2008-09-10T07:12:34-04:00 2008-09-09T11:22:57-04:00 17 2008-09-10T06:39:47-04:00 1 2 10 2008-09-09T20:48:16-04:00 2 CA piggythewonderdog Palo Alto 520039 The "Save" is a meaningless statistic the way relievers are used today. I argue for the creation of a new statistic: LIABL - "Late Inning Appearance Blown Lead" - which accounts for any blown lead by any pitcher (closer or set-up man) who appears in a late inning (7th/8th/9th). This way you can legitimately track the performance of any pitcher who appears from the bullpen as to their real effectiveness. Because, ultimately, the real purpose of any relief pitcher is to not blow a lead, isn't it? 2706101 2008-09-09T20:46:40-04:00 2 CA piggythewonderdog Palo Alto 520039 The "Save" is a completely meaningless statistic the way relievers are being used today. I'm arguing for a new statistic to be created: "LIABL" (Late Inning Appearance Blown Lead" to track ANY relief pitchers who blow a lead per appearance in the 7th, 8th, 9th innings. This is a much more important measure of the effectiveness of a relief pitcher - because isn't the main purpose of a reliever to not blow a lead? 2706039 2008-09-09T18:34:20-04:00 1588 FL giftedkid527 Jacksonville 197463 And Gagne's stretch was during the golden era of the save, he was never alone in having 50 saves, as john smoltz, and rod beck, and trevor hoffman were all equally dominant. in fact, in 2003, the only year gagne was perfect, smoltz put up better numbers, 1.12 era to 1.2 and .87 whip against a 1.25 2704988 2008-09-09T18:29:35-04:00 1588 FL giftedkid527 Jacksonville 197463 The problem with statistics is that almost none of them have the power to rank players by ability. THere aren't really any player ranking stats in any sports. Saves define the ability to not lose the game for your team, and nothing else. It does not give tjhe best pitcher, or anything like that. Neither does wins for a starter, or batting average for a batter. You have to take the stat for what it represents, and no one in the history of baseball has saved more games in a year, so yeah, its impressive. 2705001 2008-09-09T18:26:49-04:00 1588 FL giftedkid527 Jacksonville 197463 Mike GOnzalez Of the Braves has also not blown a save, where does he rank? 2704979 2008-09-09T16:59:52-04:00 1 TX David Ogrin New Braunfels 171091 The MLB saves record is a legitimate record because in the evolution of the game the ability to finish a game and preserve a lead has become important. As late as the Bob Gibson era starters also finished. Nowadays every team has the formula: starter for 6 or 7, set up man, closer. What is more important about K-Rod is he is fun to watch. He has some special electric stuff that is fun to watch. His stuff is as fun to watch as Lincecum in SF, Volquez in Cincy, Marmol is Chicago, and a young Rivera in NY. 2704344 2008-09-09T14:40:58-04:00 17 Ca Flipper23 Irvine 102290 If you have seen K-Rod pitch this year you would realize the save is an over rated stat. He is going to be the all time single seaon leader, and he is just an above average closer not a great one. What other record can you be just above average and hold the all time single season record. Homeruns? Batting Average? RBIs? It is a silly record. 2702610 2008-09-09T14:14:19-04:00 30 CA Czechvarmander Beverly Hills 198457 Lidge is having an excellent year as well, but blown saves aren't really any more informative. That just means that Lidge has been lucky enough to only allow runs when his team has been winning by more than one. I suppose you could argue that Lidge bears down more when the game is closer, but no pitcher has ever been shown to be consistently able to control when they give up runs. 2702331 2008-09-09T14:06:56-04:00 1 PA Mayspot20 Paoli 519583 lidge is the best closer this year and here is why: HE HASN'T BLOWN A SAVE!... K Rod has a ridiculous amount of opportunities. Lidge has over 30 saves and hasn't blown one of them. Is their even a question to who has been the most dominant? 2702229 2008-09-09T14:01:23-04:00 30 CA Czechvarmander Beverly Hills 198457 Saves are such a context sensitive stat. K-Rod is an excellent closer, but not better than Nathan this year, and is pry 3rd or 4th overall. The fact he is going to break Thigpens' record has everything to do with the fact he will also demolish the record for save opportunities due to the Angels playing in so many close games. Kudos to a great year for K-Rod, but far from a historic one. 2702114 17 Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez is closing in on Bobby Thigpen's single-season saves record of 57 set in 1990 with the Chicago White Sox, but K-Rod's march on history has garnered far less attention than other recent record-chases. Certainly the save lacks the impact of a home run, or the easily understood meaning of base hits, both of which have seen long-standing records fall in recent years. But there is no denying that K-Rod's acheivement will be historic and could last in the record books even longer than Thigpen's mark did. So tell us: is this an impressive record at all? Where does the saves record rank among baseball's most hallowed single-season records? Will K-Rod's record outlast Thigpen's? 2165 18 NY The SI Staff New York City 21244