WHY MARIANO MEANS THERE'S PROOF OF GOD: A FAN'S TAKE

For some of us, it’s our nature to seek proof of God’s existence.  Whether we find it in the majesty of a golden, aqua, purple dessert sunset or the life-affirming miracle of a wailing child entering the world from the womb, we all see glimpses of the Almighty in the world around us.

For me, for the past 16 years, I needed to look no further than Mariano Rivera.  He was proof that only God can accomplish certain things. Seeing him on the ground in Kansas City was to have that faith-shaking moment of anguish that we all dread.

That moment calls for a poet.  Bruce Springsteen should pen a song or perhaps former center fielder and guitarist Bernie Williams could write an adagio for guitar (if such a thing is possible).  Mere words cannot express the sense of anguish I have felt since Mariano went down. 

Yankee fans are devastated over Mo.  In fact, all real baseball fans came to the realization that this potentially career-ending injury (Read HERE in case you live under a rock) has an impact that can be felt throughout baseball and throughout baseball’s history.

It is my opinion that not since Babe Ruth has one player meant so much to the game of ball.  Don’t dismiss that statement so quickly.  Think about it.  Anyone who knows the game and how baseball has evolved over the last 20 years would be forced to admit that Mariano Rivera is the single most important player of any position on any team.  Like Babe Ruth, Mariano Rivera changed baseball.  He made having a “closer” a necessity.  And no other closer has been as good for as long as Mo. Pretend you are a major league player or manager in any era.  Now ask yourself this question:  “If I had to choose between any player in history and Mariano Rivera, who would I choose?”  Babe Ruth? Joe DiMaggio? Willie Mays? Sandy Koufax? Albert Pujols? Pete Rose? Derek Jeter? Cal Ripken Jr? Should I keep going?  In any other season before this one, if you are playing the Yankees and you weren’t leading after the 8th inning, it’s game over…You lose.  That puts massive pressure on your hitters. Think about the knot in the stomach of the opposing team that comes with the mere sight of Mariano standing up in the pen. Now think of the calm his presence brings if you’re a Yankee fan…We win. It’s that simple.

But let’s break it down further. Let’s consider the era in which Mariano played -- the steroid era.  Juiced up hitters finding extra distance and more miles, yet, despite that, that skinny kid threw a 98 mph rising fastball as a set-up man in 1996 and developed into the greatest and most feared pitcher ever over time. And think about his cutter, what he calls his “gift from God”. It still boggles my mind. He throws 1 pitch. With Mo, hitter’s know what’s coming and they always have, yet, 9 times out of  10, it’s lights out for the opposition. The ball comes out of his hand at the same release point. Batters knees buckle, swing and a miss, and the opposing teams mouths are left wide open with shock… once again.

Yeah, it’s my opinion that Mariano is proof that there’s a God and despite this bump in the road, Mariano has never been a quitter, but it crossed my mind that Mariano Rivera may never pitch again…and I can’t get passed that.  I wanted… no… I needed the “Mariano Farewell Tour” this season.  I wanted to watch him tip his cap at each stadium to thunderous ovations.  Real baseball fans know greatness and they appreciate Mariano. Mariano deserved it more than any player of the last 50 years. 

I expect him to be back because he knows we expect it. He never let’s down the fans, and won’t now. I believe that and hopefully he does come back, but we'll just have see, or pray to God that it works in our favor when i comes to Mariano...just one more time.

So… it’s word association time.  I say Mariano Rivera....What do you say?

--Chris Kram, BYB Contributor



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