Dennis Eckersley had one of the most illustrious careers in MLB history.
A first-ballot Hall of Famer, Eck spent his first 12 seasons as a starting pitcher before becoming the game's most feared closer. The former A's great finished with 390 saves, seventh most in MLB history, and is one of just two pitchers ever to record a 20-win season and a 50-save season.
Yet as dominant as Eckersley was, he believes current A's closer Blake Treinen might be even better.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
"If I was playing nowadays, I'd probably be setting up for this guy," Eckersley told NBC Sports California. "This is ridiculous what he does. I don't know how you throw a sinker that hard -- 98 mile an hour sinker, ball sinks, ball cuts. He is a special talent."
That is high praise coming from an all-time great. Eckersley spent nine seasons with the A's, notching a remarkable 320 saves with a 2.74 ERA. His best season came in 1990 when he totaled 48 saves with a ludicrous 0.61 ERA.
Of course, Treinen's 2018 season was nearly as brilliant. Treinen finished with 38 saves and a 0.78 ERA, with 100 strikeouts in 80 1/3 innings. He became the first pitcher ever to record 30 saves and 100 strikeouts with an ERA under one.
"He seems like he's made his mark," Eckersley said. "He's comfortable doing what he's doing. And I've met the kid. (He's) a great kid. I wish him all the good luck in the world. He's nasty, man."
Oakland Athletics
[RELATED: A's starters showing true colors away from Coliseum]
Treinen still has a long way to go before he can even be mentioned in the same sentence as Eckersley, but it has to feel good to hear that type of praise from one of the best to ever do it.