The saves co-leader in the American League and the top two saves guys in the National League were not closers at the end of last season. Two were set-up men, one was a struggling young starting pitcher. Now, Eddie Guardado, Mike Williams and Eric Gagne are thriving. Meanwhile, the Expos have used several closers, and they are tied for the NL East lead.

This shouldn't suggest that closing is easy, that anyone can do it; it speaks more to the volatile nature of the job. Closers routinely come and go, and only the really good ones last for a really long time. Twelve teams have a new closer this year; eight are full-time closers for the first time in the major leagues. This season's closers are as eclectic, and unpredictable, as ever.

Who would have known that Mariano Rivera (two blown saves), not Byung-Hyun Kim (one run, one walk and 19 strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings), would stumble slightly out of the gate? The Orioles are using a rookie, Jorge Julio, who throws 97 mph with a great slider, and is emotionally advanced for a 23-year-old. The Rangers are already on their second closer, Hideki Irabu, who until 10 days ago, had never had a save opportunity in the major leagues. He takes over for John Rocker, who failed in his attempt to finish games, was sent to the minor leagues, then was recalled before he even reported because the Texas bullpen was in major trouble again.

Closing is not an easy job. It takes a special type of guy to do it, someone with good stuff and a strong stomach, and not necessarily in that order. There are a substantial number of guys -- Steve Karsay and Mike Timlin among them -- who have great stuff but haven't succeeded as closers. Something happens to certain guys when they get to that mound with a one-run lead in the ninth, knowing that it's up to them to win or lose the game. Sometimes, that pressure is too great. Some closers can't forget a blown save, and it follows directly to the next save chance.

If a pitcher does have the courage to close, however, sometimes it can be a easier job because of the protected nature of the closer. In one three-year span in the 1990s, Lee Smith, the all-time saves leader, came into a game with a runner in scoring position and none out one time. One time. Matt Mantei was the closer for 30 games for the Diamondbacks in 1999: in those 30 games, he did not come into a game with a runner on base one time. Last year, Jose Mesa did a marvelous job closing for the Phillies, but he inherited a total of five runners the entire season. Same with Antonio Alfonseca, then of the Marlins. They were good, but they were sheltered.

And then there is Guardado of the Twins. Last season, he inherited 52 runners (which was 12 fewer than the Cardinals' Steve Kline). He didn't pitch the ninth inning very often, but he certainly was dropped into a lot of messy situations, and came out of them quite well (only 10 inherited runners scored). This season, more often than not, he will start the ninth inning with the bases empty in a save situation. Will he have the guts to handle it? We'll see, but so far, he has been exceptional: eight saves in eight attempts, a 1.64 ERA and not one sign of panic.

Williams, Pittsburgh's closer, also is 10-for-10 in save opportunities, one reason why the Pirates are near the top of the NL Central. Williams returned to the closer role after being traded by the Pirates to the Astros at the trading deadline last season. In Houston, he set up for Astros closer Billy Wagner down the stretch; now Williams has a bullpen full of relievers, all of them workhorses so far, who are bringing the game to him for the ninth inning.

Gagne wasn't going to make the Dodgers rotation, but he throws 95 mph, he wears those funky goggles and that filthy, deformed hat, so manager Jim Tracy took a look at him this spring as a closer. Tracy also looked at Paul Quantrill, but he has been more of a set-up man in his career, so Tracy took a chance. Gagne is 9-for-9 in save chances, and has a 0.69 ERA. In 13 innings, he has walked two and struck out 17. What was supposed to be a trouble spot for the Dodgers has been a plus, which is why they're off to a good (16-9) start.

"I think almost any good starting pitcher could close," says Orioles pitching coach Mark Wiley. "Kevin Brown. (Roger) Clemens. (Mike) Mussina. They'd all be great closers if we put them there. Starting pitchers know how to avoid big innings. As a closer, a lot of times, all you have to do is avoid a big inning. Big innings kill closers.

"Starting pitchers hold runners, they field their position, they know how to pitch in clutch siutations. Too many closers try to be too fine, they try to strike hitters out. Hey, throw a predictable pitch once in a while. It's okay. If they would treat the ninth inning the same way, with the same ease, as other innings, they'll be okay."

Some have been more than okay this year, some have not. But that could change. It always does with a closer.

Tim Kurkjian is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine and a regular contributor to Baseball Tonight. E-mail tim.kurkjian@espnmag.com.