Girardi: Playing centerfield is now Mariano's call

It's not hard to believe that throughout all of the season-long tributes and "farewell" swag piling up in his living room, the gift that Mariano Rivera might end up holding most dearly to his heart after he retires was the opportunity to play center field in a major-league game just once.

Now that the Yankees season is officially kaput, there is a real possibility that Mariano Rivera will be granted his last baseball wish and play center field this weekend against the long out-of-it Astros in Minute Maid Park.

Manager Joe Girardi said before last night's series opener against Houston that it still is possible that the Yankees' retiring closer will fulfill his longtime dream of playing in the outfield in a major-league game —but it's up to Mo.

"I'll talk to him every day to see what he wants to do,'' Girardi said. "I know he's talked about playing some centerfield, but I know he has some concern about his [knee] running out there. So that's really up to him. If he wants to do it, he can do it. I'm OK with it.''

Baseball purists have called an outfield stint by Rivera a trivialisation of the game. And it was not clear if Rivera was still keen on the idea after mentioning his wobbly knee and need to respect the game.  It was not even known if Rivera will pitch this weekend. After Thursday night's emotional send-off at Yankee Stadium, Girardi said he will take it day-by-day.

"I have to talk to Mo,'' he said. "See what he wants to do.''

Still, don't bet against Mo tackling Tal's Hill Sunday afternoon as a well-deserved wrap up to his illustrious career. Purists be damned.

Andy Pettitte got a standing ovation at Yankee Stadium too (VIDEO)

Almost lost in all of the unforgettable show of love during Mariano Rivera's last moments as a player at Yankee Stadium Thursday night was the fact that another Yankee great was spending his last days in pinstripes as well.

Andy Pettitte — who announced his retirement last week in the midst of all the Mariano hoopla — finally got chance to play the of reliever of sorts to his long time teammate. The Yankees pitcher emerged from the dugout to his own curtain call and warm ovation from Yankees fans one last time.

At the urging of the crowd, Pettitte stepped out and tipped his hat to the sold-out Yankee Stadium while the overwhelmed Rivera — lost in his own emotional moment — stood and gave him a hand.

Pettitte will get one more chance to take the mound when he starts against the Astros on Sunday. Expect one final tribute for Pettitte when he leaves the mound in his hometown of Houston.

Brave lady snags screaming liner like an old pro then celebrates like a kid (VIDEO)

While neighboring fans ducked for cover, this brave woman with a glove reaches up and snags a sizzling foul ball out of thin air at Thursday's Astros-Indians game.

The skillful lady got an ovation from the Progressive Field crowd for her extraordinary catch and, after an exuberant jump for joy, did what anyone else these days would do — check her iPhone to find out if someone you know saw it.

Well they have now.

Astros groundskeeper busts some awesome moves during game (VIDEO)

Being a Houston Astros groundskeeper takes a lot of special skills including cutting grass, raking and chalking the infield. But Sunday night, one tarp-puller turned maintaining Minute Maid Park into his own version of Dancing With The 'Stros.

This energetic groundskeeper showed off some impressive dance moves during a game against the Mariners and even managed to pull off a pretty good version of The Worm.

The umpire in the foreground didn't look too impressed but I gave the guy extra points just for his retro socks.

Reporter tries to mimic inventive dance moves of fan in stands (VIDEO)

A fan in the stands at Minute Maid Park came up with such creative dance moves, the Houston Astros sideline reporter tries to mimic them later to no avail.

Mix in a little Voguing, a little Walk Like An Egyptian and a whole lot of attitude and you too could be dancing in your seat like this young woman.

The Astros could have used a few moves themselves. They lost to the Mariners 3-2.

Adrian Beltre still not tagged out after he ran into outfield during rundown (VIDEO)

Adrian Beltre got caught in a rundown between second and third base during Sunday's Rangers-Astros game but, rather than get tagged out, the Rangers slugger headed for the plains of Texas. Well... at least left-field of Minute Maid Park.

Jose Altuve tossed the ball to shortstop Jake Elmore, and Beltre looked like he had no shot of avoiding the tag. But then, Beltre made a mad dash for the left-field line and he hasn't been physically tagged out yet.

Even the umpire got a kick out of the comical weekend-softball strategy and gave Beltre a playful shove after the play.

Another kid punches dad for dropping foul ball at MLB game

It's a scene that seems to becoming commonplace in the stands these days. Less than two weeks after a young San Francisco Giants fan let loose on his father for not coming up with a line-drive foul ball, we get this young Astros fan punching his dad for misplaying a wayward ball at Minute Maid Park.

Tuesday's tantrum at a Tampa Bay Rays-Houston Astros game was a little different. First, the souvenir a dad was trying to snag for his son was nothing more than a lazy pop-up. Second, the old man had a glove. But it was a catcher's mitt!

The kid's playful jabs on his paternal punching bag were probably well deserved.  Dad. You've got to make that play.