Man, that was fast. I remember when skinny Mariano Rivera was setting up John Wetteland in 1996 and even then, you could see he was going to be something. Mariano Rivera has not only become a leader in his career, he’s become an icon in pinstripes. One of the Core Four, this guy doesn’t say much. He communicates with his cutter, a truly beautiful pitch that clearly has baffled batters for years. It’s one pitch. Just 1, a signature cutter. The New York Times Magazine did an amazing animated piece to really explain how it comes in on a hitter, to both lefties and righties and trust me, you may think you have a chance, but you don’t. Check this out:
Now Mariano is embarking on something just plain brilliant, and nothing against Trevor Hoffman who accomplished it first, but let’s face facts, this is Mo and this is the New York Yankees we’re talking about. It’s bigger, much bigger, especially to us Yankee fans. Much respect to Hoffman, you’ve accomplished a tremendous feat, 601 saves is historic, but here comes Mo and he’s about to crush that record. It's Yankee dominance at it’s best.
To Mariano, it’s not about individual achievments. In fact, I’m sure the guy will get 600 saves and say it was a team effort. He’ll thank the fans for being there, never adknowledging that he achived this record himself. That’s Mo, a champion. He’ll make us all feel like he helped him achieve it. But make no mistake, it’s all Mo all the time when he comes in in the 9th inning. The guy is the greatest closer of all time. Ironically, I see David Robertson taking Mo’s role in a few years, not Rafael Soriano. Why? Because in what’s developed this season, Rivera needed a set up guy and Robertson is "Mariano 1996." History repeats itself and it’s happening again.
HBO did the right thing for Derek Jeter’s 3000 hits, putting together a brilliant Documentary and giving us just alittle insight on the man behind the pinstripes and bringing us on the field with Jeet during his amazing 3000th hit… a homer of all things. Well, I’d like HBO to do that again for the Sandman. Mariano may not be hitting, but he’s cracking bats and saving games regularly and 600 is just as important to a closer than it is to a hitter’s 3000th. Believe me, it’s an automatic Hall of Fame selection, it’s recognition, it’s iconic and this Documentary needs to get done.
So, I ask HBO, will you do it again? Can you make us Yankee fans gush at the site of Mariano Rivera getting 600? Will you bring us behind the scenes, watching Mo getting ready for a game, or hearing from the greats like Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley, Lee Smith? Maybe interviewing someone like Sparky Lyle and Goose Gossage tell us Mariano's better than they could ever be? Could you? Can you interview hitters who’ve never hit him and can we hear from the man himself? Can we be on the field when he collects 600 and then passes Hoffman’s 601 Major league record? It’s only right HBO, after all, it’s a huge accomplishment in a relief pitchers career and after all, he’s a New York Yankee, the greatest franchise in all the world.
Mariano Rivera currently has 34 saves this season. If all goes well in the next 36 games, Mariano Rivera will break the 600 mark and pass the great Trevor Hoffman’s 601 record to be the all time best closer ever. "The greatest closer of all time." It’s a name we’ve given Mariano Rivera even before the record was broken, because, quite frankly, he is. That alone should be enough to make HBO realize the importance of this Doc, and it's the right thing to do.
Keep going Mo, you wow me every time your out there, and accept what’s coming your way. You did this on you own. Enjoy it, you’re a true champion.
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