Rivera accidentally discovered the cutter while playing catch with Ramiro Mendoza in June 1997, finding that the fastballs he threw in the bullpen were moving sharply and unpredictably. After failing to straighten out the pitch and prevent the movement altogether, he accepted it and began to use the pitch in games, prominently featuring it beginning in 1998. When asked where his ability to throw the pitch came from, he explained, "It was just from God. I didn't do anything. It was natural."
"You know what's coming, but you know what's coming in horror movies too. It still gets you."
—Mike Sweeney, on the difficulty of hitting Rivera's cutter despite expecting it
Rivera's cut fastball is a respected pitch among major league hitters. It frequently breaks the bats of hitters—Chipper Jones compared it to a "buzzsaw" after witnessing teammate Ryan Klesko break three bats in one plate appearance against Rivera in the 1999 World Series. Jim Thome called it "the single best pitch ever in the game". In 2004, ESPN.com ranked his cutter as the best "out pitch" in baseball. Buster Olney described his cut fastball as "the most dominant pitch of a generation". Although switch-hitters usually bat left-handed against right-handed pitchers to better see the ball's release point, switch-hitters occasionally bat right-handed when facing the right-handed Rivera to avoid being jammed on their hands by his cutter. Some managers, beginning with Bruce Bochy in the 1998 World Series, have sent right-handed batters to pinch hit for left-handed batters against Rivera, thinking that the cutter would be more difficult for lefties to hit.
Rivera is well-known for his composure and calm, placid demeanor, which contrasts with the emotional, demonstrative nature of many other closers. Derek Jeter called him the "most mentally tough teammate he's ever played with". Explaining his ability to remain focused in pressure situations, Rivera said, "When you start thinking, a lot of things will happen... If you don't control your emotions, your emotions will control your acts, and that's not good." On his ability to quickly forget bad performances, he explained, "win or lose, you have to forget about it. Right on the spot... the game that you're going to play tomorrow is not going to be the same game that you just played."
Since Rivera relies on variations of a fastball, all of similar speed, much of his success can be attributed to his ability to consistently throw strikes. His 4.04 career strikeout-to-walk ratio in the regular season ranks fifth-best in major league history.Rivera's impeccable control is a product of his smooth, "fluid" pitching delivery, as an easily repeatable throwing motion allows a pitcher to yield consistent results.
Rivera is considered an exceptional athlete, distinguished by his slender physique and durability. His propensity to shag balls during batting practice convinced scouts he could be a top AL center fielder. Buster Olney compared his regimen of physical preparation and guidelines for staying healthy to Satchel Paige's "Rules for Staying Young".
Legacy
"You know when you come to New York, you're going to get Mariano. It's not just before the game. I start thinking about him on the plane ride up. I know he's there waiting, and he'll be out there, and I will have to see him with the game on the line. So I start getting ready for him. I start thinking, 'What am I going to do to try to hit Mariano?'"
—Gabe Gross
Rivera has been a dominant reliever throughout his career, pitching with a consistency and longevity uncharacteristic of a role commonly marked by volatility and high turnover. In his 15-year stint as the Yankees' closer, Rivera has compiled considerable career numbers. A 12-time All-Star, he is the majors' all-time leader with 880 games finished, and his 601 saves are tied for the most all-time. His save conversion rate of 89.30% is the best percentage among pitchers with at least 250 save opportunities. He has finished 15 consecutive seasons with least 25 saves and 14 seasons with at least 30 saves, both of which are records. Statistically, Rivera ranks as one of the top pitchers of his generation, amongst both starters and relievers; his WHIP (1.00) and ERA (2.22) are the lowest of any pitcher in the live-ball era, making him one of the top pitchers since 1920 in preventing runners from reaching base and scoring. Rivera also has the best adjusted ERA+ (205) in MLB history, meaning his career ERA is 105% better than the league average, adjusted for ballpark.
In the postseason, Rivera has recorded even stronger numbers. He has a postseason win–loss record of 8–1 and WHIP of 0.77,[30] and he holds numerous postseason records, including lowest ERA (0.71), most saves (42), most consecutive scoreless innings pitched (34 1⁄3), most consecutive save opportunities converted (23), and most appearances (94). No pitcher has half as many postseason saves as he does. Joe Torre, who managed Rivera for most of his career, said, "Let's face it. The regular season for Mo is great, but that's the cupcakes and the ice cream. What separates him from everybody else is what he's done in the postseason." Rivera's dominance in postseason games has often led to him being utilized for two-inning appearances,as he has a record-14 saves of this variety. Between 1998 and 2008, he recorded 26 postseason saves of four or more outs; the second-highest total by any other pitcher was four such saves, and the rest of baseball combined had 33. Among all players, Rivera ranks third all-time in win probability added (WPA) in the World Series with 2.40. Reflecting on his postseason statistics, ESPN writer Jayson Stark pointed out that the Yankees' perennial appearances in the playoffs allowed Rivera to accumulate such lofty totals. Life recognized his postseason success by naming him one of the 17 most "clutch" professional athletes. In a 2009 ESPN.com poll, Rivera was voted one of the top five postseason players in MLB history.
Many baseball experts unfavorably compare modern closers to those who pitched between the 1960s and 1980s.[138] The role of the modern closer has received criticism for becoming too specialized and easy; closers in past decades often pitched multiple innings and inherited runners when entering games, whereas modern closers are usually called upon to start the ninth inning with the bases empty. Despite being utilized like a modern closer, Rivera has achieved a reputation as an all-time great reliever, with many writers calling Rivera the greatest closer in baseball history. Hall of Fame starter-turned-closer Dennis Eckersley called him "the best ever, no doubt", while Trevor Hoffman said he "will go down as the best reliever in the game in history". Buster Olney said, "No other player can instill calm in his team's fans as reliably as Mariano Rivera, the game's dominant closer and arguably the best relief pitcher of all time." Torre said, "He's the best I've ever been around. Not only the ability to pitch and perform under pressure, but the calm he puts over the clubhouse.Many baseball journalists consider Rivera to be the most valuable Yankees player from the team's late-1990s championship years. Although voters have historically been reluctant to allow relievers into the Baseball Hall of Fame, sportswriters anticipate he will be voted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, five years after retirement.
Rivera is well respected among his peers for his professionalism. Fellow closer Joe Nathan said, "I look up to how he's handled himself on and off the field... You never see him show up anyone and he respects the game. I've always looked up to him and it's always a compliment to be just mentioned in the same sentence as him." Michael Young said of Rivera, "I respect Mo more than anybody in the game. The guy goes out there, gets three outs and shakes (Jorge) Posada's hand. You appreciate someone who respects the game like he does, respects the people he plays with and against, and obviously his results speak for themselves."
Rivera will be the last MLB player to wear the uniform number 42 on a regular basis, as he is the only active player still wearing the number after its league-wide retirement in 1997 in honor of Jackie Robinson.
Personal life
Rivera and his wife Clara have known each other since elementary school, and they were married on November 9, 1991. They have three sons: Mariano Jr., Jafet, and Jaziel.[21] Rivera is a cousin of former Yankee Rubén Rivera. Over the course of his professional career, Rivera learned English, beginning in 1991 with the Greensboro Hornets, when he realized none of his teammates spoke Spanish. He is now a proponent of Latino players learning English and of American press members learning Spanish, in order to bridge the cultural gap.
Rivera is a devout Christian. During his childhood, neither he nor his family attended church, but after a born-again experience in his early 20s, Rivera—and subsequently his parents—became religious. He maintains that God has a reason for everything that happens. For example, he found his failure in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series easier to deal with when he learned of the consequences it had on a teammate. Had the Yankees won Game 7 and the World Series, teammate Enrique Wilson would have remained in New York a few extra days for the ticker tape parade and would have flown home to the Dominican Republic on American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 260 people aboard. Rivera told Wilson, "I am glad we lost the World Series, because it means that I still have a friend." Rivera's pitching glove is inscribed "Phil. 4:13", in reference to the Bible verse Philippians 4:13 ("I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me").
Rivera is involved with philanthropic contributions in his native Panama, which include building an elementary school and a church, providing Christmas gifts to children, and developing a program that provides computer access and adult mentors to youths. The Mariano Rivera Foundation annually distributes more than $500,000 to underprivileged children in the US and Panama through church-based institutions. Rivera intends to dedicate himself to philanthropy after retiring from baseball.
Rivera is a partner in a restaurant in New Rochelle, New York that opened as "Mo's New York Grill". He is signed to endorsement deals with Nike sports apparel and Canali, a premium men's clothing company. He is the first athlete Canali has used in a marketing campaign. A 2011 list by the marketing firm Nielsen ranked Rivera as the second-most marketable player in baseball. The list accounted for personal attributes such as sincerity, approachability, experience, and influence.
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