The Closer Debate

As you are probably aware, Mariano Rivera has just shattered the MLB saves record a few hours ago with his 602nd regular season save, breaking Trevor Hoffman's record. The Sandman's poise, determination, and classiness make him the best in history at his position and beloved by the Yankee fan base.

That being said, his greatness is still up for debate. How much value should be placed upon a closer?

Relievers, it is sometimes said, are just the guys who aren't good enough to be starters. Why should getting three outs at the end of a ballgame mean anything when starters are expected to get 21 a night? Wouldn't the MLB's top-notch starters be able to handle a closer's task with ease?

Again, it is only three outs a closer has to get for a successful outing. Endurance isn't needed. Game planning is much simpler. Back when Goose Gossage pitched, he, and other relievers, would sometimes go two or three innings to earn a save, rather than just the one. Isn't the task of the modern-day closer simply too undemanding, and therefore overrated?

Well, not necessarily.

What Mariano excels at, his fantastic cutter aside, is the mental aspect of being a closer. If you have ever been watching a starter throwing a shutout, before or during the ninth inning the announcer will usually always say that the last three outs are the hardest to get. Think of how many no-hitters have been broken up in the ninth inning. A rebuttal to this could be that the starter has already thrown eight innings in a ballgame and is highly fatigued. Well then look at solid relievers who have been shifted from an eighth inning role to closer, and have fizzled extraordinarily. They didn't have the "closer's mentality," or the ability to be able to not let the pressure get to them and shut the door.

When a closer fails, it has a drastic effect on a ballclub, and underlines the value of a successful one. Take a look at Brad Lidge. In 2008, he was a perfect 48/48 in save opportunities, including the postseason. A steady closer adds a reassurance to the end of a ballgame. Like with Mariano Rivera in the Yankees case, the Phillies were almost positive they would win the game when leading heading into the ninth inning when 2008 Brad Lidge came out of the bullpen. Then in 2009, Lidge was awful. His 1.95 2008 ERA ballooned to 7.21 in 2009, and the end of every close game turned into a nail biter for the Phillies with the absence of quality closer work.

And this is why Mariano Rivera stands out. He has given the Yankees that reassuring feeling since he became their closer way back in 1997.  While a save may be an overrated stat by some accords, there is no diminishing on what Mo, a sure first-ballot Hall of Famer and owner of a 0.71 postseason ERA, has accomplished in his career. Some try and use the argument of how easy a task a closer might be to lessen his body of work. Either way, it has MLB Hall of Famers in awe. His excellence at his position exemplifies the value a reliable closer can have to a ballclub.

It's Getting Ridiculous

As a Yankees fan, I will say this: It's starting to get ridiculous. The Yankees are targeting both Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee, the two most prized free agents this offseason, and will likely offer each of them lucrative contracts. It's getting out of hand. There's just too many insane free agent signings and contracts in New York. It's getting harder to be a fan, as the brass is, and I will say it, trying to buy a championship. People have said it for years, but now it really is coming true.

Imagine the Yankees with Crawford and Lee. It isn't unrealistic to say every man in their lineup could make the all-star team, if Gardy can break out and Jorge has some bat left in him. I mean I honestly don't know what I'd say, as a Yankees fan, when someone comes and tells me the Yanks try to buy championships, because it's a reality. Last year their payroll was roughly seven times that of the Pirates, who's $34,943,000 million was the lowest of the 30 teams. And here's something that might not surprise anyone, but is ridiculous nonetheless. Alex Rodriguez's salary last year was 33 million. What that means is the whole entire payroll of last year's Pittsburgh Pirates team was less than two million more than one player's salary.

And then there's Teixeira and Jeter and Sabathia and Granderson and Burnett and Cano and Rivera and Posada and Swisher.....all, either currently or at one point, all-star caliber players, all with huge salaries. Speedster Brett Gardner, at 452K last year, was the only value player in the lineup, the only guy getting paid below the league average. Shouldn't all these players be able to bring a 28th parade to the Bronx?

Sure. The Yankees need starting pitching. They have two solid starters heading into this year, if you count Phil Hughes who began to fall apart as the home stretch of the season rolled around, and wasn't any better in September. But you figure he's still a solid starter with great potential. Sabathia is in the Cy running annually. So that's two guys. Pettitte has most likely thrown his last pitch.

Then there's A.J. Burnett. Huge contract. Analysts talked about how overpaid he was the day he signed to play in pinstripes. He was said to be barely above average by some. But what none of the Yanks brass predicted was his season in 2010. 10-15 record, which, if you can believe it, was inflated by his solid offense, considering: 5.26 ERA, 1.51 WHIP. Yeah. That'll make Brian Cashman think twice about that move.

But it's all okay in the Bronx, because the Yanks can just pick up yet another superstar in Cliff Lee for some 7 years/150 mil. And since the above-average outfield isn't good enough, Crawford can be included in the budget as well.