-=> Quoting Ed Grinnell to Scott Zolnoski <=-
 EG> Ah but you see, unlike a save, a hold (or multiple holds) can be
 EG> awarded in a losing effort. It's quite possible for 3 or 4 relievers
 EG> to come in and douse the flames and then have a dope "closer" blow the
 EG> game. Instead of penalizing them for the inept closer, the hold shows
 EG> that they did what they were sent in to do (It's also possible for a
 EG> middle reliever to get a blown save and the team still win and
 EG> subsequent relievers get credit for holds and saves). 
That's quite true, and something of which I had not thought.  While the
hold stat does give middle relievers credit for their work, I've always
felt that the rules regarding crediting earned runs were a little
screwy.  For example, say a stater gets two outs in an inning, then
walks a batter.  At this point, a reliever comes into the game, and proceeds
to walk the next three batters.  As I understand it, the resulting run
would be charged to the starter, even though the reliever had (in my opinion)
more responsibility for the run.  Granted the starter allowed the runner
on base, but it seems to me that a more fair system would be for a pitcher
to only be responsible for those runners left on base IN SCORING POSITION.
In the above example this would make no difference, but I think that it
would be more fair to starters and make relievers ERAs more meaningful.
I realize that this rule change will never happen, but I think it would
be a more equitable system.
... "I could read the Sports page if my hair was on fire!" -Seinfeld
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