Closer: Major League Players Reveal the Inside Pitch on Saving the Game

<br><p>The closer is the ace reliever who specializes in closing out the game without surrendering the lead. Facing a power hitter in the ninth inning with a man on base and no outs takes nerves of steel. The pressure on the mound is intense. It takes a special breed to hold it together in these situations. Legendary manager Tony LaRusso said &quot;Sure, games can get away from you in the seventh and eighth, but those last three outs in the ninth are the toughest.&quot;</p><br><p>It wasn't until the creation of &quot;the save,&quot; the successful maintenance of a lead by a relief pitcher, in 1960 that the position of closer began to rise in prominence. Today, closers are seen as some of the most intense athletes in all of sports.</p><br><p>Neary and Tobin explore the unique personalities of major leagues' most prominent relief pitchers from Bruce Sutter (Cubs, Cardinals, and Braves) to Mariano Rivera (Yankees) . <i>Closer</i> is an insider's look into the role of the closing pitcher, how the position has evolved, and how legends - Trevor Hoffman, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley, John Smoltz, Rich &quot;Goose&quot; Gossage, Mariano Rivera, Brian Fuentes, and many more - coped with the stress on the mound such as when facing the .340 batter in the bottom of the ninth with only a one run lead.</p><br>