Not that we need any further evidence that saves are an overblown stat, but...

I saw that Shawn Chacon got his 32nd save last night, and I was shocked. I just assumed he was having a horrible year and couldn't possibly have pitched well enough to justify 32 save opportunities, let alone saves.

Well, I guess I was half-right:

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width=772 border=0><TBODY><TR align=right bgColor=#aaaaa4><TD align=left>YEAR</TD><TD>G</TD><TD>GS</TD><TD>IP</TD><TD>H</TD><TD>R</TD><TD>HR</TD><TD>BB</TD><TD>SO</TD><TD>K/9</TD><TD>W</TD><TD>L</TD><TD>Hld</TD><TD>Sv</TD><TD>BS</TD><TD>BAA</TD><TD>WHIP</TD><TD>ERA</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#ccccc4><TD align=left>2004</TD><TD>58</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>56.0</TD><TD>63</TD><TD>42</TD><TD>11</TD><TD>41</TD><TD>45</TD><TD>7.23</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>0</TD><TD>32</TD><TD>8</TD><TD>.284</TD><TD>1.86</TD><TD>6.43</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>


He's got to be on the verge of a "record" of sorts. Even Jose Mesa was only able to coax 24 saves out of his miserable season last year (which looks very similar to Chacon's line, btw).

Didn't Mike Williams have similar stats for the Pirates either last year or the year before?

This is Tony LaRussa's fault. Back before he turned Eckersley into a one-inning specialist, I think the save was a pretty good measure of reliever value, because closers were used more to stop rallies in the late innings, and often came into the game in the 7th or 8th inning in tight situations. I think it is now been greatly devalued, and either the save rule should be changed, or some new measure of reliever effectiveness needs to be created.

Highest ERA for a 40+ save season = Antonio Alfonseca - 45 sv, 4.24 ERA in 2000
Highest ERA for a 30+ save season = Todd Worrell - 35 sv, 5.28 ERA in 1996
Highest ERA for a 25+ save season = Mike Williams - 28 sv, 6.14 ERA in 2003

Close. Still, he didn't even get 30 saves.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width=772 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#aaaaa4><TD align=left>Season</TD><TD align=right> TM</TD><TD align=right> G</TD><TD align=right> GS</TD><TD align=right> CG</TD><TD align=right> SHO</TD><TD align=right> IP</TD><TD align=right> H</TD><TD align=right> R</TD><TD align=right> ER</TD><TD align=right> HR</TD><TD align=right> BB</TD><TD align=right> SO</TD><TD align=right> W</TD><TD align=right> L</TD><TD align=right> SV</TD><TD align=right> HLD</TD><TD align=right> BLSV</TD><TD align=right> ERA</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=4 width=772 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#ccccc4><TD align=left>2003</TD><TD align=right>--</TD><TD align=right>68</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>0</TD><TD align=right>63.0</TD><TD align=right>66</TD><TD align=right>44</TD><TD align=right>43</TD><TD align=right>5</TD><TD align=right>41</TD><TD align=right>39</TD><TD align=right>1</TD><TD align=right>7</TD><TD align=right>28</TD><TD align=right>2</TD><TD align=right>7</TD><TD align=right>6.14</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

I believe Reardon had a fairly high ERA for the Twins in 87.

I believe Reardon had a fairly high ERA for the Twins in 87.

31 saves
4.48 ERA

Yeah, but Williams got traded to the Phillies near the trade deadline, so how many saves could he have had for the Bucs if they had kept him?

I think Chacon is the clear favorite in this race though.

From All-Star starter (I know, I know, but still...) to worst closer in history. Yeah, I'd say that experiment worked.

Just remember this is Colorado, so his numbers are probably the equivalent of Mike Williams or maybe even Reardon's.

I was going to post his updated numbers after last night's debacle, but I don't think ESPN has updated his season stats yet (despite what it says, looking at the last 7 days stats).

This guy sucks. The idea was OK, but they got the wrong guy. You can't convert a starter with a fastball he can't locate, to closer . The other guys who were successful had good control. This guy has almost walked a hitter per inning. It's hard to believe he has 35 saves.

I hate Shawn Chacon- blew a lead against the damn doDgers of 4 runs.

Aadik is about the third or 4th Giant fan to say such a thing. The first one I talked to said he "hates the fucking Rockies, they're giftwrapping the division for the Dodgers."

And all I can say is, there were three Dodger-Giant games back in April where the Giants led by two runs or more in the 4th inning or later, and failed to hold the lead. Those three games look a lot more important in terms of the NL West race right now than the Rockies' inability to protect a lead.

Although it IS funny to realize that the Rockies' bullpen has 36 blown saves this year, and that Chacon's only got 34 saves, or something like that.