They are supposed to be the baseball equivalent of a seal, that little bit of wax poured onto a finished letter and pressed with a stamp to denote that which is finished. Evan Gattis Jersey . Firemen. Stoppers. Closers. Whatever you want to call them, they are all the rage in the free-agent marketplace.Heres some perspective from ESPNs Jayson Stark: Dollars for Kenley Jansen, Aroldis Chapman & Mark Melancon in the last week: $228 million. Total dollars Mariano Rivera earned: $169 million.According to Cots Baseball Contracts, the contracts signed by Jansen (Dodgers, five years/$80 million), Chapman (Yankees, five years/$86 million) and Melancon (Giants, four years/$62 million) are the three largest pacts ever given to relief pitchers, not just in total contract value, but also on a per-season basis.Have teams gone collectively mad?Lets not pin this all on the high-revenue teams that ended up with this years crop of elite closers. The Marlins and Nationals also were reportedly in on the bidding, and ESPNs Jim Bowden reported that Washington offered Jansen even more than he accepted from the Dodgers.The 2016 postseason was terrific for a lot of reasons, but if not for the Cubs curse-breaking run, the thing we might remember most would be the re-introduction of the super-reliever -- that key bullpen arm that could be trotted out at the most crucial juncture of a game even if that moment fell outside the parameters of the modern save situation. Andrew Miller, Chapman and Jansen all helped cement the concept of leverage into the minds of mainstream hardball fans and recalled the days of Rollie Fingers, Goose Gossage and Bruce Sutter, when a teams best reliever was often asked to do more than lock down the ninth inning.Still, despite the continuing evolution of postseason bullpen deployment, relief pitchers in general arent any better than they were last year at this time. Baseballs development systems continue to churn out more hard throwers than ever, but all that really has changed is that there seems to be a trend away from the paint-by-numbers method of managing bullpens.Its easy to look at the windfalls received by Jansen, Chapman and Melancon and view this as a unique winter-stove season, when multiple contending teams had ninth-inning holes to fill, the games revenue is at its highest-ever peak and is projected to climb higher, and the overall free-agent class is tepid. Any one of these signings, in a vacuum, is easily justified in a December press conference, and chances are the majority of each teams fan base is thrilled about the signings. And certainly we all are relieved that Jansen wont have to find another walk-in song.Nevertheless, the odds are good that at least one, if not all three, of these contracts will turn out to be terrible values.The teams would almost certainly argue that even if the contracts eventually wont look good on a spreadsheet, that is beside the point. These were aggressive moves made by teams trying to win championships. If they do so, then some dead money down the line will be easier to digest.That may well be a valid way to look at the closer splurge. The Dodgers were two wins short of a National League pennant and Jansens ability to go multiple innings in October was a big reason why that happened. The Giants might have pushed the Cubs even harder in the NLDS if theyd had Melancon, as their second-half bullpen problems extended into the postseason.The Yankees ... well, thats a different case. Its hard to ever really call New York a rebuilding team, but the Yankees did finish fourth in the AL East last season and were outscored by 22 runs during the campaign. They stocked up on prospects at the trade deadline by dealing away Chapman and Miller, so they should have known better than anyone that an elite late-inning reliever on a good-value or expiring contract is a great trade chip to have. Thats why as good as Miller has been the last few years, hes bounced around the majors like a pinball. Chapmans new deal isnt likely to result in the same kind of trade-market cachet.That brings us back around to our seal metaphor: Closers are the last step, not the first, or even the 10th. They are the cherry on the top of the sundae. The Giants and Dodgers can make a claim that Melancon and Jansen is that to them. For the Yankees to do the same with Chapman is a stretch. Thats not to say the Yankees cant contend, but whether or not they do probably wont have much to do with Chapman, especially since the Yankees already had a quality closing candidate in Dellin Betances.Meanwhile, as the Yankees take aim at the 2018-19 free-agent class, they are locking up space under the tax threshold while hoping that Chapman retains his velocity and remains something like a foundational player. Its this last proposition that makes all of these deals suspect. Simply put, just because a closer -- any closer not named Mariano Rivera -- has been elite, it doesnt mean he will remain so. In fact, chances are, he wont.To be sure, the three closers in question have been among the most consistent in all of baseball, insofar as relief pitching is ever consistent. That perception of certainty is a big part of what drove up their respective values. All three of the signing teams better hope that this perception remains a reality.According to the free-agent listings at baseball-reference.com, there have been 182 relievers since 1976 to sign a new deal on the heels of a season in which they saved at least 10 games -- a very low bar to label someone a closer. Barely half (92) saved at least 10 games the very next season. By the third season after the signing, only 24 percent of them were still at the 10-save level, and by the fifth season, that number was down to 10 percent. Thats why were so hard on teams that sign relievers to four- and five-year deals. Few of them work out.The story remains the same if you raise the bar to 30-save guys, a level reached the season before a pitcher hit free agency 65 times over the last three decades. Of those 65 pitchers, only 45 percent hit 30 saves again the season after signing a free-agent deal. (This includes those who re-signed with the same team.) Two years out, that number was down to 25 percent. By the fifth year -- which will eventually apply to Chapman and Jansen -- only five (8 percent) were still at the 30-save level. Not one of the 65 had at least 30 saves in each of the five seasons after his signing.The save is a deeply flawed metric but, lets face it, its one of the key statistics that got these players so much money this winter, and it does more or less describe what a closer does during the regular season. Its a stat that is at least as much about context as actual performance. Thats not comforting in this case because these numbers strongly suggest that, by and large, closers tend to quickly flame out, to the extent that they arent used in save spots within a couple of years.There are always exceptions and the players who populate the all-time saves list are proof of that -- the likes of Rivera, Trevor Hoffman, Lee Smith and Billy Wagner -- who have been both consistent and durable. Its certainly possible that Jansen, Chapman and Melancon will end up on a similar path. Nevertheless, given the history of free-agent relievers, its an expensive gamble.The old axiom about free agency in any sport is that you pay not for what a player has done, but for what he is going to do. When it comes to closers and free agency, its crucial, and exceedingly difficult, to make that distinction. Alex Bregman Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2. Carlos Lee Jersey . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. http://www.astrosteamproshop.com/Astros-...nn-Kids-Jersey/ . And when it opened, every player was at his stall. Thats a sure sign that a team is in a slump and is searching for answers. "Its embarrassing to be at home and play the way we did," said defenceman Josh Gorges. DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Matt Kenseth is quickly showing how well he fits in at Joe Gibbs Racing. Kenseth passed JGR teammate Kyle Busch 13 laps from the end to win the Southern 500 on Saturday night, his third victory in his debut season after a successful stint with Roush Fenway Racing. JGR president J.D. Gibbs knew he was getting a champion in Kenseth. Still, even hes been surprised with how fast the new driver has come up to speed alongside teammates Denny Hamlin and Busch. "Hes a good leader," J.D. Gibbs said. "Denny and Kyle really like having him there and hearing what he has to say. And on the track, hes got a gift." He proved that again at Darlington, where Kenseth patiently sat behind Busch much of the race before the right adjustments to the car clicked. It didnt hurt that Busch, who led 265 of 367 laps, cut a right rear tire down the stretch that cost him. Once Kenseth cleared his teammate, he had clear sailing toward his 27th career Sprint Cup victory. "Ive got the good job and Ive got the easy job," Kenseth said. "When they give me cars this fast, its a lot of fun." Hamlin completed his first full race since suffering a compression fracture in a vertebra in his lower back on March 24 and finished right behind Kenseth. Jeff Gordon finished third in his 700th straight career start. Points leader Jimmie Johnson was fourth and Kevin Harvick fifth. Kenseths victory came without crew chief Jason Ratcliff, who was suspended for the No. 20 Toyota having an illegal part in a win at Kansas. Carl Edwards finished seventh, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Ryan Newman rounded out the top 10. "This is a dream come true," Kenseth shouted on his radio. "Thank you guys very much." Hamlin mightve thought the same thing after his second-place finish. The driver missed four races because of the injury and ran just 23 laps at Talladega last weekend handing the car off to replacement driver Brian Vickers. Hamlins finish was just what the team needed as it tries to move up from 31st place when the week began into 20th, where itd be eligible for a wild card entry into NASCARs championship chase. As Hamlin neared the end of the grueling 500 miles, crew chief Darian Grubb radioed his appreciation of the effort Hamlin put forth in his first full race back. "I am extremely proud of you there, buddy. Just an awesome job hanging with it all day," crew chief Darian Grubb radioed as they closed in on the finish. "Thank you so much. I appreciate it," Hamlin replied. Hamlin wasnt sore, just worn out after leaving the car. "This is a tough, grueling race," he said. "Nothing to hang our heads about coming up second for second year in a row." Kenseth had won three times here in the Nationwide Series, but had never come closer than third in Sprint Cup. "I dont know that Ive had a win that feels bigger than this," said Kenseth, who counts the 2003 series championship aand two Daytona 500s among his achievements. Charlie Morton Jersey. No one matched Busch for most of the race. He had powered to victory in the Nationwide event here Friday night-- leading 107 of 147 laps -- and was running strong again after taking the lead from older brother and pole-sitter Kurt Busch 74 laps in. Kyle Busch stayed on top through several stretches of green-flag racing and through the first four restarts. But his machine couldnt keep up after Kenseth went by. Crew chief Dave Rogers said Busch had a cut right rear tire and only 12 pounds of pressure left when he went into the garage. Its the 11th time Busch has led at least 200 laps in a Sprint Cup race, yet hes only won four of those. Busch left the track without comment. Hamlin, though, was pretty certain about his teammates mindset. "Yeah, he definitely wont be happy, thats for sure," Hamlin said. "But its tough when you have a car that was as dominant as his, then the last run, whatever happens happens." Kenseths win came with Wally Brown calling the shots as crew chief. Ratcliff is expected back for the next race after JGR had penalties imposed by NASCAR reduced on appeal. The best chance to defeat Busch appeared to come from Kasey Kahne, who pressured his JGR rival on the restart after the fourth caution period. Kahne looked like he had cleared Busch but the car got loose and the back end slammed the wall. Kahne was not happy with Buschs manoeuvr. "Three times this year me and Kyle had contact and I had a chance, capable-winning cars, its disappointing on the points side and not winning some of these races," Kahne said. "Whether he hit me or just blew the air off, whatever it was, he blew his entry. Im not sure what he was thinking on that." Kurt Busch had hoped to go from an upside-down finish when his car went airborne late and crash-landed on Ryan Newman at Talladega last week to his first Sprint Cup victory in two years at Darlington. He set a qualifying record to win the pole Friday and led 69 of the first 73 laps before getting passed by brother Kyle. Kurt Busch struggled to stay close during the unexpected long stretches of green-flag racing. He was sent a lap down by Kyle on lap 279 and was part of a three-car dustup about 20 laps later that also involved defending series champion Brad Keselowski and Casey Mears. There would be no joyous moment for Kurt Busch here on the 10-year anniversary of his side-by-side final lap dual with Ricky Craven as he finished 14th. Busch ended up in second, .002 seconds behind in Sprint Cups closest finish since it went to electronic timing in 1993. The late accident at Talladega opened the door for the duo from Front Row Racing, David Ragan and David Gilliland to finish 1-2 in last weeks race. The pair couldnt capitalize on that success at Darlington. Gilliland was 29th and Ragan 39th. Danica Patrick improved on her placing in her second Sprint Cup race at Darlington, finishing 28th three spots better than in 2012. 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