The closer is either the most loved or hated member of the baseball team depending on the situation

Hells Bells played for Trevor Hoffman and his 601 saves. Lights Out, Mariano Rivera. A lot of these images come to mind when describing a great closing reliever in baseball when he's hot. When he's not a closer is the biggest bum or jerk in the world to a baseball fan because he blew the game of the fan's favorite team. John Axford of the Brewers faced this situation again Monday night. He gave up the tying run in the ninth inning after giving up a crushing game winning three run homer to the Reds on opening day.

But if he gets hot and has several big saves in a row he'll become the hero again. For example Eric Gagne had over 80 straight saves with the Dodgers but by the time he got to the Brewers he was blowing leads so he wasn't useful anymore. That is the life of a baseball closer who only pitches an inning or two a day but must have the shortest memory in the world when he pitches again tommorow.