BBWAA voters: DO NOT PANIC.

As your colleague Sheldon Ocker said about Mariano Rivera in the NY Times on 11/9/05,

• "Ocker said... ''For him (Rivera) to get anybody's attention outside of New York now, he'd probably
• have to save 65 games.''

Rivera happens for this brief moment to be #1 in MLB in the BBWAA esteemed "Total Save Stat," though he's nowhere near 65 and won't be.

• His team's bullpen isn't constructed so one person will accumulate a particular stat, such as "Save Opportunities" or "Total Saves." Nor is it Rivera's job to get 65 saves. His job is to pitch whenever the team needs him near the end of games. So, not to worry.

(Reference, NY Times article by Tyler Kepner, 11/9/05, "Award Eludes Rivera; Colon Wins the Cy Young")

• Total Save stat, MLB, close of business, 8/5/09:

• 1. Mariano Rivera 31

• 2. Brian Fuentes 30

• 3. Joe Nathan 29

• 4. Huston Street 28

• 5. Heath Bell 27

Not the most meaningful stat, but for the record.

• (Certainly Jack O'Connell isn't worried. Why should he be? He selects the judges).

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