Daniel Bard (Boston/Tampa Bay game 8/4/09)

[SportsChick]

Well, in he came, and blew the save... betcha Paps could do that

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Waiting for a rant from Maine in 5.....4.....3......2......1

[Sunstroke]

Nah...I'm sure Paps would have blown the save with much more efficiency.

[SportsChick]

It was only the 8th inning, so technically not a blown save, but a tight game (2-1) that he came in a blew

[MaineDolFan]

When did the 8th inning become a save opportunity?

The kid had gone almost 13 innings without giving up a run.  In those 13 innings he gave up six hits and two walks and striking out 14.  I think I can give the kid a pass for giving up one run against a quality team on the road. 

All done by a kid that last year had just been called up from low A ball to AA...and hasn't spent a full season at any one level of the minors. 

But that's just silly 'ol me.  What do I know?  I'm just a guy that looks at Boston loading the bases in the 8th...9th...11th...all with zero to no outs...and can't get one run across.  And then that same team has a 37 year old reliever on the mound with over 30 pitches on the night, with 1st open, and pitches to Longoria.

And why was Saito in?  Boston's six million dollar man Papelbon can't go two innings with a thin bullpen?  I guess I could cut the guy some slack.  He did pitch a whole inning FOUR DAYS EARLIER.  Sheez.  I mean the guy has pitched three whole innings in the past seven days.  His arm must be ready to fall off.  Poor guy.  Let's run Saito out there instead! 

Papelbon looked really dominate last night.  And he tosses one inning?  One?  On the type of rest the guy has had lately?  Getting yanked isn't his fault, that one is on Tito.  Knowing Papelbon has was actually pissed that he got pulled, he only needed 17 pitches to get through his inning.  Saito never should have been on the mound.

Not that it matters...Boston left eight RISP between the 8th and 12th last night with 1 out or less.

Yeah, but let's blame the kid on this one.

[Rick]

When did the 8th inning become a save opportunity?

Saves:
Rule 10.20 in the Official Rule Book states:
Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions:
(1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and
(2) He is not the winning pitcher; and
(3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions:
- (a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or
- (b) 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 batsmen he faces; or
- (c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.

http://mlb.com/mlb/official_info/about_mlb/rules_regulations.jsp

[MaineDolFan]

- (c) He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game.

Thanks!  I never heard of a three inning save before, Rick!  I really appreciate the educational seminar on what constitutes a save.  Never knew any of that. 

Now please dig up something that credits someone for pitching the 8th but not the 9th?  Because that, sir, is the situation. 

Somewhere in my little mind the word "hold" is floating around.  Save.  Hold.  Save.  Hold.  Save.  Hold.

[Brian Fein]

To be fair, you CAN enter in the 8th (and finish the game) and get a save out of it.  That's what I understood of your question, but now I understand further...

Obviously to get a save you have to be the pitcher to record the final out.

[MaineDolFan]

Right.  My whole stance was that you don't earn a save in the 8th inning alone.  There was zero intention of Bard pitching after that inning, Delcarmen had been warming for the 9th (and they brought him on early to put out the fire).

It's too bad Masterson wasn't available.  Why wasn't he, you ask?  BECAUSE THEY TRADED HIM TO FREAKIN' CLEVELAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grrr.

[Brian Fein]

Wanna give back Victor Martinez?

[MaineDolFan]

YES, actually.  If I could.  I like V-Mart, don't get me wrong.  Really do.  I would rather re-do that trade and give up Buchholz.

[Sunstroke]

I'd rather re-do the Peavy trade and have them take out the last pitcher (Dexter Carter) and add infielder Gordon Beckham, but until I work the bugs out of my time machine, that's probably not going to happen.

[jtex316]

You can totally get a save in any inning. I used to do this in RBI Baseball Sim 3000 for NES. I'd be up by a million runs and bring in my closer in the 7th inning because he was a bad ass. I had like 150 saves in a season.

[SportsChick]

My point was that if Paps had done the same thing you would have been all over him

[StL FinFan]

You can totally get a save in any inning. I used to do this in RBI Baseball Sim 3000 for NES. I'd be up by a million runs and bring in my closer in the 7th inning because he was a bad ass. I had like 150 saves in a season.

You can get a save if you pitch the 7th, 8th and 9th innings, but you have to record the final out of the game.  Pitching in just the 8th inning or before and not finishing the game = a hold, not a save.  Bruce Sutter got a lot of saves by pitching the last three innings.