Yardbarker: Mariano Rivera

Birthday Closer

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:10:25 -0500

Happy 40th birthday to Mariano Rivera! Update: It’s also Vin Scully’s birthday.

Cost and Value: Salaries and Future Value (Part 2 of 3)

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:00:13 -0500

Part 1 One of the things that has impressed me about the Yankees' recent contracts is their refusal to backload. '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 Posada 13.1 13.1 Tex 20 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5 Cano 9 10 14+ 15+ Jeter 21 Arod 32 31 29 28 25 21 20 20 Swisher 6.75 9 Sabathia 23 23* 23 23 23 23 Burnett 16.5 16.5 ...

The Secret of Mariano Rivera’s Success

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:38:27 -0500

Image via Wikipedia He’s A Christian!

But he wasn’t always a Christian, people never are…not from birth anyway. Furhtermore, there is a moment in every Christian’s life where they have made a choice to follow the path God has planned for them. For some, it’s as clear as day, but for others, it’s a gradual move towards that plan which blurs that moment to the point where they can’t pin point it. For New York Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, that moment was on the mound. A fitting place for the future Hall of Famer if you ask me!

Here’s the account as it was told in the New York Times back on Friday, December 10, 1999 by Jack Curry entitled, “BASEBALL; Love of God Outweighs Love of the Game“…

Mariano Rivera was experiencing a rare sluggish performance against the Atlanta Braves last July 16 at Yankee Stadium when he stopped suddenly between pitches and listened to a sound he had never heard before. It was a joyous yet eerie sound. Rivera said he heard a voice talking to him, a voice he believes was God calling out to him.

Rivera explained that the voice told him, ”I am the one who has you here.” To Rivera, those compelling words meant that God had plans for him beyond simply firing baseballs for the Yankees. To the deeply religious Rivera, those words caused him to further contemplate his life’s path and begin formulating a plan for retirement from the sport.

”When God takes control of everything, He’s inside of you and He brings you strength,” Rivera said. ”He has the power to do everything for you. I feel like God is on my side and will help me deal with anything.”

That path that Rivera is confident that God has in store for him when his playing days are over is to become a minister.

Mariano Rivera on Retirement

In fact, on November 5, 2009, Jack Curry (still with the New York Times) wrote the following, “A few months before the 2000 season, Rivera shocked the Yankees by saying he wanted to pitch four more years, then retire to become an evangelical minister. But he never stopped pitching.“

As you know by now, for some reason, that didn’t happen! Good for baseball, but not what Rivera had planned. Sometimes God has a way of allowing us to think one way, only to reveal His will for our lives in a different way than we had thought. For example, it’s nine years later and Rivera now wants to play for 5 more years! How do I know, Jack Curry told us so in that last reference from November 5th as it was entitled, “Rivera, Nearing 40, Wants to Play Five More Seasons” (hat tip to Tim Deirkes at MLB Trade Rumors).

If my math is correct, and I was a pretty good math student in my day, Rivera was originally going to retire after the 2004 season, but I wonder if that 2004 defeat to the Red Sox in the ALCS had Rivera pleading with God for an extension on those retirement plans. If you remember,hat was the year the Sox came from behind down three games to none only to beat Rivera and run the table the remainder of the playoffs and Rivera was right in the middle of it.

Now he is turning 40 this month and wants to play five more years! If anyone besides Nolan Ryan can do it, and do it so dominantly, Mariano Rivera can! I for one hopes that he outlasts Tevor Hoffman and becomes the All Time Saves leader so that there won’t be any further debate as to who’s the greatest! And YES, I am still a Red Sox fan!

Mariano Rivera on his Faith

More on Rivera’s faith is noted in the April of 2004 edition of the Baseball Almanac by Michael Aubrecht titled, “Mariano Rivera – A Man with a Message“. Here’s an excerpt from that article:

With such a tremendous gift it is no wonder that Mariano is a deeply religious man who can often be seen reading the Bible in the Yankees’ clubhouse before and after games. Active in the Christian community, Rivera often lends his time, talent and testimonies to numerous religious organizations that are both sports and non-sports related. Not long ago, he financed the construction of a church in his native Panama City and announced his intention to become an evangelical minister at the conclusion of his baseball career. If he retires after the 2007 season, Mariano will be eligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012. Although Cooperstown has been historically hesitant to embrace relievers, the consensus of most experts is that Rivera will have little trouble being elected, most likely on his first attempt.

During an interview with Sports Spectrum Magazine, a leading Christian-based sports publication, Rivera spoke about adversity and how it led him to faith. “Every time I was going through a hard time, somebody was there to help. It’s not too often when you play in the minor leagues that a coach will tell you he will take care of your son while you stay with your wife at the hospital. My pitching coach did that, and one lady from Panama-I never knew her (before)-offered to stay with my wife while I was playing. Even though I had nobody here, I was never alone. That made me accept Jesus as my Savior. I knew it wasn’t a coincidence. It was the Lord putting someone there for me.”

In a sports world that is now dominated by media-hype and big endorsement contracts, players like Rivera and their traditional values provide a glimmer of hope that there are still role models worthy of our children’s attention. Mariano is well aware of the responsibilities that go with being a professional athlete and is constantly working to promote Christian ministries that focus on kids.
Unfortunately today, many athletes do not recognize the source of their blessings or use their time in the spotlight for the betterment of others. Someone once said in regards to the selfishness of the modern athlete, “The players of yesterday played for the name on the front of the uniform. The players of today play for the name on the back.” Some players, like Rivera, not only exhibit loyalty to their team, but a loyalty to their religious convictions as well. Perhaps that is why he dominates like no other on the mound and will go down in history as one of the greatest clutch pitchers in all of baseball.

Now Mariano Rivera, five years removed from those statements by Michael Aubrechtin stands in an age that is tainted as the steroid era, yet he remains a calming force on the mound and in the game. He continues to be a true sports hero if there ever should be such a thing. I would trade him for Papelbon in a heartbeat and that’s saying a lot!

Whenever Rivera does hang up his cleats, may God bless his ministry, wherever that may be! Until then, I just hope that God works through him to influence those around him because if that happens, this world and baseball will both be a better because of it.

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Five More Years For Mariano Rivera?

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:50:16 -0500

Mariano Rivera told today's crowd he wants to play for five more years, according to the New York Times' Jack Curry. Rivera explained: "I'm serious. I hope the organization does whatever it takes to bring me back. I know I have another year under my contract, and then whatever happens happens." Of course, as Curry notes, "A few months before the 2000 season, Rivera shocked the Yankees by saying he wanted to pitch four more years, then retire to become an evangelic...

George Steinbrenner To Attend Game 1

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:50:00 -0500

From Bryan Hoch:George M. Steinbrenner watched from his Tampa, Fla., home as Mariano Rivera threw the final pitch of the American League Championship Series, sending the Yankees on to their first World Series in six years.The Yankees principal owner's first action was likely to celebrate the victory, vaulting New York into a Fall Classic against the Phillies that opens on Wednesday. His next call should have been to book a flight.Steinbrenner, 79, will be on hand at Yankee Stadium as the ...

Leverage, baby, Leverage

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:55:00 -0500

When Mariano Rivera began to warm in the seventh inning last night, there were a variety of reactions. Some liked the move, some did not, and I admit that, at first, I was a little worried--what if something happened, Rivera pitched two innings, the Yankees lost the game and then Rivera wasn't able to pitch a Game Seven?

Fortunately, I soon came to my senses, and remembered that I do believe in the concept of use-the-best-reliever-in-highest-leverage, as this is exactly what Girardi did last night.

In the top of the eighth inning, in a game that was still a two-run score, Girardi went with his best reliever to get the top--and then the meat--of the Angels' batting order: Figgins-Abreu-Hunter-Guerrerro-Morales.

Just as recently as Game 5, Phil Hughes struggled against that same part of the lineup, unable to get the one out he needed, and as big a Robertson fan as I am--and I'm a big one--when you have the option to go to Rivera, you take it.

Now, according to Fangraphs, the fourth inning in which the Yankees scored their first three runs was the highest-leveraged situation of the game, but at that time the starter was still pitching, and, well, ideally you don't remove a starter in the fourth inning.

Still, as the graph indicates, the leverage situation in the eighth inning was still much higher than that in the ninth.

The Yankees, last night, employed Mariano Rivera in the most effective way that they could. How is the mood repaying them?

The team's off to their fortieth World Series.

****

Stay tuned for more World Series/Turnpike Series goodies. I've got somehwere to be this afternoon, but plan on a Live Chat Tuesday evening, round 7.30. I will post a reminder tomorrow.

Mariano Rivera Spitball? No Way Says MLB

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:44:00 -0500

Youtube video has surfaced today which appears to show Mariano Rivera shiftily spitting on the baseball before a pitch. Major League Baseball of course denies the allegations, finding no reason to discipline the New York Yankees closer.So did he spit on the ball or not? It's hard to say, though the trajectory of the spit certainly seems to be headed directly for the ball.This video was clearly made by a distraught baseball fan who does not especially care for the Yankees. Sorry buddy, Mar...

Using Pitch F/X Data to Determine if Mariano Rivera Threw a Spitball

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:53:48 -0500

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP 3 months ago: New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera delivers in the ninth inning of the Yankees' 4-2 victory over the New York Mets in an interleague baseball game at Citi Field in New York, Sunday, June 28, 2009. It was Rivera's 500th career save. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) Browse more photos » As some you may have seen (here and here) there is video from last nights ALCS game of what l...

MLB: No evidence Rivera threw spitter

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:37:27 -0500

The Major League Baseball Commissioners Office reviewed available video and still photography from Mariano Rivera spitting toward a baseball in ALCS Game 3 and “found no evidence that Rivera spit on the ball,” a spokesman for the commissioner told th...

Mariano Rivera and the Case of the Spitball

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:37:50 -0500

It was only a fleeting moment in Monday night's game, and one that the FOX TV crew didn't even acknowledge, but there was Mariano Rivera, looking around and then spitting in the direction of the baseball he was about to throw. Did the spit make contact with the ball? I've watched the video ten times, and even checked out these frame-by-frame screen grabs and I still can't tell. Many people seem to think that guilty glance -- the moment where Rivera appears to...

Paranoid Angels Fans Accuse Mariano Rivera Of Throwing Spitballs

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:45:26 -0500

Angels fans have lost their freaking minds over the video below, which allegedly catches Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in the act of spitting on a baseball, right there in front of God and Joe Buck and 45,000 fans. The Angels won last night, incidentally, though you wouldn't know it from the vast persecution complex on display among their fan base this morning. Watch the video. Rivera, having come on in the bottom of the 10th, finishes his warmup tosses and spits somewhere in the vicinity...

Did Mariano Rivera Throw A Spitball?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:15:55 -0500

I don’t know guys, you tell me. If anyone thinks this isn’t a spitball, thats fine. The bottom line is that he looks around to see if anyone is watching, then he spits on the ball. See for yourselves: I don’t think it would tarnish his legacy or anything, but it would throw into doubt a [...]

Mariano Rivera Spitball: Video Evidence?

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:02:05 -0500

Personally, the video ytou are about to watch is pretty amazing: I would say this is pretty conclusive evidence of why Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera is able to throw only one pitch that has unpredictable, yet precise movement. He has mastered the Angels so far in the ALCS but has Major League Baseball gotten a look at how he "warms up" for his appearance on the mound. You be the judge... With a tie game in the bottom of the 10th, the Yankees bring in Rivera. After warmin...

"This New Guy We Got"

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:18:00 -0500

When you can get 45,000+ fans all chanting your name in a LCS in your first year in New York, you're obviously doing something right.

CC's something?

8 innings,
4 hits
1 run
1 walk
7 strikeouts.

Yeah, I don't know about you, but I'd say that new guy did pretty well for himself.

Sabathia and the Yankees were also helped by some pretty poor fundamental play by the Angels--the one play we'll remember years from now was a Luis Castillo-esque dropped pop up (well, not so much dropped as no one bothered to try to catch it) by Eric Aybar that directly led to the Yankees 2nd run in the first.

The two runs were all that the Yankees--and Sabathia--would need.

Sabathia was helped by solid fundamental play and good defense on the part of his team, and the Yankees simply outplayed the Angels.

The Yankees did not get a ton of offense, but they had enough to take advantage of the Angels' misplay. Tonight was only the second time ever there had been a game at the new Yankee Stadium without a home run, but the Yankees were able to tack on the two insurance runs to provide the extra cushion everyone likes so much.

Maybe it has something to do with the cold...New York is a cold weather city, after all...then again, when one considers the way Robinson Canó looked more like a ninja than a baseball player, maybe not.

The best moment of levity came late in the game, when FOX aired a conversation between Joe Girardi and Tim McClelland, the home plate umpire, as Girardi went to bring in Mariano Rivera. Rivera, who has more postseason saves than anyone else in history. You may have heard of him. It went something like this:

Girardi: We're bringing Rivera.
McClelland: Who?
Girardi: This new guy we got.
McClelland: Up from AAA?

Well, for what it's worth, that real new guy, CC, was worth every single cent tonight.