Mariano Rivera: A Touching All-Star Tribute

Last night at the MLB All-Star Game at the New York Met’s home of Citi Field, a tune familiar to Yankees fans all over the United States began to blare over the loudspeakers after a somewhat weird rendition of “Sweet Caroline” by the name formerly known as Neil Diamond, and now known as the guy who kid of resembles him but may be 100% psychotic. Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” brought the crowd to it’s feet as the last remaining #42 in the MLB came jogging out of the bullpen the same way he always does; glove in his right hand and his head down. The field stayed completely devoid of any other players for a few moments as the crowed saluted Rivera at his final All-Star Game. Rivera pitched a scoreless, 1-2-3 inning…in the 8^th. That was my issue with what happened last night. I understand the reasoning behind the move by Jim Leyland, I really do. What happens if the National League scores four runs in the bottom of the 8^th and finishes it off in the top of the 9^th? Mariano doesn’t get to pitch, that’s what. But that’s a chance you have to take, in my opinion. It made the end of the game anti-climactic. Joe Nathan in the 9^th? No disrespect to Nathan, but he should have gone in the 8^th. And while some fans, like Barstools KFC, want to absolutely puke after what happened last night and what’s happening with this whole Mariano Rivera Final Tour, a la Ray Lewis and Chipper Jones, I think it is well deserved. Even as a Red Sox fan, Mo is one of the few Yankees I really respect and can envision rooting for, not to mention we share a birthdate. I will say that getting a rocking chair made of broken bats is a bit odd, but I digress. Did he deserve MVP for that game last night? Probably not. But who did? Now stop telling yourself who should have won and marvel at Mariano’s excellence. Also, thanks Mariano for a few chokejobs against the Sox. Greatly Appreciated. 

PS-Was the best part of the game last night Tim McCarver saying lines from “Enter Sandman”? I think it was? No, it was the best part, FOR SURE. And then trying to back it up with Mariano anecdotes after the awkward silence was icing on the cake. Good luck in retirement McCarver.