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While shagging fly balls during batting practice today, Mariano Rivera went down and a later MRI showed a torn ACL. His season is most likely over, though Rivera wouldn't say that for sure, but seriously? almost no chance to return this season. He also was noncommittal about returning next season.

It's his right knee, you would think they could fit him with a knee brace and he would still be able to push off the mound. His mobility would be limited with the threat of a bunt being there most of the time. He could then get surgery after the season. I played basketball for several years after blowing out my ACL, but the level of competition and the monetary impact was nowhere near Rivera's.

Couldn't have happened to a better guy!

I know Rivera intended on this being his last year, but I'll be surprised if he's not wearing a Yankee uniform one more time in '13.

andy7171 wrote:Couldn't have happened to a better guy!

THIS...but UNH doesn't need to get all giddy about it.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.....................................................................................K

andy7171 wrote:Couldn't have happened to a better guy!

I don't get that reaction - heck, I despise the Yanks, but Rivera wasn't a dick or anything, and while I have no problem with guys from teams I hate getting hurt, I never want it to be career-ending (although Michael Irvin's injury was cool that way). Tough break for him.

GannonFan wrote: I don't get that reaction - heck, I despise the Yanks, but Rivera wasn't a dick or anything

I agree. Mariano Rivera has been one of the few guys on the Yankees I have a lot of respect and very little disdain for.

Skjellyfetti wrote:

GannonFan wrote: I don't get that reaction - heck, I despise the Yanks, but Rivera wasn't a dick or anything

I agree. Mariano Rivera has been one of the few guys on the Yankees I have a lot of respect and very little disdain for.

Same here. One of the few I would have wanted on MY team.

Skjellyfetti wrote:

GannonFan wrote: I don't get that reaction - heck, I despise the Yanks, but Rivera wasn't a dick or anything

I agree. Mariano Rivera has been one of the few guys on the Yankees I have a lot of respect and very little disdain for.

Troof

GannonFan wrote:

andy7171 wrote:Couldn't have happened to a better guy!

I don't get that reaction - heck, I despise the Yanks, but Rivera wasn't a dick or anything, and while I have no problem with guys from teams I hate getting hurt, I never want it to be career-ending (although Michael Irvin's injury was cool that way). Tough break for him.

I'm sorry. Did you not see the

I was fishing for a JoltinJoe reaction.

The fucker has been mowing down Orioles for the last 15 years or so. I can hate him if I want.

andy7171 wrote:Couldn't have happened to a better guy!

You must be a member of RED SOX NATION if so nice way to go out!!!!!!!!!!!

CAA Flagship wrote:FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.....................................................................................K

You are obviously a fan of the Bronx Bombers!!!!!!!!!! Guess who was hitting those shag flies A-FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!

He'll be back next year.

https://twitter.com/#!/BloggingBombers/ ... 0591988736

I hate the Yankees, but I always liked Jeter and Rivera. Sucks that Rivera got hurt, I hope he comes back for one more year, I hate to see his career end this way.

andy7171 wrote:Couldn't have happened to a better guy!

On the plus side, though, Jeffrey Maier is still healthy.

Strictly IMO, this guy is the worst closer in history. (At least in terms of high-profile blown saves.)

That said, this brings up a good point. What the cr@p are pitchers doing shagging fly balls in the first place? If they haven't had outfield training (i.e. do they know how to determine where the bloody wall is while they're looking at the fly ball), they have no business out there. One would expect that a player with the expeirence that Rivera has would have had that training, but you know what can happen when you assume things.

And before you bash me for wanting to put a skirt on a pitcher, remember that this is NOT the same thing as that bogus pitch count issue. Pitch counts should NOT exist. Captain Hook had the perfect idea: let a pitcher pitch his way out of two jams. When he gets to his THIRD jam, he's done. Leave a guy room for a complete game. The number of games every year destroyed because the pen blew a great start is disgusting. Six innings as a "quality start" is also stupid.

SuperHornet wrote:Strictly IMO, this guy is the worst closer in history. (At least in terms of high-profile blown saves.)

That said, this brings up a good point. What the cr@p are pitchers doing shagging fly balls in the first place? If they haven't had outfield training (i.e. do they know how to determine where the bloody wall is while they're looking at the fly ball), they have no business out there. One would expect that a player with the expeirence that Rivera has would have had that training, but you know what can happen when you assume things.

And before you bash me for wanting to put a skirt on a pitcher, remember that this is NOT the same thing as that bogus pitch count issue. Pitch counts should NOT exist. Captain Hook had the perfect idea: let a pitcher pitch his way out of two jams. When he gets to his THIRD jam, he's done. Leave a guy room for a complete game. The number of games every year destroyed because the pen blew a great start is disgusting. Six innings as a "quality start" is also stupid.

1. Rivera blew some high profile saves because he had a lot of high profile save opportunites. The fact that it's a high profile save means that he's pitching against good teams in the post season, so of course he is going to blow saves at a higher rate than he would in the regular season when some of the save opportunites are against weak teams. He also earned a lot of high profile saves, unlike the most overrated closer of all time - Trevor Hoffman who has no high profile saves, but a huge high profile blown save with a two run lead that would have closed out a post season series.

2. Rivera has been shagging fly balls for 20 years, and it has worked pretty well for him, maybe it's part of the reason he's the greatest closer of all time. Perhaps more closers should shag flies. It's silly to second guess this now.