Mariano Rivera's season and possibly his career may have come to an end yesterday. He injured his knee at Kaufman Stadium shagging fly balls during batting practice - something that he's done for years, by the way - in preparation for a game against the Kansas City Royals.
He tore his ACL and his meniscus in his right knee, and we may have seen the greatest closer of all time for the final time as a player, leaving the stadium not on his own free will, but on a cart.
It is a big blow to the Yankees organization, but not as much as you think it is.
In a historical and Yankee fan's sense, it's a blow because this is Mariano Rivera we're talking about. Rivera's been dominating for the past 15 years - all with the Yankees. He's a 12-time All-Star, he's a member of the "Core Four," with Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte, and he's won 5 World Series rings.
But take a look at the rest of the bullpen. Guys...
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