Best of The Best

The Core Four, made up of Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Andy Pettite, and Jorge Posada, will live in Yankee lore for the rest of time.

Each player has managed sensational individual success. Jeter and Mariano are virtual locks to make the Hall of Fame and a convincing case can be made for Andy Pettitte. Posada's chances are unlikely but his career statistics are nothing to be ashamed of, placing him amongst the best Yankee catchers in history.

The awards and accolades that litter their shelves go well beyond individual accomplishments. The Core Four has always stayed true to the team concept. Throughout their careers, they've remained unselfish leaders with an unparalleled dedication to winning. And that they did, bringing New York five championships. But all good things come to an end. The group is on the decline and passed their prime. Well, three of them are at least.

This offseason, Andy Pettitte officially retired at the age of 38. Thirty-nine year old Jorge Posada, now the Yankees' full-time DH, is no longer the starting catcher. Last season he hit just .248 and this year he is hitting a dreaded .125. Derek Jeter's struggles are nothing new to any New York sports fan. Last year was the worst statistical season of his career and he's shown minimal signs of improvement thus far in 2011, with a .250 average and a big fat doughnut in the homerun column. Jeter is now 36 years old and, as hard as it is for most Yankee fans to admit, is rapidly on the decline. But then there's this guy named Mariano Rivera.

Rivera is 41 years old, making him the oldest of the Core Four. 2007 was a "bad" year for Mariano standards. As a 37 year old at the time, he pitched to a 3.15 ERA, the highest since his rookie season when he was mostly a starter. Everyone was crowning Joba Chamberlain the new closer. Mariano's slight dip in performance came as no shock. Normal people decline and get worse with age. But Mariano once again proved he isn't normal. He bounced back in a big way in 2008, posting a 1.40 ERA and an absurd .67 WHIP(walks plus hits per inning pitched). And he didn't slow down. His ERA was 1.76 in 2009, 1.80 last season, and 2.13 after thirteen appearances this year.

Somehow, unlike the rest of the Core Four, Mariano has gotten better with age. Pettitte has retired and Posada and Jeter, unlike Rivera, are showing us what it's like to be human. Posada is on the final year of his contract and will likely be on his couch or in a different uniform this time next season.

The Core Four is dying. But Mariano Rivera is seemingly just getting started. He is proving, once again, why is he one of the greatest athletes of this generation. Mo is truly the best of the best.