3
2012
Mariano Was Always A Stand-up Guy To Me
An article by 
This is a Mets blog, but also a baseball blog, and part of baseball is Mariano Rivera, the Yankees’ Hall of Fame closer. Mets fans remember Rivera because he snuffed out many games over the years, including Game 5 of the 2000 World Series.
After watching the Knicks get pulverized last night and getting bored watching the same about the Mavericks, I started to channel surf and caught the tease about Rivera being hurt and his career possibly being over.
Watching him crumpled on the warning track I recalled my eight years covering the him and recalled several moments. What came to mind almost immediately was his constant demeanor. Whether he sawed off another bat to end a game, or when Luis Gonzalez beat him with a bloop single to win the 2001 World Series, he was a stand-up guy.
There was one time after he blew several save opportunities in a row when he got testy and said he was a human being and not a machine with oil running through his veins. It was surprising to hear that, but it showed he was, indeed, human.
I enjoyed stopping by his locker to chat about things non-baseball. One spring I told him a joke three days in a row. On the fourth day, he came up to me and said, “where is my joke?” I loved that.
Another time I asked him if he could play any position but his own and he said centerfield. So, to see him shag fly balls was not a surprise. He did it on a daily basis throughout his career.
But, to be injured shagging flies is a freak, unusual thing. Somewhat like his cutter, it is something that can’t be explained. He wasn’t injured because he is over 40 – see Derrick Rose also tearing his ACL – but being over 40 will make the comeback all the more difficult.
Sure, I can see him retiring, but I can also envision his pride not letting him go like this.
Yes, it was an unexplainable injury, but a reminder of how fragile things can be for an athlete. Mets fans have seen more than their fare share in recent years, like Ike Davis’ ankle, David Wright playing a month with a fracture in his back, the concussions of Jason Bay and Ryan Church, and how Billy Wagner’s elbow injury might have cost them the playoffs in 2008 and subsequently brought on the Francisco Rodriguez era.
Followers of the Mets know better than most how any injury can’t be projected, but can determine the course of a team. How things might have been different in recent seasons without injuries to Wright, Wagner, Carlos Beltran and Duaner Sanchez.
If Sanchez doesn’t get hurt in that taxi accident, the Mets never would have traded Xavier Nady for Oliver Perez and Roberto Hernandez.
Just think of how things could have been different.
As far as Rivera goes, the Yankees will reload – they always do – but they’ll never find another Rivera.
About the Author: John Delcos
I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 24 | 18 | .571 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 20 | .535 | 1.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 23 | .465 | 4.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 24 | .400 | 7.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 32 | .256 | 13.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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assuming this is really bad (as in season/career ending), it is a sad way to see a guy like this go out. As much as I detest the Yankees, you still have to feel bad for the guy.
I would much rather have seen him go out, on the last day of the season, blowing a save and taking a loss that knocks the yankees out of the playoffs. At least he would have earned it.
My sentiments exactly. Watching the Yankees blow their post season chances on the last day of the season in the 9th would make my day.
Being honest though I’m LOL at the Yankees and their fans this morning. Now you’ll know what the roller coaster ride is like in the 9th. But I can’t LOL at Rivera. Guy has been a class act both on and off the field. It’s a crappy way to end his career, if indeed this is it.
No way Rivera goes out like this, not under his own terms. He’ll be back for one more last season.
Here’s the problem for the Yankees. They always have a ton of money and if they go out and get a top shelf closer or one of their pitchers takes that roll and they get set for the future then how do they say no to Rivera coming back. As bad as the injury is he is going out as the Greatest reliever in baseball. It’s time!
They won’t go out and get one. Robertson is nasty and Soriano is useful. Between the two, they’re fine.
Don’t you hate it when bad things happen to the Skan- er, I mean Yanks? NOT!
Yes, Mariano Rivera, one of the greatest and blah! blah! blah!
Please Yanks, please continue to suck!!!
How soon will the Mets announce a tribute for him at Citifield if he retires?We will see videos of Rivera in the Rotunda before we see Tom Seaver videos, i guarantee that.We can combine them with Chipper Jones videos.All 48 bombs he hit against us.I despise the ownership of this team.Maybe if they need a closer we can trade them Frank Francisco.Cano is in a slump.I’ll throw Murphy in also to replace Cano.Only 5 more months to go for the full page apology letter in the newspapers from Fred and Uncle Saul and their promise of getting better in 2013.Don’t you all still feel sorry for Yankee fans?
Had the injury been to his arm it most likely would be an end to an era but since it’s his knee I think he will try and come back.
MNJ, my feeble understanding is that pitchers do require some seriously stabilizing support from their knees when trying to get maximum velocity and power into their pitches.
Something about the whole “embodied” thing.
he seemed pretty set that this year was it, no question. Who knows if he will want a mulligan since he didn’t finish it out, but my WAG is that he just calls it a career.
This isn’t a baseball blog, its a Mets blog. If Wright got hurt you wouldn’t see it on any Yankee pages.
Have a little self-respect.
Somewhat right. This guy is not chopped liver. Get my drift. Deserves comment.
Agreed, this isn’t a good 3B. This is an all time great. That being said if Wright was out for the season/career you can bet it would be on many Yankee blogs.
Rivera is an all-time great and there should be much discussion about this, just not here.
We’ve talked about Griffey and Chipper here before, but we cant talk about Mariano?
This.
Some of us might hate the Yankees but as a baseball fan, how can you not appreciate what Rivera brought to the game all these years? I’ll bet first vote HOF as well.
Yankees Suck!
They suck for all time and forever.
I don’t want to discuss any present or former Yankees here.
This is a test. If someone gave you a block of tickets to the finest seats at the stadium with Boston in town-would you go?
Not in an eon!!!
You my friend are a true blue Mets fan. Me I would have my fanny in that seat faster than you could say Aaron Heilmann!
A great man falls…so sad.
John Delcos — nice piece about a guy I hated but always respected. Thanks.
I feel for the guy, he’s always seemed classy and a true professional.
As far as the Yank-these replacing him, I think it’s time for everyone in NY (including us Mets fans) to realize how unique Mo is.
As little as I think of the Saves record and people considering Mo as one of the best pitchers of all time. Let’s be honest, Mo is the best at a position ( the one inning three run or less lead pitcher) that’s only existed for 25 years recording a stat that’s only been around for 40 years. And remember, most relievers are relievers because they weren’t good enough to be starters.
What is the most impressive thing is that Mo has been able to do for as long as he has and been as consistent as he has been. We’ve seen several great closers of the past two decades, but they usually burn out after a couple of years.We’ve seen closers rack up monster save seasons, but they end up going into slumps, sometimes lasting a few weeks, sometimes lasting for a full season.
To have what the Spanks had in Mo was very unusual. Other than Hoffman, no closer has had the longevity and consistency to do it for 15+ years without missing a beat.
I know there’s always an argument going on about the value of closers and how difficult can it really be…the way i see it, it takes a special type of person to do what they do. How many times have we seen someone trying to fill the closer roll and fail? All the other active closers in the league and ticking time bombs.
The guy is great, but he has been around forever and will be a first ballot hall of famer.Nothing sad about that.Sad is having Francisco as a closer and DJ Carrasco mopping up.Let’s get a grip Met fans.Every baseball fan knows how good he is.He’s a Yankee.I won’t lose any sleep about it.
I wonder how Sterling and Waldman would have called this.
Waldman? I despise that stupid bitch. Dumber than dumb.
For such a “Storied Franchise” these two are the worst announcers in sports.
Great piece John,
Mariano is a class act and every parent should tell their kid that if they intend to play sports Mariano Rivera should be the example to follow.
I think (and hope) he’ll be back
Agreed.
I hate the Yankees and their fans. They think their shit doesn’t stink. The only 2 Yanks I respect are Jeter and Rivera. But all good things must end. Get that Yankee fans? I do hope you are a sub-.500 team this year.
Where is the “like” button.