The all-time career leader in saves, with 652, Mariano Rivera is one of
the greatest professional athletes in history. Since taking over the
closer's role for the New York Yankees in 1997, until his retirement in
2013, Rivera saved 30 or more games in every season but one. In
addition, he has an astonishing MLB record 42 postseason saves, with 11
of them coming in the World Series. After 19 seasons in the Major
Leagues, his preeminence among relief pitchers is assumed and his
induction into Cooperstown assured.
And he accomplished it all, mostly, with one devastating pitch: his
signature cut fastball. As third baseman Corey Koskie put it: "You knew
what pitch [Rivera's] going to throw, a cutter. . . . You start to
swing at the pitch and the next thing you know, the ball explodes your
bat. I tried multiple things hoping to figure out a way get the barrel
[of the bat] on one of his pitches. . . . Nothing worked."
Far from a conventional biography, Facing Mariano Rivera offers
perspectives and testimonials from opponents and teammates alike,
including Rivera's minor-league roommate and the final batter he faced
in the major leagues. Some opponents had uncommon success against "The
Sandman," and they share their secrets for hitting him. Most, however,
echo the sentiments of five-time All-Star Mike Sweeney: "When you're at
Yankee Stadium and Mariano Rivera is coming in the game, it feels like a
horror movie . . . when you hear the music and you're scared to death,
because you know what's going to happen."
Truly dominant pitchers come along only rarely. This book tells the
reader what it's like to battle one of the all-time best, in the words
of the players who did just that.
