Mariano's Last Yankee Stadium Goodbye

One more time.

There will be a strange aura tonight in the Stadium of mystique and aura. At some point, around 9:45 or 10 PM, the Yankee Stadium loudspeaker will begin to blast "Enter Sandman", the bullpen door will open, and Mariano Rivera will jog in from the bullpen for the last time.

One would hope that Mariano enters the game in a save situation, but it really doesn't matter. Everyone, maybe even the Tampa Bay Rays, wants to see him out on the Yankee Stadium mound one last time.

I also wonder if this could be his last appearance, period. With the team eliminated from playoff contention could Mariano just be a spectator in Houston this weekend? Or could he put on a fielder's glove and stand in centerfield during the game as he has always wanted to. I actually hope he doesn't, but if it's something he really wants, you must fulfill his request.

Mariano Rivera is one of those players; Derek Jeter is another, which you will talk about for generations to come.  Just as older generations have talked about Mantle and Mays, Ruth and Gehrig, Cobb and Wagner, and others that came before us.

You'll talk about the Panamanian pitcher that didn’t look like anything special, but suddenly became a powder keg.   The two and four seam fastballs thrown as a set up man for John Wetteland when the Yankees returned to glory in 1996, and then the cutter, Rivera’s “gift from God”, that made him the greatest post-season pitcher of all time. More World Series rings handed out in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2009 thanks in large part to one remarkable athlete.

You'll even discuss the failures in 1997, 2001 and 2004, because they are part of Mariano's legacy. This isn't an episode of Yankees Classics, where no game lost is ever shown. They are a testament to #42’s resiliency and his ability to bounce back.

Of course the successes are more fun to reminisce about. There was the three inning performance as the Yankees rallied against the Red Sox to win Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. It was a performance that gave Aaron Boone the chance to be a hero in extra innings.

Flash back three years earlier to the final game of the 2000 Subway Series with the Mets. The Yankees are up by two, a man on third and slugger Mike Piazza is digging into the right-handed batter’s box as the potential tying run. As soon as the ball came off of Piazza’s bat and headed to deep centerfield you could see the concern on Mariano’s face. But quickly it turns to exaltation, leaping up and down after the ball settled in Bernie Williams' glove for the final out and the fourth championship in five years.

How about the first World Series sweep in 1998 on the road in San Diego? The Yankees up three games to none and 3-0 in the 9th inning of Game 4. A 6-4-3 double play erases a base runner and then pinch-hitter Mark Sweeney's one hopper to third is fielded cleanly by series MVP Scott Brosius and thrown across the diamond for the final out. Mariano drops to his knee, arms raised as the Yankees win their first championship with Mariano as the closer.

One year later it’s time for another sweep. The Yankees are up 4-1 in the 9th inning of Game 4. Brian Jordan starts things with a long at-bat that ends with a comebacker to Mariano for the first out. Ryan Klesko has another one of his bats sawed off as he can barely lift the ball into the air for an easy second out. Then it is Keith Lockhart hitting one high in the air and into Chad Curtis’s glove in left field. The Yankees have the second of back-to-back-to-back championships and have won 10 straight World Series games.

14 years later, the first season in the new Yankee Stadium, the Yankees return to the Series for the first time since 2001. It's Game 6; the Yankees lead the series 3-2 and the game 7-3.  Joe Girardi goes to Mariano with one out in the 8th. Jayson Werth flails at strike three. Future teammate Raul Ibanez loses a splintered bat, but later reaches with a double. No matter, Pedro Feliz flies out.

Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs lines out to Derek Jeter to start the 9th. Then a rarity, Carlos Ruiz draws a walk. Then the non-rarities- Jimmy Rollins flies out and Shane Victorino hits a series ending grounder to Robbie Cano. The team has its first celebration in nine years and a fifth ring for Mariano, Jeter, Andy Pettitte, and Jorge Posada.

That is the legacy of Mariano Rivera, the baseball player. Those are the moments we will all reflect on for regular and post-seasons to come. When we’re bundled up during the winter, wishing Spring Training was near. When new closers put the pinstripes on and hope to have just a smidgen of #42's success.

There will be more championships down the line, of that I have no doubt, but there will never be another Mariano Rivera confidently delivering the final pitch to seal the victory.

Thank you for everything Mariano.

Mariano Rivera, the New Urban Cowboy

The Mariano Rivera farewell tour continued in Texas this week and culminated Thursday afternoon when the Rangers feted #42.

Rivera was given, what else, a cowboy hat and a pair of cowboy boots with his name and the interlocking NY emblazoned on them. Former Yankees' closer, and the man that Mo made a name for himself setting up, John Wettleland, and Rangers' closer Joe Nathan presented Mo with the gifts.

The Rangers also donated $5,000 to Mariano Rivera Foundation, which aids children in need. Wetteland recalled the young Mo.

"Who knew that this wide-eyed kid would become the greatest closer in history? If you look back in retrospect, it makes sense. I never saw anybody who paid so much attention to detail. He would sit there quiet, but he would know what was being said. Now I tell him, 'You never said a word, you're always just looking at people,' and he says, 'I was taking it in.'"¹

Rangers manager Ron Washington added:

"Dominant. Professional. Ambassador," Rangers manager Ron Washington said, describing Rivera before the game. "Automatic, and any type of adjective that you can find to describe him in a bright, bright, bright, bright light, that's what you do. Class act."¹

If only he would pitch until he was at least 90.

1 - Quotes courtesy of SanLuisObispo.com (The Tribune)

BD Hot Stove Breaking News: Yankees Sign Soriano | Baseball Digest

BD Hot Stove Breaking News: Yankees Sign Soriano | Baseball Digest


Unable to come up with a quality pitcher to strengthen the starting rotation, New York Yankees GM Brian Cashman went to Plan ‘B’- shore up the bullpen. Even if it meant exceeding the market value.

SI’s Jon Heyman reported tonight that the Yankees and reliever Rafael Soriano have agreed to a three year deal, worth approximately $35M. Cashman obviously felt he needed to make a statement to his team and, possibly, the Yankees fan base by making a big off-season move after failing to land Cliff Lee. Some will call it a panic move, but it undoubtedly makes the Yankees bullpen one of their strongest features.

Soriano is coming off the best season of his career, one in which he saved 45 games in 48 chances for the divisional rival Tampa Bay Rays. The hard throwing right-hander was looking for closer money, but evidently was not finding a team to give it to him. He’ll set up for Yankees eventuAl Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera, at least for the next two seasons- that’s the length of Rivera’s new contract, and will be an insurance policy in case the 41-yr old Rivera is injured. Should Rivera retire after his current deal, Soriano could then step into the closer’s role.

It was just the other day on the hot stove that I discussed the potential injury risk that Soriano presents. He’s been DL’ed for long periods of time after his previous two sets of back to back seasons with heavy workloads. He’s coming off a third stint (141 innings in 2009-2010) on the heels of an elbow injury that caused him to miss most of the 2008 season (He also had Tommy John surgery in 2004).

But if he remains healthy, he’ll give the Yankees their best 1-2 punch out of the bullpen since Rivera set up John Wetteland in 1996. Brian Cashman is banking on it.

Master of the Bullpen Dojo

Mariano Rivera is arguably the greatest closer off all time. There's no doubt he's the greatest at the position in the post-season. But what makes Mo even greater, is his desire to work with his teammates to help make them better. As the Star-Ledger's Dan Graziano explains, it's become a second full-time job.

"Look," Rivera will say, pointing to the batting cage as he delivers one of his standard lessons. "It's batting practice. They know what pitch is coming. And they still don't hit a home run every time."

That's Mariano Rivera working with his fellow bullpen mates on the mental aspect of the game. It's his way of telling them, "don't be afraid to throw strikes." Mo's teachings have had a great impact on his teammates, both young and old. Veteran Luis Vizcaino turned his season around last year after Mo became his personal tutor.

"He's a great speaker, and he just has a way of getting his point across," Joba Chamberlain said the other day, at his locker next to Rivera's in the Legends Field home clubhouse. "It's powerful, forward and to the point. And you get completely engrossed in what he's saying."

"The greatest thing about Mariano Rivera is, after he says 'Hi,' the second word he tells you is something good for you," Yankees reliever Jose Veras said. "The second thing that comes out of his mouth is something to make you better. It's hard to find people like him."

When Mo broke into the bigs in 1995, Yankees closer John Wetteland took him under his wing. Now it's Mo's turn to help bring the kids along. Edwar Ramirez follows him around like a younger brother. Mo takes this role very seriously.

"A lot of people feel the same way and do the same things," Rivera said. "I just think it's important for guys to know the right way to play the game. Not that I know everything about that, but I think I do know some things."

Whether or not he wants to remain in baseball past his playing days remains to be seen, but some team would very lucky to have Mariano Rivera on their coaching staff.

Master of the Bullpen Dojo

Mariano Rivera is arguably the greatest closer off all time. There's no doubt he's the greatest at the position in the post-season. But what makes Mo even greater, is his desire to work with his teammates to help make them better. As the Star-Ledger's Dan Graziano explains, it's become a second full-time job.

"Look," Rivera will say, pointing to the batting cage as he delivers one of his standard lessons. "It's batting practice. They know what pitch is coming. And they still don't hit a home run every time."

That's Mariano Rivera working with his fellow bullpen mates on the mental aspect of the game. It's his way of telling them, "don't be afraid to throw strikes." Mo's teachings have had a great impact on his teammates, both young and old. Veteran Luis Vizcaino turned his season around last year after Mo became his personal tutor.

"He's a great speaker, and he just has a way of getting his point across," Joba Chamberlain said the other day, at his locker next to Rivera's in the Legends Field home clubhouse. "It's powerful, forward and to the point. And you get completely engrossed in what he's saying."

"The greatest thing about Mariano Rivera is, after he says 'Hi,' the second word he tells you is something good for you," Yankees reliever Jose Veras said. "The second thing that comes out of his mouth is something to make you better. It's hard to find people like him."

When Mo broke into the bigs in 1995, Yankees closer John Wetteland took him under his wing. Now it's Mo's turn to help bring the kids along. Edwar Ramirez follows him around like a younger brother. Mo takes this role very seriously.

"A lot of people feel the same way and do the same things," Rivera said. "I just think it's important for guys to know the right way to play the game. Not that I know everything about that, but I think I do know some things."

Whether or not he wants to remain in baseball past his playing days remains to be seen, but some team would very lucky to have Mariano Rivera on their coaching staff.