Rivera will save the day again for the Yankees
08:20 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 27, 2009
There has been much debate in New York this fall about whether Alex Rodriguez should be crowned the new "Mr. October."
No offense to A-Rod (or Kate Hudson), but really, the title belongs to Mariano Rivera.
It has for more than a decade.
Starting pitching gets teams to the playoffs. Relief pitching wins. And the reason the Yankees will win their 27th World Series this week is because Rivera, the greatest relief pitcher to ever stalk the mound, is back to being Rivera.
In the playoffs this year, blown saves have been as common as converted ones. Leads have been surrendered with regularity. Unless, that is, you are the Yankees. Rivera has converted all three save chances he's been handed this fall. The rest of baseball is 9-for-20.
Since 1997, using exceptional command of one pitch, a cut fastball, Rivera has been as dominant as they come. This year, he was 44-of-46 during the regular season at age 39. He is already the all-time World Series saves leader with nine in 10 attempts; the only blown save coming on a bloop single in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series against Arizona.
On the other side, the Phillies will try to close games with the unpredictable Brad Lidge, more well-known for mound meltdowns than anything else. These are two evenly matched teams, except when it comes to the ninth inning. There, the Yankees have a decided advantage. They've got the new Mr. October.
Prediction: Yankees in seven; Rivera gets final out at Yankee Stadium.