All World All Sports

-Digger's Daily-

Mariano Rivera is baseball's greatest ever closer. Nobody has done it better. Especially in clutch situations. Regular season, All Star Games, Playoffs and World Series. Sunday night, he reached a milestone. 500 career Saves.

Mariano ranks second in all time saves (Trevor Hoffman, 571, is baseball's career leader). During the Yankees Championship winning seasons, the Stadium would rock every time Joe Torre strolled towards the mound to summon Rivera from the bullpen. There was never any doubt Mariano was about to shut down opposing hitters, 1-2-3. The games greatest Fireman was lights out in post-season competition. Check out these staggering career playoff stats. 76 games, 0.77 ERA, 117.3 IP, stingy 72 hits, 93 K's, 34 Saves.

Never before was a closer more dominating. I've been fortunate to watch him pitch live many times. Only two blemishes standout in this guy's career. First, was his only career playoff loss - World Series Game 7 2001. Second, looms just as large. Perhaps larger for baseball historians. 2004, Yanks were up 3 games to 0, Sox rallied to win the game and then 3 straight on their way to erasing one of the most famous curses in sports history (Sox win '04 World Series). Nonetheless, there's never been a better closer ever to take the hill in 9th innings.

I'm guessing he'll keep going as long as his golden right arm remains faithful. By the time all is said and done, Rivera could retire as the first and only single team 600 save closer.

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