There has been quite a lot of talk already about Matt Harvey starting the All-Star Game and a bunch of requests he face Mariano Rivera, as a tribute in the Yankee closer’s ultimate walk year.
But here is something to think about — is it possible if the NL is winning late Bobby Parnell would be asked to close?
That the previous sentence was even written shows how far Parnell has come from his Eric Plunk-ish past to his trustworthy present.
“It’s a long ways away,” Parnell said, deflecting the possibility of even making the All-Star team.
And, of course, it is no shoo-in. But the fact the game is being played at Citi Field should help Parnell’s cause to a) earn a spot and b) at least be considered for the close.
For career accomplishment, Philadelphia’s Jonathan Papelbon probably would be the favorite, especially since he is having another distinguished campaign. On recent body of work, Atlanta’s Craig Kimbrel has been the NL’s elite closer, though he has not been quite as dominant this year as last season. The same goes for Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman.
Probably the most impressive NL closers this year have been, like Parnell, emergent types Jason Grilli of Pittsburgh and Edward Mujica of St. Louis. But if NL manager Bruce Bochy was going to pick a relatively anonymous breakout candidate, might he consider the home-stadium favorite over Grilli or Mujica?
As Parnell acknowledged there are several weeks for players to better position themselves — or hurt their candidacies. But Parnell’s .179 batting average against and 1.93 ERA going into last night’s Subway game are pretty strong statements that, in Parnell’s words, “I have learned a lot of hard lessons over the last four years and I am wiser for it.”
VOTE: WHAT WAS THE BEST SUBWAY SERIES MOMENT?
He did say that one of the most important lessons has been watching Rivera from a distance attack hitters even without his best stuff and possess a poker face whether that approach succeeds or — like Tuesday night at Citi Field — fails.
“I think like [Rivera] you have to carry yourself like you have your best stuff every day even if you don’t,” Parnell said. “He always seems on his game because you can’t tell when he is not. You can never tell from looking at him what kind of stuff he has. That is how I want to be.”
We can be pretty sure if the AL has a ninth-inning lead — even with some sentiment to have him start the game — Rivera will be the closer. Who would have believed at the beginning of this season that Parnell would even be considered for the role?
Lots happened for Overbay to become Yank
Let’s see if we can use the butterfly effect to see how seemingly unconnected events could explain how Lyle Overbay became a Yankee by starting our journey in July 2010, when the Yanks did not get Cliff Lee from the Mariners.
Seattle had agreed to a deal in principle fronted by Jesus Montero, but backed out when the Mariners didn’t like the condition of David Adams’ damaged ankle. Instead, Seattle dealt Lee to Texas for first baseman Justin Smoak.
Smoak did not perform well enough to ignite the downtrodden Seattle offense, so the Mariners did trade for Montero after the 2011 campaign, moving Michael Pineda to the Yanks. Montero and Smoak did not do enough to spark the attack in 2012, so the Mariners added Raul Ibanez, Jason Bay, Michael Morse and Kendry Morales. But they still did not want to give up on Smoak and Montero, considering they had given up such big pieces (Lee, Pineda) to get them.
Thus, they had a bunch of candidates for first base/DH/corner outfield slots. That left Mike Carp, obtained in the big trade with the Mets that sent J.J. Putz from Seattle to New York in December 2008, without a place to play. So at the beginning of this past spring training, the Mariners traded Carp to the Red Sox.
Boston had one place on its 25-man roster for a spare lefty bat. That battle came down to Carp and Overbay, and because Carp had experience playing the outfield and Overbay did not, the Red Sox decided to go with him and released Overbay on March 26. The desperate Yanks signed him later that day.
Now — in a touch of irony — the Yanks have at least contemplated whether Overbay can play some outfield with Mark Teixeira due back tomorrow night.
➤ For the 10th time since he became a Yankee last year, Hiroki Kuroda on Tuesday worked at least seven shutout innings. That is the most in the majors in that time. He had been tied with Clayton Kershaw and Felix Hernandez, who have done it nine times each.
More ammunition that he is not only the Yankee ace, but one of the better starters in the majors.
Maybe Lee price wasn’t too high
When the attempted Jesus Montero-for-Cliff Lee trade fell apart in 2010, the Mariners asked the Yanks to replace David Adams with either Ivan Nova or Eduardo Nunez and Brian Cashman refused. He felt both were too valuable to the Yankees’ future to sacrifice — in addition to Montero — for what might end up being just a half season of Lee (who was a free agent at the end of that campaign).
Now, Nunez is on the DL and might be injury prone and not nearly as good an offensive player as his advocates have suggested. Nova is pitching long relief. In fact, Nova and Adams are candidates to be sent down when Mark Teixeira and Kevin Youkilis return from the DL, perhaps as early as tomorrow. Adams, though, has at the least put himself on the radar with this cameo. One scout said Adams has gone from “’who’s that?’ To, ‘hey, he is interesting.’ ”
It might turn out the best player in that original Yankee package for Lee was the throw-in, Zach McAllister. A month after the Lee deal fell apart, he was the player-to-be-named later sent to the Indians in exchange for Austin Kearns. McAllister has evolved into a dependable starter for Cleveland, going 4-4 with a 3.08 ERA so far this year.