SportsNation Blog Archives
Trevor Hoffman
By the time Semisonic's "Closing Time" came out in 1998, Mariano Rivera already had a full season as a dominant closer under his belt. More than a decade later, he's still on top of the game. Semisonic, not so much.
As much fun as it is to poke Yankees fans with memories of Dave Roberts and Luis Gonzalez, any fan who ever felt the crushing blow to the solar plexus that came out of nowhere any time Heathcliff Slocumb or Curt Leskanic trotted in for a save opportunity can appreciate Rivera as a ninth-inning institution.
A week ago, SportsNation ranked Joe Torre as its top all-time manager, and it's probably safe to assume he'd stick with Rivera regardless. But who would you hand the ball to in the ninth inning if you had a full Baseball Encyclopedia's worth of options?
- SportsNation's take: Rivera is great, but Jeter is still more of a Cooperstown lock.
- Then again, forget the Hall of Fame; Rivera gets the ultimate respect in the form of props from a Red Sox fan on a SportsNation blog.
- Monday's chat: See what Buster Olney has to say at 1 p.m. ET.
“Congrats Mo on 500 saves. No doubt Hoffman, Eck, Goose, and a few others are in the elite closer group, but Mo's post season numbers (34 saves 0.75 ERA in 110+ post season games) are so off the chart he has to be considered the greatest closer of all time.
” -- RIPredskins21
“If you didn't take a little pleasure in watching Mo bat against K-Rod, you're not a baseball fan. I was laughing so hard I almost wet myself when he took that big cut. All kidding aside, it was a pretty good at-bat - and a classic moment from two of the best relievers I've ever seen.
” -- berberage
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SPORTSNATION GRIDIRON CENTRAL
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- NFL Coach Ratings
- Week 11: Wade Phillips at 29 percent after win
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- NFL Pick 'Em Week 12
- SN last week: 13-3
SN this season: 112-48
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- NFL Power Rankings
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Titans No. 23
Bengals No. 4
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- NFL MVP Watch (Wed.)
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No. 1 Drew Brees
No. 7 Ben Roethlisberger
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- College Football Fan Top 25
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LSU drops to No. 16
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- College Football Pick' Em
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SN this season: 204-41
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- Heisman Watch
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No. 2: Toby Gerhart
No. 6: Kellen Moore
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CHAT IN PROGRESS
NASCAR with Terry Blount
- Terry BlountYou never know, but I don't see that happening any time soon.
- Leo (Connecticut)Looks like RCR hit on something with Burton and Berrier. Does Burton make the chase next year?
- Terry BlountIt wouldn't surprise me. RCR has made a huge turnaround in the last couple of months. Everyone there is pumped about 2010.
- Kacey (Ft. Meyers)How well do you think the 56 car will perform next year? Do you think they can win races? contend for a chase position?
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- Friday, November 13
- LeBron says the No. 23 should be off-limits. What should his new number be?
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- Thursday, November 12
- Does the Nintendo Game Boy deserve a spot in the toy Hall of Fame?
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- SportsNation salutes our Veterans with pictures posted by fans in uniform.
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- Wednesday, November 11
- Do Gold Gloves matter? Jeter might want to put on earmuffs for this answer.
