It wasn’t that Yankees fans rejected John Smoltz. It’s that Mariano Rivera doesn’t belong inside comparisons.
When Billy Wagner praised Smoltz by saying, “Facing Mariano, facing Hoffman, facing myself… we were nothing compared to John Smoltz. He’s what every closer wanted to be like,” the baseball world heard admiration.The Bronx heard something else.
Not disrespect. Not even a slight. Just an unnecessary comparison involving a player whose legacy New York considers beyond debate.
Billy Wagner on John Smoltz as a Closer.
“Facing Mariano, facing Hoffman, facing myself…
We were nothing compared to John Smoltz.”“He’s what every closer wanted to be like.” pic.twitter.com/hZ7xNwwRHx
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) February 26, 2026
What Wagner Was Really Saying
Strip away the phrasing, and Wagner’s point is understandable. John Smoltz was a nightmare matchup when he moved to the bullpen — a Hall of Fame starter bringing a full arsenal into one-inning bursts.
His resume makes the case:
- 213 career wins
- 154 saves
- The only pitcher in MLB history with 200+ wins and 150+ saves
- 55 saves in 2002 (NL record at the time)
- 1.12 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 2003
- 15–4 postseason record with a 2.67 ERA
He didn’t just change roles. He mastered both.
From a pitcher’s perspective, that kind of versatility is the ultimate weapon — multiple pitches, multiple approaches, no obvious answer for hitters.
That’s the spirit behind Wagner calling Smoltz “what every closer wanted to be like.”
Why Rivera’s Name Changes the Conversation
Mariano Rivera isn’t evaluated on versatility.
He’s evaluated on finality.
His numbers don’t just impress — they end arguments:
- 652 saves (MLB record)
- 2.21 career ERA
- 0.70 postseason ERA
- 42 postseason saves
- Five World Series championships
- First and only unanimous Hall of Famer
He recorded at least 25 saves in 15 consecutive seasons. He posted an ERA under 2.00 in 11 different years.
And he did it with one pitch — a cutter every hitter knew was coming and still couldn’t solve.
That’s why the reaction in New York isn’t about rejecting Smoltz. It’s about protecting a standard Rivera established.
Two Different Forms of Dominance
Smoltz’s greatness was versatility.
Rivera’s greatness was inevitability.
One overwhelmed hitters with options.
The other ended games with certainty.
Those aren’t competing legacies. They’re different definitions of dominance.
But once Rivera’s name enters a comparison, nuance disappears. Yankees fans aren’t evaluating arsenals — they’re remembering handshakes after October victories.
Why Yankees Fans Won’t Buy the Comparison
This isn’t about dismissing Smoltz. His career stands among the most unique and successful in baseball history.
It’s about the fact that Rivera didn’t just excel at the role — he defined it.
The AL Reliever of the Year Award bears his name. His postseason ERA still looks unreal. His entrance music became synonymous with the end of a game.
So when Wagner included Rivera in that comparison, the focus shifted from appreciating Smoltz to revisiting a debate New York considers settled.
The Truth That Can Coexist
Billy Wagner had a valid point about John Smoltz’s uniqueness.
John Smoltz had one of the most remarkable pitching careers the sport has ever seen.
And Mariano Rivera remains the greatest closer of all time.
Those truths don’t cancel each other out.
But in the Bronx, once Rivera’s name enters the conversation, the standard isn’t up for discussion — it’s already been set.
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