How great has Rivera been over his career? Let's look at a few examples, comparing Rivera's accomplishments to those of various Mets greats.
Entering the 2013 campaign, Rivera has notched 608 saves. That's more than twice the amount recorded by John Franco on his way to becoming the Mets' all-time leader and surpasses the combined total posted by Armando Benitez, Jesse Orosco, Billy Wagner, Tug McGraw and Roger McDowell by 70 saves. It should be noted that those five pitchers rank No. 2 through 6 all-time on the Mets' saves leaderboard.
Just four pitchers in Mets history have recorded a single-season ERA under 2.00 with at least 50 innings pitched. Tom Seaver (1.76 ERA in 1971), Jesse Orosco (1.47 ERA in 1983) and Dwight Gooden (1.53 ERA in 1985) accomplished the feat once, while Tug McGraw (1.70 ERA in both 1971 and 1972) is the only Met to have two separate sub-2.00 ERA seasons. Mariano Rivera has 11 such seasons, including eight sub-2.00 ERA campaigns over a nine-year stretch (2003-2011).
Only six Mets relievers (Tug McGraw, Jesse Orosco, John Franco, Armando Benitez, Billy Wagner, Francisco Rodriguez) have been selected to represent the team in the All-Star Game, combining to appear in eight Midsummer Classics. (Orosco and Wagner were selected to two All-Star Games.) Rivera has gotten the call a dozen times.
And although we're loath to admit this as Mets fans, we have to acknowledge one more important fact about Mariano Rivera. Rivera has saved 42 postseason victories for the Yankees. The Mets have 43 postseason victories ... period.
Tom Seaver has always been known as "The Franchise" to Mets fans. And why wouldn't he be? After all, he holds virtually every pitching record for the team and won two pennants and one World Series during his 12½ seasons in New York.
Derek Jeter has contributed greatly to the Yankees during their near-two decade run of excellence. But as much as he's meant to the franchise, Mariano Rivera has been "The Franchise" in the Bronx. Rivera is to the Yankees what Seaver was to the Mets. And all baseball fans, even Mets fans, have to agree that there will never be another closer like him.
4 comments:
When Seaver was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1992, his name was on a record 98.8% of the ballots. Former teammate Nolan Ryan, Baltimore Orioles legend Cal Ripken, Jr. and Kansas City Royals great George Brett came closest to Seaver's percentage, but couldn't quite match him. Mariano Rivera will become eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2019. Surely, he will be a first ballot Hall of Famer. But can anyone see him not getting at least 98.8% of the votes?
I say he gets less than 95% because there are writers on the BBWAA who will see this as an opportunity to score points in site traffic and popularity, although for the wrong reasons. Like Davidoff voting Lofton in over Piazza.
Any writer who doesn't vote for Rivera in 2019 should never be allowed to vote again. He'd clearly be making himself the story instead of putting the focus where it should be - on Rivera getting the deserved call to the Hall.
That's the big problem, the fact that so many of them want to make themselves the story. We've seen it a lot in the last three years. Most of these BBWAA writers don't even write anymore, they're papers let them go, blogs are on the rise, etc. I think they use the HOF vote as an opportunity to get their name out there.
There are some players that you just don't not vote for. I didn't think it was a crime to not vote Piazza in. I could see both sides of the argument. However a guy like Rivera, Griffey Jr., or Jeter should get a first ballot vote and anyone who doesn't should be have his voting rights expelled and his voting record expunged.
I think the BBWAA needs an overhaul. Too many lifetime members that dont even write or watch the game anymore.
Absolutely. Now if we could only get bloggers in the Association. Benny Agbayani would get in for sure!
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