What's an acceptable saves to blown saves ratio for a closer?

Question

.300 is the benchmark for a good hitter.
3.00 ERA is a good pitcher/starter.
Is there a benchmark for the closer?

OPS is more a measure of a slugger, not a hitter imo

Answer 1

About 6:1. Look at Paplebon this year. He is having an outstanding year, yet he has 2 BS to 25 or so saves. So an outstanding year is still 12:1. Last year Rivera had one of the best years of his career 43 saves and 4 or 5 BS. That's still 10:1, 8:1. 8:1 is actually outstanding 40 saves to 5 blown. If you can get a reliever to covert 30 out of 35 save opportunities, he is a solid closer.

Answer 2

I'd say that the 3.00 ERA is a bit low for the current times with steroids, etc... I'd say raise that by at least 1/2 a point.

As far as a closer goes I think a good closer will blow about 1 out of 15 saves, an acceptable margin is somewhere in the 1 to 10 area, where as bad would be 1 to 7 or worse.

Just my opinion on that one.

Answer 3

I don't think there's necessarily a rate that equates well for a closer. The reason is that a .300 batting average or 3.00 ERA tell you something, but a given ration in saves tells little.

An example:

Player A goes 9 for 10 in saves. In 8 of those games, he came in with a 3-run lead, and in the other two he had a one-run lead. He held all of the 3-run leads, and blew one of the one-run leads.

Player B goes 7-for-10 in saves. In 9 of those games, he comes in with a one-or-two run lead, and in several of them, he inherits runners in scoring position with none or one out. He holds all of his two-and-three run leads, but blows three saves by allowing inherited runners to score.

In the scenario I gave, Player A has the higher save %, but probably isn't as good as Player B. I think other measures - ERA, inherited runners scoring, etc., are better measures than an arbitrary percentage that doesn't take into account the situation.

One other note - a .300 average is good, but it doesn't mean someone is a good hitter. You should really use OBP or OPS instead of BA if you're evaluating someone.

Answer 4

Typically for a closer, an ERA under 1.50 and ratio of .800 constitutes an ACE closer.
A save is given with a lead of 3 runs or less, an ERA of 1.50 allows for error while getting the job done. 4 saves in 5 chances is an acceptable if not exceptional rate of efficiency.
this is why guys who are saving 24 or 25 out of 27 to 30 oppertunities are getting huge contracts.

Answer 5

I wouldnt say there is really a ratio because it would depend on how many save opportunities a closer will have. The worst team in baseballs closer wont have as many save opportunities so if he blew three and so did Bobby Jenks who had three times the amount of saves it means he is much worse even though they both only blew three saves.

Answer 6

about 10:1 or 15:1

Answer 7

When its your team and the games on the line, a blown save is never acceptable.

I would think (and this is just my opinion), that they need to save over 95%; otherwise, why are they a CLOSER.

Answer 8

i would say 1o saves toa blown save wouldnt be bad

Answer 9

I would consider 85% good.

Answer 10

ten to one sounds good