NY TIMES: TORRE SAYS ONLY 3 OUTS FOR RIVERA

• ALERT ESPN AND ALL BBWAA MEMBERS. WHY IS THIS A NY TIMES HEADLINE? IF MARIANO HAS MAINLY BEEN COUNTED ON AS A 1-INNING PITCHER ALL THESE YEARS, WHY WOULD THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT TORRE WANTS TO ONLY USE HIM FOR 1-INNING BE NEWS, YOU TWITTERING BUNCH OF FAILED PHONIES?

Also a NEWS FLASH for many bloggers, even so-called Yankee bloggers, who for years have MISTAKENLY REFERRED TO RIVERA AS A 1-INNING PITCHER. From the article:

• "The most harrowing nightmare for the Yankees is not losing a starting pitcher to a spring injury, which has happened three times in the last eight days. It is losing Mariano Rivera.

There are others who can start. But there is only one Rivera, a certain Hall of Famer and possibly the greatest closer in history. He finished off the Philadelphia Phillies in Monday’s 5-1 victory with his ninth scoreless inning of the spring. Opponents are hitting .133 against Rivera, who has not walked a batter.

“Pretty good, good or just O.K.?” Rivera asked reporters, laughing. “I’m ready.”

• His duty will be different this season, because Manager Joe Torre says he has decided not to ask Rivera to get more than three outs. “I’m serious about that,” Torre said.

It will be a significant departure for Rivera, who recorded four or more outs in 27 percent of his games last season. It was his highest percentage of such outings since 2001.

• One night in May, he worked three innings in a regular-season game for the first time in 10 years."

(Thanks Kepner, but you must be feeling future job offers slipping away--you explicitly ignore the greatest 3 inning post season performance by any late inning relief pitcher, that of Mo's in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS--3 scoreless innings for the W. YES, I GET TIRED OF BRINGING THIS UP, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE MASS MEDIA PRETEND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN).

"Torre told Rivera of his plans at the start of spring training. Rivera said he respected Torre’s wishes, but he would not say if he thought the change would help him.

“I never ask for those things,” Rivera said. “Hey, I’m a worker here. I’m not a boss. I do what they want me to do.”"

• (NOTE: THIS IS NOT MARIANO'S IDEA. A POPULAR BASEBALL BLOG RECENTLY SAID IT WAS, WHICH OF COURSE WAS FALSE).

"Torre made the decision in consultation with General Manager Brian Cashman. While Cashman said he had no problem with the way Torre used Rivera, he added that it was wise to back off this year.

“It’s not because he can’t handle it, but just because we want him at his best,” Cashman said."

• From NY Times article by Tyler Kepner, "When Rivera Comes in, it Will Be for 3 Outs," 3/27/07. (requires cookies)

UPDATE: NY TIMES LATER CHANGES HEADLINE TO DOWNPLAY DRAMA AND IMPORTANCE OF RIVERA (ie, They 'don't NEED him for more.') AS FOLLOWS: "Three Outs Will Be All the Yankees Need From Rivera" 3/27/07 Here.

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