by: Ben Embry
It's been a tough week in the Yankee Empire. The team, severely undermanned and underestimated all season, finally relented and slipped to the void of post-season spectators. Pretty rare for the Bombers, having missed the playoffs just twice since 1993. Amazing consistency for any sports franchise. It just further cements them as the most successful sports franchise in American history, (as if 27 World Championships wasn't enough).
But missing the playoffs is not really what made it tough. It's difficult to say goodbye, and Yankee fans had to do it twice this week. First Andy Pettitte, with his fairly abrupt retirement, pitched his last game in the majors on Sunday. He went out in a blaze of glory, firing 7 strong IP with 6 K and only 2 ER, though unfortunately took the loss. Then last night, in the most emotional moment in Yankee Stadium since September 2001, Mariano Rivera threw his last 1.1 IP ever. And he was spectacular, (would you expect anything less?) Jeter and Andy coming to get Mo is probably my favorite non-championship-winning moment ever. Whoever thought of that deserves a raise. Whatever they make, double it effective today.
So two of the Core Four are riding off into the sunset, leaving only the Captain left. Their legacies are cemented. Andy is the dependable workhorse who quietly pitched his way to a fringy Hall of Fame career. I've said it several times: there is NO ONE I trusted on the mound in a big spot more than Pettitte. To call him a warrior doesn't quite do it justice. He wasn't flashy, just dignified. He didn't yell or scream, but his ferocity was still unmatched.
As for Mariano, ten-thousand words wouldn't begin to do his career justice. He's not just the greatest closer of all time. He's not just a Yankee legend, in the discussion for the "Mount Rushmore" of greatest Yankees of all time. He's not just a Christian, a role model, a fine human being. He's all those things and a 1,000 things more. The question of "Who will replace Rivera?" always elicits the cliched response "Rivera cannot be replaced". Well, it's a cliche because its true. Whoever pitches the 9th inning for the Yankees going forward is just another guy. And that seems unfair, but that's just the way it is.
Something else I've said many times is "Derek Jeter is the Mickey Mantle of our generation." He's larger than life. He's playing against and with men who idolized him as boys and still do to this day. That, my friends, is rare. And watching him leave, whenever that will be, will be extremely tough. But if Jeter is Mantle, than Rivera is Yogi Berra. He's the lovable legend who will come back to Yankee Stadium year after year to louder and louder ovations. He went straight into Monument Park, and rightly so.
To Andy and Mo, it's unlikely you'll ever read this obscure blog post. It's one of hundreds that are singing your praises. So many, you couldn't possibly read them all. But if by some chance you do, let me tell you: THANK YOU. Thank you for the memories, the championships, the good times. You cannot be replaced. Go now and live your lives in peace and comfort and occasionally think about us because we will always be thinking about you.
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