Enter Sandman

When you think of four Championship rings, you probably think of Kobe Bryant. When you think of the number 500, you probably think of the 25 guys who have launched that many home runs in their career. When you think of the best there ever was, countless names may come to mind. To me those four rings don't mean Kobe, that 500 means saves instead of home runs, and the best there ever was happens to be Mariano Rivera.

On May 17, 1996 River took the mound for the first time as a Major League closer. The 26 year old, righty, stood on the bump, armed with not much more than a cut-piece fastball. Low and behold, Garrett Anderson grounds into a game-ending double play ball, and the best closer ever begins his quest. 14 seasons and 987 innings later that quest has reached a new milestone. Not only did Mariano draw a bases loaded walk for his first career RBI, but he also became only the second closer in baseball history to reach the 500 saves club. The only other member being Trevor Hoffman.

Sure you could try to make a case that Hoffman is better, but its just not there. He doesn't have the style that Rivera brings, he doesn't have the numbers that Mariano puts up, and quite frankly Mariano Rivera is THE most clutch pitcher to ever take part in a Major League postseason (barring the 2004 collapse in the ALCS, but hey, that was just destiny.)

Start with his style. He gets the help of pitching in the most glorious baseball stadium in the history of the game. He wears the blue and white pin stripes very well. He enter the game to one of the most amazing pump up songs known to man. Let's face it, Metallica is better than ACDC, and Hells Bells can't even hold the jock strap of Enter Sandman.

Onto the stats. He is number two on the all-time saves list and he is two years younger than Hoffman, having also played three fewer years. His 2.30 lifetime ERA is good enough for best all time among pitchers who have over 150 career saves. He is one half of the only two pitchers to ever convert 50 saves in two separate seasons. He's only had one season of less than 30 saves (28), and that was in a season where he only appeared in 45 games. He has compiled 110 saves in which he has pitched more than one inning. The man is a statistical god when it comes to the closers.

Finally the postseason. No reliever has ever been better than Mariano Rivera in October. He holds the MLB record for ERA in the postseason with an incredible 0.77. Nobody has more postseason saves than Rivera at 34, 12 of which have been two inning saves, another major league record. 9 of those 34 postseason saves have come during the fall classic, and guess what, that's another MLB postseason record. Also out of those 34 postseason saves, he set another record by closing the door in 23 straight. In 117 postseason innings pitched Mariano has given up just 10 earned runs. His career WHIP in the playoffs is an unheard of 0.75. I already mentioned this but i'll say it again, he has 4 rings. I don't know about you, but there is nobody i would want more than the "Sandman," to come in and close the door in a decisive World Series game.

"Exit light, Enter night, Take my hand, We're off to never, never land." The gates open and Mariano river walks out of the bullpen at Yankee Stadium. The song seems to describe the situation so well. The sun is setting on the current game. Mariano takes the ball in his hand, and leads the Yankees to the victory. He does it so well. The best ever.