New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman announced over SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio airwaves on Tuesday to that Mariano Rivera won’t play in 2012, per BombersBeat.MLBlogs.com.
Cashman told host Jim Duquette that Dr. Keith Pyne, who was working on Rivera’s rehab this year, didn’t give a “fair reflection” of the 42-year-old’s progress when he talked to Joel Sherman of the New York Post earlier this month.
Pyne offered hope that Rivera may return to the Yankees in 2012 with his words, but Cashman said Pyne’s actions were “unprofessional” and “provided improper information.”
Rivera, of course, tore his right ACL early this season while shagging fly balls before a game against the Kansas City Royals. He has said he hopes to return in 2012, but stopped short of promising anything.
The news is bittersweet for Yankees fans.
On one hand, who wouldn’t want one of the game’s greatest all-time closers back as soon as possible? After all, Rivera is not only a 12-time All-Star and five-time world champion, but he’s the all-time leader in regular-season saves (608) and postseason saves (42). For his career, he owns a 2.21 ERA and 1.00 WHIP while holding batters to a .210 batting average.
On the other hand, the last thing you want to do is rush Rivera back and risk further injury. At this stage of Rivera’s career, further damage to his ACL could be career-ending.
It also must be noted that Rafael Soriano has done a heck of a job overall filling in for Rivera this season. He owns a 1.62 ERA in 42 games, with 25 saves in 27 opportunities. Even if Rivera is out for the playoffs this season, Soriano isn’t a bad guy to have closing games.
In any case, Yankees fans hope Rivera can at least return next season, but that will ultimately be up to him.
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