New York, NY (WFAN) -- Who's better than Mariano Rivera?
I've written before in this space that you can make the case he is the most important Yankee since Babe Ruth. Think about it.
The Yankees don't win four World Series titles in five years if Mariano Rivera is not their closer. If the Yankees don't win four World Series titles in five years they don't draw 3-4 million fans every year for the last decade. If the Yankees don't win four World Series titles in five years and draw 3-4 million fans every year for the last decade they don't erect that shiny new building that in the Bronx.
Almost ninety years ago the Yankees imported Babe Ruth from Boston and the fortunes of the franchise changed forever. They built a spectacular new stadium that came to be known as the House That Ruth Built. Mariano Rivera's arrival was less heralded, but has his status as the greatest closer in history been any less important to this franchise?
The game has changed over the years, so much so that the lockdown closer is as important as the big slugger. Ruth used to make opposing teams quake when he came to bat. How do you think teams feel when they see Rivera come into a game?
Here's another important aspect to Rivera's greatness. By nature of the position he occupies, every one of the 500 saves he's racked up obviously resulted in Yankee victories. The math is a little fuzzy from the Ruth era, but I'm quite certain he hit plenty of home runs in games the Yankees lost.
And when he does lose, which actually happens a handful of times every year, Mariano Rivera doesn't pout. He doesn't kick and scream. He doesn't throw chairs or turn over tables. He doesn't make excuses and he never says anything that is considered the least bit controversial or inflammatory. He doesn't put down the opponent and he never blames anybody but himself.
And the only time you'll ever see any emotion greater than a gentle fist pump is when he closes out a World Series championship. Through 500 regular season saves and counting you wouldn't know number 1 from number 312 from number 500. There are players whose actions on the field ruffle feathers and then there is Mariano Rivera who does nothing but command respect everywhere he goes.
When you want to show your kids what a great baseball player looks like and how he comports himself win or lose, you can't go wrong with #42 on the Yankees. It was once said of Sandy Koufax that he belongs in a higher league. You could say the same of Mariano Rivera.
Visit our Yankees audio page to listen to Mariano Rivera's postgame comments following save #500 on June 28 against the Mets.
I don't care if Hoffman winds up with more saves - Mariano is the greatest of all time. Period.
06/29/2009 10:13AM
overrated
this argument may have been relevant before game 7 of the 2001 world series, yankee fans have to admit hes cost them two world series titles and being 4-2 as a closer is not that impressive. sorry, still the best of all time, still overrated
06/29/2009 2:33PM
Sweeney- your right!
Excellent, well stated case, sweeney. Mo's greatness lies in his effortless saves, which ISN'T the norm.I just finished Tom Verducci's book (which kind of makes the same point). When will Brian Cashman realize that there is more to baseball than stats. Baseball has a heart. On the Yankees its name is "Rivera".
06/30/2009 1:05PM
cool
"still the best of all time, still overrated" um that makes no sense...also, saying Mo is the most vital Yankee since Ruth IS the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
Emotion is for the fans, not the people who run the teams. And while Brian Cashman has as special a place as you do for the players who just brought home #27, he’s not going to let his heart keep him from moving the 2010 Yankees forward.
Did any of us really see this coming two years ago? Remember when Hank Steinbrenner was running amok, Joe Girardi was replacing Joe Torre, A-Rod was opting out and back in...
“I’ve said it time and time again, playing championship-caliber baseball starts with pitching and defense, and I think those two components were certainly the foundation for our success in 2009. I’ve always taken a great deal of pride in my defense..
“After the overwhelming public response to the historic achievement of our 27th World Championship, I would like to thank our fans for their highly spirited and remarkably steadfast support this season."
The Perks of This Job!!!!! The day started at 5AM. I had 3 alarm clocks and a coffee pot set, so I wouldn't oversleep. The call was for 7:30 at the Stadium to start getting on the 20 buses...
On December 26th, 1919, Harry Frazee sold Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees to finance the musical No, No, Nanette. Since that day, every time the Yankees win the World Series, it's because they have more money than anyone else...
The Yankees traveling party left the Stadium this morning on 3 buses to go to Penn. Station, for the Amtrak Trek to Philadelphia. As the buses turned down 31st Street, we saw the crowds...
Back in 1986, a friend of mine, a 20 year season ticket holder at Yankee Stadium, said to me: "Who do I root for in this thing...it's THEM against THEM!" I guess Mets fans think the same thing right now?
Listening to WFAN since the Yankees won their first World Series since 2000 has me very annoyed. First, here are the things I’ve had to hear from Mets fans...
Is anyone else tired of hearing that whenever a Yankees team doesn’t score runs it’s because the opposing pitcher was simply too good? All these pitchers can’t be throwing lights out.
This one was not on the manager: A.J. Burnett was dealing and there was no reason for Joe Girardi to take him out after the Yankees took the lead in the top of the 7th.
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