Bullpen Diaries

by Rosen, Charley

• ISBN13: 9780062005984
• ISBN10: 0062005987
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2011-04-26
• Publisher: Harpercollins

Summary

Baseball is the only game where the defense has the ball. So begins an inside look at baseball's most scrutinized group of players-relief pitchers-and life in the most intriguing bullpen of all, that of the New York Yankees. Second-guessed and overstressed, the manager finds his use of the bullpen the most debated topic after any game, but the reliever is the guy in the spotlight, game on the line, alone on a raised mound of clay. Bestselling sportswriter Charley Rosen takes the reader on the wild journey that is the evolution of relief pitching over the years and examines the eccentric characters who have taken on the pressure of closing out games-or not. Bullpen Diaries is full of interviews with key players, coaches, and scouts from around the league; replete with the drama of blown plays and walk-off grand slams; and laced with funny anecdotes about Yankee greats throughout the years. To underscore the drama and difficulty of being a reliever, Rosen uses key games in the 2010 season-acknowledged now as the Year of the Pitcher-to highlight strategies and mistakes, examine relievers on the rise or on the way out, and analyze the teams and the pitchers the Yanks faced. Bullpen Diaries also takes a look at Yankee strategies for success-past, present, and, most important, future. Lastly, Rosen reveals his predictions for 2011 and beyond for baseball's most storied franchise. With insight on current players from around the league and tales of Yankee legends, Stadium history, and the author's Bronx childhood, Bullpen Diaries is a love letter to baseball and a pure joy for all fans of America's favorite pastime.

Table of Contents

A Fan's Notes	p. xi
Screwballs and Blazers	p. 3
Mighty Mo and the Rating System	p. 7
Mariano Rivera's Childhood	p. 13
The Yanks' Biggest Riddle	p. 17
Pitch Count Phil	p. 23
What Pitch Count?	p. 29
Memory Lane: Bob Feller and the Motorcycle	p. 33
Assembling the Bullpen in the Off-Season	p. 35
Spring Training	p. 45
The Yankees' Minor Leaguers	p. 49
Between the Lines: Why Grades?	p. 57
Behind the Scenes: Visiting the New Yankees' Bullpen	p. 61
April 2010	p. 67
Memory Lane: The Home of Champions	p. 101
May 2010	p. 107
Memory Lane: A Truly Blown Save	p. 153
June 2010	p. 157
Memory Lane: Yogi, Joe, and Knuckleballers	p. 189
July 2010	p. 193
July 12-15, All-Star Break	p. 203
July 2010 and Old-Timers' Day	p. 207
A Hot August Night, Triple-A Ball, and Yankee Hopefuls	p. 235
August 2010	p. 249
Memory Lane: Johnny Mize's Bat	p. 283
September-October 2010	p. 287
Memory Lane: An Imperfect Day, Don Larsen, and Me	p. 319
Bullpen Grades for the Entire Regular Season	p. 325
The Playoffs	p. 331
The Yankees' Winning Formula: Past	p. 349
The Yankees' Winning Formula: Future	p. 353
My Stadium Misadventure	p. 361
Memory Lane: All the Way Home	p. 365
Acknowledgments	p. 369
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.