Quote:
Originally Posted by oldjudge
To pitch to one batter—absolutely
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Keep in mind, Rivera wasn't unhittable. In fact, against the Red Sox, the Yankees prime rivals and usually a tough offensive team, he sometimes struggled. His career numbers against them are very good, but not mind-blowing, as they are against other, lesser teams.
From Pinstripe Alley:
"It's true that Rivera's had more bad times against the Red Sox than most other teams. His 2.86 regular-season ERA vs. Boston and his 1.25 WHIP rank well beneath his career norms, and the .644 OPS Red Sox hitters have managed is the second best of any team Mo's faced more than ten times. David Ortiz has been a particular thorn in the great one's side, with a triple-slash line of .342/.375/.500, and the Sox have touched him up for 18 blown saves, including the playoffs. The most memorable of those, of course, were in that 2004 series which may or may not have actually happened, and came courtesy of a Dave Roberts steal and a Bill Mueller single followed the next night by a sac fly when Rivera tried to clean up Tom Gordon's first-and-third, no-out mess."
Keep in mind this is a one inning, three batter pitcher we're talking about. The greatest at his defined role, but not the greatest pitcher of all time.