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Closer For AL Is Open For Debate

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The Associated Press

Published: July 15, 2008

NEW YORK - The opening question at the All-Star news conference was about the closer.

Why wouldn't American League manager Terry Francona honor Mariano Rivera by letting him start the All-Star Game?

"Mariano may be the greatest reliever of all time, but he's not a starter," Francona said. "Thought it would be unfair to the starting pitchers."

That out of the way, Francona was asked whether he'd hand the ball to Jonathan Papelbon, his brilliant reliever on the Boston Red Sox, or give it to Rivera if the AL enters the ninth inning with a lead Tuesday night. Francona, of course, sidestepped the query.

"I definitely would love to," Rivera said. "Knowing Francona, I have a feeling that he will put me there if we have the opportunity to close the game."

Not so fast, Papelbon said.

"If I was managing the team, I would close. I'm not managing the team, so it don't matter," Papelbon said. "I think we've both earned that right - us by winning the World Series having the opportunity of having our manager there, and our team being represented. And, by Mariano, what he's done to this role in Yankee Stadium."

STILL POWERFUL: Reggie Jackson might be as well known for his Hall of Fame-sized ego as he is for knocking mammoth home runs in October.

So there he was Monday night, holding court behind the batting cage amid a sea of All-Stars, media and special guests as this generation's sluggers prepared for the Home Run Derby, defending his generation of ballplayers against the beefed-up players of today.

"These young guys today, today they're bigger. I don't know if they're stronger," Jackson said. " Harmon Killebrew, Frank Howard, Willie McCovey, Dick Allen, Willie Stargell, Rico Carty, Mickey Mantle, Lou Gehrig. Go back as far as you want there were some really strong people.

"There's no one playing today that's stronger than Jim Rice," he said. "There's no one playing today who hit the ball farther than Gorman Thomas."

Jackson hit 563 homers in his career and 18 in the postseason - his three in Game 6 of the 1977 World Series is one of the most replayed moments in Yankee Stadium history.

Introduced as one of the great home run hitters of all-time before he threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Yankees captain Derek Jeter, Jackson confidently - how else? - asserted how he'd do in the Home Run Derby.

"I would have won them all. You know that," he said.

PAPI'S POWER Francona tried not to look when David Ortiz stepped into the batting cage for some impromptu practice before the Home Run Derby, turning his back to deal with a throng of reporters.

He missed quite a show.

The injured designated hitter hit four straight over Yankee Stadium's short right-field wall, then stepped out of the batter's box to let somebody else have a turn. When he stepped back to the plate moments later, Ortiz sent four more out of the park before hitting one that dropped about 3 feet short of the 408-foot sign in center.

Smiling like a child, Ortiz sprinted from the cage to the clubhouse without a pause.

Ortiz has been on the disabled list since May 31 with a torn tendon sheath in his left wrist. He was voted into the American League starting lineup for tonight's All-Star Game but was replaced by Milton Bradley of the Texas Rangers.

The Red Sox plan to send Ortiz on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday. If all goes well, he could return for Boston's series July 25 against the Yankees.

The Associated Press

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