Getting the last four outs against the New York Mets, Mariano Rivera got the 500th save of his Hall of Fame career. His save capped a 4-2 win by the New York Yankees and improved the team’s record to 43-32.
Rivera is currently second on the all-time saves record list. Only Trevor Hoffman has more. Hoffman, who is currently with the Milwaukee Brewers, has 571 saves.
On the season, Rivera has a 2.93 ERA and has 18 saves in 19 save opportunities. In 30.2 innings, he has 39 strikeouts and only three walks. Even at 39, Rivera appears to be near the …read more

An unintentionally hilarious video ensued at the last game played at Yankee Stadium. Mariano Rivera, who is undoubtedly the best closer in New York Yankees history (and baseball history, for that matter), went to get some dirt off of the pitchers mound. For some reason, every photographer in a 200 mile radius of New York City descended onto Rivera to watch him.
You can watch the video at the end of the entry to see just how funny it turned out to be. You’d think Rivera was doing something substantial — but he’s actually just putting dirt into a cup. I’d …read more

AL MVP – Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
Ian Kinsler and Milton Bradley are playing very well for the Rangers. However, I believe that it is Hamilton who is the backbone of that team’s lineup. Take him away and the Rangers wouldn’t be nearly as deadly.
NL MVP – Lance Berkman, Houston Astros
Sure, the Astros are a bad team and chances are slim that they will make the playoffs. That said, Berkman is having a career year and is the best hitter in the NL to date this season.
AL Cy Young – Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
Mariano Rivera might be having …read more

Which closers have been perfect so far this season? Let’s take a look at the closer who currently have a 0.00 ERA.
CJ Wilson, Texas Rangers
CJ Wilson has five saves, eight innings pitched and a perfect ERA. While the rest of the bullpen hasn’t been great for the Rangers, Wilson has been lights out.
Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins
The Twins have gotten great pitching out of their closer this year. Joe Nathan has six saves and has pitched seven shutout innings.
Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals
The Royals have gotten great pitching from a number of their starters. Joakim Soria is …read more

Zack Greinke and Brian Bannister, Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals in recent years have already been eliminated from the playoffs at this point in the season. However this year, the Royals actually find themselves over .500. Why? Look no further than the pitching of Zack Greinke and Brian Bannister. These two pitchers have 0.75 and 0.86 earn run averages, respectively.
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies
After a solid season last year, many thought Cole Hamels would be better this season. But this better? Hamels has a 0.82 ERA and has given up only 11 hits in …read more

Looks like Keith Foulke is coming out of retirement. The Oakland A’s have signed the veteran right-hander to a 1-year deal worth $700,000 plus incentives that could kick the total value up to $3.2 million.
Reports have Foulke’s fastball in the mid-’80s, but he’s never been a flamethrower, so that shouldn’t be an issue. More importantly, he’s drawing praise for his command and deception, two elements crucial to his success.
Foulke last pitched in the big leagues in 2006 for the Boston Red Sox, but the last time he was more than marginally effective came in 2004. From 1999 to 2004, Foulke …read more