Here Comes Mariano

With all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman retiring today, the active leader in that department is the Yankees Mariano Rivera with 559.
The Great Mariano is 42 saves behind Hoffman who finished with 601 saves. 42 happens to be Rivera's number by the way.
Six times in his career, Rivera has notched 43 saves or more. He's been the Yankees full-time closer for 14 seasons so he has a .429 percent chance of passing Hoffman in 2011.
While I wanted Hoffman to end his career with an even 600 saves, I'm hoping Rivera ends up with a lot more than 600. Even at 41, Rivera looks and pitches like he's 28. He hasn't changed a bit.
The Yankees have been blessed over the years with some pretty good relief pitchers. Just in my lifetime, the Yankees have had Lindy McDaniel, Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, Dave Righetti, John Wetteland and of course Mariano.
Yankees fans shudder to think of the day that a game is on the line and they don't hear the sounds of The Sandman coming from the loudspeakers. Yes, someday Rivera will retire. Yankees fans can only hope that is in about, oh, 10-years or so!