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The Spectacle Blog
New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera tore the ACL in his right knee yesterday while trying to catch a fly ball during practice in Kansas City prior to last night’s game against the Royals. Rivera could be out for the rest of the season, possibly a career ending injury.
Let’s just say right off the bat that this is the biggest challenge the Yankees have faced in more than 15 years. Rivera has been the Yankees closer since 1997. The Yankees have missed one post-season in his entire big league career. Rivera has 608 career saves, the most in MLB history. The 42-year old Panamanian has been his usual self. At the time of the injury, he was 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA and five saves.
Needless to say, who will the Yankees put out there in the ninth? Rafael Soriano did save 45 games for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010. Soriano struggled in 2011 and although he has pitched better in 2012 his walk totals are a little scary (six walks in nine innings). Being the closer might be shot in the arm he needs.
David Robertson has pitched well as an eighth inning set up man but is untested as a closer. Then again Rivera pitched well as an eighth inning set up man but was untested as a closer after John Wetteland went to Texas after the 1996 season. Robertson hasn’t given up a run in 11 innings pitched this season and has 18 strikeouts to boot. But eighth inning success doesn’t always translate into the ninth and Robertson is an unknown quantity in the ninth as is Phil Hughes who has struggled to regain his form of 2010 when he won 18 games. Hughes has had success in the bullpen as an eighth inning set up man during the Yankees World Series championship season of 2009.
The dark horse in all of this is Joba Chamberlain who dislocated his right ankle while jumping on a trampoline late in spring training. He just got put on the 60-Day Disabled List but could be back late in the season. If Soriano, Robertson and Hughes don’t pan out and they don’t trade for a closer then Chamberlain is an option.
In the grand scheme of things, losing Mariano Rivera is bad for baseball. He is a class act on and off the field and even Red Sox fans cheer for him. That would never happen with Jeter or A-Rod. Mariano Rivera is in a league of his own and it would be shame if this was the way his storied career ended.
UPDATE: Rivera, who had been pondering retirement after this season, vows to return in 2013.
View all comments (9) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/05/04/mariano-rivera-tears-acl
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Richard Baker| 5.4.12 @ 12:54PM
Why the star pitcher was shagging fly balls in the outfield is beyond me. Understand that he was just working out but at 42 he needn't be out there. His career will be ended, as a result. I'm a longtime Cardinals fan but this is sad for a great ballplayer.
DRed| 5.4.12 @ 1:47PM
It's been part of his routine his entire career. It's a damn shame if he never comes back-it would have been nice to see him go out on the mound.
MikeN| 5.4.12 @ 2:12PM
Yea, Rivera is applauded but not that phony Jheater.
Bob S| 5.4.12 @ 5:31PM
And the only time they missed the postseason? When the 2008 Tampa Bay Rays took the division.
Without a Mo to save their games, the Yankees are gonna have to start playing nine innings of baseball like everyone else. It couldn't have happened at a worst time, with the Yankees unimaginably in fourth place in the AL East with the Blue Jays and Orioles in front of them. Looks like this season might be the season that either of the Orioles or Blue Jays, both with "new" logos reminiscent of the "good ol' days", will finally make it back to the post season. Either of them, but not both, since the Tampa Bay Rays will not give up first place.
JmsA| 5.4.12 @ 6:53PM
What a bummer. I hope he can make a quick and full recovery.
SF_Exile| 5.4.12 @ 7:50PM
I was depressed upon hearing about this this morning. From everything I've read and heard, Mo is the genuine article - humble, unassuming and just plain nice. He exhibited a wonderful sense of humor when he tipped his cap to the stands upon being introduced at the Opening Day game at Fenway in 2005. For that he received a standing O. I've been a fan of his ever since.
Bob K.| 5.4.12 @ 8:06PM
That's too bad. He was a great closer, I'll say it!
But I am not a fan of the way the pitching game has changed over the years by putting so much importance on relief pitching. There isn't much depth in most teams starting pitching rosters any more. It's rare for any team to have more than 2 or at most 3 games in a row where starters have gone into the 7th inning and beyond.
Pete| 5.5.12 @ 11:36AM
Mark me down as a big "so what". How many kids have injuries like this and never have a chance at a career in baseball. At least Rivera had his shot and a great career. He is just lucky his injury came at 42.
tonypal| 5.5.12 @ 2:24PM
As a lifelong Yankees fan, I will tell you that Mo has been by far their most valuable player since he became the closer in 1997. For the Yankees, every game is 8 innings if they're ahead.
More than being a great pitcher, he's a first rate person. No one is more unassuming than Mo. He's completely unimpressed with himself and understands that he is truly blessed by God. His humility is greater than his talent.
One of the more remarkable things about Mo is the fact that he's still as effective now as he was 15 years ago. He doesn't throw as hard, but it doesn't matter. There's never been a pitcher in major league history with his late break on his pitches. Everything happens 6 inches in front of the plate. He also has the easiest throwing motion of any pitcher I've ever seen.
So as long as he can rehab the knee, which shouldn't be a problem, he can probably pitch for another 10 years. For me, one more will be enough.