[Bulldog]

After reading about it monday on ESPN. (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insid...rob&id=2549273

And after seeing what Brad Lidge did again yesterday, and Phil Gardner's decition of finally take away his job, I think this is a valid quiestion. The closer role is one of the most-advertised/ scrutinized jobs in baseball.
And whoever's got the best will have a better chance of making it and winning in October.
So who's the best!!!
Votes for Fausto Carmona, Derrick Turnbow and Jorge Sosa are welcome...

[Bulldog]

Ill go with Hoffman myself.
He cost me in the All Star game but he's the guy that i would want pitching the 9th if my team was up by 1.
Rivera of course, close second, still great.

[bigboydan]

I gotta go with Rivera here.

this guy has been doing it year in and year out, and really hasn't missed a step at all.

[jjgold]

No one close to Mariano

Rings prove it, Yanks win NO rings without him

Does it in the pressure cooker, you can count the number of saves he has blown the last 10 years on two hands

[Bulldog]

No one close to Mariano

Rings prove it, Yanks win NO rings without him

Does it in the pressure cooker, you can count the number of saves he has blown the last 10 years on two hands

I agree that he has been great...
he did give one WS away though (2001)
And come on guys, vote on the poll!!!

[Richy Rich]

Rivera is KING...But all those fellas up there are top notch closers.

[bigboydan]

i don't feel Ryan is all that great IMO

[tacomax]

Papelbon. No questions asked. Anyone that disagrees with me probably has trouble feeding themselves.

[isetcap]

Lately Papelbon has looked more like Benitez so my vote goes to Jenks.

God Dammit, where are my chopstix? I just can't figure out how to use this fork thing...

[tacomax]

Ah, Tubby Jenks. He's certainly someone you know for sure that he has no problem feeding himself.

[Razz]

True hilarity that Papelbon is the leader, he isn't in the top 5.
The only two closers that I never fear getting beat (or don't have any confidence in beating if I'm against them) are Mo and Nathan (Jenks and Ryan are only slightly behind).
I went with Nathan. At this point in his career, I think he is the best.

[onlooker]

Marino Rivera.

I hate the Yankees, but this guy has proven himself through out the regular season and playoffs in his career.

But Im sure their are teams out there that would love to have anyone of those guys named in that poll up there.

[isetcap]

I said Jenks because I think he is the one guy that when he has his good stuff, there's nobody that's going to hit him. Mariano is wonderful but he can't dominate like that anymore. You certainly could make a convincing case for Nathan, though.

[onlooker]

I would of said Armando Benitez, but that ass blew the save tonight as I was about to post in this thread. So I figured it wouldnt of been a good idea to list him. So I settled with Rivera.

[Willie Bee]

Bulldog, didn't vote myself because there are a lot of ways to go here. If you base it on their careers, it's got to be Mo Rivera or Trevor Hoffman, maybe Billy Wagner third. If I'm starting a team today and looking for a guy that I can count on for 5-6-7 years down the road, I'd probably think about Francisco Rodriguez or Jonathan Papelbon, with Bobby Jenks #3 on that list.

[Razz]

Willie, Papelbon is going to be a starter within two years

[Willie Bee]

Good point, Razz. When that happens, I'll move Junior Fat Tub of Goo into the role

[Bulldog]

I do get what youre saying...
I meant if your team, or a team you got big $$ on, is leading by 1 run today...
Who would you rather give the ball to on the 9th inning?

PS: Cant believe my boy Hoffman is getting no love...

[Willie Bee]

I meant if your team, or a team you got big $$ on, is leading by 1 run today...Who would you rather give the ball to on the 9th inning?

Well, you don't have an option for "Anybody But Brad Lidge"

Ok, I voted. Based on this year, the past and the future, I picked BJ Ryan.

I gave Hoffman a little love. Have always liked him except when he pitches against Houston

[tacomax]

Marino Rivera.

onlòóker - put the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand and see how you go from there.

[Razz]

I'm saying that in two or three years the most dominant closers are Nathan and Joel Zumaya.

[Bulldog]

I'm saying that in two or three years the most dominant closers are Nathan and Joel Zumaya.

Zumaya was impresive yesterday, I had the Rangers and they just had no chance against this guy... He was throwing 100 mph plus...

[sergfro]

Best closer now Rivera..Ask the same question in 2 years..best closer K-ROD

[stump]

rivera