Watching the Yankees get swept by the Tigers in the ALCS may have been painful for fans, but it was “torture” for Mariano Rivera.
Rivera, who was recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last May, described what it was like watching his team play in the postseason without him for the first time in his baseball career.
“It was torture,” Rivera said during a benefit event for Ed Randall’s Fans for the Cure. “At one time I was home and I said I have to go there and throw. I was calling the office and they said, ‘Well you cannot do that, you’re not ready.’ ”
The all-time saves leader tore his ACL while shagging fly balls, one of his pregame rituals, before a game in Kansas City. Rivera originally thought he might have a chance at returning to the team if it made a deep run into October, but he was unable to make it through his rehab quickly enough.
“There was frustration, I was powerless,” Rivera said. “I wanted to do everything but I could do nothing. I tried to rehab as quickly as possible, but I could not make it back for the playoffs. I was patient, I had to sit and watch, but it was painful.”
During the event, emceed by Randall, Rivera was joined by former Yankees David Cone and John Flaherty as well as current pitching coach Larry Rothschild. Rivera came out to “Enter Sandman” and was greeted by a standing ovation and, of course, was asked about his health.
“I have my pitching coach here so I can’t lie,” Rivera said. “I feel great, I feel real good.”
Earlier this month Rivera said his knee was not quite 100 percent, but he is confident he will be ready for spring training. The 43-year-old closer will participate in, what for him, is a normal spring training.
“[If I pitch] Eight innings, that’s plenty,” Rivera said jokingly. “This year I might cut it down. I’m the old man in the house, no more bus rides.”
This spring training should be refreshing for Rivera, who will be joined once again by the rest of the “Core Four.” Rivera, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte are still with the team, and Jorge Posada will be a guest instructor in Tampa.
“It’s hard to see that in sports period,” Rivera said. “Four guys who played for at least 15 years and have so much success.”