Rivera finally having his surgery

After his knee surgery on Tuesday, Mariano Rivera will be little closer to returning to a major league field. Rivera won't be back on the mound until next year. A little less than a week ago, Rivera spoke about his feelings going into the operation:

The surgery will be performed by Dr. David Altchek, the New York Mets' team physician, and Rivera expects to be ready to pitch again by the start of next season.

"Oh yeah, there's no doubt about that, God willing," Rivera said Wednesday afternoon before the Yankees' game against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The 42-year-old Rivera tore the anterior cruciate ligament and damaged the meniscus in his right knee while shagging fly balls in the outfield May 3 before a game in Kansas City. He would have had the surgery sooner, but doctors discovered a blood clot in his right calf after the knee injury.

Rivera was told by doctors last week the blood clot is now gone.

When asked what it's been like not playing the past month, Rivera said, "I've been so busy with therapy that I don't even think about it. When I come home I'm tired, and then [I'm] watching the game."

Later today, the Yankees are expected to announce that the surgery went fine. That is the usual procedure.