THE YANKEES’ $64,000 QUESTION

Although there hasn’t been much ink spilled on the subject this winter, I think the $64,000 question for the 2003 Yankees is simple: How will Mariano Rivera perform?

Mo was on the DL three times last season, and at 33 has likely peaked as a stud reliever. I don’t mean to suggest that the Yankees can’t win without a dominant Rivera, or even a very good Rivera, but if he manages to return to the form he showed from 1997-2000, the Yankees may just be as good as they appear on paper.

Joel Sherman addressed the Rivera issue today in the Post:

Rivera raised a slight red flag by saying, unlike in previous years, he has yet to throw off a mound. But he added that he stayed in the New York area this offseason to work with Yankee trainer Gene Monahan, is currently long-tossing and vowed not to be behind anyone when camp opens.

“I’m ready,” Rivera said. “I haven’t thrown [off a mound] because I didn’t want to. I’m throwing like nothing happened because, well, nothing [structurally] happened.”

Here is what Mo said about the Jeter hub-bub:

“Jeter is my friend,” Rivera said last night at the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner in Manhattan. “When he goes to the plate, he’s there [mentally]. What he does at night is his business.”

So credit Rivera with his first save of the season, coming on to defend a teammate. The Yankees hope there are 40 actual saves to follow

Amen, brother.