Mariano Rivera is still the best closer in baseball. Sometimes it takes a near disaster like the 9th inning yesterday, to make you realize how good Rivera is.

With the Yanks up 2-0 and Rivera on the mound you thought the game was going to over. One thing you learn from watching Yankees-Red Sox is that it’s NEVER over until the final out is recorded, no matter what the score is and what the situation is. That’s what makes baseball so great. That’s what makes this rivalry so great. So Rivera hits two guys, gives up two hits, one run and the bases are loaded and no one out. He strikes out Coco Crisp, gets Jason Varitek to pop up, and strikes out Julio Lugo. He did all that with the same calm, expressionless demeanor he always carries.

For a moment in the 9th inning you could see Rivera was worried. Dave Eiland came out and spoke to the Yankee closer and the rest of the infield. Whatever was said during that trip to the mound, it apparently worked. What makes Rivera so great is he is never afraid. His mental approach is what seperates him from the rest. Instead of panicking, he faced his situation and went toe-to-toe with the next three Red Sox hitters. The end result…a Yankees victory and another save for Mariano.

It’s easy to take Rivera for granted for everything he does. He makes it look so easy and he’s done it for so long, you just expect him to flawless. He’s as close to automatic as anything you’ve ever seen in baseball, so you should never worry about Mariano. Sure, if the Yanks lost that game yesterday, then it would have been probably the most devastating loss of the year. I, for one did not think Rivera could possibly blow that game yesterday. Even with the bases loaded and no one out, I knew Rivera would get through it. Why? Because once you get past the panic and the nerves, you realize that Rivera is the game’s best, not just now….but of ALL TIME. Maybe Eiland reminded Mo of this, maybe Mo reminded himself, but he got the job done. He made it exciting but never doubt the game’s best.