Mariano Rivera Breaks All-Time Saves Record With Number 602

Yet, this presents a daunting challenge: How does one write about Mariano Rivera in a way that hasn’t been done before? How does one introduce a new twist when discussing a New York Yankee, a five-time world champion, a twelve-time All-Star, and the greatest regular-season and postseason closer that ever there was? I’m not a believer in the theory that every story has already been told, but with Mariano Rivera, specifically, I could buy it. He’s been a prominent player on the most prominent team every year since 1996.

I went back and forth with myself, and eventually I decided to stop looking for a new twist. Instead, I settled upon four old twists. I hope you’re not too mad.

Before Friday night, there were even some who might have argued that Hoffman was the greatest relief pitcher. Because if you measure a relief pitcher purely by saves (as “some” do), then Hoffman was the undisputed champion of relievering, with 601 saves.

He’s not the champion of saves any more. Now he’s the co-champion, and very soon he will be the non-champion, at which point it will be exceptionally difficult to argue that he’s the greatest relief pitcher. I mean, more exceptionally difficult. Since it was already exceptionally difficult.