I Hate Mariano Rivera

Love ‘n’ hate tattooed across the knuckles of his hands.  Hands that slap his kids around ’cause they don’t understand how death or glory becomes just another story.  -The Clash

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  Hatred or hate is an intense feeling of dislike.  It may occur in a wide variety of contexts, from hatred of inanimate objects or animals, to hatred of other people, entire groups of people, or people in general.  I hate the New York Yankees.  Ipso facto, I hate Mariano Rivera.  Ipso facto, I was ecstatic in 2004.  Ecstatic in 2004 when Big Mo blew saves in Games Four and Five, and the Red Sox won both games in extra innings to avoid elimination.  Take that Yankees!  Take that Mariano!  Hooray Red Sox!  But today, there is no joy in Mudville.  Today, the mighty Gary Matthews Jr. has struck out.    

Yes sports fans, I hate Mariano Rivera.  I hate the fact that he is considered by many baseball experts to be the greatest closer in baseball history:

• Buster Olney says, ”No other player can instill calm in his team’s fans as reliably as Mariano Rivera, the game’s dominant closer and arguably the best relief pitcher of all time .”
• Joe Torre says, “He’s the best I’ve ever been around.  Not only the ability to pitch and perform under pressure, but the calm he puts over the clubhouse”
• Trevor Hoffman, the only closer with more saves than Rivera, says, “He will go down as the best reliever in the game in history.”
• Even my boy, Dennis Eckersley, says, “He is the best ever, no doubt.”

Last night, once again, he proved those guys, and to my chagrin,  a lot of other guys, right.  Last night, those damn Yankees were ahead by two runs and just six outs away from their first World Series berth in six years.  Enter the Sandman.  Working his way through a sticky eighth-inning jam that took 21 pitches, the Sandman did what the Sandman does best.  Exit light.  Enter night.  Take my hand.  We’re off to never never land.

After blowing away the Angels in a 1-2-3 ninth to end the 5-2 Yankees win, Rivera had extended his all-time record of postseason saves to 37, and it was the 13th that required six outs or more.  How about that? 

How about this?  The top seven pitchers in career regular-season saves, with the exception of Rivera, have combined for 37 postseason saves:  Trevor Hoffman, 4;  Lee Smith, 1;  John Franco, 1;  Dennis Eckersley, 15;  Billy Wagner, 3;  Jeff Reardon, 6 and Troy Percival, 7. 

Like my main man William Shakespeare always says, “In time, we hate what we often fear.”  The way Mariano instills fear in the heart of men , I cannot believe I am the only one who hates him. 

Public Spectacle:

[pro-player width='455' height='253' type='video']http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm1wpnKpKs0[/pro-player]

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

Need More? Mariano Rivera,MLB,New York Yankees