"Put that coffee down!" "Coffee is for closers!" What do the Red Sox, Cardinals, and Giants have in common? They are all looking for closers." />

THE DEAL ON THE DIAMOND : COFFEE IS FOR CLOSERS


Welcome to the first edition of my new column entitled "The Deal on the Diamond." Peter Gammons? Baseball Tonight? Old News. I am here regularly to give you the REAL scoop on the in's and out's of Major League Baseball. Okay, enough talk,let's "play ball!"

First the latest rumors. As usual, teams all across the land are looking to improve their bullpen as we move toward the all-star break in July. News flash. There is NEVER going to be enough pitching to go around. This year the main topics of conversation have been closers Ugeth Urbina and Armando Benitez.

It is no surprise that the Yankees are going to make yet another move mid-season. Mark it down in ink. Urbina will wear pinstripes in 2003. The Yankees have a ton of young players including the currently sidelined Nick Johnson, and the overrated Juan Rivera. Yes, overrated! Rivera has been given a major shot out in left field since Bernie baseball hit the DL, and has done next to nothing. So much so, that the Yankees are pondering throwing Ruben SIerra out in left field out at the house that Ruth built. Note to Torre..bad idea! Nonetheless, one of these guys will be packaged with what else but some young arms to make Urbina the new set-up man for Mariano Rivera. Prognosis-Urbina will be a gem in the role. Yankees in six.

Now, lets stay in New York and talk about the Mets Armando Benitez. You are well assured that the league is desperate for bullpen help (Boston RedSox, St. Louis Cardinals) if Armando is getting attention. Any casual Met fan can tell you that if its a game in May against the Brewers this guy looks lights out but when the pressure is on; a.k.a. against the Yankees and Braves, Armando crumbles like an Entenman's soft baked cookie. (E.S.T. 1918)...Nonetheless look for the Dominican hurler to be packaged with Roberto "I am too old to play" Alomar to give the Mets some help. Take a guess where? Yes, pitching. After all, the Mets tried to bring David Cone out of retirement earlier this year in a sad attempt to get some innnings. Prognosis- Benitez gives up a 9th inning pinch-hit jack to end his new teams season.

Lets finish on a high note. How nice is it to see Kevin Brown doing as well as he is out in Los Angeles this season. This guy was left for dead last year when he spent more time under the knife then on the baseball field. Now, those same people that laughed at him, are speechless watching this vet dial it up. Kevin is 9-1 with an ERA of 2.00 and has 81 K's as we approach the break. Not only will he make the All-Star team for the National League this year, but he will start. Prognosis-He can win 40 games and LA still can't catch Bonds and the boys.

The copyright of the article THE DEAL ON THE DIAMOND : COFFEE IS FOR CLOSERS in Baseball News is owned by Casey Stern. Permission to republish THE DEAL ON THE DIAMOND : COFFEE IS FOR CLOSERS in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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