Four more years, four more years, four more years...

Yesterday, Mariano Rivera stunned the world. He professed to being an ordinary moral human. He inferred that nothing lasts forever, even a cutter that defies physics, and he hinted that 2012 will include his final pitch.

If ever there was a reason for a franchise to go balls-to-the-ceiling-fan for a championship - to win this year, not next - this is it.

The idea of Mariano Rivera's last appearance being a meaningless scud save in the pit of a third-place September is physically and mentally abhorent to every Yankee fan who can remember the final sickening stretches of Mantle, Stottlemyre and even Bernie Williams. But this will be worse. This will be Mariano. If he's not pitching in the World Series, this will hurt for a long, long time. Jesus Montero will be retired from the game before the pain goes away.

Listen: I'm just saying what we all know, though I sometimes wonder if the tax-dodging owner-heiresses are more concerned about cutting payroll than winning the ring. I say this with the understanding that, yes, it's a long season, and that if the Steinbrothers are martialing their fiscal resources for a mid-July pickup, they're playing a strategy, and nobody gives a shit what I think anyway. But folks, this is Mariano - "the Great Rivera," as Obama called him that day in the White House. At some point in late September or early October, he will emerge for his last regular season save. We better have the playoffs awaiting him.

Let's face it: There is only one Yankee ending for Mariano Rivera: On the mound, nailing down a World Championship. Nothing else measures up to his career. Every other outcome will be horrible, terrible, wretched beyond words. 

Think about that whenever Raul Ibanez comes to the plate in a key situation. We wouldn't shell out for Johnny Damon, one of the great clutch hitters of our generation. 

OK. You're sick of hearing me whine. OK. Yes. What's done is done. Go Raul. Go Cashman. Save money. Cut payroll. Hooray for fiscal responsibility. But dammit, just don't miss the playoffs by a game. And don't leave the winning runs on third. Folks, it's Mariano. Folks, this year is personal.