Mariano Saves

There is only this day, this October, given to Rivera for now. It has been nine years since he leaped off the mound—performing his own graceful sissonne in spikes—after the last out of a World Series, back in 2000 at a stadium, Shea in New York, that no longer exists.

"I would love to win another World Series," he says. "It seems like, yes, that was a long time ago. I don't want to second-guess myself when I retire. I want to know that I did everything that I could possibly do for my teammates to give us a chance to win. If it didn't happen, I don't want it to be because I didn't give it my best.

"Every time I have a chance to pitch in the playoffs, it's great to me. Because I know that one day, I won't be able to do it. And so I want to take advantage of everything."

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