I can't believe im saying this but Im with moose here. The quotes may have been a little harsh, but the examples he gave are true. The Yankees would have won the 2001 World Series, and would have swept the Red Sox in 2004. That's all he said, and it's not an insult, it's a fact. I also think that the Yankees might have made the playoffs this year if Mariano didn't blow almost every single freakin tie game he was brought into. I just have to sy that you shouldn't insult people when they are right.

Well you can always count on Moose to give an honest account of his opinion. A lot of people will look at this in a negative light, but what I think Moose really intended for here was to show that all 25 guys are responsible as a team for winning and losing. You can't just exonerate the Jeters and Riveras because they won four championships previously.

I will say though what a lot of people forget about '04 was that Rivera's blown save in Game 5 came when he inherited a bases loaded, one-out situation and gave up a game-tying sac fly. I do think he takes a bit too much heat for that series.

I don't think anyone's insulting Moose, Dave. He's certainly entitled to his opinion, of course, just as we are.

Just as you can't exonerate the Jeters and the Riveras, you can't exonerate the Mussinas or the Contreras' or the Browns or the anyone who has played for the Yankees. It's a team game.

That said, I don't think saying "He blew the World Series in '01." is a way of saying you can't exonerate anyone, though. I don't think that's how that sort of thought is communicated. It's a way of saying Mariano Rivera blew the 2001 World Series. And while Mo did have a blown save in game 7... he pitched in all 3 games the Yankees won, saving won, winning another and allowing 0 runs. To say he blew the whole series... just isn't fair.

Patrick

I have to agree with you there. Mussina said that "He blew the World Series in '01." I said that they would have won the World Series. I think that is what Moose was trying to say. Rivera did pitch great in that series until the 9th in game 7. That being said, do you disagree with what I said about the '04 ALCS?" He blew the save in games 4 and 5, and I know in game 5 Flash Gordon was awful in the 8th, but I think people, like Mussina, and Joe Torre, like most of the Yankees think that Rivera should be perfect, and that attitude seems to have rubbed off on people who would disagree with you. I don't think he "blew" and of the series, it is a team game, but I think all Mussina was trying to say is that if he was what he usually was in those series, things would be different. Joe Torre might still be the manager, there would have been no miracle for the Red Sox, and their curse would probably still be going, and we would have 28-30 Championships. I just think that you might be taking what moose said the wrong way, and that is what might lead to you thinking what he said was unfair. Same thing on this year by the way. It is a team game, and there were more problems than just Mo in tie games, but if he kept every one of those tie games like he is expected to by the Yankees (I think he had around 8 or 9), then the Yankees would have been, at least, much closer that 6 games out going into the last week of the season. The other things were guys like A-Rod, Pudge, Pettitte, Cano, Melky, and guys like those, and if just one of them, I don't care which, had played like they were supposed to the Yankees might have been in. Again, it is a team game. I was just naming one of the players, Rivera. Sorry if I took what you said the wrong way, but I just think that you may have took what Mussina said the wrong way.

Thanks for the comments, Dave. :) I appreciate your perspective.

Really, I'm just reading his words as what they are, that's all. "He blew the World Series in '01." I mean, you can take it how you want, either way... but, that's what he said.

With that said, I like Moose a lot. I loved him as a Yankee. I don't think he meant anything toward Mo. I think his words are probably phrased in an unfortunate way.

As far as what you said about the '04 ALCS, again, it's a team game. The team lost that series. The team performed poorly starting at the 9th inning of game 4 through game 7 and Mo was a part of it. He contributed to the losing effort.

As far as this season, this was one of Mo's finest seasons and that is really saying something. He was tremendous - he blew one save. He allowed 11 ER all year. No one is perfect. I think to expect even more out of him is a little unreasonable. He was one of the reasons we were competitive. There are a lot of people who feel that he was the best reliever in the game last year and should have received more Cy Young consideration than F-Rod. See here: http://riveraveblues.com/20...

So, I can't say I agree there. The Yankees in 2009 had various problems, but Mariano Rivera was not one of them.

Thanks again,

Patrick