There's actually a Met on this list! In fact, there's two!
So, yesterday we took a look at some of the greatest closers of yester-year. The closers that defined the position and developed what a closer actually was as baseball moved into the 70's and 80's.
Fromthis crop of closers grew an even more specialized type of closer. The shut-down fireman who strode to the mound in the 9th inning and mowed down opposing hitters to preserve a tight lead. Ushering in the golden age of closers were a trio of lights out fireballers. Jeff Reardon, Lee Smith and John Franco.
Jeff Reardon, nicknamed the Terminator, started as a solid middle reliever for the Mets, who, true to form, had no idea what to do with him, so they did what they usually did in the 70's and early 80's. They traded him to the Expos, where he really came into his own, saving 26 games for the 'Spos in '82. He pretty much dominated both leagues from 82 until 92, saving over 40 games twice - once in each league - the first closer to ever accomplish that feat. Reardon finished his career with 367 career saves, good for 7th all-time. But he struggled in his final few years, finishing with an ERA of 3.18 and a 73-77 career mark. Reardon was a fantastic, domianting closer, even leading the Twins to a World Series in 1987. But he falls short of the best ever.
Great closer. Not so great human being.
JohnFrancopitchedprimarilyfortheMetsandReds over 20 seasons. His 1119 games pitched are the most in NL history and his 424 saves are good for 4th all time and are the most by a left hander ever. But while he saved 30 or more games 8 times, he never saved more than 38. Never saved 40. Never won a world series. In fact, he only records 1 post season save - granted, playing for the Mets, he rarely had occasion to pitch in the post-season. Also, he appeared on Pros v. Joes and the greatest closer in baseball history does not appear on Pros v. Joes.
Ohhh Johnny. Say it ain't so, Joe!
Next we turn to big Lee Smith. He held the record for most saves with a final total of 478 until it was broken by Trevor Hoffman and then later Mariano Rivera. He's now 3rd all-time. He held the NL record for saves in a season with 47. He held the Cubs record for saves with 180 and held the Cardinal record for saves with 160 up until 2006. From 1991 to 1993 Smith saved 47, 43 and 46 games. Smith finished 802 games, the most all time. But Smith, while clearly dominant, wasn't the greatest ever. He finished with a 71-92 career mark and displayed a penchant for blowing games at inopportune times. He lost 10 games in a season twice and 9 games once. Big Lee Arthur deserves to be in Cooperstown, but he's not the best ever.
Ok, would you rather I posted an actual pick of Lee Smith? Really?
At this point, I'd like to look at the modern, 21st century closers. There are some fantastic closers in baseball today. Frankie Rodriguez with the Mets has 228 career saves at the age of just 27. He has a 4-year run going where he's saved 45, 47, 40 and 62 - a major league record for a single season. He's got 20 saves already this year. K-Rod is unquestionably one of the best closers in baseball right now, but he's still far too early in his career to be labelled the best ever. The post-season has been his achillies heel as he's blown several key save opportunities vs. the Red Sox, while pitching for the Angels. But he's young and could contend with a few more dominating seasons.
Why are all the Mets closers gay?
JonathanPapelbonisanexceptionalcloserfor the Boston Red Sox, and at the age of 28 has 132 career saves. In just his 4th year of closing, Papelbon has notched marks of 35, 37, 41 and 19 so far this year. It's a fantastic start to a career, but no one is going to be annointed the greatest ever after just 3+ seasons. Talk to me in another 7-8 years Jonny.
I don't get the attraction to this guy.
Finally, let's look at the career saves leader, Trevor Hoffman. He's got 572 career saves. Most all-time. He started closing in 1994 for the Padres and has never looked back. After saving 20 games in 94, he's saved 30 or more games in every season from 1995 until 2008, with the one exception being 2003, when he suffered a season ending injury in April, having recorded not a single save. He holds the NL record for saves in season, with 53, breaking Lee Smith's record. He actually shares that record with Randy Myers. He's saved 40 or more games in a season nine times. At the age of 41, he's got 18 saves and a 1.93 ERA this season with the Brewers. About the only knocks on Hoffman are his 57-67 career W/L mark, his lack of post-season success and his pitching his entire career in a low-stress environment for a perenially sub-par team - the Padres. He is certainly in the top 2 all-time for closers. The question is, would you rather have him or Mariano Rivera.
I almost picked him solely based on this picture.
So,let'slookatMo.Rivera has 500 career saves, 2nd most all-time behind Hoffman. He's also 2 years younger than Hoffman, so he could conceivably surpass Hoffman - but this seems unlikely given that Rivera intends to retire at the end of his current contact - however, minds can change. Rivera has been a stalwort in the Yankee pen since 1996. In 96, setting up John Wetteland, Rivera went 8-3 with a 2.09 ERA, recording 5 saves and a whopping 130 Ks in 107 innings. Converted to closer in 97, Rivera never looked back, saving 30 or more games every year, except 2002, when he saved 28. He never had an ERA over 3, except for 2007 when his ERA rose to an un-Riveralike 3.15. He recorded ERAs of 1.88, 1.91, 1.83, 1.66, 1.94, 1.38, 1.80 and 1.40 over his career. And has set save marks of 53, 50, 45, 43, 43 and 40. His signature pitch, his cutter, is going to make it to the Hall of Fame all on it's own, regarded already as a legendary pitch. Regardless, Rivera has really shone in the post-season, which is the key factor that sets him apart from all these other closers. Rivera has record the most saves in post season history and has the lowest ERA in post season history. Keep in mind, that most players - mainly, most record-holders, for post-season records, played only in the World Series. The playoff system didn't start until 1969 and the Wild Card round didn't start until 1995. (With the exception of the strike season in 1981.) Rivera's post season numbers are staggering. Over 76 games, Rivera has a record of 8-1, with 34 saves and a microscopic 0.77 ERA and a 0.75 WHiP.
Feel free to draw your own conclusions, but I believe Rivera's regular season numbers sets him apart from all the other closers on this list, save Hoffman. And when narrowed down to Hoffman v. Rivera, both with 500+ saves, I think you have to look at the post-season numbers. And while Hoffman hasn't been given the staggering number of post-season games that Rivera has, his numbers aren't even close. Rivera, in all those games, has been as near perfect as any person can be.
The best there ever was. The best there ever will be.
At the end of the day, I'll take Mariano Rivera, his 500 saves, and his 8-1 post-season mark, with his 0.77 post season ERA and 34 saves, as the greatest closer of all time. Who would you take?
