I don't really know how to react to this story from MLB.com which compares Mariano Rivera's contract situation after next season, to the current situation with Bernie Williams.
First of all, comparing Williams at this point of his career to Mo at this point of his career is completely insane. Bernie hasn't been an elite player for years. He hasn't been a regular, and he's coming off two years of little to no offensive production coupled with possibly the worst outfield defense in the league. Mo is still the best closer in the game. He hasn't slowed down a bit.
To even allude to the possibility that Mo could be in the same position as Bernie this time next year is beyond ridiculous. There's only one way Mo won't be back in pinstripes for the 2008 season, and that's if he retires. Even if his numbers drop off this year, which I don't think they will, they'd really have to collapse for him to come down to the level of an average closer in the majors. Mo will be back, Mo will retire a Yankee, and as far as I'm concerned Mo is the best baseball player I've ever seen play the game, even at 37 years-old.
Just to solidify my point, here are Mariano's numbers over the past two years:
2005: 1.38 ERA, 0.87 WHIP
2006: 1.80 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
Find me a closer who's dominated hitters more than that over the past two years. The only question I have about Mo is if he's got 3 or 4 more years in him, next year is a foregone conclusion in my mind, he'll be back and he'll be dominating.
Sidenote: My all time favorite memory of Mo: Back when Shea Hillenbrand was with the Red Sox, I believe he was a rookie, he touched up Mo for a game-winning homerun. After the game, he was interviewed by the Boston reporters and said, "I just feel comfortable in the box against him (Rivera)." The next day, Hillenbrand came up against Mo again in the 9th inning. Mo hit him in the head with the first pitch. How comfortable do you feel now rook?
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I couldn't agree with you more. But, I wouldn't be surprised if Rivera calls it quits after this year - just because he's involved in other things.
His obsession with the cello is well documented.
Zing!! I was referring to his spirituality and his church and blah, blah, blah . . .
Brian,
I agree Mo will not be going any where, however it bothers me that the only player the Yankees should hand a blank check too has to always speak up before they react.
Mike, I don't understand your proception of pro players, bottom line is Money, you pay they play. No one wants to walk into the sunset playing the Cello, all players are greedy, egotistic, cry babies, as in any true blue americans...
I'd agree with you that they aren't treating Mo fairly if this was NEXT year, and he wasn't under contract. The problem is, he's under contract for this year, and isn't underpaid. He's getting $10.5M to close games, still the highest-paid closer I believe.
This is not an issue. A reporter asked loaded, hypothetical questions and Mo basically said, I won't be happy if the Yanks treat me like they treated Bernie this year. Of course, the Yanks won't treat him like that, so it's a moot point.
Vin,
Fair enough. Although the cello is a passionate hobby . ..
Brian,
I hear what you are saying but I have to disagree, Mo is being treated unfairly. His agent reached out to Cashman in off season and was pretty much blown off, check out the NY daily news for the article.
I don't think it's treating a player unfairly to not give an extension when they're under contract, AND making a fair salary. It would be a different story if he was 27 instead of 37, performing at this level, and playing for $1M per year. Mo will be the highest paid closer in the league this year, that's fair treatment.
I read the Daily News story, and the Newsday story, and the Fox News story. They're all piggybacking on the MLB.com report yesterday. It makes a good headline to say Mo might not be back, but it's just the stupid leading the stupid at this point.