Rivera Tears ACL, May Miss Rest of Season

Last night during the Yankees batting practice, Mariano Rivera was shagging fly balls out in center field. This was nothing new, Rivera is always seen in the outfield before games running down fly balls, but last night went terribly wrong.

Rivera was tracking a ball back to the warning track in left center field when he came down on his right knee awkwardly. Rivera hit the dirt and stayed down grabbing his right knee. Rivera was carted off the field and went for an MRI.

northjersey.com

The Yankees received the worst news possible about their Hall of Fame closer, a torn ACL ligament. Rivera could miss the rest of this season, and maybe more. The question that Rivera was faced with last night after the game was, "Will you return to pitch after your injury?" An emotional Rivera did not have a response for reporters. It looked like Rivera was still in shock from this injury, and a possibility of never pitching for the Yankees again.

Of all the injuries the Yankees have been faced with this season, this is the toughest one to swallow. The Yankees will have to find a replacement for their closer who has a record 608 career saves. The bullpen is already slim for the Yankees since Joba Chamberlain suffered a season ending injury before the season began. David Robertson would be the smart choice to replace Rivera, but then Robertson needs to be replaced in the innings leading up to the ninth inning.

It will be up to the Yankee bats, and the starting rotation to pick up the slack and carry the Yankees.
So far this season the starting rotation has been inconsistent, with the exception of C.C Sabathia. The only thing more disappointing then the starting pitching is the middle of the Yankees order. The bats of Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, and Alex Rodriguez have been silent all year, and the pressure is on them now more than ever.