Ode To a Player On a Team That I Seriously Dislike

I don't know who or what I dislike more, the uniform or the one's that worship the uniform.

I can say one thing for sure, the guy who wears 42 on that uniform has always had my respect. Not because he conducted himself with minimal exhuberance, if any, while pitching. Not for his precision against his opponents. Not for any other reasons you may come up with.

I respect Mariano Rivera because he was the best. Period. End of discussion. Don't bring up anyone else. Don't give me save numbers (Trevor Hoffman or Lee Smith, for example.)

Mariano Rivera will retire at the end of the 2013 season after missing just about all of 2012 with a blown out knee. The Yankees AND baseball will unlikely be able to replace him, now or ever.

By returning this season, he shows us all that he never took his career accomplishments for granted, a step that some would not have taken. Is it pride? Perhaps. Rivera did say he didn't want to go out like that, so he wanted to show he could continue his dominance, even at 43 years old. Ok, it's pride. So what, he has every right to dictate when he hangs them up.

Mariano, as many refer to him, simply would take the ball whenever his team needed him and would calmly mow down most batters in the biggest of situations. I can name two players that can boast beating 42 with their bats in a huge spot (Dave Roberts with his legs.)

With almost 100 post season games in his career (57 ALCS & WS) and a miniscule ERA in those outings, it is very easy for some, and diffucult for others to place Rivera among the best pitchers of all time just on that alone.

Go ahead make the arguement, I can't.

As a matter of fact, it is quite easy to proclaim Mariano Rivera one of the best pitchers of this or any generation. Whether you are speaking starter or reliever or regular season or post season, I'll take him on my roster any time.

Have at it Mariano. May I call you that?