The original intent of the save rule was to give statistical credit to relief pitchers for protecting a late-inning lead. But in the 35 years since its inception, it has evolved into a manager’s nightmare.
Or, as Texas manager Johnny Oates recently observed, “The save has created the ninth-inning pitcher.”
This was evident again Saturday night when Cleveland manager Mike Hargrove, for the first time in the last two seasons, didn’t summon Jose Mesa in a save situation. Hargrove wasn’t necessarily criticized for ignoring Mesa, but he had a lot of explaining to do.
A right-handed power pitcher, Mesa led the majors last season with 46 saves in 48 opportunities, a remarkable 96 percent success ratio. He is 23 for 26 this season. All three of his blown saves have been absorbed in his last eight appearances.
And so Hargrove, in effect, benched the slumping Mesa during the Indians’ 3-2 victory over the White Sox. Once the Indians had gone ahead 3-1 in the 10th, it was “Mesa Time.”
Not this time. Paul Shuey, another of Hargrove’s relievers, had entered in the ninth–after the Indians had tied the score at 1. Instead of yanking Shuey and bringing in Mesa, Hargrove said he allowed Shuey to stay in “because he was hot.”
It was a limp explanation. In probably as many as 80 percent of his appearances, Mesa’s bullpen predecessors–they are called setup men, an appropriate designation–have been equally effective.
The setup man’s assignment is to keep the game close and bring it to the finisher. If he is ineffective and loses a lead, the closer doesn’t appear. This is why most closers, on an average, seldom work more than one inning.
So far, so good. No hint of controversy.
But in recent seasons, the premier closers, many of whom are in the highest-salaried brackets, have claimed the the ninth, or last, inning as a territorial right. Otherwise, their save total would be severely diminished, probably cut in half.
The Cleveland bullpen, for example, had an aggregate 50 saves last season. Mesa dominated with 46. This is typical for an established closer. Only three other Cleveland relievers had as many as one save. Eric Plunk was second on the club with two.
And so the manager is on the spot. If he doesn’t use his closer in every save opportunity, the star reliever suffers at the end of the season when the saves are tabulated. More often than not, incentive bonuses are at stake.
More Top Picks What Is The 20 20 20 Rule And Does It Actually Work
Rather than risk the anger of their closer, most managers have buckled and have summoned them in the ninth inning, even when they are struggling. That Hargrove didn’t follow the pack is to his credit.
Hargrove relented and called on Mesa to finish the Indians’ 4-2 win Sunday night, a victory that gave them a split of the four-game series and restored their lead to three full games over the Sox in the American League Central.
It was a “soft” save situation. Mesa inherited a three-run lead from starter Orel Hershiser. He had to face seven batters before he got the third out–a flyball to left by pinch batter Chad Kreuter with the tying run on base.
After winning the first two games of the series the Sox could do no better than a split. But there is no reason for despair. It’s a long season and one thing the Sox proved Sunday was that they have an excellent defensive team.
Starter Kevin Tapani, who took the loss, was hit hard in both the fourth and fifth innings. Good plays by outfielders Lyle Mouton, Tony Phillips and Dave Martinez eased him through the fourth without cost. But the golden gloves couldn’t save him in the fifth when he was hammered for five consecutive hits, including a two-run home run by Sandy Alomar Jr.