Mariano Rivera
2009 Stats: The only closer not to blow a save in the postseason
Mariano Rivera continues to defy age and the laws of physics with his dominating cutter and performances. Nobody is as reliable in a big spot as Mo. That's why they call him, Mr. Reliable. While onlookers watched in awe, and opposing closers wept, Mariano converted every save opportunity he had in the postseason. That run of success helped the Yankees win the World Series, and saved at least 10 orphans from certain doom.
2010 Prediction:
As he has in the past few years, Mo will struggle a bit in April. This will largely be due to the fact that he only throws about six pitches in Spring Training. He then will continue to dominate the league and will finally win the Cy Young. After single-handedly winning the World Series by ending each of the first four games, inexplicably played in the NL park though the Yanks had home field advantage, with go-ahead tenth inning home runs, he re-signs with the Yankees for a contract larger than A-Rod's in both years and money.
Little Known Mo Rivera Fact:
Windows 7 was Mo's idea.
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5 comments:
Respect. Mariano's. Gangster.
That's all there really is to say (though I'm gonna babble on some more), the guy is the best. I remember basically hyperventilating when Matt Stairs was up as the tying run in Game 2 of the World Series. I should not have worried; Mariano struck him out on one of the nastiest pitches I've ever seen him throw. That says A LOT.
Also, him shattering Mauer's bat in that last game of the ALDS was pretty much a glorious, transcendent moment.
I remember when, as late as May, people were saying that we needed someone else to close vs. Boston and Tampa Bay. Mariano says "no to you, sillies."
He is also a feared hitter, as witnessed by his .500 OBP.
Finally, if you haven't seen #2 on this list, you should really watch it:
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=7152841
I was all confused about why Mo was getting Cy Young and MVfreakin'P votes in 1996, back when he was just a setup man and before he was Mariano Rivera, and then I realized he pitched OVER ONE HUNDRED INNINGS OUT OF THE BULLPEN! THAT'S INSANE!
And Papelbon blowing a save pretty spectacularly against the Angels, at Fenway = AAAAMAAAAAZINGGGGGG
Mo is a freak. No reason to believe 2010 won't be more of the same. But when they go...they go fast.
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.blogspot.com/
I was worried that Mariano was done/going to be far less effective after 2007. But then I got hit by a lightning bolt for wondering about that and he was AWESOME in 2008 and 2009. I didn't really know about advanced metrics back then, but it turns out he had really bad BABIP luck in 2007, so yeah.
I'll never forget the year I had bad BABIP luck. It still haunts my dreams.
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