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Rivera Breaks Hayban's Record --
SportingNews on Saturday, February 6 2010
Carolina (AP) - 33292 fans cheered as Mike Jarvis summoned his frail right handed closer Luis Rivera from the bullpen in the top of the 9th inning at Motorola Park Thursday night. His job was to shut down the Pirates after MR Darren O'Day failed to get the job done already allowing a run to score leaving two runners on with no outs.
It was a miserable night in Carolina with a light rain most of the evening and fans already enduring a 48 minute rain delay in 2nd inning, but spirits were high as their beloved Dragons had an 8-5 lead.
Thirty-eight year old Rivera had seen this scene all too many times, making his 980th appearance over his storied career.
Just a shell of the player he once was, took the ball from the manager and went about his business. The first batter he faced was 2B Gordon Beckham and it took all of two pitches to get him to pop up to short left-center.
Mychal Givens, the Bucs shortstop who was only nine years old when Rivera began his career stepped up to the plate. Rivera looked in, nodded and fired a fastball up high and tight, sending the youngster on his rear. Rivera may be older, but the crafty vet can still send the message.
He followed that up with an 1-0 pitch with a perfectly executed changeup, getting Givens to pop it up to third base, where Miguel Cabrera hauled it in.
Two quick outs and Pittsburgh’s catcher Matt Weiters was the Bucs last hope to extend this contest. Crowd standing now, Rivera set, he fires a fastball down low for ball one. After two more pitches he runs the count in his favor getting Weiters to look at two very good looking strikes. Fans are cheering knowing their closer was one strike away from breaking the all-time saves record held by John Hayban. Rivera kicked back and threw another fastball, but Weiters got a piece of it.
A broken bat grounder towards third. Cabrera gobbled it up stepping on third to get Pujols out on a fielders choice, ending the game and putting Rivera into the record books!
A "Brave" New World --
SportingNews on Wednesday, January 13 2010
The 2016 begins anew in Atlanta.
The organization named a new GM this past offseason and hopes to revive a great tradition of playoff glory.
There have been a number of early moves, headlined by the acquistion of the dynamic trade for SS Hanley Ramirez and 1b Justin Smoak.
The pitching rotation was bolstered a bit by the signing of SP Mark Prior in the offseason.
A number of holes remain on this team, but slow steady progress is expected by many in NARBL.
Opening Day 2016! --
SportingNews on Friday, January 8 2010
Crack open the peanuts, popcorn and crackerjacks, it is opening day in the North American Retro Baseball League! The St. Louis Cardinals are hoping to be the first team in league history to ever three-peat as champions, but 27 other teams will have something to say about that. We have just finished up another busy winter with a whopping 24 trades and many players moving to new homes.
Texas landed last year's NL Cy Young champ and a young stud CF in Dexter Fowler, the Red Sox have added 3B all-star Chase Headley and a few solid bullpen pieces
in Pat Neshek and Mark Howe, New Orleans made several moves bringing in ace Zach Duke from Minnesota and dealing all-star Ryan Howard to the Yankees. 2016 should be chills, thrills and spills to a ballpark near you!
Rangers complete deal for Hughes --
SportingNews on Saturday, January 2 2010
The Rangers and Cardinals on Saturday completed their trade that sends ace starter Philip Hughes to St. Louis, but not before prospect Aaron Crow was added to a deal that netted St. Louis two first round picks in the 2017 amateur draft.
The trade was reported and confirmed by baseball officials earlier in the week, but it wasn't finalized until the players passed their physicals.
Coming off a World Series title, the Cardinals have made it known they are looking to shed salary. St. Louis had a payroll of $80 million, while the Rangers began the offseason at $49 million. This deal will save the Cardinals $24 Million enabling them to sign All-Star SS Tim Beckham when he becomes a Free Agent.
Hughes won the NL Cy Young last season going 21-4 with a 2.90 ERA. The Rangers are excited to have Hughes on the mound this season and current ace Stephen Strasburg has no issue with pitching behind Hughes.
Crow was promoted to AA Frisco after going 5-5 with a 2.81 ERA with the Hickory Crawdads. He finished the season in AA with a 3-4 record and a 5.49 ERA.
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