Contemplating the End of the Mariano Rivera Era
by WhatwouldJeterdo on Feb 20, 2012 9:00 PM EST
in Miscellaneous
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PrintAs I wrote in a comment earlier, some quotes from Mariano Rivera that came out of camp today seem to suggest that the All-Star closer and saves leader will ride off into the sunset and retire after the 2012 season. Letting that sink in at first is a little difficult. For the vast majority of my time as a Yankees fan, Mo has been there to lock down the 9th inning, and we've all been extremely fortunate to have the best closer in baseball history to depend on all these years.
I'm generally not very sentimental when it comes to baseball, but it's a little sad to think of a time when Rivera won't be the cornerstone of the Yankee bullpen, and a little more sad to think that that time may be as early as next season.
From the beat writers:
Erik Boland @eboland11
Rivera on Decision 2012 (his): It "Doesn’t depend on how I pitch. Always I want to do my job but I’ve made my decision already."
Sweeny Murti @YankeesWFAN
Rivera said his decision has been made, "even if I save 90 games, even if they want to pay as much money as they want to." So…
Marc Carig @MarcCarig
Mo cracked a joke re: prior retirement scares but said decision — which he didn’t reveal — is final. "This one is different. This is it."
Marc Carig @MarcCarig
He wouldn’t say it straight out but Mariano Rivera sounded like a man at the start of a farewell tour.
While nothing definitive was said, it certainly seems like Rivera has made up his mind that this will be it for him. I'm sure a lot of ink will be spilled this season about who his heir should be, but that will all play out in time. I do not envy whoever the unlucky soul happens to be, though. He will have impossibly big shoes to fill.
The Yankees are certainly in a good place to send Rivera out on top with another World Series championship this year, which I'm sure everyone thinks would be a perfectly fitting way for the saves leader to end his legacy. Even if 2012 is not the end, it won't be that far off. Whether he retires this season or decides to pitch indefinitely, we should enjoy watching the best ever at what he does round out a historically amazing career.
If this is truly it for number 42, it's been a hell of a ride.
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That's a good "haters gonna hate" picture.
I want Mo to pitch forever. Obviously he knows what’s best though, and there’s nothing wrong with going out before you go bad- just ask Andy in 2010 and Moose in 2008.
"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth
This really is true
Even the staunchest of Yankee haters don’t hate Mo.
I know where I come from, and when you always have in mind where you come from the rest will be easy. I think the rest will be easy.
-- M. Rivera
SPITBALL
"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth
Idiocy =/= Hater
I’m pretty sure nobody besides possibly Rev actually believed that to be true, and I doubt even Rev is a Mo hater (that was against the Angels in the 2009 ALCS, right?).
But yeah, that whole event was beyond ridiculous.
I know where I come from, and when you always have in mind where you come from the rest will be easy. I think the rest will be easy.
-- M. Rivera
True
Though I guess it could just be used for anyone hating the Yanks in general
"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth
Rivera
is my favorite baseball player. He’s the perfect example of a class act and a professional. If this is his last season, then I could hope for nothing more than for him to end on a positive note.
He should probably end his career before he regresses.
If that’s even possible though…
Linning and Winning!
Im a Red Wings fan as well as a Yankees fan
and I don’t know which will be more crushing…. the soon to be retirement of Mo or the soon to be retirement of Nick Lidstrom. If they retire the same year I’m going to lose my mind.
Rivera is perhaps the most dominating pitcher of all time.
He is without question the best reliever ever, but the real question (with wildly variable possible answers) is where does he rank amongst all-time pitchers? And to do it all with unflappable faith, calm, and grace in the intense spotlight of the 9th inning in the intense spotlight of New York…he is the epitome of a legend.
I know where I come from, and when you always have in mind where you come from the rest will be easy. I think the rest will be easy.
-- M. Rivera
Question
Do you know if Dave Righetti entered to any music? I think I remember reading that Sparky Lyle entered to “Pomp and Circumstance” and Goose Gossage to ZZ Top’s “Bad to the Bone,” but I’ve never read anything about Righetti.
That being said, I would have had him enter to “Rag Doll” by Aerosmith.
"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth
or Wetteland for that matter!
Did he enter to anything?
"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth
Guitar performance of "Who Are You" by Melkman.
/waits
Cricket blogger and writer of nonsense at 7500 to Holte
I hope this never dies.
Tweets
"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains"
by WhatwouldJeterdo on Feb 20, 2012 10:08 PM EST up reply actions
The dog had him as the 10 greatest PLAYER ever.
I think he made a good argument and he’s a Giants fan.
by JerseyGuy77 on Feb 20, 2012 10:05 PM EST up reply actions
10th best baseball player ever?
No way.
It would be interesting to see how high anyone would rank him all-time though. Depends how you value the position because he’s the best closer all-time.
Linning and Winning!
rivera
lets just hope he goes out w/ring 6.not only a class act but a descent humble man. i’ve been a nyy diehard for 50yrs. thank you mo for the greatest yrs. of my nyy fandom.
It’s nearly impossible to think that Rivera could falter and not be what he’s been for years and years now. I think it’ll be a wise decision to retire before he inevitably ends up losing more velocity on his pitches and isn’t as effective.
It would be a shame to find out he’s actually human on the mound.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." --Rogers Hornsby
Can't we just clone him?
I’m sure there’s at least a few geneticists who are Yankee fans willing to take on this project
He will have impossibly big shoes to fill.
big shoes to fill
big shoes to fill
BIG SHOES TO FILL
Wait a minute…….SIDESHOW BOB FRAMED KRUSTY!!
"WHO WOULD LEAD?! THE CLOWN?!"
ImNotAHRHitter
by I'mGivingYouARaise on Feb 21, 2012 12:03 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Greatest Closer Of All Time
I too am dreading the day when the Yankees manager doesn’t have #42 as the ultimate late inning weapon.
"I don't want one of those guys who'll drive in two but let in three every game." Casey Stengel
by tnredneckyankeesfan on Feb 21, 2012 10:06 AM EST reply actions
id have to say
as of now robertson would be the favorite to replace him… assuming he has another season this year at least similiar to last years
by capz1990 on Feb 21, 2012 12:53 PM EST via Android app reply actions
I like to make an argument
That Mo’s cutter is the best single pitch of all time. No other pitcher has had this run of success with one pitch in baseball history. For the past 15 years the hitter knows what’s coming and still can’t hit it… absolutly incredible.
by yankeeman525 on Feb 21, 2012 1:39 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Say it ain't so Mo.
It will happen someday, as much as we all dread it.
We’ve been spoiled having the greatest of all-time sitting there to lock down the 9th. We’re spoiled as Yankees fans anyway, Mo just made it worse.
I don’t get a chance to watch a lot of Yankees games unless it’s on TBS or Fox or ESPN since I don’t get YES, but when I do get a chance to catch a game and Mo comes in I’m going to enjoy every moment because we will never see a greatness that is as incomparable and inconceivable as Mariano Rivera.
"When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are past, I want they bury me upside down so all my critics can kiss my a**"- Bob Knight
"Talent is God-given, be grateful. Fame is man-given, be humble. Conceit is self-given, be careful."- John Wooden
"Never take anything for granted. Don't forget, great prices have been paid and will be paid again if you become too smug, too egotistical and self-assured."- Johnny Cash
by JumpinJackFlash on Feb 21, 2012 4:22 PM EST reply actions
I am going on close to 60 years.....
and Mo is the class act. Very humble and I hope for his best season ever……..We will miss Mo.
Then I woke up from that dream and realized they signed him to a 20 year contract.
Rick
Goooooooooooo MSU BOBCATs
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Almost 60 years as a YANKEE Fan
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