In baseball, a save is a statistic credited to a relief pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under specific circumstances. The concept of a save is essential in understanding the role that relief pitchers play in the sport. Most commonly, a pitcher earns a save by entering in the ninth inning of a game in which their team is leading by three or fewer runs and finishes the game by pitching one inning without losing the lead.
First adopted in the 1969 season, the save rule underwent amendments in 1974 and 1975, helping to shape the criteria required for a pitcher to be eligible for a save. These conditions include not being the winning pitcher and successfully maintaining their team’s lead until the end of the game. A save can only be awarded to the relief pitcher, often referred to as the closer, and highlights their impact on a game’s outcome.
Understanding the save statistic in baseball provides insight into the strategic intricacies of the sport, the importance of the closer’s role, and the art of preserving a lead. This knowledge can help deepen a fan’s appreciation for the game and paint a clearer picture of what it takes to bring home a win.
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What Is a Save in Baseball?
A save in baseball is a statistic attributed to relief pitchers, specifically those who are responsible for maintaining a team’s lead until the game’s conclusion. When a relief pitcher enters the game to replace the starting pitcher with a lead of three or fewer runs, they are presented with a save opportunity. A save demonstrates the effectiveness of a relief pitcher in preserving their team’s lead and contributing to the win.
According to the Official Rules of Major League Baseball, a relief pitcher must meet specific criteria to be awarded a save. The pitcher must maintain their team’s lead while also fulfilling at least one of the following conditions:
- Preserve the lead for at least one inning during which they are the only pitcher in the game.
- Complete the game without losing the lead, regardless of the number of innings pitched.
- Pitch for at least three innings while maintaining the team’s lead.
It is crucial to note that a relief pitcher cannot receive a save and a win during the same game. Instead, their role is primarily focused on preserving the victory for the team and ensuring the starting pitcher’s efforts don’t go to waste.
While saves are a valuable indicator of a relief pitcher’s performance, they have their limitations, as they do not account for blown saves, which occur when a relief pitcher enters a game with a save opportunity but fails to maintain the lead. As a result, the save statistic provides an essential metric for assessing relief pitchers’ abilities but should be considered alongside other measures, such as holds and blown saves, for a more comprehensive analysis.
History and Evolution of the Save Stat
In the world of baseball, the save has a rich and varied history. The save rule was first adopted for the 1969 season, and researchers have since worked through official statistics retroactively to calculate saves for all major league seasons prior to 1969. The concept of the save went through multiple changes before it was officially recognized by Major League Baseball.
Initially, the save stat was formulated in 1960 by a journalist named Jerome Holtzman, who was looking for a more accurate way to evaluate the performance of relief pitchers. Holtzman’s original version of the save rule stated that for a pitcher to get a save, they had to enter the game with the tying or winning run on the bases or at the plate and preserve the lead
In 1974, the save rule was amended, providing further clarification and requirements for it to be awarded. According to the 1974 version of the save rule, for a pitcher to get a save, they had to:
- Enter a game with the tying or go-ahead run on the bases or at the plate and preserve the lead
- Pitch three effective innings while preserving a lead.
Furthermore, despite the save stat only officially becoming a part of baseball statistics since 1969, researchers used the 1969 version of the rule to retroactively calculate saves for seasons before the stat’s implementation.
Throughout its history, the save stat has gone through various transformations and revisions, as baseball analysts and enthusiasts sought a better way to evaluate the role of relief pitchers in the sport. As it stands today, the save remains an essential statistic for analyzing and appreciating the contributions of these key players in the game of baseball.
Save Rules and Requirements
Pitcher Eligibility
A relief pitcher is eligible for a save in baseball when they meet specific requirements. The primary rule is that a pitcher cannot receive a save and a win in the same game. The relief pitcher must preserve their team’s lead and fulfill at least one of the following conditions: entering the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitching for at least one inning, or entering the game with the potential tying run on base, at bat, or on deck, or successfully maintaining the lead for three innings even if it is more than a three-run lead.
Game Situation
For a relief pitcher to earn a save, specific game situations must also be met. The pitcher’s team must be leading the game when they enter the game, and the team must eventually win the game. The pitcher must not be the winning pitcher, as they cannot receive both a win and a save in the same game. The pitcher should also face the potential tying or go-ahead run, with two exceptions.
Since its introduction in the 1969 season, the save rule has been amended to further clarify these requirements, with the current definition in place since 1975.
Notable Major League Baseball Saves Records
All-Time Saves Leaders
Mariano Rivera holds the record for the most saves in MLB history with 652 saves throughout his career. The only other player with over 600 saves is Trevor Hoffman, who recorded 601 saves in his career. Some other notable pitchers who have achieved more than 400 career saves include Lee Smith, Francisco Rodríguez, John Franco, and Billy Wagner.
Single-Season Saves Leaders
In a single season, the record for most saves in the MLB is held by Francisco Rodríguez, who recorded 62 saves for the Los Angeles Angels in 2008. Other impressive single-season saves totals include Bobby Thigpen with 57 saves for the Chicago White Sox in 1990 and Eric Gagne with 55 saves for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2003.
Regarding consecutive saves in a single season, Tom Gordon held the American League record with 54 consecutive saves for the Boston Red Sox in 1998-99. However, in 2017, Zach Britton broke this record by recording his 55th straight save on July 23rd for the Baltimore Orioles, eventually extending his streak to 60 before it ended on August 23, 2017.
The record for the longest save in World Series history belongs to Madison Bumgarner, who pitched five scoreless innings of relief in Game 7 of the 2014 World Series for the San Francisco Giants, securing a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Role of the Closer
In baseball, a closer is a relief pitcher who specializes in getting the final outs in a close game when their team is leading. The role is often assigned to a team’s best reliever, ensuring that their team maintains the lead and secures a victory. The closer is responsible for earning a save, which is a statistic credited to a relief pitcher as set forth in Rule 9.19 of the Official Rules of Major League Baseball.
Closers usually enter the game in stressful situations, as the outcomes of the games they participate in are still undecided. Their primary objective is to maintain their team’s lead and finish the game without allowing the opposing team to score more runs. They must have mental fortitude and the ability to perform under pressure, as the fate of the game often rests on their shoulders.
One key characteristic of a successful closer is their pitch repertoire. Closers often rely on a limited but highly effective set of pitches, such as fastballs, sliders, or curveballs, to overpower and deceive hitters. This allows them to quickly retire the side and preserve the lead for their team.
Due to the specialized nature of the closer role, they usually pitch only one inning, the ninth, or occasionally the eighth if the situation requires it. This allows them to focus on getting the critical final outs, while other relief pitchers can be used earlier in the game to bridge the gap between the starting pitcher and the closer.
Alternatives to Saves: Advanced Metrics
While the save is a widely recognized pitching statistic, there are other advanced metrics that offer a more comprehensive look at a pitcher’s performance in high-leverage situations. Some of these metrics include Hold and Blown Save.
Hold
A Hold is a reliever’s stat that measures their ability to protect a lead in a close game. To be credited with a hold, a pitcher must meet the following criteria:
- Enter the game in a save situation (i.e., the tying run is on base, at bat, or on deck)
- Record at least one out
- Exit the game without relinquishing the lead
Holds, as a metric, help to assess the efficiency of middle relievers and setup men, who are responsible for bridging the gap between the starting pitcher and closer. It provides a more accurate measure of their contributions to a team’s success, as it evaluates their ability to maintain leads and handle high-pressure situations.
Blown Save
A Blown Save occurs when a relief pitcher fails to secure a save opportunity. It is essentially the opposite of a save and can negatively impact a pitcher’s reputation and statistics. The criteria for a blown save are:
- Entering the game in a save situation (i.e., the tying run is on base, at bat, or on deck)
- Allowing the tying or go-ahead run to score
Blown saves can be valuable when analyzing a pitcher’s reliability and performance in high-leverage situations. By considering both saves and blown saves, a more complete understanding of a pitcher’s ability to handle pressure and protect leads can be achieved.
In conclusion, the traditional save statistic has its limitations, and incorporating additional metrics such as Hold and Blown Save can provide a more nuanced evaluation of a pitcher’s performance in critical situations within a game.