Holden-You're wrong about Mariano

Holden discusses the AL Cy Young Award to be announced Tuesday. Like most in baseball media, he's not informed about Mariano Rivera. In addition, he is making his judgment very narrowly, to exclude Mariano. Why doesn't a computer decide this award? Anyone who doesn't vote for Mariano is either: someone who's uninformed about Mariano's unique achievements, someone who's unprofessional and just doesn't want a Yankee to get the award, influenced by their personal friendships with existing "closers" who are jealous of Rivera and the attention it will take from them, or lazy. It's takes a little extra work to find out that Rivera is much more deserving than other closers who've won the award. You need to look at what he's done for the position, and you won't find that readily in MLB stats. That only gives you regular season. You need to add all the post seasons. People often say that such and such pitcher fell apart in the post season because he was used so much in the regular season. Have you ever heard 1 person say that about Mo, although it's often been true over his staggering 11 consecutive years of excellence? No. Mo has more appearances of more than 1 inning than all the closers with whom he's compared. Why did Cleveland only keep Wickman in for 1 inning or not use him at all in some of their late-season crucial games? Because they were afraid. Mo has never had that luxury. He has been used when and as often as the Yankees desperately needed to win. Among many other examples, he pitched 3 (three) consecutive scoreless innings in a tie game in the deciding game that took his team to the World Series in 2003. This year, in September, he pitched one stretch of 6 out of 8 days, often tied or 1 run games, in a heated pennant race in which his team started from behind. I could go on, but as long as the guys on this station and elsewhere take their cues from the ESPN way of thinking, the truth will never come out. Holden gives Mo the damning and phony faint praise that gosh, golly, he should really win the best closer award. Really? Gee, what insight. Soon, I'll hear again from Kevin Kennedy and assorted other jealous types, that "anyone could come in in the 9th inning with a 3 run lead." Well, if you believe Kevin's general statement, you might dismiss Mo, as he wants you to. That has not been Rivera's job. He happens to have more Wins than other "closers." He's in his own category of late inning relief pitcher. He is the best at what he does that ever was. There will never be another like him. And Rob Dibble will now go silently to a break.

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