The New York Yankees Prepare for Life Without Mariano Rivera

Mariano Rivera was just enjoying some exercise and shagging fly balls at Kauffman Stadium Thursday night when he suddenly tore his ACL in a freak accident that will likely end his illustrious career.

Baseball's All-time saves leader will definitely miss the remainder of the first half of the 2012 season and is quite possibly done pitching for good. He was lifted off the field by Joe Girardi and another coach and could not walk to the clubhouse on his own before being taken to the hospital for an MRI which revealed the torn ACL and meniscus. Rivera, who told reporters today that he refuses to go out like this, explained his injury like this:

Yankees Clinch Yet Another Playoff Berth

As Mariano Rivera earned his 603rd career save a day after becoming Major League Baseball's all-time saves leader, his New York Yankees punched their third straight ticket to the playoffs with a 4-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays Wednesday. In fact, this marks their 16th playoff berth in 17 seasons.

If anything, the 94-60 Yankees are awfully consistent. The worst they could do at this point is become the American League Wild-Card, with their magic number to win the AL East for the 12th time in 16 years at two. It's not even a big deal anymore. No hip bumps on the field or champagne in the clubhouse. Just their targets set dead on a 28th World Championship.

Mariano Rivera is the New All-Time MLB Saves Leader

After pitching a perfect ninth inning, Mariano Rivera stood on the mound at Yankees Stadium and blew a kiss to the cheering crowd of 40,045 fans -- the smallest in the stadium's three year history.

Rivera, shutting the door on his New York Yankees’ 6-4 win over the Minnesota Twins, became the new all-time saves leader after recording his 602nd career save on Monday. The 41-year-old closer put down Trevor Plouffe, Michael Cuddyer, and Chris Parmelee in order to snap Trevor Hoffman’s mark set before his retirement last season.

Mariano Rivera Earns 600th Save for New York Yankees

Mariano Rivera earned his 600th career save Tuesday night, slamming the door on his New York Yankees' 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners.

The 41-year-old closer, who's enjoyed 12 All-Star considerations over his 17-year career, entered the game with a one-run lead in the ninth inning. He struck out pinch hitter Wily Mo Pena before Ichiro Suzuki blooped a single into left field. Kyle Seager then went down on strikes before Ichiro busted for second with Dustin Ackley at the plate. Russell Martin was having none of that though, and threw a perfect strike to Derek Jeter to end the game.

Mariano Rivera Makes History with the Yankees

Mariano Rivera became the first player in the history of Major League Baseball to make 1,000 appearances with the same team on Wednesday, doing business as usual cleaning up the ninth inning of a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

It was just another day at the office for the 41-year-old closer, as Enter Sandman blasted over the Yankee Stadium speakers when he took the mound in relief of Joba Chamberlain. He allowed an Eric Thames single to kick off the inning, but got Rajai Davis and Edwin Encarnacion to fly out before J.P. Arencibia struck out swinging to end the game.

As If Derek Jeter Could Ever Leave the Bronx

It was inevitable. After all of the back and forth negotiations between Derek Jeter, his agent Casey Close, and the New York Yankees brass, we just knew this would end with the shortstop in pinstripes, earning a decent living.

Maybe dressing up as elves and dancing the jig helped move things along a little.

Mariano Rivera: Alien or Robot? You Decide.

Since Mariano Rivera is clearly not human, he's either an alien or a robot, right? Right. Sadly, there's probably no right answer to this age-old question. Regardless of what he'd like his foes to believe, he's still perfectly capable of punishing the strikezone and its general vicinity, and could theoretically continue to do so well into his 50s, Satchel Paige style.

Although we may never know the real answer to what makes the New York Yankees closer tick, we could be offered a few hints when ESPN's Tom Rinaldi takes an in-depth look at the ridiculously efficient righty on E:60 this Tuesday, May 11 at 7pm ET.

A few snippets...

Mariano Rivera Spitball? No Way Says MLB

A Youtube video has surfaced today which appears to show Mariano Rivera shiftily spitting on the baseball before a pitch. Major League Baseball of course denies the allegations, finding no reason to discipline the New York Yankees closer.

Kids, a spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance, according the almighty Wikipedia.

So did he spit on the ball or not? It's hard to say, though the trajectory of the spit certainly seems to be headed directly for the ball.

Way To Go, Mo

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera was called to the hill with two outs in the eighth to take down New York Mets pinch-hitter Omir Santos after Brian Bruney had walked the potential tying and go-ahead runs. (Nice work, Bruney.) And Mo got the job done, as usual.

After some top of the ninth shenangians, and due to some double-switching earlier in the game, Rivera came to the plate for just the seventh time in his career to face rivaled closer Francisco Rodriguez with the bases loaded. The guy doesn't even own a batting helmet. The first two pitches were balls, and the next two strikes before the 39-year-old veteran fouled off the fifth. Then came ball three. Then ball four: a walk for Mo and his first RBI ever.

Thirteen years after recording his very first save, Rivera collected his 18th of the season and joined Trevor Hoffman as the only other man in the history of the game to record 500 saves. High five.

[USA Today] | [Right Fielders Women in Sports] | [With Leather]

Mo Finally Fixes His Shoulder

At 38 years old with recurring arm issues and graying hair, New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera had surgery on his right shoulder Tuesday.

Rivera, who just finished up his 14th season with the Bronx Bombers (his one and only team) had 39 saves this year, along with a 1.40 ERA -- his best since 2005.

Apparently, Mo's tank isn't empty yet, since he expects to resume throwing in three months. Just in time for Spring Training.

[AP] | [Lo Hud Yankees Blog] | [Dueling Couches] | [River Ave. Blues]

Mo Keeps His Pinstripes, Vina Comes Clean

A month after the two sides agreed, the New York Yankees and Mariano Rivera finalized their three-year, $45 million deal Monday.

The clubs' career saves leader went 3-4 with a 3.15 ERA and 30 saves in 34 opportunities last season, coming off a three-year, $31.5 million contract. Rivera is third on the all-time saves list with 443, and his 34 saves and 0.77 ERA are the best of the best in postseason history.

Rivera also said that he was impressed with teammate Andy Pettitte for admitting to the public that he did use human growth hormone in the past, after his name was included in the Mitchell Report.

"I might have done the same thing. Who knows?" Mo said.

By keeping Rivera around, the Yanks will be able send Joba Chamberlain to the rotation. The rookie earned a spot as Rivera' s primary setup man last season and finished with a 2-0 record and 0.38 ERA over 24 innings pitched.

In other MLB news, former big leaguer and ESPN baseball anchor Fernando Vina and his neatly-trimmed goatee have "come clean" about his past HGH use, after going into hiding for a few days when his name was included in the Mitchell Report.

Former New York Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski claims he sold anabolic steroids or HGH to Vina 6-8 times between 2000 and 2005, with the personal checks to prove it. Of course, Vina denies having ever used steroids.

"Was it right? No. Obviously, it was wrong ... I'm embarrassed by it," Vina said of his past performance-enhancer use.

See Vina's interview with ESPN here.

[NY Yankees]

New York Forecast: Hurricane George

George Steinbrenner, just as jolly as can be, can add Mariano Rivera to the list of VIPs he could lose this winter.

Rivera has made it clear that he's not happy about the possibility of Joe Torre being ousted from the New York Yankees' manager position, as referred to by The Boss prior to the club's first-round elimination at the hands of the Cleveland Indians on Monday.

With free agency looming in the veteran closer's career, he says the team's choice regarding the management may weigh heavily on his own decision to return to the team. He says he wants Torre back so he can stay with the only club he's ever been with.

"I'm an optimist, so hopefully nothing happens and he stays here," Rivera said.

After making a little over $10 million this season, Rivera is looking for a multi-year contract, something the Yankees had the opportunity to give him this Spring, but refused to discuss until after the season.

Sarah's favorite backstop, Jorge Posada is also eligible to become a free agent, along with superstar third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who could opt out of his (record) $252 million, 10-year contract to find a different deal. Let's not forget the Yanks' $16 million options for starter Andy Pettitte and right fielder Bobby Abreu, as well.

The real question the organization has to answer is if they would rather have a young blood or future Hall of Famer as their closer.

Even though Rivera ranks third on the career list with 443 saves, Joba Chamberlain shows promise and a Yankeesque presence on the hill.


[New York Times]

A.J. Pierzynski Suspended One Game

Controversial Chicago White Sox backstop, A.J. Pierzynski was given a one-game suspension and fined an undisclosed amount today for his ejection during Thursday's 10-3 loss to the New York Yankees.

With two out in the eighth inning and the tying run at the plate, A.J. was tossed by plate umpire Bob Davidson after a swinging third strike off closer Mariano Rivera.

The blowup was for nothing, as Pierzynski admitted after the fact that it wasn't Davidson's fault that he swung and missed.

[Chicago Sun Times]

Carl Pavano, Mariano Rivera Injury Updates

After being nailed in the left foot by an Alberto Gonzalez liner on Saturday, Yankees pitcher Carl Pavano had an MRI exam and X-rays taken Sunday on his injured left foot. The team hasn't immediately released the results, but Pavano said afterward that he wasn't concerned since the tests were simply a precautionary measure. He continued to throw pitched after being hit, and doesn't seem at all concerned about a return to the mound.

Pavano didn't participate in on-field drills, but he did undergo treatment like icing and elevating. It's pretty up in the air if the right-hander will pitch in Tuesday's intrasquad game or not.

"Hopefully he doesn't fall behind significantly. It's not going to matter if he misses a day or so. I'm sure it's sore. We'll have to wait and see," manager Joe Torre said.

Pavano, going into the third season of a four-year contract, hasn't pitched in the majors since June 27, 2005, due to a variety of injuries.

Also, thanks to Sam for this tidbit of information: closer Mariano Rivera threw 32 pitches during his second BP session, adding a huge smile after Robinson Cano whiffed his last pitch. The righty told the New York Times that he won't sign with the Bronx Bombers' archrivals in Boston, considering the teams' fierce rivalry. So, you can quit drooling now, Red Sox fans.

In other Yankees news, center fielder Johnny Damon, who left spring training camp for what he stated as a personal matter, is expected to return as soon as Monday after missing two days of workouts. Right-handed pitcher Humberto Sanchez threw BP after his regular session had been pushed back one day due to mild tightness in his right forearm. Reliever Brian Bruney will be shutdown for four or five days with back problems and lefty pitcher Ben Kozlowski will not throw for a couple days due to issues with his side.

[CBS Sportsline] | [ESPN]

Mariano Rivera is Good to Go

New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera threw live batting practice on Friday and reported absolutely no problems with his pitching arm. He threw 35 to the likes of Derek Jeter, Johnny Damon, Bobby Abreu and Robinson Cano.

The Yanks are planning on limiting Rivera to just one-inning outings this season, in hopes of reducing any strain on his arm as the season progresses. Claiming to be near 100% health, Rivera has also been messing around with a changeup, which could be added to his arsenal this season.

Still no contract-extension talks with the talented righty. The club would prefer to wait until the season is over to officially bring anything up.

[Hartford Courant]

Mo Lays The Smack Down

Probably one of the classiest guys in baseball, and the only Yankee I don't violently hate, Mariano Rivera, has brought his contract issues to the backpages of New York tabloids.

The 37-year-old closer for the Bronx Bombers has gone on the record saying "If they don't give me the respect I deserve, I have to move on." Yankees GM Brian Cashman said he's only spoken with Rivera once this offseason, and there was no mention of Rivera's contract after 2007.

Rivera is arguably one of the best closers in baseball, and in a market that is dry with good bullpen help, Mo could probably get top dollar from another team if he is allowed to become a free agent.

Like from the Red Sox....

[ESPN]