Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 LSV Intro

Last year, I came up with a simple new statistic called Linear Saves, which basically compares a closer's saves and blown saves to his peers'.  The result is then expressed in the number of saves above or below what the league's average closer would convert given the same number of opportunities. 

LSV= SV-(Opps*LgSV%)

The stat came up a bit short in its audacious goal of comparing closer productivity fairly across disparate eras.  It is, however, a stat that evaluates a reliever's aptitude for saving games far better than looking at saves or saves percentage alone.  The 2008 season gives us a terrific chance to see Linear Saves in action, as it featured a new single season saves leader in Francisco Rodriguez (62-for-69: 89.9%) and only the second instance ever of a pitcher with at least 30 save opportunities in a season converting all of his chances.

We knew that Brad Lidge would net more Linear Saves than K-Rod, but it would no doubt surprise many to learn that the all-time single-season saves king finished fourth in this counting stat measuring save efficiency.  Or maybe it wouldn't, given that each of those three relievers posted a noticeably better ERA than did Mr. Rodriguez.

2008 Linear Saves (Min 10 Saves):