How do saves work?

Question

When a Reliver comes in during the later innings, what makes it a save for him? Why is it not just a win for the starting pitcher?

Answer 1

In baseball statistics the term save (abbreviated SV or S) is used to indicate the successful maintenance of a lead by a relief pitcher, usually the closer, until the end of the game. A save is credited to a pitcher who fulfills the following three conditions:

1--The pitcher is the last pitcher in a game won by his team;

2--The pitcher is not the winning pitcher (for instance, if a starting pitcher throws a complete game win or, alternatively, if the pitcher gets a blown save and then his team scores a winning run while he is the pitcher of record, sometimes known as a "vulture win");

3--The pitcher fulfills at least one of the following three conditions:
3a--He comes into the game with a lead of no more than three runs.
3b--He comes into the game with the potential tying run being either on base, at bat, or on deck.
3c--He pitches for at least three innings after entering the game with a lead.

If the pitcher surrenders the lead at any point, he cannot get a save, but he is the winning pitcher if his team comes back to win. No more than one save may be credited in each game.

If a relief pitcher satisfies all of the criteria for a save, except he does not finish the game, he will often be credited with a hold.

Answer 2

Even if it is a save, there has to be a win and that means whoever gets the win gets the win AND the closer gets the save.

A save is when a reliever comes in the late innings (ex.: 9th inning) and wins the game for his team and the team wins by less than 5 runs. For example, if the closer wins the game, and the score is 6-0, then it would not be a save, but if it were 6-1 it would be a save.

Answer 3

Baseballers love statistics. Teams like statistics to measure performance. What really counts is who won the game.

The reliever gets credit for a save if the other team has a chance to tie or win the game, and the reliever stops the other team.

Sometimes stats can be misleading. If a reliever fails to save, the game gets tied, then the reliever's team wins the game in the next inning, the reliever gets credit for the win instead of being nicked for a blown save.

My all-time favorite reliever and statistic. Elroy Face of the Pittsburgh Pirates was known as the "Fireman." He came in in the late innings and threw fork balls for strikes. As a reliever he once went 17 and 0 in wins, then finished the year at 18-1. Now, that is a stat worth counting.

Answer 4

When the pitcher closes out the game with a lead of 3 runs or less

Answer 5

the starting pitcher still gets the win, but if he leaves the game and the lead he is credited with is 3 runs or less, the reliever gets a save oppurtunity. if he is relieved then the next reliever assumes the save oppurtunity. if he can successfully win the game from that point without giving up the lead, he is credited with a save. if his team loses, it is a blown save and a loss. if he loses the lead but his team comes back to win while he is still "pitching", he gets a blown save and a win.

Answer 6

The starting pitcher still gets the win, if the reliever gets the save. It just means that the reliever didn't lose the game by giving up too many runs. He came in with the lead, and simply maintained it.

Answer 7

A save is if the team that puts in the reliever is down by two runs or less, and the reliever "saves" the game by keeping the other team from getting the two runs.

Answer 8

vski212 is right