NY Times misses Rivera's entire 2001 post season performance

Murray Chass today incorrectly states Mariano Rivera's 2001 performance in an article discussing the Hall of Fame and Goose Gossage. The main theme (as usual) is Gossage was not pampered but everyone today is. (Not so according to an SI.com article on 10/25/01--saying Rivera himself is a throwback). Chass states the following about Gossage's regular pinata, Mariano Rivera:

• Chass, NY Times: "Seldom, for example, does Mariano Rivera, considered the best closer, pitch more than one inning. Last season he relieved in 67 games and pitched 71 1/3 innings." [Not true: add 4.2 post season IP for 2007 total of 76 innings] sm.
• (Chass): "As the Yankees’ closer, he pitched an 11-year high of 80 2/3 innings in 2001."

Mr. Chass, Mariano Rivera pitched 16.0 innings in the post season in 2001, making his total for that year:

• 96.2 innings pitched.

Mariano Rivera, cumulative 2001 post season, MLB.com

• It is inexcusable for the NY Times' Murray Chass to cheat Mariano Rivera like this. In a Hall of Fame discussion no less. I'm pretty sure Chass considers himself a "Guardian of the Game."

P.S. In 1996, Rivera pitched 122 innings of late inning relief, including some Wins and Saves--you know, the workhorse kind of stuff Gossage often did....107.2 reg., 14.1 post.

• Reference, NY Times column by Murray Chass, "A Reliever from the Old School Awaits His Hall of Fame Day," 1/7/08

***In 2001, an SI.com article heralded Mariano Rivera as a throwback reliever himself, similar to Goose Gossage:

• "RIVERA DOMINATES POST SEASON LIKE CLOSERS OF YESTERYEAR," CNNSI.com article by Jacob Luft, 10/25/01

SI.com, Jacob Luft: "In an era when closers often come with a "Handle with Care" label, Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera is a true throwback.

• Most managers pamper their high-priced closers, bringing them in for the last three outs of a game after an unheralded setup guy wiggles out of the eighth-inning jam.

The inflated save totals end up devaluing the statistic, making a 30-save season seem downright pedestrian, if not easy.

• But Rivera in October is different.

• He's Rollie Fingers without the handlebar mustache,

• Goose Gossage without the showmanship."....

(Mr. Gossage deserves to be in the Hall. And he shows a lack of Rule 5 by continually bashing Rivera). sm

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