It All Comes Down to Mariano

For all of the talk about the new additions to the Yankees, game six of the ALCS provided a Yankees fan with a reminder of what once was. CC Sabathia won the ALCS Most Valuable Player, Burnett and Swisher contributed, and Teixeira dominated with his defense. For all of the money spent on new additions, it was the Yankees’ core of 14 years ago playing key roles. Jorge Posada was the catcher for the final out; Derek Jeter had another solid playoff series.  Andy Pettitte gave a typical Pettitte performance, always escaping near danger and getting the big out when needed. The Yankees’ core of the late 90’s provided the foundation for their current teammates. But, there is one player that is more important than the others.  With a little assistance from Joba Chamberlain, Pettitte handed the ball to Mariano Rivera for the final six outs. It is that last statement that many take for granted.

Ask the 29 other teams about their confidence in their closer. How many teams have changed closers since Rivera assumed the role in 1997? The answer is 29, most of them two or three times. The Yankees are the only team since 1997 to have the same closer. Think about that. The Yankees never had to worry about their closer during the regular season, during division games, and, most importantly, during playoff games. It is something that has become so automatic that his performance is taken for granted.

Mariano Rivera. Of all the great players to play in the Bronx, it is not hyperbole to say that Rivera is the single most important player in the past 15 years, perhaps even in the Yankees’ storied history.

It was no surprise that Manager Joe Girardi turned the ball over to Mariano Rivera in the eighth inning of game six to protect a two run lead. It is a situation that Yankees fans have grown accustomed to over the years. If a series is on the line, there is no pitcher—not CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, David Wells, or David Cone—that the Yankees would rather have on the mound than Rivera. While the Angels rallied for a run off of Rivera in the eighth, there was little doubt that Rivera would ultimately close out the game. When the Yankees scored two insurance runs in the bottom of the inning, the game was over. How many closers can that be said about? The answer is zero.

Rivera isn’t a product of hype that is associated with playing in New York. His statistics are more than enough to merit high praise. His regular season totals of a 2.25 ERA and 526 saves are enough to state his case. But, for the more sabermetrically inclined, Rivera has 202 ERA+, the best mark of any pitcher, ever. In 1,090 innings, he’s allowed just 848 hits, walked just 256, while striking out 1,006. Incredibly, he’s given up just 60 homeruns (11 of those came in his rookie year when he started 10 games). He ranks 14^th all-time with his aforementioned 2.25 ERA, 3^rd all-time with his 1.013 WHIP, 7^th all-time with his 7.02 hits allowed per nine innings, and is the all-time leader with 0.45 homeruns allowed per nine innings.

The ranks are impressive, but the 39 year old isn’t just simply hanging on to a once great career. His last two seasons have been just as good as his prime seasons. He’s saved 83 games in 137 innings over the past two seasons. His ERA of 1.58, WHIP of 0.781, and ERA+ of 282 still paint the picture of the best reliever in the game. There are many good closers in the game—Jonathan Papelbon, Joe Nathan, Trevor Hoffman, Francisco Rodriguez—but none matches the elite level consistency of Rivera. Even if they come close with their regular season statistics, Rivera separates himself in the post-season.

As has been well-documented, his post-season statistics are even better. Unlike many players, Rivera’s sample size is ample to pass judgment. He’s appeared in 84 post-season games; that’s enough to put his adroit performances in perspective. For his post-season career, Rivera is 8-1 with a 0.77 ERA. He’s given up just11 runs in 128 innings. He’s allowed just 79 hits (2 of which were homeruns). Reliability isn’t quite the word. He did famously blow a save in game seven of the 2001 World Series, but his mistake was throwing a sure double play ball away. He didn’t give up a homerun. Nonetheless, that series remains the only blip on an otherwise historic post-season resume. It is more than reliability. It’s about managing a game to get to Rivera or, for the opposition, managing a game to avoid facing Rivera.

The statistics speak for themselves, but there is something about Rivera that separates him from the other closers. It is simply an attitude. He does his job with zero histrionics, little self-glory or promotion, and with the efficiency of a well-trained assassin. He does his job so well that it is news when he actually does blow a save or give up a homerun rather than just how efficient he really is. His decorum on the mound gives off the air of confidence. It is one that his teammates feel and it is one that the normally paranoid New York fans feel. He is the one person, even more so than Derek Jeter, that gives Yankees’ fans the belief that a pennant is always within reach. The belief comes from his steadiness, not only on the mound, but his demeanor after a game. If there was ever a player who could celebrate wildly after each save or do some sort of evil stare, it would be Rivera. But, he doesn’t. Great ones don’t need the extra dramatics.

Heading into the World Series, the Philadelphia Phillies will talk about executing properly. They will talk about scratching runs off of the Yankees’ starters and eliminating mistakes. That’s all true, but the translation will be this: “We can’t give them a lead heading into the 8^th inning”. If the Phillies want to repeat as Champions, they will have one goal: don’t let Mariano Rivera become a factor. There are other factors, of course, but, at least simplistically, it all comes down to Mariano.

There has been talk of the Yankees’ dynasty ending that night in 2001, in 2003 when they lost the World Series to the Florida Marlins, or even last season when they failed to make the playoffs. All are untrue. The Yankees’ dynasty hasn’t ended yet. It won’t end until number 42 finally decides that he has had enough of literally saving the Yankees game after game, series after series, and year after year. It won’t be until someone more human takes over the closing duties for the Yankees and that the ninth inning is no longer a given that fans, writers, teammates, and opposing players can truly appreciate the unparalleled excellence that is Mariano Rivera.

Popularity: 2% [?]