TAMPA – As David Robertson stood on a mound here in December, the conversation switched to the possibility of him being a closer for the Yankees. Sure, Robertson said, he would love to succeed Mariano Rivera at some point, but Robertson stressed that he didn’t want Rivera to retire anytime soon.
“I don’t need to do it right away,” Robertson said. “I want Mo to hang around a few years.”
Two months later, Rivera walked into Spring Training and strongly hinted that he would retire after 2012. Rivera acknowledged that he has already decided what he will do after this season. While Rivera wouldn’t divulge his plans to reporters, he sounded like a player who was prepared to cede the ninth inning to someone else.
Someone like Robertson.
It was sensible to speculate that Robertson, who might have been the best reliever in the American League in 2011, could be Rivera’s heir apparent. With a faster-than-it-looks fastball and a knee-buckling curveball, Robertson was an electrifying setup man. He was 4-0 with a 1.08 earned run average and struck 100 and walked 35 in 66 2/3 innings. No one will replace Rivera, that is understood, but Robertson at least has the ability to do the job. He must prove that he can handle the mental side of the tensest job in baseball.
Still, Robertson, who was a closer at the University of Alabama and aspires to be a closer, has doubts. Not about whether he could do the job, but about whether Rivera would really leave the job.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Robertson said. “When you talk about replacing Mariano Rivera, I don’t think that can be done.”
How much of a doubter is Robertson? Robertson doesn’t plan to watch Rivera any more closely or ask him any more questions across the next several months, just in case it is Rivera’s last season. He intends to treat 2012 like 2011, believing that Rivera will return. Robertson heard that Rivera hinted at retirement, but dismissed the word “hinted” as quickly as he dismisses a lame hitter.
When Robertson discussed Rivera, he marveled about how efficient the 42-year old pitcher is. Robertson said Rivera, the often perfect pitcher, “doesn’t chase perfection” and “just finds a way to get outs.” By that, Robertson meant that Rivera doesn’t need to secure three strikeouts in an inning. Rivera would prefer to have a six-pitch inning.
Robertson would love to emulate Rivera’s efficiency. Despite Robertson’s success in wriggling out of bases-loaded situations, he dislikes being in those precarious spots. Someday soon, Robertson could be in more precarious spots. He could be the pitcher who succeeds the best closer ever. It might even happen in 2013, whether Robertson wants to admit it or not.
“Like I said, I’ll believe it when I see it,” Robertson said. “You never know. He could Brett Favre us.”
Follow Jack Curry on Twitter: @JackCurryYES
