I mean, obviously the Yanks would rather he didn't play those games, but if your supposition is that there's a difference between between someone who did well and someone who was a "killer", then I would say a "killer" would have to be performing appreciably well above their career numbers. Otherwise, they're just a killer for everyone.

His stats against us may more or less mirror those of his career, but without checking, I don't think it's going out on a limb to say that late-and-close against us he was an absolute killer.

I also of course echo Manny and Papi, as well as Edgar Martinez.

Mike Macfarlane's name leaped to mind, but the stats don't bare it out.

As for Rios - a guy sitting a few rows behind us yesterday (my dad and I were behind home plate) blamed himself for Rios's streak continuing. He heckled Rios from the moment he got out of the dugout in the 9th. It started out funny, but then became boring ("You suck Rios!"). After Rios singled to extend his streak, the guy hung his head and said, "That's why I hate that ____in' guy."

Yeah, I always cringed when he came to bat.

career: .262/.332/.342
vs. NYY: .318/.378/.394

And that's not a small sample. That's in 492 PA.

career: .281/.331/.477
vs. NYY: .311/.363/.530 in 504 PAs

19 Along with Lary, Larry Gura was also anoted Yankee killer (it kind of become part of his name). Gura was 11-6 with a 3.10 ERA in 20 GS and 165.1 IP against the Yankees.

Rafael Palmeiro also hit the Yankees very well throughout his career and seemed to be a rare piece of Kryptonite for Mo.

edited : Rafael Palmeiro also hit the Yankees very well throughout his career and seemed to frequently injest a rare supplement when about to face the Yankees

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/shareit/VHTZ

It's not surprising to see Edgar Martinez at the top of the list, since he faced Rivera seven times in 1995 (and went 5 for 6 with two homers). The bottom of the list is also interesting. Ray Durham, Marty Cordova, and Carlos Pena have a combined 50 PAs versus Mo without a hit.

Someone phoned a radio station and said he saw Jacoby Ellsbury leaving Mass General with his forearm in a cast.

Since 2005, he is batting 407, with an OPS of 1282. That is a three year period with 167 ABs and 17 HRs.

This doesn't even count the postseason.

"Ellsbury was diagnosed with a strained right wrist, and X-rays were negative. If that sounds familiar, it should. It's precisely what Ortiz was diagnosed with before an MRI showed a partial tear of the tendon sheath in his left wrist."

David Wells: 19-11, 3.09 era; also won Game 2 in 1996 ALCS
Troy Percival (1995-98): 0.00 era, 5 H, 7 BB, 28 K in 18.1 IP

2008: 1.677 .925
2007: 1.161 .881
2006: 1.778 1.058
2005: 1.034 .982
2004: .923 1.009
2003: .843 1.014
2002: 1.051 1.097
2001: .923 1.014
2000: 1.341 1.154
1999: .912 1.105

What are the chances that we get Mark Melancon in the Bronx this season? We sure need the bullpen help, and he'd be under (the equivalent of) Joba Rules.