Bronx & Beans

Yeah, we know, Terry Francona will end up doing what all New Yorkers assume is "the right thing" tonight. He'll use local favorite Mariano Rivera to close the All-Star Game if the AL has the lead in the ninth.

Red Sox captain Jason Varitek has already said the right thing, suggesting the New York stage calls for Rivera. And even Jonathan Papelbon, who has every right to expect the ball in that situation, retreated from comments that he should handle the ninth.

History. Tradition. Honor. The Yankee way...Give me a break.

I don't question Rivera's greatness, the value of history or even the tradition of the stadium.

But why should any of those be Francona's first concern? This is a chance for Francona to show real faith in one of the guys who delivered him a World Series last year and, presumably, will be closing games for him for seasons to come.

Think of the challenge of closing out a lineup of All Stars, in Yankee Stadium, with a national audience, and everyone in the stadium going bananas, hoping you'll fail? Sounds like a pretty good test for a closer.

And how often do these chances come along? I know that Francona, one of baseball's good guys, doesn't like to make waves. But the Red Sox won the World Series. And for whatever it's worth, that allows them the luxury of calling the shots in the All Star Game. (And, in this case, send a message to their long-time rival - an organization that has long assumed its players are ordained by virtue of their uniform to rise above all others - that this rivalry is no longer one-sided.)

Don't bury Pedroia and Youkilis in the lineup behind Jeter and, ugh, A-Rod. And use your closer as a CLOSER!

If the guys in pinstripes were truly ordained, I guess Joe Torre would be calling the pitching changes tonight.

-- Dennehy