Why is this not a blown save opportunity?

[Ducky]

My team is leading 3-0 on the road going into the bottom of the ninth. My reliever, Todd Worrell comes in and proceeds to give up three singles and a grand slam to blow the game 4-3.

It was not recorded as a blown save. I have seen some very strange things recorded as blown saves, but I have never seen an obvious one like this not called a blown save.

Mike

[GREGKOESTER]

He just came in with a lead and blew it. He didn't come in having a save opportunity. Nobody on base. He didn't pitch 3 innings. No save opportunity when he came in the game.

[Ducky]

I used to be really good on the rules of major league baseball and I have always thought that if a reliever comes into a game with a three run or less lead in the 9th inning and doesn't hold it, it is a blown save. Can someone tell me if I am right or wrong.

Mike

[GREGKOESTER]

You are correct. here is what the rules say.

In baseball statistics, the term save (abbreviated SV) 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 a statistic credited to a relief pitcher, as set forth in Rule 10.19 of the Rules of Baseball. That rule states

The official scorer shall credit a pitcher with a save when such pitcher meets all four 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 is credited with at least a third of an inning pitched; and
(4) He satisfies one of the following conditions:

(a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches at least one inning;
(b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat or on deck; or
(c) He pitches for at least three innings.

If the pitcher surrenders the lead at any point, he cannot get a save, but he may be credited as the winning pitcher if his team comes back to win (a so-called vulture 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.

Save rules have changed over the years; the above rules are taken from the Official Baseball Rules 2007.

The save is defined in Section 10.19 of Major League Baseball Official Rules. The statistic was formally introduced in 1970, although research has identified saves earned prior to that point.

A blown save (abbreviated BS or B) is charged to a pitcher who enters a game in a situation which permits him to earn a save (a 'save situation'), but who instead allows the tying run to score. Note that if the tying run was scored by a runner who was already on base when the new pitcher entered the game, that new pitcher will be charged with a blown save even though the run (and earned run) will not be charged to the new pitcher, but rather to the pitcher who allowed that runner to reach base.

If that same pitcher also allows the winning run to reach base and score, as with any other similar situation, if his team does not come back to win the game, said pitcher will be charged with both the loss and a 'blown save.' The blown save is not an officially recognized statistic, but many sources keep track of them. Blown saves have been tracked since 1988. Once a pitcher blows a save, he is no longer eligible to earn a save in that game (since the lead that he was trying to "save" has disappeared), although he can earn a win if his team regains the lead. For this reason, most closers' records include few wins. Closers make the majority of their appearances with their team ahead, so a loss usually includes a blown save.

If a pitcher enters a game in a save situation (for a team leading by three runs or fewer) in an inning which is not the last (e.g. in a regulation 9-inning home game, pitching the top of the 8th), and his team later scores one or more run(s) to extend their lead beyond three runs, then as long as the same pitcher pitches until the end of the game, he is still credited with the save. As the various roles of relief pitchers have changed since the 1960s, closers who often pitch two or more innings have become increasingly rare; although exceptions remain.

A pitcher also cannot create his own save situation. For instance, if he enters the game with a lead too large for a save, he would not make himself eligible for a save by surrendering enough runs to contract the lead to within save range. It must be a save situation when he enters the game, or he will not be able to earn one.

A notable occurrence of the '3 innings pitched' save scenario is the save earned by Wes Littleton in the Texas Rangers' 30-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on August 22, 2007. Wes Littleton entered the game in the 7th inning, when the Rangers had a 14-3 lead. The Rangers subsequently scored an additional 16 runs, resulting in the final 27-run margin. However, despite the final score of the game, because Wes Littleton pitched the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings, he was credited with the save (giving up only two hits and no runs in the process).

[Ducky]

Thanks for posting the save rules. Much appreciated.

Mike

[Palanion]

It should be a blown save.

Was Worrell the ONLY pitcher in the ninth? Did he come in with no outs and no one on base?

Strange.

[writerchris]

I agree under the current rules he should have been tagged with both a blown save and a loss. The rules also say that blown saves have only been tracked since 1988 so perhaps since it is only 1986 that's why he didn't have one.

[Ducky]

[quote:3e8c7b4347="Palanion"]It should be a blown save.

Was Worrell the ONLY pitcher in the ninth? Did he come in with no outs and no one on base?

Strange.[/quote:3e8c7b4347]

He entered the ninth with a 3-0 lead. Nobody on base no outs. He gave up a single, struck out the next hitter, then two more singles and a grand slam. Game over.

Mike

[cymaddux31]

[1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team;
(2) He is not the winning pitcher;
(3) He is credited with at least a third of an inning pitched; and
(4) He satisfies one of the following conditions:

(a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches at least one inning;

All of those conditions WERE met, the game should should have credited worrell with a Blown Save.

[cbcox2003]

I would say this is why it is not a blown save, the league is a 1986 league correct? As someone said above, the save rules have changed over the years and back in 1986 if you entered the game with a 3 run lead and no one on base it was not a save situation, back then the rule was the tying run had to be on base, at the plate or on deck, with a 3 run lead it didn't fit any of those so it was not a save situation, and since the rule has always been you can't pitch yourself into a save situation, you also can't pitch yourself into a blown save. He gets the loss, but nothing more.

This is all assuming that the 1986 leagues are using 1986 rules of course.