One on one with … Mariano Rivera

Sporting News, The, August 23, 2004

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera entered the week leading the American League with 40 saves and had a 1.48 ERA. And as we've learned, Rivera saves his best work for October. He spoke with senior writer Ken Rosenthal for an interview that will air this weekend on FOX Sports Net Across America.

TSN: You always seem so calm, so poised on the mound. Where does that come from?

MR: I've been blessed. The Lord gave me that peace. First of all, you know who you are, you know what you're capable of doing. I trust myself.

TSN: How does this year's team compare with some of the past Yankees teams?

MR: We've never had this many quality players. It's kind of like a superstar team. But it doesn't mean anything. We still have to go out there and play and give the best we can, but this team is special.

TSN: Which was your favorite team--'96, '98, '99, 2000?

MR: '96 was special because it was the first World Series that we won and my first full year in the big leagues. Every season, it doesn't matter--winning or losing--it's special, but I think '96 was the favorite.

TSN: George Steinbrenner has gotten mad at Joe Torre, he's gotten mad at Derek Jeter, and yet he's never gotten upset with you. How come?

MR: I don't know, maybe I have an angel looking over me. I tell you what, man, I respect Mr. George. He's an owner that gives everything he has in his power to give us a chance to win. And when you have an owner like that, you respect that guy. I have to tip my hat to Mr. George.

TSN: The cut fastball is your signature pitch. Sometimes, it's your only pitch. How did you learn it? How did you master it?

MR: That pitch I call my "bless pitch" because it just happened. It just came out of nowhere. I was throwing the ball with Ramiro Mendoza, and the ball was moving. I never threw it in a game. 1 was a four-seam fastball pitcher; that's all I did in '95 and '96. In '97, the hall started doing a dance, moving and moving. One day, I thought I'd put it in practice; let's see what happens. And since that day, the ball was moving like crazy--going into the lefties and away from the righties. The rotation was like my fastball rotation, so they couldn't pick up the speed. They thought it was a fastball, but when they were swinging, the ball was in on their hands. Now, I just throw it anytime. Now I've mastered it.