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Forgot About Mo? Stuck

Posted on June 25, 2012 at 10:38 AM.

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Earlier this season the New York Yankees were as close to rock bottom as the team could be to start a year. Stuck in fourth-place and 4.5 games behind the division leading Rays, 13-12 was not what New York had expected to start the 2012 campaign as May 3rd rolled up on the calendar.

For a team that measures success in championships, things could only go up from there. That is, of course, until the greatest closer in MLB history went down.

The devastating knee injury to Mariano Rivera sent a jolt through all of baseball and left the Yankees in a state of mourning and disbelief. The man affectionately known as "Mo", Rivera injured himself shagging fly-balls during pregame batting practice. The result turned out to be a torn ACL and an end to his 2012 campaign.

Horrible news for a team struggling to stay above .500 -- a group that wasn't prepared to lose the game's greatest finisher. Or at least that's what they thought.

How do you replace sixteen seasons of experience and a cutter that has shut down batters to tally 608 saves, the best in MLB history?

If the success of New York since that day is any indication, the answer may be one that many Rivera loyalists aren't ready to deal with: Mariano who?

Since May 3rd, the Yankees have vaulted themselves out of the basement and straight to the top. Leading the AL East by two games, New York holds an impressive 42-28 record -- something that seemed unlikely just six weeks ago.

Instead of collapsing, the bullpen has toughened up amid injuries to key players. In a recent game against the Washington Nationals, New York's bullpen worked six scoreless innings in a 14-inning victory. A sign, perhaps, that the team truly was bigger than any one man -- especially in the pen.

And the mild case of Mo-amnesia in New York has been compounded by a slight shot at the Rivera mystique. Texas Rangers closer Joe Nathan recently passed Mo in one very impressive stat. Rivera, who has closed 608 games in 681 chances, was king with a save percentage of 89.28. Nathan, who has converted 15 of 16 save chances this season and 276 of 309 in his career, snuck by Rivera with his latest to mark an 89.32 percent success rate.

Many in New York and around the sport know Mariano is much more than just another pitcher, but the success of his pen-mates and that of his peers across the league are making it hard to think of him as more than that -- just another guy.

The Rivera legend, however, goes beyond what any ordinary closer can accomplish in the regular season. His dominance in October and the postseason is something few have rivaled or even had the opportunity to match. Beyond his arm, his veteran leadership and clubhouse presence is respected throughout the league as some of the best in the game. As a total package it's hard to think of a more profound piece to any team in baseball.

However, the growing success of other closers around the league and the Yankees' own bullpen begs an uncomfortable question.

Do the New York Yankees miss Mariano Rivera?

Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.

Comments

# 1 dblock375 @ Jun 25

I've been visiting this sight for a long time now, Never posted before but as a fan of the NY Yankees I have to completely disagree with you. Rivera delivered countless times and a winning record before the allstar game is not going to make fans forget about MO.

# 2 dblock375 @ Jun 25

"Mariano who?" will never be asked.