Another day, another record for Mariano Rivera. He's the MLB career leader in saves, so naturally every one breaks that record, ho-hum. Friday*, though, he also passed Trevor Hoffman's mark for career 30-save seasons, with his 15th, and he's still going to retire at the end of this season. Which sucks.
He has a 1.83 ERA right now. At age 43. For his career, it's 2.20 — 13th all-time. And he's getting ready to hang up his glove. Just because.
He has those 30 saves in just 94 games for the Yankees. That puts him on pace for 51 or 52 saves this season. His career high was 53, in 2004. And after this year, he's going to voluntarily quit his job as a New York Yankee.
His strikeouts per 9 innings is 8.4. That exceeds eight other full seasons Rivera has pitched. And after this fall he's not going to throw baseballs for a living, ever.
He's making $10 million this year. For Rivera, that gets tiresome.
Second in the AL in games finished, with 38. And second in saves. Meh, time to clear out of here and go fishing or take the kids to the zoo or Dance with the Stars or some shit.
I understand taking the Elway door out. But ditching when you're practically in mid-career form? When your team has only a filament of a chance to send you out with another World Series ring? C'mon. Something's up.
Oh, wait. The Google remembers USA Today, June 13.
"There's no 'maybe.' There's no 'in case this happens.' This is definitive,'' Rivera said in Spanish before the Yankees-Athletics game at the Oakland Coliseum. "It has been well thought-out, and I have put it in God's hands.''
That guy. The T-shirts were right. The hell.
Mariano Rivera hits 30 saves again [ESPN.com]
Photo credit of Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi in May 1997: Associated Press