New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi wants his sure-fire Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera back for one more season, and given the way Rivera has pitched this year, who can blame him? I’m sure there are plenty of Yankees fans who are hoping Girardi gets his way after seeing Rivera top the 40 saves mark for the ninth time in his illustrious career on Tuesday Night. The feat makes him just the second pitcher (along with Trevor Hoffman) to record nine 40 save seasons, no other pitcher has more than four.
Following the game, Girardi told ESPN New York:
I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t do it next year, I don’t. He’s made it pretty clear that he doesn’t want to [return], but I always say, you know, January rolls around and sometimes you have a different feel about what you want to do. … I’m sure I’ll talk to him at some point in the offseason and … I’ll tell him when the season’s over, “Take a month. Take a month and a half, two months, and make sure this is really what you want to do. Because once you do go, it’s hard to come back.”
Rivera announced earlier in the year that this would be his last in the Majors. Widely regarded as the best closer in MLB history, Rivera has been receiving various gifts from every major league team on his last visit to their ballpark during his fairwell tour.
On hearing the news Rivera said, “I told you guys already. I don’t know why we’re talking about this. I’ve already made my decision.”
With his 2.12 ERA and 46/9 K/BB ratio in 51 innings, and 40 saves this season, Rivera is having his best year since 2004.
Its not a question if he can pitch, he’s clearly still got it. Its more a question if he wants to at this point, and according to Rivera, it doesn’t seem like he does.
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