Mariano Rivera's new three-year contract was officially announced today, cementing his tenure as the Yankees closer for both the last year of the old stadium and the first year of the new one. If I had to guess, 2010 will not be a full year of closing, but that's just a hunch.
From Pete Abe's blog, here is an outline of Rivera's career so far:
"Rivera, 37, owns 443 career saves, the most in franchise history and the third-most all-time behind Trevor Hoffman (524) and Lee Smith (478). His 395 saves over the last 10 years are the most in the Majors while his 787 career appearances are the most-ever by a Yankees pitcher and place him in 42nd place on baseball’s all-time list. Among pitchers with at least 200 save opportunities, Rivera’s 88.2 percent career save conversion rate (443-for-502) is second-best all time, behind only Trevor Hoffman (89.3).
In 2007, Rivera was 3-4 with a 3.15 ERA and 30 saves in 67 relief appearances for the Yankees, ranking fourth in the American League with 59 games finished and tying for eighth in saves with Toronto’s Jeremy Accardo. Over his final 59 appearances (from 4/28), Rivera was 2-2 with a 2.23 ERA, converting 30-of-32 save opportunities. It marked the fifth consecutive season he reached the 30-save plateau and 10th time in his last 11 seasons (1997-2007), joining Trevor Hoffman (12) and Lee Smith (10) as the only pitchers in Major League history to record 30-save seasons at least 10 times.
Rivera’s 34 post-season saves and 76 post-season appearances are both tops in Major League history while his 0.77 ERA (117.1IP, 10ER) in post-season play is the lowest all-time (minimum 30.0 IP). He owns a Major League-best nine saves in the World Series, and only Whitey Ford (22) has pitched in more World Series games than Rivera (20).
The Panama native was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on February 17, 1990 and is currently the longest tenured Yankee (12 yrs, 105 days)."
It's always interesting when people try to claim every year since 2004 that Mo is washed up. Ever since showing his first sign of human traits with the debacle against Boston (one earned run in seven innings), he has only posted a 1.38, 1.80 and 3.15 ERA respectively. In the playoffs it has been one run over 8+ IP on four hits in the three division series' since. Granted, his ERA this year was above three as noted, but it was 2.23 in his final 59 innings. I would not be surprised if next season a sub-three ERA was reposted by the greatest closer of all time.
In other news the 2008 Yankees schedule was released today. The season starts March 31st against the Toronto Blue Jays on a Monday at 1:05 PM. Brilliant; Open the season during the afternoon on a Monday. Some other notables from the Yankees web site about the season:
New York's 81-game home schedule will feature three series totaling nine games with each of the four American League East clubs, as well as Interleague series against three National League opponents -- the New York Mets (May 15-18), the San Diego Padres (June 17-20) and the Cincinnati Reds (June 20-22).
Is it too early for predictions? That sounds like 5-4 to me. The prospect of playing the Reds always scares me despite the fact they are inferior.
- The heated rivalry with the Boston Red Sox continues when they visit New York on April 15-16, July 3-6 and Aug. 26-29. The Yankees head to Fenway Park on April 11-13, July 25-27 and on Sept. 26-28 to complete the regular season.
Why do we always get the Red Sox at Fenway during the most crucial series of the season? I would much rather prefer the late August and late September matchups were flip flopped but hopefully by then a playoff spot will already be wrapped up. Also, is my reading comprehension serving me right? They play five games in a row from April 11th-16th? Who set that up? It must be a typo. Otherwise I like the spacing of the games, my heart might survive.
In addition to their road schedule against the American League, the Yankees will make their first-ever regular-season appearance at Minute Maid Park on June 13-15, playing an Interleague series with the Houston Astros.
The Yankees will make their first appearance in the Steel City since the 1960 World Series on June 24-26 at PNC Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and play their final regular-season Subway Series games at Shea Stadium on June 27-29.
5-1 in those two sets. I cannot wait to see the Yankees offense against the Astros pitching in that ballpark. Likewise I simply always enjoy playing the Pirates, whom the Bronx Bombers are 6-0 against in interleague play. As far as the Mets, well, I just assume both teams win two of three at home. Hopefully the win comes on my birthday, June 28th, a game I will surely try to get tickets for.
The final regular season home game will be September 21st. Also, in further reading the Yankees have a seven game homestand after April 15th against the Blue Jays and and Rays, so what gives on April 16th? Is it the second of a two game series with the Sox or the start of a homestand against the Blue Jays?
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