In the colorful world of baseball, there’s a lot of jargon that can trip up both beginners and even seasoned fans. One term that often elicits a quizzical glance is the “save.” So, what exactly is a save in baseball, and when is it considered as such? Let’s delve into the answers.
Firstly, a save is a statistic credited to a relief pitcher. This is the pitcher who comes into the game after the starting pitcher has been removed. The relief pitcher’s job, in essence, is to “save” the game by protecting his team’s lead until the end. The concept might seem simple, but the exact criteria for a save is slightly more nuanced.
In Major League Baseball (MLB), the official rules for a save were established in 1969. According to Rule 9.19, a relief pitcher is awarded a save when he fulfills all three of the following conditions:
1. He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team.
2. He is not the winning pitcher.
3. He qualifies under one of the following three situations:
a. He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning.
b. He enters the game, regardless of the score, with the potential tying run either on base, at bat, or on deck.
c. He pitches effectively for at least three innings.
Let’s break down these requirements a bit further.
The first condition means that the pitcher must be the last one to pitch for his team in a game that his team goes on to win. The second condition implies that the pitcher cannot be the one who was in the game when his team took the lead for good. This is typically the starting pitcher or a previous relief pitcher.
The third conditions are a little more complex. The first situation (3a) states that the pitcher must enter the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitch for at least one inning. This means that if a pitcher enters a game with a four-run lead, and his team wins, he will not earn a save, even if he pitches an inning.
The second situation (3b) is all about the potential tying run. If a pitcher enters the game with the potential tying run either on base, at bat, or on deck, then he can earn a save, regardless of the score. For example, if a pitcher enters with his team leading 7-3, but the bases are loaded (meaning the potential tying run is at bat), he can still earn a save.
The third situation (3c) is the least common way to earn a save. If a relief pitcher comes in, regardless of the score, and pitches effectively for at least three innings, he is eligible for a save.
In a nutshell, the save rule was created to credit the pitcher who steps in to maintain a lead in a pressure-packed situation. It’s a nod to the importance of this role in the team’s victory. So, the next time you’re watching a baseball game and hear the term “save,” you’ll have a clear understanding of what it takes for a pitcher to earn this accolade. While the save rule might seem complicated at first, with a little bit of knowledge, it becomes another enjoyable facet of the great game of baseball.