Great to turn on my Kindle this morning and read where Mariano Rivera got his 500th save. And no disrespect for Trevor Hoffman because 500 saves is a great accomplishment for anyone regardless of their team's position in the standings, but to get 500 saves as a New York Yankee in the fire of a pennant race every year and every game, and add the extra load of all the postseason, saves makes "MO" stand out as the greatest closer of all time. I remember when that talk started several years ago when he hadn't reached 300 saves yet and I said, "Let's wait and let him achieve what he's going to achieve and then crown him."Kaat also mentioned how grateful he was to be in the broadcast booth for so many of Mo's saves. I'm grateful that I've been able to watch them all as a fan.
Now, he's achieved it.
...
To accomplish what Mo has with almost exclusively one pitch, the pitch we have come to know as a cutter -- even though it really is what I always called a pure slider -- and throw it at one speed in one location makes what he's done even more remarkable. High and tight to left-handed batters, in on their belt buckle, breaking bat after bat of even the best hitters. It's the reason right-handed batters had more success against him because that pitch was always moving toward the sweet spot of their bat not into the handle like the leftys. Over time he added a "two-seamer" which broke the opposite way and an occasional change-up, but it was the cutter that he will always be known for. He even learned how to "back door" it against leftys, making it cut across the outside corner of the plate and "front door" it to rightys, cutting at the last instant across the inside edge of the plate which is a dangerous pitch to throw. Miss by a couple inches over the plate and it's a fairly easy pitch for big-league hitters to hit.
...Congratulations Mo! I was just in Cooperstown and I saw a blank space on the wall for another plaque. You'll have one there five years after you call it a career.
What is your favorite Mo memory? Mine has to be game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, and the three scoreless innings he pitched against a great hitting Red Sox team.
4 Comments:
Damn... the more I read Kaat, the more I miss him in the booth.
As for Mo, the save against the sox ranks up there as one of, if not the best.
I truly think that most Yankee fans, although they would deny it, have taken him for granted. It's actually almost easy to do because for so long, he was simply automatic.
Well, he isn't exactly automatic still but he is pretty damn close.
I dread the day when he hangs up the spikes. We have witnessed the career of the greatest closer ever... all in pinstripes.
A classy guy and an all time great.
One of the few players still in the game right now who has already guaranteed himself a spot in Cooperstown.
And with all due respect for the great Jackie Robinson, Mo's number 42 will definitely be the retired as a Yankee!
I know for sure I will not miss his induction ceremony. I'll be there for his, Jeter's and Moose's.
I've actually never been to Cooperstown so I will definitely make my first trip there to see Jeter and Mo go in.
Crossfire,
It's very easy to take someone as good as Mo for granted because, like you said, he makes it look so easy.
As for his retirement, I don't want to think about that.
Cooperstown is great Greg. I only went once. In 1996, I brought my 8 year old son to the parade down the Canyon of Heroes and then we went up to Cooperstown a few weeks later. It's a great town.
I plan to be there for both Jeter and Mo's inductions.
I hope Moose makes it. He doesn't have 300 wins but he was a great consistent pitcher.
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