WHY MO'S SAVE TAKES THE SPOTLIGHT

The world talked about Mariano Rivera today. 600 Saves is a big deal and with the Red Sox losing today, all of Yankeeland is alittle bit sweeter right now. I wanted to give you my thoughts on last night's game with Mo getting 600.

The Yankees did a lot of things right last night. They were able to shut down the Mariners offense with the strong pitching from AJ Burnett. They picked up some clutch hits, and the bullpen shut it down the rest of the way. But all of those things, the legendary Mariano Rivera picking up his 600th Save was the greatest.
When Mo came in to pick up the Save, he punched out Willy Mo Pena for the first out of the inning. Then he allowed a single to Ichiro, followed by a strikeout of Kyle Seager. Two outs in the inning. Just one out away between Mo and another milestone. Ichiro then made a mad dash to second on the 1-0 pitch, but was thrown out by Russell Martin--Who had been out since the middle of Saturday's game in Anaheim--for the third and final out of the game, thus wrapping up number 600 for the great Mariano Rivera.

Congrats Mo, and hopefully you still have plenty more saves left in the tank. Mo is just two saves away from setting the all time record held by Trevor Hoffman.

Tonight is the final West Coast game of the regular season. Ivan Nova (15-4, 3.94 ERA) will start for the Yanks as he faces Jason Vargas (8-13, 4.49 ERA). Let's go Yankees!




--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer




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WHY MARIANO'S HISTORY IN THE MAKING

"They are family away from your family. It was great seeing them all come to the mound." - Mariano Rivera

The good thing about Mariano Rivera is usually, when he comes out to close a game, he does. Once in a blue moon, he doesn't but 600 times, he's done it for sure and now it's in the record books. Next up, He needs to tie Trevor Hoffman for the all-time saves record and then, 602.People don't like saves and I say, it's part of baseball now, get over yourself. Saves never used to be the way baseball was. Starters pitched till their arms fell off, racking up 23 to 30 complete games and relievers were few. Over time, that changed and then came Mariano who brought it to a new level, a fun level, a historic level. 600 saves is huge, I don't care what anyone says. If it wasn't we'd be ignoring it.

The Yankees won last night in Seattle when most of us were asleep. The big play of the game had to be Russell Martin pegging out Ichiro Suzuki in the 9th inning. Definitely the play of the game.

Robinson Cano had a homer and 2 RBI's and like clock work, it was Rafael Soriano, the greatest setup man ever, David Robertson and then came Mariano. At one point Robertson loaded the bases on a walk, but then in Robertson form, struck out the next batter. It was glorious.

The other big story was AJ Burnett, who actually pitched decent and he lives another day. AJ Burnett pitched 6 innings and allowed just 4 hits and walked only 2. He also struck out 11.But the story today is Mariano, congrats Mo, you deserves all good things that come your way.

We may have a more extended recap on last night's game later today. Look for it here on BYB.

Final Score: Yankees 3 - Mariners 2.

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WHY NO HYPE FOR MARIANO?

John Rowe has this nugget from today’s Bergen Record: “Girardi is a bit puzzled that Mariano Rivera’s quest to set the all-time saves record isn’t receiving more attention. Rivera, who’s saved 10 of the Yankees past 18 victories, needs three saves to become the second reliever in history to reach 600 and is five saves shy of eclipsing Trevor Hoffman as the all-time leader. ‘Once he gets to 600 it will get a lot more attention,’ Girardi said."

Well, let’s not mince words... no shit Joe, but the big question is, why isn’t it being hyped everywhere now? This is not a knock against Derek Jeter, but instead a knock against the media. The media was reporting on Derek Jeter’s quest for 3000 like he would die without it. Guess what, he got it and he’s now motoring up the hits ladder, currently at number 20 with 3067. He's currently right behind his childhood hero Dave Winfield who has 3110.

The point is, They made a Jeter Documentary surrounding it, and I called on HBO to do the same about Mariano weeks ago. Nothing. The media mentions the 600 saves record but then they move on. There’s absolutely no outcry to hype this record up.

I find it ironic. We are constantly dropping how Mariano is the greatest closer ever and “look how much he’s accomplished,” yet, the hype surrounding this huge accomplishment is D.O.A. It's disgraceful.

Read WHY MARIANO RIVERA DESERVES AN HBO DOC and then forward it to HBO. Forward it to MLB Network. Forward it to anyone that will listen. The fact that this Mo Documentary idea has not been discussed is pathetic.

I see the excuses now; “Well, Mariano is modest, he wouldn’t want it.” Derek Jeter is modest, and not only that, Derek Jeter was called underrated for years by Yankee haters. Meanwhile, he gets an hour on HBO. The point is history is about to be made again for someone who puts team first and has for years, Mariano is a leader, the best, the Sandman. He’s Mariano Rivera and it would be the right thing to do. So, spread the word, let’s get people talking about honoring this great man, because Lord knows he won’t do it himself. That’s all I’m saying.

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WHY MARIANO RIVERA DESERVES AN HBO DOC

Man, that was fast. I remember when skinny Mariano Rivera was setting up John Wetteland in 1996 and even then, you could see he was going to be something. Mariano Rivera has not only become a leader in his career, he’s become an icon in pinstripes. One of the Core Four, this guy doesn’t say much. He communicates with his cutter, a truly beautiful pitch that clearly has baffled batters for years. It’s one pitch. Just 1, a signature cutter. The New York Times Magazine did an amazing animated piece to really explain how it comes in on a hitter, to both lefties and righties and trust me, you may think you have a chance, but you don’t. Check this out:

Now Mariano is embarking on something just plain brilliant, and nothing against Trevor Hoffman who accomplished it first, but let’s face facts, this is Mo and this is the New York Yankees we’re talking about. It’s bigger, much bigger, especially to us Yankee fans. Much respect to Hoffman, you’ve accomplished a tremendous feat, 601 saves is historic, but here comes Mo and he’s about to crush that record. It's Yankee dominance at it’s best.

To Mariano, it’s not about individual achievments. In fact, I’m sure the guy will get 600 saves and say it was a team effort. He’ll thank the fans for being there, never adknowledging that he achived this record himself. That’s Mo, a champion. He’ll make us all feel like he helped him achieve it. But make no mistake, it’s all Mo all the time when he comes in in the 9^th inning. The guy is the greatest closer of all time. Ironically, I see David Robertson taking Mo’s role in a few years, not Rafael Soriano. Why? Because in what’s developed this season, Rivera needed a set up guy and Robertson is "Mariano 1996." History repeats itself and it’s happening again.

HBO did the right thing for Derek Jeter’s 3000 hits, putting together a brilliant Documentary and giving us just alittle insight on the man behind the pinstripes and bringing us on the field with Jeet during his amazing 3000^th hit… a homer of all things. Well, I’d like HBO to do that again for the Sandman. Mariano may not be hitting, but he’s cracking bats and saving games regularly and 600 is just as important to a closer than it is to a hitter’s 3000th. Believe me, it’s an automatic Hall of Fame selection, it’s recognition, it’s iconic and this Documentary needs to get done.

So, I ask HBO, will you do it again? Can you make us Yankee fans gush at the site of Mariano Rivera getting 600? Will you bring us behind the scenes, watching Mo getting ready for a game, or hearing from the greats like Hoffman, Dennis Eckersley, Lee Smith? Maybe interviewing someone like Sparky Lyle and Goose Gossage tell us Mariano's better than they could ever be? Could you? Can you interview hitters who’ve never hit him and can we hear from the man himself? Can we be on the field when he collects 600 and then passes Hoffman’s 601 Major league record? It’s only right HBO, after all, it’s a huge accomplishment in a relief pitchers career and after all, he’s a New York Yankee, the greatest franchise in all the world.

Mariano Rivera currently has 34 saves this season. If all goes well in the next 36 games, Mariano Rivera will break the 600 mark and pass the great Trevor Hoffman’s 601 record to be the all time best closer ever. "The greatest closer of all time." It’s a name we’ve given Mariano Rivera even before the record was broken, because, quite frankly, he is. That alone should be enough to make HBO realize the importance of this Doc, and it's the right thing to do.

Keep going Mo, you wow me every time your out there, and accept what’s coming your way. You did this on you own. Enjoy it, you’re a true champion.

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WHY MANTLE & MARIS ARE STILL INTRIGUING TODAY

When I was a kid, my dad told me a story about the 1961 home run race between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. When he told the story, it was the greatest event of his lifetime, and you could tell. His eyes would get big describing the tension and how Yankee fans took sides. many loved Mickey Mantle and wanted him to win it all because he was a fan favorite before Roger Maris ever put on pinstripes. Others, and there were far less, were rooting for the underdog, Roger Maris to win the crown. Ultimately though, there were many that just didn’t want the Babe to be knocked from the top. After all, 60 home runs in a single season was a huge accomplishment, but to have anyone else do it would almost be unheard of. After all, it was the Babe’s record and it wasn’t meant to be broken.

My dad was an usher at Yankee Stadium starting at 15 years old. He’d hop on a subway alone to get to work in the Bronx everyday for a few years. It was the way it was back then and for my dad, a Yankee fan, it was a dream come true.

The 60’s were an interesting time in the Bronx. The Yankees were still very good, but things went downhill after the 1964 season. He was there for a lot of it and learned from the best at the stadium, his peers, the other ushers. They were men much older than 15 and they’d been ushering since before he was born and probably saw the Babe Ruth play. They taught my dad the tricks of the trade. “Once you get the people to their seat. Stand there for a minute and shake your pocket so the change rattles around in there,” they’d tell him. “The people will HAVE to tip you then.” And they did. Before that tip, he wasn’t making any tips, after that, he was rich, a $10 week was huge.

Not to get off track, but to make my point, it was a simpler time back then, less to watch, less to do, which is why the Mantle and Maris home run race was so exciting in 1961. It was bigger than anything coming out of New York and it spread fast.

Once Mantle started to fall short and Maris started picking up steam, the whole Yankee Universe started to back their new hero collectively. Sure, there were many traditionalists that didn’t think Roger Maris had any business snagging the home run record from the greatest Yankee player of all time, Babe Ruth, but everything happens for a reason, and in that 1961 season, it was time for change.

The home run was deep to right field and Maris’s swing looked like slow motion, but it sailed into the stands and at that moment in 1961, so many emotions ran through people’s minds. Many were sad, but the majority of Yankee fans rejoiced. After all, once it was clear Roger Maris was the guy, you had to respect the feat. Besides, it was another Yankee breaking the record, not a Red Sock...not a Cub… it was Roger Maris, another New York Yankee, not only did the record stay in the family, but it put Roger Maris on the map. Once a quiet kid out of the Indians organization, this kid had a new home, the Bronx, with new fans, all of Yankeeland.

My dad talks about that moment fondly, because the whole summer made sense after that especially after winning the 1961 World Series as well. It’s the Yankee way. After that, there were so many other great moments that just made sense too after that, Bucky Dent’s home run, Aaron Boone, the Derek Jeter flip play,even Jim Abbott’s perfect game and Reggie Jackson cranking out 3 home runs in 1 game in 1977… all Yankee moments through baseball history, all that were supposed to happen to no other team but the a New York Yankees. That's why Derek Jeter finally recorded 3000 hits and that's why Mariano Rivera is now charging closer and closer to the all time Saves record of 601 currently held by Trevor Hoffman. Not because he's Mariano Rivera, but because he is the Great Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees. All of these moments are truly beautiful. It’s tradition that runs so deep, it’s tremendous. And not only that… it’s our Yankees destiny.

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