Photo Credit: Keith Allison
On Thursday night, before the New York Yankees were set to play the Kansas City Royals in Kauffman Stadium [Royals Ballpark], the greatest closer of all-time suffered a season-ending injury while in the midst of chasing down routine fly balls.
Shagging hit baseballs to the outfield was always part of Mariano Rivera’s regular workout before games. More than anything else, it was considered as exercise and a way to have fun. All of his teammates, even Yankees coach Joe Girardi understood the ritual.
The injury occurred near the warning track in left field. While trying to catch a fly ball, the 42-year-old Yankees closer had lost his balance. Rivera’s knee buckled and his cleats stuck to the dirt. Mo’ immediately grabbed his knee and soon after that, many of the Yankees’ players along with the training staff ran out onto the scene.
Rivera’s injury was a torn ACL. This was devastating, not only for the Yankees, but also for Major League Baseball. If there was one person who didn’t deserve this situation, it would have to be Mo’.
The Yankees captain Derek Jeter knew exactly the importance of losing Rivera in the bullpen.
“Mo is a vital part of this team on the field, off the field. He’s going to be missed,” Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. “There’s no other way to put it. You don’t replace him. Someone else can do his job, but you can’t really replace him.”
What many people don’t understand is that Mariano Rivera was more than just an all-time saves pitcher to his teammates and to the fans. Mo’ epitomized everything that a team leader should be. Rivera was always accountable in his play and performed at a high level with class and respect for the sport. On a personal standpoint, Mo’ was a brother to his teammates.
Now, Rivera is gone and no one knows when Mo’ will actually be able to return. While many people hate the situation, the Yankees can only do one thing, which is to re-focus and turn the page.
The Yankees closer hasn’t been on the disabled list since 2003 and there was no way
Mariano Rivera was going to allow his career to end in this fashion.
“I’m coming back,” said Rivera. “Write it down in big letters. I’m not going down like this. God willing, if he gives me the strength, I’m coming back.”
There isn’t any doubt that Mariano Rivera will be back. Champions are built in a different way and while nothing in this lifetime is ever guaranteed, it would take more than one injury to stop a guy like Mo’.
However, realistically… this will be a very difficult time for Rivera. When Chicago Bulls’ guard Derrick Rose got injured in this year’s NBA playoffs with an ACL tear, many have already questioned D-Rose’s chances of being the same player. Rose is only 23-years-old, which goes to show you that an ACL injury is something that can change an athlete forever.
At this current stage, Mariano Rivera is already 42-years-old [nearly 20 years older than D-Rose] and given that he returns, a big question lies, will Mo’ still be the same?
You hear it all the time from aging players in sports. Psychologically, their minds want to overcome the barriers put in front of them, but physically, their bodies are no longer willing to continue.
Mo’ will definitely come back to close his wonderful career the right way. Will Mo’ still be a dominant force on the mound when he returns? That’s a totally different story. Although, if there is ever a player that could regain his strength and be the player he once was, it would be Mariano Rivera.
Let’s hope for the best.
Sources: MLB, Newsday, Foxsports
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I don’t think he will be the same. Pitchers need their legs for balance and use them to drive towards the plate for delivery. Leg strength isn’t talked about enough in pitchers, and if a pitcher doesn’t have leg strength, the ball loses velocity and it’s flat. Rivera’s loss is devastating to the Yankees.
Thanks Jeremy. I would love to believe Mariano Rivera would be as “impactful” as he was once before the injury, but at 42-years-old, it’s tough to really get your mind around it. You’re definitely right, a pitcher without leg strength will get roped every game.
Personally, I am thrilled that Rivera is coming back. Lost in his calm demeanor is his fierce competitiveness. I wish him a smooth recovery and comeback.
Thanks for the comment Sam. Mo’ is as “cool” as they come. I have no doubt that he will try his hardest to overcome this injury. The Yankees roster will lose veteran leadership this year, especially in the bullpen. It’s time for David Robertson and Rafael Soriano to take the lead.
You tear your ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and there’s no way you can compensate for the immobility even in a return . There’ll always be some doubt and that’s liable to be the case with Rivera!
I would love for Rivera to bounce back strong. Who wouldn’t? But being 42-years-old and basically at the stage of retirement, it would be more than tough to get back to the mound as the same pitcher. I wish it to happen, but it just seems like a stretch.
One would have to assume the Yankees had already planned on naming someone as Mo’s replacement. That pitcher just needs to step it up in his absence.
Shame to see him go down like that but I’m not sure he was the key to the pinstripes winning a pennant this year.
The pitcher next in line has to be David Robertson. The guy just notched his first save against the D-Rays, which should boost his confidence a bit more. Robertson has lightning stuff and should be the next in line. Rivera might not have been the guy that fixed all the problems, but having him in the roster everyday was good enough just because of his presence.
Another well done post! Mo is a great pitcher and I believe he’ll be back. He may not stay too much longer, but he won’t “go out” with an injury…
Thanks Steven. Welcome back! I agree and I think most people would too that Mariano Rivera has a little bit more left in the tank. Let’s just hope he gets back to 100% and is able to perform at a high level when he returns.
Sorry so late in commenting…I’ve been lamenting this injury for the past week…
Mo has been the consummate champion baseball player. I feel confident that while we will see great relief pitchers in the future, we will not see one of his unique caliber, possibly in our lifetimes. His one pitch dominance and constant presence for not only the Yankees but for all of baseball leaves a gaping hole. I was devastated by the injury, as it weirdly reflected on the (possible) end of an era for not only his unbelievable career, but for a part of my youth as Mo first started pitching when I was a junior in college. I am now 38. I hope for a speedy recovery for him, as he deserves to leave pitching by tipping his cap to a sold out Yankee Stadium crowd, not by writhing in pain on a warning track in Kansas City.
That being said, I think that the Yankees bullpen is one of their true strengths and can persevere in this area with both Robertson and Soriano. Even with Robertson being placed on the 15 day DL I think they’ll be ok, and I think Robertson will be the closer of the future. But, will he have the dominance, longevity and durability of Mo? Will we hear a Metallica song and forever think of him? Time will only tell….
Amazing insight Mel. No worries, comment when you have some time. David Robertson certainly has the tools to become a great closer and will for sure be given the chance. However, it takes more than a live fastball to accomplish what Mo has for 18 years [608 saves]. With that said, things happen for a reason and while none of us could’ve possibly explained how something so ridiculous could happen to a guy like Mo, it is the nature of the beast. One guy goes down, another guy steps up into the spotlight and has a chance to live up to his name. Sixteen years ago, it was Mariano Rivera who replaced John Wetteland. As Rivera’s successor, is Robertson ready to take that next step? Like you mentioned, only time will tell.
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