The Closer.

[LeoYankee]

With all the Mariano chatter, I've begun to analyze the legitimacy and importance of the closer.

While Mo stands above the rest and literally was our MVP for several playoff runs, it's not so clear for the rest of the league.

Here's who the winning closers were for the champs lately:

Sergio Romo
Jason Motte
Brian Wilson
Brad Lidge
Crapelbon
Adam Wainwright
Bobby Jenks
Keith Foulke


I mean.....is that a list of Hall of Famers? Not so much.

So, in summary, while a legend like Mo is special......he's not necessarily a must have to win.

Pretty much any solid reliever can do the job.

Thoughts?

[Yankees90.]

Neither one of those Closers won, or will win, 5 World Series titles.

[Pinstripe power]

closer is the most overrated position in baseball. i read an article (cant find it again) that basically said the avergae run of the mill reliever converts a save 93% of the time. think about it, unless its a one run game, its not hard to pitch one inning and not give up mutlipe runs


that being said, overrated or not, mo is easily the best

[Yankee Clipper]

The closer position is definitely overrated to a certain degree. Mariano, on the other hand, is a machine and has unbelievable value over his career for being a closer.

[LeoYankee]

closer is the most overrated position in baseball. i read an article (cant find it again) that basically said the avergae run of the mill reliever converts a save 93% of the time. think about it, unless its a one run game, its not hard to pitch one inning and not give up mutlipe runs


that being said, overrated or not, mo is easily the best

I agree.

[LeoYankee]

I think the position is similar to the new playoff format. Most closers are a complete crapshoot, which makes Mo career even more insane when you look at his stats.

He was the exception to the rule.

But, in general, it appears that almost any solid closer can win one. The fact Mo has 5 and no other closer has more than 1 since......jeez......who is the last closer to win 2?

Tom Henke?

[theslick1]

Closers are definitely overrated. Any relief pitcher who can get 3 outs in the 7th inning should be able to do the same in the 9th inning. It's not like teams can consistently roll out the middle of their lineup for the 9th inning.

[theslick1]

I think the position is similar to the new playoff format. Most closers are a complete crapshoot, which makes Mo career even more insane when you look at his stats.

He was the exception to the rule.

But, in general, it appears that almost any solid closer can win one. The fact Mo has 5 and no other closer has more than 1 since......jeez......who is the last closer to win 2?

Tom Henke?

The fact that Mo has 5 rings probably has more to do with Mo having had the opportunity to win 5. Actually, he's had the opportunity to win more than that.

[LeoYankee]

The fact that Mo has 5 rings probably has more to do with Mo having had the opportunity to win 5. Actually, he's had the opportunity to win more than that.

True. I remember in 09, the stat that he was the only closer in the playoffs that year not to blow a save. Hence, we won.

[Yankee Clipper]

True. I remember in 09, the stat that he was the only closer in the playoffs that year not to blow a save. Hence, we won.

More men have walked on the moon (12) then have scored off Mariano Rivera in the postseason (11).

[LeoYankee]

More men have walked on the moon (12) then have scored off Mariano Rivera in the postseason (11).

Haha. I think I was there for his worst game, even though it was a win. The Clemens Piazza game. I remember Jay Juice Payton hit a cheap azz YS 3-run hr off the opposite field foul pole or near it.

[kj244]

Closers are definitely overrated. Any relief pitcher who can get 3 outs in the 7th inning should be able to do the same in the 9th inning. It's not like teams can consistently roll out the middle of their lineup for the 9th inning.

Agree. Mo was exceptional for such a long time because of his pin point control and sense of calm on the mound. He didn't help you beat him and he didn't dwell on past failures.

[theslick1]

Haha. I think I was there for his worst game, even though it was a win. The Clemens Piazza game. I remember Jay Juice Payton hit a cheap azz YS 3-run hr off the opposite field foul pole or near it.

That may have been the most runs he gave up at once, but the Game 5 loss to Boston in the 2004 ALCS and the Game 7 loss to Arizona in the 2001 WS probably rank as his worst moments.

[AFG-NYC]

Any good reliever can become a solid closer for a short amount of time.
But doing it consistantly for a long time, in close games and in the playoffs is very difficult.
Thats why teams constantly have new closers each year and why they're so few closers out there that have been closers for 10+ years.

The OP's statement is correct about the typical closer. They're all over rated and teams are dumb for over paying for them, they're no better than D-Rob. But the top rare consistant ones are hard to find. Mo, Papelbum and Soriano have proved that they can do it year in and year out and in the playoffs too.

The redsox tought it was a good Idea to let one of the top closer go, look how that turned out. They traded for a young up and coming closer (the overrate closer) it back fired, they used Aceves (a very good middle reliever) it wasnt that good, used Malancin it was a complete desaster.

[Yankees90.]

Closer position may be overrated, but not when talking about Mariano.....I mean, for fcks sake just look at his stats. Ridiculous!

Find me another reliever in history, or in the future, that will come anywhere close....I'll wait the rest of my life for an answer