Why Jonathan Papelbon Signing With The Phillies Is Good News For MetsFans

Think about the great closers over the past ten or twenty years.

Now, think about how many years they were great.

What you will find is that outside of a select few, even the best closers were not able to maintain a high level of success for a long period of time.

Take a look at this list:

CLOSER	YEARS OF “GREATNESS”
Joe Nathan	7
Jason Isringhausen	8
Chad Cordero	4
B.J. Ryan	5
Armando Benitez	8
Robb Nen	9
Keith Foulke	6
Francisco Rodriguez	9
Eric Gagne	3
Francisco Cordero	10
Antonio Alfonseca	4
Jeff Shaw	6

*To qualify for a “great” year, you had to  have one of 20+ saves, a sub three ERA or a K/9 greater than nine in a particular season.

Dillon Gee Shuts Down Nationals

Mets beat the Nationals 1-0, and are just one game under .500.

• Dillon Gee went 7.2 great innings, giving up just two hits, striking out three and walking three. Gee had a no-hitter going through the first 5.2 innings before Livan Hernandez broke it up in the sixth inning.

• Justin Turner continued to be productive at the plate, driving in the team's lone run in the fourth inning.

• Even Jason Bay had a good day, going 3-4.

• Francisco Rodriguez recorded his 14th straight save of the season, and has not allowed a run in 18 innings pitched.

Next up: The Yankees head cross town to take on the Yankees for a weekend series. The Mets will send R.A. Dickey to the mound in the series opening Friday night.