Fans of the New York Yankees were spoiled for 16 seasons from 1997-2013. Not only did they see four championship teams; but except for most of the 2012 season, they only had one closer and that was Mariano Rivera. Whenever Metallica’s Enter Sandman came on in either the ninth inning at Yankee Stadium, Rivera would jog out and a victory was almost a sure thing. Since the legendary closer retired, none of his successors have had the job for as long or been nearly as successful. Unfortunately, this doesn’t satisfy the fans who are clamoring for the second coming of Mariano Rivera. No matter who becomes the Yankees closer, they’ll be dealing with the fans and their Mariano Rivera complex.
The Greatest Closer Ever
Embed from Getty ImagesSave for a cameo by Rafael Soriano in 2012 due to Rivera being injured for most of that year; the Yankees and their fans knew nobody else. After John Wetteland left after the 1996 season, Mariano Rivera took over as closer and went on to have the most legendary career. As a closer, Rivera helped the Yankees win 12 division titles, three wild card berths, six pennants, and four World Series championships. Individually, Rivera was a 13-time all-star, led baseball in saves three times, and earned one Comeback Player of the Year award. Rivera also captured postseason MVP awards in the 1999 World Series and 2003 ALCS. The Panama native is also the greatest closer ever and holds baseball’s all-time save record with 652. He was also the last modern player to wear the number 42.
After retiring in 2013, Rivera has since been honored with a monument that now sits in Yankee Stadium’s iconic Monument Park. New York also retired a number in his honor alongside Jackie Robinson. He also became the first and so far, only unanimous baseball Hall of Famer. To say that whoever becomes the Yankees closer going forward has “one tough act to follow” is a big understatement.
The Heavy Weight Of The Pinstripes
Embed from Getty ImagesWhenever a new player or manager joins the Yankees, people say the uniform pinstripes are a heavy thing. One could argue that they are even heavier when someone takes over as the closer for the Yankees. Current closer Clay Holmes probably knows this very well by now. Since Rivera retired, Andrew Miller, David Robertson, and Aroldis Chapman have all been employed as the Yankees closer. While all the closers succeeding Rivera all had some form of success, Yankee fans aren’t satisfied.
Yankee Fans Expect The Second Coming Of Mariano Rivera
Embed from Getty ImagesDue to being spoiled for so long by the success of Mariano Rivera, fans have set unrealistically high expectations for Yankee closers. It’s almost as if they are expecting the second coming of Mariano Rivera. This is not only an impossible act for a Yankee but all players as well. Even the two active players (Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel) closest to Rivera’s record haven’t done the job nearly as well. Yankee fans need to realize that there will most likely never be a closer as great as Mariano Rivera again.
The Way Teams Use Bullpens Has Changed
Embed from Getty ImagesThe way bullpens are used has also changed. Rather than overpay for someone to officially be a closer, some teams have moved to a “closer by committee model.” This means that a team won’t have a set closer and will employ a reliever to save the game based on a matchup. Sometimes a team may “ride the hot hand” when it comes to closing a game. This makes it more difficult for a great closer to emerge.
Players Rarely Stay On One Team
Closers nowadays won’t stay on one team for nearly as long as Mariano Rivera did with the Yankees. Rivera was with the New York Yankees for his entire career even before becoming the closer. Whenever a team is struggling or entering a rebuilding period, the closer is often the first one to be traded. Players are often eager to hit free agency and land a big payday often times with another team. This is particularly true of closers who play with teams in smaller markets.
Yankee Fans Need To Temper Their Expectations
Mariano Rivera was a once-in-a-generation closer. There is a reason he’s still baseball’s only unanimous Hall of Famer. Expecting any other closer on the Yankees to be the next Rivera is an unrealistic expectation. Bullpens are used much differently than when Rivera played and players rarely stay with the same team. There will never be another Mariano Rivera and Yankee fans should lower their expectations for whoever the closer is going forward.
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