Mariano Rivera did not get any saves in his first World Series.
The Yankees won the Series. And there were 4 save situations.
That's because Mariano was not the closer. John Wetteland was.
All Wetteland did in the 1996 World Series was record 4 saves to set a single World Series record!
Wetteland was one of the best relief pitchers of ever at this point. In 1993, John had one of the best relief seasons of all time. How would our boy fit into the picture? Or onto the pitcher's mound?
Rivera came aboard in 1995 with the Yankees and didn't do much as a spot starter. He did post a 5-3 record, but his ERA was high (5.51). 1996 saw Rivera go to the setup role. And boy, did he come through!
Mariano Rivera went 8-3 with a 2.09 ERA. He posted 26 holds. He only saved 5 of 8 games. Yep, he actually blew 3 saves. But his 26 holds led the American League. Rivera was also third in the Cy Young race.
He also finished 10th in the AL in WAR among pitchers. A 5.0 is quite prestigious. As to, is his 5.4 WPA (Win Probability Added). Only the Angels' Troy Percival had a higher WPA.
So in the World Series, of that season it was a rematch of the 1957 and '58 matchup: Braves and Yankees!
Rivera made it into game 2, but it was too late to make any difference. The Yankees were behind 4-0 in the top of the 9th. But, just to show you what he had to offer, it was a nice 1-2-3 inning. However, the Yankees lost and were down 2-0 in the Series.
It was off to Atlanta for game 3, where the Yankees lead 2-1 in the top of the 7th. It may seem a little early in hindsight, but it was Super Mario time!
He had his second hitless inning, despite issuing a walk. And the Yankees took the cue and added 3 more runs in the top of the 8th. Hey, now it's not a save situation for anyone else other than you-know-who! That is, the pitcher on the mound!
But a leadoff triple and then a single by pesky Mark Lemke scored a run for the Braves in the bottom of the frame. With this new threat, the Yankees pulled Rivera. But Mariano had picked up his first World Series hold. New York also ended up winning the game.
Rivera came into game 4, with the score tied 6-6 in the bottom of the 8th. Andruw Jones greeted him with a single. A bunt moved him to second. But Rivera was up to the task by fanning Luis Polonia. Eddie Perez bounced it back to Mariano. Whew!
New York failed to score in the top of the 9th. Winning run is always, at the very least, at the dish in the bottom of this inning. Rivera got Marquis Grissom out. Then, it was Lemke who again singled. Winning run on first. A walk to Chipper Jones moved the winning run to second. Rivera was pulled.
The Yankees managed to pull it out to square the Series. This ensured game 6 back at Yankee Stadium.
Andy Pettitte and John Smoltz hooked up in a real gem of a pitchers' duel. The Series' lead was on the line and Pettitte prevailed 1-0 as Wetteland got the save.
Rivera got to the hill in the top of the 7th inning of game 6. New York had a 3-1 lead. After walking leadoff hitter Terry Pendleton, Rivera got out of there without any damage.
In the top of the 8th, Mariano got through Chipper Jones, Fred McGriff and Javy Lopez, 1-2-3. Wetteland gave up a run in the 9th, but the Yankees won the game and the Series. Wetteland had his 4th (and last) save and Rivera had his 2nd (and last) World Series hold.
Rivera and the Yankees were back in 1998.
But this time, it was closer Rivera!
The Yankees won the Series. And there were 4 save situations.
That's because Mariano was not the closer. John Wetteland was.
All Wetteland did in the 1996 World Series was record 4 saves to set a single World Series record!
Wetteland was one of the best relief pitchers of ever at this point. In 1993, John had one of the best relief seasons of all time. How would our boy fit into the picture? Or onto the pitcher's mound?
Rivera came aboard in 1995 with the Yankees and didn't do much as a spot starter. He did post a 5-3 record, but his ERA was high (5.51). 1996 saw Rivera go to the setup role. And boy, did he come through!
Mariano Rivera went 8-3 with a 2.09 ERA. He posted 26 holds. He only saved 5 of 8 games. Yep, he actually blew 3 saves. But his 26 holds led the American League. Rivera was also third in the Cy Young race.
He also finished 10th in the AL in WAR among pitchers. A 5.0 is quite prestigious. As to, is his 5.4 WPA (Win Probability Added). Only the Angels' Troy Percival had a higher WPA.
So in the World Series, of that season it was a rematch of the 1957 and '58 matchup: Braves and Yankees!
Rivera made it into game 2, but it was too late to make any difference. The Yankees were behind 4-0 in the top of the 9th. But, just to show you what he had to offer, it was a nice 1-2-3 inning. However, the Yankees lost and were down 2-0 in the Series.
It was off to Atlanta for game 3, where the Yankees lead 2-1 in the top of the 7th. It may seem a little early in hindsight, but it was Super Mario time!
He had his second hitless inning, despite issuing a walk. And the Yankees took the cue and added 3 more runs in the top of the 8th. Hey, now it's not a save situation for anyone else other than you-know-who! That is, the pitcher on the mound!
But a leadoff triple and then a single by pesky Mark Lemke scored a run for the Braves in the bottom of the frame. With this new threat, the Yankees pulled Rivera. But Mariano had picked up his first World Series hold. New York also ended up winning the game.
Rivera came into game 4, with the score tied 6-6 in the bottom of the 8th. Andruw Jones greeted him with a single. A bunt moved him to second. But Rivera was up to the task by fanning Luis Polonia. Eddie Perez bounced it back to Mariano. Whew!
New York failed to score in the top of the 9th. Winning run is always, at the very least, at the dish in the bottom of this inning. Rivera got Marquis Grissom out. Then, it was Lemke who again singled. Winning run on first. A walk to Chipper Jones moved the winning run to second. Rivera was pulled.
The Yankees managed to pull it out to square the Series. This ensured game 6 back at Yankee Stadium.
Andy Pettitte and John Smoltz hooked up in a real gem of a pitchers' duel. The Series' lead was on the line and Pettitte prevailed 1-0 as Wetteland got the save.
Rivera got to the hill in the top of the 7th inning of game 6. New York had a 3-1 lead. After walking leadoff hitter Terry Pendleton, Rivera got out of there without any damage.
In the top of the 8th, Mariano got through Chipper Jones, Fred McGriff and Javy Lopez, 1-2-3. Wetteland gave up a run in the 9th, but the Yankees won the game and the Series. Wetteland had his 4th (and last) save and Rivera had his 2nd (and last) World Series hold.
Rivera and the Yankees were back in 1998.
But this time, it was closer Rivera!
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