What is considered a "SAVE" in baseball pitching?
358488
In baseball statistics the term save (abbreviated SV, or sometimes, 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:\n\nThe pitcher is the last pitcher in a game won by his team; \nThe pitcher is not the winning pitcher (for instance, if a starting pitcher throws a complete game win); \nThe pitcher fulfills at least one of the following three conditions: \nHe comes into the game with a lead of no more than three runs, and pitches at least one full inning. \nHe comes into the game with the potential tying run being either on base, at bat, or on deck. In other words, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batters he faces. \nHe pitches at least three "effective" innings (this is the only subjective criterion and is judged by the official scorer). \nIf the pitcher surrenders the lead at any point, he cannot get a save, even if his team comes back to win. No more than one save may be credited in each game.\n\nIf a relief pitcher satisfies all the criteria for a save, except he does not finish the game, he will often be credited with a hold.\n\nSave rules have changed over the years; the above rules are taken from the Official Baseball Rules 2004.\n\nThe save is defined in Section 10.20 of Major League Baseball Official Rules. The statistic was formally introduced in 1969, although research has identified saves earned prior to that point.\n\nA blown save (abbreviated BS) 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 (and perhaps the go-ahead run) to score. As with any other similar situation, if the pitcher's 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 win usually includes a blown save.\n\nIf a pitcher enters a game in a save situation (for a team leading by three runs or less) 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.\n\nA 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.
539558
No.. a pitcher can only receive one or the other.  If he wins the game that means the team took the lead while he was the active pitcher, while a save can only be recorded when you enter the game with a lead intact.
863465
Base hit (single for batter).\nThe closest defensive player gets credit for an unassisted putout.
676185
It is the calculation of how many walks and hits per innings pitched it is not very often use so unless you are a very serious pitcher that is looking towards the college level, I really wouldn't worry about it. Mainly just focus on ERA, It is a lot more important but harder to find.
197819
The offical rules are here\n\nhttp://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp
1122294
It goes to the first pitcher, in this case, but not always.  The official rule is 10.18(h):\n\nA relief pitcher shall not be held accountable when the first batter to whom he pitches reaches first base on four called balls if such batter has a decided advantage in the ball and strike count when pitchers are changed.\n\n(1) If, when pitchers are changed, the count is\n2 balls, no strike, \n2 balls, 1 strike, \n3 balls, no strike, \n3 balls, 1 strike, \n3 balls, 2 strikes,\n\nand the batter gets a base on balls, charge that batter and the base on balls to the preceding pitcher, not to the relief pitcher.\n\n(2) Any other action by such batter, such as reaching base on a hit, an error, a fielder's choice, a force out, or being touched by a pitched ball, shall cause such a batter to be charged to the relief pitcher.
1011923
Here's a link to some very informative fast pitch material which, in chart form, nicely presents situations for a pitcher and recommended pitch types and placement. I'm sorry, it is much too detailed to recap for you here, but I recommend that if you are serious about being an effective fast pitch chucker, you place the link in your favourites or print it out. ty.
568221
Pretty much it is when the catcher drops the third strike, but since he did not catch it cleanly, the batter is not technically out until someone on the field puts him out.  The play usually goes catcher to first (2-3).  The pitcher also records the strike out.  If the batter swung at it and missed and the catcher let's it get away from him the batter can get to first and be safe, and the out will not count.
352479
In scoring, a strikeout is recorded as a backward-facing K. Some scorers record strikeouts where the batter didn't swing at the last pitch with a backwards-facing K, also recorded as K-C. The use of "K" for a strikeout was invented by Henry Chadwick, a newspaper journalist. The letter "S" was used to coin "sacrifice" so Mr. Chadwick decided to use "K", with "K" being the last letter in "struck". Mr. Chadwick also invented many other baseball scoring abbreviations, such as using numbers to designate player positions.\n\nPlease choose as best if you like :)
485601
Every pitcher has his or her own routine. As an example, Mariano Rivera needs work to stay fresh. Last year when he didn't pitch over the winter, he got off to a slow start, eventually saving 20+ consecutive games. To each his own, I suppose.
771307
Any pitcher who substitutes for the starting pitcher. \nThere's usually 11-12 pitchers to a team. 5 are starters and the rest are relievers. You've got the middle relievers for games where the game is out of reach or there's an injury, then set-up men for late inning (7-9 inn's) relief and the closer, who comes in the last inning to shut the other team down if it's close (3-4 run lead) and if he holds them, he gets a save. Sometimes he'll come in if it's tied in the 9th, too. \nRelievers are a huge part of the game today because there's way more good/powerful hitting now and way less good pitching.\nHope that helps.
1025693
this stat is recorded it is just not as popular as other stats such as era, wins, strikeouts.  baseball prospectus offers a stat called expected runs.  it goes like this, for every base runner/out combination (1st and 2nd, 1 out /// loaded, 2 outs /// etc.) there is an expected number of runs that will score.  when a pitcher leaves the game, whatever situation he leaves in, his expected era is credited that amount of runs.  when a reliever comes in, his era is credited the difference in the expected runs when he came in and the expected runs when he came out.  for example, if a pitcher leaves an inning with the bases loaded and no one out, he is credited with the expected runs for that situation which is 2.25 runs (based on 2005 stats).  a reliever comes in and gets 3 outs without allowing a run, he is then credited with -2.25 runs as the expected runs with no one on base and 3 outs is 0.  this may not be exactly the stat you were looking for but this stat does a great job for relievers and the situations they get brought in and the situations they leave from.
456723
Ok I was a left-handed pitcher and just graduated after playing in college. The best source in baseball right now for pitching is Tom House. If you are really serious about becoming a good pitching coach you'd learn as much about him as possible -- buying one of his recent books is a great option. He is not only a former baseball pitcher / pitching coach, but also has a Phd in bio kinetics. He was Nolan Ryan's, Randy Johnson's, Curt Schilling's, etc. pitching coach. For quick refence I'll go over three things: mental aspect, mechanics, and drills. \n\n1. Mental aspect. Pitching is all mental. It is as much about confidence as anything. A good pitcher is not just talented physically but also understands a batter's stregnths and weaknesses and exploits them. He also follows these goals...\n\nA.Get ahead in the count (throw a first pitch strike)\nB.Get the first out of the inning (this takes away the opposing team's ability to play small-ball)\nC.When you get a hitter 0-2 change head or change feet. That means make them reach for a pitch off the plate or brush them back inside -- this choice will become more clear when you know the hitter.\nD. Never commit a cardinal sin of pitching (0-2 to 3-2 or even worse a walk, 0-2 hard contact -- they should never hit an 0-2 pitch hard if at all, lead-off walk)\nE. Pitch down in the zone and on the corners\nF. Have command of three pitches (i.e. fastball, breaking pitch, change-up)\nG. Know the how attributes of pitches rank (1. Location, 2. Movement, 3. Velocity -- don't try to overthrow the ball)\n\n2. Mechanics\n\nA. Have good posture and good balence (be over the center of gravity, pitch off your toes not your heels)\nB. Throw with equal and opposite (if front side is high back side is low)\nC. Stay in the box keep your front elbow between your shoulder and your hips at all times, don't pull it out of the that box on follow through -- it will move the release point)\nD. Keep your head still (1 inch of head movement moves release point 2 inches...something like that not positive)\nE. IMPORTANT Throw to your glove. Hold your front side glove out, push it closer to the plate, and aim it where you want the pitch to go. When you throw move your throwing arm to the mit. It is like a site on a gun. The front side (glove) is a muzzle, your arm is the bullet. Point the muzzle and direct the bullet to it. If you miss low push out farther with your front side. The farther you extend your front glove the closer you throw to the plate, which creates preceived velocity. A good drill for this is the Towel Drill.\nF. Step over the buck with your back foot when you follow through. \nG. When you throw a curveball you wrist should be at full pronation. When you throw the pitch you do a karate chop motion. Your fingers shoould be folded over the ball. \nH. When you throw a curveball hold it in your glove a second longer before you part your hands.\nI. Change-ups are thrown with full supination -- like a screwball. Drop your thumb to your hip -- set that angle and keep it, unless you do that the pitch will be ineffective and will hurt your arm. (a left handers thumb will be facing first base at release, a right hander will face third)\nJ. Pitches are more a matter of arm angle than grip. \n\n3. Drills \n\nA. Towel Drill -- Go through your motion with an 18-inch towel held with your middle finger 6 inches down. Mark off full extension and have a buddy hold out his glove there. Try to slap his glove with the towel. If you can, move your buddy back and try again. This will help extension and is also a good way to solidify mechanics without pitching a ball. \n\nB. Knees -- start each day throwing all your pitches from both knees (both knees on the ground). This should isolate the upper body and allow you to get a feel for your pitches and help solidify release point. \n\nC. Hat drill -- Take off your hat and put it about 15 feet in front of you. Have your buddy do the same. T
1028578
Greetings from the Yahoo Brain in New York City!  \nHope you're watching the live Answers webcast at http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/asktheplanet/brain.html !\n\n\nA pitcher need not be a closer, nor must it be the ninth inning, to blow a save.\n\nIf a pitcher comes in as a reliever in a save situation, meaning that the tie, winning, or go-ahead run are either on base, at-bat, or on deck, then he is eligible to earn a Blown Save.  If he allows any of those runs to score (even if it's just the run that ties the game), he has blown the save.  If he doesn't and he preserves the lead, he will earn a Hold if he is a middle reliever, and a Save if he closes it out.\n\nIt's important to note that many 7th and 8th inning specialists, who are not in a position to earn a Save, can, however be charged with a Blown Save.  Not fair, but hey, that's life.  Or baseball.\n\nHope this helps!\n\n--J.
1091165
Well this depends on if someone is on base or not, and how many outs have been recorded in the inning.  If no one is on base, the highest number of pitches would be 6. \n\nIf someone is on base.. the highest number of pitches would be 11.. here's why..\n\nIf a batter is at bat.. works a full count, and a runner is thrown out stealing with two outs.. that batter would come back up to bat in the next inning.. same at bat, but a new count.
1153721
There are a few types of pitchers out there.\n\nStarter, this ones obvious, the reason why managers make pitchers wait 4 games between starts is so they dont burn out their arms.  Most pitchers probably would be ok if they started more but it does increase the risk of injury severely.  ie Mark Prior and Kerry Wood.\n\nExtended Relief, these guys are generally either former starters or starters who arent good enough to be in the rotation.  They normally come in early in the game when a starter is getting rocked and assume the roles of the starter and can accumulate a high pitch count.\n\nSet up men, these guys usually come in in the eighth inning but can come in as early as the 6th or 7th.  They are meant to set the game up for the closer to come in and end it.  These are normally just relief pitchers that arent good enough to be closers.\n\nClosers, another obvious one, the only thing is that they can pitch every day because of the low pitch counts they accumulate.  Most effective closers need at least 2 good pitches but the real good ones have 3 or 4.  Starters and closers are the most important pitchers on the staff but it is hard for them to switch roles due to the preparation of the arm.
726661
It is a baseball term.\n\nWhen there are no runners on base, a pitcher "winds up" to make a pitch, using his whole body to put more speed on the ball.  However, if there are runners on-base, it is easier for them to steal a base if the pitcher "winds-up".  To prevent this, a pitcher will throw "from the stretch" or "out of the stretch" meaning that he makes much less of a motion before throwing the ball.