602 vs. DJ3K

So unless you've been living under a rock, or you use this blog as your primary Yankee news source, you undoubtedly know that Mariano notched his record breaking save during yesterday's day game at the stadium in front of a rain delayed makeup crowd announced at 40,045, but looked more like 25,000 fans. 

I'll start by saying that personally, I feel 602 was a much more significant accomplishment than DJ3K, while at the same time, lacked all the suspense and drama that DJ3K had. DJ3K, like any hitting achievements, have a much more powerful air of suspense around them. Each pitch thrown could be the pitch that makes history, as well as the additional suspense as to the nature of the hit. Would history be made with a single or a home run? 

Breaking a save record is remarkably different. For one, the drama is not in the at bat, but rather in the innings leading up to the 9th, and whether or not a save opportunity will present itself. After all, since 2001 Mariano has converted 91% of all save opportunities, and has only blown 1 save when the Yankees are up by 2 runs or more since 2008. And that blown save came in the 8th inning. Let that sink in. Two run lead in the 9th inning has not been coughed up by Mariano since we shut down the old house. 

Naturally, the suspense of the game was not geared toward if he would notch the save, but if he would get the save OPPORTUNITY. Maybe it was the diminished crowds, but I feel that distinction contributed to the muted electricity in the air compared to DJ3K. Everyone in the park simply knew 602 was coming once Swisher grounded into that double play in the 8th.

That being said, I couldn't have been luckier to have been in attendance for both milestones this season, and I can't wait to see Mariano chase after save #700. Many fools in recent years have prognosticated the eventual demise of Mariano Rivera. Everyone in the back of their mind knows that Mariano, like Jeter and Posada, will not play forever, but rather than looking to the future and for replacements to existing legends, I hope the writers and commentators continue to marvel at the true marker of Yankee dominance.