The Replacements are doing a great job, but the reason the Yankees are in first place is the incredible work of the bullpen and the living masterpiece that is save artist Mariano Rivera.
There is no one like Mo, who is 16 for 16 in saves and already is the Comeback Player of the Year in this his final season. With all that success is there any chance of Rivera returning for one more season?
“No way,’’ Rivera told The Post last night on a night the Yankees never got the chance to take the lead because Phil Hughes was atrocious, surrendering seven runs and not getting out of the first inning in an ugly 12-2 loss to the Mariners at Yankee Stadium.
This season is exactly the way Rivera wants to go out — at the top of his closing game.
“I never wanted to be seen as the guy they would drag in here and they had to strip the uniform from,’’ Rivera told me of his famous No. 42. “That’s not me. I want to be the guy that leaves the game and people will say, ‘You know what, this guy can still do it every day if he wanted to do it.’
“I don’t want it to be they were trying to push me out,’’ he added. “That would be a horrible feeling, I’m not about that. That’s not me.’’
Rivera, 43, said he had no doubts he would come back better than ever from his torn ACL.
“I knew I would come back strong,’’ he said.
He has never gotten to 16 saves faster than he has this season in game No. 39. He owns the most saves in the majors and has more saves than 27 other teams. The Yankees are 22-0 when leading after seven innings.
Rivera will be an All-Star again and there is a move afoot to name the closer the AL starter for the All-Star Game July 16 at Citi Field. Baseball blogger and historian Bill Chuck has begun a campaign on Twitter at #StartMo to make Rivera the AL All-Star starter. If the NL starts Mets’ ace Matt Harvey, you would have a “New York, New York’’ beginning to this game.
Chuck maintains that All-Star Game starting pitchers receive more attention leading up to the game, especially the day before the game. By starting, Rivera also is guaranteed a prominent role and will be facing the best of the best in the NL, setting the stage for a dramatic beginning to the game.
There is no guarantee that Rivera will get a save opportunity, anyway, he notes. Also by starting, Chuck argues, the young fans at home and at the game will not have to wait until late night to see Rivera in his All-Star swan song.
Rivera wants no part of it.
“I definitely appreciate all that,’’ Rivera said in his common sense way, “but I don’t think that would be right because I am not a starter. I’m a reliever. Again, I do appreciate it, but I want to be who I am. I am a reliever. I respect the thought, but that is not what I do. Maybe, I’ll get the chance to close.’’
Enter Sandman at the right time.
Rivera does not want to take anything for granted and added with a smile, “I’m talking like I’m there at the All-Star Game already.’’
Rivera is the ultimate All-Star. He has been named an All-Star 12 times and has pitched in eight games with four saves. His All-Star ERA is 0.00. His ERA this final season is 1.56.
Several lockers down from Rivera sat Vernon Wells. “I cherished each and every time I got the chance to face him,’’ Wells said of Rivera. “And now to be a part of his last season here is just so special. You take in each time he comes out of that bullpen. There’s never been anyone like him.’’
There’s only one Mariano Rivera and he is going out on his own classy terms.
Exit Sandman.