A quick thought about the All-Star Game before we go any further:
Last year there was a furor over who should close the game for the AL – Mariano Rivera (since the game was at Yankee Stadium) or Jonathan Papelbon (since Boston’s Terry Francona was the manager). I think one thing is, in the All-Star Game, the manager should go with who he thinks is the best, not who might make for a nice story. In other words, the game counts now – the winner gets homefield advantage for the World Series – and thus, the manager should be doing whatever’s the best move to win. Which leads me to wonder – who closes for the AL or NL tomorrow night?
Looking at the AL roster, these are the closing candidates: Andrew Bailey, Brian Fuentes, Joe Nathan, Papelbon and Rivera. Of the group, I wonder if Nathan should get the nod — he hasn’t given up a run in two months (since May 15th).
In the NL, the candidates are Heath Bell, Francisco Cordero, Ryan Franklin, Trevor Hoffman and Francisco Rodriguez – not quite as luminous a crew as the AL’s. In fact, there isn’t one member of that group that I’d want to close the game.
On to today’s list:
Yesterday on MSG, they had a special on the 1999 Knicks’ run to the Finals, which obviously features two of the greatest shots in Knick history – Allan Houston’s against Miami and Larry Johnson’s against Indiana. But not only were they two great shots, they were two of the best sports plays in New York in the 1990s.
I wonder what have been the top plays in New York sports in the 2000s. Here’s my order – the Elite Eight:
8. Ron Dixon’s kickoff return against the Eagles. The Giants opened up their playoff game against Philly in 2000-01 at Giants Stadium, the Eagles kicking off. Dixon took it and went all the way for a touchdown. Opening kickoff of a playoff game for a TD? Game over.
7. Benny Agbayani’s 2000 NLDS Game 3 walk-off homer against the Giants at Shea. Bottom of the 13th inning. Can you guess the pitcher? That would be Aaron Fultz. No, not Aaron Heilman.
6. Endy Chavez’s Game 7 catch. Yes, it probably would have been higher if they’d won.
5. Tino Martinez ties it, then Derek Jeter wins it. Game 4 of the 2001 World Series. Both off Byung-Hyun Kim.
4. Scott Brosius. The next night. Off Kim.
3. Mike Piazza’s 9-11 homer.
2. Jeter’s flip play. Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS against the A’s. Still not 100 percent sure he got him. But the call stands.
1. David Tyree’s helmet catch. Still unbelievable.
