Changing the Game

New York Yankees closing pitcher Mariano Rivera entered last night’s 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in the 8th inning at Citi Field in New York. Rivera, who is retiring at the end of this season, emerged from the American League bullpen on to an empty field. He received a 90 second ovation from all of the players in both dugouts and the fans in the National League ballpark. Rivera was set to pitch in his 13th and final All-Star Game, of which he would be named Most Valuable Player.

1

THE BIG DEAL 

No professional sport has more pomp and circumstance than baseball. For this reason, I appreciate the special moment in MLB, but very few truly stand out and make a lasting impression on me. However, there was something about Rivera, on his Farewell Tour, trotting onto the field to “The Sandman”, being the only person on the field, and receiving the extended ovation from teammates and opponents alike that stayed with me after it was over.

Rivera is among the first generations of career closers in Major League Baseball. While the role of closer became more formalized, structured, and regimented in the 1980s, a typical closer was, frankly, a washed up starting pitcher with some good stuff in short bursts. That is not to say there weren’t dominant closers before Rivera. Hall of Fame closing pitcher Dennis Eckersley was the uncontested saves king of baseball after moving from a starter’s role to the bullpen with the Oakland Athletics in the late 1980s. Eckersley was the American League Most Valuable Player and A.L. Cy young Award winner in the A’s division winning year of 1992.

Rivera, however, entered the game during an age of increased specialization among pitchers. Starters, long relievers, middle relievers, setup men, closers and even situational relievers brought into a game to face a single batter were becoming the norm in 1995, Rivera’s rookie year. The Sandman found his role, embraced it, did it better than anyone ever and set the standard for his craft.

M.V.P. 2

ONCE IN A LIFETIME PLAYER

There has never been a player like Rivera before. While his records may be broken at some point in our lifetimes, there will never be another player like him. Besides his dominance from start to finish in his career (he is currently second in the majors for saves with 30, in spite of being on a fourth place team), he has been the model of a first class professional athlete. Zero off-the-field issues…accessible to the fans…great teammate.

Mariano Rivera will leave the game at the end of this Yankees season as baseball’s all-time saves leader. Fans will have the rare experience of watching the greatest of all-time walk off the field for the final time. Until then, sports fans, regardless of rooting preference, are wise to take in and savor every moment Rivera offers us while he’s still playing. Last night, the people in Citi Field – players, coaches, fans – spoke for baseball fans everywhere.

A fitting send-off....

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/.

1) Image from www.bleacherreport.com 
2) Image from www.faniq.com

Mariano Rivera’s Injury – The Turd in the Punch Bowl of this Week in Sports

Legendary New York Yankees closing pitcher Mariano Rivera (1-1, 2.16 ERA, 5 SV) suffered a serious knee injury in Kansas City yesterday. Rivera was shagging fly balls in the outfield, part of his long time pre-game conditioning routine, when he suddenly crumpled over near the warning track, eventually being helped off of the field. Rivera reportedly tore the ACL and the meniscus in his knee.

Rivera will most likely miss the rest of the 2012 season. At age 42, Major League Baseball’s last number 42 may have ended his career on Thursday. Rivera dropped a number of hints that this season may be his last. Considering Rivera’s stature in baseball and his first ballot Hall of Fame resume, my best bet would be that he either beats the six month rehab time and plays again this year or comes back next season to leave on his own terms.

Tough to watch from any angle. 1

WHAT AN AWFUL WEEK!

Regardless, bad news often comes in bunches. This past week offered a freight container of bad news. Here is a quick review of the week that was.

Saturday, April 28

Derrick Rose tears his ACL approaching the final minute of Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Eastern Conference playoffs. The Bulls were up by double digits and appeared to have the game in hand when the reigning MVP landed awkwardly while driving to the basket. With Rose’s injury, the Bulls hopes of winning the Eastern Conference, let alone the NBA Finals, are all but lost.

Tough to watch and possibly unnecessary. 2

Monday, April 30

New York Knicks star forward Amare Stoudemire lacerated his non-shooting hand after punching a glass pane of a fire extinguisher compartment in the Knicks locker room. Stoudemire missed Game 3 of the series, which the Knicks lost. His status for Game 4 is questionable.

Tough to see, but it has to be tougher on Stoudemire, who is not doubt kicking himself constantly for his costly stupidity. We've all done something incredibly stupid, but Stoudemire's mistake was for the world to see. 3

Wednesday, May 2

"Black Wednesday” in the National Football League…. Roger Goodell brought the hammer down on four current and former New Orleans Saints players for their involvement in the Bountygate scandal. Three players, two of which are no longer with the Saints, were suspended for part of the 2012 season.

The whammy was the year long suspension of Saints defensive captain Jonathan Vilma. In spite of the severity of the alleged offense, being the ringleader among the players in the Saints bounty system, the severity of Vilma’s punishment, including the loss of several million dollars in salary, was stunning and sent shockwaves throughout the fraternity of NFL players and legions of Saints fans.

In hindsight, if the reemergence of the ugliness of the Bountygate scandal was the worst news of the day, it would have been a pretty good day. Unfortunately, the suspensions and surrounding controversy were a blip on the radar compared to the news that would follow in the afternoon.

Former San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins linebacker and future Hall of Famer Junior Seau was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. He was age 43. Rampant speculation about the safety of the game, dangers of concussions, and concerns about the well being of players after they leave the NFL followed. At the end of the day, a relatively young man and father who was beloved by his southern California community and an icon of the National Football League was gone far too soon in far too tragic fashion.

4

Thursday, May 3

While not tragic like the news of Junior Seau’s passing, another future Hall of Fame player was suddenly and unexpectedly saddled with a very difficult set of circumstances. Yankees closing pitcher Mariano Rivera suffered a probable season ending, and possible career ending, freak knee injury before a game in Kansas City. Rivera is the all time leader in saves in MLB history with 608.

Baseball fans can only hope that we get another chance to see this scene. 5

Don't forget to vote in the fan polls!

To advertise with The Daily Hat Trick, or to submit a guest column, please contact the editor at eric@thedailyhattrick.info.

The Daily Hat Trick is sponsored by Sports N Stuff. For great deals on jerseys, shirts, cologne, and other guy stuff, visit http://www.sportsnstuff.biz/

1) Image from http://nbcsports.msnbc.com
2) Image from www.zimbio.com
3) Image from www.terezowens.com
4) Image from www.chargers.com
5) Image from www.seattlesportsinsider.com