Mariano Rivera News: Pro Sports Daily

Mariano Rivera looks and feels good in spring training debut

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March 17

New York Daily News

"Spring training has finally started for Mariano Rivera. The reliever made his first appearance of the spring Tuesday night, pitching a scoreless fourth inning against the Astros. Rivera allowed a hit and walked a batter, striking out one while throwing 27 pitches. "It's work," Rivera said of his unusually high pitch count. "It's good, because it's not six, seven or eight pitches. You need to throw to build strength. That's what I did." A year ago, Rivera was returning from shoulder surgery, unsure how his arm would respond. He called last night "day and night" from last year."

Modern Yankee Heroes: From humble beginnings, Mariano Rivera becomes greatest closer in MLB history

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March 14

New York Daily News

columnist Christian Red

"Vivid childhood images and memories still dance in the mind of the 40-year-old man, as if they had unfolded yesterday. Seated in a chair by his locker in the home clubhouse at George M. Steinbrenner Field, five-time World Series champion Mariano Rivera - the greatest closer who ever put on a major league uniform - shuts his eyes and in an instant he's back in tiny Puerto Caimito, Panama. It is low tide, and he's standing on a wide beach that stretches endlessly, sun blazing, the sand stretching to the Pacific whiter than the cloud wisps above. The waves lap at the makeshift first-base and right-field lines. Baseballs are made of shredded fish netting and electrical tape. Sometimes, if the ..."

Rivera throws batting practice

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March 9

The Journal News

"Mariano Rivera works at his own pace. The Yankees closer has been through enough spring trainings — this is his 16th as a big-leaguer — to know just how much work he needs and just how many pitches he must throw to be ready in time for Opening Day. While most other healthy pitchers are into games by now, Rivera continued his deliberate preparation on Monday, throwing live batting practice to hitters for the first time this spring. Rivera worked on a back field before the Yankees faced the Phillies, and threw 34 pitches from behind a protective screen. He described facing hitters as "delicious," adding that "it was great." The Yankees tentatively have Rivera scheduled to throw again on ..."

Mariano Rivera feeling 'delicious' after throwing first live batting practice session

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March 9

New York Daily News

"Mariano Rivera threw his first round of live batting practice on Monday, moving another step closer to his spring debut. "I feel outstanding," Rivera said after his 34-pitch session to minor-leaguers. "Delicious. Bueno." Pitching coach Dave Eiland has Rivera slated to make his first appearance of the spring next Wednesday against the Phillies in Clearwater, though that would be a big change for the closer, since he doesn't even have a pair of gray road pants in his locker."

Rivera doesn't need much warm-up

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March 2

The Journal News

"When the ball hit his glove, Francisco Cervelli nodded and pointed to the man on the mound. Then he threw the ball back and set another target. These were nice and easy pitches, not the hard and biting cutters of four months ago, but with Mariano Rivera, some things never change. "He puts the ball wherever he wants," Cervelli said. Beginning his finely tuned spring-training schedule, Rivera threw off a mound on Monday for the first time since Game 6 of the World Series. He threw 21 pitches, and will throw another bullpen session on Wednesday. Then the 40-year-old will pitch in a handful of games and be ready for the season opener. "I think at this age, I definitely have an idea of what I ..."

Yankees' Rivera Works at Own Pace Getting Into Game Shape

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March 2

New York Times

"Mariano Rivera leaned back in his chair in the clubhouse. His legs were splayed, his hands were clasped, and for 45 minutes Monday morning, Rivera hardly moved. Everyone, as usual, came to him. First, the bullpen catcher Roman Rodriguez came over, and Rivera showed him how toorthotic insoles into his sneakers. Robinson Cano joined the conversation. A few minutes later, Reggie Jackson sat down beside Rivera. When Jackson walked away, three other pitchers - Wilkin De La Rosa, Hector Noesi and Amaury Sanit - ambled over. They did not say much, if anything. They just stood and listened, content to be in the presence of greatness. Rivera is 12 days into his 20th spring training - his first as a ..."

Yankees' Rivera deals with uncertain future

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February 20

New York Post

"Though the Yankees and Mariano Rivera aren't talking about a contract extension, the future Hall of Famer tipped his hand yesterday when he admitted he is on a year-to-year basis. "A year at a time and see what happens," Rivera said prior to the first workout for pitchers and catchers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. "I want to play but I don't know how many years." So when the Yankees and Rivera (in the final season of a three-year, $40 million deal) talk after the season about the 40-year-old closer's future, they won't be discussing a multi-year deal like they will with Derek Jeter and Joe Girardi. All three contracts are up at the end of the schedule. "It all depends on how I feel. I ..."

Ageles Mariano Rivera taking it slow

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February 19

Bergen Record

"That annual spring training gag – hanging a pair of road gray pants prominently in Mariano Rivera's locker – seems about as old as the Yankees' closer himself. As usual, Rivera will be tossing all of his exhibition innings at Steinbrenner Field. And at age 40, he'll decide when his 2010 Grapefruit League season begins. "There's no rush," Rivera said, joking that his camp regimen has gone from slow to slower. "[I'll] just make sure I'm in good shape." As he enters the final season of a three-year, $45 million deal, Rivera seems in no hurry to talk about a contract extension, either – although the giddy ending to 2009 had Rivera thinking of performing well into the future. After recording ..."

Great Mariano ready for another season

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February 19

The Journal News

"Around the Yankees' spring-training complex, Mariano Rivera moves at his own pace. He keeps a comfortable rhythm, a familiar routine. His training schedule is all his own, and he never pitches in exhibition games on the road. When he walked into the Yankees clubhouse Thursday morning, Rivera took the time to shake every hand between the door and his locker. "I haven't thrown off a mound yet," he said. "I have enough time to do that." Time has always seemed to be on Rivera's side. He turned 40 this winter, but had a lower ERA last season and pitched in the same number of games he did 10 years ago. His contract runs out at the end of the season, but he seems thoroughly unconcerned and ..."

Yankees' Rivera taking career 'a year at a time'

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February 19

New York Post

"One year at a time. That's how Mariano Rivera is looking at the rest of a career that will eventually lead to Coopertsown. "A year at a time and see what happens,'' Rivera said this morning prior to the first workout for pitchers and catchers at George M. Steinbrenner Field. "I want to play but I don't know how many years.'' Since the 40-year-old Rivera converted 44 of 46 save chances in the regular season a year ago and was dominant (5-for-5) in the postseason, it doesn't appear he will be retiring soon. Especially since he said his body feels fine. "It all depends on how I feel. I can't say I am, 'Forty, forty.' But I feel good,'' Rivera said. "I feel strong and I want to play the game I ..."

Entering contract's final year, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera taking career one step at a time

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February 19

New York Daily News

"There will come a day when Mariano Rivera can no longer dominate hitters the way he has for the past 14 years, but even after celebrating his 40th birthday in November, the legendary closer isn't thinking about retirement. Rivera joined the rest of the Yankees' pitchers and catchers for the first official workout of the spring Thursday as he started the final year of his contract. GM Brian Cashman has made it clear that he has no intention to discuss a new deal with Rivera, Derek Jeter or Joe Girardi before the end of the season, but the closer doesn't seem bothered. "I have a contract this year, that's all I need to know," Rivera said. "The rest is out of my control, therefore I don't ..."

Contract status no bother to NY Yankees closer Mariano Rivera

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February 18

Newark Star-Ledger

"He acknowledges that a day will come when he'll no longer be the force that he once was. And when that day comes, he knows he'll simply walk away from the game he loves. But until that day comes, Mariano Rivera wants you to know that he isn't going anywhere. "I won't do it if I can't do it anymore," Rivera said on Thursday. "But if I can do it, and I know I'm sure 100 percent that I can, I will do it." In what amounted to a "State of the Closer" address, the 40-year-old Rivera said without much fuss that he plans to pitch so long as he maintains his typical performance level. He was equally as casual about the status of his contract, which expires at the end of the season. "I have a ..."

Cashman: No new pacts for Jeter, Rivera, Girardi

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February 9

New York Post

"When Brian Cashman looks at Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi, the Yankees' GM paints his shortstop, closer and manager with the same brush. And with spring training opening next week in Tampa, Cashman has no plans to stray from his plan of not negotiating with them. All three contracts are in the final year. "I don't think you can separate one from the other," Cashman explained. "I am not saying they are the same, but the questions will come, 'If you did one, why didn't you do the other?' If this was Kansas City, it would be different — but it's not." Cashman doesn't fear Girardi's lame-duck status will become a distraction for the players when the annual slide surfaces and ..."

Rivera adds to his large legacy

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November 9

Buffalo News

columnist Mike Harrington

"You can run down the list and see the difference. Start with Joe Nathan and Jonathan Papelbon. Move to Ryan Franklin and Huston Street. Then came Brian Fuentes and Jonathon Broxton. Throw in a smidge of Brad Lidge. What's the connection? Every main closer in the playoffs had a major blowup that cost their team at least a late lead, if not the game itself. Every one, that is, except Mariano Rivera. No coincidence it was the Yankees hoisting the World Series trophy Wednesday night. Rivera is the greatest relief pitcher in history. Period. No one has saved more games in the postseason or the World Series. He has thrown the final pitch of four Series clinchers — and it probably would have been ..."

Rib injury threatened Mo's Series

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November 7

New York Post

"If there had been a Game 7 in the World Series, the end of the game might have been dicey. Mariano Rivera revealed yesterday he was nursing a rib injury during the World Series. Rivera, speaking at the victory parade, would not say whether he could have pitched in a Game 7, but manager Joe Girardi said he was concerned. "It was real important we close it out in Game 6," Girardi said. Girardi said the injury occurred after Rivera pitched two innings in Game 2 of the World Series. Rivera said the rib started bothering him during the ALCS with the Angels. "It don't matter now," Rivera said. "It's over. Thank God it's over. It was manageable. Thank God we were able to do what we did.""

Mo thrived despite sore rib cage

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November 6

New York Post

"If the Phillies-Yankees World Series had progressed to a Game 7 last night, the Yankees would have had a hurting Mariano Rivera to close it out and would have played Jerry Hairston in left field for an ailing Johnny Damon. How effective Rivera would have been, however, was open to argument because he was nursing a problem on the left side since working two scoreless innings in Game 2. According to general manager Brian Cashman, Rivera would have been healthy enough to pitch. "He was dealing with a rib cage thing," Cashman said off Rivera, who worked two-thirds of an inning in Game 3, one inning in Game 4 and 1 2/3 innings in the clinching Game 6. The only sign that Rivera was ailing in ..."

Join the club!

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November 6

New York Post

columnist Joel Sherman

"Mariano Rivera jogged slowly toward the mound. This is what the beginning of the end has looked like in this generation, Rivera's steady procession toward the mound. The unfazed face, Enter Sandman booming. Late on a Wednesday night in The Bronx, the Phillies watched the arrival of their executioner, the man who would throw the final pitch of another season. Eight years to day earlier, Rivera had thrown the last pitch of the 2001 season and Luis Gonzalez deposited it beyond a drawn-in Derek Jeter. The Diamondbacks had won a World Series and the Yankees had lost a dynasty. Now, again on the latest date a baseball season had ever ended, Rivera brought the final offering, his windup as ..."

Matsui wrong MVP choice

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November 6

Toronto Star

columnist Richard Griffin

"It was great news for Major League Baseball growing the sport internationally in a season that began with Version 2 of the World Baseball Classic, but the selection of Japanese DH Hideki Matsui as MVP of the World Series was wrong. The real most valuable player, the biggest influence on the outcome, was closer Mariano Rivera. Matsui is strictly a designated hitter who could not play in the field because of his wonky knees. Therefore, in the three Series games at Philadelphia, at a time when it was turning around and the Yankees grabbed history by the throat, winning the first two games to go up 3-1, Matsui was a pinch-hitter, missing Game 4 entirely. Meanwhile, Rivera appeared in four of ..."

Rivera, Nearing 40, Wants to Play Five More Seasons

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November 6

New York Times

"There was no reason for Mariano Rivera to discuss the future Wednesday night. Not as he stood on a makeshift podium in center field at Yankee Stadium and celebrated his fifth World Series title. The moment was about the present, not the future. But Rivera, who has been as instrumental to the Yankees' championships as anyone, shifted from throwing a baseball to reading a crystal ball. He told the fans that he wanted to play five more years, a surprise announcement that drew almost as much noise as when he recorded the final out against the Philadelphia Phillies. Was Rivera simply playing to the euphoria of the crowd? Could a pitcher who turns 40 in three weeks really believe his cut ..."

Yankees' Mariano Rivera finishes Phillies in World Series, says he's far from finished

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November 5

New York Daily News

"Eight years to the day the Yankees' most recent dynasty died with Mariano Rivera on the mound in Arizona, the greatest closer in postseason history sealed the first title of what they hope will be their next run of multiple championships. Calmly and coolly and as dominant as he's always been, the 39-year-old Rivera recorded the final five outs of the Yankees' 7-3 victory Wednesday night to close out the Phillies in Game 6 and finish off the long-awaited first title in the Bronx since 2000. "All of them were great. But this one is special. It was a drought for nine years and we finally got one," said Rivera, who told the crowd from the podium during the presentation of the championship ..."

Flawless Mo keeps on ticking

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November 2

New York Post

"It was a record-setting night for Mariano Rivera. And a flawless one. Rivera set the all-time record for World Series appearances last night at Citizens Bank Park with his 23rd Fall Classic outing, saving the Yankees' 7-4 Game 4 win over the Phillies. Rivera retired the Phils 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth, getting Matt Stairs on a groundout, Jimmy Rollins on a pop-up and Shane Victorino on a groundout. It was the second straight night that Rivera worked. Even though he hasn't worked three days in a row all postseason, he left no doubt he will be available tonight in a potential championship-clinching Game 5. "Are you kidding me? Should I answer that question?" he said. "Yes, definitely ..."

Yankees' Phil Hughes saved by closer Mariano Rivera in final two outs of World Series Game 3

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November 1

New York Daily News

"The underbelly of the Yankee bullpen has been criticized this October - with good reason - but the non-Mariano Rivera relievers had one of their finest nights of the postseason in Game 3. Well, except for Phil Hughes. But while Joba Chamberlain and Damaso Marte handled the seventh and eighth innings perfectly, Hughes stumbled in the ninth. Joe Girardi had to bring in Rivera to get the final two outs, meaning Rivera didn't get a night off in a stretch when the World Series will be played on three straight nights. Hughes, who has retired only 15 of the 29 batters he's faced in the postseason, got the first out of the ninth with Rivera warming up, just in case. But then No. 8 hitter Carlos ..."

Girardi determined not 'two' overwork Rivera

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November 1

New York Post

"Joe Girardi wasn't going to use Mariano Rivera for two innings last night in Game 3 of the World Series against the Phillies, but the manager didn't commit to limiting his closer to three outs. As it turned out in the 8-5 Yankees' victory, Girardi used Rivera for the final two outs. "I have to see how he is," Girardi said before the game of Rivera, who worked two frames in the ALCS clincher last Sunday against the Angels and two in Game 2 of the World Series Thursday. Rivera said he was ready to throw two innings in every game."

Double duty puts strain on Rivera

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October 31

New York Post

columnist Joel Sherman

"As ex pected, Mariano Rivera is again the best closer in the postseason. Unfortunately for the Yankees, he also is the best setup man. The price of greatness this year for Rivera is a higher level of duress on a right shoulder that was operated on 56 weeks ago and turns 40 years old in four weeks. The Yankees are running a race here, trying to get to the Canyon of Heroes before Rivera's arm surrenders. "We have gotten near the red flag area, but not reached it," pitching coach Dave Eiland said. The problem is that Phil Hughes has been unable to do his job, so Rivera has had to do it. And here are some of the results: * Rivera has worked 12 2/3 innings in the postseason, four more than any ..."

Rivera will fail in World Series if New York Yankees bullpen falters

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October 31

New York Daily News

columnist John Harper

"It may not prove significant, but the Phillies came away from Game 2 of this World Series feeling as if they at least put a crack in Mariano Rivera 's aura. They forced him to throw 39 pitches over two innings and had more good swings against his cutter than you sometimes see in a month. And though they would never say it publicly, they felt Rivera was fortunate to escape the eighth inning, as one Phillies person noted yesterday that Chase Utley grounded into his rally-killing double play on a pitch he could have hammered. "It was a belt-high cutter right in the middle of the plate, and it didn't have the good, late break," the Phillies person said. "It was spinning more than it was ..."

For Bombers, Rivera's money in the bank

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October 30

New York Post

columnist David Wells

"A.J. Burnett was great, and the big home runs eventually arrived for the Yankees, but doesn't it always come down to Mariano Rivera? You would think they might take it easier on him as he gets older, but he just wants the ball. Last night, Joe Girardi used him for two innings, and the result was exactly what the Yankees expected: A lockdown that preserved a 3-1 victory over the Phillies in Game 2 of the World Series. It's all tied. Shoot, I wouldn't be surprised if Mariano starts going three innings and becomes the next Goose Gossage at age 40. He hasn't changed a bit since I first became his teammate in the '90s. You go back 10 years ago and he's the same guy, with the same demeanor and ..."

Mo pitches in with double duty

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October 30

New York Post

"The Yankees rolled out their best possible setup option for last night's eighth inning. Mariano Rivera working double-time still trumps all other options. Here came Rivera for the eighth and ninth, and there went the Phillies' chances of heading home with a second victory in this World Series. Rivera gave his team two shutout innings -- for his 10th career World Series save in 11 chances -- in the Yankees' 3-1 victory. The save was Rivera's third of at least two innings this postseason. It also marked the fifth time this month he was asked to work more than one inning. Though Rivera threw 39 pitches (his most in a World Series game), manager Joe Girardi said his All-Star closer should be ..."

Yankees closer has heart-to-heart with young relievers Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes

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October 28

New York Daily News

"Mariano Rivera followed up on last week's vow and offered personal pep talks to Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes as the young guns prepare for their World Series debuts following a few shaky moments in the playoffs. "I have confidence in the whole bullpen," Rivera said on the eve of tonight's Game 1. "Those guys have done tremendous, a tremendous job. It's not like if they struggle for one game or two games that I am going to lose confidence in them. That is nuts. "I will keep embracing them and tell them everything's going to be fine and make sure they feel comfortable and they feel positive. When you do that, you help them to be right. I told them don't try to do more than you can do. ..."

It could all come down to the closers

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October 28

Philadelphia Inquirer

"The most famous picture in Phillies history is of Tug McGraw leaping off the mound at the victorious conclusion to the 1980 World Series - the one that gave the franchise its first championship. The second most famous - and the most memorable in the minds of people under 40 - is the picture of Brad Lidge kneeling in front of the mound last October, reaching to embrace Carlos Ruiz in celebration of the second title. Come of think of it, a lot of "We Won the World Series" pictures feature a closer, which is natural, since the last of 27 outs usually comes from his hand. The closers in this World Series are even more important than usual, given the balance the teams show in other phases of ..."

Mariano Rivera tries to close out Phil Hughes' postseason woes

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October 25

New York Daily News

"As if Mariano Rivera hasn't provided enough postseason saves in his unrivaled career, the Yankee closer was planning on going for a biggie even before Saturday's pushed-back Game 6 of the ALCS. Baseball's all-time postseason saves leader said following Saturday night's rainout that he wanted to huddle with slumping setup man Phil Hughes, whose 2009 playoffs include a 5.79 ERA and the loss in Game 5 in Anaheim. Not many personal pep talks are as intriguing - or as important to the Yankees' World Series chances - as that one. "It's not something I will tell you guys (about), but definitely I will talk to him and he'll be fine," Rivera said. "I don't expect miracles, but he's trying hard. ..."

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees won't forget 2004 collapse

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October 22

New York Daily News

"Five years ago, Mariano Rivera and the Yankees did the unthinkable, blowing a 3-0 lead in the ALCS in the biggest collapse in postseason history. With his team one win from another trip to the World Series, Rivera isn't concerned about this year's team suffering the same fate. "We didn't take it for granted in 2004, we just didn't have the pitching," Rivera told the Daily News before Wednsday's workout at Angel Stadium. "We have different pitching now. The bullpen is stronger, the starting rotation is stronger, so that's the key. In 2004, what took us there was our hitting. Here, it's our pitching." The numbers back up Rivera's assertion. The Yankees may have beaten the Red Sox three ..."

Fans salivating at Rivera TV clip

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October 21

Toronto Sun

columnist Bob Elliot

"CSI Anaheim was not on the scene at 1:30 p.m. yesterday on the West Coast. In fact a tarp was covering the mound. Half an hour later, the crack Los Angeles Angels grounds crew was preparing the mound for last night's Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. So, much for a search of DNA evidence. A YouTube clip of the Fox television feed surfaced yesterday showing Yankees closer Mariano Rivera spitting as he held the ball in the 10th inning of Game 3. Within an hour, Major League Baseball cleared Rivera of any wrongdoing in the quickest investigation since head coach Bobby Bowden cleared his own Florida State Seminoles football programs of any wrongs. So, that's why Rivera ..."

Yankees' Rivera cleared of spitball accusation

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October 21

Washington Post

"For at least a few hours on Tuesday, before Major League Baseball cleared him of any wrongdoing, Mariano Rivera found himself at the center of a modern controversy, pinned down by accusations on a fan blog and the accompanying evidence of a YouTube video. The video showed Rivera, on the mound in the 10th inning of Game 2, spitting in the general direction of his right hand, which happened to hold a baseball. The accusation, posted originally on http://Halosheaven.com: That Rivera, the Yankees' peerless closer, had thrown a spitball. After reviewing all available still photographs and video evidence, the commissioner's office on Tuesday found no evidence of a spitball. Baseball, too, ..."

MLB: No evidence Rivera threw spitter

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October 20

New York Post

"The Commissioners Office reviewed available video and still photography from Mariano Rivera spitting toward a baseball in ALCS Game 3 and "found no evidence that Rivera spit on the ball," a spokesman for the commissioner told the Post. The initial reaction by the league had been that the video plus still pictures they have of the incident were inconclusive if Rivera actually spit on or near the ball. But after further review of what they had, the Commissioners Office determined that Rivera was not spitting directly on the ball. On a couple of the still pictures in MLB's possession, it apparently looks as if Rivera is spitting near, but not on, the ball. Also, as even the league office is ..."

Mariano pitches long and strong

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October 18

New York Post

"The last time Mariano Rivera pitched more than two innings in a game was more than three years ago. It wasn't a problem for him to do it again last night. "There's no tomorrow," he said. Rivera continued his career mastery -- no, not just postseason mastery, but career mastery -- in last night's incredible ALCS Game 2 victory for the Yankees. In their 4-3 13-inning win, Rivera logged 2 1/3scoreless innings, going beyond two innings for the first time since he went three innings on May 30, 2006 against the Tigers. Last night, Rivera was summoned in the eighth with men on first and second and two outs and Erick Aybar at the plate. The legendary closer, who had a feeling he'd be called on ..."

New Yanks as gritty as opponent

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October 17

New York Post

columnist Joel Sherman

"You kept staring at the field and thinking that something about the 2009 ALCS Game 1 Angels looked familiar. And then it hit you. They resembled the 2002 and 2005 Yankees. Those previous editions of the Yankees were eliminated in the Division Series by Angels squads that played a more aggressive style on the bases, and made the Yankees look old and slow in the field. They extended at-bats to exhaust and frustrate Yankees pitchers. So a funny thing happened on the way to this ALCS opener: The Yankees out-Angeled the Angels. They were more alert on the bases, sharper in the field and more economical on the mound. The Angels, meanwhile, looked like a team that wanted to be back in the warmer ..."

Mo absent, but ... it's just personal matter

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October 16

New York Post

"Mariano Rivera was absent from a Yankees workout yesterday for the second straight day with the club's blessing, The Post learned. "It's nothing physical, it was for personal reasons, and he will be here [for tonight's game]," GM Brian Cashman said. Before Wednesday's workout at Yankee Stadium, Rivera threw 25 to 30 pitches off a mound and then left town to attend to a family matter that was nowhere near as serious as in 2004, when a relative was electrocuted in Panama. Five years ago, Rivera traveled to Panama between the ALDS win over the Twins and the start of the ALCS against the Red Sox."

Mariano wins Delivery Man of Year Award

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October 15

MLB.com

"In a postseason in which closer after closer has faltered, Mariano Rivera has stood tall. Battling an illness, Rivera tossed at least one scoreless inning in each of the Yankees' three American League Division Series wins against the Twins, while fellow stoppers such as Joe Nathan, Jonathan Papelbon, Ryan Franklin and Huston Street all struggled. Rivera is by far the most decorated closer remaining in the postseason. And now, he has one more decoration to add to his collection. Major League Baseball announced on Wednesday that Rivera beat out Nathan for the Delivery Man of the Year Award, presented annually to the league's best relief pitcher. This is Rivera's third win in the five-year ..."

Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte & Mariano Rivera carry Yankees' banner

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October 13

New York Daily News

columnist Filip Bondy

"The Yankees have been a brilliant, cohesive unit this season, but really they are three teams masquerading as one. They are the young kids, like Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, on their first winning joyride. They are the veteran mercenaries, like A.J. Burnett and Johnny Damon, having a good-old, pie-faced time, with one eye on the paycheck. And, of course, they are the Core Four - Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera. For much of New York, a lot of the fun comes with this last group, the link to four championships and what we remember as the very best things about baseball. Without the Core Four, the Yankees are just another big-money, revolving-roster ..."

Mo overpowers Mauer when it counts

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October 12

New York Post

"Cy Young got the best of MVP. You certainly can make a case for Mariano Rivera and Joe Mauer to win those respective awards in the American League. Here they were in last night's eighth inning going head-to-head with Game 3 of the ALDS hanging in the balance. The Yankees led 2-1, with the potential tying run -- Denard Span -- standing at first base. Rivera replaced Phil Hughes and got Mauer on a broken-bat grounder to Mark Teixeira, ending the inning. "I know Joe Mauer is a great hitter, but Mo is more experienced in that situation," manager Joe Girardi said after the Yankees beat the Twins 4-1. "That's why I didn't [hesitate]. He has been doing it since 1996. When I saw him burst on the ..."

Rivera is still best closer after Red Sox and Twins blow it

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October 12

New York Daily News

"If there is any doubt who the best closer in baseball is, the debate was settled Sunday. Boston's Jonathan Papelbon blew a save (he lost the game) and the Red Sox painfully bowed out of the other American League division series. Two days ago, Minnesota's Joe Nathan blew a save in the Bronx. Sunday night, Mariano Rivera calmly put the Twins' season to rest and capped the Yankees' three-game sweep with a four-out save at the Metrodome. Papelbon, who hadn't surrendered a run in 26 postseason innings, allowed two inherited runners to score in the eighth and gave up three more of his own in the ninth, highlighting just how much the Yankees don't take their closer for granted. Nathan allowed ..."

Twins know what to expect with Rivera: Outs

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October 10

St. Paul Pioneer Press

"In 2008, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera blew one save. It was against the Twins, when Rivera came in with runners on first and third and gave up a game-tying home run to Delmon Young. The Twins still lost that game. There is no method for Rivera. He throws one pitch, a terrifying cutter, so well that batters know it's coming and can't do anything about it. In the 2004 American League Division Series, Jason Kubel learned just that. Already 0 for 4 in Game 2, Kubel came to the plate against Rivera with the score tied 5-5, looked at strike one, and whiffed on the next two. Kubel finished the game 0 for 6, and the Twins went on to lose in the 12th inning. What has Kubel learned since that ..."

For Rivera, No Ups or Downs, Only Precise Cutters

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September 20

New York Times

"On Friday at Safeco Field, a few hours before the end of the longest saves streak of his career, Mariano Rivera explained the demands of his job. He framed it as a responsibility. "I don't think there's an easy situation in baseball, period," said Rivera, the Yankees' closer. "But the situation I always go in is different than the rest. Everything the team has done for seven or eight innings has been put in your hands to preserve." Thirty-six times in a row, Rivera had succeeded, dating to Jason Bay's homer in Boston on April 24. But on Friday, the Mariners' Ichiro Suzuki beat Rivera and the Yankees, 3-2, with a two-out, two-run homer in the ninth. Rivera had wanted to bury a cutter ..."

Four Yanks-keteers still together

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September 11

New York Post

columnist Joel Sherman

"ON Aug. 25, 1992, Derek Jeter was promoted from the Rookie Gulf Coast League to the Low-A Greensboro Hornets. He didn't really want to be there. He was exhausted, homesick and frustrated from a first dabble in professional ball at Tampa, where he hit .202 and ran his phone bill to $400 a month with daily calls back to his parents in Kalamazoo, Mich. He played 11 games to finish the season in the more advanced Sally League as an 18-year-old. The first of those 11 games should have been truly forgettable for Jeter, because he went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts and two errors. But it really should be one of the most memorable days in Yankees history. For the starting battery was Andy ..."

Rivera doesn't miss a beat in return against Rays

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September 8

New York Daily News

"Taking the mound for the first time in nearly a week, Mariano Rivera raised a few eyebrows by issuing a leadoff walk in the ninth inning of Monday's day game, but the Yankees' closer ultimately erased any doubt about his left groin, which caused him to miss four games on the Yankees' most recent road trip. After walking Pat Burrell on five pitches, Rivera struck out Evan Longoria with a 91-mph fastball, then broke Gabe Gross' bat with an 89-mph cutter, inducing a weak popup to third. Showing no hitches or hesitation in his delivery, Rivera wrapped up the Bombers' 4-1 victory with three straight cutters to Akinori Iwamura, who swung and missed on the final two offerings. "I was kind of ..."

Rout means one Mo day of rest for Rivera

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September 7

New York Post

"You want a bright spot to yesterday's debacle? Mariano Rivera got another day to rest his cranky left groin. Ideally, manager Joe Girardi wanted to give Rivera one more day to make sure the problem had completely vanished. Rivera, who hasn't pitched since Tuesday, said he was ready to work yesterday, but when the Blue Jays broke open their 14-8 victory by scoring eight runs in the fifth inning, there was no need for the Yankees closer to even start stretching. "I will have him [today for a doubleheader] unless he gets hurt on the way home," Girardi said. When the Yankees scored twice in the fifth to erase a 4-3 deficit, it appeared Rivera might be required. However, that prospect ..."

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera comfortable in bullpen session, could return Sunday from groin injury

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September 6

New York Daily News

"Mariano Rivera had "no problems at all" during a 16-pitch bullpen session, clearing the way for him to return to the mound as soon as Sunday. Rivera felt soreness and tightness in his left groin on Wednesday in Baltimore, the second time in three weeks he experienced that problem. He first felt it in Seattle on Aug. 15, but he returned to the mound after a few days off. "I wasn't expecting to feel anything," Rivera said after his side session. "That's how minor it was. We just had to make sure that it's ready. I wasn't looking for something or expecting something." Rivera is having a superb season, injecting his name into the Cy Young conversation with a 1.78 ERA and 38 saves in 39 ..."

Mo won't close 'til he's pain-free

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September 4

New York Post

"You never would have guessed Mariano Rivera's left groin was cranky while watching the closer play catch with Andy Pettitte yesterday afternoon. With Pettitte on the right-field foul line at Rogers Centre, Rivera stood in short right field for the start of a throwing program. Eventually, Rivera was in center field and firing baseballs to his longtime teammate. "I didn't do it to test [the groin]; I wanted to throw," Rivera said of the 10-minute session. "I just played catch. Everything is beautiful." But not good enough for manager Joe Girardi, who didn't use Rivera in a save situation Wednesday night in Baltimore and isn't sure he will have his closer tonight, either. "We will ..."

Mariano to rest with tightness in left groin

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September 3

MLB.com

"Perhaps the most frightening bit of information that could come from the Yankees trickled from the clubhouse late Wednesday: Mariano Rivera had been unavailable due to injury. Luckily for the Yankees, they do not believe that the matter will be serious for their Hall of Fame closer. Rivera has been battling recurring tightness in his left groin but expects that a few days of rest will allow him to return to duty. "We're going day by day," Rivera said. "Hopefully, [I can pitch] as soon as possible." The 39-year-old Rivera, who pitched in the first two games of the Yankees' series against the Orioles, said that the tightness bothered him during Tuesday's 21-pitch appearance. Rivera ..."

Yankees' Mariano Rivera is put on the shelf with groin tightness

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September 3

New York Daily News

"Mariano Rivera's incredible season came upon its first injury Wednesday, as the Yankees revealed that the closer is battling a minor groin trouble. Rivera first experienced tightness in his left groin on Aug. 15 in Seattle, but after three days off, he felt well enough to pitch. Rivera has appeared in five games since then, including outings on Monday and Tuesday in Baltimore, but the issue cropped up again in the second of those games, causing the Yankees to shut him down again for the next few days. "It's just soreness in the groin, so we're taking precautions," Rivera said. "I'm okay. It's nothing to worry about. I wasn't going to pitch today anyway. Everything will be fine." Rivera ..."