August 9, 2012

BP Unfiltered

Saved by the Rule

by Geoff Young

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On July 30, Jerome Williams became the first person in more than a quarter of a century to get credit for a save while allowing at least five runs. When he recorded the final 12 outs of the Angels' 15-8 victory over Texas in the opener of a four-game showdown between the two teams, Williams joined a short list of men so credited since the save was introduced as an official statistic in 1969:

Random notes that are as relevant as the saves themselves:

• In the Hennigan game, Bill Lee faced three batters for the losing Red Sox. He gave up singles to Graig Nettles and Chris Chambliss, and a homer to Ray Fosse, then was removed. Nettles and Chambliss later would gain fame playing for the Yankees.

• Goltz wins the award for worst save ever. More than a third of the batters he faced scored. He served up a homer to Rusty Torres, a career .212/.301/.334 hitter who went 4-for-4 in this one. Chambliss was in the lineup again. Nettles was not, having been traded to New York for, among others, the aforementioned Torres. This was the second game of a doubleheader played in front of 2,033 people.

• Future Hall of Famers in the Eastwick game: Mike Schmidt, Steve Carlton, Dave Winfield. Future managers: Larry Bowa, Pete Rose, Mike Hargrove.

• Davis is the father of current Mets first baseman Ike Davis. Nettles played in this one for the Yankees. Mario Guerrero started at shortstop for the A’s. Per his usual custom, he did not score any runs.

• Juan Eichelberger took the loss in the Slaton game. This is important because Juan Tyrone Eichelberger is the best name ever.

• Huismann saved the game for starter Jerry Reed, who appeared in relief of Eichelberger in the Slaton game.

• The last batter Williams retired in his save was Craig Gentry, who was a few months shy of his third birthday when Huismann recorded his save.

Somehow, I don’t think this is what Jerome Holtzman had in mind.