History redefined by ESPN: missing highlights of 2003 ALCS Game 7, Red Sox-Yankees

The game was condensed to 1 hour on ESPN Classic and showed their orientation: excessive time spent on Roger Clemens (their obsession since day 1), lingering on his face when nothing was happening, and staying with him for an extremely long, slow walk off the field. At the very end of the hour with seconds left, ESPN chose to go to their booth guys for some garbage time, chit chatting, then went to Aaron Boone's at bat. They spent a lot of time on Boone's reaction after the game, which was mainly that he was speechless. History has been redefined by ESPN accordingly. (Even MLB.com wrote at the time that the use of Mariano Rivera was key to the win).*

• Not 1 pitch was shown of Mariano Rivera's historic 3 scoreless innings in a tie game, 9th, 10th and 11th. (He was also the winning pitcher of the game).

• On the 2 occasions Rivera was shown to be at the stadium, once in the bullpen and once in the dugout, the camera shot was 1 second or less.

• Also erased from history by ESPN, (what actually happened after the game while Aaron Boone was saying nothing) the sight of Rivera boosted to the shoulders of his teammates, being carried across the field. Rivera was named MVP of the ALCS.

How fun it must be to edit history at will and without fear. After all, Bill Plaschke even said closers will never pitch 3 scoreless innings. The media drive works--Mo almost doesn't exist.

• *On 10/17/03, even MLB.com thought Rivera was the key to the win:

*(MLB.com): NEW YORK -- "It was an American League Championship Series that had classic written all over it before it began. By the end, it had rewritten the definition of classic...

• If the outcome of the deciding Game 7 can be boiled down to one thing,

• it was that the Yankees succeeded in going deep into the well of

• their best pitcher -- closer Mariano Rivera --

• and the Red Sox went too deep into the well of their best pitcher -- Pedro Martinez....

Yankees manager Joe Torre, meanwhile, went deeper into the well of Rivera's considerable talent as a closer than ever before, and it paid off to the tune of

• one of the most amazing non-save situations in postseason history.

• It was the shining moment for

• the very best October closer in history -- three innings of masterful work well worthy of
• his MVP status....

When the Yankees took two of three at Fenway Park with two games in Yankee Stadium, the Yankees had the Red Sox by the proverbial throat. They let the Sox slip out of the stranglehold, but once they got back to even,

• they went to the man who could put the grip on the game like no other.

• And the Yankees didn't let go, thanks to Rivera and a little magic

• from Boone at the end.

Classic."

• Suggestion: If you're interested in accuracy, do not patronize ESPN advertisers. Never mind--passivity is the order and disease of the day:

• "But this awful corrosive passivity is far more pervasive, and, unlike the psycho killer,
• is an existential threat to a functioning society." (Mark Steyn, 4/18/07).

Example of rationale put forth by ESPN/MLB minimizing Rivera, as expressed by opinion leader Buck Martinez, 10/08/07:

• Buck Martinez comment on Trevor Hoffman on WFAN

• "Let me say this about Trevor Hoffman.
• Hitters are more tired in October which is why Mo does better
• than Hoffman would."

Buck actually says nothing about Hoffman. All he does is knock Mariano Rivera, with the incredible statement that "hitters are more tired in October."

• (Mike and Chris on WFAN did not question Martinez on his assertion exemplifying today's passive culture).

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Joe Castiglione has a voice and uses it for the better

Joe Castiglione in the 9th, Red Sox v LAA, Manny v K-rod, the at bat begins and Joe notes pitcher v batter stats supplied by MLB. Joe says the league notes exclude any mention of post season,

• "which of course is most important in the match-up category." He notes Manny hit a 3 -run homerun off K-rod in the 2007 post season. (The game was tied when K-rod entered with 1 runner on base, and the Angels lost by 3 runs. Speier got the L).

Opinion leaders on ESPN Radio and Fox TV (possibly others) have shown negative feeling about post season stats as evidenced by their commentary during the 2007 ALDS, Red Sox v LAA (posted on this blog 10/7/07 and 10/13/07). Rather than saluting those who've achieved, "opinion leaders" spoke with disdain and sorrow of those who've achieved since the post season became more than the World Series. I've seen no evidence that any leader is fighting to normalize acceptance of these stats-just the reverse.

• With 3 levels of post season play, those stats "of course" (as Joe Castiglione noted), must be included on a routine basis immediately.
• It's actually cheating to overlook these stats. Meaning someone thinks they're 'bigger than the game.'

• At least Joe Castiglione has the dignity to speak up about it.

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The Untouchable, Independent Nation State of Baseball Media

Millions of dollars in 24/7 free advertising in all media have easily sold a concept about the Yankees which happens to be false. What's so fun is the Yankees never correct any of the constant inaccurate media reports. Here's poster on TSN selling a favorite,

• even though Roger Clemens is the only Yankee "named" for having used a banned substance during the 2000 regular or post season (I read the report for each of these names):

"Roster

RiCkL-7 on Sun Feb 17, 2008 09:44 pm

Here's the semi-complete juiced-up spanks roster from the 2000 season: 1) David Justice 2) Roger Clemens 3) Denny Neagle 4) Chuck Knoblauch 5) Andy Pettitte 6) Glenallen Hill 7) Jose Canseco 8) Jason Grimsley 9) Mike Stanton To be continued..... Now I know what I was hearing emanating from the Bronx 10 years ago....it wasn't "JEEEETERRRRRR" it was "CHHHHHHEATERSSSSSSS". GO BOSOX!!!"

• Comments on AP story on SportingNews.com, 2/17/08, "Girardi Meets with Boss for First Time and Skipper."

(Every day 24/7 for all eternity these lies will be repeated and the Yankees will do nothing about it. No one cares. Except me). sm

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The Texas Rangers cultivated financial hardship--Slate, 11/18/03...and Boras on '60 Minutes'

• An 11/18/03 Slate article discusses financial aspects of the Texas Rangers trading Arod. The author, Allen Barra, notes Boras and Arod were interviewed on '60 Minutes' in March 2001, the interviewer focusing on money for awhile.

(Slate, Barra): "And the Texas Rangers don't need the money.

• The myth that they do is one of the most cherished in sports, one carefully cultivated by the Rangers and Major League Baseball and swallowed almost whole by the country's baseball press—

and the rest of the press, too—as exemplified by Lesley Stahl's question to A-Rod's agent, Scott Boras, during the March 25, 2001, edition of 60 Minutes:

"Do you ever feel," Stahl asked Boras, "that you have gone too far [in getting a $250 million, 10 year contract for his client]? Do you ever say, 'Oh, my God! This is—this is gross. This is so out—a quarter of a billion dollars'?"

"So 'out' of what, exactly, Ms. Stahl? If your ratings allowed your agent to get you the same kind of deal, what would you reply to one of your 60 Minutes colleagues who drilled you with 'Do you ever ask yourself if it's gross?' "

"Are you embarrassed?" Stahl asked Boras and Rodriguez.

They shouldn't have been, Lesley, but you should have been for asking the question.

Americans are always embarrassed about the subject of the big money paid to professional athletes because, at heart, we know they're paid that because it reflects how much more we care about them than the things we say are more important. The notion that the Texas Rangers and owner Hicks were bamboozled by Boras in the Rodriguez deal should have been dispelled long ago. First of all, with deferred payments and the interest that began accumulating on the Rangers' money before Rodriguez was even paid his first salary, the sum the Rangers pay A-Rod every season surely comes to considerably less than $25 million.

Second, and more to the point, the Rangers didn't exactly reach into their pockets to pay Rodriguez.

• They had the money for his contract because Fox Sports Net bought the 10-year cable rights to the Rangers and Dallas Stars hockey games for $250 million, and paid another $250 million for both teams' local broadcast rights for 15 years, according to some sources (Forbes reported the latter deal at $300 million). The Rangers, presumably, got the lion's share of that money.

The TV deals boosted the value of the team, as reported in Forbes, by 16 percent, and the addition of A-Rod beefed up their revenues considerably. The Rangers jacked up their ticket prices by an average of 10 percent for Rodriguez's first season, 2001, and finessed several new endorsement deals, including a sponsorship pact with Radio Shack.

• The question that should have been asked three years ago (in 2000) was not "How can the Rangers afford to pay Alex Rodriguez $250 million?" but "Why don't the Rangers use some of the money produced by those deals and the acquisition of Rodriguez to buy some pitching?"

Why then are the Rangers willing to part with the most valuable property in baseball? Possibly because, at this point, there's more money in dealing him.

• The TV contracts are in place for several more years, and the Rangers will continue to receive the money whether they're paying his salary or not.

Whatever the reason, the fact is that any money saved by dumping A-Rod's contract would be pure profit—minus the cost of a new shortstop.

• Maybe the Rangers can get Royce Clayton back. Clayton was the man A-Rod replaced in 2001. In 2000, he hit .242 with 14 home runs to Rodriguez's .316 and 41 home runs. This past season, Clayton hit .228 with 11 home runs and made $1.5 million. You get what you pay for."
• From Slate article by Allen Barra, "Trading Alex Rodriguez," 11/18/03

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Tony Massarotti Schools Jack Curry on "Closers"---Especially Post Season Closers

"At this time of year, after all, closers are not asked merely to close games. They also are asked to pitch in extra-inning affairs and tie games such as Sox-Angels Game 2.

• During the height of the Yankees dynasty, longtime New York pitcher David Cone joined the Red Sox for the 2001 season. At the time, the Yankees had won three straight World Series and 4-of-5, and
• Cone was among many who believed Rivera was the biggest key to the Bombers’ run of championships.

Rivera, Cone argued, was the “X-factor.”

Sox fans, too, witnessed that reality firsthand. In 2003, just before Aaron Boone hit his game-winning home run against Tim Wakefield [stats], Rivera gave the Yankees three scoreless innings of relief.

• The Red Sox simply could not match up."

From Boston Herald column by Tony Massarotti, "Gives Sox Rivera-Like Advantage On Indians--Pap the New X-factor," 10/11/07

• Yet again, Jack Curry (NY Times) minimizes Rivera by referring to him as a "9th inning" pitcher: "Torre did not have the angst other managers had because Rivera, the best postseason closer ever, handled the ninth inning."

"Handled the 9th?" This is a common method used to minimize--if not openly lie--about the work of Mariano Rivera. Even a Boston newspaper columnist knows better than this. David Cone knows better. In addition, referring only to his post season role as "official closer" allows one to erase the work he did in 1996 as late inning reliever with key Wins and Saves throughout the year. He pitched 3 days in a row in the 1996 World Series. Following the ESPN/MLB model, Curry categorizes Rivera's accomplishments separately in the "post season." I wonder whom he has in mind for "regular season?" On the Gravy Train is Jack Curry.

• From NY Times article by Jack Curry, "Rivera Puts Some Spin on Plans for Future," 10/11/07.

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The embarrassment that is ESPN, Jack O'Connell & the BBWAA

• Dear John Delcos (ESPN heavy, BBWAA voter OF THE JOURNAL NEWS), Here's your award-winning ESPN/Hall of Fame quote. It's not going away. After that, see the math needed for your insulting claim:

"Unfortunately for Hoffman and other relievers of his era, they are compared to Rivera's body of work in the playoffs. There's no denying Rivera's greatness, but had the Yankees had Hoffman instead, I believe they would have been just as successful.'' -- John Delcos, The Journal News (New York)"

• John Delcos quote from ESPN.com, "Hoffman Deserves a Plaque in Cooperstown," Crasnick: Surveying Hoffman's Hall of Fame Case," 6/1/07

• Poster "Bull Pain" on BBTF, 10/9/07

"If you count Trevor Hoffman's blowup v the Rockies as a 'post season game,' he'd need to go 104 more post season innings and allow just 2 ER to match Rivera's ERA.

• Mariano's playoff history: 76 games, 117.1 IP, 72 hits, 10 ER, 16 BB, 93K, .77 ERA, 1 L."

(Comment posted on "Rivera to Test Market," on BBTF (Baseball Think Factory)

• Update: 10/12/07, AP report: "Trevor Hoffman has elbow surgery." Pitchers with bad elbows can't help their team. Hoffman also missed most of 2003 with surgery.

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With heavy heart, ESPN Radio's Dan Shulman acknowledges Manny's post season record....

You could hear the PA announcer's voice in Anaheim note the record achieved by Manny Ramirez' homerun in Sunday's Red Sox-Angels game...

• "Manny Ramirez has tied Bernie Williams for post season homeruns....."

ESPN's Dan Shulman says, well, yes Manny now has tied Bernie Williams with 22 post season homeruns. Shulman not thrilled about it, says these hitters have had the "LUXURY" of extra post season series unlike "the OLD DAYS WHEN THEY JUST HAD THE WORLD SERIES..."

• Then Shulman in reluctant tone says, "But" an accomplishment "NONETHELESS" for Ramirez.....

"NONETHELESS?" This is the skewed reality of baseball's elite. They practically put AN ASTERISK next to players who've gutted out post season achievements from 1995 to the present. Put it in a lesser category, they're saying.

• We're lead to feel sorry for the poor guys sitting on the couch resting up to pad next season's regular season stats.

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