MLB: Ranking the Top 10 Closers in Baseball Right Now

# 6 – Mariano Rivera – New York Yankees.

Age: 43

2012 Stats: 2.16 ERA / 8 K’s / 5 Saves / 0.96 WHIP / 8.1 IP.

Career Stats: 2.21 ERA / 1119 K’s / 608 Saves / 1.00 WHIP / 1219.2 IP.

Apr 19, 2012; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera throws a pitch during the game against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Farrell/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

The man. The legend. The all-time saves leader of Major League Baseball with six hundred eight of them, Mariano Rivera is without a doubt the best closer in baseball history:

Five-time World Series Champion, twelve-time All-Star, three-time Major League saves leader (1999, 2001, and 2004), and 1999 World Series MVP, Mariano “Mo” Rivera is more than just the best closer in the game‘s history; he’s one of the best players of all time.

But as historically dominating as he is during the regular season, he’s even better during the postseason: in 141.0 innings of postseason play, he has only given up an unbelievably low eleven earned runs, and has a record of 8-1 with forty two saves during postseason play.

The reason he is so low on this list, is because of his age, and recent string of injuries. He‘s had a rough spring, and is currently experiencing mysterious headaches, though the team isn‘t worried in the least bit.  So with him having an otherwise impervious track record for staying healthy, we just don’t know how he will fare upon entering 2013, though I am betting on him to make a full comeback for what has been confirmed to be the Yankee great’s final season in Major League Baseball.

With six hundred eight saves in eighteen seasons of service, what more could you ask for from one of the all-time greats?

As the season progresses, I’m sure we’ll see the Mariano Rivera of old hold down the fort one last time.