When To Go To Mo

I asked Andrew the following question last night and I am hearing it debated this afternoon: if the Yankees have a lead in the 7th inning tomorrow, do you go to Mo for nine outs? He hasn't thrown three innings in a game since Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS against the Red Sox. Obviously a six out save should be a no brainer but do you push him to the limit?

If there is anything remotely close to a constant in baseball, it is Rivera. The rest of the Yankee bullpen has performed erratically and the Phillies are capable of getting a big hit at any moment. If you have the lead after six innings, you seriously have to think about doing anything to win that game and the corresponding action would be throwing Rivera out there for the old-fashioned three inning save.

Some have argued that if you go to Rivera for three innings tomorrow and he winds up losing the game for you, then you don't have him left for anything the next day (which may or may not be true). However, if you have the chance to win the series with your best on the mound then why would you risk anything else? If you go to someone else in your bullpen and the game is lost, what is the guarantee that you will have a lead again in Game 7? Besides, if Rivera loses the game for you, then what else do you really have to offer?

Here is my take: If the Yankees have a one run lead going into 7th inning, go batter by batter. As soon as a runner gets on, you go to Rivera. If they have a two or three run lead, I only go to Rivera once the tying run comes to the plate. Basically, if the lead is in jeopardy and you have a chance to win the World Series, go with your best odds.