Your annual postseason reminder that there's Mariano Rivera and then there's everybody else

These last few weeks have been especially tough watching the Mets take over the city and last night was the perfect pick-me-up.  Not only did the Amazins drop Game 1 in excruciating fashion with a five-hour, 14-inning loss on a sacrifice fly at 1 in the morning, the great Jeurys Familia served up the game-tying home run as the Mets were two outs away from a 1-0 World Series lead.

As the Yankees have fallen further and further from World Series contention over the years, this has become my favorite time of the postseason.  It's the only thing I look forward to.  When the new hotshot closer steps to the mound for the first time under the bright lights and can't get it done, just further augmenting the reality that there's Mariano Rivera and then there's everybody else.

Now I understand how I look sitting here writing about a Yankee who retired two years ago while the Mets are in the World Series.  But every year this happens Rivera's body of work in the playoffs just becomes more and more staggering.  In 141 postseason innings pitched Mo served up TWO home runs (both wall scrapers by Sandy Alomar Jr. and Jay Peyton).  TWO.  That's 0.1 HR/9.  Mariano could suit up tonight and he wouldn't let Alex Gordon drop a 440 foot atomic bomb on him with the game on the line.

This isn't to take away from Familia.  He's been a godsend for the Mets this year.  Up until last night he'd been their MVP not only throughout the regular season but the postseason as well.  But he aint Mo.  And with all this talk about the Mets winning the next 10 World Series, let's put that shit to bed right now.  Cause if you want to put together a dynasty (and let's be very clear, there hasn't been one since the late 90's Yankees) you need that guy you can call on at the end without any trepidation and you need him to be that way for years and years.  Familia is the flavor of the week.  He's pitching awesome.  But it just takes one shot to the solar plexus to shake your confidence forever.  If he can bounce back from this and have a great rest of the series you tip your cap.  But don't be surprised if he can't rebound from this.  We've seen it happen a billion times.