The ninth inning nightmare

Sometimes, people try to hard to give a nickname. Mumba Rivera ('05) was a starter with the Timber Rattlers. He had a rough transition to the bullpen, but things have straightened out for him.

Mariano Rivera has Metallica's "Enter Sandman." The Padres' Trevor Hoffman has "Hell's Bells."

Mumba Rivera, closer for the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx of the Class AA Southern League, has yet to reach that rarefied theme music status.

But he's not the least bit concerned. After all, his main job is get outs and preserve wins, something Rivera (no relation to the Yanks' certain Hall of Famer) has done a great job of this season.

The former Bethune-Cookman standout has been terrific in his first full year as a ninth-inning relief specialist, going 5-1 with a 2.43 ERA.

His 11 saves are third-most in the Southern League, and at 27, he seems to have finally found his niche in the Seattle Mariners organization.

"I wish I had been doing this sooner, like a couple years ago," Rivera said with a chuckle. "At first, I didn't like it and I had trouble adjusting. Now, it feels so natural."

Bonus Scott Budner quote!

"a 27-year-old guy with a 17-year-old arm."

Check it out.