Simply the Best

I saw Mariano Rivera end the all-star game with a perfect inning of relief. His career all-star game stats: 8 IP, 5 Hits allowed, 4 SO, 0 BB, and 4 Saves, an all-star game record.

The game led me to think back on the career of Mo. It has been special. His career ERA is 2.29. The past 13 1/2 seasons for Rivera have been stunning. He’s put up a record of 64-48 with a 2.07 ERA and 505 Saves. During the past 14 seasons, his ERA has been above 3.00 only once (back in 2007) and two other times, it was above 2.50 (2000 and 2002), but it has been under 2.00 in seven seasons. He’s got a save percentage of 89%. Is there anyone who has ever been better as a closer? Many would say Trevor Hoffman, who has 574 Saves and counting, and also an 89% save conversion percentage.

However, Hoffman’s career ERA is nearly half a run higher at 2.76.  But that’s not the biggest edge Rivera has. While Hoffman’s playoff appearances have been infrequent and umimpressive, Rivera has played in the playoffs every year (except for 2008), making 76 appearances. Rivera’s record in the playoffs is 8-1 with a 0.77 ERA, and 34 Saves. Taken with his dominating All-Star game record, Rivera is the greatest big game reliever ever to play the game. If my life depended on 1-3 innings of baseball, there’s no doubt who I’d want the pitcher to be: Mariano Rivera in his prime.