MLB.com's Barry M. Bloom reports that, according to one of the Yankees top executives, the team will retire Mariano Rivera's #42 after this season.

I realize that this is not at all news. Even if the Yankees didn't do it, which they obviously will, Major League Baseball will no longer allow another player to wear the number. At any rate, let's no get ahead of ourselves. We still have most of a season of Mr. Rivera to enjoy.

Mariano Rivera entered in the ninth after CC Sabathia pitched great on a very cold night in the Bronx. He faced Adam Jones first and he flew out to left for the first out. Matt Wieters lined to center before Chris Davis got a single. JJ Hardy then flew out to right to end the game.

It was the 2nd save of the season for Rivera and 610th of his career. His 2012 season ERA now stands at 3.00

According to a post on the Yankees Facebook page, a fan named Paul Sorber has played air guitar every time that Mariano Rivera has entered a game (presumably home games, right?) since 1999.

Mariano Rivera and Mariano Rivera, Jr. are featured on the cover of today's New York Daily News, which you can check out below and should be able to purchase online. The accompanying story is on their website.


Thank you to nycjobs for the tip.

Prior to Sunday's game between the Yankees and Tigers, Detroit presented Mariano Rivera with a gift, a plaque featuring pictures of Rivera pitching at both Tiger Stadium and Comerica Park, with bottles of dirty from each stadium's pitching mound.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland appeared on field with Rivera to introduce a video tribute before giving the Yankees closer the plaque.

"I've gone on record as saying that I think he's the best of all time," Leyland said, according to James Schmehl. "I'm not looking for arguments with people to compare guys. I know in my time that he's been the best that I've seen."

In collecting his first save of 2013, Mariano Rivera also tied a record held by John Franco: 18 consecutive seasons with at least one save.

Andy Pettitte was fantastic for eight innings on Thursday night in the Bronx. He threw 94 pitches and only gave up one run on eight hits. He was helped by three double plays and strong defense.

The Yankees got there first lead in a game this season as Lyle Overbay looped a single to left center to score two runs. Later in the game Brett Gardner and Francisco Cervelli added home runs.

Dustin Pedroia led off the ninth for the Red Sox and worked a walk. Mike Napoli flew to right for the first out. Jonny Gomes grounded a double down the third base line just keeping the ball fair. With runners on second and third Will Middlebrooks grounded weakly to Overbay at first with Mo covering and that was the second out. Pedroia scored on the play to make the score 4-2. Rookie Jackie Bradley, Jr. was the potential tying run, but Mo struck him out on three pitches, the last one called on the outside corner to end the game.

The save for Rivera was his first of the season and 609th of his career. It was also the 69th time that Rivera saved a game for Andy Pettitte. That combination is the all time leader ahead of Dennis Eckersley for Bob Welch.

Rivera is 0-0 on the season with one save and with giving up the run his ERA now stands at 9.00 on the season.

On April 4, 2004, MarianoRivera.com launched. Today, we turn 9 years old. This also happens to be Mariano Rivera's final season. It has been an interesting run, covering the final 9 seasons of Mr. Rivera's career.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported our website and the existence of it. Thank you to our regular readers and subscribers, including Moises Young-Diaz, John Lewis-Moore and others. Thank you to David Williams who has written with me here for many years for his dedication to recapping Mr. Rivera's performances. There are a lot of people who have supported this site in various ways and I am thankful.

I look forward to seeing what Mr. Rivera's final season has in store for us.

Prior to today's opening day loss to the Red Sox, Mariano Rivera shagged fly balls in the outfield. It was during this activity last year that he injured his knee, ending his season.

"I was waiting for that one," he said. "Yes, I did. It felt good. I didn't go full strength, but I will at some point. It feels good. I will continue doing it, like I said. I won't change anything. It happened, and you just have to move on."

The Yankees left Tampa after Thursday's game and headed north. The first stop before returning to the Bronx was Washington, D.C for a game with the Nationals. Andy Pettitte pitched six solid innings and was followed by Chamberlain, Robertson and yes the Sandman.

With the Yankees leading 4-2, Mariano Rivera entered the game and made quick work of the Nationals. He struck out Chad Tracy looking. Adam LaRoche grounded weakly to first and Rhymes grounded to short to end the game.

Rivera was honored before the game as he was presented with a Nats jersey signed by all their players. Rafael Soriano who replaced Mo last year and signed with the Nationals made the presentation.