Life will go on for the Yankees without Mariano Rivera but it won't be the same

Only twice in the past 19 years have the New York Yankees missed the playoffs.

First in 2008, the final year of old Yankee Stadium, and now again in 2013, the last for Mariano Rivera.

As the end came for two pillars of Yankee lore, neither received a storybook October ending you would have expected.

Rivera's exit Thursday night at Yankee Stadium was undoubtedly emotional as Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte, fellow members of the "core four" group that came up to the big leagues together in the mid-90s, took the ball from him.

It was sentimental and special.

But it was not a clutch cutter to cut down another contender's hopes on a crisp fall evening.

Not a postseason save with 50,000 on their feet.

Not a mobbing of the mound as the Yankees celebrated a series win.

Rivera's final Bronx bow was spotless as ever - four batters set down straight - and poignant as you would expect after an iconic career. But it was not even a save situation, the Yankees down 4-0 on their way to being swept by the Rays, a night after getting knocked out of the wild card chase.

Much like his bobblehead arriving late to the stadium and causing a chaotic scene Tuesday night, this wasn't the anticipated scenario. 

Similarly, you never imagined old Yankee Stadium closing its gates in any month other than October.

After all the incredible playoff moments in The House That Ruth Built, "The Called Shot," "Mr. October," "Mr. November," its final game was a regular season contest, a Yankees win on Sept. 21, 2008, that merely kept their slim playoff hopes alive for one more day .

Three days later, a Red Sox win eliminated the Yankees from contention and quashed the possibility of the patriotic postseason bunting being hung around the hallowed grounds once more.

As the walls of old Yankee Stadium came down and a brand spanking new structure was built across the street, many were upset that tradition was being abandoned.

That it would never be the same.

But a crazy thing happened in the first season at new Yankee Stadium: the Bronx Bombers christened their fresh stomping grounds with their 27th World Series.

Life too will go on for the Yankees without Rivera, strange as it will be to no longer see No. 42 on the mound in the ninth.

Never again, in fact, will the No. 42 be worn by a major league player.

Rivera is the last.

Fitting it was he who wore Jackie Robinson's number, so full of meaning, for so long since it was retired around baseball.

With Rivera stepping away, there will be a new closer in the pinstripes. Whether it be heir apparent David Robertson or someone else, fans will still get on their feet and cheer as that guy sets down the final batter to earn a save.

It will never be the same though, which is a testament to Rivera, who became not just great in that role but the greatest of all-time.

Just as with the new stadium, you can build a shiny replica as a replacement but you can never bring back the original.

"Exit light, enter night, take my hand, we're off to never never land."

So long, Mariano.