright finished 1-for-3 with a single in the seventh inning against Greg Holland, but also left a runner stranded at third in the fourth.
Mike Trout had just opened the game with a double, when Harvey drilled Cano in the right leg with a 96-mph missile. Cano remained in the game as Miguel Cabrera struck out, but then walked off the field, replaced by Pedroia. Cano underwent precautionary X-rays, which were negative.
“That was the last thing I wanted to do was go out there and possibly injure somebody,” Harvey said.
“As [Cano] was walking by I was trying to get his attention as he was going to first. When he came off, obviously I apologized and made sure that he was OK.” Cano said there were no hard feelings. “I know he doesn’t want to hit anybody,” Cano said. “But it’s just part of the game, so what else can you do?”
Jason Kipnis delivered an RBI double in the eighth against Craig Kimbrel to give the AL a 3-0 lead. Adam Jones’ double leading off the fifth against Cliff Lee led to the previous run, which scored on J.J. Hardy’s RBI fielder’s choice.
Harvey threw 32 pitches over two shutout innings in which he allowed one hit and struck out three. After the Cano plunking, he struck out Cabrera on a 92-mph slider and retired Davis before Bautista whiffed, also on a slider. In the second inning, Harvey retired the side in order. He exited the field to a standing ovation.
“I’m used to walking off in the second inning and going back out there, so I really didn’t pay attention to it,” Harvey said. “I wish I had kind of stayed in the moment a little bit and gave a head nod or whatnot. But the thanks was there and they have been great all year, the fans. I’m very thankful.”"
============================
7/19/13, "Tigers' Leyland reflects on 'terrific All-Star Game; Infante not ready yet," Detroit Free Press, John Lowe
"After many weeks of talking to the Detroit Tigers beat reporters about his plans and trepidations regarding the All-Star Game, Jim Leyland could enjoy chatting
with them today about how well it had all turned out.“I thought it was a terrific All-Star Game, maybe one of the best of all time because of the Mariano Rivera situation and how it scripted out,” he said.
Leyland, the AL manager, knew that the Yankees’ Rivera, the best closer ever, had to pitch in his final All-Star Game before he retires after this season. Leyland decided to have him pitch the eighth because he wanted him to come in to start an inning. Even with the visiting AL ahead 3-0 entering the bottom of the eighth, it was still possible there would be no bottom of the ninth if the NL rallied for at least four runs in the eighth.
Rivera entered for the eighth, took a solo bow on the Citi Field mound before his teammates took the field, then threw a 1-2-3 inning.
“A terrific moment in the history of our game,” Leyland said. “What amazed me — and this shows you why he’s so good — the pressure on him was unbelievable, and he got three outs like it was nothing. That told me how great this guy is.”"...
