Today, Mariano Rivera at age 39 (during the season, he just turned 40) was announced as Sporting News’ 2009 Athlete of the Year after 44 saves out of 46 opportunities, 1.76 ERA, a .905 WHIP and 72 K’s in 62.1 innings, his first career RBI on the same night as his 500th save and five more postseason saves. I believe this award is well deserved, congrats Mariano!
For this occasion and the printing of the article in Sporting News’ Magazine on December 21st Steve Greenberg interviewed The Sandman, Mariano Rivera.
On being able to peak at the most important time of year, even at his age: “In the playoffs, you’re talking about something that not many players have the opportunity to be in — and I’m talking about great players, not just average players. And I’ve been blessed to be able to be in the playoffs for many years and do the job in all those years. I think that says it alone — it’s the playoffs. You don’t want to miss that; you want to be in the middle of it. And when you realize that’s your makeup, your ability, your mind, your mentality, you just want to keep going and going and going and never stop.”
On how long he’ll continue to pitch: “The minute I know that I don’t have it, I hang it up right there.”
On pitching for another team: “With all the respect that all the organizations deserve, it would be hard for me to consider playing for another team. If the opportunities are there, then you don’t know. But I believe the Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to play for one team.”
On what his presence and disposition do for the Yankees, a team captained by Derek Jeter: “I think you’re asking the wrong man the wrong question. I will never talk about myself in terms of what I have done for the team. I don’t even think about it. I just try to help my teammates as much as I can. I don’t care if they don’t give me credit. As long as we win, as long as what I did helped them to be better, that makes me happy.”
On pursuing the all-time saves record: “You know what? I’m OK with whatever happens. I’m not a guy who goes looking for numbers or chasing records.”
On one day losing his ability to throw the cutter: “I didn’t learn it by somebody teaching me. It came by the Lord. So it’s not within myself to lose it or keep it. It will be the Lord to decide when to take it away.”
On his successor, the next great closer: “There are many good closers. You have Joe Nathan, (Jonathan) Papelbon, (Francisco) Rodriguez. You have the kid (Andrew Bailey) who just won the rookie of the year from the A’s. You have Joakim Soria from the Kansas City Royals. (Brian) Fuentes from Anaheim. You have a lot of good guys that can do a great job there, and I always wish them the best. It’s not easy to do what we do.”
Kevin Rozell
M. B. Rozell
Ray Rothfeldt
Eduardo Perez
