Yankees cut OF Rivera for stealing Jeter's glove, bat

CNN Sports Illustrated ^ | Tuesday March 12, 2002

[eastsider]

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Ruben Rivera was released from the New York Yankees after stealing a glove and bat from Derek Jeter's locker, a baseball source said Tuesday.

General manager Brian Cashman, who had two meetings with Rivera the past three days, would not say why Rivera was given his unconditional release Monday night.

[eastsider]

This guy forfeited a $1-million contract for $2,500!!! Guess crime doesn't pay.

[b4its2late]

This guy forfeited a $1-million contract for $2,500!!! Guess crime doesn't pay.

Stupidity doesn't pay either.

[SamAdams76]

What the heck is a guy with a career .218 batting average doing with a $1 million contract in the first place? I believe that is below the Mendoza line.

[Alberta's Child]

The 28-year-old outfielder originally was signed by the Yankees as free agent in 1990 . . .

Perhaps there's a lesson to be learned here -- you don't go out and sign a 16 year-old to a professional contract and then expect him to learn how to behave like an adult.

[Semper Paratus]

Stupidity doesn't pay either.

Get a Jeter bat from stock and put some pine tar on it, idiot.

[eastsider]

Beats me. Good riddance.

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

A similar thing happened with the Saints this past season. Albert Connell, a WR, signed a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal. He was promptly run out of town after a video camera showed him stealing money from another player's locker. Stupid is as stupid does, I guess.

[eastsider]

"Mariano Rivera ... played a role in bringing the outfielder back to New York this season."

[Semper Paratus]

Didn't that just happen to the Asst. GM of the 76'ers who was nailed by a
camera swiping several thousand dollars from Alan Iverson's locker?

[IMRight]

What the heck is a guy with a career .218 batting average doing with a $1 million contract in the first place? I believe that is below the Mendoza line.

I thought the "Mendoza line" was .200.

As for what he's doing in baseball... that I can answer. I've followed this kid since the early minors. He was one of those "five tool" "can't miss" prospects and was spoken of (seriously) as the "next Mickey Mantle". He still looks like a stud getting off the team bus (I guess until just recently) but has never amounted to anything in the big leagues. Enormously athletic but all potential, no results.

[motzman]

I believe that is below the Mendoza line

I think it's .220. Rivera stinks anyway...

[ABG(anybody but Gore)]

I hadn't heard about the Sixers incident. Connell claimed it was a joke. The joke was on him when he got cut.

[RetiredArmy]

Stupid thief. Serves the thief right. I hate thieves and liars.

[GoreIsLove]

It's simply shocking that the Yankees of all teams would overpay someone.

[andrew]

i thought 'poverty' caused crime. oh well. it is a moment like this to turn the dial to jim rome and listen to the evolution of ruben rivera smack into pure abstact comedy greatness. 'clones' will understand what i mean.

[dead culture watch]

Yeah, what a great story! Had never heard this one. This reinforces the need for amnesty. /sarcasm

[dead culture watch]

P.S. Go Mariners!!!!

[dead]

Serves the thief right.

The thief got caught, so they paid him $200,000 to fire him.

Not exactly justice.

[RetiredArmy]

No. But, stupid baseball has guaranteed contracts and his was for a million. So it is an $800,000 loss for a $2,500 gain. Stupid thief. He will also probably have a hard time finding another job. But, someone will sign him. They always do.