Mariano Rivera unanimously elected to Hall of Fame

What's often overlooked is how Mariano re-invented himself in mid-career without missing a beat.

When he came up, he threw very hard and could blow the ball past hitters. How many guys like that do you see fade when they inevitably lose a few ticks off their fastball? But Mariano was prepared. He developed a devastating cutter, actually several different cutters, and stayed just as effective as when he was throwing pure heat. Even in his later years, when his fastball was just a memory, those cutters allowed him to remain a dominating closer.

 

Nice to see Mussina made it

 

Mo was so good, hitters knew what pitch he was throwing and they still couldn't square him up.

In April 1996, after Rivera completed a hidden no hitter with three straight appearances in which he threw three innings without allowing a hit, the latter two against Minnesota, Twins manager Tom Kelly offered the kind of praise that would become common over the next 17 years. “He belongs in a higher league, if there is one,” said Kelly. “Ban him from baseball. He should be illegal.”

 

As well he should be. But the fact that he is the first is a joke

 

Can you imagine being that guy that doesn't vote for Willie Mays?

 

Absolute joke. That guy should be publicly shamed.

 

IMHO Willie was the best player of all time--hitting, fielding, running, the whole package.

What about Hank Aaron not being unanimous?

 

I remember my TB Rays used to ROCK Mo from time to time

Congrats. Well deserved. Greatest closer of All-Time and imo not even CLOSE. I remember when he were a setup man behind Wetteland. Pure greatness.

 

You remember horseshit.

Of his 1,115 career games, roughly 9% (9.23) of this came against the Rays. Of his 652 career saves, roughly 10% (9.82) came against the Rays. The only team that he recorded more saves against was the Baltimore Orioles, who he pitched against 33 more times.

Mariano Rivera vs. Tampa Bay:
Games: 103
IP: 106.1
E.R.A.: 1.69
K/BB: 113/25
OppAvg: .193
SV: 64


Mariano Rivera vs. TB at Tropicana Field - even more dominating:
Games: 52
IP: 53.1
E.R.A.: 1.18
K/BB: 61/13
OppAvg: .187
SV: 37

In stadiums where he pitched at least 10 innings, Rivera's lowest ERA's were at:
- Comerica Park (.54 ERA in 16.2 IP)
- U.S. Cellular (1.11 ERA in 48.2 IP).
- Tropicana Field (1.18 ERA)

Most saves at:
- Yankee Stadium (314)
- Camden Yards (43)
- Tropicana Field (37)


Tropicana Field was a fast food drive-thru for Mariano Rivera.



You remember horseshit.

.

 

Hahahahahaaaaa