4.0 DELI SCRUBS

The last couple of games that Dom has finished, I've heard the question, "Did Dom get a save?"

Dom has earned three saves so far this season and the Dizzler has worked effectively in shutting batters down, but the two games in question -- vs the Beavers last week and vs the Committee today -- were not saves. Here's a quick refresher about pitching.

The MLB Official Baseball Rules define a save:

10.20 Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions:
(a) He is the finishing pitcher in the game won by his club, and
(b) He is not the winning pitcher, and
(c) He qualifies under 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, or
- (2) He enters the game, regardless of count, with the potential tieing run either on base, at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tieing run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces), or
- (3) He pitches effectively for at least three innings.
No more than one save may be credited in each game.

When Dom went to the mound in both games in question, the Scrubs had more than a three run lead and Dom did not go at least three innings. We led the Beavers 6-2 and we were up on the Committee 17-6. So, in both cases ... no save opportunity.

The baseball rule book really makes for lousy reading. A little more sex or violence would improve it big-time.

-Doug