Mo the Great, and MVY?

Everyone is aware of Mariano Rvera's microscopic career ERA in the postseason-- 0.71.  It's incredible, remarkable, awe-inspiring, beyond belief, or any other number of synonyms that you want to use.  What I never really realized was the amount of innings Mo has pitched with that ERA--138 2/3 innings which puts him 8th all time:

While Mo's production hasn't changed
over the years, his style sure has

   

It's also within reason that Rivera will pass Whitey Ford considering that the Yankees always make the postseason and Rivera has shown no signs of slowing down (literally none, I think his success in this postseason offsets his dece-ness in September).  Whenever I hear that Mo has the best ERA I always thought in the back of my head it was on the heals of like 70 or so innings, not the 8th most ever.  I knew that Derek Jeter has had a little less than seasons worth of ABs in the postseason, so I figured Mo would too, totally wrong.  Like I said Jeter has roughly played a full season in the playoffs, 146 postseason games 595 ABs.  For Mo that would be about 65 games and 70-80 innings but he's pitched in 93 games and thrown 138 2/3 inning, essentially doubling what would be his seasonal norm, unreal.  

When people talk about the MVY (Most Valuable Yankee) since 1996 the conversation is always Mo vs. Jeter, and deservingly so.  If push comes to shove, I'm always going to side with the position player.  For 162 game season under no circumstances would you prefer the elite closer to the shortstop.  However, for the postseason it's actually likely that Mo has been more valuable.  Just look at game one of this ALCS, Ron Washington didn't use his closer Neftali Feliz in the 8th to stop the bleeding because Feliz wasn't used to doing that.  Or look at Brian Wilson in the ALDS against the Braves, blowing a game i trying to go for a 6-out save.  In both those games Mariano would have closed the door, automatic.  Also, it's not like we are comparing Mo to "ok" closers, Brian Wilson and Neftali Feliz have had truly outstanding seasons and they did something Mo just (almost) never does, blow a save or be limited to one inning.

To start a team you would be smart to take Jeter but to build a playoff team you may want to take Mariano.  I'm not sure whether that makes him more valuable but it sure makes for a great discussion.