Exit Sandman.
Enjoy watching Mariano Rivera pitch this year, for it appears this will be his final season. Buster Olney, who broke the story via twitter, said that the future Hall-of-Famer will hang em’ up at the end of the 2013 campaign. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees have scheduled a press conference at George M. Steinbrenner field in Tampa on Saturday at 10 am, where Mo is likely to formally address the media.
Although many predicted this would happen, there has been no real announcement from Rivera, who turned 43 in November. If it weren’t for a season-ending knee injury last May, Rivera most likely would have retired after 2012. However, he vowed not to go out on that note, and has rehabbed his way back in order to be ready for Opening Day.
Rivera is entering his 19th year in the big leagues, all with the Yankees. He has a career record of 76-58 with a 2.22 ERA. However, it’s his postseason numbers that make him immortal. In 96 games, Mo has a miniscule .70 ERA with 42 saves and 110 strikeouts in 141 innings pitched. He has won five world series rings, and is the all-time leader in saves with 608.
We may never see another player like Mariano Rivera. His dominance, class, grace, durability and consistency have been something that comes along once in a generation. You can make a case that he is this era’s Babe Ruth; Rivera is the most dominant player his position has ever seen, and probably will see, in the future.
This not only represents a change in the way the Yankees will close games beyond 2013, it also represents a changing of the guard. The “Core Four” is dwindling, and a new era of Yankees baseball is on the horizon.
Much like Chipper Jones in 2012, Rivera will receive a farewell tour both at home and on the road, as fans and players pay their respects to a living legend. So for now, enjoy every second you see number 42. There will never be another like him again.
I can report #Yankees have 10 am press conf sked Sat at Steinbrenner Field at which Rivera is set to announce retirement after ’13 season
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) March 7, 2013
