Will CC have Tigers by the tail?

By Rich Mancuso

Alex Rodriguez said Thursday afternoon that his sore right knee is not a problem and he will be ready to start at third base as the New York Yankees open up Game One of the best of five ALDS against the Detroit Tigers. His manager Joe Girardi also anticipates having a healthy Rodriguez in the lineup for the entire series.

“My feeling is he is going to be healthy, but if he is not that’s a big player out of our lineup,” commented Girardi earlier, one of the first to arrive at Yankee Stadium. The team had a late arrival to New York after losing their final regular season game in Tampa Wednesday evening that enabled the Rays to win the American League wildcard and advance to the post season.

CC Sabathia (19-8, 3.00 ERA) gets the start for New York against Justin Verlander, (24-5, 2.40 ERA) two of the premiere pitchers in baseball who will be the focus of this series. Sabathia and Verlander have opposed each other nine times, including opening day this season in the Bronx. He pitched six innings on three runs and did not get the decision.

“It’s really myself against the Tigers,” said Sabathia when asked if the pitching match- up for the opening playoff game was himself against Verlander or himself against the Tigers. “I need to just go out and not try to get caught up in what he’s doing and make sure that I’m making the pitches I need.”

The Yankees prepare for their 16^th postseason appearance in the last 17 seasons after clinching the AL east division for the 12^th time in the last 16 seasons. Detroit, the AL Central division winner went 4-3 in seven games against New York this season. The two teams have met just once in post season play with Detroit winning the best of five American League Division series in four games, in the 2006 postseason.

Girardi has decided to go with a three-man rotation in the first round. His final roster will be determined by late Thursday evening. The veteran catcher, Jorge Posada, with five championship rings as a New York Yankee will be on the roster and inserted in the lineup as the designated hitter. After Sabathia, rookie Ivan Nova (15-4) will pitch Game Two in the Bronx with game time still undecided. Girardi will go to Freddy Garcia (12-8) for Game Three when the series moves to Detroit Monday night at Comerica Park in Detroit. A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes will work out of the bullpen, and Sabathia will be available to pitch two games if the series goes past a third game. 

“Two premiere pitches on a big stage,” commented Tigers manager Jim Leyland about the opening game starters. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be. Doesn’t get much better than that,” he said.

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com

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Stay out for now! Ambassador tells students that seeking UN admission would set back Palestinian cause

Stay out for now! Ambassador tells students that seeking UN admission would set back Palestinian cause

By Michael Horowitz

The U. S. Ambassador to the UN told Truman High School- students, last Friday, that it would be advantageous for the Palestinians to wait before seeking admission to the UN.

Susan Rice, speaking out during a talk at the Bronx high school, said that seeking admission to the UN at this time would set back the Palestinian cause, a two-state peace agreement on the West Bank of the Jordan River.

Rice noted that the U. S. intended to veto Palestinian admission to the UN to give the Palestinians and Israelis a chance to negotiate an agreement that would cover the Palestinians’ status as a state, as well as a wide variety of other conflicting positions.

The U. S. representative at the UN made these comments in response to a question from a Truman High School student.

She had arranged the visit to the Bronx high school after telling Rep. Joseph Crowley that she wanted to visit a school in the Congressman’s district.

Rice’s principal message for Truman High School students in the audience was to encourage them to consider careers in public service in which they would be able to make a contribution to the world in which they live.

On the subject of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Rise stressed, in broad-ranging comments, “We are committed to Israel and to Israel’s security.  The issues in the conflict have to be resolved between the two parties --- at the negotiating table. These issues involve the refugees in the area, rights to water, and border security. There can be no long-lasting settlement unless borders are secured. Whether or not the Palestinians are admitted to the UN really changes nothing in the real world. Admitting the Palestinians to the UN, at this time, would be counter-productive.”

In response to another student’s question, Ambassador Rice called the world’s efforts in support of Moammar Khadafi’s opponents a successful fight against genocide.

“The nations of the world used force to prevent the slaughter of the people of Benghazi,” Rice stressed.  That effort in opposition to this genocide has been a major success.”

Rice added, in response to a student’s question about the use of force in conjunction with the UN’s mission, “The mission of the UN is to promote peace. However, in this connection, the UN tries to promote collective security among the nations of the world.”

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From marvelous to immortal, Mo is one for the ages

From marvelous to immortal, Mo is one for the ages

By Howard Goldin

Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, acknowledged by most baseball observers as the greatest closer in baseball history, has statistically reached the saves pinnacle by saving his 602^nd game, the most in the history of MLB. On Monday afternoon, September 19, Rivera passed Trevor Hoffman by saving the Yankees win over Minnesota to stand alone at the top reliever of all time.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi recognized how important the mark for the team, “It’s a lot of wins for the Yankees, I know that. It’s a lot of World Series championships, a lot of playoff bids. It’s a number that I really don’t think we’ll see surpassed in our lifetime.”

The official story began on February 17, 1990, when the 20- year-old native of Panama signed a contract with the New York Yankees as a non-drafted free agent.

The decision for Rivera to be a reliever was not made until he reached the majors. Rivera started 67 of his 102 minor league games.

In his first year with the Yankees, Rivera started 10 of the 19 games in which he played and did not get an opportunity to earn a save. After the 1996 World Series MVP, John Wetteland, was traded before the 1997 season began, Rivera became the franchise’s closer.

His record in more than 1,000 games ranks him as one of baseball’s bests. His work in postseason games is what separates him from the rest. He has saved 42 games in the postseason. In second place is Brad Lidge with 18. Rivera has an 8-1 mark with a miniscule ERA of 0.71 in 94 postseason contests.

Rivera has earned many honors in his long and illustrious career. He has been selected to 12 American League All-Star teams. He was voted the ALCS MVP in 2003 and the World Series MVP in 1999. Rivera will also be awarded the Latino MVP as A.L. Reliever of the Year by the Latino Sports Writers and Broadcasters Association on Thursday.

Not only did fans inside Yankee Stadium celebrate, but so too did residents and fans on 161^st Street. The 161 BID (Business improvement District) headed by Dr. Cary Goodman sponsored a neighborhood party. The Mo Meter which recorded the number of Rivera’s saves and well wishes from fans. The meter is located outside the Stadium on 162^nd and River Ave. 

Goodman alerted fans last week, “Everybody loves cake and baseball. And we’ll be serving 602 slices after the game when the Yanks return to the Bronx and Mariano sets the new record.”