Yankees Profile: Mariano Rivera

New York Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera

Imagine: You are at Yankee Stadium. It’s the top of the 9th inning, the Yankees have a 3-2 or 4-2 lead and they need someone to put the game to bed. Fans scream, hands clap, chants are heard all around the stadium. “Enter Sandman” plays on the intercom and fans get more excited. Mariano Rivera takes a couple of warm up throws and departs from the bullpen jogging to the mound, his glove on his left hand and a ball in the right one.  He stands on the mound eying the top of the order. He strikes out the first batter, gets the second batter to pop up and uses that legendary cutter to get the third out on a strikeout.

When you think about the Yankees you automatically think Mariano Rivera. Even at the age of 41 years old, he is just as effective as when he came up as a set up man in the late 1990′s. As Mariano Rivera becomes closer to becoming the All-Time saves leader it seemed like an appropriate time to evaluate his career.

When you look at Mariano’s career, you can’t help noticing that dazzling career ERA of .221 or the fact that in 1021 games he has 1088 K’s. But the thing that’s most impressive is Mariano’s saves. Since 1996 he has racked up 587 saves, only needing 15 more save in becoming the Major Leagues All-Time Saves leader taking over Trevor Hoffman who retired with 601 career saves.

This season alone, Rivera has impressive numbers. As of August 2nd he’s 1-1 with a 1.74 ERA. Rivera currently has 28 saves in August and is expected to get more before the season is over in late September. Mariano Rivera is also blessed with the honor of wearing #42, and when he graciously retires so will #42. But until the day Mariano Rivera retires, we will be forever graced by his presence when he comes in for a save situation, or just to get some work in but fans will forever appreciate this future Hall of Famer.