Wrong given SAVE to closer ???

[clamel]

I´m not sure about this but this is how it was.

Visiting team having a lead by 4-0 going into the bottom of the 9th inning.
The starting pitcher Verlander is left to get a complete game and perhaps a shutout.

However the first batter homers of him and Tigers decide to bring in Rodney to finish this. Sad I thought since in my book it´s not a save situation.

However he finish the game putting away the next three batters and WHAT do I see in the box-score.
Fernando Rodney gets a SAVE.

Correct me if I am wrong but doesn´t the rule book (at least old ones) say that if you come in "during" an inning (like Rodney) you must have the TYING run at least in the on-deck circle to get credited with a SAVE.

When F.Rodney came in it was 4-1 but NO runner was on any base. Thát´s making the first batter he faced being the potential 4-2 score and the player in the on-deck circle being the 4-3 guy (so to say).

OK he put out three batters out and finished the game after coming into the game with a 4-1 lead.

Now if he had come in when the inning begun and the score would have been 4-1 he would get a save, but not in this case.

Please correct me if I´m wrong or if the problem has already been seen.

I´m not great with "including" proof but lets try.

***********
Top of the 9th over - 0 run(s), 0 hit(s), 0 error(s), 0 left on base; Detroit 4 - Toronto 0 Bottom of the 9th - Toronto Blue Jays batting - Pitching for Detroit Tigers : RHP J. VerlanderBatting: RHB A. Rios0-0: Called Strike
0-1: Ball
1-1: Ball
2-1: Ball
3-1: SOLO HOME RUN (Flyball, 78XD), Distance : 411 ftPitching: RHP F. RodneyBatting: LHB A. Lind0-0: Ball
1-0: Swinging Strike
1-1: Foul Ball, location: 9LSF
1-2: Fly out, F9 (Flyball, 89D)Batting: RHB V. Wells0-0: Ground out 6-3 (Groundball, 6D)Batting: LHB T. Snider0-0: Foul Ball, location: 2F
0-1: Ball
1-1: Foul Ball, location: 2F
1-2: Foul Ball, location: 2F
1-2: Ball
2-2: Strikes out swingingBottom of the 9th over - 1 run(s), 1 hit(s), 0 error(s), 0 left on base; Detroit 4 - Toronto 1

AND NOW the BOX Score

DetroitIPHRERBBKHRPIPSERAJ. Verlander W (1-0)8.0311181109721.13F. Rodney SV (1)1.00000101180.00

[clamel]

I agree THIS LOOK SICK INDEED

sorry but I´m sure the vitals can be read and if any big dude like the html-files mailed. I will comply.

[damientheomen3]

if a team wins by 1 to 3 runs, and a pitcher who didn'tstart the game gets the last out, that pitcher gets the save.

in fact, once, my team was winning by 5 entering the bottom of the 9th, the score 7-2. i put in a reliever, he gave up a walk and a home run after getting 2 outs, so it was 7-4. i brought in my closer with no one on base to get the last out and he got the save.

[Eumel]

A save is a statistic credited to a relief pitcher, as set forth in this Rule 10.19.
The official scorer shall credit a pitcher with a save when such pitcher meets all four
of the following conditions:
(a) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his team;
(b) He is not the winning pitcher;
(c) He is credited with at least ⅓ of an inning pitched; and
(d) He satisfies one of the following conditions:
(1) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at
least one inning;
(2) 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 batters he faces); or
(3) He pitches for at least three innings.

(1) seems to indicate that the save was correct. He did pitch exactly one inning after all, as innings pitched are defined through putouts. At least I couldn't find anything in the rules defining them differently in this case.

[Tony M]

Yep. The sequence of events as described should be classified as a Save. As this isn't a bug this thread will be closed.