Grading the Yankees Friday deals

I don’t think there will be a better time for me to return to writing than right now. 

Maybe you already know all of the moves the Yankees made – and the moves they didn’t make. Maybe you’re asking yourself, What moves? Or, maybe you just want to hear me blab (thanks). 

So, on Friday…

Why Mariano Rivera is my new favorite Yankee

In all honesty, you can just read this story here and you'll know why Mo is my new favorite Yankee. Below is just my personal spin on it.

I was 6 years old when I first saw Derek Jeter slash a hard grounder up the middle for a single, a Jeterian single, if you will. It was his rookie year, and there was just something about him that I loved as a kid.

There's a lot to love about Jeter, and that's why he's an icon to so many kids. He's the captain of the Yankees. He always seemed to come up with a clutch hit or make the jump throw play deep in the hole.

It was no coincidence I chose shortstop as my first position recreationally (and yes, I attempted the jump throw many times to no avail). But as I got older, playing baseball more competitively, I took after control pitchers like Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte. I'd try to paint the corners and spot big, looping curveballs for strikes. I knew if I had control like them I could still be effective even if I wasn't the fastest pitcher. In my best playing days, I was a reliever and whipped out my imitation of Mo's cutter.

It worked! I didn't break any aluminum bats, but I threw the cutter as naturally as my fastball, like Mo.

Anyway, my development into a reliever from an infielder is just one reason why Mariano Rivera has ousted Jeter as my new favorite player. Another reason is that he truly is the most respected player in the game.

Mo's farewell tour this year opened my eyes. I had heard small stories about it during Yankees broadcasts and seen pictures of him speaking to longtime ballpark workers. But I hadn't heard the full story.

His generosity and compassion is reminiscent of the late, great Stan Musial. Read this if you're not sure what I mean.

I can't recommend this piece by Ian O'Connor enough. Even if you just read one anecdote you'll have a good idea why it triggered me to write this blog and share it with you. 

These sessions were supposed to last 30 minutes before pregame stretching, but as the tour rolled on they grew to 40 and then 50, sometimes even clearing an hour. The coaching staff would occasionally get concerned with the spillover, and so be it. Mariano Rivera didn't think a half-hour was cutting it for what he had to say and, more importantly, for what they had to say.

S/O to John Sterling for directing me to this story during last night's broadcast.

If you enjoy reading about Mo as much as I do, check out my "10 things I'll tell my kids about Mariano Rivera" listicle from earlier this year.

Talking points: Gardner's injury, Jeter's career, A-Rod's resurgence, Soriano's spark and the wild card

There's so much to talk about in Yankeeland right now I just want to jump right in.

Bye Bye, Brett

This just in: The Yankees leadoff hitter Brett Gardner has a Grade 1 left oblique strain and is likely out for the year. Putting the Yankees' 2013 injury epidemic in perspective, the Yankees have used 54 players this season. The most players used in a season by any team ever? 59.

Honestly, he hasn't had as good a season as I'd hoped for (.273 AVG, .344 OBP, 24/32 SB/CS), but it's still a crushing loss because the Yankees don't have a good replacement for him. Ichiro is the next closest thing to Gardner, but Joe Girardi has selected Curtis Granderson to hit leadoff—at least for tonight. 

Knowing When To Quit

Mike Mussina left the game on top with his first 20-win season. Was it too soon? Probably. Rickey Henderson swiped 11 bases in his final two seasons combined, adding to his comfortable all-time lead. Was 1,406 his lucky number growing up or something?

After Derek Jeter was recently declared out for the season, Brian Cashman said that no one has seen his last game. The Captain is 39 years old, and, following a season in which he led the league in hits and plate appearances, he'll end 2013 with just 17 games played.

Welcome home, Alfonso Soriano

He was up there with Jete and Mo as my favorite Yankees way back when, and today he soared past the no-names and has-beens that currently make up the lineup (I refer to them as #theseyankees on Twitter) in my book of most likeable Yankees.

Alfonso Soriano is back with the team that believed in him way back in the '90s, and he's got me pretty psyched to watch the Yankees again. I almost bought one ticket for the game tonight to enjoy it with me, myself and I.

It's been 10 years since he's dawned the pinstripes. The then second baseman slugged 38 homers and stole 35 bases that year and helped them reach the World Series, in which he struck out nine times in six games and homered once.

10 things I'll tell my kids about Mariano Rivera

Today a co-worker asked me if I was still blogging and I told him the last thing I remember writing about was Mariano Rivera.

I was wrong. After touching on Mo's farewell season in April, I wrote about Craig Carton's book (which was fantastic) and the Yankees' corner infield conundrum (which no longer matters with Youk and Teix back on the DL).

With Mo receiving by far the coolest farewell gift from an opposing team and getting the last out in tonight's win – and with the blog on my mind – I decided to write some more about Mo, one of the few stars still suiting up these days for the Yankees.

I read listicles every day, as do many others. It's probably because most people don't like to read more than 140 characters at a time anymore and listicles are easy to skim. So, go ahead, if you even bothered to read my rambling intro, and check out the 10 things I'll tell my children about the greatest closer who ever lived.