March 11, 2012
George M. Steinbrenner Field
Tampa, Florida

The Yankees played their 9th & 10th  (split squad) games of Spring Training, vs. the Philadelphia Phillies at Steinbrenner Field, while a second team of player stravelled along with Manager Joe Girardi to Minnesota Twins, Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers, Florida, to manage the team and observe #65-RHP Phil Hughes pitch his 2nd start.

With Bench Coach Tony Pena substituting as Manager at Steinbrenner Field the Yankees star closer Mariano Rivera pitched his first game vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.  The fan favorite Panamanian pitched 1 inningof no hit, strikeouts, walks or runs.

A session of questions and answers  followed in the Yankees Clubhouse at the conclusion of Rivera’s one inning of pitching:
Mariano:

Reporter:  Was it where it would be at mid-season?
Rivera:  It’s at mid-form.  So at mid-form is where you have to be when you are ready to pitch.  You know what it means.

Reporter:  I just want you to say it.
Rivera:  It’s Spring training.  It’s the first outing.  You just have to do what you have to do.  I think I did what I wanted  to do.  I threw  my pitches, I feel good and I am waiting for the next outing.

Reporter:  Does it compare to other years, your first time out.  Is is similar?
Rivera:  Oh yea, definitely.  The same feeling, the same situation.  Just trying to get people out and go home.

Reporter:  Do you appreciate that you got a standing ovation, when you came out, do you appreciate that a little bit more?
Rivera:  What are you trying to say?

Reporter:  As you get older (laughter).
Rivera:  Be nice you guys. (laughter)  I always appreciate.  Don’t matter the situation, I always appreciate it.

Reporter:  The second hitter made you work a little bit.
Rivera:  That’s what it is.  That is the game.  You have to work,  you have to pitch, In a situation like that, I mean, you don’t want to throw 7 or 8 pitches, you want to throw the most you can, so that when the situation comes you are ready.

Reporter:  The large part of the crowd gave you a standing ovation even before you pitched when you came out.  You think that’s because a lot of them think this might be the last year?
Reply:  Thanks, I’ve got to go.  Laughter!

So, abruptly, ended the post-game interview with Mariano Rivera as he one again dodges the number one question  in the Yankees camp.  Is Mariano Rivera returning to the the Yankees team for the 2013 season.

Now, according to the fact that the average person is “willing to wait” 250 miliseconds, less than a blink of an eye – fans, you are going to have to wait until when and if Mariano Rivera decides he has had enough of the Yankees mound to announce his departure from the team.  A sad day it will be.  An end to a Yankees era.

Stay tuned.