what exactly is a save in baseball?

Question

how many runs does a team need to be up to for the closer to get a save, sometimes i see them get saves other times they dont?

Answer 1

The official scorer shall credit a pitcher with a save when such pitcher meets all four of the following conditions:
(a) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team;

(b) He is not the winning pitcher;

(c) He is credited with at least a third of an inning pitched; and

(d) He satisfies one of the following conditions:
(1) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning;

(2) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batters he faces); or

(3) He pitches for at least three innings.

Answer 2

Alright... there are a couple scenarios in which a pitcher may receive a save.

First, the most commonly known one: a pitcher receives a save if he enters the game with his team up by 3 runs. There isn't a rule about how many innings he can pitch, but he can't get credited with the win if he get's credited with a save. If the pitcher gives up the game-tying run, he can not get the save. Also, only the team's final pitcher of a game may earn a save. And a little random note: the home team's pitcher can't earn a save if the home team trails after the 8th inning; this is because, since the home team bats last, the home team will never be able to bat again during the course of the game AND have the lead; therefore the home team will not have a lead, or a save situation.

Second, a pitcher can get the save if he enters the game and his team has a lead of more than 3 runs. If a pitcher enters the game with a lead of more than 3 runs, he can get the safe if the potential game tying run is on deck. If you aren't familiar with this lingo, take the following example:

Francisco Rodriguez enters the game with a 6-2 lead in the 9th inning with men on first and second base [for example]. In save situations, you assume that all the runners score. If Rodriguez allose those two baserunners to score by whatever means, it would be 6-4. Then, you have the batter, who, assuming he hits a home run or scores somehow, it would be 6-5. The man on deck is the batter who will bat after the current batter. Assuming that he gets up to bat and hits a home run, it would be 6-6. Therefore, the man on deck is the potential game-tying run, which means that he would be the tying run assuming all players ahead of him (and himself) score.

Based on this, that means that if a pitcher enters the game with a 6+ run lead (eg. 7-1), he can't get a save. If the bases were loaded, and they all score, it would be 7-4. Then the batter makes it 7-5. The man on deck would make it 7-6, but that doesn't tie the game; therefore, he isn't the potential game-tying run, eliminating a save opportunity in this particular scenario.

There are still some arguments about what is considered a save and what isn't; some people think that the pitcher who pitched the last inning of a game for the winning team, regardless of score, should be credited with a save. However, Major League Baseball marks a save as meeting either of the above requirements.

I really hope this cleared it up for you. Let me know if you have any more baseball-related questions!!!

Answer 3

The team the pitcher comes in for usually the 9th inning he can even come in relief in the 7th but must stay through the entire game to get the save when the team he pitches for has a max lead of 3 and the team doesn't tie it up or get the lead he gets the save

Answer 4

Stacey has quoted MLB Rule 10.19, which tells you everything you need to know.

Most saves are types (d)(1) or (d)(2), but there are a few (d)(3) saves now and then.

Think of a save, qualitatively, as a successful pitching closure to a relatively tight game. The save opportunity completely depends on the status of the game at the moment the relief pitcher first takes the mound. Final score does not matter as long as the lead is never relinquished.

Answer 5

The pitcher can have a max lead of 3 runs going into the 9th inning in order for it to be a save situation. And he must not allow any runs that would tie the game or win it for the other team, then it would not be a save. The starting pitcher can not get the save.

Answer 6

I was going to answer your question but I couldn't give a better answer then Stacey gave