Jorge Posada finished with Yankees?

Realizing he likely played his final game in pinstripes, an emotional Jorge Posada cut short his media session after the New York Yankees lost Game 5 of the ALDS, 3-2, to the Detroit Tigers. Tears came to Posada's eyes when he was asked about what the fans have meant to him.

"They have been awesome," Posada said. "The fans have been unbelievable to this team and to me."

The 40-year-old Posada spoke for 3½ minutes before he welled up and politely walked away.

In the Game 5 loss, Posada went 2-for-4. During the playoff series, he finished 6-for-14 (.429), which was the best on the Yankees. He had a .579 on-base percentage.

"He was awesome," said Yankees manager Joe Girardi, who also got emotional when talking about Posada. "He's had a tremendous career and I'm sure he's going to play, and I don't know what's to happen."

Posada declined to answer whether he thought this was his last game as a Yankee. Several times this year, he has said he would consider playing for another team if the Yankees don't want him.

Posada, 40, completed his four-year, $52.4 million contract. Last winter, the Yankees moved Posada from behind the plate, making him a part-time DH. Posada had his fewest at-bats in a non-injury season since 1997.

In his 344 regular-season at-bats, he finished with 14 homers and 44 RBIs. In a game in May, he removed himself from the lineup against the Boston Red Sox when Girardi had him batting ninth. Later in the season, Girardi benched him, but each time Posada fought back to earn some playing time. He ended up picking up the game-winning hit in the Yankees' AL East-clinching win against the Red Sox last month.

"I'm not prepared to talk about the winter right now," said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman. The GM's contract is also up, but he's expected to return.

With the Tigers featuring righties, Posada started each of the five playoff games.

"What he gave us in the postseason, I don't think there is a prouder moment that I've had of Jorgie," Girardi said.

Girardi later added, "The heart that he showed during this series, that's why Jorgie has been a great player."

With the Yankees wanting to open up the DH position as a place to rest Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and others -- and with Jesus Montero's emergence -- the expectation is that Posada will not be offered a contract for 2012.

"Next year is all going to wait for all of us," Cashman said earlier in the week.

Cashman appreciates what Posada has meant over a Yankees career that really began in full force in 1997.

"He is definitely one of the premiere catchers of this generation," Cashman said. "He is a borderline Hall of Famer and he is one of the best catchers in Yankee history."

If Posada is indeed finished in New York, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera will be sad to see his longtime friend and teammate go.

"I definitely will miss him, definitely will miss him," Rivera said.

Meanwhile, Yankees ace CC Sabathia is facing a decision on whether to return to the Bronx next season. Sabathia, 31, has an opt-out clause in his seven-year, $161 million contract that he can use to make himself a free agent. Since spring training Sabathia has refused to say if he will use the opt-out or not. Sabathia has four years and $92 million remaining on his current contract.

After the Yankees' loss, in which Sabathia pitched in relief for the first time in his career, he said "a lot" will go into his decision, starting with his family and "everything that matters."

"We just have to wait and see," Sabathia said.

Cashman has already pegged keeping Sabathia as a top priority.

"He is our ace," Cashman said. "He ranks highly."

Sabathia finished the regular season at 19-8 with a 3.00 ERA. In his 1 1/3 innings in relief on Thursday, he allowed a run, which raised his ERA for the series to 6.23 in 8 2/3 innings.

Sabathia has been worth his money thus far. In 2009, his first season with the club, he led the Yankees to the World Series title by pitching on three days' rest throughout the postseason. Over his three seasons, Sabathia is 59-23 with a 3.18 ERA.

"I love it," Sabathia said when asked about playing in the Bronx. "I've loved this since day one that I got here."

The Yankees originally gave Sabathia the opt-out clause to ease any fears that he had in coming to the Bronx.

The team and Sabathia could work out an extension before Sabathia can negotiate with other teams after the World Series. A glum Sabathia slouched in his clubhouse as he contemplated the season's finality.

"It's stunning," Sabathia said. "It's always tough when you lose."

How we rate the postseason field of 8

Baseball's playoffs Friday, and anything can happen. The final few hours of the regular season proved as much. Still, some teams enter October in better shape than others, and USA TODAY's Paul White ranks the eight contenders vying for a World Series title:

1. Philadelphia Phillies

Their best asset: Pitching, pitching and more pitching — that's exactly what it feels like to opponents. The stacked rotation of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt has been everything the Phillies hoped it would be, leading the majors in ERA, complete games, shutouts and more. The X-factor is rookie Vance Worley, who won't crack the postseason rotation despite an 11-3 record. He provides more depth in the unlikely event of a starter being knocked out early.

Their biggest liability: The starters don't finish every game, and the Phillies must be wary of the bullpen if they are in tight games. The team's worst ERA for any inning this season is 3.82 in the eighth, and the Philadelphia relievers have a strikeout-walk ratio of less than 2-1, compared with better than 4-1 for the starters. Of particular concern is Antonio Bastardo, the one left-hander in the bullpen, who had a 0.79 ERA on July 17 but a 5.16 ERA since.

Don't forget about:Shane Victorino doesn't get as much attention as former MVPs Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard or fan favorite Chase Utley, but he has been the Phillies' best offensive player , leading the team in OPS (on-base-plus-slugging percentage). And Victorino is an above-average defender in an outfield that has struggled with its range at times .

Path to victory: The starting pitching continues to dominate, and the offense isn't a worry, thanks to the improved balance since right-handed Hunter Pence joined the lefty-heavy lineup.

Division Series outlook: Upbeat, thanks to the three-game season-ending sweep of Atlanta that came on the heels of their worst stretch of the season. Otherwise, it could have been tense facing a Cardinals team that beat the Phillies six of nine times . Now, it's a rested team with its pitching lined up against a team that's just the opposite.

We say: The Phillies are clear favorites to win the World Series but must be wary of pitching duels like they had with the Giants in last year's National League Championship Series.

***

2. Milwaukee Brewers

Their best asset:Ryan Braun and Prince Fielder are the only NL teammates both over .950 in OPS . Braun, a right-hander, bats third, while Fielder, a lefty, cleans up. And of the 146 games they had both played in this season, only 10 times had neither gotten a hit.

Their biggest liability: The rules require road games. The Brewers are the only playoff team with a losing record on the road , and while 39-42 might not seem horrible, it took an 18-6 run through August and September to get there. Only six of those games were against teams with winning records. Starters Zack Greinke and Yovani Gallardo are a combined 12-14 with a 4.32 ERA on the road but 21-2, 3.06 at home.

Don't forget about … : Second baseman Rickie Weeks was second in the NL in runs, fifth in total bases and sixth in extra-base hits when he went on the disabled list July 27 with an ankle sprain. He's been back since mid-September, and if he can return to form in his fifth spot in the batting order, the offense becomes much more formidable.

Path to victory: Even if they can count on Braun and Fielder, solid starting pitching and closer John Axford, the Brewers will need more help. Start with third baseman Casey McGehee— down 37 RBI and 166 OPS points from last season.

Division Series outlook: Comfortable, because they wrapped up home advantage on the final day of the season, a key element for the best home team (57-24) in the majors. But to clinch home advantage, they used Greinke (11-0 at Miller Park) in the final game. So, he'll pitch Game 3 on the road with Shaun Marcum, their best road starter, going in Game 2 at home.

We say: The Brewers are a tempting pick as sleepers in a wide-open postseason. A little early momentum could go a long way, but they're not quite at the Phillies' level.

***

3. Texas Rangers

Their best asset: The offense is relentless. The only sub-.260 hitter among regulars is second baseman Ian Kinsler, and he leads the team with 32 homers. The Rangers are the only team in the majors to have five players with at least 25 homers. And they're headed for the postseason on a hot streak, leading the American League in homers, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage during September.

Their biggest liability: Only the Baltimore Orioles and Minnesota Twins— two last-place teams — had worse bullpen ERAs than Texas. General manager Jon Daniels was aggressive in addressing the issue by adding Mike Adams, Koji Uehara and Mike Gonzalez at the trade deadline, but concerns remain. Closer Neftali Feliz has 1.80 strikeouts per walk compared with 3.94 as rookie of the year in 2010. Darren Oliver, the primary bullpen lefty, has a 2.29 ERA, but his third consecutive 60-appearance season could be a factor at 40. Last year, his ERA jumped from 2.48 during the season to 4.82 in the postseason.

Don't forget about …: C.J. Wilson stepped into the role of staff ace with a 2.94 ERA, a full run lower than what Cliff Lee posted after joining the Rangers during last season. Now, the big challenge. Wilson had a 3.35 regular-season ERA in 2010 but took a back seat to Lee, who became the man in October with three wins while Wilson faded, allowing 15 hits and eight walks in 18 innings in the three starts after his 61/3 shutout innings in the Division Series.

Path to victory: All of the AL playoff teams have plenty of pitching questions. That's in the wheelhouse of the Rangers, who are just getting third baseman Adrian Beltre and outfielder Nelson Cruz back to full speed after injuries. They'll need offense, especially if they use three left-handed starting pitchers. The other AL playoff teams all hit better against lefties.

Division Series outlook: Uneasy, now that it's the Tampa Bay pitching staff they must face. The Rangers averaged 5.27 runs a game this season, but only 2.88 against the Rays. But Texas also scored seven, eight and 11 in winning five of nine games against Tampa Bay, reminding that this is an epic matchup of pitching vs. offense. Texas won in five games last year but the departed Lee was the difference.

We say: Last year's midseason addition of Lee created just enough pitching depth to get the Rangers to the World Series. This year, they don't have quite enough.

***

4. Tampa Bay Rays

Their best asset: Suddenly, the AL has a playoff team that could go head-to-head with the Phillies rotation. This year's Rays rotation has allowed fewer runs per game (3.79) than the 2008 team (4.14) that got to the World Series. The biggest question will be how to line up among the starters.

Their biggest liability: The Rays were shut out 15 times this season, two shutouts more than their AL-best pitching staff could muster. Despite the final-night magic, this still is an offense that can disappear at inopportune times.

Don't forget about: Manager Joe Maddon isn't afraid to roll the dice, especially where he has cashed in before. September call-up Matt Moore is reminiscent of David Price's impactful debut in 2008, except lefty Moore just might be even more polished than Price was at a similar stage. Keep an eye out for this year's secret weapon.

Path to victory: The Rays have proved proven they can shut down any other team in the AL. So a little Desmond Jennings-Johnny Damon-Evan Longoria run-manufacturing magic could make Tampa Bay reminiscent of the 2008 pennant winners.

Division Series outlook: Rolling, into the playoffs with more momentum than any other team. A performance like the one Texas' Cliff Lee threw at them in last year's first round can stifle the enthusiasm, but we'll see if C.J. Wilson, who hasn't faced the Rays this year, is up to that task.

We say: The Rays are the ultimate wild card . If you believe in magic, jump on the bandwagon. If reality is your thing, this ride just can't last long enough.

***

5. New York Yankees

Their best asset: Trying to outhit your opponents is a dangerous postseason formula. But the Yankees might be able to pull it off. They might have to. This team scored nine or more runs in 27 games this season, . Eight of those came against playoff teams or contenders. And of the 27 times the Yankees were held to two runs or fewer? Nine of those came against Detroit, Boston, Texas and Tampa Bay.

Their biggest liability: Who you gonna start, Joe? Manager Joe Girardi has been answering that question since A.J. Burnett's first spring meltdown and Phil Hughes' first mysterious radar gun reading. Starters have allowed a .264 batting average and .741 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS), both of which rank ninth in the league and last among AL playoff teams. After CC Sabathia, little is certain; for now, Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia will follow him.

Don't forget about:Derek Jeter has hit .338, since July 9, the day he got his 3,000th hit, and that certainly adds to the RBI opportunities for the middle of the order. But the real difference-maker in tight games can be left fielder Brett Gardner, who leads the team with 46 stolen bases and is the runaway leader among all major league outfielders with a 23.6 Ultimate Zone Rating for defensive efficiency.

Path to victory: In a season without an obvious AL favorite , the Yankees' experience takes on increased importance. Mark Teixeira hasn't had a hot streak yet — though he's over 30 homers and 100 RBI for the eighth year in a row, his batting average has been between .240 and .260 since May 12. Jeter is hot, and Mariano Rivera is the one weapon no other team can match.

Division Series outlook: Trepidation, something that isn't going to go away unless and until they at the very least reach the World Series. They've proven that they're the best team in the AL, but all it takes is a Justin Verlander victory over CC Sabathia in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium to set off the alarms about the rest of the New York rotation — or a Doug Fister win in Game 2 for that matter.

We say: Jeter got 3,000 hits, Rivera broke the saves record — mystique and aura are back. This is a flawed Yankees team, but it's still headed to the World Series.

***

6. St. Louis Cardinals

Their best asset: The only bigger surprise than the Cardinals remaining in contention was that the they had the top offense in the NL, further buoyed by the recent return from injury of Matt Holliday. The emergence of players such as Allen Craig and John Jay has given manager Tony La Russa the kind of bench depth he loves .

Their biggest liability: La Russa is on version 6.0 or thereabouts of his bullpen alignment, and the current principals are bordering on overuse. Should Jason Motte remain closer over Fernando Salas? Has Mark Rzepczynski passed Arthur Rhodes as the primary lefty? Who does the manager really trust? Does La Russa himself know?

Don't forget about: St. Louis needs a solid second starter behind Chris Carpenter, especially because their proven ace had to pitch the season finale. Kyle Lohse's 14-8 season fills the bill. He's the only Cardinals starter who allowed fewer than one hit per inning pitched. But he's also never won a postseason game (six appearances, one start).

Path to victory: Albert Pujols can carry a team like few other players in baseball. He needs to do it here, especially to quickly deflate any sense of invincibility about the Philadelphia pitching staff. If Albert and his friends could steal the Division Series, the path is wide open.

Division Series outlook: Thought-provoking, especially because La Russa likes to think he can out-manage just about anyone. He'll need to steal at least one game from Charlie Manuel in Philadelphia, if for no other reason than to get into the heads of the Phillies and increase the weight of their expectations.

We say: The Cardinals are dangerous but their flaws showed up often enough, even during their September push, that this team will have a difficult time avoiding them through one, let alone three, series.

***

7. Detroit Tigers

Their best asset: It's no secret the Tigers are especially feared in the best-of-five Division Series, where Cy Young Award favorite Justin Verlander could pitch twice. But the emergence of Doug Fister (8-1, 1.79 ERA since his July trade from the Seattle Mariners) increases the chances they also can shut down an opponent in a best-of-seven series.

Their biggest liability: Jose Valverde has converted all 47 of his save attempts, and Verlander averages 7.3 innings a start. It's what happens in between that could quickly end the Tigers' October. The 19 relievers Detroit used other than Valverde combined for a 4.25 ERA, a statistic that becomes especially pertinent because Tigers starters not named Verlander average 5.8 innings. Joaquin Benoit improved in the second half — no runs in 22 appearances since Aug. 2. And rookie Al Alburquerque — with a 1.87 ERA — could be an answer. But he has pitched just seven times since Aug.9 and had three stints on the disabled list.

Don't forget about:Alex Avila, who led the American League in innings behind the plate and didn't catch in only two games from Aug. 5 to Sept. 16. Still, he has held up with an .897 OPS , best among catchers by a wide margin and second on the Detroit roster to Miguel Cabrera.

Path to victory: The Verlander-Fister combination of the final two months is the best one-two punch in a pitching-challenged AL field. Fister has gone at least seven innings in six of his last seven starts, exactly what the Tigers need to match up with anyone.

Division Series outlook: Lurking, as the team most likely to disrupt the order of things. But neither Verlander nor Fister has beaten that Yankees this year (combined 4.26 ERA in three starts) .

We say: Manager Jim Leyland has done wonders mixing and matching his lineups, but the offense will be hard-pressed to muster enough to get Detroit through a first-round series.

***

8. Arizona Diamondbacks

Their best asset: How many teams really mirror their manager? These last-to-first Diamondbacks are reminiscent of Kirk Gibson the player — the 1988 unlikely-MVP, storybook-home run player. They have no better asset than right fielder Justin Upton, who led the way in taming the club's runaway strikeout rate. Upton's rate dropped from 26.6% in 2010 to 18.4% this year, and the team ranked fourth in the NL after back-to-back years as whiff kings. But they've also turned a bullpen that had an ERA in 2010 more than a run worse than any other in the National League into one that ranks second in save-conversion percentage. They've developed Gibson-esque momentum and the division title has turned this team into one that believes it belongs with the elite.

Their biggest liability: Gibson has to tread the fine line between his mostly young team's aggressiveness and the chance of damaging mistakes. The flailing at the plate has been reduced, but the manager worries about pushing the envelope. "It's unreal how many outs we've made," Gibson said of his team's baserunning. "You just have to bite your tongue sometimes . It's who we are. I encourage energy. I encourage pressure." And what might that mean under the added pressure of the playoff spotlight for a team that will need every break ?

Don't forget about:Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson are a solid one-two pitching tandem, but this is the NL, and two top arms aren't nearly enough. Lefties are important as long as the road goes through the Philadelphia Phillies, and Joe Saunders is Arizona's only left-handed starter. The Diamondbacks need to see Saunders pitch like he did in July (2.16 ERA) or September (3.15) and not August (5.04).

Path to victory: The Diamondbacks need early playoff success to keep alive the conviction that they belong. A couple of good starts from Kennedy and Hudson would reduce the chances that the key hitters expand their strike zones while pressing to produce against just the kinds of pitchers who could take advantage of them. If the Diamondbacks steal a quick win or two, look out.

Division Series outlook: Defiant, in the image of Gibson, who will refuse to allow his team to be the lovable underdogs. They are the underdogs, especially against a Milwaukee team that's dominant at home. But count on Gibson not letting his team be one of those "happy to be here" squads.

We say: If they play well at home, the Diamondbacks have a shot at surviving the first round.

The Tigers will beat the Yankees, no kidding!

The Detroit Tigers are set to tangle with the New York Yankees starting Friday night in New York. The game 1 pitching matchup is off the chain as Justin Verlander (24-5) will oppose CC Sabathia (19-8).

Initial market research indicates that Yankee fans think their team will win the series simply because they’re the Yankees. Tiger fans have the luxury of falling back on a team that is not only playing better, but stacks up favorably in every aspect.

I will take some choice comments from my initial ALDS preview posted last night (click here) and use them as my paragraph headers:

From Guest – 10 hours ago “Dear Joe White, GO HOME.”

First of all, very creative, and second of all, I was already home when I wrote it so sorry but I can’t help you out there.

Speaking of home, the Tigers are heading to New York with unwavering confidence. Not only can the Tigers fall back on their ALDS success from 2006, when they started off in New York, split games 1 and 2, and then returned home and closed it out, but Detroit has also been dynamite on the road in 2011.

The one thing above all else that kept Detroit from contending in 2010 was their paltry 29-52 road record. In ’11, the Tigers are tied for 2nd with 3 other teams (including the Yankees) with a 45-36 road record. The environment of an entitled Yankee Stadium audience will do little to intimidate the Tigers.

So, to Guest, I say it will ultimately be your Yankees who are going home empty-handed, once more, at the collective hands of the Detroit Tigers.

From Bertch – 10 hours ago “Wow. hahaha you must be kidding Joe White.”

Again, very creative, and with a sound backing for why his Yankees might be victorious…The good news is that night classes are still open if you are looking to grab up that GED.

And no, I’m actually not kidding. Oddly enough, I believe that the team with the 2 hottest pitchers in all of baseball has a legitimate chance to come into your house and not only win 1 game, but possibly both. I know, craziness right?

In case you missed the news flash, Justin Verlander just won the pitcher’s version of the Triple Crown. He was tops in the AL in ERA (2.40), strikeouts (250), and wins (25). JV also set the pace in WHIP with a 0.92 mark. He has won 12 of his last 13 starts and is the exact kind of horse that can take his team straight through to the World Series.

Oh, and then there’s that unknown commodity, Doug Fister. You know, the guy who has gone 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA since escaping purgatory in Seattle. The liberated Fister gives the Tigers the deadliest 1-2 punch this side of Philadelphia.

Sorry Bertch, you wish I was kidding.

From Mabm113 – 10 hours ago “are you kidding me with this?”

I thought we’ve been over this? But seriously, thank you for backing up your stance with concrete data and reason. I’m beginning to notice a trend in these Yankee fans.

But if you must know, I do take some comfort in knowing that the Tigers have the 2 best clutch hitters in all of baseball. On the off chance that you’ve been sleeping for the past 162 games, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez have formed an untouchable dynamic duo in the middle of Jim Leyland’s lineup.

Not only is Cabrera a top 5 MVP candidate and the American League batting champion (.344), but he hit .393 with runners in scoring position this year. And if that doesn’t provide you with enough evidence that I’m not kidding, then maybe the fact that he hit .390 in August and .425 in September will do the trick.

VMart was 4th in the AL with his .330 average but, like Cabrera, does his best work when the pressure is on. Martinez hit .394 with runners in scoring position, driving in 87 of his 103 RBI’s in such situations.

So in the playoffs, when the lights shine brightest, and the collar grips tightest, the Tigers have the best this game has to offer.

Mabm113 will have to join the ranks of the disappointed. I’m just not in a kidding mood right now.

From Jmralph1 – 10 hours ago “Does this guy actually believe what he writes lol 27 time
World champions, biggest hitting machine on the planet and he’s making them sound like they are the orioles. What happens of verlander loses game 1??? Lol”

At least this guy had something to say, the only problem is it was the same blabber that every Yankee fan spews without equivocation.

History is something that happened in the past and will remain there. Did the Marlins and Diamondbacks fall back on history when they won championships shortly after coming into the league as expansion teams? 27 World Series titles is utterly awesome, and it means absolutely nothing in the 2011 playoffs.

Proclaiming the Yankees as the “biggest hitting machine on the planet” is equally irrelevant and uninformed. The Yankees finished 2nd in the AL in runs scored, the Tigers 4th. Since August 1st, when the Tigers were close to becoming the team they are now after the trade deadline and prior to their waiver-wire acquisition of Delmon Young, New York has outscored Detroit 303 runs to 301.

If Verlander loses game 1 to CC, which is entirely possible, then I guess Detroit will end up winning 3 of the final 4. Fister goes in game 2 against the rookie Ivan Nova and Verlander again in a potential game 5, also against Nova. I like the Tigers’ chances in both of these matchups.

Game 3 is a toss-up with Max Scherzer and Freddy Garcia scheduled to face off. Both are as likely to pitch a 1-run gem as they are to cough up 5 or 6. On paper, game 4 is a clear advantage for New York as Sabathia will go against Rick Porcello. Don’t sleep on Porcello though. In game 163 back in 2009, he pitched arguably his best game ever. I’m anxious to see what he does this time around.

I hate to say it Jmralph1, but overall, the starting pitching, if that’s what we’re quarreling over, favors the Tigers.

From donnybaseball03 – 3 hours ago “Verlander and Fister are both unproven in post season play. I wouldn’t get too excited just yet. I’m a Yankees fan and fear this match up but to count out Nova because he has no post season experience in favor of two studs that have little to no post season experience is a bit premature. I hope for a 5 game series either way… Go Yanks!”

Finally! A Yankee fan who can string a sentence together. The problem with this argument is that it assumes Sabathia’s dominance against the Tigers.

In 7 starts against Detroit over the past 4 years (a fairly substantial sampling that encompasses all 3 of his years as a pinstriper), CC is just 2-4 with an ERA right around 5.00. Dating back to his days with Cleveland, the Tigers have never had much trouble with the powerful lefty. In fact, ask any Tiger fan worth their weight in Old English D’s and they’ll tell you it’s Garcia who we fear the most, not Sabathia.

In fact, the aforementioned Cabrera and Martinez fare quite well against Sabathia. Cabrera is 9 for 16 with 2 homers and VMart is 6 for 25 with 2 bombs. That’s a .366 combined average with 4 homers in just 41 at-bats.

I’ll tell you this donnybaseball03, Detroit hits power pitching with the best of them.

All of this banter is good for the moments leading up to game 1’s first pitch at 8:37 on Friday night. As I’ve said recently, the playoffs are a crapshoot, anything can happen. It’s easy to say one thing or another will happen, but until it unfolds, we are all just innocent bystanders (unless you’re Jonathan Papelbon, who isn’t so innocent).

Let it be clear that Tiger fans have every reason to believe that their team can not only hang with the Yankees, but can and should beat them. And we’re not kidding!

Mariano Rivera sets all-time saves record

The Yankees' Jorge Posada pushes Mariano Rivera back to the mound to acknowledge the the crowd after Rivera recorded his 602nd save Monday.

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera tallied his record-breaking 602nd save Monday in New York's 6-4 win at home against the Twins.

Rivera, 41, passed Trevor Hoffman, whom he tied Saturday in Toronto.

He pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his 43rd save of the season, his second-highest total since he had 53 in 2004.

"I wasn't expecting this," Rivera said. "But thank God it happened. And thank God it's over."

Rivera's teammates pushed him out to the mound so they and fans at Yankee Stadium could honor him, and he sheepishly acknowledged them.

"It's not about myself," he said. "I'm a team player and I pull for my team."

The right-hander from Panama had five career saves in 1997 when he inherited the Yankees' closing job from someone who saved 50 games the year before, including seven in the playoffs on the way to the 1996 World Series championship.

"It's a tremendous journey," Rivera said.

Back then, Rivera had already established himself as a dominant setup man, but there was at least a shred of doubt he could seamlessly inherit the role from John Wetteland.

''I'm not saying we let John go to give the closer job to Mo,'' Yankees manager Joe Torre said in February 1997, according to The New York Times. ''It was a matter of, we didn't have the money for a reliever and a starter. At the time, we felt we needed a starter worse. That's where we spent the money.''

The Yankees opted not to bring back Wettleland after the 1996 season -- he signed with the Rangers -- and added starting pitcher David Wells. In 1998, Wells pitched the first perfect game for the Yankees since Don Larsen's during the 1956 World Series, but Rivera has been more impactful, perhaps more so than any reliever in big-league history.

"I would never say that," Rivera said. "I will never talk about myself. All I can say is thank God for my teammates."

Rivera's ERA dwarfs most of those of the pitchers on the all-time saves list, many by close to a run or more. Hoffman's is 2.87, and he and Rivera have 123 more saves than any other reliever. Among all pitchers -- starters and relievers -- with at least 1,000 innings and 100 decisions, Rivera ranks 13th in ERA.

The closest active pitcher to Rivera on the saves list is the Reds' Francisco Cordero, 36, who has 323.

"That means you're old," Rivera said in trying to put his achievement in perspective. He is signed through next season.

Hoffman released the following statement on his Facebook page:

I want to congratulate Mariano Rivera on setting the all-time saves record. It's a great accomplishment and he is still going strong! I have tremendous respect for Mariano not just for his on-field accomplishments, but also for his service to the community.

Carving up hitters with his signature cut fastball, Rivera has put together an 8-1 record, 0.71 ERA and 42 saves in 139 2/3 postseason innings and has helped lead the Yankees to seven American League pennants and five World Series titles.

Yankees manager Girardi, who caught Rivera over four seasons as a player (1996-1999) before becoming manager in 2008, described the feeling when Rivera enters a game as "peaceful," even during a bases-loaded situation.

"I just feel that he's gonna get it done," Girardi said. "You're shocked when he doesn't close a game."

Girardi also used the adjective to describe his feeling should Rivera's all-time saves record get broken: "I'll be shocked if it happens in our lifetime."

One of Rivera's teammates for all the titles, catcher Jorge Posada, became a full-time designated hitter this season. Girardi said he was hesitant to use him in the ninth inning for Rivera's record-breaking save because Posada had only caught six innings this season. Russell Martin caught the entire game Monday.

"It's not something that we've done a lot," Girardi had said about using Posada at catcher, according to the New York Daily News. "We've caught him one time, and the games are important right now. It's something that we can talk about, but I'm probably going to stick with our catchers."

The Yankees entered Monday with a 4 1/2-game lead on the Red Sox in the AL East.

Posada watched Rivera record his record-breaking save from the dugout rail, raising his arm in celebration when the feat was complete.