Mariano Rivera to announce retirement after the 2013 season

[NerfBall55]

My favorite athlete ever.

[teknetic]

I'm not gonna take this well.

That being said, imagine his last game at Fenway? If those chowdaheads start chanting "Mariano," I'm gonna lose my sh.t

[flymick24]

i just imagined david robertson running in from the bullpen in the 9th inning to "sweet home alabama"... my penis just retracted into my body

[Stick Michael]

I'm not gonna take this well.

That being said, imagine his last game at Fenway? If those chowdaheads start chanting "Mariano," I'm gonna lose my sh.t

One of my favorite Mariano Rivera memories was when the fans at Fenway gave him a mock cheer as he was introduced for Opening Day in 2005. Instead of getting steamed, he chuckled and doffed his cap. That was the moment I knew he was best closer in the game's history.

[YankeeFan1421]

I'm not gonna take this well.

That being said, imagine his last game at Fenway? If those chowdaheads start chanting "Mariano," I'm gonna lose my sh.t

Nope...i think Rivera will get a huge ovation from the fans up there. I truly think that. I think Jeter will too if the situation presents itself.

As much as I seethe at the Sox fans, they are true baseball fans for the most part.

They gave Piniella a huge ovation when he retired in 1984....different era, I know, but he was among the most hated Yankees at that time but they gave him a standing O when he came up for his last at bat at Fenway.

[d32123]

He was always kind of overrated but can't really fault him for that. I'll be a weensie bit sad to see the dude roll out at the end of the season.

[Yanksfanintoronto]

I hate the fact that I wont ever be able to watch him live at the Skydome again....but I love the fact that Ive watched him close games on numerous occasions in Toronto.

Having said that, I hope he continues to be involved with the team in some capacity....perhaps as a manager some day

[fredgmuggs]

He was always kind of overrated but can't really fault him for that. I'll be a weensie bit sad to see the dude roll out at the end of the season.

On any given season during Rivera's career there's been closers who have had a better year but what sets Mariano apart is the longevity of his consistent excellence... and those remarkable play-off numbers.

[JL25and3]

He was always kind of overrated but can't really fault him for that. I'll be a weensie bit sad to see the dude roll out at the end of the season.

I think the role has been overrated, especially since Sutter and Eckersley, when it became extremely restricted and driven entirely by the save stat. But I don't think Mariano has been ovverrated. In fact, he's come the closest of anyone to justifying the overrated role.

[NerfBall55]

On any given season during Rivera's career there's been closers who have had a better year but what sets Mariano apart is the longevity of his consistent excellence... and those remarkable play-off numbers.

I think the role has been overrated, especially since Sutter and Eckersley, when it became extremely restricted and driven entirely by the save stat. But I don't think Mariano has been ovverrated. In fact, he's come the closest of anyone to justifying the overrated role.

Combine there two and the answer is perfect.

[LongtimeNYYFan]

I think it's a nice gesture to allow fans to know that it's their last chance to see someone who has been a special player for a long time.

He's well respected throughout all of MLB and has plenty of fans who aren't necessarily fans of the Yankees. So it's only fair that those fans can have a chance to show him their appreciation for what he has meant to the game.

And by tipping his hand 8 months early, he's also letting the FO know (if they didn't already) that it's time for Plan "B".

[pleasepassthesoup]

Just got my tickets to the last home game. Have to see the greatest of all time one final time.

[teknetic]

Nope...i think Rivera will get a huge ovation from the fans up there. I truly think that. I think Jeter will too if the situation presents itself.

As much as I seethe at the Sox fans, they are true baseball fans for the most part.

They gave Piniella a huge ovation when he retired in 1984....different era, I know, but he was among the most hated Yankees at that time but they gave him a standing O when he came up for his last at bat at Fenway.

The "Mariano" chants I was referring to was the same ones you hear Yankee fans chanting. I fully expect Sox fans to honor him.

[35Knucklecurve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/sp..._20130308&_r=0

On Saturday, the Yankees will hold a news conference at which Rivera, baseball’s oldest active player at 43, is expected to announce he will retire after this season. The news is no surprise; Rivera would probably be retired already had he not torn a knee ligament last May.

But Rivera did not want to leave that way, crumpled to the warning track during batting practice in Kansas City. A career of such dignity and grace deserves a more dignified farewell. A celebration on the mound, and a parade through Lower Manhattan, would be most fitting.

“I don’t think anybody will get an opportunity to do in the postseason what he did,” Torre said. “It’s not that somebody may not be special out there; his career is one thing. But to look what he’s done in postseason, it’s amazing, it really is. He basically made my career.”

Torre — who is here for the World Baseball Classic, which starts for the United States on Friday against Mexico — will be in the Hall of Fame someday, with Jeter and, almost certainly, George Steinbrenner. Already, though, Rivera is exalted among his peers.

David Wright, the Mets’ third baseman, once beat Rivera in the ninth inning with a long single over Johnny Damon’s head at Shea Stadium. He said he would tell his grandchildren about it someday, never mind that it happened in a May game.

“There’s certain players that, when you see them, no matter what you’ve done or how many years you’ve been in the game, there’s a certain awe about them, and I think Mariano has that,” Wright said. “No matter if you’re a Yankee, a Met, a Red Sox, whatever, you just have the utmost respect for guys like that.”

This is a strange new world for the Yankees, a portal they would rather not enter, if only they had a choice. But for one more season, when they arrive at the ninth inning with a narrow lead, they can turn back time, watch the master at work, and feel safe.

I've probably posted this memory before, but it just demonstrates the respect Mo has earned. It was a back-and-forth game at Camden Yards, the crowd was about 50% NY fans, as usual. Everytime the "Let's go Yankees" chant started up, O's fans would counter with their own version. A few times, tempers flared in the stands - one side telling the other to STFU. When NY finally grabbed the lead and held on to the 9th, just about everybody was standing. I don't know where it started, but a faint sound got gradually louder as it made its way around the stadium. 25,000 NY fans were humming, "Enter Sandman" and escorted Mo from the bullpen to the mound. I didn't hear one O's fan try to drown it out. They just stood there amazed at what they were witnessing. I've got goosebumps now remembering it.

[NerfBall55]

One of my favorite Mariano Rivera memories was when the fans at Fenway gave him a mock cheer as he was introduced for Opening Day in 2005. Instead of getting steamed, he chuckled and doffed his cap. That was the moment I knew he was best closer in the game's history.

8 years of elite closing = not sure

8 years of elite closing + cap doff = sure

?

[False1]

He was always kind of overrated but can't really fault him for that. I'll be a weensie bit sad to see the dude roll out at the end of the season.

The only way he could be overrated is if you call him the "best closer of all time" and there is someone better. He is, and there isn't. Best. of. all. time. There's no way up from there, so there's no way he can be overrated. Not to mention, he is a true class act - loves the game, doesn't get caught up in drama and by all reports is a tremendous teammate and ambassador for the Yankees. If that's overrated, I hope I see another overrated closer in my lifetime.

[Maynerd]

If that's overrated, I hope I see another overrated closer in my lifetime.

Wearing pinstripes, of course.

[False1]

Wearing pinstripes, of course.

Naturally. Good clarification.

[ArodEra]

The only way he could be overrated is if you call him the "best closer of all time" and there is someone better. He is, and there isn't. Best. of. all. time. There's no way up from there, so there's no way he can be overrated. Not to mention, he is a true class act - loves the game, doesn't get caught up in drama and by all reports is a tremendous teammate and ambassador for the Yankees. If that's overrated, I hope I see another overrated closer in my lifetime.

This says it all.

[d32123]

At the end of the day he was still just a relief pitcher, albeit one of the greatest ones ever, but his value is much lower than people assume. I guess he's not so much overrated as his position is.

Plus it just sounds edgy to say that Mariano Rivera is an overrated relief pitcher.

[sweet_lou_14]

The only way he could be overrated is if you call him the "best closer of all time" and there is someone better. He is, and there isn't. Best. of. all. time. There's no way up from there, so there's no way he can be overrated. Not to mention, he is a true class act - loves the game, doesn't get caught up in drama and by all reports is a tremendous teammate and ambassador for the Yankees. If that's overrated, I hope I see another overrated closer in my lifetime.

I agree with this. However, there are some stronger statements I've heard made about Rivera. But basically the only way to make a stronger statement is to make impossible comparisons, such as:
1. Comparing Rivera to historically great starting pitchers, e.g. Pedro
2. Comparing Rivera to historically great baseball players of all positions
3. Comparing Rivera to historically great Yankees, e.g. Ruth and Gehrig
4. Comparing Rivera to great athletes in other sports
5. Comparing Rivera to the greatest human beings of all time
6. Comparing Rivera to a long-standing member of the Holy Trinity

I've seen all of this done and while it's a lot of fun, it's also highly subjective and, I suppose, grounds for an accusation of "overrating" him. But I agree with you, you have to go to these places to overrate Rivera.

[Eldee5]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/sp..._20130308&_r=0

I've probably posted this memory before, but it just demonstrates the respect Mo has earned. It was a back-and-forth game at Camden Yards, the crowd was about 50% NY fans, as usual. Everytime the "Let's go Yankees" chant started up, O's fans would counter with their own version. A few times, tempers flared in the stands - one side telling the other to STFU. When NY finally grabbed the lead and held on to the 9th, just about everybody was standing. I don't know where it started, but a faint sound got gradually louder as it made its way around the stadium. 25,000 NY fans were humming, "Enter Sandman" and escorted Mo from the bullpen to the mound. I didn't hear one O's fan try to drown it out. They just stood there amazed at what they were witnessing. I've got goosebumps now remembering it.

That's awesome. I got goosebumps just READING it!

[YankeeFan1421]

For anybody saying Rivera is 'overrated' (which is a term I don't fully understand because I don't know who is overrating and how they are overrating...), I present the following career postseason stats.


IP: 141
WHIP: 0.759
HR: 2
ERA: 0.70
ER: 11
R: 13

11 earned runs in 141 postseason innings. By definition, 141 vitally important innings. ELEVEN earned runs.

It's so ridiculously good that it almost defies belief. I can accept the argument that there simply HAD to be some luck involved, some fate based defiance of the law of averages, with these numbers before I can accept the argument that Mariano was overrated.

[njyankeesfan]

He was always kind of overrated but can't really fault him for that. I'll be a weensie bit sad to see the dude roll out at the end of the season.

"Overrated"? Huh? Really? Every time he pitches, he's under pressure to win the game for the Yankees. And to be so consistently excellent for so many years, only Trevor Hoffman even approached it--and Mr. Hoffman didn't have the big stage of NY. Mariano Rivera was the difference maker in the Yankees' post-seasons, when the pressure was even more intense--why else do we Yankees fans remember so clearly the losses in 1997 and 2001, when Rivera couldn't seal the victories? And Rivera is always business-like and professional, humble and gracious--and he has continued the legacy of Jackie Robinson by wearing #42. We will never see a player with the combination of on-the-field excellence and off-the-field grace and class that Mariano Rivera has gifted to the great game of baseball.

Savor this last season, fellow fans. And yes, he will be honored, revered, and shown love all over MLB as the season rolls on--even (and maybe especially) at Fenway. His reaction to the mock cheer in 2005 said it all--and as others have said, Red Sox fans do have a real appreciation and respect for the game of baseball. Any fan of any other team would have been thrilled to have Rivera wearing their uniform. But he wore Yankee pinstripes--and he did them proud! And will continue to do so, this season.

I feel sad just thinking about this being his last season, though.

[Doug]

Anybody should already be to see this is last season, he is already the oldest guy in the game !