Thursday, February 01, 2007

Player Profile - Mariano Rivera

Mariano Rivera hasn't finished with an ERA above 2.00 since his injury-shortened 2002 season. His WHIP has been above 1.00 only twice in the past eight years. He saved 34 games last year, which was his second-lowest total in the past 10 years. His strikeout rate dropped last year, but that's being nitpicky if you're going to complain about that. This certain Hall of Famer remains a dominant closer and strong fantasy option.
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1 comment:

susan said...

Thanks for your profile of Mariano, however it's a mistake to take the ESPN bait and use the "total saves" alone as some kind of barometer. He lead the AL in IP for late inning relievers almost the entire season,
finishing 2nd to JJ Putz. Mariano had many multi-inning appearances, even going 3 innings in 1 game. You'll may recall he pitched and saved the All Star Game as well. He was named as Ozzie Guillen's choice for closer a week or so before the game, which probably held the Yankees back from using him in a game against the Devil Rays before the break (which the Yankees lost). Don't forget, Bud Selig wants teams now to hold back using their own pitchers so they can pitch in the all star game. (I'm being a little sarcastic--it's a true statement though). Mariano doesn't have the luxury of being used to compile a stat just for an award, one that's more determined by a manager handing out cheap saves. This isn't Eckersley's era anymore--the teams who want to win are using late inning relievers more in the way Mo is used.

7:25 PM

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