In a recent Mynci comments thread we discussed the save. It’s an unfortunate stat. First, it derives from managerial decisions as much as performance. Second, in fantasy terms, there are an extremely limited number of players that create saves. Some of them get injured; others become ineffective. That makes cornering the stat as much a lottery as a strategy.
As of this date and time in major league baseball there are only 24 players with 20 or more saves. In contrast, there are 39 with 20 or more saves+holds. There are 31 players with 10 or more saves. There are 74 with 10 or more saves+holds.
The top 10 in saves+holds is reassuringly competent:
37 Heath Bell (37 saves)
35 Rafael Soriano (35 saves)
35 Joakim Soria (35 saves)
35 Brian Wilson (35 saves)
34 Francisco Cordero (33 saves, 1 hold)
33 Neftali Feliz (30 saves, 3 holds)
32 Luke Gregerson (1 save, 31 holds)
31 Matt Capps (32 saves)
30 Jonathan Papelbon (30 saves)
30 Billy Wagner (30 saves)
Time to consider a change.
