A world famous but erroneous stat about Mariano Rivera in 2010

"Understanding that you can make any point you like with statistics..." Wallace Matthews, ESPN NY, 11/4/2010 (para. 16)

• People don't have time to double check everything they read. Consequently, misperceptions go viral,

like the one that says Rivera only pitched 60 innings in 2010, and that this is proof of something.

• In 2010 Rivera pitched 66.1 innings including the post season.

Over time you can get people to believe anything. (82% of Muslims in Egypt believe you should be stoned to death for adultery). A national publication, GQ (among others) cited the '60 inning' stat as proof of Rivera's diminished durability. The stat was erroneous to start with because it left out Rivera's post season innings.

• If they don't count for durability what does?

It's especially dishonest to make a statement about a pitcher's durability then leave out the post season. Looking just at how he was used in the 2010 regular season, it's worth noting that he had three 6 out appearances. 2 of them within only a 5 day stretch, June 23 and June 27 and he got the Win for both.

• 12 outs within 5 days at age 40.

• And he pitched 2 games in one day (for 2 saves) a total of 2IP on May 26th, 2010.The first game shows on the records as May 25, but the game was rain shortened and was finished on May 26. Both were 1 run games.

It should be mentioned that

• in 2009 he pitched

• until November 4.

Above quote from GQ article about Derek Jeter, "Derek Jeter's Swinging Years" April 2011, Seth Mnookin (page 3 paragraph 10).

• Obviously, no one pitches forever. That is a separate subject.

P.S. Rivera's three 2 inning appearances in the 2010 regular season were not recorded as "Saves" though were more difficult because all 3 were in tied 'away' games. He received the Win for 2 of them:

• June 23 in Arizona, and

• June 27 in Los Angeles,

no decision for the third, Sept. 10 at Texas. Because they weren't 'saves' someone at ESPN will say Rivera's not as good as so-and-so because he didn't have a "2 inning Save." I've seen this done by Tim Kurkjian. Tim knows who butters his bread. He and fellow ESPN guy Wallace Matthews have one job--translating certain players' careers into what Bud Selig wants them to be, something other than what they are. There is no Doug Pappas today, and no one else cares.

• (Hey, Wallace, "Don't rub your eyes.")

• ---------------

Citation about Egypt: 2/11/11, "Pew Global Attitudes Project" conducted 4/12/10-5/7/10, released 12/2/10 (scroll down)

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