What's Wrong With Mariano Rivera?

There was a time when the very sight of Mariano Rivera getting loose in the bullpen would have opposing batters pissing bright yellow streams of terror. But these days, at least based on what we've seen so far this young season, the Yankees might be better served sending Bea Arthur out to protect a lead.

Last week in Boston, Rivera was called in to preserve a four run New York advantage and couldn't get the job done. Last night in the Bronx, he came into the ninth to get a little work and perhaps keep a 7-4 game close. And over one-third of an inning, he coughed up three hits and four runs to the bottom half of Boston's order, inflating his ERA to 12.15.

He then suffered perhaps the greatest indignity of his evening: Being lifted by Joe Torre for... Mike Myers. And the Sox went on to send the Yanks to their seventh straight loss.

Lots of folks have counted the Yankees out early, only to be proven wrong by summer's end. But it's been a while since Rivera's gone this far into a season without a single save. And without their sure thing -- the guy who was the exclamation point on so many of their victories over the past 10 seasons -- the Yanks may find it difficult to claw their way up from the bottom of the AL East.

So what's wrong with Mo? Is age catching up with him? Is he losing his infamous cutter? Is there an injury we just don't know about yet? Is the ghost of Jackie Robinson -- still miffed about his wearing number 42 -- tormenting him from beyond the grave?

Whatever the case, Joe Torre's not overly concerned, as he told the New York Post.

"I'm not worried about Mo," Torre said. "He hasn't pitched in four days. We just need to get him regular work. Once that happens, he'll fall into what he needs to do and what he will do."

Rivera still has two more chances for redemption against the Sox, today and tomorrow. Mr. Steinbrenner will be watching.