The greatest closer on any planet, ever.
Written by Joe Veno on June 29, 2009 – 12:23 PM -Mariano Rivera is the greatest closer in the history of the universe. In any universe, any galaxy, any planet, any day, Rivera is the best option available.
My timing is impeccable, not unlike Mariano’s command. For Rivera of course just recorded his 500th save, allowing him to stay second on the all time list, however move up one unit. But had Rivera not recorded that save last night against the Mets. And had he never recorded another save in his life. He would still end up better than any reliever we have ever seen.
As mentioned, impeccable control. The cutter is a great pitch, but not alone. Mariano could put that cutter anywhere he wanted to, on any given pitch. So if he couldn’t have commanded it like that, it wouldn’t be as great–obviously. For there is more to pitching then simply movement and velocity. There is also placement. And Rivera probably could have hit a penny, floating in air, down and away to the greatest left-handed hitter in the game. And then come back in, hitting that same penny, inside to that same left-handed hitter.
And that is my point. It could have been Barry Bonds. Whoever was at the plate, it didn’t matter. Rivera wasn’t intimidated. He knew that he had control of the situation, and “command” of the results.
There is no closer that I have ever seen that is really close to Mariano. Trevor Hoffman was great, but not quite on the same level. Others came before, and while they were utilized quite differently, they still don’t match up with Mo.
According to ERA+, you know who is at the top? Rivera, that is who. And that ERA+ is a remarkable 197.
Best. Ever.
That doesn’t mean that he’s the best pitcher ever, because he isn’t. But simply being at the top of that list means that greatness is what Rivera was made up of. Maybe even pixie dust, as his magical ability to do what he wanted with the baseball was pretty unreal.
Speaking of unreal, have you seen his WARP1?
117?
Really?
Yes, really.
Now, I do not personally feel that WARP is good when comparing relievers to starters and position players. But nevertheless, it displays Rivera’s true greatness having a number like that.
What really impresses me are Rivera’s non-save numbers anyway. Not numbers in non-save situations. but any number outside of the save. Because the save is a pretty meaningless “metric,” sometimes.
Rivera, over 15 seasons so far, has 973 K’s, to only 247 walks. And what is just as impressive is that Rivera has improved throughout his career in the Bases on Balls category. Back in his first two seasons, 95′ and 96,’ Rivera allowed 30 and 34 free passes, respectively. In 2007, he walked 12 batters in 71 innings. And in 2008, only 6 walks.
6! That is something if I have ever known what “something” was.
Those K and BB numbers give Rivera a 4:1 BB ratio, which is clearly a great ratio for anyone.
And all that adds up to a Hall of Fame career. 499 saves would have given the closer the same result. 400 saves would have given the same result.
And no I didn’t forget…
Rivera in the postseason. How could one forget? Do you know what his ERA was? 0.77. And with that super-low Earned Run Average, was a 5.81 K to BB ratio. I guess if clutch exists, then this might be a place where an argument can be made.
Mariano Rivera is a first ballot, no doubt Hall of Famer. And I would like to see anyone argue otherwise.
And this is coming from a Red Sox fan…
Tags: Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Trevor HoffmanPosted in Historical, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres | 6 Comments »
June 29th, 2009 at 1:14 PM
well i was going to write something of the sort but as i’ve been editing music all morning you beat me to it..so be it. I did have a chance to look up a few stats last night before bed and yes I had known already he had the best ERA+ of all time but just looking at the top 10 list is quite astonishing with pedro, lefty grove and walter johnson.
lets also not forget about his WHIP. 3rd of all time . followed by pedro, mathewson and johnson.
it’s probably hard for non yankee fans to understand how much we love this guy. and it’s not just for the numbers. he is a truly great and humble man. someone anyone and everyone respects. the greatest yankee of this era and one of the very greatest of any era
June 29th, 2009 at 2:28 PM
and let us also mention that not only is his ERA+ the highest of all time –he is like 40 points over #2
June 29th, 2009 at 2:48 PM
It isn’t all that hard to understand. To completely understand? I could never. But a great closer, so humble, professional, seasoned, etc. Yea, I get that…
June 29th, 2009 at 5:30 PM
[...] Sox manager knew Mo was special as early as 1996. The Statistician Magician, also a Red Sox fan, salutes Rivera as well. When Mo is eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame, I’m going to the ceremony. I’ve [...]
June 29th, 2009 at 9:40 PM
wow river avenue has taken notice- excellent!
you realize how huge their readership is I presume?
June 29th, 2009 at 10:03 PM
I emailed them though because it was a Yankee “piece.” So I thought they might like to read it and possibly link to it. It isn’t easy getting traffic.