Why is Mariano Rivera considered to be the greatest closer ever (details inside)?

First of all, I completely disagree with people who say that Rivera is better just because of his postseason numbers or that he plays for the Yankees. Rivera is considered the best closer because he is better than Hoffman, plain and simple. Yes, Hoffman has 47 more career saves than Rivera, but he has also been closing longer. Rivera, however has the better career WHIP, 1.00, to 1.06. The most impressive stat is their ERAs. Rivera's ERA is 2.21, Hoffman's is 2.85.

What makes Rivera even more impressive is that he pitches in a league with a DH, while Hoffman faces pinch-hitters in the late innings. While Rivera is facing guys like David Ortiz, Hoffman is facing some player who isn't good enough to start. The American League East has been baseball's toughest division for most of the past two decades, and that is where Rivera pitches. Hoffman picked up most of those saves in the much weaker National League West.

There is one fact that many people don't look at. The Yankees have won a ton of blowouts over Rivera's career, and that has cut down on his save opportunities. The Yankees won 114 games in 1998--and Rivera had only 36 saves because of the runs they scored. Hoffman has had several seasons of 40 or more saves where the Padres were below .500.

Finally, yes, Rivera has blown some big postseason saves, but when you have as many chances as he has, you are bound to blow some. Hoffman, on the other hand, came into Game 3 of the'98 World Series with a chance to save it and put the Padres right back in the Series. What does he do? Gives up a three-run homer to Scott Brosius. Not only that, but when the Padres had a chance a few years ago to get into the playoffs, he blew a couple of saves in Milwaukee that knocked them out. Simply put, he isn't nearly as good or as clutch as Rivera.

Those other relievers were great, but Rivera has to be the best ever. A couple of them Fingers, Gossage, and Sutter, for most of his career, pitched multiple innings for saves, which rarely done anymore. Rivera is a one-inning guy now, but until the last few years would often pitch more than one inning, and a lot of his saves are two-innings. A lot of people forget that he was pitching in his second inning in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series when he was beaten by Luis Gonazlez, whom I believe he had struck out the inning before. Rivera's saves record won't be touched for a long time, if ever. The only guy who has a realistic chance today may be Craig Kimbrel, who is 25 and has 115 saves, but he would need 523 just to catch Rivera, even if Mo retired today--and only two guys in history have even reached 500 saves, Rivera and Trevor Hoffman. So, the Rivera's record will be broken easily within the next 20 years and several pitchers will reach 500 saves? Really? That's some crystal ball you have there. Any fan with common sense knows that relievers generally have up-and-down careers. Some guys have a strong start, then flame out (like Francisco Rodriguez), some guys have a few good years, then lose their stuff (Heath Bell), and some relievers are journeyman who have one good year, then come back down to earth (Fernando Rodney). I used Kimbrel as an example, because he would have the best chance--but he could AVERAGE 50 saves for the next 10 years, which he won't, and he would still be short of Rivera. You make it sound as if it's easy to pitch only one inning, but relievers pitch a lot of games, warm up in others where they don't come in, and no one has put together as many great years as Rivera. I guess you were referring to my answer and I didn't say no one would break it, but that it will be a long time before someone does, if they ever do.

I understand that pitching for the Yankees gives Mariano more attention, but that's not the reason people think he's great. People think he's great because he's proved it. He's the guy I want on the mound in every game that matters. Who knows where the Yankees would be without him.

Think about it: The batters know what pitch is coming, and for the most part, they can't hit it. And usually Mo just gives up little broken bat bloop singles. Trevor Hoffman is a great closer too, and I'd like to see him reach 600 saves, but Mariano is just one of those special, once in a lifetime guys. He's been incredible in the postseason too. I didn't get a chance to look up any stats or anything, but I'm sure you can find Mo's postseason numbers, and they'd shock you.

BQ: I'd rather face Hoffman. Mo's numbers have been great this season. An ERA of under 1? I'd feel pretty helpless with him on the mound.

Mo is not only the greatest closer ever, and still only going to get better and better before it's all said and done, but also the greatest closer in Post Season history, surely in World Series history. It's not just his numbers that do the talking, but his genuine leadership on and off the field, his charisma, he's drama free and humble which makes him all the more valuable. His calm and cool delivery and having the one pitch that gets you no matter who the batter is and what day of the week it is or who we're playing. I would put all my money on Mo any day. This is a true champion and WINNER in every sense of the word, and words cannot really explain the intensity he has for the game and the drive and desire and will to win. Not to mention the fact that he wins at will. No disrespect to Trevor but he doesn't possess those traits that Mariano does, and Trevor hasn't had the world series success that Mariano has, so without a doubt, I'd put the ball in Mariano's hand in the 9th inning tying runs on base, Game 7 of the world series. And I am super confident he will deliver. That's what a true champion does.

Yes Trevor Hoffman does have nearly 600 saves, but Rivera leads Hoffman in other categories.

Rivera's W-L Record- 74-53

Hoffman's W-L Record- 61-72

Rivera's Career ERA- 2.21

Hoffman's Career ERA- 2.85

Rivera is an 11 time All Star selection, while Hoffman has appeared in 7. Rivera has won the Relief Man of the Year award 5 times to Hoffman's 2. Not to mention, Rivera holds a lot of all time postseason records too.

Most postseason saves- 39

Lowest career ERA- 0.74

Most consecutive scoreless innings pitched- 34 1/3

Most consecutive save opportunities converted- 23

Most 2 inning saves- 14

Most appearances- 88

Most games finished- 70

He is the greatest closer of all time in my opinion. Not to mention, Hoffman has been in the MLB longer than Rivera, too.

I think people do look at stats, and the fact that Mo is a Yankee definitely puts him in the spotlight more often. Also, I'm going back to 2009 here...but Mo has had 15% fewer walks than Hoffman and 40% fewer HR. Hoffman's SO is 15% higher than Mo's. Mo has the 10th-lowest HR rate of any pitcher from the last 50 years

I think it's debatable, and there's no question these closers are amazing, even though Trevor has fallen this season which will end with him at 43 years old.

BQ: I would rather face Trevor, I think Mo is better. But, I take nothing away from Trevor Hoffman, he has been incredible and 3 away from 600 tells you that this is an amazing closer. But Mo, well Mo is pretty awesome and I give him the edge as being the greatest closer ever.

Well, Mo has multiple playoff appearances, World Series appearances, & World Series rings. And most of those appearances at a very high rate of success in closing out games. Trevor Hoffman has had one season in which he has pitched in the postseason (1998 ) ,and that did not fare very well (THoff gave up a 3-run HR in World Series against NY Yankees in a game in which he took the loss) Herein are the reasons why Mo is the best closer ever. BQ: I would rather face T Hoffman than M .Rivera in a Game 7.

Oh my god....are we seriously mentioning Mariano Rivera in the same sentence as Trevor Hoffman? For one, I like Hoffman a lot...but Rivera is the greatest for 1 reason...Look at his postseason ERA. It is absolutely remarkable. 0.74 ERA. I mean, do you realize how clutch that is?

He's a big game pitcher, and has proven it under the spotlight of New York.

Hoffman is great, but he's the same guy that blew a 3 run lead in the 2007 one game playoff against the Rockies. Hoffman is great, hall of famer no doubt..but Rivera is on a different planet.

BQ- Hoffman, because Rivera has been there, and done that. He's the most clutch closer in baseball history.

Because Mariano Rivera has saved more meaningful games throughout his career. Rivera has saved games that have won division titles, American League Pennants and World Series Championships. Trevor Hoffman has not.

Blame in on the teams Hoffman has played on but the fact still remains that Rivera has stepped up when each occasion has called for it. If you look at each individual stats it becomes clear that Rivera numbers are far better than Hoffmans.

I have thought of this argument myself. I believe that we need to take into account of Rivera's postseason record. I was watching Fox today and they were saying how he allowed only 2 homers in the playoffs and has like a 0.77 ERA. He is lights out when the games reallly really counts.

And although Hoffman has a fair amount of more saves than Mo, Mo also has less blown saves, a significantly smaller ERA and a better win-loss record.

And sometimes, a pitcher cant control save chances. The best closer in the MLB doesnt always get the most saves.

Like a guy like Matt Capps had a bunch of saves for the Nats, but he blew a lot too.