MLB stat question

[Reality]

Interesting (to me) read on the save today

http://mvn.com/mlb-stats/2008/09/03/holds-saves-and-blown-saves/#more-611

Interesting article, and it does support the Bill James philosophy.  It also shows that Mariano Rivera is the best relief pitcher in baseball last 5 seasons, and Joe Nathan is #2.

I also am of the opinion that an effort are more effectively applying inherited runners scored to ERA would be a positive change.  I have always had a problem with that, and the fact that starting pitchers get 100% of the "cost" of the inherited runner, while the relief pitcher who actually allowed the run to score absorbs no "cost".  Early this year Hideki Okajima looked awesome, based upon ERA, but when you included inherited runners scored he was actually pretty marginal.

Agree 100%
Well my golden boy holder got lit up last night, blew a 6-5 lead to 7-6.  Angels rookie Jose Arredondo.
Altho zig would you and others who understand the true meaning of middle and late relief please tell my why on this planet does Mike Socia keep giving Justin Speier game after game at crucial points?  I'm all for giving a guy on the skids a second and third chance.  Do it in a 9-1 blowout game, not a tie or one run late inning game.  RRrrrrrr.

jemagoo i completely agree with you about when to put the best reliever in.  Going all the way back to the Skankees facing the Braves.  Bubba Cox would get 6/7 great innings out of ancient Maddox/Glavine but then would fail to bring in Rockhead at crucial juncture, instead as you mentioned *saving* him for a last inning lead that was long blown by then. 

[Reality]

Not every appearance is a save opportunity. 
Lead by 3 runs or less;
ahead by more than 3 runs and the leading run (or tying not sure which) is in the in deck circle;
These are save opportunities, no others are.

Wolf There's a third and final way to earn a save: if you're not the winning pitcher and have pitched for at least three innings.

So how did Hoffman get a *save* tonight?
Padres ahead 5-2 after 8 complete innings, Heath Bell pitching the entire 8th for the Padres.
Hoffman came in for the 9th inning only.  Started the 9th (thus no men on base, duh).
Got three outs.
Recorded as his 28th save.
http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=280904108

[Reality]

zig so because the Pads were ahead by "3 runs or less", Hoffman gets a *save* just for pitching the 9th?

[ziggy]

zig so because the Pads were ahead by "3 runs or less", Hoffman gets a *save* just for pitching the 9th?

Yup, thats the rule

[Reality]

4 run leads count too? 
How did F-Rod get a save for throwing 4 pitches, getting the only guy he faced out in a game the Angels led entering the 9th 7-3?  Because the tying run was on the on deck circle?
 
J Bulger pitching for Angels
J Hamilton walked. 
M Bradley flied out to right.
M Byrd struck out swinging. 
H Blalock singled to center, J Hamilton to third.
F Rodriguez relieved J Bulger.
N Cruz flied out to left.

Saturday, September 20th
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=280920113

[Derek Bodner]

Because the tying run was on the on deck circle?

Yes.

To get a save:
   1. He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team
   2. He is not the winning pitcher
   3. He satisfies one of the following conditions:
         1. He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs.
         2. He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, at bat or on deck
         3. He pitches for at least three innings