Mariano Rivera going through a Pedro Martinez "Daddy" syndrome?

[RabidBronco]

As a Yankee fan, I'm extremely dissapointed on the way Mariano Rivera has pitched against the Sox the last 5 or so games.

Again today, the Sox ate him in the 9th inning, and Metallica must be wondering how their song "Enter Sandman" has been suddenly changed to "Exit Sandman".

If Mariano doesn't get off that "Red-Sox-own-your-butt" mojo in the next couple of games (especially against the Sox), surely he won't be pitching as a closer in New York throughout the season.

It was painful enough to have witness the Bombers lose a 3-1 series lead last year, and already savouring that same ol' rooten apple so early this year.

[Alex]

First, I want to see how Rivera pitches against Baltimore this weekend. He had a lousy spring but it is too hard to tell whether this is a mental block with the Red Sox or a mechanical issue.

Rivera didn't throw at all this winter for this first time in his career. That in all likelyhood can be attributed to his poor spring, perhaps something similar to Mike Mussina last season when he was thrown off by the Japan trip and the death of his father in law during spring training.

Another part of the problem Rivera may have with the Sox is that they know his stuff too well. Instead of taking that time off during the offseason, Rivera should hav developed another pitch. Imagine how much that could throw batters off, especially when combined with his typically lethal cutter.

[doublee]

One also has to think that all of those extra innings he throws in the postseason is going to start to catch up with him as well. He has 108.2 career postseason innings which is more than equivalent to an extra season's worth of innings.

[Spikedmace]

Let's get a couple of things straight. First, Rivera didn't pick up the ball at all this winter. He normally does some throwing during the winter break. Just this past year, he seemed exhausted. Yes, Rivera is getting older and you have to realize that the RedSox are a very good team. They can hit anybody. If this continues throughout the season, I would be concerned. But this is only the start of the season and at least let Rivera get his feet warmed up.

[catman]

I, too, would like to see how Mo pitches against other teams before I write his obituary. He has been one of the best closers in the game for a long time and his time may be over. We'll see, but if he's done, King George will make a move. Eric Gagne in pinstripes?????

[soxfan]

If anyone could afford Gagne, it's George. But I agree, it's too early to give up on Mo. Three games isn't enough to judge anyone by.

[coachJ]

They showed a thing on baseball tonight, and i saw that e ewasnt locating his pitches like he used to. i dont care what team they are facing, any good hitter will crush a pitchers mistake.

[Alex]

Originally posted by coachJ
They showed a thing on baseball tonight, and i saw that e ewasnt locating his pitches like he used to. i dont care what team they are facing, any good hitter will crush a pitchers mistake.
The Sox have figured out Rivera. They're very patient hitters and aren't flailing at his cutter out of the zone. Rivera will still be able to get out the teams that see him only a few times a season and the lesser teams like Tampa Bay and Toronto. When you face a team 20+ times a season for two seasons straight, they're bound to figure you out eventually.

[Billy D]

From ESPN.com Page 2's Sports Guy:
(his galdarn blog format makes linking tough, sorry, i'll just post it)

------------------------------------------------------------
Secret Yankee Closer Election Set for April 8
Extensive Security Planned for Friday's Funeral

By BILL SIMMONS

THE BRONX (April 6) -- Major League Baseball on Wednesday set April 8 as the date for the historic start of the conclave to elect a successor to Mariano Rivera, as the Yankees made final arrangements for the funeral of a great career that is expected to draw millions of Yankee fans and world leaders to the Bronx.


The decision came after the future Hall of Famer blew his second save in as many days against the team's biggest rival, the World Champion Red Sox, giving up five runs in the ninth, getting battered like a rented mule and ignominiously getting removed from the game in the middle of the inning, the fourth consecutive time he has blown a save to the Red Sox dating back to the 2004 ALCS. Fans at Yankee Stadium even booed the great closer on his way back to the dugout, proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that Yankee fans are headed to hell.


Yankees GM Brian Cashman said the Yankees would be sequestered in the team offices in the early afternoon to start the decision process for the next closer. Candidates include Oakland's Octavio Dotel, Detroit's Ugueth Urbina, current set-up man Flash Gordon, Rick Ankiel and Charlie Sheen. The Yankees will continue to use Rivera from the bullpen, but only in blowouts and games where the lead or deficit is six runs or more.


If none of the candidates gets the required two-thirds majority after about 12 days, the Yankee braintrust may change procedure and elect the closer by simple majority. The date was set on the third hour of preparatory meetings of Yankee front office people who have converged on the Bronx ahead of Friday's funeral and burial of Rivera's career.


Fans continued to flock to Yankee Stadium after Wednesday's game, jamming up streets as they waited to pay their final respects to Rivera, who has been lying in state of shock since the Red Sox hammered him off the field for the second straight day. More than 200,000 Yankee fans will have filed solemnly by the pinstriped body by the end of Wednesday night, at a rate of about 15,000-18,000 people an hour in a nearly around-the-clock procession, according to calculations by the Yankee front office.


-- Posted: April 6, 2005, at 4:46 p.m. EST

[YankeeDoodle]

Sox do have Rivera's number. EVERYONE DOES. 42 has been retired around the league...Jackie Robinson, of course. Rivera's the last one to *naturally* wear it...wouldn't be a cool to see two 42s hanging up at Yankee Stadium? Has that ever happened before?

Yankee decorum says to respect one's oppenent but never, EVER admit any psychological advantage. I'm sure Steinbrenner's newly hired team shrink would agree, no?

Booing is a fan's *right*, and I say that delicately because even though ppl can, in this case they shouldn't have.

Even if Mo' blows, say 100 saves...it doesn't repute his decade of accomplishments, being easily one of the top 5, if not the numero uno closer/reliever in the HISTORY of the game.

Torre should leave his starters in longer than 6th if possible. By the time September rolls around the bullpen arms are shot. Especially since the Sox see Rivera more than they see Ben Affleck. He's overworked, and at 35 he needs some rest and give the other relievers a turn. Gagne...if he pitched as much as Rivera?? Not a chance.

Bullpens get rocked early because they don't get enough reps. It's been happening around the league the first couple weeks with blown saves, but it's Sandman who's slipping and shocker! Kevin Brown syndrome has been spreading!

Fairweather Yanks, go boo Mo' if you feel like it, just hand over those four rings, too, and when #5 comes don't come crawling back.

[coachJ]

so how did Mo get to wear 42??

[catman]

Mo was issued the number prior to it being retired by MLB. He is allowed to wear it until he retires, but can change from #42 to another if he wishes. He will be allowed to keep the number if he changes teams, as well.
I think it would be a very classy move for the Yankees to invite Rachel Robinson to their game tonight and have Mo give her "the jersey off his back" and switch numbers tonight.
I also think that the Yankees owe a lot of their success in the post season to Mo. He has been a dominating closer over his career, but no one can be at the top of their game forever. I hope, for his sake, he figures out when he has "lost it" and retires rather than holding on.

[Alex]

First, the Yanks are in Baltimore tonight. Second, Rivera deserves to keep #42 if he so desires. He was wearing it before it was retired has had a Hall of Fame career wearing it. Also, Jackie Robinson's #42 is not on display at Yankee Stadium. I'm not sure why but it probably has to do with Robinson being a respected but disliked player by Yankee fans in the 1950's when the Dodgers and Yankees faced each other in the World Series.

[HibachiDG]

Also, Jackie Robinson's #42 is not on display at Yankee Stadium.

Are you sure about this?

[Alex]

http://www.baseballfans.net/yankees/images/yankmonumt.jpg

I have been to Yankee Stadium four times and have never seen it. I believe this question also came on a Yankee board I post at several months ago and the answer was that it was not on display.

[Pimpbot]

Rivera should not have to give up 42 if he was wearing it before the league retired it. He has earned it with a Hall of Fame career.

It seriously looked like he had the yips against the Sox this week. That little tow tapping before each pitch looked very nervous.

[YankeeDoodle]

I clicked on the link, and it seemed like, in the very left-hand corner, that there was a "4" - and it might've been Gehrigs, but I wasn't sure because it looked like there was a blue ring around it - and that's how Robinson's number is specially displayed in Dodger (actually it looks like a powder to me) Blue.

No I don't think Rivera should give it up...maybe he wore it *because* of Robinson - but I'm totally not sure about that one. It's in his contract that he can keep it, so eh, not a big deal.

But now the Yankee-not-hanging-up-42 is just weird to me. I mean, if it was Ted Williams - I would see just an IOTA of something to it - that hanging up a Red Sox number in Yankee Stadium is just WEIRD! But still, even in that case, I think the Yanks should still comply, because it's a sign of respect around the league - and why hasn't *anyone* else in the administration of MLB noticed this? Was this a mandatory action or voluntary?

I mean, the Giants most likely retired a Dodger number in their stadium - and on the West Coast - that is the Yanks-Sox! Robinson once even refused to go to the Giants as a part of a trade.

Back to Rivera's pitching though, his velocity hasn't significantly decreased, but his angle, location, and control are a bit wild - and that's not a huge deal because after awhile it'll come back. But because he is 35, having the control is especially important because I've always thought that playing it smart is better than just plain ol' overpowering ppl.

[YankeeDoodle]

Actually, I think it is Lou's because I don't see it displayed anywhere else.

It is retired. http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nyy/history/retired_numbers.jsp

Why they don't show it, is beyond me.