Papelbon, if he stays healthy and where he is (closing), will possibly have the saves record with years to still pitch ... Health is obviously a wild card, but starting at closer in early 20s ... no one DID that once upon a time. K Rod, maybe, is similar.

Five years from now, if Papelbon is the premier closer in the game, it will be an interestin conversation, but it's a huge if.

Hopefully someday (relatively) soon we'll have Joba to carry on the legacy - an opposite in form, but equally effective in substance.

Those guys are excellent. If they remain excellent for 10+ years, then they get into the conversation. That's what sets Mo apart. In any given season, there is usually a closer or two who have better years than Mo. But he's always there, and those guys come and go.

Three other guys come close. Isringhausen started closing in 1999. Percival retired in '06 and pitched in middle relief in 2007. Todd Jones pitched middle relief from 2002-2004. Jones hasn't exactly been lights out either over that time, high save totals aside.

My advice to Private Pyle? Do it consistently for 5 years, then do it 5 more, then about 3-4 years more after that. Then you're in the same class as a Mariano.

I appreciate Mo every single time he pitches now. There'll just never be anyone else like him. Amazing career for such an unassuming guy with only one pitch. ;-)

IIRC, there's an interview with Keith Richards asking about his early influences and he mentioned that all of the guitarists in England at the time were wondering how Chuck Berry did those chords -- turned out that Chuck had longer fingers than most.

Remember when A.J. Pierzynski knocked himself on his ass trying to bring the bat in on the cutter?

Beautiful.

I love when fans of other teams try to argue against Mo for best closer of all time. All due respect to Trevor Hoffman, you don't hear anyone calling him The Great One. It probably has something to do with Mo's graceful delivery and his humility as well.

We might complain but we really do have a bunch of great talent on our team!

There's nothing else I can say at this point. I agree with Alex 100% - gotta treasure these moments. We're witness to something special.

I can only imagine how the legend of Mariano Rivera will grow after he retires.

It's been a pleasure to watch him.

Like it tickles, it's so perfect. Rapier-like.

Other times, especially when he's carving them up and got them at two strikes, I start stomping my feet like a bloodlusting Roman at the circus.

What is there to say, really?

Guys, guys, I was NOT linking or comparing Papelbon to Mo on a large scale (or K Rod or anyone). I was making a comment about closers and how a few exceptional ones (they are) have taken that role EARLIER than was the case before. The geriatrics among us do remember Mo setting up John Wetteland. Ahem.

I'd be aghast and appalled (both!) if anyone thought I was equating Pap with Mariano in any significant career way.

And I agree with Alex: the sheer aesthetic joy of that one ridiculously effective pitch, thrown easily, with grace, over and over, year over year is ... pretty well unmatched in my experience of the sport.

We touched on grace, seeming easy and relaxed out there awhile back. Mo on his game (95% of the time) is at the apex of that pyramid.

That said, being able to see Mo pitch in person throughout his career (and I mean at the Stadium, not just on TV) is something unforgettable. His motion, and the movement on his cutter (not to mention the resulting explosion of splinters) are something that is beyond what even TV can encapsulate (sorry). Will Smith should just hand over the title of his latest movie to Mo when he retires...

Ahh, it's good to be a kid every now and then. And, sadly, Joba will be the heir apparent to Mo, simply because he probably would make an excellent starter, but the way he's been and apparently will be used, he's close to being locked into the reliever role for the foreseeable future, and there's currently no one close to being able to replicate the kind of magic, aura and results that Mo brings to the ninth inning than he.

It has been a joy to watch him pitch. And to watch his career progress from prospect to starter to setup man to closer.

Gossage was brute force. Righetti never really seemed to be in control. Steve Farr was effective for a few years (and has seemed to be forgotten among Yankees fans). Xavier Hernandez? Don't make me laugh. Wetteland seemed to always make things exciting. Mo is, by far, the best of the bunch.

Maybe they can rename the Rolaids Relief award the Mariano Rivera. Then we can log on here when we're all 70 and debate which young kid might get the Rivera this year.

Anyone remember who else (besides the X-Man) bridged the year gap between Farr and Wetteland?

I feel the way you feel, Alex: I will never see this again.

Please take guidry out of the equation. He's not comparable to rivera, gibson, or pedro for that matter. If he isn't a yankee he's just a good pitcher.