11/04/24
May 04, 2012
Mariano Rivera Tears ACL Shagging Fly Balls: New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee chasing a fly ball Thursday at Kaufman Stadium before the Yankees played a game against the Kansas City Royals. Rivera, 42, has caught flies enthusiastically for years during pregame warm-ups. The injury likely ends his season and perhaps his career.
This sucks.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:44 AM on May 04, 2012
I still harbor a strong dislike for the Yankees, but I have to acknowledge Rivera's accomplishments as one of the best relief pitchers to ever put on a uniform; ANY uniform. Really, this is no way to go out if he's indeed done because of this.
posted by NerfballPro at 11:55 AM on May 04, 2012
I never, ever thought this would be the way his career could possibly end. Thinking about it, though, I wouldn't like to watch his career end with him not being able to get anyone out anymore (not that I truly believe he would have let it get to that point).
Regardless, it was a tough thing to watch. Being carted off with a smile on his face and a positive attitude, though, shouldn't surprise anyone. The most consistent athlete in both performance and emotion I've ever seen.
posted by dyams at 12:28 PM on May 04, 2012
It would be great to see him come back from this and pitch until he feels he's damn well good and finished.
Seconded. Even as a Sox fan I love the guy. The hat tip on Opening Day 2005 really cemented the feeling.
posted by yerfatma at 12:47 PM on May 04, 2012
The injury likely ends his season and perhaps his career.
Shaddap, you.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 01:25 PM on May 04, 2012
It almost seems that a freak injury of this kind is the only thing that could possibly stop the man. It seems every year he goes through a rough spot, I think it's a sign of decline, and he ends up being unhittable the rest of the season.
And obviously not the point, but I cringe every time I read he was doing this to 'stay in shape'. Have fun, stay loose, focus, okay. Shagging flies doesn't keep anyone in shape.
posted by justgary at 01:31 PM on May 04, 2012
Shagging flies doesn't keep anyone in shape.
Actually, since he doesn't do the sprints with the other pitchers, this probably is the only running he does on the day of the game.
posted by grum@work at 01:57 PM on May 04, 2012
Actually, since he doesn't do the sprints with the other pitchers, this probably is the only running he does on the day of the game.
Is he constantly running from fly ball to fly ball? It might be the only running he does. I'm not saying it can't be beneficial in several ways. But if it's the way fly balls are normally shagged (stand around, jog over to catch ball, stand around), it's not keeping in him shape...
UNLESS... He's in terrible shape, and I doubt that.
posted by justgary at 02:09 PM on May 04, 2012
Mo always wanted to play in the outfield and from what the Yanks have to say, he's actually pretty good out there. Mo has even requested to Girardi to put him in the outfield one time before he calls it a career.
I'm a Mets fan and dispise the Yanks but this is tough. #42 is one of my favorite players.
posted by BornIcon at 02:37 PM on May 04, 2012
I would hate for this to end his career. Rivera has been one of the most feared pitchers in baseball but I've never heard a bad word said about him. I think everyone recognizes that you might as well curse at the wind as curse at Rivera - the man is a force of nature.
posted by Joey Michaels at 03:55 PM on May 04, 2012
He'd be the rare pitcher that doesn't have at least one season that could be considered a "decline phase" for his career.
Sandy Koufax and Tom Henke come to mind.
posted by grum@work at 04:06 PM on May 04, 2012
You are a truly class act! Get well soon, Mo.
posted by Howard_T at 04:48 PM on May 04, 2012
"I'm coming back. Write it down in big letters. I'm not going out like this. This has me thinking, I can't go down like this. If it takes two, three, four, five, seven more (seasons), whatever it takes." -- Rivera
posted by rcade at 06:02 PM on May 04, 2012
I wish him the best of luck. The league is better for having him in it.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 10:28 PM on May 04, 2012
Knowing him, a full year of rest and he'll come back throwing like a 25-year-old ... oh, he did already.
The way he's been healthwise, I've always thought he could pitch at this level until at least 46 or 47. "We have the technology ... we can make him stronger ..." Now it'll probably be 50.
posted by jjzucal at 01:22 AM on May 05, 2012
I want the end of his career to be 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth of game 7 of the ALCS, up by one, man on (pick a base), and serving up a walkoff homer to Miguel Cabrera...not this...
posted by MeatSaber at 03:00 AM on May 05, 2012
Shagging flyballs...
Damn pervert!
If your balls were flying around you'd want someone to shag-um for you too.
posted by Folkways at 05:27 PM on May 06, 2012
This was shocking news; I'm not a Yankee fan but I've always been a fan of Rivera. Here's hoping he's able to come back from this and retake the mound again.
posted by evixir at 08:58 PM on May 06, 2012
Is he constantly running from fly ball to fly ball? It might be the only running he does. I'm not saying it can't be beneficial in several ways. But if it's the way fly balls are normally shagged (stand around, jog over to catch ball, stand around), it's not keeping in him shape
I've seen a decent amount of Yankees batting practice. Yes, he did do more than stand around, jog to catch ball, stand around. He wasn't sprinting around the entire outfield. But the amount of running I saw him do was about equal to the running drills I saw the other pitchers do. Most of the time I saw him in center/right-center by himself as opposed to hanging out by the warning track gabbing with other players.
posted by goddam at 02:43 PM on May 07, 2012
So is pitching for the Yankees becoming as dangerous as playing the drums for Spinal Tap?
On a less droll note, this is a real bummer. I'm by no means a Yankee fan, and normally reserve my baseball attention for the National League, but it is hard not to acknowledge the amazing career that Rivera has had. It would be great to see him come back from this and pitch until he feels he's damn well good and finished.