Today I want to throw a shout out to the New York closers, Billy Wagner and, especially, Mariano Rivera. As I read spring-training coverage, one item I notice is how many teams are either devoid of a proven closer or have closers trying to make return from injuries.
The Giants (Armando Benitez), Rangers (Eric Gagne) and Cardinals (Jason Isringhausen) all have veteran guys trying to return from injuries. Seattle may lose J.J. Putz to injury. The Red Sox, in particular, have not yet publicly identified on a closer.
How nice it is for the New York teams to know which pitcher they will be giving the ball to. The only mystery with the New York closers this spring is both are trying to add an offspeed pitch â Wagner a cross between a splitter and changeup, and Rivera a changeup.
In a job in which career/success expectancy is short, the Mets and Yankees have durable, consistent pitchers. Since turning 30, Wagner has appeared in at least 70 games four of the last five years. Wagner has nine seasons of at least 20 saves and an ERA under 3.00. The only three closers to do it 10 times are Rollie Fingers, Trevor Hoffman and Rivera.
In fact Rivera has seven seasons with at least 25 saves and an ERA under 2.00. Nobody else has done that more than three times, and Wagner is on the list of four who has done it three times. Dennis Eckersley, Goose Gossage and Robb Nen are the others.
When you look at the landscape and see all the problems teams are encountering with their closers, the New York teams should take comfort in the reliability of the men they have doing the job.