SB Nation New York - Mariano Rivera Earns Save 602, Surpassing Trevor Hoffman For All-Time Recordhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48977/ny-fave.png2011-09-19T16:32:25-04:00http://newyork.sbnation.com/rss/stream/21991762011-09-19T16:32:25-04:002011-09-19T16:32:25-04:00Mariano Rivera Earns Save 602, Surpassing Trevor Hoffman For All-Time Record
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<p><span>Mariano Rivera</span> picked up save No. 602 on Monday afternoon, surpassing <span>Trevor Hoffman</span> as the Major League Baseball's all-time leader in saves. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> closer pitched a three-up, three-down final inning to earn the record in his first attempt.</p>
<p>Rivera entered the game with 6-4 lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a> and proceeded to do what he's done time and time again following the playing of Metallica's 'Enter Sandman'.</p>
<p>Rivera first faced <span>Trevor Plouffe</span>, forcing a ground out to first base. The second batter he faced was <span>Michael Cuddyer</span>, on one of the few regulars in the Twins' lineup, but he too fell to Rivera after lining out to <span>Chris Dickerson</span>. The third out came when Rivera struck out Chris Parmlee, the Twins' first baseman who hit a home run earlier in the contest.</p>
<p>SB Nation New York would like to congratulate Rivera on the amazing accomplishment and looks forward to many more years of Rivera closing games -- or at least as many as Rivera would like.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/9/19/2436140/mariano-rivera-saves-record-602Scott Schroeder2011-09-19T11:29:05-04:002011-09-19T11:29:05-04:00Mariano Rivera: 'I Was Always Good With Accuracy'
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<p>If the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> have a ninth-inning lead today against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.twinkietown.com/">Minnesota Twins</a>, there is a good chance <span>Mariano Rivera</span> will be called upon to protect it. Should Rivera succeed, earning the 602nd save of his Hall of Fame career, he would become baseball's all-time saves leader.</p>
<p>After tying <span>Trevor Hoffman</span>'s record with his 601st save, <a target="_blank" href="http://newyork.cbslocal.com/?podcast_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.podtrac.com%2Fpts%2Fredirect.mp3%2Fnyc.podcast.play.it%2Fmedia%2Fd0%2Fd0%2Fd0%2FdY%2FdP%2FdS%2Fd0%2FYPS0_3.MP3%3Fauthtok%3D5561565560385249449_hRXohKl7dwXTHrv6vVeYRcpTqDk&podcast_name=Mariano+Rivera&podcast_artist=Mike+Francesa&station_id=62&tag=pages&dcid=CBS.NY">Rivera joined Mike Francesa on WFAN Radio</a> to discuss his incredible career. <a target="_blank" href="http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2011/09/19/mariano-rivera-all-time-saves-record-new-york-yankees-mlb/">Sports Radio Interviews has the full transcript</a>, and we have some excerpts of Rivera's conversation with Francesa below.</p>
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<p><b>How are you able to control the cutter and be able to put the ball where you want it? What is the reason for your ability to hit corners? </b></p>
<p><b><span id="more-45965"></span><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>"Since I was a little boy I was always good with accuracy. I was accurate. I remember having a sling shot and I went down to the beach and took my dog and just went hunting. Whatever moved we started shooting at that thing. [Mike Francesa:Where you a good shot?] Oh yeah definitely. I was always accurate. I took that even though I wasn’t a pitcher. I always took that and being a professional player I worked on that over-and-over. I got it to the point where I was 95 percent accurate. I take that any time. With the corner? I learned to control the corner. I would say after three or four years as I was throwing it I had better control of that. I wouldn’t say I have 100 percent control of it. Again 95 percent of that is very good. That’s why I have been efficient and I would say so. You learn setting the corners to your advantage." </i></span></b></p>
<p><b>Does it sink in when people call you the best closer of all-time?</b></p>
<p><i>"I don’t see myself as that. I have seen so many great pitchers that I don’t consider myself that. I consider myself a blessed man that has been with one team so many years. I had the opportunity to pitch in the best team sport. Again it’s a blessing. Whatever people say about me I respect that. Good or bad I do respect that." </i></p>
<p><b>Is there one moment in your Yankees career that stands out in particular?</b></p>
<p><i>"There are many, but I think the one that stands out the most was the playoffs of 2003 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.overthemonster.com/">Red Sox</a> when I pitched three innings. [Mike Francesa: In game seven of 2003 ALCS? You were the ALCS MVP.] Exactly. Yes. That game was something special. If there was something that stood out it would be that one." </i></p>
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<p>For the Yankee, when it comes to the 2011 playoffs the games will still be all about getting the ball to Rivera. As they have been since 1997 when he became the closer. Even this many years later there is no one in baseball manager Joe Girardi would rather hand the ball to, or that Yankees fans would rather see on the mound.</p>
https://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-yankees/2011/9/19/2435347/mariano-rivera-i-was-always-good-with-accuracyEd Valentine2011-09-19T09:52:17-04:002011-09-19T09:52:17-04:00Yankees (91-60) Vs. Twins (59 - 92): Afternoon Affair At Stadium
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<p>-- See <a href="http://pinstripealley.com" target="new">Pinstripe Alley</a> for complete Yankees discussion and analysis
<br>-- See <a href="http://mlb.sbnation.com/" target="new">Baseball Nation</a> for full major-league coverage</p> <p>The New York Yankees finish their 2011 regular-season schedule with 10 games against American League East rivals, seven against the Tampa Bay Rays and three against the Boston Red Sox. Before that, however, the Yankees have a game Monday afternoon at Yankee Stadium against the Minnesota Twins (1:05 p.m. ET, YES Network).</p>
<p>This, really, is a 'nuisance' game for the Yankees. It is a makeup game for an April 6 postponement, and will cost New York its final day off of the regular season.</p>
<p>Still, it provides the Yankees another chance to compile information as they hold tryouts for the final three spots in their postseason pitching rotation behind CC Sabathia. Today, A.J. Burnett (10-11, 5.20 ERA) gets the ball for New York. The veteran right-hander is trying to put a miserable August (11.91 ERA in five starts) behind him and show that he can be relied upon in the playoffs. Thus far in September Burnett is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA in three starts covering 17.1 innings.</p>
<p>Sabathia -- and probably Ivan Nova -- remain the only sure things in the Yankees' postseason rotation plans. Burnett, Freddy Garcia, Bartolo Colon and Phil Hughes are vying for spots.</p>
<p>Yankee closer Mariano Rivera needs just one save to pass Trevor Hoffman and become the all-time leader in that category.</p>
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<p class="game-info"><span>Monday, Sep 19, 2011, 1:05 PM EDT</span><br> Yankee Stadium</p>
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https://newyork.sbnation.com/2011/9/19/2435101/yankees-91-60-vs-twins-59-92-afternoon-affair-at-stadiumEd Valentine