Milestone Moment

Rookie, Mariano Rivera, recorded his first save on May 17th, 1996, my 13th birthday. A little over thirteen years later, the magnificent Mariano secured his 500th at Citi Field last night. In between, Yankees fans have revered Rivera with respect and recognition. Marino is a first-ballot Hall of Fame pitcher and the most valuable of all Yankees in the past 13 seasons. Trevor Hoffman is the only other closer with as many as 500 career saves. He leads all relievers with 571. Lee Smith is third to Hoffman and Rivera, currently capturing the bronze with 478 career saves.
Milestone man Mariano earned his notable number 500 against a depleted and punchless New York Mets team in the finale of an interleague skirmish between the cross-town rivals. Rivera also scratched across his first RBI during the 4-2 Bomber beat down Sunday night. The Yankees swept the Mets with Rivera contributing offensively by drawing a bases-loaded walk from Francisco Rivera in the ninth inning. The 39 year old closer entered with two outs in the eighth inning and completed the save with a one-hit ninth. It was his 18th save in 19 chances in 2009.
A closer has to be tough and confident as the team’s last line of defense. Mariano boldly blends a diplomatic demeanor with his classy composure whenever the right-hander is brought in from the Yankees bullpen. Rivera relies on an electrifying cut fastball and works the plate with finesse and grace. There have been more intimidating closers in history and others who have performed in more clutch and high pressure situations. Mariano has surpassed all others in igniting his team during the final innings of relief. Lee and Dennis Eckersley were dominating mound presences. All-stars, Goose Gossage and Billy Wagner, threw blazing fastballs and rapidly climbed the strikeout list. Troy Percival and Joe Nathan are both modern day pictures of consistency. John Wetteland and John Franco were either reliable or shaky, but always seemed to get the job done for their teams. Bruce Sutter of the St. Louis Cardinals is credited with inventing the split finger fastball and Rollie Fingers was as noticeable on the hill for his mustache as he was for his CY Young arm. There are only a handful of relief pitchers who have pieced together consecutive quality seasons. Fingers and Lee had seven seasons in a row with stellar stuff, and Gossage had six straight, beginning in 1980. Throwbacks, Dan Quisenberry and Hoyt Wilhelm pitched well enough throughout their careers to be considered among the best closers too. The argument will go on, but Rivera is most superb. His performance in postseason play is probably the most brilliant of any reliever in history. Not many major league pitcher can claim the kind of numbers achieved by the great Mariano Rivera.

Parting Points: Song of the day- “Closing Time” by Semisonic