Mariano Rivera está indeciso sobre su retiro

"Me gusta el hombre exagerado en el amor"... La Pimpi.-

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¿Te imaginas a los Yankees sin Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter ni Alex Rodríguez?

Hacia allá van. Pero, ¿y qué?, una vez quedó Babe Ruth fuera de ese mismo róster y más adelante también Joe DiMaggio, como después Mickey Mantle y Whitey Ford. En esta vida todo termina alguna vez, menos los buenos recuerdos.

"No sé aún qué voy a hacer" le dijo el panameño al gerente-general Brian Cashman, "pero quiero reaparecer, y no retirarme así, por una lesión".

Mariano celebrará sus 43 años exactamente dentro de un mes, el 29 de noviembre, y no lanza desde comienzos de mayo. El tres de ese mes sufrió la lesión en la rodilla derecha, que le fue operada poco después.

Ha sido el relevista de mayores éxitos, tanto en temporadas, 608 salvados, 76 victorias, 58 derrotas y 2.21 de efectividad, como en pos-temporadas, 42 salvados, incluso 11 en Series Mundiales, más 8-1, 0.70.

Pero este añó cobró 15 millones de dólares, y solo salvó cinco veces en nueve apariciones, y 1-1, 2.16, hasta la lesión.

"Lo más difícil para mí" comentó Rivera recientemente, "es abandonar a mi familia en cada febrero. No obstante, quiero anunciar mi retiro después de una temporada en la cual lance bien".

Hace 11 años, en esta misma columna, Mariano Rivera anunció algo que mantiene firme. Aquella vez dijo, y dice hoy también con voz de predicador...:

"Estoy preparándome para ser pastor evangélico. Si los equipos de Grandes Ligas necesitan que les salven los juegos, la humanidad requiere de quienes salven las almas para El Señor".

Y si aún no es predicador, sí actúa como tal. La casa donde reside durante el verano, en New Jersey, cerca de Yankee Stadium, es inmensa, de seis habitaciones, cuando su familia solo necesita dos. Pero recibe a diario visitantes de todo Latinoamérica en busca de consejos y de otras ayudas, que él y su esposa brindan con permanentes sonrisas, sabias palabras y uno que otro cheque.

Algún día diremos...: "Una vez quedó Babe Ruth fuera de ese róster y más adelante también Joe DiMaggio, como después Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettite, Derek Jeter y Alex Rodríguez".

RETAZOS...: ** El cerrador de los Yankees este año, el dominicano Rafael Soriano, logró 42 salvados en 46 oportunidades, y está listo para asumir otra vez las funciones en 2013, cuando en la tercera temporada de un contrato de tres, cobrará 14 millones de dólares. Es decir, podrá ser agente libre para 2014. En diciembre cumplirá sus 33 años... ** DAVID Róberson falló en la oportunidad que le dieron como relevista, por lo que es más sospechoso que prospecto... ** PERO la rotación de los Yankees tampoco parece nada confiable, con el recién operado C.C. Sabathia, Phil Hughes, Iván Novoa y David Phelps. Mejor estaría con Pettitte. Hiroki Kuroda es agente libre, y Michael Pineda es un ¡¿quién sabe?!...

Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tánto, incluso un lector como tú.

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• New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays

  ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 23: Pitcher Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees pitches the ninth inning for the save against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 23, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

• New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays

  ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 23: Relief pitcher Mariano Rivera #42 of the Tampa Bay Rays stretches just before the start of the game against the New York Yankees at Tropicana Field on April 23, 2013 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

• Mariano Rivera

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, right, talks to veterans and their families before a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Rivera plans on talking to veterans and their families at every ballpark the Yankees play in this season. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

• Mariano Rivera, Chris Stewart

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, left, shakes hands with catcher Chris Stewart after closing out the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The Yankees won the game 4-3. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

• Mariano Rivera

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera delivers in the ninth inning to the Tampa Bay Rays during a baseball game Tuesday, April 23, 2013, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

• Marianio Rivera

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera throws in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium in New York, Thursday, April 25, 2013. The Yankees defeated the Blue Jays 5-3. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

• Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees

  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Mariano Rivera #42 and Ichiro Suzuki #31 of the New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 26, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

• Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees

  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 26: Mariano Rivera #42 and Chris Stewart #19 of the New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 26, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

• Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees

  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Mariano Rivera #42 and Chris Stewart #19 of the New York Yankees celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 28, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

• Mariano Rivera, Chris Stewart

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, right, and catcher Chris Stewart react after they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 in a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York, Friday, April 26, 2013. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

• Toronto Blue Jays v New York Yankees

  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: Mariano Rivera #42 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on April 28, 2013 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

• Lyle Overbay, Mariano Rivera

  New York Yankees first baseman Lyle Overbay (55) celebrates a 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays with relief pitcher Mariano Rivera (42) after a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in New York. Overbay hit a two-run home run during the game. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

• Mariano Rivera

  New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera closes against the Toronto Blue Jays in the ninth inning of a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in New York. The Yankees won 3-2. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

• Mariano Rivera

  CORRECTS TO AUG. 29, - New York Yankees' pitcher Mariano Rivera takes a photo before the start of of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012 at Yankee Stadium in New York. The Yankees' closer is on the disabled list. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

• Mariano Rivera, Petr Cech, David Luiz

  New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, left, greets Chelsea FC's Petr Cech (1) and David Luiz, right, after their soccer training session in East Rutherford, N.J., Saturday, July. 21, 2012. Chelsea will face Paris Saint-Germain in a friendly soccer game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

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• Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera

  Injured New York Yankees reliever Mariano Rivera, right, embraces former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams (51) during Yankees Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday, July 1, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

• Bernie Williams, Mariano Rivera, Darryl Strawberry

  Injured New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, center, greets former Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams, left, and former Yankees outfielder Darryl Strawberry, right, during Yankees Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium in New York, Sunday, July 1, 2012. Rivera was not part of the game but came out to greet former players. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

• Mariano Rivera

  New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, who suffered a season-ending knee injury shagging fly balls in the outfield before the Yankees' baseball game against the Kansas City Royals last week, speaks to reporters in New York, Wednesday, May 9, 2012. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

• APTOPIX Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, center, grimaces after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was later carted off the field and sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera is carted off the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, right, is being carted off the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, left, lies on the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was carted off the field and sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• APTOPIX Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera lies on the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was carted off the field and sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, center right, helps Mariano Rivera, center, into a cart after Rivera twisted his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• APTOPIX Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera, center, grimaces after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was later carted off the field and sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  In this image taken from video, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, right, helps Mariano Rivera, top center, after Rivera twisted his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice before a baseball game with the Kansas City Royals, Thursday, May 3, 2012, in Kansas City, Mo. The Yankees closer was carted off the field and sent for further tests. (AP Photo/YES Network) MANDATORY CREDIT

• Yankees Rivera Baseball

  FILE - In this file photo taken April 9, 2012, New York Yankees' Mariano Rivera sits in the dugout before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore. The Yankees closer was carted off the field after twisting his right knee shagging fly balls during batting practice, Thursday, May 3, 2012, and was sent for further tests. Baseball's career saves leader was hurt before the Yankees played at Kansas City. Rivera was examined by Royals associate physician Dr. Joe Noland and Yankees trainers, and was set for an MRI at KU MedWest. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, file)

 

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