Eleanor Finch
In baseball, a save is a statistic awarded to a relief pitcher who enters a game under certain conditions and maintains their team's lead until the end of the game. The current definition, in place since 1975, states that a pitcher must meet four conditions to be credited with a save: they must be the finishing pitcher in a game won by their team; they must not be the winning pitcher; they must pitch for at least three innings; and they must enter the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitch at least one inning. The concept of a reliever saving a game goes back to at least 1933, but the term save was first used in 1952 and was popularised by baseball writer Jerome Holtzman in the 1960s.
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What You'll Learn
Finishing a game for the winning team
To earn a save, a relief pitcher must finish a game for the winning team under specific circumstances. Firstly, they must enter the game with their team leading by no more than three runs and pitch at least one inning without losing the lead. Secondly, they can enter the game with the tying run in one of three places: the on-deck circle, at the plate, or on the bases, and then finish the game. Lastly, they can pitch at least three innings in relief and finish the game, regardless of the number of runs their team is winning by. In all these scenarios, the relief pitcher must record the final out of the game with their team winning.
It's important to note that a pitcher cannot receive a save and a win in the same game. If a relief pitcher satisfies all the criteria for a save but does not finish the game, they may be credited with a "hold," which is not officially recognized by Major League Baseball. A "blown save" occurs when a reliever in a save situation surrenders the lead, allowing the tying run or more to score. This statistic is also not officially recognized by Major League Baseball.
Some of the most notable pitchers with a high number of saves include Mariano Rivera, formerly of the New York Yankees, with 652 saves, and Trevor Hoffman, formerly of the San Diego Padres, with 601 career saves. These pitchers exemplify the skill and consistency required to finish games and secure wins for their teams.
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Maintaining a lead
In baseball statistics, a save is awarded to a relief pitcher who successfully maintains their team's lead until the end of the game, under specific conditions. The current definition, in place since 1975, outlines four criteria that must be met for a pitcher to earn a save:
- The pitcher finishes the game for the winning team.
- The pitcher is not credited with the win.
- The pitcher enters the game with their team leading by three or fewer runs and pitches at least one inning without losing the lead. Alternatively, they can enter with the tying run in one of three places: the on-deck circle, at the plate, or on the bases.
- The pitcher must pitch for at least three innings.
It's important to note that a save situation can vary depending on the specific circumstances of the game. For instance, if a relief pitcher enters the game with their team leading by a significant margin, they may still be credited with a save even if they don't meet the exact criteria outlined above. Additionally, a blown save occurs when a reliever surrenders the lead, allowing the tying run or more to score, which is not officially recognised by Major League Baseball.
The save statistic was created by journalist Jerome Holtzman in 1959 (or the early 1960s, according to some sources) to measure the effectiveness of relief pitchers, and it has become an integral part of the game, leading to the emergence of the specialised role of the closer.
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Entering with a lead of no more than three runs
The term "save" in baseball has been in use since the 1950s, when it was used by general managers without specific parameters. It was used to refer to a pitcher who entered the game with a lead and finished off a win, regardless of the score. In the 1960s, baseball writer Jerome Holtzman gave the first specific criteria for what constitutes a save. The current definition has been in place since 1975.
A save is a statistic credited to a relief pitcher, as set forth in Rule 9.19 of the Official Rules of Major League Baseball. A relief pitcher can enter the game under certain conditions and maintain his team's lead until the end of the game. A pitcher cannot receive a save and a win in the same game.
One of the circumstances under which a relief pitcher can earn a save is by entering the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitching at least one inning. This is known as a save opportunity. The pitcher must preserve his team's lead and be the final pitcher for his team.
If a relief pitcher enters the game under these circumstances and satisfies all the criteria for a save except that he does not finish the game, he will often be credited with a hold (H). However, this is a statistic that is not officially recognised by Major League Baseball.
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$11.9
Pitching at least three innings
The criteria for a save in baseball have evolved over the years, with the current definition in place since 1975. The term "save" was used as far back as 1952, but without specific parameters, referring to a pitcher who entered the game with a lead and finished a win. Over time, the definition has been refined to include more criteria, providing a more accurate measure of a reliever's effectiveness.
It's important to note that pitching three innings alone does not guarantee a save. The other conditions outlined in Rule 9.19 must also be satisfied. These conditions include being the finishing pitcher in a game won by your team, entering the game with a lead of no more than three runs, and handling high-pressure situations effectively.
The three-inning rule for saves has been a consistent element in the evolution of baseball's relief pitching strategy. Initially, relievers were used in all close-game situations, pitching for two or three innings or more. However, starting in the 1980s, the trend shifted towards using the best relievers for shorter, one-inning outings. This strategy has prompted discussions about the effectiveness of relievers and the impact of save statistics on pitching strategies.
In summary, pitching at least three innings is a significant aspect of earning a save in baseball. It showcases a pitcher's stamina and ability to sustain their team's advantage. However, it is just one part of the criteria for a save, and understanding the broader context of the game's dynamics and the other conditions outlined in Rule 9.19 is essential for a comprehensive understanding of save opportunities.
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Entering with the tying run in one of three places
A relief pitcher can earn a save if they enter the game with the tying run in one of three places: the on-deck circle, at the plate, or on the bases. In this scenario, the relief pitcher must still finish the game without their team losing the lead. If the tying run is scored by a runner who was already on base when the reliever entered the game, the reliever will be charged with a blown save.
The concept of a reliever "saving" a baseball game for a starting pitcher goes back a long way. The term "save" was being used as far back as 1952, and the statistic was created by journalist Jerome Holtzman in 1959 (or 1960, according to another source) to measure the effectiveness of relief pitchers. The save rule was first adopted for the 1969 season, and amended for the 1974 and 1975 seasons.
The criteria for a save have evolved over time. As initially defined in 1969, a relief pitcher could earn a save if they entered the game with their team in the lead and held the lead through the end of the game, regardless of the score or how long they pitched. This produced some especially easy saves.
Today, a relief pitcher can also earn a save by entering a game in which their team is leading by three or fewer runs and finishing the game by pitching at least one inning without losing the lead. Alternatively, they can pitch at least three innings in relief and finish the game, regardless of how many runs their team was winning by when they entered.
In all scenarios, the relief pitcher must record the final out of the game with their team winning. A pitcher cannot receive a save and a hold in the same game, nor can they receive a save and a win.
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