It is the ninth inning and there's a lead to protect. Who are you going to call? Here are Steve Kornacki's choices from current closers and the top firemen in the history of the game and the Detroit Tigers' franchise.
All-time closers 1. Mariano Rivera
Nobody has closed out as many big games. He puts the look of defeat into the eyes of opponents.
2. Dennis Eckersley
He was tough to pick up with his unorthodox delivery and finished in the top six in MVP voting six times, winning that award and the Cy Young Award with 51 saves in 1992.
3. Trevor Hoffman
The career saves leader with 554. His .868 save conversion rate is better than Rivera's or any Hall of Famer, but in the postseason he's 1-2 with a 3.46 ERA.
4. Rollie Fingers
The Swingin' A's were the Winnin' A's because of the moustache man. He was MVP and won the Cy Young Award for Milwaukee Brewers in 1981.
5. Goose Gossage
Perhaps the most imposing closer of all-time. Finished in Cy Young Award voting top six five times.
Current closers
1. Mariano Rivera , New York Yankees
Easily the leader among active players with 482 saves and second on the all-time list.
2. Francisco Rodriguez , New York Mets
Set the single-season record of 62 saves with the Angels in 2008, and led the American League in three of the past four years.
3. Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies
His career was in rapid decline before going 48-for-48 in regular season and postseason save situations for 2008 World Series champions.
4. Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox
Has 35-plus saves in three consecutive years, and has yet to be scored upon in 16 postseason games covering 25 innings.
5. Jose Valverde, Houston Astros
He led the National League the past two years with 44 saves in 2008 with the Astros and 47 in 2007 for the Diamondbacks.
Detroit Tigers closers
1. Guillermo "Willie" Hernandez
The 1984 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner was a three-time All-Star.
2. Todd Jones
The "Rollercoaster," as announcer Ernie Harwell called him, holds the club record for single-season (42 in 2000) and career (235) saves.
3. John Hiller
Led the American League with 38 saves in 1973, finishing fourth in MVP and Cy Young voting.
4. Mike Henneman
His 154 saves are second in club history. He had four consecutive seasons with 20 saves from 1990-93.
5. AL Benton
He led the American League with 17 saves for the 1940 American League champions in an era when pitchers often went the distance.
Honorable mention: Aurelio "Senor Smoke" Lopez, 1979-85, and Terry Fox, 1961-66.
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