Mariano Rivera: Talk of His Demise Is Premature and Predictable

So the greatest relief pitcher in the history of mankind is human after all.

Who knew?

Over his past three appearances, 41-year-old Mariano Rivera has made some bad pitches and gotten hit.

As predictable as saying "it might snow in December," the lunatics have come out of the woodwork and started spouting nonsense.

"Rivera's done!"

Oh really.

We've been hearing the same reactionary ramblings since 2001, when a then-31-year-old Rivera was unable to finish the job against Luis Gonzalez and the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series.

Every season since then, whether it be spring training, the regular season or the postseason, the predictable pundits come around screaming their nonsense again at the first sign of trouble—or in Mo's case, the first time he blows a save.

Yet time after time, Rivera remains calm, cool and collected, returns to the mound and gets back on track.

Even relief pitchers have slumps, just like batters do.

His signature cut fastball, a pitch that nobody else has been able to master as well as, well...the master, hasn't been cutting.

He's been off his game.

Nothing more, nothing less.

So please, stop your inane ramblings. 

The bell has not tolled for the Sandman who enters from the bullpen, and when it does, it will be only because he is the one pulling the string.

Until then—In Mo We Trust, because there's Mariano Rivera...and then there's everybody else.