WHY IT COULD BE THE MARIANO TOUR OF 2012

Kevin Kernan of the New York Post has the story HERE and in a nutshell, it is once again the "World of Wait", meaning, what the hell is Mariano Rivera going to do at the end of this season? Will he continue his amazing career or hang it up leaving just one of the Core Four left, Derek Sanderson Jeter. Look, No one wants the Four to end, but life goes on.

I am pretty content with just taking this whole thing day by day. There is a whole lot of Mariano Rivera to watch this season and I’m not about to miss it and think about life after Mo… it’s not my job, my job is to be a fan and love him every time he mows them down. Kernan’s story is important for Yankee fans, because there is no speculation really, just the human element of Mo, and that’s the way I like it. Sure, we are casually doing our own series here at Bleeding Yankee Blue from our own Jesse Schindler on who would be the next closer for the New York Yankees. So far we’ve touched on David Robertson, Rafael Soriano, and this Saturday will be our third choice… and the list will continue going. If you haven’t read WHY HOUDINI WILL BE THE NEXT MARIANO and POSSIBLE HEIR APPARENT TO MARIANO: RAFAEL SORIANO... do it, we won’t let you down.

Mariano is thinking this through smarter and more thoughtfully than any athlete. Sure, we saw a pretty classy moment yesterday with Peyton Manning ending his chapter in Indianapolis and I actually found that moment to be pretty damn special, but when it comes to Mariano Rivera, he too is thinking about the fan, as well as the New York Yankees and himself. He wants to make sure everyone is thought of. So, while it’s true that Mariano is going to retire, we can’t jump the gun, we just don’t know until Mariano tells us.

My buddy believes that if Mariano in fact does reveal what he’s doing around the All-Star game like Kernan reports, that gives the Yankees enough time to come up with a plan for life after Mo if needed as well as set up a second half Farewell Tour for Mariano Rivera, not only the best Yankee closer, but the best Major League Baseball closer…ever. No doubt at that point Mariano would even receive a standing ovation at Fenway park. Mariano’s very special in baseball right now, even guys like former Sock Jonathon Papelbon admires him. You gotta love that… strange bedfellows. It makes you realize that this baseball rivalry isn’t a war at all, it’s respect.

Whatever Mariano Rivera decides, Bleeding Yankee Blue will be there, no matter what. We’ll give you the facts and give you our humble opinion, because if there was ever a guy that did it with pure guts and determination, it was Mariano Rivera. When people said he couldn’t, he did and he still does and will continue to do until… well, he’s ready to end it, and you have to respect that…you really do.

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