Mariano Rivera is the best closer in major league baseball history, and he was even before he recorded his record 602nd save yesterday afternoon. He’s also been one of the Yankees I’ve respected the most over the years, and he’s everything you want in a closer – he’s dominant, consistent, and has incredible longetivity. I had intended to write a very favorable article about Rivera until I had a discussion yesterday with some Yankees fans who absolutely refused to acknowledge any blemish on Rivera’s record throughout the course of his career. My intention here is not to discredit Rivera whatsoever, but to show that even Rivera has had some major flaws. Hey, I mean even Tiger Woods lost a major to Y.E. Yang. I think most people would agree that Yankees fans have been calling Rivera the best ever for seemingly a decade. I consider that a bit of a knock on Trevor Hoffman, and I generally think that for as great at Mo has been Yankees fans need to take him off of the he’s an untouchable mountain of perfection pedestal they’ve built him up on.
First off, there’s the matter of #602. Yesterday was a celebration of Mariano’s record, which deals entirely with his regular season outings. Rivera should be celebrated for having more saves than anyone else, absolutely, but it’s not like he’s in a class of his own. Trevor Hoffman recorded 601 saves in 677 opportunities, in contrast with Rivera’s 602 saves in 674 opportunities – any way you cut it those are eerily similar numbers, and saw very few people putting Trevor Hoffman on an untouchable pedestal. But we all know that Mo’s career is defined by the playoffs, where he’s been at his best (see a .71 ERA). That is, however, also where some of his biggest chokes have taken place.
So what’s my point in all this? You can acknowledge the man’s mistakes – no need to avoid them – without tainting his legacy. It’s OK, I promise. It’s sort of like the Michael Jordan missed way more game winning shots than he ever made argument. But in the light of my discussion yesterday, open your eyes Yankees fans. It’s not taking anything away from your boy. Here are the 3 biggest knocks on Rivera’s career…
3) Mariano Rivera is at his worst against the Yankees’ biggest rival. Mariano has blown 16 saves in his career against the Red Sox. That’s 21% of his total blown saves, and he’s blown 40% of his blown playoff saves against the Sox. Sure, they play a lot and the Red Sox are typically a good offensive club. But you’d want your closer to be at his best versus your biggest rival, no?
2) Mariano Rivera blew games four and five of the 2004 ALCS. We all know what happened there, with the whole David Roberts stealing second ordeal and David Ortiz delivering walk-offs in both games. If Rivera had been able to save either of these games, we’d likely be looking at an ongoing 93 year curse in Boston. We all know Yankees fans would love that.
1) Mariano Rivera lost the 2001 World Series. Mo pitched one of the worst innings in World Series history in the 9th inning of game 7 during the 2001 World Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Luis Gonzalez singled to win the game, a walk off that left a dejected Mo to crawl back to the dugout. The blown save cost the Yankees a title and signaled the end of their dynasty – it would have been 4 straight titles. The Yankees would make it back to the World Series in 2003, only to lose to Josh Beckett’s Florida Marlins.
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Sorry Mo. I know that you’ve come to terms with these moments, or else you would never have been able continue to pitch as well as you have. I will write a favorable post about you, but we’ll save (no pun intended) that one for when you retire.
Greatest ever. Not flawless. The guy is human after all. The video of Luis Gonzalez’s series winning rbi shows a great pitch and a lucky hit. Good pitch. Bad result.
that was in no way a good pitch… Mo has made a living off throwing that cutter down and painting the corners. That ball was belt height and middle of the plate… not a good pitch at all
well it’s up and in .. Gonzalez is jammed .. he’s juiced at the time and muscles it over the infield for a bloop hit .. but that’s just one pitch .. Mo is one of the true greats .. but that doesn’t make him perfect .. he did install an electric fence around his swimming pool after all
Not flawless but the best ever. All that needs to be said.
.71 ERA in 139.2 innings of post season play. Go ahead and try your best to make him look anything but amazing. We are all aware of the games he blew. Its not those you remember its all the games and titles he won that we remember as yankees fans. Enjoy thinking about that series to the sox. I will enjoy the 5 rings he’s helped win in my lifetime. Possibly a 6th this season.
As you should, no doubt, but than Yankees fans in question failed to accept the bad with the good. I’ve said a million times he’s the best ever, but he’s not untouchable as many New Yorkers would have you believe.
I never said he was untouchable. Though statistically his numbers may be untouchable for any pitcher to reach those kinds of numbers.
We need to start recording my saves on our wooden table in the dining room. I will make it to 602, we will need a lot of bud light though.
You are just hurting yourself here, Jeter hits 3000 and your hard hitting article is that he is a singles hitter, mariano sets the save record he has blown three saves. Meanwhile Brady has a great MNF game, your headline is that he brings MNF to its knees, yet in his record breaking performance you somehow forgot the interception he threw during the game.
You keep on keeping things level headed and consistent. Us big bad new yorkers will take care of the one sided biases.
Devil’s advocate articles are just that – devil’s advocate articles. It’s not my fault you can’t take them for what they are.
Devils Advocate is french for “I am too big of a wimp to actually stand by my point so I will say Devils Advocate.”
I have never seen your Bostons Devils Advocate articles, but you are really the most level head of anyone so I am sure that was just an oversight.
Would you like me to write you 10 reasons why the Red Sox won’t make the playoffs? Will that suffice?
you can write whatever you want, just make sure you preface it with fluff such as devils advocate. With all do respect it is whimpy talk radio bs. you can say whatever you want but can always fall back on the bs. Take a firm stand and stick to it, that is respectable, not cowardly. With all do respect of course.
I think I took a pretty firm stand by saying what everyone else is not saying – that for as awesome as he’s been (and we all know it), he’s still responsible for a couple of the most epic losses in history.
due* respect
weak, soft, one sided writing style, Skip Bayless would be proud.
You just criticized me for taking both sides, now i’m one sided? Do you know where you are?
your one sidedness comes from when you decide to do your “well the guy is great but instead of talking about how great here are negatives.” For example see your handling of Thome vs jeter/rivera. If you can not see that you handled those differently and perhaps it has to do because of the cities or team the players play for the you are the one that has to see where they are.
Oh I get they were handled differently, which I made very obvious. What Yankee humping article / Red Sox detracting article would you like to see?
As I said before you go ahead and write whatever you want, it is your website after all.
That’s right – you can also contribute anything you like sir.
Lets get an article about Jimmys beloved Giants clearly cheating on MNF. I think the league should take their first round pick next year.
Guy had a cramp not sure what you want him to do
that was a weak soccer move.. 2 players flop at the same time. one got up immediatly after he realized his theatrics were no longer necessary. not sure how you can say that was a cramp.. are you really still refusing to recognize that as a flop?
double crampings have been going around the locker room early this year
agreed and they should give it to the dolphins so they can draft a CB, because it seems like their cornerbacks are just picked up off of the street after two games
I actually like Vontae Davis… two tough matchups in two weeks though… Miami defense is good… and at worst at least they dont cheat like the Giants defense.
lol yup bunch of cheaters those giants
Anyyhing remotely close to good does not give up 517 passing yards.
So nobody cares about my stunning beirut performances as a closer? Really?
I care. Proud of you buddy. Keep up the good work.