THE PAST CALLED THE FUTURE... IT WENT TO VOICEMAIL

With the chants of “MARI ANO!” and Metallica’s live rendition of “Enter Sandman” still ringing in our ears we watched them. For me it was almost like seeing Richard Pryor perform one more time, or catching Springsteen play an all out show for four plus hours. Both men doing what they were born to do with the same focus and control that they’ve displayed from nearly two decades. One, a self-proclaimed “grinder”, made his way to the hill first. Andrew Eugene Pettitte, Major League Baseball’s All-time leader in Post Season wins, took the ball as he had on so many Sunday afternoons in the Bronx…but this was no ordinary Sunday.

This day would be his last appearance in Yankee pinstripes. The big lefty from Baton Rouge is walking off into the sunset from the second and final time. No longer will we see his mitt held high over his face, his cap pulled down low, leaving only a set of eyes peering down at the hitter with menacing intensity. “The Stare” that defined Andy as a competitor, and will always be a reminder of what winning meant to his generation of Yankees, will be transformed into the relaxed gaze of a father watching over his family in retirement. So seeing him “grind it out” one last time at home was a must for all Yankee fans.

New York was on life support going into the final game of the series with San Francisco. But here’s the thing, Andy Pettitte is a “George Steinbrenner Yankee”, and they were taught to fight until you have nothing left. In a performance that reminded us all of how we’ve almost taken him for granted, “Lefty” hurled a last outstanding performance. He dialed up the fastball, ran his cutter in and emptied the tank before tipping his cap to fans that will never forget him. Known as one of the good guys around the game, Andy leaves behind great memories and an example of how to play baseball with fire and class.

But if you ask the always-humble Pettitte what Sunday was all about he’d certainly say. “Mo.” The Stadium buzzed for hours before, during and after the game for Mariano Rivera. The Great Sandman also bid the fans a bittersweet goodbye. He is the best closer ever to play the game and like his long time friend from “The Core 4”, Mariano’s modesty is rivaled only by his great accomplishments. Since his first days in the big leagues Mo has quietly gone about his business and perfected his craft. His delivery is machine-like, hitting the same spot over and over again, and his heart and passion to win is almost super human.

Mo gives himself, body and soul, to what he does on the mound and Sunday was no different. Rivera is one of the players I will tell my grand kids that I got to see play, the way old guard speaks of witnessing the likes of Koufax, Gibson, Mantle and Williams. Mariano is the genuine article. He is the greatest of all-time, but to me it seems his teammates feel the only honor greater than playing with Mo, is being Rivera’s friend. It is clear he has touched as many lives as he has shattered bats. That is the measure of a man in my book.

The only thing sadder than seeing these two Yankee Legends say farewell on Sunday was knowing the days ahead may be darker than any we’ve known for a long time. The heavy, sinking feeling I had as “New York, New York” played at game’s end was profound. As fans we aren’t losing just Mariano and Andy, we are losing the way the Yankees are seen on and off the field. The players of the future are not in the same class as the players of the past.

Pettitte left the game in a 1-1 tie. He’d only given up three hits as Joe Girardi called on the “Closer of Tomorrow”. In the blink of an eye David Robertson gave up the lead. Now granted, it was Andy’s runner, but in my opinion DRob isn’t ready to be the club’s closer. Yes, it is extremely unfair to expect him to be Mariano. Nobody will ever be Mo. But Robertson throws entirely too many pitches each outing to be an effective closer at this point. He tends to jam the bases before “Houdini-ing” out of trouble. That formula won’t be effective going forward. How can it be if he is called on to pitch 3 or 4 consecutive days? Look, I think David is a great guy and when he is right his stuff is electric. I am just not convinced he has the constitution to be the end game pitcher. Can he find it? Sure. Will he be discouraged and intimidated if he struggles early next year? We’ll see.

I could take Almonte to the woodshed for his ill advised break to the plate on a chopper to short…but we all saw it. He is a rookie, but man, that was tough to watch on Mariano Rivera Day. It seemed that once Andy and Mo’s work was done the “New Look Yanks” made us all that much more nostalgic for the days of the Dynasty. Even when Robbie Cano was gunned down at home trying to tie it up in the 8th it seemed he was telling us something. The soon-to-be free agent slid into Buster Posey and came up limping as if to say, “Ouch! Thanks for the bruises this year, gang. Can somebody give me a lift to JFK? I’m going to Los Angeles.”

My day ended watching a young JR Murphy, who I think will be a great catcher for the Yanks down the road, striking out weakly to conclude the contest…I sat quietly and thought. Maybe we should listen to other team’s fans who tell us, “Haven’t you guys won enough? Give others a chance.”

No. No, you can never win enough. Why play the game if not to win all the time? That’s what “George Steinbrenner Yankees” like Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera showed us…and that’s what the Yankees seemed to really lose on Sunday Afternoon.

Thank you, Andy. Thank you, Mariano. You were New York Yankees in every respect of the word.

 

--Mike O'Hara, MLB Fan Cave Host, Season 1
   Twitter: @mikeyoh21
"Paulie was always my favorite player."

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